且說陷空島盧家莊那鑽天鼠盧方，自從白玉堂離莊，算來將有兩月，未見回來，又無音信，甚是放心不下。每日裡嗐聲歎氣，坐臥不安，連飲食俱各減了。雖有韓徐蔣三人勸慰，無奈盧方實心忠厚，再也解不開。
且说陷空岛卢家庄那钻天鼠卢方，自从白玉堂离庄，算来将有两月，未见回来，又无音信，甚是放心不下。每日里嗐声叹气，坐卧不安，连饮食俱各减了。虽有韩徐蒋三人劝慰，无奈卢方实心忠厚，再也解不开。
Now, Lu Fang, the Sky Rat of Lu Family Village on Xiankong Island, reckoned that it was nearly two months since Bai Yutang had left the village. He had not come back, and no word had come from him, and Lu Fang could not set his mind at rest. Day after day he would groan and sigh; sitting or lying down he found no peace, and he was even eating less. Han Zhang, Xu Qing and Jiang Ping all tried to comfort him, but Lu Fang was too true and too loyal a soul, and nothing they said could ease his worry.
一日，兄弟四人同聚於待客廳上。盧方道：「自我兄弟結拜以來，朝夕相聚，何等快樂。偏是五弟少年心性，好事逞強，務必要與什麼「御貓」較量。至今去了兩月有餘，未見回來，劣兄好生放心不下。」四爺蔣平道：「五弟未免過於心高氣傲，而且不服人勸。小弟前次略說了幾句，險些兒與我反目。據我看來，惟恐五弟將來要從這上頭受害呢。」徐慶道：「四弟再休提起。那日要不是你說他，他如何會私自賭氣走了呢。全是你多嘴的不好。那有你三哥也不會說話，也不勸他的好呢。」盧方見徐慶抱怨蔣平，惟恐他二人分爭起來，便道：「事已至此，別的暫且不必提了。只是五弟此去倘有疏虞，那時怎了？劣兄意欲親赴東京尋找尋找，不知眾位賢弟以為如何？」蔣平道：「此事又何必大哥前往。既是小弟多言，他賭氣去了。莫若小弟去尋他回來就是了。」韓彰道：「四弟是斷然去不得的。」蔣平道：「卻是為何？」韓彰道：「五弟這一去必要與姓展的分個高下，倘若得了上風，那還罷了；他若拜了下風，再想起你的前言，如何還肯回來。你是斷然去不得的。」徐慶接言道：「待小弟前去如何？」盧方聽了，卻不言語，知道徐慶為人粗魯，是個渾愣。他這一去，不但不能找回五弟──巧咧，倒要鬧出事來。韓彰見盧方不語，心中早已明白了，便道：「三弟要去，待劣兄與你同去如何？」盧方聽韓彰要與徐慶同去，方答言道：「若得二弟同去，劣兄稍覺放心。」蔣平道：「此事因我起見。如何二哥三哥辛苦，小弟倒安逸呢？莫若小弟也同去走一遭如何？」盧方也不等韓彰徐慶說，便答言道：「若是四弟同去，劣兄更覺放心。明日就與三位賢弟餞行便了。」
一日，兄弟四人同聚于待客厅上。卢方道：「自我兄弟结拜以来，朝夕相聚，何等快乐。偏是五弟少年心性，好事逞强，务必要与什么「御猫」较量。至今去了两月有余，未见回来，劣兄好生放心不下。」四爷蒋平道：「五弟未免过于心高气傲，而且不服人劝。小弟前次略说了几句，险些儿与我反目。据我看来，惟恐五弟将来要从这上头受害呢。」徐庆道：「四弟再休提起。那日要不是你说他，他如何会私自赌气走了呢。全是你多嘴的不好。那有你三哥也不会说话，也不劝他的好呢。」卢方见徐庆抱怨蒋平，惟恐他二人分争起来，便道：「事已至此，别的暂且不必提了。只是五弟此去倘有疏虞，那时怎了？劣兄意欲亲赴东京寻找寻找，不知众位贤弟以为如何？」蒋平道：「此事又何必大哥前往。既是小弟多言，他赌气去了。莫若小弟去寻他回来就是了。」韩彰道：「四弟是断然去不得的。」蒋平道：「却是为何？」韩彰道：「五弟这一去必要与姓展的分个高下，倘若得了上风，那还罢了；他若拜了下风，再想起你的前言，如何还肯回来。你是断然去不得的。」徐庆接言道：「待小弟前去如何？」卢方听了，却不言语，知道徐庆为人粗鲁，是个浑愣。他这一去，不但不能找回五弟──巧咧，倒要闹出事来。韩彰见卢方不语，心中早已明白了，便道：「三弟要去，待劣兄与你同去如何？」卢方听韩彰要与徐庆同去，方答言道：「若得二弟同去，劣兄稍觉放心。」蒋平道：「此事因我起见。如何二哥三哥辛苦，小弟倒安逸呢？莫若小弟也同去走一遭如何？」卢方也不等韩彰徐庆说，便答言道：「若是四弟同去，劣兄更觉放心。明日就与三位贤弟饯行便了。」
One day the four brothers were gathered in the reception hall. Lu Fang said, “Ever since we swore brotherhood, we have been together morning and night, and how happy we have been. But Fifth Brother is young and headstrong, spoiling for trouble and out to prove himself, and nothing would do but he must try his strength against this ‘Imperial Cat’, whoever he is. It is more than two months now since he left, and he has not come back. I cannot rest easy about him.” Fourth Master Jiang Ping said, “Fifth Brother is too proud and too high-minded for his own good, and he won’t take advice from anyone. Last time I said just a few words to him, and he all but broke with me. The way I see it, I’m afraid this is what he’ll come to grief over one day.” “Don’t bring that up again, Fourth Brother,” said Xu Qing. “If you hadn’t gone at him that day, why would he have gone off on his own in a huff? It’s all your fault for running your mouth. Better be like your Third Brother here — I’m no talker, and I never lectured him, and a good thing too.” Seeing Xu Qing blaming Jiang Ping, Lu Fang was afraid the two of them would start quarrelling, so