Xiqu

Shangguan Yunlong, son of the Minister of Defence, returns to the imperial court triumphant, having put down an uprising in the south. Situ Wenfeng, daughter of the Minister of Civil Service, has also returned triumphant for quelling unrest in the western. The two meet and a confrontation follows as neither refuses to give way. They bring the dispute to Emperor Xian for a ruling, failing which both threaten to resign. Caught in a dilemma, the emperor comes up with a trick: he would confer upon Wenfeng the title of ‘Princess Royal’ and Yunlong the title of ‘Duke’. The two are ordered to marry by royal decree. It happens that the Northern Di barbarians are infringing the borders. The two contend for the marshal’s seal at the drill ground. Since they are each other’s equal, the emperor decides to let them draw lots. Wenfeng wins and becomes the marshal. When she assigns the duties, Yunlong disobeys the order. She punishes him by sending him out to battle on his own. He falls into the enemy’s trap, and has to ask for reinforcement from the camp. Wenfeng comes to his aid with her troops, at the same time driving out the northern Di. But she comes to realise that she should not allow personal grievances to get in the way of state affairs, and defers the honour to Yunlong. The story thus comes to a happy ending.