王寶釧

宰相王允有三女，以幼女王寶釧才貌最高。王允為女舉行繡球選婿，謂「得繡球者不論貧富招為女婿」。繡球落在薛平貴手中，王允見平貴落拓寒微反悔前言。寶釧不從父命，認定平貴為婿，堂前擊掌與父決裂明志。寶釧與平貴在武家坡的舊窯過著清苦的日子。及皇榜招才降服貢馬，平貴奉詔一舉功成，天子賜封官職，卻因王允參奏只落得一名小吏。平貴奉命隨軍出征西涼，言道不為將帥不歸，此去十八年音信杳然。十四年前得訊平貴失蹤，父母幾番勸說改嫁，寶釧仍是決意守節。平貴失蹤卻原來是魏虎灌酒行兇，幸為西遼代戰公主所救並招為駙馬。及西遼王薨逝平貴襲位為王，重返破窯親迎寶釧至西遼與代戰公主並為兩宮王妃。平貴並封贈往日恩義友好，申斥王允。

Wang Baochuan

Prime Minister Wang Yun has three daughters, of which Baochuan is the youngest, the most talented, and the prettiest. Wang Yun holds a party to choose a husband for Baochuan, and promises that his daughter will marry whoever—rich or poor–can get the silk ball. The ball is caught by Xue Pinggui. Considering Xue Pinggui’s poverty and humble origins, Wang Yun wants to go back on his word, but Baochuan insists on marrying him. At her insistence, Baochuan is disowned by her father and the couple goes to an old cave to live in poverty. When the emperor seeks a person who has the ability to tame a horse, Pinggui volunteers and accomplishes the task. The emperor intends to assign Pinggui to a government post, but finally makes him a petty official because Wang Yun speaks ill of him.

Ordered to go on an expedition to Xiliang with the army, Pinggui vows that he will not return until he becomes a general or marshal. For eighteen years nothing is heard from him. Despite the rumor thatPinggui has been lost for fourteen years, and Baochuan’s parents’ repeated advice for her to remarry,Baochuan is determined to wait for her husband. In truth, Pinggui was actually rescued from death by a Xiliao princess, and the two are now married.

When the king of Xiliao dies, Pinggui takes over the throne. He returns to the rundown cave dwelling to findBaochuan and takes her to Xiliao, where both Baochuan and Princess Daizhan are made his wives.