he said, “What is done is done; let us leave the rest aside for now. But if some mishap should befall Fifth Brother out there, what then? I am minded to go to the Eastern Capital myself and look for him. What do you think, brothers?” “Why should you have to go, Eldest Brother?” said Jiang Ping. “Since it was my talk that sent him off in a huff, it would be best if I went and found him and brought him back.” “You are the one man who must not go, Fourth Brother,” said Han Zhang. “And why is that?” asked Jiang Ping. “This time Fifth Brother is bound to have it out with this Zhan fellow and see which of them is the better man,” said Han Zhang. “If he comes out on top, well and good. But if he gets the worst of it, and then remembers what you told him before, how could he bear to come back? You are the one man who must not go.” Xu Qing broke in: “How about I go?” Lu Fang heard this and said nothing, for he knew Xu Qing was rough and rash, a hothead pure and simple. If he went, not only would he fail to bring Fifth Brother back — as like as not, he would stir up trouble of his own. Seeing Lu Fang silent, Han Zhang understood at once, and said, “If Third Brother wants to go, what if I go with him?” Only when he heard that Han Zhang would go with Xu Qing did Lu Fang answer: “If you go with him, Second Brother, I shall feel a little easier.” “This all started with me,” said Jiang Ping. “How can I let my Second and Third Brothers take the trouble while I sit at my ease? Why don’t I go along too?” Lu Fang did not wait for Han Zhang or Xu Qing to speak, but answered at once: “If you go as well, Fourth Brother, I shall feel easier still. Tomorrow I will give the three of you a farewell feast.”
忽見莊丁進來稟道：「外面有鳳陽府柳家莊柳員外求見。」盧方聽了，便問道：「此係何人？」蔣平道：「弟知此人，他乃金頭太歲甘豹的徒弟，姓柳名青，綽號白面判官。不知他來此為著何事？」盧方道：「三位賢弟且先迴避，待劣兄見他，看是如何。」吩咐莊丁：「快請。」盧方也就迎了出去。柳青同了莊丁進來，見他身量卻不高大，衣服甚是鮮明，白馥馥一張面皮，暗含著惡態，疊暴著環睛，明露著鬼計多端。彼此相見，各通姓名。盧方便執手，讓到待客廳上，就座獻茶。
忽见庄丁进来禀道：「外面有凤阳府柳家庄柳员外求见。」卢方听了，便问道：「此系何人？」蒋平道：「弟知此人，他乃金头太岁甘豹的徒弟，姓柳名青，绰号白面判官。不知他来此为着何事？」卢方道：「三位贤弟且先回避，待劣兄见他，看是如何。」吩咐庄丁：「快请。」卢方也就迎了出去。柳青同了庄丁进来，见他身量却不高大，衣服甚是鲜明，白馥馥一张面皮，暗含着恶态，叠暴着环睛，明露着鬼计多端。彼此相见，各通姓名。卢方便执手，让到待客厅上，就座献茶。
Just then one of the manor hands came in and reported, “Squire Liu of Liu Family Village in Fengyang Prefecture is outside and asks to see you.” “Who is he?” asked Lu Fang. “I know of the man,” said Jiang Ping. “He’s a disciple of Gan Bao, the Gold-Headed Terror (Jintou Taisui). Liu Qing is his name, and they call him the White-Faced Judge (Baimian Panguan). I wonder what brings him here.” “Keep out of sight for now, brothers,” said Lu Fang, “and I will see him and find out what he wants.” He told the manor hand, “Ask him in, quickly,” and went out to meet the visitor himself. Liu Qing came in with the manor hand. He was not a big man, but he was very finely dressed, and his face was white and smooth as cream. There was a hidden malice in it; his round eyes bulged, and it was plain he was full of tricks. They greeted each other and exchanged names. Lu Fang clasped his hands in greeting and showed him into the reception hall, where they took their seats and tea was served.