話說秦相見眾鬼卒拉著他爹爹秦檜就走。他一急，用手一拉，祇聽琅璫一響，睜眼一看，原來是南柯一夢，把蠟燈摔在地上。外面有值宿的丫鬟，進來把蠟燈撿起來，照舊點上。夫人那裏也醒了，問道：「大人因何這等大驚小怪？」秦相說：「我方纔在燈下看書，偶然心血一迷，已睡入夢鄉中。方纔得了一個兆，見老太師回煞歸家，帶了手銬腳鐐，眾鬼卒押解，述說我在陽世之間之惡。我打算要把大碑樓止工，將眾僧人放回，夫人你看意下如何？」夫人聽了一笑道：「大人乃讀書之人，你怎麼也信服這攻乎異端，怪力亂神之事？」秦相一聽夫人之言，他又把善心截住，問丫鬟外面有甚麼時光。丫鬟說：「方交三鼓。」秦相說：「傳我的堂諭，三更天我在外書房審問瘋僧，非重重責罰他不可。」
话说秦相见众鬼卒拉着他爹爹秦桧就走。他一急，用手一拉，祇听琅珰一响，睁眼一看，原来是南柯一梦，把蜡灯摔在地上。外面有值宿的丫鬟，进来把蜡灯捡起来，照旧点上。夫人那里也醒了，问道：「大人因何这等大惊小怪？」秦相说：「我方才在灯下看书，偶然心血一迷，已睡入梦乡中。方才得了一个兆，见老太师回煞归家，带了手铐脚镣，众鬼卒押解，述说我在阳世之间之恶。我打算要把大碑楼止工，将众僧人放回，夫人你看意下如何？」夫人听了一笑道：「大人乃读书之人，你怎么也信服这攻乎异端，怪力乱神之事？」秦相一听夫人之言，他又把善心截住，问丫鬟外面有甚么时光。丫鬟说：「方交三鼓。」秦相说：「传我的堂谕，三更天我在外书房审问疯僧，非重重责罚他不可。」
Now, Chancellor Qin saw the ghost runners hauling his father, Qin Hui, away. In his alarm he reached out to pull him back, and there was a clatter. He opened his eyes. It had all been a dream of Nanke, and he had knocked the candle lamp to the floor. A maid on night duty outside came in, picked the lamp up and lit it again. His wife had woken as well. “Your Lordship,” she asked, “what has given you such a fright?” “Just now I was reading by the lamp,” said Chancellor Qin, “and before I knew it my mind clouded over and I drifted off to sleep. I have just had an omen. I saw the old Grand Preceptor come home for the soul’s return, in handcuffs and leg irons, under escort by a band of ghost runners, and he told me of the evil I have done in the world of the living. I am thinking of stopping the work on the Great Stele Tower and sending the monks back. What do you say to that, madam?” His wife laughed. “Your Lordship is a man of learning. How can you, too, believe in heterodox business like this — prodigies, feats of strength, disorders and spirits?” At his wife’s words Chancellor Qin shut off his good intentions once more and asked the maid what hour it was outside. “The third watch has only just struck,” said the maid. “Pass on my order,” said Chancellor Qin. “At the third watch I shall question the mad monk in the outer study. Nothing will do but a heavy punishment for him.”
