This narrative poem tells of a Han dynasty Emperor, consumed by love for a beautiful woman from the Yang family, whose beauty and grace eclipse all others in his court. His obsession leads him to neglect his imperial duties, preferring her company above all. Her tragic death amidst a military ultimatum shatters the Emperor, leading to a deep mourning that alters his perception of his surroundings, with everything reminding him of her. Despite searching both heaven and earth, her spirit is elusive until a Daoist priest discovers her in a celestial realm, where she expresses a changed, distant affection and a promise of eternal, albeit separated, connection. The story concludes with a vow of everlasting love, transcending the physical world, symbolizing the enduring nature of their bond amidst the impermanence of life and empire.