To explain this issue, we must start from the background of the author Zhao Shuli. Zhao Shuli was born in Qinshui County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province in 1906. He studied in Changzhi as a teenager and wrote "Xiao Erhei's Marriage" in 1943. Zhao Shuli's main activities were in southeastern Shanxi. This area was called Shangdang in ancient times. Due to frequent natural disasters, the belief in gods was very active. It is also because of the relatively isolated geographical environment that a large number of unique local belief systems have emerged, such as Chengtang belief (Shangtang), Zhaoze King belief (Taoist Jiao of Xiangyuan), Sanwei belief (Houyi), Jiutian Notre Dame belief, Er. Immortal beliefs, etc. Among them, the belief in the Two Immortals is very prosperous in southeastern Shanxi, especially in Jincheng.
The story of the Erxian Niangniang first appeared in the Tang Dynasty. The Erxian Niangniang was a pair of sisters who were talented but became orphans due to the early death of their parents. They were then abused to death by their stepmother, and then became immortals. During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, the war in the north was intense. It is said that the Erxian Empress appeared on the battlefield, helped the frontline officers and soldiers, and helped the Song army win the war against Xixia. Therefore, Huizong granted her the titles of Chongshu and Chonghui, and gave her the temple name Zhenze. , became part of the official sacrificial system and has been passed down to this day. Even today, there are still dozens of Erxian temples in southeastern Shanxi and surrounding areas (such as Jiyuan, Henan, which is dozens of kilometers away), especially the Zuting Erxian Temple in Zhenze, Huguan County, and the Erxian Temple in Xixi, Lingchuan County. prosperous.
In the traditional context of the local people, the phenomenon of induction by the Erxian Niangniang appears frequently and is regarded as a god. It is not surprising that the Three Immortals pretend to be gods and ghosts, claiming to have supernatural powers. They use the name of "Three Immortals" to deceive others.
From another aspect, in "Xiao Erhei's Marriage", in addition to the three fairy girls, there is another character called Er Zhuge, and the naming rules of the two characters are similar. Zhuge Liang had a brilliant plan, but he has passed away. The clever calculation that is currently alive is called Er Zhuge.