太原宗子美，從父游學，流寓廣陵。父與紅橋下林嫗有素。一日，父子過紅橋，遇之，固請過諸其家，瀹茗共話。有女在旁，殊色也。翁亟贊之。嫗顧宗曰：「大郎溫婉如處子，福相也。若不鄙棄，便奉箕帚，如何？」翁笑促子離席，使拜媼曰：「一言千金矣！」先是，嫗獨居，女忽自至，告訴孤苦。問其小字，則名嫦娥。嫗愛而留之，實將奇貨居之也。時宗年十四，睨女竊喜，意翁必媒定之；而翁歸若忘。心灼熱，隱以白母。翁聞而笑曰：「曩與貪婆子戲耳。彼不知將賣黃金幾何矣，此何可易言！」踰年，翁媼並卒。子美不能忘情嫦娥，服將闋，託人示意林嫗。嫗初不承。宗忿曰：「我生平不輕折腰，何媼視之不值一錢？若負前盟，須見還也！」嫗乃云：「曩或與而翁戲約，容有之。但無成言，遂都忘卻。今既云云，我豈留嫁天王耶？要日日裝束，實望易千金；今請半焉，可乎？」宗自度難辦，亦遂置之。適有寡媼，僦居西鄰，有女及笄，小名顛當。偶窺之，雅麗不減嫦娥。向慕之，每以饋遺階進；久而漸熟，往往送情以目，而欲語無間。一夕，踰垣乞火。宗喜挽之，遂相燕好。約為嫁娶，辭以兄負販未歸。由此蹈隙往來，形跡周密。一日，偶經紅橋，見嫦娥適在門內，疾趨過之。嫦娥望見，招之以手，宗駐足；女又招之，遂入。女以背約讓宗。宗述其故。便入室，取黃金一鋌付之。宗不受，辭曰：「自分永與卿絕，遂他有所約。受金而為卿謀，是負人也；受金而不為卿謀，是負卿也：誠不敢有所負。」女良久曰：「君所約，妾頗知之。其事必無成；即成之，妾不怨君之負心也。其速行，媼將至矣。」宗倉卒無以自主，受之而歸。隔夜，告之顛當。顛當深然其言，但勸宗專心嫦娥。宗不語；顛當願下之，宗乃悅。即遣媒納金林嫗，嫗無辭，以嫦娥歸宗。入門後，悉述顛當言。嫦娥微笑，陽慫恿之。宗喜，急欲一白顛當，而顛當跡久絕。嫦娥知其為己，因暫歸寧，故予之間，囑宗竊其佩囊。已而顛當果至，與商所謀，但言勿急。及解衿狎笑，脅下有紫荷囊，將便摘取。顛當變色起，曰：「君與人一心，而與妾二！負心郎！請從此絕。」宗屈意挽解，不聽，徑去。一日，過其門探察之，已另有吳客僦居其中，顛當子母遷去已久，影滅跡絕，莫可問訊。宗自娶嫦娥，家暴富，連閣長廊，彌亙街路。嫦娥善諧謔，適見美人畫卷，宗曰：「吾自謂，如卿天下無兩，但不曾見飛燕、楊妃耳。」女笑曰：「若欲見之，此亦何難。」乃執卷細審一過，便趨入室，對鏡修妝，傚飛燕舞風，又學楊妃帶醉。長短肥瘦，隨時變更；風情態度，對卷逼真。方作態時，有婢自外至，不復能識，驚問其僚；既而審注，恍然始笑。宗喜曰：「吾得一美人，而千古之美人，皆在床闥矣！」一夜，方熟寢，數人撬扉而入，火光射壁。女急起，驚言：「盜入！」宗初醒，即欲鳴呼。一人以白刃加頸，懼不敢喘。又一人掠嫦娥負背上，鬨然而去。宗始號，家役畢集，室中珍玩，無少亡者。宗大悲，恇然失圖，無復情地。告官追捕，殊無音息。荏苒三四年，鬱鬱無聊，因假赴試入都。居半載，占驗詢察，無計不施。偶過姚巷，值一女子，垢面敝衣，㑌儴如丐。停趾相之，乃顛當也。駭曰：「卿何憔悴至此？」答云：「別後南遷，老母即世，為惡人掠賣旗下，撻辱凍餒，所不忍言。」宗泣下，問：「可贖否？」曰：「難矣。耗費煩多，不能為力。」宗曰：「實告卿：年來頗稱小有；惜客中資斧有限，傾裝貨馬，所不敢辭。如所需過奢，當歸家營辦之。」女約明日出西城，相會叢柳下；囑獨往，勿以人從。宗曰：「諾。」次日，早往，則女先在，衣鮮明，大非前狀。驚問之，笑曰：「曩試君心耳，幸綈袍之意猶存。請至敝廬，宜必得當以報。」北行數武，即至其家，遂出肴酒，相與談讌。宗約與俱歸。女曰：「妾多俗累，不能從。嫦娥消息，固頗聞之。」宗急詢其何所。女曰：「其行蹤縹緲，妾亦不能深悉。西山有老尼，一目眇，問之，當自知。」遂止宿其家。天明示以徑。宗至其處，有古寺，周垣盡頹；叢竹內有茅屋半間，老尼綴衲其中。見客至，漫不為禮。宗揖之，尼始舉頭致問。因告姓氏，即白所求。尼曰：「八十老瞽，與世睽絕，何處知佳人消息？」宗固求之。乃曰：「我實不知。有二三戚屬，來夕相過，或小女子輩識之，未可知。汝明夕可來。」宗乃出。次日再至，則尼他出，敗扉扃焉。伺之既久，更漏已催，明月高揭，徘徊無計，遙見二三女郎自外入，則嫦娥在焉。宗喜極，突起，急攬其祛。嫦娥曰：「莽郎君！嚇煞妾矣！可恨顛當饒舌，乃教情欲纏人。」宗曳坐，執手款曲，歷訴艱難，不覺惻楚。女曰：「實相告：妾實姮娥被謫，浮沉俗間，其限已滿；託為寇劫，所以絕君望耳。尼亦王母守府者，妾初譴時，蒙其收卹，故暇時常一臨存。君如釋妾，當為代致顛當。」宗不聽，垂首隕涕。女遙顧曰：「姊妹輩來矣。」宗方四顧，而嫦娥已杳。宗大哭失聲，不欲復活，因解帶自縊。恍惚覺魂已出舍，悵悵靡適。俄見嫦娥來，捉而提之，足離於地；入寺，取樹上尸推擠之，喚曰：「癡郎，癡郎！嫦娥在此。」忽若夢醒。少定，女恚曰：「顛當賤婢！害妾而殺郎君，我不能恕之也！」下山賃輿而歸。既命家人治裝，乃返身而出西城，詣謝顛當；至則舍宇全非，愕歎而返。竊幸嫦娥不知，入門，嫦娥迎笑曰：「君見顛當耶？」宗愕然不能答。女曰：「君背嫦娥，烏得顛當？請坐待之，當自至。」未幾，顛當果至，倉皇伏榻下。嫦娥疊指彈之，曰：「小鬼頭陷人不淺！」顛當叩頭，但求賒死。嫦娥曰：「推人坑中，而欲脫身天外耶？廣寒十一姑不日下嫁，須繡枕百幅、履百雙，可從我去，相共操作。」顛當恭白：「但求分工，按時齎送。」女不許，謂宗曰：「君若緩頰，即便放卻。」顛當目宗，宗笑不語，顛當目怒之。乃乞還告家人，許之，遂去。宗問其生平，乃知其西山狐也。買輿待之。次日，果來，遂俱歸。然嫦娥重來，恆持重不輕諧笑。宗強使狎戲，惟密教顛當為之。顛當慧絕，工媚。嫦娥樂獨宿，每辭不當夕。一夜，漏三下，猶聞顛當房中，吃吃不絕。使婢竊聽之。婢還，不以告，但請夫人自往。伏窗窺之，則見顛當凝妝作己狀，宗擁抱，呼以嫦娥。女哂而退。未幾，顛當心暴痛，急披衣，曳宗詣嫦娥所，入門便伏。嫦娥曰：「我豈醫巫厭勝者？汝欲自捧心傚西子耳。」顛當頓首，但言知罪。女曰：「愈矣。」遂起，失笑而去。顛當私謂宗：「吾能使娘子學觀音。」宗不信，因戲相賭。嫦娥每趺坐，眸含若瞑。顛當悄以玉瓶插柳，置几上；自乃垂髮合掌，侍立其側，櫻唇半啟，瓠犀微露，睛不少瞬。宗笑之。嫦娥開目問之。顛當曰：「我學龍女侍觀音耳。」嫦娥笑罵之，罰使學童子拜。顛當束髮，遂四面朝參之，伏地翻轉，逞諸變態，左右側折，襪能磨乎其耳。嫦娥解頤，坐而蹴之。顛當仰首，口啣鳳鉤，微觸以齒。嫦娥方嬉笑間，忽覺媚情一縷，自足趾而上，直達心舍，意蕩思淫，若不自主。乃急斂神，呵曰：「狐奴當死！不擇人而惑之耶？」顛當懼，釋口投地。嫦娥又厲責之，眾不解。嫦娥謂宗曰：「顛當狐性不改，適間幾為所愚。若非夙根深者，墮落何難！」自是見顛當，每嚴御之。顛當慚懼，告宗曰：「妾於娘子一肢一體，無不親愛；愛之極，不覺媚之甚。謂妾有異心，不惟不敢，亦不忍。」宗因以告嫦娥，嫦娥遇之如初。然以狎戲無節，數戒宗，不聽；因而大小婢婦，競相狎戲。一日，二人扶一婢，效作楊妃。二人以目會意，賺婢懈骨作酣態，兩手遽釋；婢暴顛墀下，聲如傾堵。眾方大譁；近撫之，而妃子已作馬嵬薨矣。大眾懼，急白主人。嫦娥驚曰：「禍作矣！我言如何哉！」往驗之，不可救。使人告其父。父某甲，素無行，號奔而至，負尸入廳事，叫罵萬端。宗閉戶惴恐，莫知所措。嫦娥自出責之，曰：「主即虐婢至死，律無償法；且邂逅暴殂，焉知其不再甦？」甲譟言：「四支已冰，焉有生理！」嫦娥曰：「勿譁。縱不活，自有官在。」乃入廳事撫尸，而婢已蘇，隨手而起。嫦娥返身怒曰：「婢幸不死，賊奴何得無狀！可以草索縶送官府！」甲無詞，長跪哀免。嫦娥曰：「汝既知罪，姑免究處。但小人無賴，反復何常，留汝女終為禍胎，宜即將去。原價如干數，當速措置來。」遣人押出，俾浼二三村老，券証署尾。已，乃喚婢至前，使甲自問之：「無恙乎？」答曰：「無恙。」乃付之去。已，遂召諸婢，數責遍扑。又呼顛當，為之厲禁。謂宗曰：「今而知為人上者，一笑嚬亦不可輕。謔端開之自妾，而流弊遂不可止。凡哀者屬陰，樂者屬陽；陽極陰生，此循環之定數。婢子之禍，是鬼神告之以漸也。荒迷不悟，則傾覆及之矣。」宗敬聽之。顛當泣求拔脫。嫦娥乃掐其耳；逾刻釋手，顛當憮然為間，忽若夢醒，據地自投，歡喜欲舞。由此閨閣清肅，無敢譁者。婢至其家，無疾暴死。甲以贖金莫償，浼村老代求憐恕，許之。又以服役之情，施以材木而去。宗常患無子。嫦娥腹中忽聞兒啼，遂以刃破左脅出之，果男；無何，復有身，又破右脅而出一女。男酷類父，女酷類母，皆論昏於世家。
太原人宗子美跟隨父親外出求學，暫時住在廣陵。他父親與紅橋附近的林婆婆是老相識。一天，父子倆經過紅橋，遇見林婆婆，她執意請他們到家裡去，煮茶招待，一起閒談。旁邊有個女子，容貌非常美麗。宗父連連稱讚她。林婆婆看著宗子美說：「大郎溫柔文雅，像個姑娘，一看就是有福氣的人。你們要是不嫌棄，就讓她嫁過去，替你們料理家務，怎麼樣？」宗父笑著催兒子離開座位，向林婆婆行禮，說：「您這一句話可值千金！」原來，林婆婆先前獨自居住，那女子忽然自己找上門來，訴說自己孤苦無依。問起她的乳名，她說叫嫦娥。林婆婆喜歡她，便把她留下，其實是想把她當作稀有的貨物，等著賣個好價錢。當時宗子美十四歲，偷偷看著嫦娥，心裡十分歡喜，覺得父親一定會請媒人把婚事定下來。可回家以後，父親卻像是忘了這件事。他心裡焦急，私下向母親透露了心意。父親聽說後笑道：「先前不過是跟那個貪心的老婆子開個玩笑。還不知道她打算賣多少黃金呢，這種事怎麼能隨便說定！」過了一年，宗子美的父母都去世了。他始終忘不了嫦娥，守孝期快滿時，託人向林婆婆提起婚事。林婆婆起初不肯承認。宗子美氣憤地說：「我這輩子從不輕易向人彎腰行禮，怎麼她把我那一拜看得一文不值？要是違背從前的約定，就得把那一拜還給我！」林婆婆這才說：「從前或許跟你父親開玩笑，提過這件事，也不是沒有可能。但並沒有正式說定，我就全忘了。如今你既然這麼說，難道我還要留著她嫁給天王不成？只是我天天給她梳妝打扮，確實指望賣上一千金。如今只要一半，可以嗎？」宗子美估量自己籌不出這筆錢，也就把事情擱下了。恰好有個寡婦，租住在他家西邊的鄰屋，有個十五歲的女兒，乳名叫顛當。宗子美偶然看見她，端莊美麗，不比嫦娥遜色。他心生愛慕，常常藉著送東西的機會接近她們。日子久了，彼此漸漸熟悉，兩人時常用目光傳情，卻沒有機會說話。一天晚上，顛當翻過牆來借火。宗子美高興地拉住她，兩人便有了男女關係。他們約定結為夫妻，顛當卻說哥哥外出做生意還沒回來，婚事得等一等。從此，兩人趁著空隙來往，行蹤隱藏得十分嚴密。一天，宗子美偶然經過紅橋，看見嫦娥正站在門裡，便快步走過。嫦娥看見他，向他招手，他停下腳步；嫦娥又招了招手，他便走了進去。嫦娥責怪他違背約定，宗子美說明了緣故。她便進屋取出一錠黃金，交給他。宗子美不肯收，說：「我原以為這輩子再也不能和你在一起，所以已經跟別人有了約定。收了黃金，用來籌辦娶你的事，就是辜負她；收了黃金，卻不替你籌辦，就是辜負你。我實在不敢辜負任何一個人。」嫦娥沉默了很久，說：「你跟她約定的事，我也知道一些。你們的婚事一定成不了；即使成了，我也不會怨你負心。你快走吧，婆婆就要回來了。」宗子美倉促之間拿不定主意，便收下黃金回去了。隔了一夜，他把這件事告訴顛當。顛當很贊同嫦娥的話，只勸他一心娶嫦娥。宗子美不說話；顛當表示願意做妾，宗子美這才高興起來。他立刻派媒人把黃金送給林婆婆，林婆婆無話可說，便把嫦娥嫁給了他。嫦娥進門以後，宗子美把顛當的話全告訴了她。嫦娥微微一笑，裝作很贊成的樣子，鼓勵他去辦。宗子美很高興，急著想把這件事告訴顛當，可顛當已經很久沒有來過了。嫦娥知道她是因為自己才不來的，便暫時回林婆婆家探望，特意給他們留下相會的機會，又囑咐宗子美偷偷取走顛當佩戴的荷囊。不久，顛當果然來了，宗子美跟她商議婚事，她只說不要著急。