The orphan Su Shuying makes a living by embroidery, looks for a tutor for her sister, and develops a mutual affection for the gentle Qin Yanzhou. After Shen Linyuan became the top scholar in high school, Su Shuying wanted to fulfill her engagement with Qin Yanzhou. Su Shuying refused due to the status gap and secular vision, and finally stayed with Qin Yanzhou in Liuzhou. However, Shen Linyuan, an official of the Ministry of Rites, never married, leaving only butterfly-patterned keepsakes and notes, which bear witness to the care and regret between the two of them spanning half a lifetime.
