《审头刺汤》
故事来源:明代(公元1368年──公元1644年)传奇《一捧雪》时间:明代嘉靖年间(公元1522年──公元1566年)地点:中国的江苏省主要人物:莫诚(莫怀古家奴仆) 雪艳(莫怀古之次妻) 汤勤(莫怀古之友)
奸臣严世藩得知富人莫怀古家有一件稀世珍宝── 一只玉杯,因其洁白无瑕,被称为“一捧雪”,便想据为己有。严世藩上书皇帝,诬告莫怀古谋反。皇帝昏庸,下令将莫怀古就地处死,斩下首级送往京城。
消息传到莫家,莫怀古星夜逃跑。曾经受过主人救命之恩的莫家奴仆莫诚,担心主人在外面继续遭到追杀,就冒名莫怀古,主动到官府投案自首,莫诚的头颅被斩下送往京城,严世藩见了,以为莫怀古已死,便放下心来。
莫怀古昔日的好友汤勤为攀附权贵,向严世藩告密,说头颅是假的。严世藩急忙将莫怀古的侍妾雪艳抓来,再三审问,雪艳为保丈夫性命,一口咬定头颅是真的。汤勤早已垂涎雪艳的美貌,便暗中要挟雪艳,如果肯嫁自己,他就让严世藩相信头颅是真的。雪艳恨透了这个人面兽心的家伙,她抱着必死的信念,压住心头的怒火,假意答应汤勤的要求。
果然,严世藩听从了汤勤的鬼话,释放了雪艳。汤勤心满意足地把雪艳娶进洞房,雪艳将汤勤灌醉,掏出一把早已藏在怀中的匕首,猛力刺向汤勤。当她确信仇人已死之后,也自杀身亡。
多年以后,严世藩垮台,流亡在外的莫怀古才返回家乡。
The False Head and the Death of Tang
Origin:Ming Dynasty (1386-1644AD) story, The Handful of SnowTime:Ming Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1522-1566 AD)Place:Jiangsu ProvinceMain characters:Mo Cheng (Mo Huaigu's vassal)Xueyan (Mo Huaigu's concubine)Tang Qin (Mo Huaigu's friend)
Treacherous official Yan Shifan learns that the wealthy Mo Huaigu possesses a rare and valuable treasure, a flawless white jade goblet known as "The Handful of Snow." Wanting it for himself, Yan Shifan submits a memorial to the Emperor falsely accusing Mo Huaigu of inciting rebellion. The Emperor, who is rather dense and easily led, issues an order that Mo Huaigu be executed on the spot, and his head brought to him in the capital.
News of the order reaches Mo Huaigu's home, and he flees by night. Vassal Mo Cheng is intensely loyal to his master Mo Huaigu, who once saved his life. Worried that Mo Huaigu will be captured and killed, Mo Cheng impersonates him and turns himself in to the local officials. Mo Cheng's head is accordingly cut off and sent to the capital. When Yan Shifan sees the head, he believes that Mo Huaigu is really dead, and calls off the pursuit.
Mo Huaigu's former friend Tang Qin, hoping for preferment, betrays the secret of the head to Yan Shifan. Yan Shifan immediately seizes Mo Huaigu's concubine, Xueyan, and subjects her to the third degree. In order to protect her husband's life, Xueyan resolutely maintains that the head really does belong to Mo Huaigu. Tang Qin, who has lusted after Xueyan for many years, secretly goes to her and says that if she agrees to marry him, he will convince Yan Shifan that the head is authentic. Xueyan is filled with loathing for this inhuman beast with the face of a man. But willing to die to protect her husband, she hides her revulsion and fury and pretends to agree to his demands.
Tang Qin convinces Yan Shifan that Mo Huaigu actually is dead, and Xueyan is released. After their wedding ceremony, Tang Qin smugly carries Xueyan into the bridal chamber, where she plies him with wine until he is thoroughly befuddled. Then pulling out the dagger she has hidden in her robes, fiercely she stabs him again and again. Finally assured that her enemy is dead, she stabs herself and ends her own life.
Many years later, Yan Shifan falls from power, and Mo Huaigu finally returns from exile to his home.