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, having been forced to marry as a concubine to a wealthy family, and is being tormented by the rightful wife, so she risks her life to escape. Wang, demonstrating a sense of justice, offers to let Feng stay temporarily in his study. That night, Wang wishes to spend intimate moments with Feng, but just as dawn breaks, Feng excuses herself by claiming she feels unwell, refusing his advances. The next day, Wang goes to the city to buy makeup as a gift for Feng in hopes of winning her affection, where he meets Daoist Yuqing (played by Liu Xun), who warns Wang that he is plagued by evil spirits, but Wang ignores him. Upon returning home, Wang expresses his desire to take Feng as a concubine to his wife, Chen. While Feng is bathing, Chen spies through the window and is horrified to see Feng remove her face and apply a terrifyingly grotesque layer of makeup. This shocks her into unconsciousness. Wang then rushes to the Yuqing Taoist temple to ask the Daoist to exorcise the evil spirits. Yuqing gives Wang a feather duster, instructing him to hang it outside his bedroom door and make plans, but unexpectedly, Feng sneaks into the room to recount the hardships of her previous life...
