Tang Bohu (Stephen Chow), one of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan, has many wives and concubines, but they are all estranged, leaving him deeply lonely. Prince Ning (Lam Wai) plots a rebellion and is determined to recruit Tang Bohu, who, to avoid trouble, plans to leave his home. One day, the four talents encounter Madam Hua (Cheng Pei-pei) at a temple. Tang Bohu is captivated by the maid Qiu Xiang (Gong Li) and, to see her, sells himself into servitude at the Hua household, changing his name to Hua An. Madam Hua harbors a deep hatred for the Tang family, but Qiu Xiang secretly admires Tang Bohu's talent. Initially, Qiu Xiang looks down on Hua An, even mistaking him for a lecherous scoundrel, until Hua An takes the blame for her, changing her opinion of him and recommending him for the position of page. One day, Prince Ning led his men to the Hua residence to cause trouble. Hua An, however, was slightly superior in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and martial arts, causing Prince Ning to leave disappointed. Although Hua An resolved the crisis for the Hua family, he also revealed his true identity to Madam Hua. Prince Ning's henchman, the Deadly Scholar (played by Lau Kar-leung), once again wreaked havoc at the Hua residence. Tang Bohu had no choice but to defeat the Deadly Scholar using his family's martial arts skills. Madam Hua finally agreed to betroth Qiu Xiang to Tang Bohu…