等到兩人解開衣襟，親暱調笑時，宗子美看見她腋下有個紫色荷囊，伸手就要摘下來。顛當臉色一變，站起來說：「你跟別人一條心，跟我卻懷著兩條心！負心郎！我們從此斷絕來往！」宗子美放低姿態，拉住她想解釋，她不聽，徑直走了。一天，他經過顛當家門，想打聽她的情況，卻發現屋裡已經另住了一個從吳地來的客人。顛當母女早已搬走，蹤影全無，無處打聽。宗子美娶了嫦娥以後，家裡忽然富裕起來，樓閣相連，長廊延伸，佔據了很長一段街道。嫦娥很會說笑。一次，兩人恰好看見一幅美人畫卷，宗子美說：「我一直覺得，像你這樣的美人，天下再沒有第二個，只是我不曾見過飛燕和楊妃。」嫦娥笑道：「你要想見她們，這有什麼難的？」她拿起畫卷，仔細看了一遍，便快步進屋，對著鏡子梳妝，模仿飛燕迎風起舞，又模仿楊妃醉酒的樣子。身材的高矮胖瘦，隨時變換；神情姿態，與畫卷上幾乎一模一樣。她正在模仿時，有個婢女從外面進來，竟認不出她，驚訝地向其他婢女詢問；隨後仔細看了看，這才恍然明白，笑了起來。宗子美高興地說：「我娶了一個美人，古往今來的美人卻全都到了我的臥房裡！」一天夜裡，兩人正在熟睡，幾個人撬開房門闖了進來，火光照亮了牆壁。嫦娥急忙起身，驚叫：「強盜進來了！」宗子美剛醒，正想喊叫，一個人把刀架在他脖子上，他嚇得連大氣也不敢出。另一個人抓起嫦娥，背在背上，一夥人吵嚷著離去了。宗子美這才大聲呼喊，家中僕役全趕了過來，屋裡的珍貴器物卻一件也沒少。宗子美悲痛萬分，驚慌得不知如何是好，再沒有心思做任何事。他向官府報案，請求追捕，卻始終沒有訊息。三四年漸漸過去，他一直鬱悶無聊，便藉著參加考試的名義去了京城。他住了半年，占卜、求問、四處打聽，能想到的辦法都試過了。一次經過姚巷，他遇見一個女子，臉上滿是汙垢，衣服破舊，落魄得像個乞丐。他停下腳步仔細一看，竟是顛當。他驚訝地說：「你怎麼憔悴成這樣了？」顛當回答：「分別以後，我遷居南方，老母親去世了，我又被惡人擄走，賣到旗人家裡。捱打、受辱、受凍、捱餓，那些事我都不忍說。」宗子美流下眼淚，問：「能贖你出來嗎？」顛當說：「難啊。要花的錢太多，你負擔不起。」宗子美說：「實話告訴你，這些年我也算有了一點家產。可惜出門在外，帶的錢有限，但把行李裡的財物全部拿出來，再把馬賣掉，我也在所不惜。要是需要的錢實在太多，我就回家籌措。」顛當約他第二天出西城，到一叢柳樹下相會，囑咐他獨自前來，不要帶人跟隨。宗子美答應了。第二天，他早早趕去，顛當已經在那裡，衣著鮮明，與先前大不相同。他驚訝地詢問，顛當笑道：「先前只是試試你的心。幸好你還念著舊情，肯在我困苦時相助。請到我家去，我一定要好好報答你。」向北走了幾步，便到了她家。顛當擺出酒菜，兩人邊吃邊談。宗子美邀她一起回家，顛當說：「我還有許多俗事牽絆，不能跟你走。不過，嫦娥的訊息，我倒聽說過一些。」宗子美急忙問她在哪裡。顛當說：「她來去不定，我也不能完全知道。西山有個老尼姑，一隻眼睛看不見，你去問她，自然就知道了。」宗子美便在顛當家住了一夜。天亮後，顛當給他指了路。他到了那裡，看見一座古寺，四周的圍牆全都倒塌了。竹叢裡有半間茅屋，一個老尼姑正在屋裡補綴僧衣。看見客人來了，她毫不理會。宗子美向她行禮，她才抬起頭來詢問。宗子美報了姓名，隨即說明來意。老尼姑說：「我這八十歲的老瞎子，跟世間早已斷了往來，哪裡會知道美人的訊息？」宗子美再三懇求，她才說：「我確實不知道。有兩三個親戚，明天晚上要來看我，或許那些小姑娘認識她，也說不定。你明天晚上再來吧。」宗子美便離開了。第二天再去，老尼姑出門了，破舊的門鎖著。他等了很久，夜已經深了，明月高掛，他無計可施，只能來回徘徊。忽然遠遠看見兩三個年輕女子從外面走進來，嫦娥就在其中。宗子美高興極了，猛地站起來，急忙抓住她的衣袖。嫦娥說：「你這個莽撞郎君，嚇死我了！可恨顛當多嘴，竟讓情慾這樣糾纏著人。」宗子美拉她坐下，握著她的手，傾訴思念，把這些年的艱難一一說給她聽，不知不覺又悲傷起來。嫦娥說：「實話告訴你，我就是被貶下來的姮娥，在人世間輾轉生活，如今期限已經滿了。我假託被強盜劫走，就是為了斷絕你的盼望。那尼姑也是替王母守府的人。我剛被貶時，蒙她收留照顧，所以有空常來看望她。你要是肯放我走，我就替你把顛當找來。」宗子美不答應，低著頭流淚。嫦娥望向遠處，說：「姐妹們來了。」宗子美剛轉頭四處張望，嫦娥已經不見了。他放聲大哭，不想再活下去，便解下衣帶上吊。恍惚間，他覺得自己的魂魄已經離開身體，茫然徘徊，無處可去。不一會兒，看見嫦娥來了，抓住他提起來，讓他的腳離開地面；進了寺裡，取下樹上他的屍體，把他的魂魄往身體裡推擠，呼喚：「痴郎，痴郎！嫦娥在這裡。」他忽然像從夢中醒來。稍稍安定後，嫦娥氣憤地說：「顛當這賤婢，害了我，又害死郎君，我不能饒恕她！」兩人下山，僱了轎子回到住處。宗子美吩咐家人收拾行李，隨後又轉身出了西城，去向顛當道謝。到了那裡，房屋卻已經全變了樣，他驚愕嘆息，只好回來。他暗自慶幸嫦娥不知道，可一進門，嫦娥就迎上來笑道：「你見到顛當了嗎？」宗子美驚得答不上來。嫦娥說：「你瞞著嫦娥出去，怎麼能見到顛當？坐著等吧，她自己會來。」沒過多久，顛當果然來了，慌慌張張地伏在床榻下面。嫦娥接連用手指彈她，說：「小鬼頭，你把人害得不輕！」顛當磕著頭，只求暫且饒她不死。嫦娥說：「把別人推進坑裡，自己卻想逃到天外去嗎？廣寒十一姑不久就要出嫁，需要一百個繡花枕頭、一百雙鞋。你跟我去，一起做這些活。」顛當恭敬地說：「只求把我該做的活分給我，我按時送來。」嫦娥不答應，對宗子美說：「你若替她說情，我就放了她。」顛當望著宗子美，宗子美只笑，不說話，顛當便生氣地瞪了他一眼。隨後，她請求先回去告訴家人，嫦娥答應了，她便離開。宗子美問起她的來歷，這才知道她是西山的狐狸。他買了轎子等她。第二天，顛當果然來了，三人便一起回家。然而，嫦娥這次回來以後，常常莊重嚴肅，不輕易說笑。宗子美硬要她陪自己親暱嬉戲，她只暗中教顛當去做。顛當聰明極了，很會討人喜歡。嫦娥喜歡獨自睡，常常推辭，不肯夜裡陪宗子美。一夜，已經三更了，還聽見顛當房裡不斷傳出低低的笑聲。嫦娥讓婢女去偷聽。婢女回來，卻不肯說，只請夫人自己去看。嫦娥伏在窗邊往裡看，只見顛當精心梳妝，扮成自己的模樣，宗子美抱著她，叫她嫦娥。嫦娥冷笑了一下，轉身離開。不久，顛當忽然心口劇痛，急忙披上衣服，拉著宗子美來到嫦娥房裡，一進門便伏在地上。嫦娥說：「難道我是治病驅邪的醫巫嗎？你不過想捂著心口學西子罷了。」顛當磕著頭，只說自己知道錯了。嫦娥說：「已經好了。」顛當便站起來，忍不住笑著走了。顛當私下對宗子美說：「我能讓娘子扮觀音。」宗子美不信，兩人便開玩笑打了個賭。嫦娥常常盤腿坐著，眼簾低垂，像閉著眼睛。顛當悄悄把柳枝插進玉瓶，放在桌上，自己披散頭髮，雙手合掌，侍立在她身邊，櫻桃般的嘴唇微微張開，露出一點潔白整齊的牙齒，眼睛一眨也不眨。宗子美看著她笑。嫦娥睜開眼睛，問怎麼回事。顛當說：「我在學侍奉觀音的龍女。」嫦娥笑著罵她，罰她再學童子叩拜。顛當束起頭髮，便從四個方向向她行禮，又伏在地上翻滾，做出各種姿勢，向左右彎折身體，穿著襪子的腳都能擦到耳朵。嫦娥笑了，坐在那裡用腳踢她。顛當仰起頭，用嘴含住嫦娥的小腳，拿牙齒輕輕觸碰。嫦娥正在嬉笑，忽然覺得一縷誘人的情慾從腳趾向上升起，直達心裡，心神動盪，生出淫慾，彷彿無法控制自己。她急忙收住心神，喝道：「該死的狐奴！你竟不管是誰，都要迷惑嗎？」顛當害怕了，鬆開嘴，伏倒在地。嫦娥又嚴厲地責備她，眾人都不明白緣故。嫦娥對宗子美說：「顛當的狐狸本性沒有改，剛才我險些受她迷惑。若不是前世修行的根基深厚，要墮落有什麼難的！」從此，她每次見顛當，都嚴加管束。顛當又慚愧又害怕，對宗子美說：「娘子身上的每一處，我都十分愛惜。因為愛得太深，不知不覺就過分賣弄了媚態。若說我另有用心，我不但不敢，也不忍心。」宗子美把這些話告訴嫦娥，嫦娥便像從前一樣對待顛當。但因為親暱嬉戲毫無節制，嫦娥多次告誡宗子美，他卻不聽；於是，家裡大大小小的婢女和僕婦，也爭相嬉鬧起來。一天，兩個人扶著一個婢女，讓她模仿楊妃。兩人交換眼色，哄得那婢女放鬆身體，裝出醉得軟綿綿的樣子，隨即同時鬆手。婢女猛地摔到臺階下面，響聲像一堵牆倒塌。眾人正大聲驚叫，走近摸了摸，才發現這位扮作楊妃的婢女，竟也像楊妃在馬嵬那樣死了。大家害怕極了，急忙報告主人。嫦娥驚道：「出禍事了！我說得怎麼樣！」她過去檢視，已經救不活了，便派人通知婢女的父親。那人叫某甲，一向品行不端，哭喊著跑來，把屍體背進廳堂，破口大罵，什麼難聽的話都說了。宗子美關著門，惶恐不安，不知道怎麼辦。嫦娥親自出來責備他說：「即使主人虐待婢女，導致她死亡，按律也不用抵命。何況她是意外猝死，怎麼知道她不能再醒過來？」某甲大聲嚷道：「四肢都已經冰涼了，哪裡還有活過來的可能！」嫦娥說：「別吵。即使活不過來，自有官府處理。」她便進廳堂撫摸屍體，婢女竟甦醒過來，隨著她的手站了起來。嫦娥轉過身，怒道：「幸好婢女沒有死，你這賊奴怎麼敢如此撒野！拿草繩把他綁起來，送到官府去！」某甲無話可說，直挺挺地跪著，哀求饒恕。嫦娥說：「你既然知道錯了，暫且不追究。但你這種無賴小人，隨時可能反悔，留下你女兒，終究是個禍根，你馬上把她領走。原先買她花了多少錢，你就趕快籌齊還來。」她派人把某甲押出去，讓他請兩三個村中老人，在契約末尾署名作證。辦完以後，她把婢女叫到面前，讓某甲親自問她：「沒事了嗎？」婢女回答：「沒事了。」嫦娥這才把婢女交給他，讓他們離開。隨後，她召來所有婢女，逐個責罵，都打了一頓，又叫來顛當，嚴厲地禁止她再胡鬧。她對宗子美說：「如今才知道，做主人的，連一笑一皺眉都不能隨便。玩笑是我先開的，後來造成的壞影響，竟無法止住。凡悲哀都屬陰，歡樂都屬陽；陽盛到了極點，就會生出陰，這是迴圈不變的規律。婢女遭遇的禍事，是鬼神逐步向我們發出警告。要是還沉迷其中，不肯醒悟，毀滅的災難就要落到我們身上了。」宗子美恭敬地聽著。顛當流著淚，懇求嫦娥替她解脫。嫦娥便掐住她的耳朵，過了一會兒才鬆手。顛當悵然愣了一陣，忽然像從夢中醒來，兩手撐地，把身子往地上一撲，歡喜得幾乎要跳起舞來。從此，內宅清靜嚴肅，再沒有人敢喧鬧。那婢女回到家裡，沒有生病就突然死了。某甲還不起贖金，便請村中老人代為求情，懇求寬免，嫦娥答應了。又念著婢女曾在家裡服侍的情分，給了他木材，讓他回去。宗子美常為沒有兒子發愁。嫦娥腹中忽然傳出嬰兒的啼哭聲，她便用刀剖開左側肋部，把孩子取出來，果然是個男孩。不久，她又懷了孕，再剖開右側肋部，取出一個女孩。男孩非常像父親，女孩非常像母親，兩人後來都與世家子女訂了婚。