正說著，祇見屋中這盞蠟燈呼呼呼，燈苗長有一尺多高。秦相爺一愣，冒然間這燈又往回縮，縮來縮去，燈苗剩了有棗核大小，屋子裏全綠了，如是者三次。秦相把鎮宅的寶劍摘下來，照著燈頭就是一劍，忽然獻出兩個燈光，秦相復又一劍，獻出四個燈光。秦相一連幾十劍，滿室中燈光繚繞。就聽婆子叫：「大人，門外面站著一個大頭鬼，衝著我們直晃腦袋！」丫鬟說：「可了不得！桌底下蹲著一個支牙鬼，衝我們直樂。」那丫鬟說：「快瞧，在簾子那裏有個地方鬼，直點頭。」秦相吩咐叫婆子打點，叫家人進來打鬼。婆子丫鬟到門外一呼喚，外面眾家丁往裏跑，聽內宅鬧鬼，都要來在相爺面前當差，剛要到了內宅，就聽聲音一片喊叫：「了不得了！相爺，看那破頭鬼的頭上直流血。了不得了！相爺，有了抗枷的鬼。了不得了！相爺，有了吊死鬼。了不得了！相爺，有了無頭鬼，又有了淘氣鬼了，淨打了擰人。」
正说着，祇见屋中这盏蜡灯呼呼呼，灯苗长有一尺多高。秦相爷一愣，冒然间这灯又往回缩，缩来缩去，灯苗剩了有枣核大小，屋子里全绿了，如是者三次。秦相把镇宅的宝剑摘下来，照着灯头就是一剑，忽然献出两个灯光，秦相复又一剑，献出四个灯光。秦相一连几十剑，满室中灯光缭绕。就听婆子叫：「大人，门外面站着一个大头鬼，冲着我们直晃脑袋！」丫鬟说：「可了不得！桌底下蹲着一个支牙鬼，冲我们直乐。」那丫鬟说：「快瞧，在帘子那里有个地方鬼，直点头。」秦相吩咐叫婆子打点，叫家人进来打鬼。婆子丫鬟到门外一呼唤，外面众家丁往里跑，听内宅闹鬼，都要来在相爷面前当差，刚要到了内宅，就听声音一片喊叫：「了不得了！相爷，看那破头鬼的头上直流血。了不得了！相爷，有了抗枷的鬼。了不得了！相爷，有了吊死鬼。了不得了！相爷，有了无头鬼，又有了淘气鬼了，净打了拧人。」
Even as they spoke, the candle lamp in the room went whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, and its flame shot up more than a foot high. His Excellency Chancellor Qin froze. Then all of a sudden the flame drew back again, shrinking and shrinking until it was no bigger than a jujube stone, and the whole room turned green. Three times it did this. Chancellor Qin took down the precious sword that guarded the house and slashed at the flame. At once two flames appeared. He slashed again, and four appeared. He slashed dozens of times in a row, until the room was full of swirling lights. Then a serving woman cried out, “Your Lordship, there’s a big-headed ghost standing outside the door, wagging its head at us!” “Heavens!” a maid said. “There’s a snaggle-toothed ghost squatting under the table, grinning at us!” “Quick, look!” said another maid. “Over by the door curtain there’s a warden’s ghost, nodding away!” Chancellor Qin told the serving women to see to it and have the menservants come in to beat the ghosts. The serving women and maids went to the door and called, and the menservants outside came running in. Hearing there were ghosts in the inner quarters, every one of them wanted to do His Excellency a service in person. But they were just about to reach the inner quarters when a great clamour of shouting went up: “It’s terrible! Your Excellency, look at that ghost with the broken head — the blood’s streaming down! It’s terrible! Your Excellency, there’s a ghost in a cangue! It’s terrible! Your Excellency, there’s a hanged ghost! It’s terrible! Your Excellency, there’s a headless ghost, and a mischief ghost too, that does nothing but hit people and pinch them!”
