The failed scholar Wang Sheng (played by Zheng Shaoqiu) has been married for many years but has not had any children. One day, while hurrying home from the city, he unexpectedly encounters a stunningly beautiful young woman, You Feng (played by Wang Zuxian). Feng claims to have a pitiful background; she was forced to marry as a concubine to a wealthy family and was abused by the legal wife, so she risked her life to escape. Wang, showing his righteous character, offers Feng a place to stay at his study. That night, Wang wants to have intimate relations with Feng, but as dawn breaks, Feng excuses herself by saying she feels unwell and refuses his advances. The next day, Wang goes to the city to buy cosmetics as a gift for Feng to win her favor and meets the Daoist Yu Qing (played by Liu Xun), who tells Wang that he is haunted by evil spirits. Wang pays no mind to this warning. After returning home, he expresses his desire to take Feng as a concubine to his wife, Chen. While Chen is spying on Feng during her bath, she sees Feng horrifyingly removing her face and applying makeup, which frightens her into unconsciousness. Wang then rushes to the Yu Qing Daoist temple, asking the Daoist to exorcise the demons. Yu Qing hands him a dust cloth, advising him to hang it outside their bedroom door and plan further. However, Feng sneaks into the room to reveal to Wang the hardships she faced in her past life...