太原宗子美，从父游学，流寓广陵。父与红桥下林妪有素。一日，父子过红桥，遇之，固请过诸其家，瀹茗共话。有女在旁，殊色也。翁亟赞之。妪顾宗曰：「大郎温婉如处子，福相也。若不鄙弃，便奉箕帚，如何？」翁笑促子离席，使拜媪曰：「一言千金矣！」先是，妪独居，女忽自至，告诉孤苦。问其小字，则名嫦娥。妪爱而留之，实将奇货居之也。时宗年十四，睨女窃喜，意翁必媒定之；而翁归若忘。心灼热，隐以白母。翁闻而笑曰：「曩与贪婆子戏耳。彼不知将卖黄金几何矣，此何可易言！」逾年，翁媪并卒。子美不能忘情嫦娥，服将阕，托人示意林妪。妪初不承。宗忿曰：「我生平不轻折腰，何媪视之不值一钱？若负前盟，须见还也！」妪乃云：「曩或与而翁戏约，容有之。但无成言，遂都忘却。今既云云，我岂留嫁天王耶？要日日装束，实望易千金；今请半焉，可乎？」宗自度难办，亦遂置之。适有寡媪，僦居西邻，有女及笄，小名颠当。偶窥之，雅丽不减嫦娥。向慕之，每以馈遗阶进；久而渐熟，往往送情以目，而欲语无间。一夕，逾垣乞火。宗喜挽之，遂相燕好。约为嫁娶，辞以兄负贩未归。由此蹈隙往来，形迹周密。一日，偶经红桥，见嫦娥适在门内，疾趋过之。嫦娥望见，招之以手，宗驻足；女又招之，遂入。女以背约让宗。宗述其故。便入室，取黄金一铤付之。宗不受，辞曰：「自分永与卿绝，遂他有所约。受金而为卿谋，是负人也；受金而不为卿谋，是负卿也：诚不敢有所负。」女良久曰：「君所约，妾颇知之。其事必无成；即成之，妾不怨君之负心也。其速行，媪将至矣。」宗仓卒无以自主，受之而归。隔夜，告之颠当。颠当深然其言，但劝宗专心嫦娥。宗不语；颠当愿下之，宗乃悦。即遣媒纳金林妪，妪无辞，以嫦娥归宗。入门后，悉述颠当言。嫦娥微笑，阳怂恿之。宗喜，急欲一白颠当，而颠当迹久绝。嫦娥知其为己，因暂归宁，故予之间，嘱宗窃其佩囊。已而颠当果至，与商所谋，但言勿急。及解衿狎笑，胁下有紫荷囊，将便摘取。颠当变色起，曰：「君与人一心，而与妾二！负心郎！请从此绝。」宗屈意挽解，不听，径去。一日，过其门探察之，已另有吴客僦居其中，颠当子母迁去已久，影灭迹绝，莫可问讯。宗自娶嫦娥，家暴富，连阁长廊，弥亘街路。嫦娥善谐谑，适见美人画卷，宗曰：「吾自谓，如卿天下无两，但不曾见飞燕、杨妃耳。」女笑曰：「若欲见之，此亦何难。」乃执卷细审一过，便趋入室，对镜修妆，傚飞燕舞风，又学杨妃带醉。长短肥瘦，随时变更；风情态度，对卷逼真。方作态时，有婢自外至，不复能识，惊问其僚；既而审注，恍然始笑。宗喜曰：「吾得一美人，而千古之美人，皆在床闼矣！」一夜，方熟寝，数人撬扉而入，火光射壁。女急起，惊言：「盗入！」宗初醒，即欲鸣呼。一人以白刃加颈，惧不敢喘。又一人掠嫦娥负背上，哄然而去。宗始号，家役毕集，室中珍玩，无少亡者。宗大悲，恇然失图，无复情地。告官追捕，殊无音息。荏苒三四年，郁郁无聊，因假赴试入都。居半载，占验询察，无计不施。偶过姚巷，值一女子，垢面敝衣，㑌儴如丐。停趾相之，乃颠当也。骇曰：「卿何憔悴至此？」答云：「别后南迁，老母即世，为恶人掠卖旗下，挞辱冻馁，所不忍言。」宗泣下，问：「可赎否？」曰：「难矣。耗费烦多，不能为力。」宗曰：「实告卿：年来颇称小有；惜客中资斧有限，倾装货马，所不敢辞。如所需过奢，当归家营办之。」女约明日出西城，相会丛柳下；嘱独往，勿以人从。宗曰：「诺。」次日，早往，则女先在，衣鲜明，大非前状。惊问之，笑曰：「曩试君心耳，幸绨袍之意犹存。请至敝庐，宜必得当以报。」北行数武，即至其家，遂出肴酒，相与谈䜩。宗约与俱归。女曰：「妾多俗累，不能从。嫦娥消息，固颇闻之。」宗急询其何所。女曰：「其行踪缥缈，妾亦不能深悉。西山有老尼，一目眇，问之，当自知。」遂止宿其家。天明示以径。宗至其处，有古寺，周垣尽颓；丛竹内有茅屋半间，老尼缀衲其中。见客至，漫不为礼。宗揖之，尼始举头致问。因告姓氏，即白所求。尼曰：「八十老瞽，与世睽绝，何处知佳人消息？」宗固求之。乃曰：「我实不知。有二三戚属，来夕相过，或小女子辈识之，未可知。汝明夕可来。」宗乃出。次日再至，则尼他出，败扉扃焉。伺之既久，更漏已催，明月高揭，徘徊无计，遥见二三女郎自外入，则嫦娥在焉。宗喜极，突起，急揽其祛。嫦娥曰：「莽郎君！吓煞妾矣！可恨颠当饶舌，乃教情欲缠人。」宗曳坐，执手款曲，历诉艰难，不觉恻楚。女曰：「实相告：妾实姮娥被谪，浮沉俗间，其限已满；托为寇劫，所以绝君望耳。尼亦王母守府者，妾初谴时，蒙其收恤，故暇时常一临存。君如释妾，当为代致颠当。」宗不听，垂首陨涕。女遥顾曰：「姊妹辈来矣。」宗方四顾，而嫦娥已杳。宗大哭失声，不欲复活，因解带自缢。恍惚觉魂已出舍，怅怅靡适。俄见嫦娥来，捉而提之，足离于地；入寺，取树上尸推挤之，唤曰：「痴郎，痴郎！嫦娥在此。」忽若梦醒。少定，女恚曰：「颠当贱婢！害妾而杀郎君，我不能恕之也！」下山赁舆而归。既命家人治装，乃返身而出西城，诣谢颠当；至则舍宇全非，愕叹而返。窃幸嫦娥不知，入门，嫦娥迎笑曰：「君见颠当耶？」宗愕然不能答。女曰：「君背嫦娥，乌得颠当？请坐待之，当自至。」未几，颠当果至，仓皇伏榻下。嫦娥叠指弹之，曰：「小鬼头陷人不浅！」颠当叩头，但求赊死。嫦娥曰：「推人坑中，而欲脱身天外耶？广寒十一姑不日下嫁，须绣枕百幅、履百双，可从我去，相共操作。」颠当恭白：「但求分工，按时赍送。」女不许，谓宗曰：「君若缓颊，即便放却。」颠当目宗，宗笑不语，颠当目怒之。乃乞还告家人，许之，遂去。宗问其生平，乃知其西山狐也。买舆待之。次日，果来，遂俱归。然嫦娥重来，恒持重不轻谐笑。宗强使狎戏，惟密教颠当为之。颠当慧绝，工媚。嫦娥乐独宿，每辞不当夕。一夜，漏三下，犹闻颠当房中，吃吃不绝。使婢窃听之。婢还，不以告，但请夫人自往。伏窗窥之，则见颠当凝妆作己状，宗拥抱，呼以嫦娥。女哂而退。未几，颠当心暴痛，急披衣，曳宗诣嫦娥所，入门便伏。嫦娥曰：「我岂医巫厌胜者？汝欲自捧心傚西子耳。」颠当顿首，但言知罪。女曰：「愈矣。」遂起，失笑而去。颠当私谓宗：「吾能使娘子学观音。」宗不信，因戏相赌。嫦娥每趺坐，眸含若瞑。颠当悄以玉瓶插柳，置几上；自乃垂发合掌，侍立其侧，樱唇半启，瓠犀微露，睛不少瞬。宗笑之。嫦娥开目问之。颠当曰：「我学龙女侍观音耳。」嫦娥笑骂之，罚使学童子拜。颠当束发，遂四面朝参之，伏地翻转，逞诸变态，左右侧折，袜能磨乎其耳。嫦娥解颐，坐而蹴之。颠当仰首，口啣凤钩，微触以齿。嫦娥方嬉笑间，忽觉媚情一缕，自足趾而上，直达心舍，意荡思淫，若不自主。乃急敛神，呵曰：「狐奴当死！不择人而惑之耶？」颠当惧，释口投地。嫦娥又厉责之，众不解。嫦娥谓宗曰：「颠当狐性不改，适间几为所愚。若非夙根深者，堕落何难！」自是见颠当，每严御之。颠当惭惧，告宗曰：「妾于娘子一肢一体，无不亲爱；爱之极，不觉媚之甚。谓妾有异心，不惟不敢，亦不忍。」宗因以告嫦娥，嫦娥遇之如初。然以狎戏无节，数戒宗，不听；因而大小婢妇，竞相狎戏。一日，二人扶一婢，效作杨妃。二人以目会意，赚婢懈骨作酣态，两手遽释；婢暴颠墀下，声如倾堵。众方大哗；近抚之，而妃子已作马嵬薨矣。大众惧，急白主人。嫦娥惊曰：「祸作矣！我言如何哉！」往验之，不可救。使人告其父。父某甲，素无行，号奔而至，负尸入厅事，叫骂万端。宗闭户惴恐，莫知所措。嫦娥自出责之，曰：「主即虐婢至死，律无偿法；且邂逅暴殂，焉知其不再甦？」甲噪言：「四支已冰，焉有生理！」嫦娥曰：「勿哗。纵不活，自有官在。」乃入厅事抚尸，而婢已苏，随手而起。嫦娥返身怒曰：「婢幸不死，贼奴何得无状！可以草索絷送官府！」甲无词，长跪哀免。嫦娥曰：「汝既知罪，姑免究处。但小人无赖，反复何常，留汝女终为祸胎，宜即将去。原价如干数，当速措置来。」遣人押出，俾浼二三村老，券证署尾。已，乃唤婢至前，使甲自问之：「无恙乎？」答曰：「无恙。」乃付之去。已，遂召诸婢，数责遍扑。又呼颠当，为之厉禁。谓宗曰：「今而知为人上者，一笑嚬亦不可轻。谑端开之自妾，而流弊遂不可止。凡哀者属阴，乐者属阳；阳极阴生，此循环之定数。婢子之祸，是鬼神告之以渐也。荒迷不悟，则倾覆及之矣。」宗敬听之。颠当泣求拔脱。嫦娥乃掐其耳；逾刻释手，颠当怃然为间，忽若梦醒，据地自投，欢喜欲舞。由此闺阁清肃，无敢哗者。婢至其家，无疾暴死。甲以赎金莫偿，浼村老代求怜恕，许之。又以服役之情，施以材木而去。宗常患无子。嫦娥腹中忽闻儿啼，遂以刃破左胁出之，果男；无何，复有身，又破右胁而出一女。男酷类父，女酷类母，皆论昏于世家。
太原人宗子美跟随父亲外出求学，暂时住在广陵。他父亲与红桥附近的林婆婆是老相识。一天，父子俩经过红桥，遇见林婆婆，她执意请他们到家里去，煮茶招待，一起闲谈。旁边有个女子，容貌非常美丽。宗父连连称赞她。林婆婆看着宗子美说：“大郎温柔文雅，像个姑娘，一看就是有福气的人。你们要是不嫌弃，就让她嫁过去，替你们料理家务，怎么样？”宗父笑着催儿子离开座位，向林婆婆行礼，说：“您这一句话可值千金！”原来，林婆婆先前独自居住，那女子忽然自己找上门来，诉说自己孤苦无依。问起她的乳名，她说叫嫦娥。林婆婆喜欢她，便把她留下，其实是想把她当作稀有的货物，等着卖个好价钱。当时宗子美十四岁，偷偷看着嫦娥，心里十分欢喜，觉得父亲一定会请媒人把婚事定下来。可回家以后，父亲却像是忘了这件事。他心里焦急，私下向母亲透露了心意。父亲听说后笑道：“先前不过是跟那个贪心的老婆子开个玩笑。还不知道她打算卖多少黄金呢，这种事怎么能随便说定！”过了一年，宗子美的父母都去世了。他始终忘不了嫦娥，守孝期快满时，托人向林婆婆提起婚事。林婆婆起初不肯承认。宗子美气愤地说：“我这辈子从不轻易向人弯腰行礼，怎么她把我那一拜看得一文不值？要是违背从前的约定，就得把那一拜还给我！”林婆婆这才说：“从前或许跟你父亲开玩笑，提过这件事，也不是没有可能。但并没有正式说定，我就全忘了。如今你既然这么说，难道我还要留着她嫁给天王不成？只是我天天给她梳妆打扮，确实指望卖上一千金。如今只要一半，可以吗？”宗子美估量自己筹不出这笔钱，也就把事情搁下了。恰好有个寡妇，租住在他家西边的邻屋，有个十五岁的女儿，乳名叫颠当。宗子美偶然看见她，端庄美丽，不比嫦娥逊色。他心生爱慕，常常借着送东西的机会接近她们。日子久了，彼此渐渐熟悉，两人时常用目光传情，却没有机会说话。一天晚上，颠当翻过墙来借火。宗子美高兴地拉住她，两人便有了男女关系。他们约定结为夫妻，颠当却说哥哥外出做生意还没回来，婚事得等一等。从此，两人趁着空隙来往，行踪隐藏得十分严密。一天，宗子美偶然经过红桥，看见嫦娥正站在门里，便快步走过。嫦娥看见他，向他招手，他停下脚步；嫦娥又招了招手，他便走了进去。嫦娥责怪他违背约定，宗子美说明了缘故。她便进屋取出一锭黄金，交给他。宗子美不肯收，说：“我原以为这辈子再也不能和你在一起，所以已经跟别人有了约定。收了黄金，用来筹办娶你的事，就是辜负她；收了黄金，却不替你筹办，就是辜负你。我实在不敢辜负任何一个人。”嫦娥沉默了很久，说：“你跟她约定的事，我也知道一些。你们的婚事一定成不了；即使成了，我也不会怨你负心。你快走吧，婆婆就要回来了。”宗子美仓促之间拿不定主意，便收下黄金回去了。隔了一夜，他把这件事告诉颠当。颠当很赞同嫦娥的话，只劝他一心娶嫦娥。宗子美不说话；颠当表示愿意做妾，宗子美这才高兴起来。他立刻派媒人把黄金送给林婆婆，林婆婆无话可说，便把嫦娥嫁给了他。嫦娥进门以后，宗子美把颠当的话全告诉了她。嫦娥微微一笑，装作很赞成的样子，鼓励他去办。宗子美很高兴，急着想把这件事告诉颠当，可颠当已经很久没有来过了。嫦娥知道她是因为自己才不来的，便暂时回林婆婆家探望，特意给他们留下相会的机会，又嘱咐宗子美偷偷取走颠当佩戴的荷囊。不久，颠当果然来了，宗子美跟她商议婚事，她只说不要着急。等到两人解开衣襟，亲昵调笑时，宗子美看见她腋下有个紫色荷囊，伸手就要摘下来。颠当脸色一变，站起来说：“你跟别人一条心，跟我却怀着两条心！负心郎！我们从此断绝来往！”宗子美放低姿态，拉住她想解释，她不听，径直走了。一天，他经过颠当家门，想打听她的情况，却发现屋里已经另住了一个从吴地来的客人。颠当母女早已搬走，踪影全无，无处打听。宗子美娶了嫦娥以后，家里忽然富裕起来，楼阁相连，长廊延伸，占据了很长一段街道。嫦娥很会说笑。一次，两人恰好看见一幅美人画卷，宗子美说：“我一直觉得，像你这样的美人，天下再没有第二个，只是我不曾见过飞燕和杨妃。”嫦娥笑道：“你要想见她们，这有什么难的？”她拿起画卷，仔细看了一遍，便快步进屋，对着镜子梳妆，模仿飞燕迎风起舞，又模仿杨妃醉酒的样子。身材的高矮胖瘦，随时变换；神情姿态，与画卷上几乎一模一样。她正在模仿时，有个婢女从外面进来，竟认不出她，惊讶地向其他婢女询问；随后仔细看了看，这才恍然明白，笑了起来。宗子美高兴地说：“我娶了一个美人，古往今来的美人却全都到了我的卧房里！”一天夜里，两人正在熟睡，几个人撬开房门闯了进来，火光照亮了墙壁。嫦娥急忙起身，惊叫：“强盗进来了！”