The down-and-out scholar Gu Shengzhai (played by Shi Jun) runs a calligraphy and painting shop called 'Writing Letters and Spring Festival Couplets' in a small town to support his elderly mother. He accidentally meets Yang Zhiyun (played by Xu Feng), who has recently moved to a nearby deserted fortress, and they develop a secret affection for each other. At the same time, a person from the Eastern Depot, Ouyang Nian (played by Tian Peng), comes to investigate. He gets into a scuffle with a nearby blind fortune teller (played by Bai Ying), which is witnessed by Gu Sheng and his mother. They take the injured fortune teller to Yang Zhiyun's place, where they learn their true identities — Yang Huizhen, the daughter of Yang Lian, the former vice minister who was beaten to death for denouncing the eunuch Wei Zhongxian; and General Shimen Qiao, who protected loyal officials. Since both of them are being hunted by the court, Gu Sheng sets up various schemes in the fortress with the help of the high monk Hui Yuan (played by Qiao Hong) in hopes of escaping from the pursuers of the Eastern Depot and fleeing for their lives. The film is adapted from Pu Songling's 'Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio,' specifically the story 'The Heroine.'
