書(shu)生韓琦(qi)仲(zhong)早年喪父,賴其父友戚(qi)補臣(chen)(chen)撫(fu)養,并(bing)與(yu)補臣(chen)(chen)之(zhi)(zhi)子友先(xian)(xian)共(gong)入(ru)塾館(guan)。戚(qi)氏(shi)附近有一(yi)詹公館(guan):主人(ren)(ren)詹武承,字烈(lie)侯(hou),大夫人(ren)(ren)早逝(shi),二(er)夫人(ren)(ren)梅氏(shi)所生長女愛(ai)娟(juan)(juan)(juan)貌(mao)丑(chou),三夫人(ren)(ren)柳氏(shi)所生次女淑娟(juan)(juan)(juan)貌(mao)美。兩(liang)位(wei)夫人(ren)(ren)不(bu)和,烈(lie)侯(hou)去西川上任(ren)前,將住宅隔成(cheng)東西二(er)院,以防生事(shi)(shi),并(bing)將兩(liang)女之(zhi)(zhi)婚(hun)事(shi)(shi)托(tuo)付給補臣(chen)(chen)。友先(xian)(xian)拿著有琦(qi)仲(zhong)題詩的風箏在(zai)外(wai)亂放,掉(diao)在(zai)柳氏(shi)院中。柳氏(shi)讓淑娟(juan)(juan)(juan)和詩一(yi)首(shou)續在(zai)韓詩后。琦(qi)仲(zhong)看到后又在(zai)其后寫了(le)(le)一(yi)首(shou)求婚(hun)詩,不(bu)巧(qiao)這次風箏掉(diao)在(zai)梅氏(shi)院中,愛(ai)娟(juan)(juan)(juan)以為是友先(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)詩,于是假(jia)冒淑娟(juan)(juan)(juan)之(zhi)(zhi)名(ming)與(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)約會(hui)(hui)。琦(qi)仲(zhong)又假(jia)冒友先(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)名(ming)前來約會(hui)(hui),卻(que)被愛(ai)娟(juan)(juan)(juan)的丑(chou)貌(mao)驚走。補臣(chen)(chen)為友先(xian)(xian)定了(le)(le)愛(ai)娟(juan)(juan)(juan),新婚(hun)之(zhi)(zhi)夜,友先(xian)(xian)嫌她(ta)丑(chou)陋,大吵大鬧,卻(que)無濟于事(shi)(shi)。琦(qi)仲(zhong)中了(le)(le)狀元,榮歸時得(de)知補臣(chen)(chen)為自己(ji)定娶淑娟(juan)(juan)(juan),他以為就是原先(xian)(xian)與(yu)他私會(hui)(hui)的那個丑(chou)小姐,便百般推辭;新婚(hun)之(zhi)(zhi)夜又獨自而眠(mian),不(bu)肯(ken)圓房。在(zai)柳氏(shi)的調解下,終于弄清(qing)了(le)(le)事(shi)(shi)情(qing)的真相,欣然成(cheng)親。梅氏(shi)與(yu)柳氏(shi)也(ye)取得(de)和解。烈(lie)侯(hou)回家后,舉家共(gong)慶團圓。
戲曲表現
該劇目有《笠(li)翁十種曲》原(yuan)刊本(ben),及1991年浙江(jiang)古籍出版社《李漁全(quan)集》第四卷(juan)排印本(ben)。