書中交代：此乃是濟公施的佛法。祇因秦相派了二十名家人。在外面禪房之內看押和尚，內中秦升說：「咱們這差事可不是玩耍，昨夜我就一夜未睡，今日又有這個差事。我出個主意，咱們大家每人出二百錢，做一個公東，買些酒菜來，入夜二更之時，大家喝了酒，至三更相爺要升書房審問和尚，也誤不了事。你等想想怎樣？」眾人都說道：「好好好，就是那樣辦罷。」眾人湊了四吊錢，叫一個人去沽酒買菜，都辦齊了。天有初更之時，祇見內中有說：「咱該喝了。」眾人把酒菜擺上。濟公說：「眾位慈悲慈悲，我和尚喝一盃酒呀。」秦升說：「和尚不準飲酒！你因何喝起酒來了？和尚說的是殺、盜、淫、妄、酒，此為五戒。你要喝，豈不犯了戒麼？」濟公呵呵大笑道：「管家但知其一，不知其二，內中還有許多好處呢。天有酒星，地有酒泉，人有酒聖，酒合萬事，酒和性情，仲尼以酒為道，但不及亂耳。」秦升說：「和尚，你知道這些事，我給你一盃吃。」伸手斟了一盃給和尚。濟公接過來說：「好好好，
日長似歲閑方覺，事大如天醉亦休。」
把那盃一飲而盡，說：「眾位再給我一盃吃罷。」秦升說：「已然給你一盃吃了，還要，真不知自愛。」和尚說：「你要不給這盃，連那盃人情也沒了。」秦升又給他斟了一盃。和尚喝了說：「來，再給一盃，湊個三盃。」秦升說：「沒有了。不是我不給你，和別位要罷。」濟公哈哈大笑說：「好，我自己會喝。」拿著酒盃連說：「唵敕令，來來來。」就見盃中酒忽滿了，和尚連吃了幾盃酒，把酒盃放下。那些家人都要喝酒，一個個向前伸手倒酒，那瓶內連一滴皆無。眾人都說買東西那個剩下錢啦，又把那個酒瓶拿過來，也是點酒皆無。秦升一語未發，一悶氣就先躺下了，眾人東倒西歪都睡了。濟公先點化了幾個鬼，想要把此事完了，也就省心了。不料秦夫人一句話就給擋住。和尚見家人睡了，和尚把鐵鎖盤起，就到內院去報應。那些惡僕平日倚主人之勢，在外招搖是非。和尚打一下，擰一下，正是報應眾人。祇見北房上有一人，手持鋼刀一把，要殺秦相，代濟公報仇。羅漢睜眼一看，來者非別，正是探囊取物趙斌。祇因前次趙斌幫著濟公盜五雷八卦天師符，裝韋馱在秦相府遇見尹士雄，兩個人回家中，見過趙老太太，有了兩天，尹士雄告辭就走了。趙斌仍是做小本生涯，倒不為賺錢。老太太因叫趙斌有個養身之道，省得胡作非為。這一天趙斌正在西湖賣鮮果子，見有無數官兵，圍住靈隱寺。趙斌見有認識的人，過去一問，方知是濟公打了秦相府的管家，秦相發傳牌調兵圍靈隱寺，捉拿瘋僧到相府，要把濟顛活活打死。趙斌一聽大吃一驚，自己一想：「濟公待我有救命之恩，他老人家遇難，我如何不救？」又想：「我娘親晚上又不叫我出來。有了，我說個誑，等我娘親睡著，我帶上切菜刀一把，奔那秦相府把奸相殺了，給我師父濟公長老報仇雪恨。」自己慢慢回家，老太太問：「今天因何不賣了？」趙斌說：「我今天身子不爽。」老太太說：「既是身子不爽，在家休息罷。」及至晚飯後，趙斌正望他母親睡覺，忽聽外面打門。趙斌一聽，心中大大不悅，心想：「我母親將要睡，又有人打門。」出來一看，乃是對門街居王老太太。一見說：「趙斌，我煩你一件事。祇因我王興兒清早起來賣果子，去到秦相府門首擺攤，正午的時候，來了一乘小轎，說我兒得了子午瘀，把我媳婦接了去，直到這個時候，還不見回來，我甚不放心。家中又沒人，我煩你去代打聽打聽。」趙斌連忙答應。他本是實心做事的人，進去告訴母親。換好了衣服，揣上一把切菜刀，出來一直奔至秦和坊。
书中交代：此乃是济公施的佛法。祇因秦相派了二十名家人。在外面禅房之内看押和尚，内中秦升说：「咱们这差事可不是玩耍，昨夜我就一夜未睡，今日又有这个差事。我出个主意，咱们大家每人出二百钱，做一个公东，买些酒菜来，入夜二更之时，大家喝了酒，至三更相爷要升书房审问和尚，也误不了事。你等想想怎样？」众人都说道：「好好好，就是那样办罢。」众人凑了四吊钱，叫一个人去沽酒买菜，都办齐了。天有初更之时，祇见内中有说：「咱该喝了。」众人把酒菜摆上。济公说：「众位慈悲慈悲，我和尚喝一杯酒呀。」秦升说：「和尚不准饮酒！你因何喝起酒来了？和尚说的是杀、盗、淫、妄、酒，此为五戒。你要喝，岂不犯了戒么？」济公呵呵大笑道：「管家但知其一，不知其二，内中还有许多好处呢。天有酒星，地有酒泉，人有酒圣，酒合万事，酒和性情，仲尼以酒为道，但不及乱耳。」秦升说：「和尚，你知道这些事，我给你一杯吃。」伸手斟了一杯给和尚。济公接过来说：「好好好，
日长似岁闲方觉，事大如天醉亦休。」
把那杯一饮而尽，说：「众位再给我一杯吃罢。」秦升说：「已然给你一杯吃了，还要，真不知自爱。」和尚说：「你要不给这杯，连那杯人情也没了。」秦升又给他斟了一杯。和尚喝了说：「来，再给一杯，凑个三杯。」秦升说：「没有了。不是我不给你，和别位要罢。」济公哈哈大笑说：「好，我自己会喝。」拿着酒杯连说：「唵敕令，来来来。」就见杯中酒忽满了，和尚连吃了几杯酒，把酒杯放下。那些家人都要喝酒，一个个向前伸手倒酒，那瓶内连一滴皆无。众人都说买东西那个剩下钱啦，又把那个酒瓶拿过来，也是点酒皆无。秦升一语未发，一闷气就先躺下了，众人东倒西歪都睡了。济公先点化了几个鬼，想要把此事完了，也就省心了。不料秦夫人一句话就给挡住。和尚见家人睡了，和尚把铁锁盘起，就到内院去报应。那些恶仆平日倚主人之势，在外招摇是非。和尚打一下，拧一下，正是报应众人。祇见北房上有一人，手持钢刀一把，要杀秦相，代济公报仇。