Pu Zhe, the younger brother of the Emperor of Manchukuo, Pu Wen, marries Ryuko the daughter of a long-established aristocratic family – all in the interest of the Japanese rulers, which legitimizes the relationship between Japan and its Chinese puppet state. To the surprise of all , a deep love between Pu Zhe and Ryuko develops. It is put to the test when Japan loses the war, Manchukuo is dissolved and the imperial court must flee. The lovers now have to separate: Pu Zhe tries to escape to Japan with his brother, while Ryuko flees with her daughter Eisei over the country. A film on the relationship between Pujie (1907-94), brother of the “last emperor” Puyi and his second wife, Marquise Hiro Saga (1914-87).

川口松太郎の原作を基に、芸の世界の旧習に翻弄される男女の悲恋を描く。元女形で芸事に精通する名匠・衣笠貞之助が、数々の名作で組む山本富士子と東映入り前の鶴田浩二の美男美女コンビで紡ぐ究極のメロドラマ。琴の名手・光雄（鶴田）は、別の男性と婚約中ながら密かに想い合う家元の娘・伊佐子（山本）との醜聞を恐れ一門と距離を置くが、結婚式を目前に控えた伊佐子の自分への変わらぬ愛を確認し、式の当日に花嫁を連れ出してしまう。

Kyoko is the third daughter of the Nonomiya family, a very ordinary family. Momoko, the eldest daughter, is married to Ichiro, the president of Mihara Shoji, and Riko, the second daughter, is married to Jiro, the managing director, and they plot to marry Kyoko to Saburo, the third son of the Mihara family. Kyoko is angry at the marriage talk that is being pushed forward without her permission, and declares that she "definitely won't get married," but before she knows it, she begins to become aware of the other person...