After Han Daoguo (韩道国) departs, Ximen Qing (西门庆) retires upstairs with Wang Liu (王六) and the two indulge in passion. Ximen Qing burns three marks into Wang Liu with an incense tip. Hu Xiu (胡秀), lodging in the adjacent Buddhist room, probes a seam with his hairpin and peeps through a small hole. He sees the lovers. Han Daoguo returns at dusk and, learning Hu Xiu has been left at home, rushes back and finds the young man hiding. The household covers the incident and nerves are frayed. As the Double Ninth approaches, Ximen Qing arranges chrysanthemums and a gathering. Shen Erjie (申二姐) is invited to sing. Li Ping'er (李瓶儿) feels distressed by Pan Jinlian's (潘金莲) taunts and during the festivities she collapses while using the chamber pot. The pot is found full of blood and she loses consciousness. Ren the physician diagnoses depletion of qi and blood and prescribes gentle medicine. When bleeding continues, Ximen Qing summons the court physician Hu (胡太医) and an outsider, Zhao Longgang (赵龙岗). Zhao boasts of three generations of medical skill but prescribes violent remedies. He Laoren (何老人) exposes Zhao as a quack and forces him out. Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘) recalls a prior diviner and consults Huang Banxian (黄半仙), who reads the chart and warns of ill omens and female discord. Ximen Qing sends Dai'an (玳安) to Yuhuang Temple (玉皇庙) for a talisman. On the way Dai'an meets Ying Bojue (应伯爵) and Xie Xida (谢希大) and they debate bringing in Pan Daozhang (潘道长) from Wuyue Temple (五岳庙) to perform exorcistic rites. Li's condition appears hopeless and relatives press Ximen Qing and Wu Yue-niang to prepare a coffin. Chen Jingji (陈敬济) and Ben Si (贲四) secure a quality peachwood board as a deposit after bargaining. Wu Yue-niang promptly pays the balance. The coffin is brought in and neighbors and kin gather to view it. Li briefly brightens. She gives Wang Guzi (王姑子) money and a length of silk and asks that sutras be chanted for her soul. Family and servants take turns nursing her, reciting scriptures and posting talismans. The compound is full of tender care and mourning. Everyone fears she may not survive and clings to rites and remedies in hope. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

韩道国外出后，西门庆与王六在店内私会，上楼行欢，西门庆竟以香头在王六身上烫出几处印记。隔壁佛堂借宿的胡秀暗中用簪子探孔窥见两人情景。韩道国归家寻人，发现胡秀藏匿，场面收拾后人心惶惶。值重阳节，西门庆布满盆菊设宴，召申二姐助兴，众人赏花听曲。李瓶儿因潘金莲讥言心中郁结，节间忽然解手大出血昏厥，众人惊恐请仁医把脉。任医官诊断气血两亏，先开缓方。草药无力止血后，西门庆又请胡太医与城外赵龙岗。赵自夸家传三代，开猛药被城内老医何老人当场驳斥，揭其江湖本色而被逐。吴月娘为求安，另访黄半仙占卜，得凶兆并指有口舌小人。玳安赴庙取符，途中遇应伯爵与谢希大，众人又议请能捉鬼的潘道长来做法。李病日重，亲友催办寿材，陈敬济与贲四四处寻棺并押金定购，吴月娘慷慨付清差额。寿材入院，亲友来观，李瓶儿倏觉稍安，交代俭省并托王姑子念经超度，赠绸缎银两。屋内人轮流守候，供药念经并贴符行法。场面既有慈悲服侍，也充满哀惧。众人惟恐难以度过此劫，时时为她垂泪祈福。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/