宗子美刚醒，正想喊叫，一个人把刀架在他脖子上，他吓得连大气也不敢出。另一个人抓起嫦娥，背在背上，一伙人吵嚷着离去了。宗子美这才大声呼喊，家中仆役全赶了过来，屋里的珍贵器物却一件也没少。宗子美悲痛万分，惊慌得不知如何是好，再没有心思做任何事。他向官府报案，请求追捕，却始终没有消息。三四年渐渐过去，他一直郁闷无聊，便借着参加考试的名义去了京城。他住了半年，占卜、求问、四处打听，能想到的办法都试过了。一次经过姚巷，他遇见一个女子，脸上满是污垢，衣服破旧，落魄得像个乞丐。他停下脚步仔细一看，竟是颠当。他惊讶地说：“你怎么憔悴成这样了？”颠当回答：“分别以后，我迁居南方，老母亲去世了，我又被恶人掳走，卖到旗人家里。挨打、受辱、受冻、挨饿，那些事我都不忍说。”宗子美流下眼泪，问：“能赎你出来吗？”颠当说：“难啊。要花的钱太多，你负担不起。”宗子美说：“实话告诉你，这些年我也算有了一点家产。可惜出门在外，带的钱有限，但把行李里的财物全部拿出来，再把马卖掉，我也在所不惜。要是需要的钱实在太多，我就回家筹措。”颠当约他第二天出西城，到一丛柳树下相会，嘱咐他独自前来，不要带人跟随。宗子美答应了。第二天，他早早赶去，颠当已经在那里，衣着鲜明，与先前大不相同。他惊讶地询问，颠当笑道：“先前只是试试你的心。幸好你还念着旧情，肯在我困苦时相助。请到我家去，我一定要好好报答你。”向北走了几步，便到了她家。颠当摆出酒菜，两人边吃边谈。宗子美邀她一起回家，颠当说：“我还有许多俗事牵绊，不能跟你走。不过，嫦娥的消息，我倒听说过一些。”宗子美急忙问她在哪里。颠当说：“她来去不定，我也不能完全知道。西山有个老尼姑，一只眼睛看不见，你去问她，自然就知道了。”宗子美便在颠当家住了一夜。天亮后，颠当给他指了路。他到了那里，看见一座古寺，四周的围墙全都倒塌了。竹丛里有半间茅屋，一个老尼姑正在屋里补缀僧衣。看见客人来了，她毫不理会。宗子美向她行礼，她才抬起头来询问。宗子美报了姓名，随即说明来意。老尼姑说：“我这八十岁的老瞎子，跟世间早已断了往来，哪里会知道美人的消息？”宗子美再三恳求，她才说：“我确实不知道。有两三个亲戚，明天晚上要来看我，或许那些小姑娘认识她，也说不定。你明天晚上再来吧。”宗子美便离开了。第二天再去，老尼姑出门了，破旧的门锁着。他等了很久，夜已经深了，明月高挂，他无计可施，只能来回徘徊。忽然远远看见两三个年轻女子从外面走进来，嫦娥就在其中。宗子美高兴极了，猛地站起来，急忙抓住她的衣袖。嫦娥说：“你这个莽撞郎君，吓死我了！可恨颠当多嘴，竟让情欲这样纠缠着人。”宗子美拉她坐下，握着她的手，倾诉思念，把这些年的艰难一一说给她听，不知不觉又悲伤起来。嫦娥说：“实话告诉你，我就是被贬下来的姮娥，在人世间辗转生活，如今期限已经满了。我假托被强盗劫走，就是为了断绝你的盼望。那尼姑也是替王母守府的人。我刚被贬时，蒙她收留照顾，所以有空常来看望她。你要是肯放我走，我就替你把颠当找来。”宗子美不答应，低着头流泪。嫦娥望向远处，说：“姐妹们来了。”宗子美刚转头四处张望，嫦娥已经不见了。他放声大哭，不想再活下去，便解下衣带上吊。恍惚间，他觉得自己的魂魄已经离开身体，茫然徘徊，无处可去。不一会儿，看见嫦娥来了，抓住他提起来，让他的脚离开地面；进了寺里，取下树上他的尸体，把他的魂魄往身体里推挤，呼唤：“痴郎，痴郎！嫦娥在这里。”他忽然像从梦中醒来。稍稍安定后，嫦娥气愤地说：“颠当这贱婢，害了我，又害死郎君，我不能饶恕她！”两人下山，雇了轿子回到住处。宗子美吩咐家人收拾行李，随后又转身出了西城，去向颠当道谢。到了那里，房屋却已经全变了样，他惊愕叹息，只好回来。他暗自庆幸嫦娥不知道，可一进门，嫦娥就迎上来笑道：“你见到颠当了吗？”宗子美惊得答不上来。嫦娥说：“你瞒着嫦娥出去，怎么能见到颠当？坐着等吧，她自己会来。”没过多久，颠当果然来了，慌慌张张地伏在床榻下面。嫦娥接连用手指弹她，说：“小鬼头，你把人害得不轻！”颠当磕着头，只求暂且饶她不死。嫦娥说：“把别人推进坑里，自己却想逃到天外去吗？广寒十一姑不久就要出嫁，需要一百个绣花枕头、一百双鞋。你跟我去，一起做这些活。”颠当恭敬地说：“只求把我该做的活分给我，我按时送来。”嫦娥不答应，对宗子美说：“你若替她说情，我就放了她。”颠当望着宗子美，宗子美只笑，不说话，颠当便生气地瞪了他一眼。随后，她请求先回去告诉家人，嫦娥答应了，她便离开。宗子美问起她的来历，这才知道她是西山的狐狸。他买了轿子等她。第二天，颠当果然来了，三人便一起回家。然而，嫦娥这次回来以后，常常庄重严肃，不轻易说笑。宗子美硬要她陪自己亲昵嬉戏，她只暗中教颠当去做。颠当聪明极了，很会讨人喜欢。嫦娥喜欢独自睡，常常推辞，不肯夜里陪宗子美。一夜，已经三更了，还听见颠当房里不断传出低低的笑声。嫦娥让婢女去偷听。婢女回来，却不肯说，只请夫人自己去看。嫦娥伏在窗边往里看，只见颠当精心梳妆，扮成自己的模样，宗子美抱着她，叫她嫦娥。嫦娥冷笑了一下，转身离开。不久，颠当忽然心口剧痛，急忙披上衣服，拉着宗子美来到嫦娥房里，一进门便伏在地上。嫦娥说：“难道我是治病驱邪的医巫吗？你不过想捂着心口学西子罢了。”颠当磕着头，只说自己知道错了。嫦娥说：“已经好了。”颠当便站起来，忍不住笑着走了。颠当私下对宗子美说：“我能让娘子扮观音。”宗子美不信，两人便开玩笑打了个赌。嫦娥常常盘腿坐着，眼帘低垂，像闭着眼睛。颠当悄悄把柳枝插进玉瓶，放在桌上，自己披散头发，双手合掌，侍立在她身边，樱桃般的嘴唇微微张开，露出一点洁白整齐的牙齿，眼睛一眨也不眨。宗子美看着她笑。嫦娥睁开眼睛，问怎么回事。颠当说：“我在学侍奉观音的龙女。”嫦娥笑着骂她，罚她再学童子叩拜。颠当束起头发，便从四个方向向她行礼，又伏在地上翻滚，做出各种姿势，向左右弯折身体，穿着袜子的脚都能擦到耳朵。嫦娥笑了，坐在那里用脚踢她。颠当仰起头，用嘴含住嫦娥的小脚，拿牙齿轻轻触碰。嫦娥正在嬉笑，忽然觉得一缕诱人的情欲从脚趾向上升起，直达心里，心神动荡，生出淫欲，仿佛无法控制自己。她急忙收住心神，喝道：“该死的狐奴！你竟不管是谁，都要迷惑吗？”颠当害怕了，松开嘴，伏倒在地。嫦娥又严厉地责备她，众人都不明白缘故。嫦娥对宗子美说：“颠当的狐狸本性没有改，刚才我险些受她迷惑。若不是前世修行的根基深厚，要堕落有什么难的！”从此，她每次见颠当，都严加管束。颠当又惭愧又害怕，对宗子美说：“娘子身上的每一处，我都十分爱惜。因为爱得太深，不知不觉就过分卖弄了媚态。若说我另有用心，我不但不敢，也不忍心。”宗子美把这些话告诉嫦娥，嫦娥便像从前一样对待颠当。但因为亲昵嬉戏毫无节制，嫦娥多次告诫宗子美，他却不听；于是，家里大大小小的婢女和仆妇，也争相嬉闹起来。一天，两个人扶着一个婢女，让她模仿杨妃。两人交换眼色，哄得那婢女放松身体，装出醉得软绵绵的样子，随即同时松手。婢女猛地摔到台阶下面，响声像一堵墙倒塌。众人正大声惊叫，走近摸了摸，才发现这位扮作杨妃的婢女，竟也像杨妃在马嵬那样死了。大家害怕极了，急忙报告主人。嫦娥惊道：“出祸事了！我说得怎么样！”她过去查看，已经救不活了，便派人通知婢女的父亲。那人叫某甲，一向品行不端，哭喊着跑来，把尸体背进厅堂，破口大骂，什么难听的话都说了。宗子美关着门，惶恐不安，不知道怎么办。嫦娥亲自出来责备他说：“即使主人虐待婢女，导致她死亡，按律也不用抵命。何况她是意外猝死，怎么知道她不能再醒过来？”某甲大声嚷道：“四肢都已经冰凉了，哪里还有活过来的可能！”嫦娥说：“别吵。即使活不过来，自有官府处理。”她便进厅堂抚摸尸体，婢女竟苏醒过来，随着她的手站了起来。嫦娥转过身，怒道：“幸好婢女没有死，你这贼奴怎么敢如此撒野！拿草绳把他绑起来，送到官府去！”某甲无话可说，直挺挺地跪着，哀求饶恕。嫦娥说：“你既然知道错了，暂且不追究。但你这种无赖小人，随时可能反悔，留下你女儿，终究是个祸根，你马上把她领走。原先买她花了多少钱，你就赶快筹齐还来。”她派人把某甲押出去，让他请两三个村中老人，在契约末尾署名作证。办完以后，她把婢女叫到面前，让某甲亲自问她：“没事了吗？”婢女回答：“没事了。”嫦娥这才把婢女交给他，让他们离开。随后，她召来所有婢女，逐个责骂，都打了一顿，又叫来颠当，严厉地禁止她再胡闹。她对宗子美说：“如今才知道，做主人的，连一笑一皱眉都不能随便。玩笑是我先开的，后来造成的坏影响，竟无法止住。凡悲哀都属阴，欢乐都属阳；阳盛到了极点，就会生出阴，这是循环不变的规律。婢女遭遇的祸事，是鬼神逐步向我们发出警告。要是还沉迷其中，不肯醒悟，毁灭的灾难就要落到我们身上了。”宗子美恭敬地听着。颠当流着泪，恳求嫦娥替她解脱。嫦娥便掐住她的耳朵，过了一会儿才松手。颠当怅然愣了一阵，忽然像从梦中醒来，两手撑地，把身子往地上一扑，欢喜得几乎要跳起舞来。从此，内宅清静严肃，再没有人敢喧闹。那婢女回到家里，没有生病就突然死了。某甲还不起赎金，便请村中老人代为求情，恳求宽免，嫦娥答应了。又念着婢女曾在家里服侍的情分，给了他木材，让他回去。宗子美常为没有儿子发愁。嫦娥腹中忽然传出婴儿的啼哭声，她便用刀剖开左侧肋部，把孩子取出来，果然是个男孩。不久，她又怀了孕，再剖开右侧肋部，取出一个女孩。男孩非常像父亲，女孩非常像母亲，两人后来都与世家子女订了婚。
Zong Zimei of Taiyuan travelled with his father in pursuit of learning, and they settled for a time in Guangling. His father was an old acquaintance of a Mrs. Lin who lived by the Red Bridge. One day father and son were crossing the Red Bridge when they met her, and she insisted they come to her house, where she brewed tea and they talked. A girl stood at her side, a rare beauty. The old man praised her warmly. Mrs. Lin looked at Zong and said, “Your eldest is as gentle and mild as a maiden. He has a lucky face. If you do not scorn us, I will give her to him to keep his house. What do you say?” The old man laughed and urged his son to get up from his seat and bow to the old woman. “That one word of yours is worth a thousand in gold!” he said. Some time before, when Mrs. Lin was living alone, the girl had suddenly come to her of her own accord and told her she was alone and destitute. Asked her pet name, she said it was Chang’e. Mrs. Lin had grown fond of her and kept her — in truth, holding on to