Synopsis：The celebrated courtesan Du Shiniang, though of lowly status, firmly believes in true love and waits in the brothel for a man willing to redeem her and take her away. One evening during a performance, she falls in love at first sight with the scholar Li Jia. Li Jia, from a prominent family, leads a comfortable life but cannot afford Du Shiniang's high redemption price. Faced with this, he begins to avoid her. Du Shiniang, through a bet with the brothel owner Yecha, sets her own redemption price at a thousand taels of gold. She repeatedly encourages Li Jia to face the situation bravely and gives him her savings to secure her freedom. After leaving the brothel, Du Shiniang is full of hope for the future. Still, she sends her maid Shiliang to test Li Jia's feelings, but Li Jia manages to pass the test. Du Shiniang joyfully sails home with Li Jia, but his family cannot accept her past as a courtesan. Distraught, Li Jia drowns his sorrows in drink and meets his classmate Sun Fu, who has long coveted Du Shiniang. Sun Fu offers a high price to buy her, and Li Jia, now penniless, accepts the deal. When Du Shiniang learns of this, her heart breaks. Her beautiful dreams of love and a future are shattered by harsh reality. She dresses in her bridal gown, stands before Sun Fu's bridal sedan, and displays all the jewelry and treasures she has accumulated over the years—enough to ensure a comfortable life for herself and Li Jia. Li Jia is overcome with regret, but it is too late. Heartbroken, Du Shiniang embraces her treasure chest and leaps into the river, drowning herself.