It is a play written by Hong Sheng (1645-1704), a playwright of the early Qing Dynasty. Based on the long poem A Song of Unending Sorrow written by the poet Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty and the play Chinese Parasol Rain by the playwright Bai Pu of the Yuan Dynasty, it tells us the love story between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his Consort Yang Yuhuan (Lady Yang). Two important subjects have been further developed from the original materials: on the one hand more social and political contents are added to a large extent; on the other hand the original love story is adapted and enriched.

The story goes that enchanted by Lady Yang, Emperor Xuanzong indulged himself in seeking pleasure all day long. He appointed Lady Yang's elder brother Yang Guozhong as the first prime minister and bestowed the title of ladyship upon her three sisters. Later on, he turned his favor to her sister Lady Guoguo and stayed with Consort Meifei for a night in private, which annoyed Lady Yang. But later she forgave him. On the night of a Double Seventh Day, they took a vow to the stars of Vega and Altair in the Palace of Longevity that they would never betray each other. In order to please Lady Yang, Emperor Xuanzong once spent a large amount of money and manpower in transporting fresh litchis from Hainan Province to the capital city Chang'an. The horses kept running for thousands of miles, destroying plants along the roads and kicking innocent people to death. Attracted by Lady Yang alone, Emperor Xuanzong paid less and less attention to the running of the empire. Instead, Yang Guozhong and An Lushan were given more and more power. Eventually, An Lushan launched a rebellion, and Emperor Xuanzong was forced to flee from Chang'an accompanied by his trusty ministers. Later at the Mawei Station, his escort troops launched a mutiny and demanded that the chief criminals Yang Guozong and Lady Yang should be put to death. Thus the emperor had no other choice but to have Lady Yang strangled with a bridle rein. Upon her death, Lady Yang confessed her deep regrets to god and was forgiven. Emperor Xuanzong then went back to Chang’an after Guo Ziyi suppressed An Lushan's rebellion. Yet drowned in sorrow, he could not help missing the bereaved Lady Yang every day and night. Once bells rang, or the moon came out, he would only sink deeper in his grief. He was often seen crying before the statue of Lady Yang. Finally, the goddess Vega, granddaughter of Emperor of Heaven, was moved and allowed their reunion in the Moon Palace.

Once on, The Palace of Eternity became a hit in the capital city. Almost everyone there could sing the aria in the opera. Some of the scenes are adapted into other operas, such as the Beijing Opera The Drunken Beauty performed by Mei Lanfang.