her as a rare piece of goods. Zong was fourteen then. He stole glances at the girl and was secretly delighted, sure that his father would send a go-between to settle it. But once they were home his father seemed to have forgotten. Burning with impatience, Zong hinted to his mother. When his father heard, he laughed. “I was only joking with that greedy old woman. Who knows how much gold she means to sell the girl for? It’s not something to talk of lightly!” A year later both his parents died. Zimei could not forget Chang’e. As his mourning was coming to an end, he sent someone to drop a hint to Mrs. Lin. At first she would not admit to any promise. Zong was indignant. “I have never in my life bowed lightly,” he said. “How can the old woman treat my bow as not worth a single coin? If she goes back on her promise, she must give it back!” So Mrs. Lin said, “Perhaps I did make some jesting promise with your father once. But nothing was settled, and I forgot all about it. Now that you mention it — am I keeping her to marry the Heavenly King? I have been dressing her up day after day because I really hope she will fetch a thousand in gold. I’ll ask half that now. Will that do?” Zong reckoned he could not raise it, and let the matter drop. Then a widow came to rent the house to the west of his. She had a daughter just come of age, whose pet name was Diandang. Zong happened to catch sight of her: elegant and lovely, no less so than Chang’e. He was drawn to her, and made his way in by sending them presents. As time went on they grew familiar, and often their eyes spoke their feelings, but there was never a chance to talk. One evening she climbed over the wall to ask for a light. Zong, delighted, held her back, and they became lovers. They promised to marry, but she put it off, saying her brother was away trading and had not come back. After that they met whenever they had a chance, and kept their tracks well covered. One day Zong happened to pass the Red Bridge and saw Chang’e standing just inside her door. He hurried past. Chang’e saw him and beckoned. Zong stopped. She beckoned again, and he went in. She reproached him for breaking his promise. Zong explained why. Then she went into the inner room, took out an ingot of gold and gave it to him. Zong would not take it. “I thought I had lost you forever,” he said, “so I have promised myself to someone else. If I take the gold and use it to win you, I betray her. If I take it and don’t use it to win you, I betray you. I truly dare not betray anyone.” After a long silence she said, “I know a good deal about the promise you made. It is bound to come to nothing. And even if it does come off, I will not blame you for being faithless. Go quickly now — the old woman will be back.” Flustered, not knowing what to do, Zong took the gold and went home. The next night he told Diandang. Diandang agreed entirely with what Chang’e had said, and urged Zong to set his heart on Chang’e alone. Zong said nothing. When she said she was willing to take second place, Zong was happy. At once he sent a go-between with the gold to Mrs. Lin, and Mrs. Lin could find no excuse and gave Chang’e to Zong. Once she was in his house, he told her everything Diandang had said. Chang’e smiled faintly and pretended to encourage him. Zong was glad, and eager to tell Diandang, but Diandang had long stopped coming. Chang’e knew it was on her account, so she went home to visit for a while to give them their chance, and told Zong to steal Diandang’s purse. Before long Diandang did come. Zong talked the plan over with her, but she only said, “Don’t be in a hurry.” As she loosened her dress and they laughed and played, he saw a purple pouch under her arm and was about to snatch it. Diandang’s face changed and she rose. “You are of one heart with her, and two hearts with me! Faithless man! From now on we are through.” Zong humbled himself and tried to hold her back and explain, but she would not listen and went straight out. One day he went past her door to see what he could find out. A traveller from Wu was already renting the house. Diandang and her mother had moved away long before, without leaving a trace or a shadow, and there was no one to ask. Ever since he married Chang’e, Zong’s family had grown suddenly rich; the halls and long galleries of his house stretched along the whole street. Chang’e loved to joke and tease. Once they happened to be looking at a scroll of beautiful women. “I think there is no one in the world like you,” said Zong. “But then I have never seen Flying Swallow or Consort Yang.” Chang’e laughed. “If you want to see them, what could be easier?” She took the scroll and studied it closely, then hurried into her room and made herself up before the mirror. She copied Flying Swallow dancing in the wind, and then Consort Yang tipsy with wine. Tall or short, plump