且說公孫先生同展爺去不多時，轉來道：「相爺此時已升二堂，特請盧兄一見。」盧方聞聽，只打量要過堂了，連忙立起身來道：「盧方乃人命要犯，如何這樣見得相爺？盧方豈是不知規矩的麼？」展爺連聲道「好」。一回頭吩咐伴當，快看刑具。眾人無不點頭稱羨。少時，刑具拿到，連忙與盧方上好。大家圍隨，來至二堂以下。王朝進內稟道：「盧方帶到。」忽聽包公說道：「請。」
且说公孙先生同展爷去不多时，转来道：「相爷此时已升二堂，特请卢兄一见。」卢方闻听，只打量要过堂了，连忙立起身来道：「卢方乃人命要犯，如何这样见得相爷？卢方岂是不知规矩的么？」展爷连声道「好」。一回头吩咐伴当，快看刑具。众人无不点头称羡。少时，刑具拿到，连忙与卢方上好。大家围随，来至二堂以下。王朝进内禀道：「卢方带到。」忽听包公说道：「请。」
Now, Mr. Gongsun and Zhan Zhao had not been gone long when they came back and said, “His Excellency has taken his seat in the second hall just now, and asks specially to see you, Brother Lu.” Hearing this, Lu Fang supposed he was about to be brought to trial, and he rose at once. “Lu Fang is a prisoner on a charge of murder,” he said. “How can I go before His Excellency like this? Do you think Lu Fang doesn’t know the rules?” “Good, good!” said Zhan Zhao again and again, and turning his head, he told the attendants to bring the irons, quick. Everyone there nodded in admiration. In a moment the irons were brought and quickly put on Lu Fang, and with all of them gathered round him, they came to the foot of the second hall. Wang Chao went in and reported, “Lu Fang is here.” Then they heard Lord Bao say, “Ask him in.”
這一聲連盧方都聽見了，自己登時反倒不得主意了。隨著王朝來至公堂，雙膝跪倒，匐匍在地。忽聽包公一聲斷喝道：「本閣著你去請盧義士，如何用刑具拿到？是何道理？還不快快卸去！」左右連忙上前，卸去刑具。包公道：「盧義士，有話起來慢慢講。」盧方那裡敢起來，連頭也不敢抬。便道：「罪民盧方身犯人命重案，望乞相爺從公判斷，感恩不盡。」包公道：「盧義士休如此迂直。花神廟之事本閣盡知。你乃行俠仗義，濟弱扶傾。就是嚴奇喪命，自有史丹對抵，與你甚麼相干？他等強惡助紂為虐，本閣已有辦法，即將史丹定了誤傷的罪名，完結此案。盧義士理應釋放無事，只管起來。本閣還有話講。」展爺向前悄悄道：「盧兄休要辜負相爺一片愛慕之心，快些起來，莫要違悖鈞諭。」盧方到了此時，概不由己，朝上叩頭。展爺順手將他扶起。包公又吩咐看座。盧方那裡敢坐，鞠躬侍立。偷眼向上觀瞧，見包公端然正坐，不怒而威，那一派的正氣，實令人可畏而又可敬，心中暗暗誇獎。
这一声连卢方都听见了，自己登时反倒不得主意了。随着王朝来至公堂，双膝跪倒，匐匍在地。忽听包公一声断喝道：「本阁着你去请卢义士，如何用刑具拿到？是何道理？还不快快卸去！」左右连忙上前，卸去刑具。包公道：「卢义士，有话起来慢慢讲。」卢方那里敢起来，连头也不敢抬。便道：「罪民卢方身犯人命重案，望乞相爷从公判断，感恩不尽。」包公道：「卢义士休如此迂直。花神庙之事本阁尽知。你乃行侠仗义，济弱扶倾。就是严奇丧命，自有史丹对抵，与你甚么相干？他等强恶助纣为虐，本阁已有办法，即将史丹定了误伤的罪名，完结此案。卢义士理应释放无事，只管起来。本阁还有话讲。」展爷向前悄悄道：「卢兄休要辜负相爷一片爱慕之心，快些起来，莫要违悖钧谕。」卢方到了此时，概不由己，朝上叩头。展爷顺手将他扶起。包公又吩咐看座。卢方那里敢坐，鞠躬侍立。偷眼向上观瞧，见包公端然正坐，不怒而威，那一派的正气，实令人可畏而又可敬，心中暗暗夸奖。
Those words reached even Lu Fang’s ears, and all at once he no longer knew what to make of things. He followed Wang Chao into the hall, dropped to both knees and lay prostrate on the ground. Then he heard Lord Bao give a great shout: “This Academician sent you to invite the gallant Lu. Why have you brought him in irons? What is the meaning of this? Take them off at once!” The attendants hurried forward and took off the irons. “Gallant Lu,” said Lord Bao, “rise, and we can talk at our ease.” Lu Fang would not dream of rising; he did not even dare raise his head. “Your guilty subject Lu Fang stands charged with a grave crime of murder,” he said. “I only beg Your Excellency to judge the case fairly, and I shall be grateful beyond words.” “Gallant Lu, you need not be so stiff and literal,” said Lord Bao. “I know all about what happened at the temple of the Flower God. You were acting as a knight-errant should, upholding justice, helping the weak and steadying those about to fall. As for Yan Qi’s death, Shi Dan is there to answer for it — what has it to do with you? Those bullies were helping the tyrant Zhou in his cruelties. I have already settled how to deal with it: Shi Dan will be found guilty of killing by mischance, and that will close the case. By rights, gallant Lu, you are to be released and nothing more said. So do rise. I have more to say to you.” Zhan Zhao stepped forward and said quietly, “Brother Lu, don’t throw away His Excellency’s kindness and regard. Get up, quick. Don’t go against His Excellency’s command.” By now Lu Fang was no longer his own master. He kowtowed toward the bench, and Zhan Zhao helped him to his feet. Lord Bao then ordered a seat for him. But Lu Fang would not dare sit; he stood bowing at one side. Stealing a glance upward, he saw Lord Bao sitting upright and grave, commanding awe without a trace of anger. The whole air of righteousness about him made a man fear and revere him at once, and in his heart Lu Fang praised him silently.
