**Synopsis:** Wang Qiwei, husband of Zhi Fang, falls in love with Yue Feng and, with his mother's help, abandons Zhi Fang. Tired of her subservient role at home, Zhi Fang tells her friend Su Zhen, "I'd rather be a beacon in the dark society than a slave in this evil household." She leaves Qiwei's home with her maid, Adopted Orchid, and starts anew. Zhi Fang becomes a clerk at Mingxi Bookstore, while Orchid enrolls in Self-Strengthening Women's School. Despite their newfound freedom, they face challenges: the bookstore manager lusts after Zhi Fang, colleagues resent her intellect, and Orchid faces ridicule and bullying at school. United by their shared plight, they support each other. Zhi Fang's experiences fuel her passion for women's rights, leading her to resign from the bookstore and dedicate herself to the cause. Meanwhile, Qiwei marries Yue Feng, who leaves him due to his financial struggles and her own extravagance. Qiwei then begs Zhi Fang to return. Now the president of the Women's Suffrage Association, Zhi Fang is committed to fighting for women's rights and education. Qiwei, humiliated, conspires with the corrupt official Wang Daye to dismantle the association and falsely accuses Zhi Fang of being a fugitive. Outcast by society, Zhi Fang and Orchid retreat to a secluded valley. However, even this sanctuary is not safe from thieves. An old nun takes them in at Baiyun Temple. Weakened by her ordeals, Zhi Fang falls ill. Reflecting on her life and current circumstances, she succumbs to her illness, leaving behind her dreams of women's suffrage.
