Tian Xiu and Zhuang Liang had been married for three years. Zhuang Liang devoted himself to cultivating the Dao, and his affection for Tian Xiu was slight.
One day, Sun Chuci, the dashing heir to the Prince of An, came to Mount Nanhua to invite Zhuang Liang to serve as chancellor of the State of An. He fell in love at first sight with Tian Xiu. The two kept within the bounds of propriety and did nothing improper.
Yet Zhuang Liang noticed signs of something amiss and suspected that Tian Xiu had fallen for someone else. So he faked his death and disappeared, then took on Chuci's appearance to test Tian Xiu...
This story is adapted from the 1988 Huangmei opera television series starring Ma Lan, Startling Dream of the Split Coffin. The series was based on the folk tale Zhuangzi Tests His Wife. Since the TV series had such a heartbreaking ending, I wanted, for my own satisfaction, to give Tian Xiu and the Prince of Chu (that is, Chuci in this story) a happy ending. The male lead is a virgin, and I have a soft spot for male leads who uphold traditional virtues. The first ten chapters or so follow the TV series, with a few changes. The series is a classic, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys traditional opera.
Theme: Oppose the oppression of women by feudal morality