罗汉睁眼一看，来者非别，正是探囊取物赵斌。祇因前次赵斌帮着济公盗五雷八卦天师符，装韦驮在秦相府遇见尹士雄，两个人回家中，见过赵老太太，有了两天，尹士雄告辞就走了。赵斌仍是做小本生涯，倒不为赚钱。老太太因叫赵斌有个养身之道，省得胡作非为。这一天赵斌正在西湖卖鲜果子，见有无数官兵，围住灵隐寺。赵斌见有认识的人，过去一问，方知是济公打了秦相府的管家，秦相发传牌调兵围灵隐寺，捉拿疯僧到相府，要把济颠活活打死。赵斌一听大吃一惊，自己一想：「济公待我有救命之恩，他老人家遇难，我如何不救？」又想：「我娘亲晚上又不叫我出来。有了，我说个诳，等我娘亲睡着，我带上切菜刀一把，奔那秦相府把奸相杀了，给我师父济公长老报仇雪恨。」自己慢慢回家，老太太问：「今天因何不卖了？」赵斌说：「我今天身子不爽。」老太太说：「既是身子不爽，在家休息罢。」及至晚饭后，赵斌正望他母亲睡觉，忽听外面打门。赵斌一听，心中大大不悦，心想：「我母亲将要睡，又有人打门。」出来一看，乃是对门街居王老太太。一见说：「赵斌，我烦你一件事。祇因我王兴儿清早起来卖果子，去到秦相府门首摆摊，正午的时候，来了一乘小轿，说我儿得了子午瘀，把我媳妇接了去，直到这个时候，还不见回来，我甚不放心。家中又没人，我烦你去代打听打听。」赵斌连忙答应。他本是实心做事的人，进去告诉母亲。换好了衣服，揣上一把切菜刀，出来一直奔至秦和坊。
A word of explanation: this was Ji Gong’s Buddhist magic at work. Chancellor Qin had sent twenty servants to keep the monk under guard in a meditation room outside. One of them, Qin Sheng, said, “This job of ours is no joke. I didn’t sleep a wink all last night, and today we’ve got this job on top of it. Here’s my idea. We each put in two hundred cash and make a common kitty, buy some wine and food, and at the second watch tonight we all have a drink. His Excellency won’t come to the study to question the monk till the third watch, so it won’t hold anything up. What do you all think?” “Fine, fine, fine,” they all said. “Let’s do it that way.” They pooled four strings of cash and sent a man to buy wine and dishes, and everything was got ready. At the first watch one of them said, “Time we had a drink.” They set out the wine and food. “Have mercy, gentlemen, have mercy,” Ji Gong said. “Let this monk have a cup of wine.” “Monks aren’t allowed to drink!” said Qin Sheng. “What do you mean, starting on the wine? Monks say killing, stealing, lust, lying and wine are the Five Precepts. If you drink, won’t you be breaking a precept?” Ji Gong roared with laughter. “Steward, you know the one thing but not the other. There’s a lot of good in it too. In heaven there’s the Wine Star, on earth the Wine Spring, among men the Wine Sage. Wine brings all things together, wine sweetens the temper, and Confucius made wine part of the Way — only he never drank to the point of disorder.” “Monk,” said Qin Sheng, “since you know all that, I’ll give you a cup.” He poured a cup and handed it to the monk. Ji Gong took it and said, “Good, good, good,
Only the idle feel the day drag like a year;a thing as big as heaven — once you’re drunk, let it go.”
