This opera depicts a story adapted from a plot of the historic fiction Outlaws of the Marsh. Song Jiang set up Black Dragon Courtyard to live with his concubine Yan Xi Jiao. Meanwhile Yan intrigued with Song's same office amanuensis Zhang Wenyuan, snubbed Song and picked a quarrel. Song upset and left house for several days. Some day Song returned because of his mother-in-law. Yan found Song's secret from a letter Song left, that invited Song to be the head of rebels of Liangshan Mountain. Song asked the letter back but was refused. He raged and killed her.