打洞結拜/千里送京娘

趙匡胤喜結天下英豪，路見不平，拔刀相助。懲戒強暴後，為避禍而喬裝投奔太原清油觀的叔父。一日趙匡胤遊覽山中景勝，聞得觀中洞府傳來婦女啼哭之聲，卻原來是少女趙京娘被幽禁于此。京娘本是隨父到陽曲縣還願，然路遇響馬張廣兒、周進，兩人覬覦京娘顏色擄至觀中，趙匡胤叔父卻懦弱不敢干涉。

趙匡胤心懷古道，願護送京娘返鄉，並結為兄妹。同行千里，趙匡胤為京娘殺除響馬，讓騎徒步。京娘感其恩義，欲將終身相托，幾番暗示趙匡胤仍不為所動。及至回返家中，家人卻為京娘遭難為人非議，又疑京娘與匡胤有私，欲將京娘許與趙匡胤了事。趙匡胤以為男兒頂天立地，施恩不望報，如此侮辱憤然而去。京娘為此悲羞難禁，更難耐家人冷嘲熱諷，終懸樑自縊。

Sworn Brother and Sister / Escorting Jingniang on a Thousand-Mile Journey

Before becoming the emperor of the Sung Dynasty, Zhao enjoys friendship and camaraderie with righteous and chivalrous heroes. Whenever he sees injustice, he extends his sword to help. Once, after having punished a bandit, he disguises himself and seeks refuge with his uncle in Qingyou Temple at Taiyuan. One day while touring the famous mountainous scenery he hears a woman’s sob coming from the temple’s caves. He discovers the young girl Jingniang detained inside the cave. Jingniang reveals that she was accompanying her father on their way to Yangqu County to make an offering in a temple when they encountered two bandits,Zhang Guonyi and Chou Gin, who kidnapped her and imprisoned her in the cave.Zhao’s uncle is too weak and cowardly to intervene.

Following his traditional code of honor, Zhao Kuangyin offers to escort Jingniang back to her home village and they swear to be brother and sister. During the thousand-mile walk together, Zhao kills the bandit Shuand lets Jingniang ride the bandit’s horse while he walks alongside. Impressed by his honorable behavior,Jingniang expresses her indebtedness and gratitude and makes several attempts to hint that she is willing to be his spouse. Zhao does not respond, even after they arrive at her home, where her family members express concerns about the petty gossip regarding her chastity and what may have happened during her abduction or during the long walk home. The family wants to betroth Zhao Jingniang to Zhao Kuangyin.

Being a man of honor, Zhao adheres strictly to code that a man should perform chivalrous duties without seeking or expecting any rewards. The suggestionJingniang’s family makes highly insults Zhao and his sense of honor. Enraged, he leaves. As a result, Jingniang is filled with sadness and shame. Unable to tolerate her family’s insults, she hangs herself.