Return of the Phoenix

Cheng Pu, Minister of War of the Ming Dynasty, is enjoying his retirement at his country manor. He has only one worry. Both of his daughters are not married. Elder daughter Shueh-yeh is so ugly that no suitor has come along. Younger daughter Shueh-wu is extremely beautiful but Mrs. Cheng, who is Shueh-yeh’s mother but not Shueh-wu’s, insists younger daughters must wait.

One day, Cheng Pu meets on the road a young man. He talks with talented youngster and finds him to be Mu Chu-yi, son of his former minister friend Mu Chien-yeh. Mu Chu-yi is poor and works for a living since his whole family, except himself, has been killed by wiched minister Liu Chun.

Cheng Pu likes Mu Chu-yi. He invites the young man to his birthday party. He announces that he is marrying his younger daughter Shueh-wu to Chu-yi. Chu-yi is grateful.

This makes Mrs. Cheng, her daughter Shueh-yeh and playboy Prince Chu very unhappy. Mrs. Cheng wants to marry off Shueh-yeh to Chu-yi while Prince Chu hopes to win the hand of Shueh-wu.

Therefore, Shueh-yeh is instructed to sneak into Chu-yi’s study in the night, claiming herself to be her sister. Mu Chu-yi’s is offended. He locks the ugly girl out and leaves in the night without saying goodbye.

While en route, he meets Prince Chu. He tells the playboy he is going south to join Marshal Hung in the campaign against the rebels. The Prince immediately has a beautiful plot in mind.

Cheng Pu himself is called by court orders to join the armed forces of Marshal Hung. He leaves the arrangement of the wedding to his scheming wife.

Mrs. Cheng therefore decides to substitute Shueh-yeh for Shueh-wu at the wedding. Prince Chu, meanwhile, decides to send a wedding procession to the Chengs in order to get Shueh-wu.

Thus, Prince Chu finds himself married to the ugliest girl he has ever seen. He immediately becomes henpecked. Shueh-yeh, too, has to take the second best.

In the south, the rebels are crushed and Mu Chu-yi becomes a general. The wicked minister who connived with the rebels is also executed. But some of the rebels escape to the north, burning, robbing and raping.

They get near Cheng Pu’s countryside. Mrs. Cheng goes to live with Prince Chu but the rebels catch up with them and burn down the Chu mansion.

Shueh-wu, however, decides to disguise herself as a man and go south to join her father. She braves all hazards and rejoins her father.

Marshal Hung decides it is time for General Mu to marry Shueh-wu. But Mu Chu-yi is reluctant, still thinking the girl is the one who came to his room that night. He is practically forced to the altar by the marshal.

He refuses to go into the bridal chamber. But after explanations here and there, he goes in and discovers the bride to be the most beautiful girl in the world. He asks for her forgiveness which is granted finally.

The next day, Mrs. Cheng, Shueh-yeh and Prince Chu also arrive. Their scheme is exposed but they are all forgiven since it is all in the family.

source: celestial