The Emperor and the Assassin

Set during the third century BC, it is the story of an ambitious King, Ying Zheng, obsessed with unifying all of China and becoming its first emperor. To this end, he embarks upon an unparalleled reign of terror and brutality against all who, he believes, stands between him and his destiny.

Hoping to contribute in some way to Ying Zheng's dream of Chinese unification, Lady Zhao, his lover from childhood, devises an intricate fake assassination plot against Ying Zheng which, when "uncovered", will provide him with a legitimate excuse to invade the neighboring kingdom of Yan, his greatest obstacle to unification. However, before the plan can be fully realized, Ying Zheng discovers a painful secret about his birth. This stunning revelation triggers the cold blooded instinct within him. He has anyone who might have knowledge of his true lineage killed. He then plots a bloody attack on Lady Zhao's beloved homeland.