<p>唐代宗年间，博陵才子崔护晋京赶考，在长安郊外桃花庄路遇哑女周桃，一见倾心，便毛遂自荐为其治病。原来，周桃因幼年时父母被当权太监鱼朝恩所害，受惊致哑。她与爷爷周老爹避难于桃花庄。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　丞相杨炎次女金瑶得了肺痨，医嘱令其心情开朗。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　学士路昭因欣赏崔护人才，欲将妻妹金瑶许配给他，崔虽未允，但答应与金瑶作伴。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　鱼朝恩与杨炎找回了皇上在安史之乱时失散民间多年的太后。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　此时，周桃遇上一突然事件，不料说出话来。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　右丞相卢杞与鱼、杨不和，查出太后为假，禀告皇上。皇上治鱼、杨二人之罪。为此，杨家一片惶然。崔护却义留杨府。后来，杨、鱼被赦，杨丞相为女求婚遭拒，要将崔护驱出京城。为此金瑶大惊，口吐鲜血，恳求父亲向崔护道歉。周桃力劝崔护与杨家结好，并与其订于来年三月三日想见。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　金瑶病情加重，崔护跪请其义父鱼朝恩启遍请宫中太医为其治病。太医均言如能过春天即可痊愈。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　崔护高中进士，金瑶欲设宴为其庆贺，崔护因欲赴周桃之约而婉拒。金瑶黯然神伤，吐血昏倒。崔护为照顾金瑶，不得不放弃三月三之约。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　金瑶昏迷三天三夜，醒来后忙催崔护前往桃花庄赴约。谁知等崔护赶到周家时，周桃已不知所往。崔护失望之余，在柴扉留诗一首后，怅然离去。周桃给父母扫墓回来，见到崔诗，急往城中寻找崔护，恰遇金凤哀求崔护与金瑶成亲。为此，周桃心碎离去，日渐病危。崔护得知后赶往桃花庄，周桃已郁郁而终。与此同时，金瑶也离开了人世。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　金瑶与周桃死后在阴间相遇，因金瑶魂魄有鱼朝恩所赠佛珠庇护，故二人商议以金瑶之魂借周桃之身重返阳间，帮助崔护飞黄腾达。“桃儿”复活后执意要崔护投身仕途，并与其来到杨府，被杨家认为义女。右丞相卢杞笼络崔护不成而治其罪，被“桃儿”巧语化解。崔护被皇上封为巡查使，奉旨与“桃儿”完婚。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　崔护与“桃儿”新婚之夜，周桃之魂妒怨难当而来闹洞房，令金瑶真魂出现吓昏崔护。崔护偶然提及桃儿的杀父之仇，“桃儿”却正告崔护以后不要再提此事。 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;　　鱼朝恩暗害卢杞未遂，反被皇帝治罪，幸亏杨炎求情得免，“桃儿”劝杨炎远离鱼朝恩。鱼再次派人行刺卢，被周桃之魂相救。崔护