This love story takes place in Beijing in the 1920s, a tumultuous era filled with social and political unrest. Tang Qisheng, a descendant from a well-to-do family that served the Qing royal court for generations, is an elegant young man. Educated and refined, he is an artist who staunchly defends the freedom of creativity. A tremendously talented dramatist, Tang’s observations are acute and sensitive, and he’s devoted to maintaining age-old traditions in the cradle of Peking opera. Tang has become enamored with the actor Yang Shaoshan, a specialist in young martial roles. Tang even creates a new work, Farewell, My Overlord, to help Yang reach stardom and extend the dramatist’s own artistic vision. No matter in times of war or peace, love symbolizes the goodness in humanity, the only ray of light in an otherwise drab existence. This story ends with the death of Tang, which can be interpreted either as redemption or arriving at a full circle, with death also symbolizing the ultimate price for the greatest love. Because of his willingness to sacrifice himself, Tang took the reins in defining his own love and desires. He paid the price for creating a veritable masterpiece with his own dignity and love. On the surface, Farewell, My Overlord appears to contain a conservative and classical plot. Deeper within the story, however, are passions that can barely be contained, or even openly expressed. Dramatic tension permeates throughout struggles and reification, desires and the ultimate release.