洛陽才子桂仲賢名重東京,偶遊佛殿仙庵。適吏部尚書程天官之女希韞偕侍女翠環到此參禮,於賞花時節墜落鳳釵。仲賢拾翠還釵,對佳人為之驚豔,希韞對仲賢風采傾心。仲賢得柳大娘之助,混入天官府為僕。上元節程天官祝壽,仲賢藉機展才華。仲賢與希韞再會訂情,希韞以鳳釵相贈為憑;以簪纓門第難納白丁,著仲賢早日赴京應試,榮歸婚配。親王為其誼子翰林步青雲作媒,聘希韞為妻,天官答應。希韞得知與翠環連夜逃奔,不巧妝樓失火,天官誤以為女兒葬身火海。希韞兩人逃往京師為丞相周松認作女兒,後復為天子認作義女封為公主。仲賢狀元及第,天子欲招為駙馬與希韞配婚,仲賢不知底蘊而拒絕。青雲知希韞未死欲圖舊聘,仲賢希韞幸得天子玉成,終成眷屬。
The Proud Scholar’s Romance / Cupid Smiles at the Stubborn Scholar
Talented scholar Gui Zhongxian is well-known in the city of Luoyang. While visiting a Buddhist temple,Zhongxian encounters Xiyun, daughter of Personnel Minister Cheng Tianguan, who arrives at the temple for worship with her maid, Cuihuan. Xiyun accidentally drops her phoenix-shaped hairpin while looking at flowers. When Zhongxian picks it up and returns it to Xiyun, he is struck by her beauty. Xiyun is likewise impressed by Zhongxian’s graceful bearing. With the help of a woman, Liu, Zhongxian becomes a servant in the house of Tianguan.
At the lantern festival, Zhongxian’s father celebrates his birthday, and Zhongxian takes the opportunity to show his talent. The young man meets Xiyun again, and the two decide to get married. Xiyun givesZhongxian her hairpin as a token. Knowing that her family will never allows her to marry a man without scholarly honor, Xiyun urges Zhongxian to take the imperial examination in the capital, return in glory, and marry her. A prince asks Xiyun’s father to give the hand of his daughter to the prince’s foster son, Bu Qingyun, an imperial academician, and Tianguan agrees. Learning the news, Xiyun decides to run away with Zhongxian.That night, Xiyun’s boudoir happens to catch fire, and Xiyun flees to the capital with her maid.Tianguan assumes that his daughter is dead. In the capital, Xiyun is adopted by Prime Minister Zhou Yingsong.
Later, the emperor makes Xiyun his princess. Zhongxian comes out first in the highest imperial examination and the emperor decides to have him marry the princess. Not knowing who she is, Zhongxiandeclines the offer. Knowing thatXiyun is alive, Qingyun tries to bring up his proposal of marriage again; however, thanks to the emperor, Gui finally marries Xiyun.