西廂奇緣

NGUN, the daughter of Prime Minister, PANG, is as beautiful as a fairy. With the help of her personal attendant LEUNG, she is dressed up as pretty as ever. SHUI runs a lantern shop named “Cheung Tang Kit Choi”. When he sends some lanterns to the Prime Minister’s Palace, SHUI meets LEUNG, who dresses up in man’s disguise. In the evening of Lantern Assembly, SHUI, LEUNG and other people join the fanatic competition to snatch buns on a bun-hill (buns piled up like hill for people to seize in festival). SHUI first discovers one half of the matching jade inside the stuffing of a bun. As LEUNG finds the other half in another, she feels she has some kind of affinity to SHUI. The wife of the Prime Minister, KUEN, knows that both NGUN and LEUNG have disguised as men to attend the Lantern Assembly, she severely punishes LEUNG and makes LEUNG dress up as man since then.… ...

SHUI stands up and goes to rescue NGUN with LEUNG. By the chance that SHUI attracts the bandits to the animal traps, LEUNG saves NGUN. SHUI leads NGUN to escape. The bandit, FU, chases and catches them at a cliff edge where SHUI is severely beaten, to which NGUN is moved. Finally, SHUI and NGUN jump off the cliff hand in hand; both survive the calamity and drift to a deserted island, where they lean close to each other and start to elaborate their own stories. When day breaks, SHUI piggybacks NGUN home. NGUN confesses to LEUNG that she loves SHUI. When NGUN knows that KUEN has made promises that she will marry the one who saves her, she hurriedly goes and verifies from KUEN. Nevertheless, KUEN points out that SHUI is no match for NGUN, who angrily says that she will not marry anyone but SHUI. As SHUI is not yet to propose a marriage and NGUN cannot stand the lovesickness, she asks LEUNG to send a love poem to SHUI.… ...

When LEUNG is beaten with injuries and bruises all over her body by LIN, the cousin of KUEN, NGUN comes to protect LEUNG with her own body. SHUI is happy on receiving the invitation from the Prime Minister’s Palace and he prepares to attend with the whole family. Expensive sedan chairs are summoned to take SHUI, the grandma LI, elder sister YAN and younger sister WAI to the Prime Minister’s Palace, where LIN ridicules and looks down upon them many times. LIN also laughs at SHUI for drinking the tea that is meant for washing hands, which makes SHUI very embarrassed. Later, KUEN announces SHUI to be her adopted son. SHUI points out that KUEN does not keep her promise and leaves angrily. NGUN is unhappy either that KUEN has separated them and refuses to eat anything. Because of old age, PANG has been laid idle for years by the Tang emperor, TAK.… ...

LEUNG convinces SHUI to see NGUN and it is a pity that she has left. SHUI drinks his sorrow away with wine and meets an old man. He invites the old man to drink and tells him the love trouble. The old man asks SHUI to piggyback him home, saying that he has a foot problem. NGUN and LEUNG come to the Moon Temple, where the temple attendant says to NGUN that, if she wants a good marriage, she needs to copy texts earnestly. NGUN falls asleep at her work and LEUNG finishes the task for her. Actually, the temple attendant and the old man who drank with SHUI the other day is Master TIN CHUK. CHUK visits the Prime Minister’s Palace and tries to make a match between SHUI and NGUN, and he also convinces KUEN to promise their marriage once SHUI wins the top scholar in the imperial examination. SHUI and NGUN are overjoyed as they have the chance to continue their love and they make a date.… ...

The angry SHUI takes the emperor, who is unable to explain, for a philanderer. The personal eunuch, FAI, appears in time and saves the emperor. The king is injured by SHUI’s fist and his anger is still there. Picturing the image of NGUN in his mind, the king decides to hide his true identity and to win her heart with his own ability. Playing for fun in the street, LEUNG pushes a wooden cart that carries both SHUI and NGUN. In midway, an accident takes place and the cart side-turns when KUEN and a group of wives of the officials witness the incident. They laugh at NGUN for what she did is not comparable to her noble status. On the way home, WAI feels cramp and meets FU who is evading the police arrest. As she considers FU is not so wicked and suffering serious wound, she takes him home. On returning home, SHUI is astounded to see FU, the one who has kidnapped NGUN. WAI points out that FU is not a bad guy and begs him to pardon FU.… ...

