Xiqu

The barbaric Turks invaded and seized the frontier Pass of Cold River. Commander Cheng Yaojin was ordered to recover the Pass. Fan Hong the general guarding Cold River Pass was originally an officer of the former Sui Dynasty, surrendering to the Turks after the fall of Sui. Fan Lihua, Fan Hong’s daughter, secretly met Cheng Yaojin to discuss surrendering to Tang, but ended up fighting with Xue Dingshan the young Tang officer. Eventually, Cheng Yaojin and Fan Lihua made an agreement of her allegiance to Tang, and Cheng acted as match-maker for Lihua and Dingshan. Listening to his daughter’s persuasion, Fan Hong’s reservations were eliminated and he consented to joining Tang.

On the wedding night, Dingshan grew suspicious of Lihua’s intentions and the couple quarrelled, Dingshan insulted Lihua who went back in anger to Cold River Pass. However, Lihua put aside personal grudges later, risked her life, to save Dingshan. She despaired of the romance and left without bidding farewell. In remorse, Dingshan volunteered to crawl all the way to Cold River, kneeling once and kowtowing thrice alternately, begging forgiveness. At Cold River Pass, Dingshan heard the shocking news that Lihua had died of the spear wound inflicted by him. In great sorrow, he confessed his guilt at the funeral parlor. It was a ruse to have Lihua feigning death to test Dingshan’s true feelings. Lihua was moved by Dingshan’s true love and they were reconciled.