Yin Zheng (Li Xuejian), King of Qin, embarks on a brutal campaign to unite all seven Chinese kingdoms in the third century B.C. Wanting to appear invincible, Yin sends his lover, Lady Zhao (Gong Li), to her homeland to hire a killer who will intentionally botch an assassination attempt on him. Once there, Lady Zhao tries to enlist Jing Ke (Zhang Fengyi), but complications arise in this lavishly produced historical epic from China.