He drained the cup at one go. “Gentlemen, give me another cup.” “I’ve given you one already,” said Qin Sheng, “and you want more? You really don’t know when to stop.” “If you don’t give me this cup,” said the monk, “then the favour of the first one is wasted too.” Qin Sheng poured him another. The monk drank it. “Come on, one more, to make it three.” “There’s none left,” said Qin Sheng. “It’s not that I won’t give you any. Ask the others.” Ji Gong laughed heartily. “All right, I can manage my own drinking.” Holding out the cup, he said over and over, “Om, by command! Come, come, come!” And all at once the cup was full of wine. The monk drank several cups one after another and put the cup down. Now the servants all wanted a drink. One after another they stepped up and reached out to pour, but there was not a single drop left in the jug. They all said the man who did the buying must have kept back some of the money. They brought over the other jug, and there was not a drop of wine in that either. Qin Sheng, without a word, lay down first in a sullen huff, and the rest sprawled every which way and fell asleep. Ji Gong had earlier conjured up a few ghosts, meaning to settle the affair that way and spare himself further trouble; he never expected Madam Qin to block it with a single remark. Seeing that the servants were asleep, the monk coiled up the iron chain and went into the inner courtyard to deal out retribution. Those vicious servants had always used their master’s power to throw their weight around outside and stir up trouble. The monk struck one here and pinched one there: truly, it was retribution on them all. Then he saw a man on the roof of the north building, a steel blade in his hand, come to kill Chancellor Qin and take revenge for Ji Gong. The arhat opened his eyes to look, and who should it be but Pick-It-from-a-Pocket, Zhao Bin. Some time before, Zhao Bin had helped Ji Gong steal the Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams, and while disguised as Weituo at Chancellor Qin’s mansion he had run into Yin Shixiong. The two of them went back to his home and paid their respects to old Mrs. Zhao, and after a couple of days Yin Shixiong took his leave and went away. Zhao Bin carried on with his small trade, not so much to make money as because the old lady wanted him to have a way of supporting himself, so that he would not get into mischief. On this day Zhao Bin was selling fresh fruit by West Lake when he saw a great host of government troops surrounding Lingyin Temple. Spotting someone he knew, he went over and asked, and learned that Ji Gong had beaten the steward of Chancellor Qin’s mansion, and that Chancellor Qin had sent out a warrant token calling up troops to surround Lingyin Temple, arrest the mad monk and bring him to Chancellor Qin’s mansion, where he meant to have Crazy Ji beaten to death. Zhao Bin was horrified. “Ji Gong saved my life,” he thought. “Now the old man’s in trouble — how can I not save him?” Then he thought, “But Mother won’t let me out at night. I’ve got it. I’ll tell her a fib, and once she’s asleep I’ll take a kitchen cleaver, go to Chancellor Qin’s mansion and kill that treacherous chancellor, and get revenge for my master Ji Gong and settle the score.” He went home slowly. “Why aren’t you out selling today?” the old lady asked. “I don’t feel well today,” said Zhao Bin. “If you don’t feel well,” said the old lady, “stay at home and rest.” After supper, Zhao Bin was waiting for his mother to go to bed when suddenly there was knocking at the gate. Zhao Bin was most put out. “Mother’s just about to go to sleep, and now someone’s knocking at the gate,” he thought. He went out to see. It was old Mrs. Wang, the neighbour from across the street. The moment she saw him she said, “Zhao Bin, I’ve a favour to ask. My Wang Xing got up early this morning to sell fruit and went and set up his stall at the gate of Chancellor Qin’s mansion. At noon a little sedan chair came and said my boy had been struck down with the ziwu sickness, and they took my daughter-in-law away with them. It’s this late and she still hasn’t come back. I’m terribly worried. There’s nobody else at home. Would you go and find out for me?” Zhao Bin agreed at once. He had always been one to do a thing wholeheartedly. He went in and told his mother, changed his clothes, tucked a kitchen cleaver inside his jacket, came out and headed straight for Qinhe Ward.
