明代山陽(yang)縣書(shu)生(sheng)熊(xiong)友(you)(you)(you)蘭(lan)、熊(xiong)友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)兄弟(di)(di),父母早亡,家(jia)境(jing)貧(pin)寒。兄友(you)(you)(you)蘭(lan)別(bie)弟(di)(di)外(wai)出謀生(sheng),友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)則留家(jia)攻讀(du)。友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)與鄰(lin)(lin)居(ju)馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)的(de)童養媳侯三(san)(san)(san)姑隔墻而居(ju)。一日(ri),馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)將金(jin)環(huan)一對及(ji)寶鈔十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫交三(san)(san)(san)姑收藏,夜(ye)間老鼠(shu)將金(jin)環(huan)銜到友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)的(de)書(shu)架上,十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫錢(qian)則被(bei)銜入(ru)鼠(shu)洞。友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)見環(huan)大喜(xi),第二日(ri),將金(jin)環(huan)往馮(feng)店換錢(qian)使(shi)用(yong)。馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)疑(yi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)玉(yu)(yu)姑私贈(zeng),當即命子(zi)找(zhao)三(san)(san)(san)姑索環(huan),其(qi)(qi)子(zi)誤食藥鼠(shu)面餅(bing)中毒而死,馮(feng)玉(yu)(yu)吾(wu)(wu)即以(yi)金(jin)環(huan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)證,告(gao)友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)與三(san)(san)(san)姑通奸,謀財害(hai)命。山陽(yang)縣縣官(guan)過于(yu)執將二人屈打成招,定(ding)為(wei)(wei)(wei)死罪,并要(yao)友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)賠償十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫寶鈔。卻(que)說(shuo)(shuo)友(you)(you)(you)蘭(lan)在(zai)船上做舵手,一日(ri)聞客述山陽(yang)一案,知弟(di)(di)遭難,急欲前往。無(wu)(wu)錫(xi)客商(shang)陶(tao)復(fu)朱贈(zeng)銀十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫,即夕(xi)啟行。再說(shuo)(shuo)無(wu)(wu)錫(xi)有開肉鋪的(de)游葫蘆(lu),因(yin)無(wu)(wu)本錢(qian),停業已久,其(qi)(qi)姐贈(zeng)給(gei)他十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫錢(qian)合(he)伙開業。游葫蘆(lu)背負十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫錢(qian)深夜(ye)歸(gui)家(jia),趁酒興(xing)戲謂其(qi)(qi)養女蘇(su)戍娟(juan),說(shuo)(shuo)這十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫錢(qian)是她(ta)的(de)賣身(shen)錢(qian),戍娟(juan)害(hai)怕,連(lian)(lian)夜(ye)出逃(tao)(tao)。戍娟(juan)走后,賭(du)徒無(wu)(wu)賴婁阿(a)鼠(shu)潛(qian)入(ru)游家(jia)偷錢(qian),因(yin)被(bei)游葫蘆(lu)發(fa)覺,情急中將游殺死后攜錢(qian)逃(tao)(tao)竄。天明后,鄰(lin)(lin)居(ju)報官(guan),認為(wei)(wei)(wei)戍娟(juan)可疑(yi),連(lian)(lian)忙追趕(gan)。戍娟(juan)逃(tao)(tao)至(zhi)高橋,正遇(yu)友(you)(you)(you)蘭(lan),因(yin)為(wei)(wei)(wei)同(tong)路,結伴(ban)同(tong)行。官(guan)差趕(gan)到,見友(you)(you)(you)蘭(lan)攜錢(qian)適符十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫之數,即以(yi)此為(wei)(wei)(wei)贓證,將二人收監。這時過于(yu)執已調(diao)任常州府(fu)理刑,此案便由過于(yu)執審理,竟又(you)定(ding)為(wei)(wei)(wei)死罪。兩(liang)案囚犯一同(tong)被(bei)押(ya)解(jie)至(zhi)蘇(su)州,由太守況鐘(zhong)監斬。況鐘(zhong)看出冤情,便連(lian)(lian)夜(ye)請示巡(xun)按周忱要(yao)求復(fu)査(cha),以(yi)官(guan)印為(wei)(wei)(wei)質方(fang)被(bei)應(ying)允。況鐘(zhong)深入(ru)調(diao)査(cha)研究(jiu),從山陽(yang)友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)家(jia)鼠(shu)洞中找(zhao)到被(bei)銜去的(de)十(shi)(shi)五(wu)貫錢(qian)和藥鼠(shu)面餅(bing),真相(xiang)大白。又(you)至(zhi)無(wu)(wu)錫(xi)扮作測字先生(sheng)私訪,從婁阿(a)鼠(shu)口中探得真情,并安(an)排他自投羅網,于(yu)是兩(liang)案昭(zhao)雪。況鐘(zhong)收蘇(su)、侯二女為(wei)(wei)(wei)義女,又(you)百(bai)般撮合(he)她(ta)倆(lia)和熊(xiong)氏兄弟(di)(di)的(de)婚事,終(zhong)于(yu)在(zai)熊(xiong)氏兄弟(di)(di)衣錦榮歸(gui)時,請過于(yu)執為(wei)(wei)(wei)媒,友(you)(you)(you)蘭(lan)與戍娟(juan),友(you)(you)(you)蕙(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)與三(san)(san)(san)姑結為(wei)(wei)(wei)夫婦(fu)。
該劇目有《古(gu)本(ben)戲(xi)曲叢刊》三集影印舊抄本(ben),又(you)有上海古(gu)籍出版社1983年(nian)排印的(de)校注(zhu)本(ben)。