Li Ping'er (李瓶儿) falls gravely ill and in brief lucid moments she parcels out gifts and instructions. She gives silver and silk to Wang Guzi (王姑子) and to Feng Ma (冯妈). She asks them to perform rituals and to protect the child in her womb. Ximen Qing (西门庆) hires Pan Daoist (潘道士) to set up a life star altar in the garden. They prepare a three tiered platform and place twenty seven life lamps. The ritual is carried out at night with talismans incense and sword flourishes. A sudden black wind blows. Twenty six lamps are extinguished and the Daoist admits his power is limited. Li Ping'er briefly wakes to charge Ximen Qing with household matters. She begs him to care for the senior wife and for the pregnant woman. She names servants to protect and provide for. Soon after she dies. Ximen Qing collapses in grief. The women wash dress and arrange a lilac gown and blue satin shoes for the coffin. A cache of embroidered shoes is discovered. Li Jiao'er (李娇儿) eyes them with calculation. Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) speaks with bitter coldness. Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘) quietly takes the box keys and maneuvers behind the scenes. The household rushes to prepare the funeral. Chen Jingji (陈敬济) is named to act as the filial mourner. A diviner sets auspicious dates and Han the painter (韩画师) draws a portrait for the spirit canopy. Ying Bojue (应伯爵) arrives and rebukes excessive display while calming the grieving Ximen Qing. Guests and kin press in. A maternal relative demands the heaviest mourning robes and causes a scene. Wu Yiner (吴银儿) comes late and is given brocade and hairpins to keep vigil. Disputes arise over the wording of memorial inscriptions. Wen the scribe (温先生) objects to improper titles. Zhang Zhupo (张竹坡) criticizes vulgar pretensions. Du Zhongshu (杜中书) composes a tactful inscription and spares the household deeper embarrassment. Amid sorrow the family divides tasks and completes the rites. The events show both heartfelt grief and sharp human self-interest. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

李瓶儿病重，将尽之际吩咐细事，略露孤苦身世。她在微醒时分别赠与王姑子、冯妈与几名丫鬟金银绸缎，嘱咐若归天要为她超度并替腹中胎儿着想。府中为延续其寿命设坛请道士施法，西门庆在花园摆起三层坛台并点燃本命灯。法事突遇黑风，二十六盏灯被吹灭，道士悯然无力。李瓶儿临终交代家务。醒后不久便断气。西门庆痛哭失措，众人洗殓服饰，察得箱柜中绣鞋众多，引起利害纷争。潘金莲冷言相对，吴月娘暗自收钥，亲友来吊号哭成集。办丧事过程中有人以重孝争利，画师绘像，阴阳先生定日，陈敬济受推为代领孝人。写孝帖铭旌之时又生纷争，张竹坡直言不齿，杜中书巧妙折衷，众人在悲恸与忙碌中分工办事，既有凄凉也显露人情世故。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/