Summary During 1920s, Lu Zhenhua, as a commander, who earned the nickname of "Black Leopard" and is a well-known figure in northeastern China. Zhenhua married his eighth concubine by capture, Fu Wenpei, who grown up in a literary family, then, the ninth concubine, Wang Xueqin, a lesser-known opera actress. The Japanese had invaded China from the Northeast, and they formed a Japanese state in the eastern region. Hence, in 1931, he brought Wenpei, Xueqin and their children to Shanghai. Although he was no longer a commander and had left most of his fortune in the Northeast, Zhenhua was rich enough to live in the most affluent part of Shanghai - the French territory. Xueqin who was a domineering lady drove out Wenpei, together with her daughter Yiping, and aide Li and his family from the house. It was the autumn of 1935, when Ruping first met Shuhuan and Dufei on the bus. Dufei and Shuhuan were reporters. They snatched a picture of Qin Wuye and were chased by his bodyguards. In his haste, Shuhuan passed the film negative to Ruping for safekeeping. As Ruping's brother, Erhao worked in the same press as Shuhuan and Dufei; they became friends. In 1935, Yiping was 18 years old, a deprived of education for her Shanghai Music Academy. One night, it was pouring heavily. Yiping left home for "that side" to ask for monthly allowance from her father.

• War
• Drama
• Music
• Romance