且說李氏一見了蓮花，睹物傷情，復又大哭起來。倪繼祖與倪忠商議，就要接李氏一同上莊。李氏連忙止悲，說道：「吾兒休生妄想！為娘的再也不染紅塵了。原想著你爹爹的冤仇，今生再世也不能報了。不料倪氏門中有你這根芽。只要吾兒好好攻書，得了一官半職，能夠與你爹爹報仇雪恨，為娘的平生之願足矣。」倪繼祖見李氏不肯上莊，便哭倒跪下，道：「孩兒不知親娘，便罷。如今既已知道，也容孩兒略盡孝心。就是孩兒養身的父母不依時，自有孩兒懇求哀告。何況我那父母也是好善之家，如何不能容留親娘呢？」李氏道：「言雖如此。但我自知罪孽深重，一生懺悔不來。倘若再墮俗緣，惟恐不能消受，反要生出災殃。那時吾兒豈不後悔？」倪繼祖聽李氏之言，心堅如石，毫無回轉，便放聲大哭道：「母親既然如此，孩兒也不回去了，就在此處侍奉母親。」李氏道：「你既然知道，讀書要明理，俗言『順者為孝』，為娘的雖未撫養於你，難道你不念劬勞之恩，竟敢違背麼？再者，你那父母哺乳三年，好容易養的你長大成人，你未能報答於萬一，又肯作此負心之人麼？」一席話說的倪繼祖一言不發，惟有低頭哭泣。
且说李氏一见了莲花，睹物伤情，复又大哭起来。倪继祖与倪忠商议，就要接李氏一同上庄。李氏连忙止悲，说道：「吾儿休生妄想！为娘的再也不染红尘了。原想着你爹爹的冤仇，今生再世也不能报了。不料倪氏门中有你这根芽。只要吾儿好好攻书，得了一官半职，能够与你爹爹报仇雪恨，为娘的平生之愿足矣。」倪继祖见李氏不肯上庄，便哭倒跪下，道：「孩儿不知亲娘，便罢。如今既已知道，也容孩儿略尽孝心。就是孩儿养身的父母不依时，自有孩儿恳求哀告。何况我那父母也是好善之家，如何不能容留亲娘呢？」李氏道：「言虽如此。但我自知罪孽深重，一生忏悔不来。倘若再堕俗缘，惟恐不能消受，反要生出灾殃。那时吾儿岂不后悔？」倪继祖听李氏之言，心坚如石，毫无回转，便放声大哭道：「母亲既然如此，孩儿也不回去了，就在此处侍奉母亲。」李氏道：「你既然知道，读书要明理，俗言『顺者为孝』，为娘的虽未抚养于你，难道你不念劬劳之恩，竟敢违背么？再者，你那父母哺乳三年，好容易养的你长大成人，你未能报答于万一，又肯作此负心之人么？」一席话说的倪继祖一言不发，惟有低头哭泣。
Now, when Madam Li saw the lotus, the sight of it stirred all her grief, and she burst into tears again. Ni Jizu talked it over with Ni Zhong, and they wanted to take her back to the village with them then and there. Madam Li quickly checked her tears. “My son, put such idle thoughts away! Your mother will never again be stained by the red dust of the world. I had thought your father’s wrong could never be avenged, not in this life nor the next. Who would have thought the Ni family still had you, its one green shoot? If only you study hard, win yourself some post in the government and avenge your father’s wrong, your mother’s lifelong wish will be fulfilled.” When Ni Jizu saw that she would not go to the village, he fell to his knees in tears. “If I had never known my own mother, there would be nothing more to say. But now that I do know, let me do at least a little of a son’s duty by you. If the parents who raised me are unwilling, I will plead and beg them myself. Besides, my father and mother are good, charitable people. How could they refuse a home to my own mother?” “That may be so,” said Madam Li. “But I know how heavy my sins are; a whole life of penance will not undo them. If I fell back into worldly ties, I fear I could not bear such blessings, and they would only bring disaster down on us. Then wouldn’t you be sorry, my son?” Ni Jizu heard her words and saw that her heart was firm as stone and would not turn. He burst out wailing. “Since that is how it is, Mother, I won’t go back either. I will stay here and wait on you.” “Since you understand so much,” said Madam Li, “you know that books are read to learn what is right. As the saying goes, ‘To obey is to be filial.’ Though your mother never raised you, have you no thought for the toil and travail of bearing you, that you dare to defy me? Besides, your father and mother nursed you for three years and had no easy time raising you to manhood. You have not repaid them one part in ten thousand — would you turn ungrateful to them?” This speech left Ni Jizu without a word to say. He could only hang his head and weep.
