Li Chunxiang 李春香

In Chapter 57 of the Romance, Cao Cao, discussing a southern campaign, worries that if he marches far away Ma Teng may raid Xudu, and following Xun You's plan he summons Ma Teng to the capital by edict. When Ma Teng stations 5,000 Xiliang troops 20 li from Xuchang, Cao Cao makes the Attendant Gentleman of the Gate Huang Kui Adviser to the Army and sends him ahead to Ma Teng's camp to comfort the troops. Half drunk, Huang Kui says that his father Huang Wan died in the disorder of Li Jue and Guo Si and calls Cao Cao a traitor who slights his sovereign, and he and Ma Teng settle on a plan to kill Cao Cao at the place where he comes out of the city to review the troops. Romance, Ch. 57 §38–39 · 44–47

Back home, Huang Kui's anger has still not subsided, and though his wife asks him again and again he will not say what is wrong. But his concubine Li Chunxiang has been carrying on an affair with Huang Kui's brother-in-law Miao Ze, who wants to have her for himself but has found no means to do so. Seeing Huang Kui's anger, Li Chunxiang tells Miao Ze that Attendant Gentleman Huang has come back today from discussing military affairs and is extremely angry, and that she does not know at whom. Miao Ze tells her to ask him why everyone says that Imperial Uncle Liu is benevolent and virtuous while Cao Cao is a treacherous hero, and to see what he says. Romance, Ch. 57 §47–48

That night Huang Kui does indeed come to Li Chunxiang's room, and she sounds him out with those words. Emboldened by drink, Huang Kui says that if even she, a woman, knows right from wrong, how much more does he, and that he wants to kill Cao Cao; asked how he would go about it, he reveals that he has already agreed with General Ma to kill him tomorrow when the troops are reviewed outside the city. Li Chunxiang tells Miao Ze, and Miao Ze tells Cao Cao. Romance, Ch. 57 §48

Cao Cao secretly gives instructions to Cao Hong, Xu Chu, Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang, while first having Huang Kui's entire household arrested. The next day Ma Teng, approaching the city, is surrounded, loses his son Ma Tie and is captured together with Ma Xiu. When Huang Kui, brought in bound, loudly protests his innocence, Cao Cao has Miao Ze confront him, and Ma Teng is put to death together with his son Ma Xiu and Huang Kui. Romance, Ch. 57 §49–52

Miao Ze tells Cao Cao that he wants no reward and asks only to be allowed to take Li Chunxiang as his wife. Cao Cao laughs and says that, having ruined his sister's husband's entire household for the sake of a woman, such a man without righteousness is of no use to keep alive, and at once has Miao Ze and Li Chunxiang beheaded in the marketplace along with Huang Kui's entire household. Among those who watch there is no one who does not sigh. The Romance laments the affair with a poem by a man of later times, which says that Miao Ze harmed a loyal minister out of private desire, yet far from winning Chunxiang he brought ruin upon himself. Romance, Ch. 57 §54–55