WAI and YAN visit SHUI at prison while FU feels guilty for getting the innocent SHUI involved. LEUNG figures out that PANG and KUEN have framed SHUI up, to which CHU asks LEUNG to stay out of the trouble. The king knows that SHUI and NGUN have a marriage agreement, but he will not turn a blind eye to this injustice case. On the contrary, he uses the name of WONG MAN BUN and tries to reverse the previous judgment on SHUI. When NGUN and LEUNG free themselves from the family servants and try to visit SHUI in prison, they come across the king. The king and LEUNG think that SHUI can be set free if the black hands behind the scene can be found. In the law court, the king devises a plan to make MAO admit that the LAM SHUN, the servant in Prime Minister’s Palace, is the black hand. SHUN also confesses that he has loved NGUN secretly for years and he framed SHUI up because he is dissatisfied with SHUI who takes away his love.… ...

Knowing that SHUI has moved into the West Chamber, NGUN hurriedly goes to see him. Outside the West Chamber, servants do not allow NGUN to enter. KUEN comes and says to NGUN that she has made agreement with SHUI not to let him see her because of the study. LEUNG has only to be the go-between for letter communication to cure their lovesickness. Looking for courting skill, the king summons his ministers to discuss the matter while the Mother Queen advises him not to neglect his national affairs and suggests him to make an inspection on the flooding disaster in Huaihe District. In the Palace, SHUI meets FOON, the second son of the Prime Minister. FOON takes SHUI to the library and tells SHUI that he has a strange illness. It is why PANG lies to other people that his son is studying abroad. LEUNG brings some soup to the West Chamber, where SHUI asks to share the soup with her.… ...

LIN tells LEUNG to bring some soup to the West Chamber. When SHUI invites LEUNG to share the soup, FOON comes and indicates that LIN has put some drug into the soup. The three decide to make LIN eat her own bitter fruit. After eating the pastries that are mixed with sex stimulant drug, LIN becomes sexually ready and embraces the male servant warmly. On seeing this, KUEN knows that the plot made by LIN fails. SHUI brings home the tribute gift that arouses the old reminiscence on YAN, who recalls her bygone lover. On inspection the flooding disaster in Jiangnan, the king learns that ministers gloss over the difficulties of the flooding. He is very angry and sends officials to carry out the relieve effort. After NGUN, SHUI and LEUNG have learnt that FOON has not been leaving the Prime Minister’s Palace over ten years, they decide to take FOON outside. On the street, FOON sees LIN and everyone starts to run.… ...

For the purpose of courting NGUN, the king arranges PANG to leave the Capital on official business and he himself uses the name of WONG MAN BUN as cover. The king dates NGUN with the help of KUEN, who states that the king has assisted in the rescue of SHUI. NGUN cannot help but promises the date. YAN feels sick and therefore SHUI goes to give helping hand at “Cheung Tang Kit Choi” while the king sends FAI to check out the family background of SHUI. FAI wanders about in SHUI’s house and YAN is surprised to see him lying on her own bed. She wants to send him to police while the king comes to rescue in time. When SHUI takes the king to tour around everywhere, the king offends the local tyrants. To settle dispute, SHUI is forced to eat hogwash on behalf of the king. LEUNG suggests SHUI to watch out for the king but SHUI thinks otherwise. In answering the date of the king, NGUN looks for a chance to see SHUI.… ...

As NGUN does not believe the setup, she blames LEUNG that she should not be biased against the king. NGUN and LEUNG were born on the same day and NGUN is eager to spend her birthday with SHUI. SHUI goes to the Prime Minister’s Palace to celebrate NGUN’s birthday and KUEN lies to him that he should wait in a pagoda at a hillside, where the king has arranged a banquet for NGUN. As SHUI does not show up, NGUN tells LEUNG to wait for SHUI in the Palace. As informed by FOON, LEUNG realizes that SHUI is waiting at the hillside pagoda and off she goes to find him. SHUI learns the true face of the king when he comes to know that the king sets up a plan to stop him from seeing NGUN at her birthday. NGUN highly commends the surprise that the king gives. LEUNG hands over the gift of SHUI, but NGUN only treasures the one the king sends. LIN asserts that LEUNG has stolen her jade bangle and hits her hard.… ...

