《施公案》與《三俠五義》是兩部以公案與俠義題材融合而成的同類型小說，兩書由清官寫起，繼而寫俠客的歸附，最後逐步進入了以俠客為主的情節脈絡。因此，「俠義情節逐漸加多，而公案情節逐漸遞減」是兩書共同的特色。「低出身」成為俠客必須依附清官，得到「合法」懲惡權力的主因。另一方面，清官與俠客間的主從關係，再次導致俠客的「身分低下」。因此，為符合讀者的閱讀期待，俠客必須擺脫清官，方能擁有獨立行事的自主權，而成為真正的英雄。

Shi Gong-An and San Xia Wu Yi belong to the same type of fictions plotted with a fusion of 'Gong-An' and chivalry. These two fictions start from delineation of incorruptible official, followed by submission of knights' defections. With the emphasis shifted to the knights, these two fictions share the same feature of gradual increase in chivalrous plots and decrease in Gong-An plots.The main cause of why knighs having go to incorruptible official for shelter and then getting the lawful power to fight against crime is their humble origins. On the other hand, the dominant-subordinate relationship between the incorruptible official and knights, makes the latter become a role who has low identity again. Therefore, to meet readers' expectation, the knights must get free from incorruptible officials, to acquire the right to act on their own so as to become the real heroes.