戏中讲述了寡妇颜氏暗自倾慕塾师沈蓉,鼓起勇气深夜向沈蓉表白,而沈蓉却不忘自己的前程,特借“士重廉隅,妇重名节”的理由拒绝。颜氏遭此羞辱,不忍面对突如其来的打击,最终断指自诫,来维护自己不堪的情面与贞节。谁知世事难料,她的孩子得知此事,告之于圣上,圣上下旨赐颜氏贞节牌坊。并以“断指自诫,晚节可风”的荣誉金匾昭告天下。正所谓,人言可畏,众口铄金,皇恩浩荡。但冥冥之中又将颜氏这一卑微的女人推向了万丈深渊,不得永生。 The play tells the story of the widow Yan secretly admire the teacher Shirong, muster the courage to Shen Rong late at night to confess, but Shen Rong did not forget his future, special borrowing, . Yan was humiliated, could not bear to face the sudden attack, the final fingerprinting, to protect their unbearable situation and chastity. Surprisingly unpredictable things, her children learned of the matter, sued in the holy, the Holy Land subordinate Yan’s Chastity arch. And to “break the finger from the commandment, evening wind” honorary Jinpen told the world. Is the so-called, terrifying people, all deceive, magnificent powerful. But somewhere in turn Yan’s humble woman pushed to the abyss, not eternal life.