or slim, she changed as she pleased; in grace and bearing she was the very image of the pictures. As she was posing, a maid came in from outside and did not recognize her at all. In alarm she asked the other maids who it was; then she looked again, and suddenly understood and laughed. “I have won one beauty,” said Zong in delight, “and all the beauties of all the ages are in my bedroom!” One night, as they lay fast asleep, several men prised open the door and broke in, their torches lighting up the walls. Chang’e jumped up. “Robbers!” she cried. Zong had just woken and was about to shout when one of the men put a naked blade to his throat; terrified, he dared not breathe. Another seized Chang’e, threw her over his back, and with a great hubbub they were gone. Only then did Zong cry out. All the household servants gathered. Of the treasures in the room, nothing at all was missing. Zong grieved terribly, so distraught that he could not think what to do and had no heart left for anything. He reported it to the authorities, who sent men in pursuit, but there was no news at all. Three or four years slipped by. Gloomy and listless, he went to the capital on the pretext of sitting the examinations. He stayed half a year, consulting diviners and making inquiries; there was no scheme he did not try. One day as he passed through Yao Lane he came upon a woman with a dirty face and ragged clothes, as wretched as a beggar. He stopped to look at her: it was Diandang. “How did you come to this?” he asked in shock. “After we parted I moved south,” she said. “My old mother died, and wicked men kidnapped me and sold me into a bannerman’s household. The beatings, the shame, the cold and hunger — I cannot bear to speak of it.” Zong’s tears fell. “Can you be bought out?” he asked. “It would be hard,” she said. “It would cost a great deal. You could not manage it.” “To tell you the truth,” said Zong, “I have done quite well these years. Unfortunately, away from home I have only so much money with me, but I would not hesitate to empty my bags and sell my horse. If it costs too much, I will go home and raise it.” She arranged to meet him the next day outside the west gate of the city, under a clump of willows, and told him to come alone and bring no one. “I will,” said Zong. The next day he went early. She was there before him, in bright fresh clothes, nothing like before. He asked her in astonishment. She laughed. “I was only testing your heart. I am glad the kindness of the old silk gown is still there. Please come to my humble house. I must find some fitting way to repay you.” A few steps to the north they came to her house. She brought out food and wine, and they talked and feasted together. Zong asked her to come home with him. “I have too many worldly ties,” she said. “I can’t go with you. But I have heard a good deal of news of Chang’e.” Zong asked eagerly where she was. “She comes and goes like mist,” said Diandang. “I don’t know much myself. In the Western Hills there is an old nun, blind in one eye. Ask her and you will find out.” So he stayed the night at her house. At dawn she showed him the way. Zong went to the place. There was an old temple, its surrounding walls all in ruins. In a clump of bamboo stood half a thatched hut, and in it an old nun was patching her robe. When she saw a visitor she paid him no attention. Zong bowed to her, and only then did the nun raise her head and ask what he wanted. He told her his name and then what he was looking for. “I am eighty and blind,” said the nun, “and cut off from the world. How would I have news of a beauty?” Zong begged her. So she said, “I truly do not know. But two or three relatives of mine are coming to visit tomorrow evening. Perhaps the young girls will know of her — who can say? Come back tomorrow evening.” So Zong left. The next day he came again, but the nun had gone out and the broken door was locked. He waited a long time. The water clock was hurrying on through the watches, a bright moon hung high, and still he paced about with no idea what to do. Then he saw in the distance two or three young women come in from outside, and Chang’e was among them. Overjoyed, Zong leapt up and caught her by the sleeve. “Rash man!” said Chang’e. “You frightened me to death! Curse Diandang and her wagging tongue — she has let desire tangle you up.” Zong drew her down to sit, held her hand and spoke tenderly, telling her all his hardships, and could not help grieving. “I will tell you the truth,” she said. “I am indeed Chang’e of the moon, banished to drift about in the human world. My term is over. I made it look like a kidnapping by robbers to put an end to your hopes. The nun too is one of those who keep the Queen Mother’s palace. When I was first banished she took me in and was kind to me, so when I have time I often come to see her. If