The king decides to take part in the imperial examination with his own ability while the Mother Queen condemns him for being ridiculous. When LEUNG visits SHUI, who tells her that he begins to feel stress and unable to study, LEUNG worries very much. On the way to the West Chamber, NGUN and LEUNG meets FOON, who suggests a method that is able to enhance the memory when studies. SHUI tries the glancing over and memorizing method that FOON suggests, and it works. FU is out of prison and SHUI advises him to turn a new leaf but FU ridicules that a demon cannot change into an angel. FAI orders one thousand lanterns at “Cheung Tang Kit Choi”, where YAN accepts the order. Knowing that SHUI needs to make lanterns in a hurry, LEUNG, NGUN and CHU go in the evening to his shop, giving a helping hand. After getting along with SHUI’s family members, NGUN has discovered many drawbacks on the family members.… ...

For investigation of the fire at “Cheung Tang Kit Choi”, SHUI sees the king, who denotes that he has no idea to the lantern order, and that FAI must have made the order all by himself. FU makes a great effort to find job and it is a pity that no one will hire him. NGUN turns down SHUI’s appointment and goes to Tiger-head Mountain with the king. LEUNG tells SHUI that NGUN cannot turn up because of some other business when WAI returns home and says that FU has found a job of mining at Tiger-head Mountain. SHUI feels surprised and states that there is no mining site. Feeling uneasy about the fact, LEUNG discloses that NGUN and the king are having an appointment at Tiger-head Mountain, and they therefore hurry to the spot. They encounter FU at the foot of the mountain. When FU realizes that he is being used, he goes and stops the two bandits to do anything further.… ...

YAN promises to let FU work in the shop but keeps a watchful eye on him, which makes WAI unhappy. When the Prime Minister cannot make ends meet, the king is willing to lend some money to PANG and KUEN to solve the financial problem. YAN receives message that her bygone lover is dead, she collapses. NGUN tries to introduce PANG to the king, who leaves without saying a word for fear that he may disclose his identity. The king later uses tricks to please NGUN and both of them even privately make a lifelong commitment to each other. NGUN writes a separation letter and asks LEUNG to pass it to SHUI. SHUI happens to know that FAI looks like the bygone lover of YAN and he immediately requests him to pose as the bygone lover, PING. No sooner has YAN seen “PING” than she recovers. In the seventh evening of July, WAI confesses her love to FU; on the other hand, NGUN turns down SHUI’s appointment and goes with the king arm in arm.… ...

Rolling down to the slope-foot, LEUNG tries but fails to swallow the letter, which is subsequently taken by SHUI. To accept the fact, SHUI says he will dissolve the marriage agreement. To rebuild the reputation of “Cheung Tang Kit Choi”, SHUI will continue to work hard for the top scholar in the imperial examination. When the king teases LEUNG, who reproaches the king, SHUI comes with intention to dissolve the marriage. However, NGUN denotes that she will keep her promise if SHUI wins the top scholar in the examination. On the way home, SHUI meets LEUNG and CHU and comes to know that LEUNG is the one who has found the other half of the matching jade in the Lantern Assembly; that means they are the real couple with certain affinity to each other. CHU urges LEUNG not to compete with NGUN for finding a mate, but NGUN mistakes that LEUNG has favorable intention to the king.… ...

SHUI misunderstands that LEUNG takes her own life by jumping into the river, and luckily, it is a false alarm. LEUNG meets CHUK again, who tells her to return to the side of her love. LEUNG makes a secret visit to SHUI and finds out that he is really sick because of overwork. YAN starts to change her view on FU and let him to look after the shop alone. FU meets Black Panther of the Flying Eagle Fortress. Panther asks him to be a bandit again. FAI comes and takes meal at SHUI’s home. Under the influence of wine, FAI discloses that he cannot marry YAN, who hears everything. LEUNG pays a secret visit to SHUI again. This time, SHUI discovers and promises that he will marry LEUNG after he wins the top scholar in the examination. On the day of the imperial examination when a eunuch reports the flooding information in Jiangnan to the king, SHUI is astounded to know that the king is the real current emperor.… ...

