DUE SIM
(SYNOPSIS)
By the end of the Hon Dynasty, the incompetency of Emperor Hin has caused Tung Churk, chief of the imperial tutors, to usurp kingly power. The people suffer very much under Churk's tyrannical rule, and the feudal lords of Kwan Tung as well as other political parties rise against him. Churk forces the Emperor to remove the capital to Cheung On from Lok Yeung where many homes unwilling to move are razed to the ground and many families also turned refugees.
The parents of Miss Hung Cheong (alias Due Sim) die miserably on their way to the new capital. Sim continues her journey alone and finds a home in Cheung On with Seto Wong Wun who accepts her as his adopted daughter.
One evening, when Wong Wun strolls into his garden with a heart sadden with the decapitation of Cheung Wan by Churk's order, he sees Due Sim worshipping the Moon and overhears her prayer to the Goddess for peace and prosperity of their country. Wong praises Due Sim for her patriotism and makes her promise to help in the plan of estranging Churk from his adopted son Lui Po. To carry out his plan, Wong first invites Lui Po to feast at his private residence and offers him the charming Due Sim in marriage. On a separate occasion. Due Sim is again offered to be Tung Churk's concubine and she is then even sent to live with Churk at his mansion. When Lui Po notices this and accuses Wong of his breach of faith, the latter deceives him saying that Tung Churk has brought Due Sim home to be his daughter-in-law.
Due Sim plays her part well and succeeds in making Lui Po believe that Tung Churk has robbed him of her body but not her true love. She pretends to be heart broken when Po catches sight of her from the reflection of a mirror in her toilet room. One day, Po finds a chance to meet Sim at the Fung Yee Arbour where they love to each other. Just now, Churk suddenly approaches them, and in a fury, he throws a spear at Po who narrowly escapes from being wounded. From this day onward, strong hatred and envy exist between Churk and Po.
In answer to Churk's query, Sim, on the other hand, asserts that Po has been very rude to her. Her crocodile tears and honey words gradually dissolve Churk's anger, and against the warning of his adviser Lee Yu, Churk finally decides to remove her to Mee Wu and live there with her.
The departure of Sim fills Po's heart with sadness. Wong Wun, getting hold of this opportunity, tries every means to induce Po to kill Churk whom he accuses of treachery. By a false summon of the Emperor, Churk is invited to attend an important meeting at the Mee Yeung Palace and on his way there, he is assassinated by Po while his crimes are also publicly declared.
Wong Wun again orders Sim to murder Po. However, Sim fails in her attempt of stabbing Po with her dagger at a dinner party, and being unable to bear such deep affliction, she tries to Commit suicide. Nevertheless, Po prevents her from killing herself and says that he has pardoned her for what she has just done to him. Perceiving such true love existing between Sim and Po. Wong changes his mind and no longer objects to their matrimonial union in Cheung On.