The Wandering Beauty of a Turbulent Era

This film (drama)Also known as乱世飘萍，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2000Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating7.5(For reference only)。

Beijing, late Qing to early Republic. A courtesan with extraordinary whip skills—Phoenix Woman, though of humble origins, possesses a fiery temperament and captivating beauty. Her conditions for companionship involve martial skills rather than wealth. Countless suitors come to challenge her, all ending in defeat. Such a grand scene is witnessed by one person, who falls in love instantly. This person is Tofang, an apprentice of Li Hongzhang, returned from studying in England, who is already married. Tofang, disregarding the objections of his mentor Li Hongzhang and his own family, dons Western attire and sword to challenge her, only to be humiliatingly defeated by Phoenix Woman's whip. However, he does not lose heart and returns dressed in Western clothes to sing Schubert’s serenade under her window in hopes of winning her favor. Although Phoenix Woman does not appear, she secretly harbors feelings for him... In a subsequent duel, Phoenix Woman intentionally shows a flaw, allowing Tofang to win... Tofang marries Phoenix Woman and brings her home... Not long after the wedding, Tofang is dispatched to England by Li Hongzhang without the option to bring his family. He bids a tearful farewell to Phoenix Woman, unaware that this separation will last forever. This tragic outcome is the result of a premeditated plot by Tofang's seemingly amiable wife, who, after Phoenix Woman gives birth to a daughter, poisons her and falsely claims the girl as her own... Upon hearing of Phoenix Woman's death, Tofang is devastated. After a year of official duties back home, he takes his daughter to England and names her—Runge'er... Years later, an eighteen-year-old beauty—Runge'er, wearing Western attire, returns to the country with her father Tofang. Educated extensively in Britain, Runge'er is unaware of the many rules of the Qing Dynasty, and her behavior becomes a striking spectacle. Climbing trees, visiting tea houses, attending operas and learning to perform, she is unstoppable, causing great concern to Tofang and his wife, who find themselves helpless. Rongqing, son of the important minister Rongfu, takes a liking to Runge'er and sends a matchmaker to propose, but Runge'er opposes... At this time, Runge'er unexpectedly meets her father's friend—Tan Sitong, and is captivated by his righteous spirit and reformist ideas, leading to a budding romance... The emperor secretly commands Tofang and Tan Sitong to find a way to save him. Tofang writes a secret letter to Yuan Shikai asking him to support the imperial authority with military force. However, Yuan Shikai betrays him, and the letter falls into Rongfu's hands. Rongqing seizes the opportunity to blackmail Tofang with the letter, forcing him to comply... To protect the Tofang family from disaster, Tofang's wife, acting independently, tries to drug Runge'er and send her to the Rong residence. Just as Tofang returns, the conspiracy is revealed, leading to his furious outburst... The reform fails, and Tan Sitong and five other reformists are executed at Caishikou... Tofang, exhausted and heartbroken, jumps into the moat to end his life... After witnessing Tan Sitong's execution, Runge'er disappears without a trace... Despairing at her husband's demise, Tofang's wife sets the Tofang house on fire... Ten years later, in Wuchang, Hubei. Runge'er has become a leading actress in a theater, going by the stage name Run Tianhong... The true identity of Yang Hailong, who is formally a thousand-man commander under the Qing soldiers but secretly a revolutionary, emerges when he leads several revolutionaries to assassinate the Huguang governor, Ruizheng, during a performance, but they fail. In a moment of danger, Run Tianhong rescues Yang Hailong, who is deeply grateful... On Tan Sitong's memorial day, Run Tianhong and Yang Hailong coincidentally meet at the riverside to pay their respects. At this moment, Run Tianhong realizes that Yang Hailong is the boy who, years ago, left a profound impression on Tan Sitong and later became his student. Her heart stirs... The revolutionaries' illegal arms dealings are exposed, and Yang Hailong's identity as a revolutionary is revealed... The government sends troops to arrest Yang Hailong, who hears the news and goes into hiding... The authorities capture Run Tianhong in an attempt to lure Yang Hailong... With the help of his revolutionary comrades, Yang Hailong successfully rescues Run Tianhong, and they embrace each other with deep affection... Three years later, they participate together in the shocking—Wuchang Uprising...