The Tang commander Zhang Shaw-gui sends his subordinate, the Turk An Lu-shan, against the Khitan. Zhang sends him to the capital. Emperor Xuanzong is passionate about the young concubine Yang-guifei and is indifferent to government affairs. Despite the warnings of the dignitary Zhang Tszyu-ling, he not only saves Anyu's life, but also allows the guifei to take him to be his “adopted sons”. However, the first minister, Yang Guo-chung, the brother of the favorite, is seeking to send Anya to one of the garrisons. An, who managed to have an affair with guifei, swears revenge.
On the 7th day of the 7th moon, when, according to legend, the Heavenly weaver winds up with the Shepherd, the guifey feasts with the sovereign in the Palace of Longevity. He gives her a golden brooch and a precious casket and swears eternal love.
An-lu-shan leads his army to the capital, allegedly with the goal of saving the emperor from unworthy temporary workers. The emperor with musicians comes to the palace park - Guifei intends to perform the dance of Rainbow clothes. A special messenger from Sichuan brings her favorite fruits of lychee. Guifei is dancing, the emperor is ecstatic. But the dignitary Li Lin-fu reports the approach of the rebels. The capital's garrison is small, and Li persuades the emperor to leave for Sichuan. He is forced to agree.
The sovereign sets off on a journey accompanied by his close associates and the army under the command of Chen Xuan-li. Along the way, he first sees how poorly the people live. At the request of the peasants, he leaves for their protection part of the army, headed by the heir to the throne. However, the detachment accompanying the sovereign refused to move on until he was finished with the unworthy people surrounding the throne. The first victim falls Yang Guo-chung. But the soldiers are not satisfied, and through Chen they demand the heads of guifei. The emperor is forced to obey - the eunuch Gao gives her a cord, and she commits suicide. The army tramples on her corpse and continues the path. The emperor is grief-stricken.
The rebellion is suppressed. Renouncing the throne, Xuanzong survives lonely days in the memories of Yang-guifei, without taking his eyes off her portrait. He lay down to rest - she appears in a dream ... And outside the window, rain is knocking on the leaves of a plane tree (the one under which he swore guifey in love), and the persuasion of the eunuch Gao is in vain - the grief of the old emperor is endless, like autumn rain.