忽見包公含笑問道：「盧義士因何來京？請道其詳。」一句話問得個盧方紫面上套著紫，半晌，答道：「罪民因尋盟弟白玉堂，故此來京。」包公又道：「是義士一人前來，還有別人？」盧方道：「上年初冬之時，罪民已遣韓彰徐慶蔣平三個盟弟一同來京。不料自去冬至今，杳無音信。罪民因不放心，故此親身來尋。今日方到花神廟。」包公聽盧方直言無隱，便知此人忠厚篤實，遂道：「原來眾義士俱各來了。義士既以實言相告，本閣也就不隱瞞了。令弟五義士在京中做了幾件出類拔萃之事，連聖上俱各知道，並且聖上還誇他是個俠義之人，欽派本閣細細訪查。如今義士既已來京，肯替本閣代為細細訪查麼？」盧方聽至此，連忙跪倒，道：「白玉堂年幼無知，惹下滔天大禍，致干聖怒，理應罪民尋找擒拿到案。任憑聖上天恩，相爺的垂照。」包公見他應了，便叫：「展護衛。」「有。」「同公孫先生好生款待，恕本閣不陪。留去但憑義士，不必拘束。」盧方聽了，復又叩頭起來，同定展爺出來。
忽见包公含笑问道：「卢义士因何来京？请道其详。」一句话问得个卢方紫面上套着紫，半晌，答道：「罪民因寻盟弟白玉堂，故此来京。」包公又道：「是义士一人前来，还有别人？」卢方道：「上年初冬之时，罪民已遣韩彰徐庆蒋平三个盟弟一同来京。不料自去冬至今，杳无音信。罪民因不放心，故此亲身来寻。今日方到花神庙。」包公听卢方直言无隐，便知此人忠厚笃实，遂道：「原来众义士俱各来了。义士既以实言相告，本阁也就不隐瞒了。令弟五义士在京中做了几件出类拔萃之事，连圣上俱各知道，并且圣上还夸他是个侠义之人，钦派本阁细细访查。如今义士既已来京，肯替本阁代为细细访查么？」卢方听至此，连忙跪倒，道：「白玉堂年幼无知，惹下滔天大祸，致干圣怒，理应罪民寻找擒拿到案。任凭圣上天恩，相爷的垂照。」包公见他应了，便叫：「展护卫。」「有。」「同公孙先生好生款待，恕本阁不陪。留去但凭义士，不必拘束。」卢方听了，复又叩头起来，同定展爷出来。
Then Lord Bao asked with a smile, “Gallant Lu, what brings you to the capital? Please tell me all about it.” The question turned Lu Fang’s purple face a deeper purple still. After a long moment he answered, “I came to the capital to look for my sworn brother Bai Yutang.” “Did you come alone, gallant sir,” asked Lord Bao, “or is there anyone else?” “Early last winter,” said Lu Fang, “I sent three of my sworn brothers, Han Zhang, Xu Qing and Jiang Ping, to the capital together. But from last winter until now there has been no word from them at all. I could not set my mind at rest, so I came to look for them myself. I reached the temple of the Flower God only today.” Hearing Lu Fang speak so frankly and hide nothing, Lord Bao knew he was a loyal, honest and steadfast man, and said, “So all you gallant men have come. Since you have told me the truth, gallant sir, I will keep nothing from you either. Your brother, fifth of the Five Gallants, has done several remarkable things here in the capital, things far out of the common run. Even His Majesty knows of them. What is more, His Majesty has praised him as a man of chivalry, and has charged me by imperial command to make careful inquiries. Now that you have come to the capital, gallant sir, will you make those inquiries for me?” At these words Lu Fang hastily knelt. “Bai Yutang is young and foolish. He has brought down a disaster as high as heaven and roused His Majesty’s anger. It is only right that I, guilty as I am, should find him, seize him and bring him in. After that, let it be as His Majesty’s grace and Your Excellency’s kindness decide.” Seeing that he had agreed, Lord Bao called, “Guard Zhan.” “Here.” “You and Mr. Gongsun are to entertain him well. Forgive me for not keeping you company myself. Whether you stay or go, gallant sir, is entirely up to you; you need not feel bound.” At this Lu Fang kowtowed once more, rose, and went out with Zhan Zhao.