On the sixteenth the household went out to play and set off fireworks. Meng Yulou (孟玉楼) and the others changed clothes. Chen Jingji (陈敬济) remained with Song Huilian (宋惠莲). Song Huilian flirted and delayed the party. They stopped at Li Ping'er (李瓶儿)'s house and then accepted an invitation to Ben Si Sao's (贲四嫂) home. A cry in the street reported a theft and the women hurried back. The next morning Jing Qianhu (荆千户) arrived for tea. The upstairs girls were late in serving. Hui Xiang (惠祥嫂) boiled water in the back kitchen but did not heat it sufficiently. Cold tea upset Jing Qianhu. Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘) questioned the servants and chose not to punish Hui Xiang harshly. Hui Xiang resented this. She confronted Song Huilian in the street. The two nearly came to blows before Wu Yue-niang forced them apart. Laiwang (来旺) returned from Hangzhou and noticed a change in Song Huilian's dress. Sun Xue'e (孙雪娥) discreetly told Laiwang of rumors that Song Huilian had close dealings with the master. Lai Xing (来兴) seized the opportunity to stir trouble and spread accusations to undermine Laiwang. The scandal reached Ximen Qing (西门庆). Ximen Qing heard witnesses and was alarmed. He decided to send Laiwang away to end the disturbance. That night the household opened the silver bundles and found many were lead. Suspicion fell on Laiwang. He was seized and taken to the magistrate. Magistrate Xia (夏提刑) faced pressure from influential parties. Ximen Qing had already offered gifts and pushed for a severe sentence. A county official urged restraint. Magistrate Xia balanced career risk and conscience and issued a compromise. Laiwang was sentenced to exile to Xuzhou (徐州) and forbidden to return to Qinghe. Laiwang left without funds and sought help from his father in law Song Ren (宋仁). Song Huilian learned of the exile and fell into despair. She attempted to hang herself but neighbors rescued her. Ximen Qing privately arranged silver and measures to quiet the household and to prevent further scandal. Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) used the turmoil to accuse Sun Xue'e. Sun Xue'e was punished and shamed. The household grew more fractured. Suspicions and private intrigues deepened. The brief outing had set in motion a chain of accusations, punishment and exile that widened existing resentments. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

正月十六众人出门游玩放炮。孟玉楼等回屋换衣。陈敬济与宋惠莲留在一处。宋惠莲娇笑耍弄，引人侧目。众行经李瓶儿家后到贲四嫂处坐息。忽闻韩回子妻家失鞋失袜，众人回府。次日荆千户上门喝茶。上房少女耽搁送茶，惠祥嫂在后厨烧水未沸导致茶冷。荆千户不悦。吴月娘审问众人，不重罚惠祥。惠祥怀恨上门与宋惠莲当街激烈争执。来旺自杭州归来，见惠莲仪表变化，疑心萌生。孙雪娥暗中告知来旺坊间传言。来兴见机挑拨，向西门庆呈事以求攀附。西门庆震怒，众人推演后决定将来旺发配以平事端。夜里舆论转急，开银包一查多为铅锭。来旺被控替换银两而押问入狱。夏提刑受权势影响在利害之间徘徊，终以充军发配徐州并禁回清河，使来旺心灰意冷。宋惠莲闻讯绝望，上吊欲自尽，幸被来昭妻等人救下。西门庆私下以赏银遣送他人掩事，同时与宋惠莲暗中安抚。潘金莲趁机揭发更多绯闻，牵连孙雪娥受责夺首饰。来旺上路囊中羞涩，向岳父乞助。府中人心浮动，猜忌四起，日后隐伏的怨恨与权势角逐更将加深纷争。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/