常州(zhou)刺(ci)史(shi)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)之子(zi)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)赴長安(an)(an)應試,欲(yu)求取功名。閑時到勾欄游玩,與長安(an)(an)名妓(ji)李(li)(li)(li)亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)一(yi)(yi)見鐘情,整天與李(li)(li)(li)亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)在(zai)一(yi)(yi)起。不久,鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)帶來的金銀全部花(hua)盡(jin),最后(hou)連仆(pu)人(ren)(ren)來興都(dou)給賣掉了。鴇母李(li)(li)(li)大媽見其(qi)財盡(jin),便(bian)與賈(jia)二(er)媽設下金蟬脫(tuo)殼之計,將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)騙(pian)走,暗(an)中(zhong)(zhong)搬家。鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)找不到李(li)(li)(li)亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian),遂流落江湖,充當(dang)歌(ge)(ge)郎,送殯唱(chang)挽歌(ge)(ge)為生(sheng)。其(qi)父(fu)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)儋進(jin)京述職,見鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)與人(ren)(ren)賭唱(chang)歌(ge)(ge)詞,認為他(ta)有辱家門(men),將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)鞭笞至死,棄(qi)尸荒郊。后(hou)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)被人(ren)(ren)救(jiu)活,寄養卑(bei)田院,學會了唱(chang)蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)落,在(zai)長安(an)(an)街上沿途叫化。一(yi)(yi)日風雪嚴寒,鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)唱(chang)著蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)落在(zai)長安(an)(an)城中(zhong)(zhong)沿街乞討(tao),恰巧來到李(li)(li)(li)亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)居處。李(li)(li)(li)亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)自與鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)離(li)散后(hou),舊情不忘,一(yi)(yi)直拒(ju)絕接客(ke),等待與鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)重(zhong)逢。這時見到鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)后(hou),便(bian)急忙將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)繡襦披(pi)在(zai)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)身(shen)上,并將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)其(qi)擁入暖閣之中(zhong)(zhong),然(ran)后(hou)又以利害關系(xi)說動(dong)鴇母,自贖其(qi)身(shen),別賃屋(wu)與鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)同住。亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)賣掉釵環首(shou)飾(shi),買(mai)回書籍,甚至剔目毀(hui)容以絕元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)心(xin)中(zhong)(zhong)雜(za)念,督(du)促元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)發憤苦讀。鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)亦立下誓言,不考取功名絕不回來。后(hou)果然(ran)高中(zhong)(zhong)狀元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),詔除(chu)成都(dou)參軍。鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)乃攜李(li)(li)(li)亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)入蜀赴任(ren),恰值其(qi)父(fu)擢升成都(dou)府尹,相會于(yu)驛館,兩下盡(jin)釋前(qian)嫌,亞(ya)(ya)仙(xian)(xian)與元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)也(ye)正式結為夫(fu)婦。
戲曲表現
該劇(ju)目(mu)有《六(liu)十(shi)種曲》本和《中國十(shi)大古(gu)典悲喜劇(ju)集》校注本。