In the early years of the Republic of China, in a small county in North China, a bizarre murder case occurred. Lin Jiyaow, the son of local gentry Lin Ziqing, was found dead in the bed of the owner of a small tavern, Ms. Zeng. Mr. Lin accused the tavern owner, Zeng Jiaju, of murdering his son. The case was presided over by the county magistrate Tang Chongtao. Lin Gui, the steward of the Lin family, testified that on the day of the incident, he and Jiyaow went to drink at Zeng's tavern. The boss’s wife, Zhen Niang, tried to seduce Jiyaow. When Zeng Jiaju returned and caught them in the act, he beat Jiyaow to death. Zeng Jiaju and his mother denied the accusation, claiming that Jiyaow had made advances towards their daughter-in-law. When Zeng Jiaju and Lin Gui rushed into the room, they found Jiyaow already naked and dead in the bed, while Zhen Niang had disappeared. Under the temptation of a huge bribe from the Lin family, Magistrate Tang Chongtao sentenced Zeng Jiaju to death. Later, Zhen Niang committed suicide because of this. Troubled by guilt, Chongtao was then confronted by the ghosts of Jiaju and Zhen Niang, who came to claim his life...