李氏心下為難，猛然想起一計來，須如此如此，這冤家方能回去。想罷，說道：「孩兒不要啼哭。我有三件事，你要依從，諸事辦妥，為娘的必隨你去如何？」倪繼祖連忙問道：「那三件？請母親說明。」李氏道：「第一件，你從今後須要好好攻書，務須要得了一官半職；第二件，你須將仇家拿獲，與你爹爹雪恨；第三件，這白玉蓮花乃祖上遺留，原是兩個合成一枝，如今你將此枝仍然帶去，須把那一枝找尋回來。三事齊備，為娘必隨兒去；三事之中，倘缺一件，為娘的再也不能隨你去的。」說罷，又囑咐倪忠道：「恩公一生全仗忠義，我也不用饒舌。全賴恩公始終如一，便是我倪氏門中不幸之大幸了。你們速速回去吧！省得你那父母在家盼望。」李氏將話說完，一摔手回後去了。
李氏心下为难，猛然想起一计来，须如此如此，这冤家方能回去。想罢，说道：「孩儿不要啼哭。我有三件事，你要依从，诸事办妥，为娘的必随你去如何？」倪继祖连忙问道：「那三件？请母亲说明。」李氏道：「第一件，你从今后须要好好攻书，务须要得了一官半职；第二件，你须将仇家拿获，与你爹爹雪恨；第三件，这白玉莲花乃祖上遗留，原是两个合成一枝，如今你将此枝仍然带去，须把那一枝找寻回来。三事齐备，为娘必随儿去；三事之中，倘缺一件，为娘的再也不能随你去的。」说罢，又嘱咐倪忠道：「恩公一生全仗忠义，我也不用饶舌。全赖恩公始终如一，便是我倪氏门中不幸之大幸了。你们速速回去吧！省得你那父母在家盼望。」李氏将话说完，一摔手回后去了。
Madam Li was at a loss. Then suddenly a plan came to her: she must do thus and thus before this dear plague of hers would go home. Her mind made up, she said, “Don’t cry, my son. There are three things I want you to do. When they are all done, your mother will surely go with you. What do you say?” “What three things?” Ni Jizu asked at once. “Tell me, Mother.” “First,” said Madam Li, “from now on you must study hard and be sure to win some post in the government. Second, you must catch your father’s enemy and avenge his wrong. Third, this white jade lotus was handed down by our forebears. There were two of them, which together made a single spray. Take this one back with you as before, and you must find the other and bring it back. When all three are done, your mother will surely go with you. If even one of the three is lacking, your mother can never go with you.” Then she charged Ni Zhong: “My benefactor, all your life you have stood on loyalty and duty, so I need not waste words. If only you stay as true to the end as you have been from the start, it will be the great fortune in the misfortunes of the Ni family. Now go back, quickly! Your father and mother will be at home watching for you.” Having said her piece, Madam Li turned with a sharp wave of her hand and went back inside.
