This volume traces a sequence of intrigues and domestic collapse centered on Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) and Ximen Qing (西门庆). Pan Jianglian grows jealous of Ximen Qing's lingering attachment to Song Huilian (宋惠莲). She spreads rumors and speaks soothing words by the sickbed to inflame resentment. A violent quarrel erupts between Song Huilian and Sun Xue'e (孙雪娥). Song Huilian later hangs herself. Her father Song Ren (宋仁) accuses Ximen Qing and seeks redress. He has no proof and is punished in court by Magistrate Li Datian (李达天). The beating injures him and he dies. Though the blame points back to Ximen Qing, he remains at liberty while the family suffers ruin. After the death, Ximen Qing, pressed by costly gifts sent to curry favor with Grand Tutor Cai Jing (蔡京), retreats to the garden to save money. Li Jiaor (李娇儿) then announces she is pregnant. The news provokes Pan Jinlian's jealousy. During a drunken revel beneath the grape arbor, Ximen Qing behaves roughly toward Pan Jinlian. She loses one embroidered shoe during the assault. The shoe passes through the hands of a child called Xiao Tiegun (小铁棍) and then to Chen Jingji (陈敬济). Pan Jinlian believes the shoe once belonged to Song Huilian and grows more resentful. Lai Zhao (来昭) and his wife are outraged when their child is beaten and feel wronged. Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘) tries to mediate and moves Lai Zhao's family to an old house on Lion Street to ease tensions. The household remains unsettled. Finally Zhou Shoubei (周守备) summons a diviner, Wu Shenxian (吴神仙), to read Ximen Qing's face and fortune. The seer predicts advancement and warns of danger tied to having many women. He offers detailed readings for each mistress and servant. His words leave Ximen Qing both pleased and uneasy. The narrative links private vice and social power. It shows how rumor, violence and occult counsel compound to unsettle a household and foreshadow possible retribution. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

本卷描写了西门庆府内的情欲纠纷与人情恩怨。潘金莲见西门庆对宋惠莲尚存牵挂，便在后厨散布谗言，并在病榻前软语挑唆，使宋惠莲与孙雪娥爆发冲突。闹剧之后宋惠莲上吊自尽，家人申冤未得公正，宋仁上告反遭杖责而死。此事虽指向西门庆，但当权者短暂逍遥，家门却已起祸端。宋惠莲死后，西门庆为迎合权贵劳师送礼，家中耗费殆尽。李瓶儿喜得身孕，潘金莲暗生醋意，于是与众人在葡萄架下饮宴。酒兴之下西门庆对潘金莲放肆粗鲁，使她受辱并遗失一只绣鞋。绣鞋经小儿拾得又由陈敬济得来，来昭夫妇因此与潘金莲结怨。为平众怒，吴月娘安置来昭二人于旧居看守，矛盾未解。随后周守备请来相士为西门庆占相。相人言辞纷呈，一面预示权位一面警告多妾将招灾祸，并分别点评府中女子容貌与命数。相词使西门庆既喜又惧，府中氛围更趋复杂。全卷通过争执、欺瞒和占卜的片段，呈现豪门内的情欲与权力交织，暗含报应与衰败的征兆。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/