來到秦相府門首。此時已晚，見王興的果攤尚未收，有看街的郭四在那裏看守。趙斌一看熟人，說：「郭頭，我王賢弟那裏去了？」郭四道：「原來是趙爺。你問王興，別提了，今天一早秦相府二公子把他叫去。他叫我給看著，也給他賣了錢不少。我尚有忙事，他一進去，就沒有出來。我進去打聽，他們都不叫我問，我也不知是甚麼事？」趙斌也不知王興是怎麼一件事，別了郭四，便在各處訪查，也未打聽著，直至天有二鼓，自己纔奔秦相府，找僻靜之處，將身躥上房去，打算要刺殺秦相給濟公報仇。哪想到將來到裏面，在房上一看，院中燈火綠沉沉的，照得那些家人直似一群怨鬼，嚇得趙斌戰戰兢兢，穿房越脊，往西奔去。來到一所花園，趙斌站在房上東張西望，心說：「這所花園子，不是秦相府裏。在他這相府隔壁，是誰家的？」看了夠多時，祇見在東北上有一所院落，燈光閃爍。趙斌跳下來切近一看，周圍栽的桂樹，路北的垂花門。一進門，目前一帶俱是花牆子，當中白灰抹的棋盤心。這院子是北房三間連月臺，東西配房各三間。趙斌抬頭一看，見上房屋是垂下竹簾子，裏面現著燈光，由外向裏看的甚真。見裏面是一張八仙桌，桌上擺的乾鮮果品，冷葷熱炒，上等高糧，是一桌海味席，趙斌想：「這倒是活該給我預備的，叫我吃飽了，喝足了，再殺那狗娘養的。」趙斌往前剛走了兩步。猛然心中一動，自己叫著自己：「趙斌你太粗魯了！倘若屋內有人，我便往裏走，豈不被他看見？那時多有不便。我不免找塊石頭，探探有人沒有？」在院中找了一塊小磚頭，照定簾子打去。綠林人講究投石問路，用石頭一打，要有人必有答話﹔「這是誰砍磚頭呀。」有黃狗聽見有響動，汪汪一叫，也就探出來。趙斌今天用磚頭照簾子一打，並不見動作，自己滿心大悅，知道是沒人，這纔往前行走。剛上一臺階，祇聽上面叫：「哎呀，大哥來了。快救命呀！」趙斌大吃一驚，抬頭睜眼一看，原來是王興夫妻二人在房梁上倒，吊渾身是血。
来到秦相府门首。此时已晚，见王兴的果摊尚未收，有看街的郭四在那里看守。赵斌一看熟人，说：「郭头，我王贤弟那里去了？」郭四道：「原来是赵爷。你问王兴，别提了，今天一早秦相府二公子把他叫去。他叫我给看着，也给他卖了钱不少。我尚有忙事，他一进去，就没有出来。我进去打听，他们都不叫我问，我也不知是甚么事？」赵斌也不知王兴是怎么一件事，别了郭四，便在各处访查，也未打听着，直至天有二鼓，自己才奔秦相府，找僻静之处，将身蹿上房去，打算要刺杀秦相给济公报仇。哪想到将来到里面，在房上一看，院中灯火绿沉沉的，照得那些家人直似一群怨鬼，吓得赵斌战战兢兢，穿房越脊，往西奔去。来到一所花园，赵斌站在房上东张西望，心说：「这所花园子，不是秦相府里。在他这相府隔壁，是谁家的？」看了够多时，祇见在东北上有一所院落，灯光闪烁。赵斌跳下来切近一看，周围栽的桂树，路北的垂花门。一进门，目前一带俱是花墙子，当中白灰抹的棋盘心。这院子是北房三间连月台，东西配房各三间。赵斌抬头一看，见上房屋是垂下竹帘子，里面现着灯光，由外向里看的甚真。见里面是一张八仙桌，桌上摆的干鲜果品，冷荤热炒，上等高粮，是一桌海味席，赵斌想：「这倒是活该给我预备的，叫我吃饱了，喝足了，再杀那狗娘养的。」赵斌往前刚走了两步。猛然心中一动，自己叫着自己：「赵斌你太粗鲁了！倘若屋内有人，我便往里走，岂不被他看见？那时多有不便。我不免找块石头，探探有人没有？」在院中找了一块小砖头，照定帘子打去。绿林人讲究投石问路，用石头一打，要有人必有答话﹔「这是谁砍砖头呀。」有黄狗听见有响动，汪汪一叫，也就探出来。赵斌今天用砖头照帘子一打，并不见动作，自己满心大悦，知道是没人，这才往前行走。刚上一台阶，祇听上面叫：「哎呀，大哥来了。快救命呀！」赵斌大吃一惊，抬头睁眼一看，原来是王兴夫妻二人在房梁上倒，吊浑身是血。
He came to the gate of Chancellor Qin’s mansion. It was late by now, but Wang Xing’s fruit stall had still not been cleared away; Guo Si, the street watchman, was minding it. Seeing a man he knew, Zhao Bin said, “Headman Guo, where’s my worthy brother Wang got to?” “Oh, it’s you, Master Zhao,” said Guo Si. “You’re asking after Wang Xing? Don’t ask. Early this morning the second young master of Chancellor Qin’s mansion had him called in. He asked me to mind the stall for him, and I’ve sold a fair bit for him, too. I’ve got business of my own to see to, but once he went in, he never came out. I went in to ask, and they wouldn’t let me ask a thing. I don’t know what it’s all about.” Zhao Bin had no idea what had happened to Wang Xing either. He took his leave of Guo Si and went asking all over the place, but found out nothing. Not until the second watch did he make for Chancellor Qin’s mansion, find a quiet spot and spring up onto the roof, meaning to assassinate Chancellor Qin and avenge Ji Gong. But no sooner had he got inside and looked down from the roof than he saw the lamps in the courtyard