you will let me go, I will get Diandang for you in my place.” Zong would not hear of it; he hung his head and wept. Chang’e looked off into the distance. “My sisters are coming.” As Zong looked all around, Chang’e vanished. Zong burst into loud sobs. He did not want to live any longer, so he took off his sash and hanged himself. In a haze he felt that his soul had left its house and was wandering forlorn with nowhere to go. Soon he saw Chang’e come; she caught hold of him and lifted him, so that his feet left the ground. She went into the temple, took his body down from the tree and pushed and pressed it, calling, “Silly man, silly man! Chang’e is here.” Suddenly it was as if he woke from a dream. When he had calmed a little, she said angrily, “That wretched wench Diandang! She has wronged me and killed you, and I can’t forgive her!” They went down the mountain, hired a carriage and went back to his lodgings. When he had ordered the household to pack for the journey, Zong turned round and went out of the west gate to thank Diandang; but when he got there the house was not there at all, and he came back amazed and sighing. Privately he was glad Chang’e did not know. But when he came in at the door, she met him laughing. “Have you seen Diandang?” Zong was dumbfounded and could not answer. “You turned your back on Chang’e,” she said. “How could you find Diandang? Sit down and wait. She will come of herself.” Before long Diandang did come, and threw herself in a panic at the foot of the couch. Chang’e flicked her with her fingers again and again. “Little devil! What a hole you’ve landed people in!” Diandang knocked her head on the floor, begging only to be spared. “You push someone into a pit,” said Chang’e, “and think you can slip away beyond the sky? The Eleventh Maiden of the Palace of Vast Cold is soon to be married, and she needs a hundred embroidered pillows and a hundred pairs of shoes. Come with me and help with the work.” Diandang said humbly, “I only ask to be given my share, and I will deliver it on time.” Chang’e would not allow it. She said to Zong, “If you put in a word for her, I will let her go.” Diandang looked at Zong. Zong smiled and said nothing, and Diandang glared at him. Then she begged to go home and tell her family. Chang’e allowed it, and she went. Zong asked about her past, and learned that she was a fox from the Western Hills. He bought a carriage and waited for her. The next day she did come, and they all went home together. But since her return Chang’e was always grave and composed, and seldom joked or laughed. When Zong tried to make her frolic with him, she would only secretly teach Diandang to do it. Diandang was exceedingly clever and skilled at charming. Chang’e liked to sleep alone and often declined her turn for the night. One night, in the third watch of the night, she could still hear giggling from Diandang’s room, on and on. She sent a maid to listen. The maid came back but would not tell her, only asked her mistress to go herself. She crouched by the window and peeped in, and saw Diandang made up to look like herself, and Zong holding her in his arms and calling her Chang’e. Chang’e smiled scornfully and went away. Not long after, Diandang was seized with a sudden pain in her heart. She hurriedly threw on her clothes and dragged Zong to Chang’e’s room, and threw herself down as soon as she was through the door. “Am I a doctor or a witch who lifts curses?” said Chang’e. “You wanted to clutch your heart like Xi Shi, didn’t you?” Diandang knocked her head on the ground, saying only that she knew her fault. “You are better,” said Chang’e. Diandang got up, laughed despite herself and went off. Diandang said to Zong privately, “I can make the mistress play Guanyin.” Zong did not believe it, and for fun they made a bet. Chang’e often sat cross-legged in meditation, her eyes lowered as if closed. Diandang quietly set a willow sprig in a jade vase and put it on the table; then she let her hair down, pressed her palms together and stood beside her, her cherry lips half open, her pearly teeth just showing, her eyes never blinking. Zong laughed at her. Chang’e opened her eyes and asked what was going on. “I’m playing the Dragon Girl attending Guanyin,” said Diandang. Chang’e laughed and scolded her, and as a punishment made her play the Boy bowing to Guanyin. Diandang bound up her hair and bowed to her from all four directions, then threw herself down and rolled over, showing off every kind of contortion, twisting and bending to left and right until her stockinged feet could brush her ears. Chang’e burst out laughing and kicked at her from where she sat. Diandang raised her head, caught Chang’e’s little phoenix-hook of a foot in her mouth and nibbled it lightly with her teeth. Just as Chang’e was laughing at the game, she suddenly felt a thread of