| This was an adaptation of an opera The Story of Red Plums by Zhou Chaojun in Ming Dynasty. |
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During the late years of Southern Song Dynasty, there was a Li family in
Hangzhou who had a beautiful daughter called Huiniang. One day she flew a
kite in the courtyard but the thread was broken suddenly. The kite then
flew to Lingyin Temple and was picked up by a young and handsome scholar
called Pei Shunqing. Pei appreciated Li's poem on the kite and wrote
another one on it. When Li's maid Zhao Xia recovered the kite, Li was
also attracted by Pei's literature. Zhao then promised to arrange Li to
meet Pei in the temple.
On the next day Li followed her mother to worship in the Lingyin Temple. Zhao then brought Li to the courtyard to see Pei. They fell in love at the first sight and exchanged ornaments to pledge marriage. When Li was about to leave the temple with her mother, the prime minister Jia Sidao arrived and was absorbed by Li's beauty. His fellow Liao Yingzhong offered to take Li as his concubine. |
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Pei talked to his friend Zheng Huchen about Li. Zheng realised that Li was
his cousin and promised to be their matchmaker and propose to his aunt.
Madam Li was happy with Pei and agreed to marry him her daughter.
Meanwhile, Jia proposed to Madam Li with many expensive gifts. Madam Li tried to refuse but Jia's men did not listen. They forced Madam Li to accept the gifts, which meant acceptance of the proposal, and left. Li would not marry Jia but she could think of no solution. She attempted suicide but was stopped by Zhao. Pei and Zheng then came to discuss the matter. They decided to flee on that night but Li was kidnapped by Jia's men before they could leave. Pei then rushed to Jia's mansion to take her back. Li refused Jia's proposal firmly. Jia threatened to kill Pei and Li finally yielded, but she requested to see Pei for the last time. During their short conversation Li tried to persuade Pei to leave but he insisted not to leave without her. Li then said she had promised to marry Jia as his concubine. Finally Jia went away with irritation and disappointment. Yet he was brought to a study in the mansion because Jia had decided to kill him. Li had tried to kill Jia with his sword before their wedding but she was stabbed to death instead. Li's ghost learned of Jia's plot to kill Pei and brought him out of the mansion. She then returned to avenge on Jia and his men by burning them into ashes.
Starring: |