During the Ming Dynasty, the corrupt minister Yan Song and his son monopolized power. The loyal official Shen Fu was persecuted to death for exposing their wrongdoings, and his children were sent into exile.

Yan Song ordered the escorting officers, Zhang Qian and Li Wan, to kill Shen Xiaoxia and his wife, Wen, on the way. However, Shen Xiaoxia realized their plot and managed to escape by pretending to need to collect a large sum of money midway.

This was a vivid illustration that 'human faces follow high and low status, and worldly sentiments adopt cold and warm attitudes,' reflecting the prevailing snobbery.

Eight years later, after Yan Song's downfall, the couple finally reunited.