竇氏兄妹以賣劍及經營酒帘為業,其實竇眉(荼薇)伺機盜取客人配劍,交由兄皮海改頭換面賣出。荼薇三年前與太子朱二奎互生情愫,曾贈他一把寶劍。後朱允文登位,微服出巡至酒帘,解救竇氏兄妹於危難,並領二人回宮。二奎外遊回來,以為允文奪其帝位及美人,大怒回宮。潘太后欲斬殺二奎,允文為保二奎,狠心羞辱他,令其答應放逐。二奎攻打燕國,輾轉被郡主招為駙馬,成為燕王。其後二奎揮軍南下,濫殺無辜,民不聊生。二奎終得玉璽,威脅允文交出荼薇。荼薇為救萬民,願犧牲自己向二奎投懷,並於酒中下迷藥,乘機偷取二奎之寶劍及令箭以解散大軍。二奎與皮海相鬥不敵,荼薇勸他自刎向黎民百姓請罪。最後,荼薇與二奎自殺殉身,合葬金川橋東,為後人稱頌。
The Hero and the Concubine
Dou Pihai and his sister, Dou Tuwei, make a living by selling swords and wine. Tuwei steals a sword from a customer and gives it to her brother, who makes some changes to it and puts it on sale.
Three years earlier, Tuwei falls in love with crown prince Zhu Erkui and gives him a sword. After ascending to the throne, the crown prince’s brother, Zhu Yunwen, visits the Dous’ store during an informal inspection tour. He rescues the brother and sister and brings them to the imperial palace. Erkui returns to the palace from a trip and is infuriated by the thought that his brother has usurped his throne and taken his love. The Empress Dowager wants to have Erkui executed. To save his brother, Yunwen deliberately insults him and forces him into exile.
Erkui attacks the state of Yan, and, after some twists and turns, marries the princess and becomes king of Yan. He leads his troops south, massacring civilians and laying waste to the land. After he finally procures the imperial seal, Erkui orders his brother to surrender his love, Tuwei. To save the people, Tuwei pretends to comply, though she ends up drugging Erkui with laced wine, stealing his sword and token of authority, and dismissing his troops.Erkui is later defeated while fighting Pihai, and Tuwei persuades him to commit suicide so as to show remorse for the violence and pain he has inflicted on the citizens. Both Tuwei andErkui commit suicide and are buried together east of the Jinchuan Bridge. Their story has been celebrated ever since.