安史亂起,唐室江山變色,郭子儀勤王平亂收復長安,屢建奇功累封至汾陽王。天子聯姻,招子儀之子郭曖為昇平公主駙馬。
郭曖與公主少年夫妻本恩愛和睦,惟公主長於內廷嬌慣傲氣。適值郭子儀誕辰,百官同賀,眾子媳俱來拜壽,惟公主依仗皇家未至郭府。郭曖孤身隻影,席間受到兄嫂冷語,鬱鬱不歡喝至酩酊。宴罷回宮,打碎宮燈洩憤。及與公主見面爭辯起來,不忿公主諸多藉口,羞怒交加,沉不住氣掌摑公主,言出犯上。
公主未曾受此責難打罵,不堪屈辱進宮哭訴於君皇。子儀聞之,惶恐不勝,綁子入宮謝罪。天子眷念郭家功績,並以閨中氣言不足為信,未加懲責,對郭曖反加封賞。皇后勸勉公主對夫家多加尊重慈愛,天子並令公主回府賠禮,郭曖夫婦重歸於好。
Taming of the Princess / Beating the Princess
Guo Ziyi quells the rebellion of An and Shi that threatens to overthrow the Tang Dynasty and helps recover the capital Chang’an. Due to his distinguished service, he is made Lord of Fenyang. Furthermore, the emperor marries his daughter, Princess Shengping, to Ziyi‘s son, Guo Ai.
Other than the fact that the princess is pampered and haughty, the wedded make a loving couple. On the birthday of Guo Ziyi, many officials come to congratulate him. All his sons and daughters-in-law are present except for the princess, who thinks it below herself to attend. Sitting alone, Guo Ai is scorned by his brothers and sisters-in-law. Out of depression, Guo Ai gets blind drunk and, back in the palace, vents his anger by breaking a lantern. When he encounters the princess, they begin to fight. Shamed and enraged by her excuses, he slaps her and scolds her.
Unable to bear such an unprecedented punishment, the princess goes into the palace in tears to complain to her father. Learning of what has happened, Ziyi is so terrified that he enters the palace with his son in shackles to apologize. Remembering the meritorious service of the Guos and not taking the family quarrel seriously, the emperor rewards Guo Ai instead of punishing him. The empress admonishes the princess to show more respect for and love to the family of her husband. The emperor orders the princess to go home and apologize. The couple makes up.