這裡倪繼祖如何肯去，還是倪忠連攙帶勸，真是一步幾回頭，好容易攙出院子門來。老尼後面相送。倪繼祖又諄囑了一番，方離了白衣庵，竟奔倪家莊而來。主僕在路途之中，一個是短歎長吁，一個是婉言相勸。倪繼祖道：「方才聽母親吩咐三件事，仔細想來，作官不難，報仇容易，只是那白玉蓮花卻往何處找尋？」倪忠道：「據老奴看來，物之隱現，自有定數，卻倒不難。還是作官難。總要官人以後好好攻書要緊。」倪繼祖道：「我有海洋深的仇，焉有自己不上進呢。老人家休要憂慮。」倪忠道：「官人如何這等呼喚？惟恐折了老奴的草料。」倪繼祖道：「你甘屈人下，全是為我而起。你的恩重如山，我如何以僕從相待。」倪忠道：「言雖如此。官人若當著外人，還要照常，不可露了形跡。」倪繼祖道：「逢場作戲，我是曉得的。還有一宗，今日之事，你我回去千萬莫要泄漏。待功成名就之後，大家再為言明，庶乎彼此有益。」倪忠道：「這不用官人囑咐。老奴十五年光景皆未泄漏，難道此時倒隱瞞不住麼？」二人說話之間，來到莊前。倪繼祖見了太公梁氏，俱各照常。
这里倪继祖如何肯去，还是倪忠连搀带劝，真是一步几回头，好容易搀出院子门来。老尼后面相送。倪继祖又谆嘱了一番，方离了白衣庵，竟奔倪家庄而来。主仆在路途之中，一个是短叹长吁，一个是婉言相劝。倪继祖道：「方才听母亲吩咐三件事，仔细想来，作官不难，报仇容易，只是那白玉莲花却往何处找寻？」倪忠道：「据老奴看来，物之隐现，自有定数，却倒不难。还是作官难。总要官人以后好好攻书要紧。」倪继祖道：「我有海洋深的仇，焉有自己不上进呢。老人家休要忧虑。」倪忠道：「官人如何这等呼唤？惟恐折了老奴的草料。」倪继祖道：「你甘屈人下，全是为我而起。你的恩重如山，我如何以仆从相待。」倪忠道：「言虽如此。官人若当着外人，还要照常，不可露了形迹。」倪继祖道：「逢场作戏，我是晓得的。还有一宗，今日之事，你我回去千万莫要泄漏。待功成名就之后，大家再为言明，庶乎彼此有益。」倪忠道：「这不用官人嘱咐。老奴十五年光景皆未泄漏，难道此时倒隐瞒不住么？」二人说话之间，来到庄前。倪继祖见了太公梁氏，俱各照常。
Ni Jizu would not hear of leaving. It was Ni Zhong who, half holding him up and half coaxing him, at last got him out through the courtyard gate — truly, he looked back at every step. The old nun followed to see them off, and Ni Jizu urged her again and again to look after his mother before he left the Baiyi Shrine at last and made straight for Ni Family Village. On the road, master and man went along, the one sighing long and short, the other soothing him with gentle words. “Just now Mother told me three things,” said Ni Jizu. “When I think it over, becoming an official won’t be hard, and avenging Father will be easy. But where am I to look for the white jade lotus?” “To this old servant’s mind,” said Ni Zhong, “whether a thing stays hidden or comes to light is fixed by fate, so that part isn’t hard. It’s becoming an official that’s hard. What matters most is that you study hard from now on, young master.” “I have a wrong as deep as the ocean to avenge,” said Ni Jizu. “How could I not strive to rise? Don’t you worry, sir.” “Why do you call me that, young master?” said Ni Zhong. “I’m afraid it will cost this old servant his blessings.” “You have stooped to serve under others, all for my sake,” said Ni Jizu. “Your kindness weighs as heavy as a mountain. How can I treat you as a servant?” “That may be so,” said Ni Zhong, “but in front of others you must still go on as usual, young master, and not let anything show.” “‘I only put on a show when I happen on a stage’ — I know that well enough,” said Ni Jizu. “And there is one more thing. When we get home, neither of us must let slip a word of what happened today. Once I have made my name, we can tell everyone plainly, and that will be best for all of us.” “You needn’t tell me that, young master,” said Ni Zhong. “For fifteen years this old servant never let it slip. Do you think I can’t keep it hidden now?” Talking as they went, the two came to the village. Ni Jizu saw Old Master Ni and Madam Liang, and everything went on just as before.