seductive feeling run up from her toes straight to her heart; her mind was stirred and filled with lust, as if she could not control herself. At once she gathered her spirit and shouted, “The fox slave deserves to die! Will you bewitch anyone at all, without choosing?” Diandang took fright, let go of the foot and threw herself on the floor. Chang’e scolded her harshly again, and the others could not understand why. Chang’e said to Zong, “Diandang’s fox nature has not changed. Just now I was nearly taken in by her. If my roots from former lives had not been deep, how easily I might have fallen!” After that, whenever she saw Diandang, she kept her strictly in hand. Diandang, ashamed and frightened, told Zong, “There is not a limb or a part of the mistress that I don’t love. I love her so much that without knowing it I charm her too much. If she thinks I have some other intent — I would not dare, and I could not bear to.” Zong told Chang’e this, and Chang’e treated her as before. But because their frolics knew no bounds, she warned Zong again and again; he would not listen, and so the maids and serving women, big and small, all joined in the play. One day two of them were holding up a maid to make her play Consort Yang. The two exchanged looks, coaxed the maid to go limp as if dead drunk, and then both let go at once. The maid fell headlong onto the steps with a crash like a falling wall. Everyone set up a clamour. They went to feel her, and the Consort had already died at Mawei. They were all terrified and hurried to tell their master and mistress. “Disaster has come!” said Chang’e in alarm. “What did I tell you?” She went to look, but the girl was past saving. She sent someone to tell the maid’s father. The father, The father, a man who had never been any good,, came running and howling, carried the body into the hall and cursed and swore without end. Zong shut his door, trembling with fear, not knowing what to do. Chang’e went out herself and rebuked the man. “Even if a master beats a maid to death, the law does not make him pay with his life. Besides, she died suddenly and by accident — who knows whether she may not come round again?” “Her limbs are already cold as ice,” shouted the man. “How can she live?” “Stop your noise,” said Chang’e. “Even if she does not come back to life, there are the authorities.” She went into the hall and stroked the body, and the maid revived and got up at her touch. Chang’e turned round in anger. “Luckily the girl is not dead. How dare you behave so outrageously, you villain? Tie him up with a straw rope and take him to the yamen!” The man had nothing to say. He knelt and begged to be let off. “Since you know your fault,” said Chang’e, “I will not pursue it for now. But a low good-for-nothing like you will go back on his word at any time. If I keep your daughter here she will only breed trouble. Take her away at once. Whatever the price was, bring it back quickly.” She sent men to take him out, and had him get two or three village elders to sign at the foot of the contract as witnesses. When that was done, she called the maid before them and had the man ask her himself: “Are you all right?” “I’m all right,” she answered. Then she handed her over and let them go. After that she called in all the maids and scolded and beat every one of them. She also called Diandang and laid strict rules on her. She said to Zong, “Now I know that those set over others must not take lightly so much as a smile or a frown. The joking began with me, and once it had begun there was no stopping where it led. All sorrow belongs to yin and all joy to yang; when yang reaches its height, yin is born. That is the fixed law of the cycle. The maid’s disaster was the gods warning us step by step. If we went on in our folly and never woke up, ruin would overtake us.” Zong listened respectfully. Diandang wept and begged to be delivered. So Chang’e pinched her ear; after a moment she let go. Diandang stood dazed for a while, then suddenly seemed to wake from a dream. She threw herself on the ground, so happy she could have danced. From then on the women’s quarters were pure and orderly, and no one dared make a noise. When the maid reached home she died suddenly, without any illness. Since her father could not repay the price, he got the village elders to plead for mercy on his behalf, and Chang’e granted it. And for the service the girl had done, she gave him timber for a coffin before he went. Zong had always worried that he had no son. One day a baby’s crying was suddenly heard inside Chang’e’s belly, so she cut open her left side with a knife and brought it out: it was a boy. Before long she was with child again, and she cut open her right side and brought out a girl. The boy was the image of his father and the girl the image of her mother, and both married into great families.