This volume follows Ximen Qing (西门庆) as he moves between public authority and private indulgence. An elderly couple led by Wang Po (王婆) and He Jiu (何九) arrive to plead for He Shi (何十), who has been detained on a theft charge. Ximen Qing goes to the magistrate's prison and forces confessions. The true culprit is revealed as a monk from Honghua Temple (弘化寺). Ximen Qing secures He Shi's release and the brothers embrace in gratitude. Back home he holds a banquet and recounts the case. He also tells a bawdy legal tale about Song De (宋得) and his mother in law Zhou (周氏), which amuses the household. Soon the household is disturbed by darker disclosures. A young painting boy reports that Mr. Wen (温先生) got him drunk and assaulted him. The boy also says Wen encouraged petty theft and traded in family letters. Angry at betrayal, Ximen Qing forces Wen to leave with his wife. At the same time a visitor recommends Lai You (来友) to keep house accounts. Lai You is retained and his wife Hui Yuan (惠元) enters service. Private lusts complicate affairs. Ximen Qing carries on a secret affair with Ben Si's wife, known as Ben Si Sao (贲四嫂). Dai'an (玳安) becomes the household messenger and confidant who covers illicit meetings. Zhang Zhupo (张竹坡) and others suspect hidden motives behind some callers. An old aunt dies and Ximen Qing dispatches women to pay respects and gives funeral money. As the new year approaches, the household prepares feasts and receives visitors. Han Dasao (韩大嫂) grows suspicious and tells Pan Jinlian (潘金莲), setting gossip in motion. To avert exposure, servants and lovers distribute gifts to placate Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘) and other women. For a while this strategy holds. The episodes show both decisive justice and the petty, self-serving maneuvers of the powerful. Ximen Qing uses force to correct an injustice. At the same time he presides over scheming, secret liaisons, and bribery. The household becomes a theater where power, money, and desire collide. Loyalties shift and social masks slip, leaving uncertainty and moral disorder in their wake. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

朝堂外事与宅内私情在西门庆府交织成一幅喧闹的图景。王婆携何九上门陈情，为被扣押的何十伸冤。西门庆亲往提刑院审讯，强逼口供后查出真凶为弘化寺的和尚，遂释还何十，兄弟相认泣谢。回府设宴庆祝，席间有笑谈亦有闲议。他又讲述宋得与丈母周氏的荒唐事，引得众人哂笑。府中随后爆出更多丑事。门前小画童哭诉温氏醉后猥亵并教唆偷窃，西门庆震怒，令人逼其搬离，温氏携眷出走。来客荐来友入府为文，其妻惠元入内服侍。贲四嫂与西门庆偷欢，玳安为传信与保密者。张竹坡对王婆等来意存疑。老杨姑去世，西门庆派人吊唁并赏送丧银。年终备办年货，亲友上门拜年之际，风波暗涌。韩大嫂起疑将事告知潘金莲，传言逼近。为稳住局面，仆役以贺礼安抚吴月娘等要人，暂时压住风声。全卷既有伸冤匡正的果断举动，也有权贵间的算计与情欲纠葛。权力、金钱与欲望相互牵扯，府中人情冷暖、虚荣与危机并现，显出世态炎凉与人心难测。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/