The Purple hairpin
- ScreenwriterTong Tik-sang
Li Yi, a talented young man, comes to Chang'an to attend the imperial examination with Cui Yunming and Wei Xiaqing. On the night of the Spring Lantern Festival, he meets Huo Xiaoyu and recovers her purple hairpin which becomes their love-token. They get married that very night.
However, the daughter of Lu, the supreme official of military affairs, loves Li Yi after he picks returns her lost handkerchief. Owing to his refusal of being Lu’s son-in-law, Li Yi is appointed to a military post beyond the Great Wall even he comes out first in the imperial examination. And thus the young couple is separated.
Nothing is heard from Li Yi for three years and Huo’s living becomes difficult, but she keeps subsidizing Yunming from time to time. At last, she has to pawn even the purple hairpin. Meanwhile, Lu has Li Yi summoned to Chang'an to be his son-in-law, and beat Yunming to death for his refusal to be the matchmaker for Li Yi and his daughter. In order to quench Li Yi’s affection for Xiaoyu, he further procures the purple hairpin as a proof of her remarriage.
At Ci’en Temple, a Chevalier in Yellow Gown, after hearing her story, helps Xiaoyu to reunite with Li Yi. However, Lu has his men take Li Yi back to marry his daughter during their reunion. As advised by the Chevalier, Xiaoyu comes to claim her husband back at the wedding. Just when Lu tries to beat her to death on the accusation of intrusion, the Chevalier comes as the emperor's brother. He deposes Lu for his evil deeds and reunites Xiaoyu and Li Yi.