Pearl Chronicle, South West Chamber Chronicle

Author: (Ming) Lu Cai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-11-01
Features: "The Pearl Record" by Lu Cai of the Ming Dynasty. It tells the story of Wang Xianke, who loses his father in his youth and lives with his mother in his uncle Liu Zhen's house. Liu's daughter Wu Shuang falls in love with Xianke. After his mother's death, Xianke returns to his hometown for burial. Later, he goes to the capital for the imperial examination and asks his uncle to marry him, but his uncle refuses. At that time, the rebellion of the Jingyuan Military Commissioner Yao Lingyan occurs, and Liu Zhen agrees to the marriage between the two, with Wu Shuang giving Xianke a pearl as a token. Liu Zhen's family is trapped inside the city, while Xianke returns to his hometown. After the chaos, Xianke learns that Liu Zhen has been falsely imprisoned and his wife and daughter have been taken into the palace as slaves. The maid Cai Ping falls into the family of Wang Sui, who promises to give Cai Ping to Xianke as a concubine and recommends him as the county magistrate of Gaoping County. The emperor orders palace girls to clean the mausoleums, and Wu Shuang is also included in the list. On the way, they stay at the Chang'an Inn. At that time, Xianke is working at the inn, and with the help of his book boy Sai Hong and the loyalist Gu Yaoya, Xianke and Wu Shuang are able to meet. The two escape from Chengdu and reunite with Liu Zhen and his wife on the way, who have been pardoned. The existing version is a photocopied edition of the Jiguang Pavilion from the first collection of "Ancient Drama Anthology."