SHUI decides to locate the matching jade that is hidden in a bamboo forest by LEUNG to prove their destined affinity not yet ended. CHU advises LEUNG to stay but she is so determined to leave and feels that she is no match to SHUI. When LEUNG sees the Kongming Lantern (lantern that flies like flying balloon) that SHUI flies in the sky and the matching jade that SHUI has found in the bamboo forest, she is really touched and promises to stay with SHUI together. NGUN knows that the king is not WONG MAN BUN, she is feeling uneasy. Later when the king comes to the Prime Minister’s Palace and tells the truth, NGUN has a mixed feeling of surprise and happiness. The king promises he only loves NGUN although he has thousands of concubines in his own back Palaces. The king instructs SHUI to investigate the robbery case of official money.… ...

The king appoints SHUI to be the Supervisory Minister to arrest PANG and his family, to which LEUNG reproaches SHUI angrily for using her to collect evidence against KUEN. Because of the law, the king cannot but to carry out the execution. SHUI promises LEUNG that he will rescue NGUN. CHUK reminds SHUI that the late king has constantly played with PANG and their anecdotes have been recorded by Abbot PO CHIU; SHUI therefore searches the legacies of PO CHIU through the night and eventually finds a way to save the Prime Minister family. The dead penalty is lifted but the penalty of being reduced to common civilians is carried out. LIN cannot survive the hardship of common people and tries to run away with property, which angers KUEN. LEUNG goes to a bird’s nest shop to do hard labor and to borrow some bird’s nest for KUEN to eat, to which KUEN is moved.… ...

CHU is captured and interrogated by the envoy of Tibet and is finally confirmed that CHU was the concubine of the king of Tibet, QI LI ZAN PU. CHU could not stand the cold shoulder of PU and so she took away the little princess, who is now LEUNG. When the Eighth Duke knows that the Tibet envoy is aware of the whereabouts of the princess, he decides to stop and imprison LEUNG. SHUI worries that the missing of LEUNG may link to a conspiracy that influences the Tang Dynasty. The Eighth Duke intentionally lets PU know that the king has not tried hard enough to find the princess. PU angers and threatens to cut off the diplomatic ties with Tang if the princess is not located. On the other side, the Eighth Duke encourages the king to take charge personally on the military march to Nanzhao. LEUNG makes good of her escape. LEUNG and SHUI see clear the conspiracy of the Eighth Duke and they hurry to the battlefield to inform the king.… ...

On the road, SHUI meets FAI and they join together with LEUNG and NGUN. FAI indicates that the king has gone missing while they were defeated and were escaping. The king is wandering in the street, where NGUN finds him and tells him that she is pregnant with his baby. The king vows to regain his throne for NGUN. Because of the royal engagement, LEUNG requests PU to give military support for helping the king to pacify the civil war. As for the royal marriage relationship, PU promises to help. The Eighth Duke invites PU to attend his ceremony of wearing the crown. When LEUNG and PU go to the Capital to see the Duke, LEUNG finds a chance to see the Mother Queen and learns that the Mother Queen has been drugged by force to unconsciousness. The Eighth Duke instructs SHUI to study and make the firework with the effect of “Dragon Flying High” that his late father prepared to perform in the imperial court before.… ...

With the help of FOON, SHUI makes the “Dragon Flying High”. After knowing the king is still alive, PANG vows to be faithful till death and the king gives the guilty PANG the chance to perform deeds of merit. SHUI arranges four loyal ministers to work together, both inside and outside. PANG and FU rescue the Mother Queen first. Hallucinogen is placed in the firework of “Dragon Flying High” to prevent the Eighth Duke and his subordinates to resist. When the Eight Duke puts on the Royal Gown, the king appears suddenly and the power of the Eighth Duke is totally dissolved. The king awards everybody according to merits; SHUI is upgraded in rank and dubbed a title, “Cheung Tang Kit Choi” is awarded golden tablet, PANG is reinstated Prime Minister and FU is the instructor of the Royal Army in the imperial court. PU urges the king to marry LEUNG; LEUNG writes a letter to SHUI to say good-bye in tears while SHUI falls sick on bed.… ...