且說公孫策與三位公子回來，將文大人之言一一稟明。大公子又將認得冒名的武吉祥也回了。惟有包興一瘸一拐，見了包公，將孫榮蠻打的情節說了一遍。包公安慰了他一番，叫他且自歇息將養。眾人彼此見了三位公子，也就告別了。來至公廳，大家設席與包興壓驚。裡面卻是相爺與三位公子接風撢塵，就在後面同定夫人三位公子，敘天倫之樂。
且说公孙策与三位公子回来，将文大人之言一一禀明。大公子又将认得冒名的武吉祥也回了。惟有包兴一瘸一拐，见了包公，将孙荣蛮打的情节说了一遍。包公安慰了他一番，叫他且自歇息将养。众人彼此见了三位公子，也就告别了。来至公厅，大家设席与包兴压惊。里面却是相爷与三位公子接风撢尘，就在后面同定夫人三位公子，叙天伦之乐。
Now, Gongsun Ce came back with the three young masters and reported Lord Wen’s words point by point. The eldest young master also told how he had recognized the impostor as Wu Jixiang. Only Bao Xing came limping in, and when he saw Lord Bao he told him all about how Sun Rong had beaten him without rhyme or reason. Lord Bao comforted him for a while and told him to go and rest and get well. Everyone met the three young masters, and then they took their leave. They went to the officers’ hall and laid on a feast for Bao Xing to settle his nerves. Inside, meanwhile, His Excellency welcomed the three young masters and washed the dust of the road from them, and there in the back of the house, together with his wife and the three young masters, he enjoyed the happiness of a family gathered together.
單言文大人具了奏折，連龐吉的書信與開封府的文書，俱各隨折奏聞，天子看了，又喜又惱。喜的是包卿子姪並無此事，惱的是龐吉屢與包卿作對，總是他的理虧。如今索性與孫榮等竟成群黨，全無顧忌，這不是有意要陷害大臣麼？便將文彥博原折案卷人犯，俱交開封府問訊。
单言文大人具了奏折，连庞吉的书信与开封府的文书，俱各随折奏闻，天子看了，又喜又恼。喜的是包卿子姪并无此事，恼的是庞吉屡与包卿作对，总是他的理亏。如今索性与孙荣等竟成群党，全无顾忌，这不是有意要陷害大臣么？便将文彦博原折案卷人犯，俱交开封府问讯。
We tell now only of Lord Wen. He drew up a memorial and sent it up to the throne, and with it Pang Ji’s letter and the dispatch from Kaifeng Prefecture. When the Emperor had read it, he was both glad and angry: glad that Minister Bao’s nephew had done no such thing, and angry that Pang Ji kept setting himself against Minister Bao and was always the one in the wrong. And now he had gone so far as to make a gang of himself, Sun Rong and the rest, with no scruples at all. What was this, if not a deliberate plot to ruin a great minister? So the Emperor handed Wen Yanbo’s original memorial, the case papers and the prisoners all over to Kaifeng Prefecture to be questioned.
包公接到此旨，看了案卷，升堂。略問了問趙慶，將武吉祥帶上堂來，一鞫即服。又問他：「同事者有多少人？」武吉祥道：「小人有個兄弟名叫武平安，他原假充包旺，還有兩個伴當。不想風聲一露，他們就預先逃走了。」包公因龐吉私書上面，有查來各處數目，不得不問，果然數目相符。又問他：「有個包興曾給你送信，卻在何處？說的是何言語？」武吉祥便將在飯鋪內說的話一一回明。包公道：「若見了此人，你可認得麼？」武吉祥道：「若見了面，自然認得。」包公叫他畫招，暫且收監。包公問道：「今日值班的是誰？」只見下面上來二人，跪稟道：「是小人江樊黃茂。」包公看了，又添派了馬步快頭耿春鄭平二人，吩咐道：「你四人前往龐府左右細細訪查。如有面貌與包興相彷的，只管拿來。」四個人領命去了。包公退堂來至書房，請了公孫先生來，商議具折覆奏，並定罪名處分等事不表。
包公接到此旨，看了案卷，升堂。略问了问赵庆，将武吉祥带上堂来，一鞫即服。又问他：「同事者有多少人？」武吉祥道：「小人有个兄弟名叫武平安，他原假充包旺，还有两个伴当。不想风声一露，他们就预先逃走了。」包公因庞吉私书上面，有查来各处数目，不得不问，果然数目相符。又问他：「有个包兴曾给你送信，却在何处？说的是何言语？」武吉祥便将在饭铺内说的话一一回明。包公道：「若见了此人，你可认得么？」武吉祥道：「若见了面，自然认得。」包公叫他画招，暂且收监。包公问道：「今日值班的是谁？」只见下面上来二人，跪禀道：「是小人江樊黄茂。」包公看了，又添派了马步快头耿春郑平二人，吩咐道：「你四人前往庞府左右细细访查。如有面貌与包兴相彷的，只管拿来。」四个人领命去了。包公退堂来至书房，请了公孙先生来，商议具折覆奏，并定罪名处分等事不表。
When Lord Bao received this decree, he read through the case papers and opened court. He put a few questions to Zhao Qing, then had Wu Jixiang brought up into the hall, and the man confessed at the first questioning. Lord Bao asked him, “How many of you were in it together?” “I have a younger brother called Wu Ping’an,” said Wu Jixiang. “He was the one passing himself off as Bao Wang. There were two attendants besides. But the moment word got out, they ran off ahead of time.” Pang Ji’s private letter had listed the sums gathered in from various places, so Lord Bao was bound to ask about them, and sure enough the figures tallied. Then he asked, “A man called Bao Xing brought you a message. Where was it, and what did he say?” Wu Jixiang told him, point by point, everything that had been said in the eating house. “If you saw this man,” said Lord Bao, “would you know him?” “If I saw him face to face,” said Wu Jixiang, “of course I would.” Lord Bao had him put his mark to his confession and sent him to the jail for the time being. Then he asked, “Who is on duty today?” Two men came up from below and knelt. “Jiang Fan and Huang Mao, Your Excellency.” Lord Bao looked them over, and added Geng Chun and Zheng Ping, the heads of the mounted and foot constables. “The four of you are to go round about the Pang mansion and search carefully,” he ordered. “If you find anyone who looks like Bao Xing, just bring him in.” The four of them took their orders and went. Lord Bao left the bench and went to his study, sent for Mr. Gongsun, and conferred with him about drawing up a memorial in reply to the throne and settling the charges and penalties; but of that no more.