常州刺史鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)之(zhi)子(zi)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)赴(fu)長安應試,欲求取功(gong)名(ming)。閑時到(dao)勾欄(lan)游玩,與長安名(ming)妓李亞(ya)仙(xian)一見(jian)鐘情,整天與李亞(ya)仙(xian)在一起。不久,鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)帶來的(de)金銀全部花盡(jin),最(zui)后(hou)連仆(pu)人來興都給賣(mai)掉(diao)了。鴇母李大(da)媽(ma)見(jian)其(qi)財盡(jin),便與賈(jia)二媽(ma)設下(xia)金蟬脫殼之(zhi)計,將(jiang)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)騙走(zou),暗(an)中搬(ban)家。鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)找不到(dao)李亞(ya)仙(xian),遂流落江湖,充當(dang)歌(ge)郎,送(song)殯唱(chang)(chang)(chang)挽歌(ge)為生。其(qi)父鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)儋(dan)進京述職,見(jian)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)與人賭(du)唱(chang)(chang)(chang)歌(ge)詞,認(ren)為他有辱家門,將(jiang)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)鞭笞至(zhi)死(si),棄尸荒郊。后(hou)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)被人救活,寄養卑田院,學會了唱(chang)(chang)(chang)蓮花落,在長安街上沿途叫化。一日風雪嚴寒(han),鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)唱(chang)(chang)(chang)著蓮花落在長安城中沿街乞討,恰巧來到(dao)李亞(ya)仙(xian)居處。李亞(ya)仙(xian)自(zi)與鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)離散后(hou),舊情不忘,一直拒絕(jue)接客,等待與鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)重逢。這時見(jian)到(dao)鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)后(hou),便急忙將(jiang)繡襦(ru)披在鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)身上,并將(jiang)其(qi)擁(yong)入暖(nuan)閣之(zhi)中,然后(hou)又(you)以利害關系說動鴇母,自(zi)贖其(qi)身,別賃屋與鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)同(tong)住。亞(ya)仙(xian)賣(mai)掉(diao)釵環首飾,買(mai)回書(shu)籍,甚至(zhi)剔目毀容以絕(jue)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)心中雜念,督促元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)發憤苦(ku)讀。鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)亦(yi)立下(xia)誓言(yan),不考取功(gong)名(ming)絕(jue)不回來。后(hou)果(guo)然高中狀元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),詔除成都參(can)軍。鄭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)乃(nai)攜(xie)李亞(ya)仙(xian)入蜀赴(fu)任,恰值其(qi)父擢升成都府尹(yin),相(xiang)會于驛館,兩(liang)下(xia)盡(jin)釋(shi)前嫌(xian),亞(ya)仙(xian)與元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)和(he)(he)(he)也(ye)正式(shi)結為夫婦。
戲曲表現
該(gai)劇(ju)目(mu)有《六十(shi)種曲》本和《中國十(shi)大古典悲喜(xi)劇(ju)集》校注(zhu)本。