burning a dim, murky green, lighting up the servants so that they looked just like a pack of wronged ghosts. Zhao Bin was so frightened that he shook all over. Over roofs and across ridges he ran westward until he came to a garden. Standing on a roof, Zhao Bin looked this way and that. “This garden isn’t part of Chancellor Qin’s mansion,” he thought. “It’s next door to the mansion. Whose is it?” He looked for a good while, and then he saw a courtyard to the northeast with lamplight flickering in it. Zhao Bin jumped down and went close to look. Osmanthus trees were planted all around, and on the north side of the path stood a festooned gate. Through the gate, straight ahead, ran a stretch of ornamental lattice wall, its centre panel plastered white in a chequerboard pattern. The courtyard had a main building of three bays on the north side, with a raised terrace in front, and side buildings of three bays each on the east and west. Zhao Bin looked up and saw a bamboo blind hanging over the doorway of the main building, with lamplight showing within; from outside he could see in quite clearly. Inside stood an Eight Immortals table laid with dried and fresh fruit, cold meats and hot stir-fries and the finest sorghum spirits — a whole banquet of delicacies from the sea. “Well, this must have been laid on just for me,” Zhao Bin thought. “I’ll eat my fill and drink all I want, and then I’ll kill that son of a bitch.” Zhao Bin had taken only two steps forward when a thought struck him, and he said to himself, “Zhao Bin, you’re too rash! If there’s anyone in that room and I just walk in, won’t they see me? That would make things awkward. I’d better find a stone and test whether anyone’s there.” He found a small piece of brick in the courtyard and threw it straight at the blind. Greenwood men make a practice of throwing a stone to ask the way: you throw a stone, and if anyone is about, they are sure to answer — “Who’s that chucking bricks?” — and if there’s a yellow dog, it hears the noise and barks, woof woof, and that gives the game away just the same. When Zhao Bin threw the brick at the blind tonight, nothing stirred. He was delighted, sure that no one was there, and only then did he go forward. He had just stepped up onto the first step when he heard a voice above him cry, “Oh, Elder Brother’s here! Save us!” Zhao Bin got a terrible fright. He raised his head and stared: it was Wang Xing and his wife, hanging upside down from the roof beam, covered in blood from head to foot.
不知這夫婦二人因何在此遇難，且看下回分解。
不知这夫妇二人因何在此遇难，且看下回分解。
Why had this husband and wife come to grief here? To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.