Inside of the Forbidden City, Yuan Chengjhih started an assassination. He nearly killed the Emperor Chongjhen before Chonjhen's ninth daughter appeared. He recognized that this princess was the disciple of his friend, Cheng Chinjhu's for this reason he let Chongjhen go. Unexpectedly the ruthless Chongjhen chopped his own daughter's arm off, so Yuan took her and left.

      Beijing was soon taken and Emperor Chongjhen committed suicide. The new national leader, Chuangwang, disappointed Yuan by maltreating the people and forcefully married General Wu Sangui's concubine Chen Yuanyuan. When Wu led the Cing troops into the country, Chuangwang was defeated and Yuan moved to an island in the ocean.

      This story takes on the people's side. It interweaves many historical events, such as Yuan Chengjhih avenging his father and the execution of Chengjhih's father, Chonghuan, was an unforgivable mistake made by emperor Chongjhen. At the end of this book the author Jin Yong attached a historic note concerning Yuan Chonghuan's case to assist readers in a bettering understanding.