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11过得小半个时辰，吴三桂飞骑到来，立即在公主屋外磕头谢罪，又掏出一把翡翠珠玉，塞到韦小宝手里。韦小宝将珠玉塞还他手中，同意他带走吴应熊。吴三桂千谢万谢，命人抬走儿子。
After half an hour, Wu Sangui flew to the princess’s house and immediately kowtowed to apologize. He took out a handful of emerald beads and put them into Wei Xiaobao’s hand. Wei Xiaobao put the pearl back in his hand and agreed to take Wu Yingxiong away. Wu Sangui thanked him and ordered his son to be carried away.
12忽然听得砰的一声，只听一名宫女叫了起来:“公主，公主，你千万不可自寻短见!”几名宫女顿时哭声大作。一宫女匆匆走出，哭道:“韦爵爷，公主殿下悬梁自尽，你快来…救。“
Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and only one of the maids cried out: “Princess, princess, you must not miss yourself!” Several maids cried loudly. A palace maid hurried out and cried: “Lord Wei, your Royal Highness Royal Highness Princess hanged herself on the beam, come quickly… save“
13韦小宝正自犹豫，吴三桂一把将他推入房门，只见公主躺在床上，头颈里果然勒起一道红印，梁上悬着一截绳索，一张凳子翻倒在地，公主有气没力地道:“我……不想活了!我今后怎么做人?”
Wei Xiaobao was hesitating. Wu Sangui pushed him into the door, and saw the princess lying on the bed, with a red mark in her head and neck, a rope hanging on the beam, and a stool overturned on the ground. The princess said helplessly, “I… don’t want to live! How can I be a man in the future?”
14过了半响，韦小宝才从屋里出来。吴三桂一听公主安康，这才大大松口气。吴三桂又说些废话，只要绊住韦小宝，让人把儿子送回府中，以防他变口。估计人已回府，这才告辞。
After a while, Wei Xiaobao came out of the room. Wu Sangui was relieved when she heard that the princess was healthy. Wu Sangui said some nonsense again. Just stop Wei Xiaobao and ask someone to send his son back to the mansion to prevent him from changing his mouth. It is estimated that I have returned to my home. I’m leaving now.
15这一日忽地传说吴三桂遇刺受伤，韦小宝便去探望。吴三桂的次子出来接待，说道多谢钦差大人前来，王爷伤势无甚变化，刻下已然安睡。韦小宝隐隐觉得，平西王府已大起疑心，颇含敌意，心下不安。
On that day, it was suddenly said that Wu Sangui had been stabbed and injured, and Wei Xiaobao went to visit him. Wu Sangui’s second son came out to receive him and said thank you for the imperial envoy’s coming. The prince’s injury did not change much, and he was asleep now. Wei Xiaobao faintly felt that the Pingxi Palace had become suspicious, hostile and uneasy.
16又过一日，韦小宝正和天地会群雄商议，手下人报说有一道姑求见，专程送来一封信。韦小宝拿过信交与高彦超念道:“阿珂有难……”韦小宝大急，跳将起来，急召道姑，道姑却叫跟她前去。
Another day later, Wei Xiaobao was discussing with the heroes of the Heaven and Earth Society. His subordinates reported that an aunt had asked to see him and sent him a letter. Wei Xiaobao took the letter and handed it to Gao Yanchao and said, “Ah Ke is in trouble…” Wei Xiaobao was so worried that he jumped up and called for the Taoist nun, but the Taoist nun asked to follow her.
17韦小宝跟道姑出西门，行到一荒凉处，见一小小庵堂。道姑引着他来到东边偏殿，献上茶来，又奉上点心，便即退出。
Wei Xiaobao and Taoist Priest went out of the West Gate, walked to a desolate place, and saw a small temple. The Taoist nun led him to the east side hall, offered tea and Dim sum, and then quit.
18从门外走进一女子，向韦小宝合什行礼道:“出家人寂静，参见韦大人。”韦小宝细看，见这女子四十岁左右年纪，身穿淡黄道袍，眉目如画，清丽难言，刹时间目瞪囗呆，手足无措。
18 A woman walked in from the door and saluted Wei Xiaobao Heshi, saying, “The monk is quiet, see Lord Wei.” Wei Xiaobao looked closely and saw that the woman was about 40 years old, wearing a pale yellow Taoist robe, with picturesque, beautiful and unspeakable features. She was stunned and at a loss.
19那丽人忽地双膝下跪，盈盈拜倒。韦小宝也即跪倒，呼呼磕了几个响头。丽人道:“韦大人见信后，立刻驾到，……”韦小宝凝视着她，“啊哟”一声道:“你是阿珂的妈妈!”
The beauty suddenly knelt down on her knees and prostrated herself. Trinket knelt down and snored and kowtowed several times. The beauty said, “When Lord Wei saw the letter, he immediately arrived…” Wei Xiaobao stared at her and said, “Oh, you are the mother of Ah Ke!”
20丽人点点头，看到韦小宝满脸惊奇，遂从墙上摘下琵琶，轻弹轻唱一曲《园园曲》，韦小宝才知她就是陈园园，原为吴三桂妾，李自成攻克北京后，又充李自成妾，怀上阿珂。吴三桂引清兵攻破北京后，复归吴三桂。
The beauty nodded and saw Wei Xiaobao’s face full of surprise, so she took off her lute from the wall and played and sang a song of “Garden Song”. Only then did Wei Xiaobao know that she was Chen Yuanyuan. She was Wu Sangui’s concubine. After Li Zicheng conquered Beijing, she pretended to be Li Zicheng’s concubine and was pregnant with Ke. Wu Sangui returned to Wu Sangui after leading the Qing army to break Beijing.
