Princess Chang Ping retells the famous Chinese legend of the last Ming emperor's daughter and her love for a handsome young scholar. Unfortunately, the Manchurian occupation of China disrupts their plans for a happy marriage. Ordered to commit suicide to protect the Ming dynasty's honor from the invading barbarians, the princess instead flees to a Buddhist nunnery, where she is later reunited with her true love. When the newly established Qing dynasty offers them amnesty in exchange for acknowledging the Manchu authority, the two lovers must make a fateful choice between personal happiness and filial loyalty.