Lin Taiyu, a beautiful orphan girl lives with her grandmother, the head of a wealthy and noble family, Chia. There she meets her cousin, Chia Paoyu, and they become attracted to each other.
Shueh Paochai, another cousin of Paoyu, and her mother visits the Chia family. Plans are made to marry them, but by then Paoyu’s attentions are on Taiyu as they have become very fond of each other.
One day, Taiyu visits Paoyu’s chamber to console him over a caning received from his father. Meeting Paochai, she misunderstands and thinks that he has shifted his affections to Paochai.
The sad Taiyu, deeply touched by falling flowers in the garden, buries them while reciting her poem, The Burial of Flowers. Paoyu overhears her and realises how much they love each other. He then declares his love for her.
Paoyu’s revelation of his love for Taiyu upsets the Chia family and they decide that he should be married to Paochai immediately. Paoyu in the meantime is made to believe that his bride is Taiyu. Shocked and upset over Paoyu’s forthcoming marriage to Paochai, Taiyu’s health fails and she dies.
Meanwhile, Paoyu, overwhelmed with shock and grief to discover that his bride is Paochai, leaves the bridal chamber to seek out Taiyu, only to find his love gone forever. He then abandons the Chia family and heads for the monastery determined to enter the Buddhist Order.
(Source: Ministry of Culture Programme)