孟麗君與皇甫少華訂有婚約,因孟父出征兵敗被俘,皇甫將軍奏本鳴冤,兩家竟同時遭劉國丈妒害,抄家發配。 三年後,孟麗君女扮男裝考中狀元,官拜丞相,保薦皇甫少華出征,得勝班師,孟父亦因此還朝。皇甫凱旋、酈相親迎,未婚夫婦相面而不相認,皇帝金殿封爵,亦暗疑酈丞相即為孟麗君。皇甫乃藉畫像試探酈相。
皇帝識破酈相身份,相邀同遊上林,有意納之為妃。太后得知酈相為女子,與太師密議,乃決定金殿賜婚,孟麗君與皇甫終成姻眷。
Meng Li-jun and Huang-pu Shao-hua are engaged to be married. When Meng’s father is captured by the enemy on the battlefield, General Huang-pu sends in a memorial to the throne as a formal complaint and call for redress. Such a righteous act, however, precipitates a disaster for both families whose properties are confiscated and members banished.
Three years later, Meng Li-jun disguises herself as a man to take the imperial examination. She passes the examination, taking first place, and is soon to be appointed as the prime minister. She then recommends Huang-pu Shao-hua to lead imperial troops to fight the enemy. Huang-pu soon returns in triumph, and Meng’s father is thus absolved and returns as well. When Huang-pu returns with victory, Prime Minister Li is obliged to greet him in person, and the engaged couple have to pretend not to know each other at the imperial court in the presence of the emperor who soon suspects that the prime minister is Meng Li-jun. Huang-pu tests Prime Minister Li by means of a portrait.
When the emperor sees through the true identity of Prime Minster Li, he invites her to go on an excursion to Shanglin with the intention of making her his concubine. Soon the empress dowager finds out the truth that the prime minister is a woman and, after consulting with the Grand Preceptor, decides to bless the engaged couple in the imperial court in public. Meng Li-jun and Huang-pu Shao-hua finally get married.