書(shu)生韓琦(qi)仲(zhong)早年喪(sang)父(fu)(fu),賴其(qi)父(fu)(fu)友戚(qi)補(bu)臣(chen)撫養,并與(yu)補(bu)臣(chen)之(zhi)(zhi)子友先共(gong)入塾館(guan)。戚(qi)氏(shi)附(fu)近有一詹公館(guan):主人詹武承,字烈侯(hou),大(da)夫人早逝,二夫人梅(mei)氏(shi)所(suo)生長女愛(ai)娟(juan)貌(mao)丑,三夫人柳氏(shi)所(suo)生次女淑娟(juan)貌(mao)美。兩位(wei)夫人不和,烈侯(hou)去西川上(shang)任前(qian)(qian),將(jiang)住宅隔成東西二院(yuan),以(yi)防生事,并將(jiang)兩女之(zhi)(zhi)婚事托付給補(bu)臣(chen)。友先拿(na)著有琦(qi)仲(zhong)題詩(shi)(shi)(shi)的風(feng)箏在(zai)外亂放(fang),掉(diao)在(zai)柳氏(shi)院(yuan)中。柳氏(shi)讓淑娟(juan)和詩(shi)(shi)(shi)一首(shou)續(xu)在(zai)韓詩(shi)(shi)(shi)后。琦(qi)仲(zhong)看到后又(you)在(zai)其(qi)后寫了(le)一首(shou)求(qiu)婚詩(shi)(shi)(shi),不巧這次風(feng)箏掉(diao)在(zai)梅(mei)氏(shi)院(yuan)中,愛(ai)娟(juan)以(yi)為(wei)是友先之(zhi)(zhi)詩(shi)(shi)(shi),于(yu)(yu)是假(jia)冒淑娟(juan)之(zhi)(zhi)名與(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)約會。琦(qi)仲(zhong)又(you)假(jia)冒友先之(zhi)(zhi)名前(qian)(qian)來約會,卻(que)被愛(ai)娟(juan)的丑貌(mao)驚(jing)走(zou)。補(bu)臣(chen)為(wei)友先定(ding)(ding)了(le)愛(ai)娟(juan),新(xin)婚之(zhi)(zhi)夜(ye),友先嫌她丑陋,大(da)吵大(da)鬧,卻(que)無(wu)濟于(yu)(yu)事。琦(qi)仲(zhong)中了(le)狀元,榮歸時得知補(bu)臣(chen)為(wei)自己定(ding)(ding)娶淑娟(juan),他以(yi)為(wei)就是原(yuan)先與(yu)他私會的那個丑小(xiao)姐,便百般推辭(ci);新(xin)婚之(zhi)(zhi)夜(ye)又(you)獨自而眠,不肯圓(yuan)房。在(zai)柳氏(shi)的調解下,終于(yu)(yu)弄清了(le)事情的真相,欣然(ran)成親。梅(mei)氏(shi)與(yu)柳氏(shi)也取得和解。烈侯(hou)回家后,舉(ju)家共(gong)慶(qing)團(tuan)圓(yuan)。
戲曲表現
該劇目(mu)有(you)《笠翁十種曲》原(yuan)刊本(ben),及(ji)1991年浙江古(gu)籍(ji)出版社《李漁全(quan)集(ji)》第四卷排印本(ben)。