莫愁湖

明朝永樂年初，忠臣少卿被奸臣邱丞相所害，株連全家，女兒被賣到望族徐府為奴，取名莫愁。莫愁才貌超群，公子徐澄一見鐘情，得知莫愁身世，經常好言相勸，多方安慰，令莫愁在愁苦中得到一絲溫情，二人更私訂終身。徐澄的祖母為了巴結權貴，逼徐澄與奸臣邱丞相的女兒彩雲成親，徐澄抗辯無力，急中生病。花燭之夜，徐澄偷偷來到湖心亭與莫愁相會，二人互訴衷情，愛意更堅。彩雲得知後懷恨在心，假裝禮待莫愁，當得知徐澄所愛者乃莫愁一雙秋水含情的眼睛，就暗命名醫寫下要莫愁雙眼為藥引，才能醫好徐澄之病的藥方，借機挖掉莫愁雙眼，莫愁含恨投湖自盡。徐澄得知真相，愁病交加，感到生無可戀，乃憤然投水，以死明志。

The Lake of Endless Sorrow / Mochou Lake

In the early reign of Yongle Emperor during the Ming dynasty, the wicked Prime Minister Qiu frames loyal minister Shaoqing. The loyal minister’s entire family is implicated and punished. Shaoqing’s daughter is sold as a slave to Xu,a distinguished official, and is given the name Mochou. Her outstanding beauty and talent attract the son of the official,Xu Cheng, who falls in love with her at first sight. Learning about her family story, Cheng tries to console her with gentle words, relieving her sadness with his affection. They secretly vow to marry.

In order to make a powerful connection for the family, Cheng’s grandmother forces him to marry Caiyun, daughter of the wicked Minister Qiu. Cheng protests in vain and falls sick from desperation. On the wedding night, Cheng secretly meets Mochou in the pavilion at the center of a lake. They pour their hearts out to each other, and further cement their love.

Learning about their relationship,Caiyun is filled with hatred, but she treats Mochou with feigned courtesy. Knowing that her husband lovesMochou’s charming eyes, she secretly orders a famous physician to write a prescription requiring Mochou’s eyes as the medicine that will cure Cheng’s sickness. With her eyes plucked out, Mochou drowns herself in the lake. The incident intensifies the severity of Cheng’s illness. Finding life meaningless, Cheng follows his lover into death and plunges into the lake.