Under the azure sky, with jade steps towering high, and the golden walls and flying eaves of the king's temple, having withstood the test of time and weathered many storms, finally welcomes the unification of the six realms. However, despite the grand achievements of the past, now passed down through the ages, the mighty Zhao of yore has faded into history. Rewinding back to the beginnings of the Qin Dynasty, the myriad mysteries of that era never cease to evoke wonder.
In the year 259 BC, the ongoing struggles among the seven states continue unabated, with years of warfare and bloodshed leaving behind countless lost souls and dry bones. Particularly after the Battle of Changping, when Zhao reneged on its promise and refused to cede six cities to Qin, King Zhaoxiang of Qin dispatched troops to attack Zhao, thus initiating the protracted three-year-long Handan War. Concurrently, the future King Ying Zheng was born in Handan, while his father, Ying Yi(Lord Win), remained under house arrest within the city walls for Zhao. (Ancient China had a tradition -- two countries exchange Kings' heirs as a bargaining chip in wars)
As the day wanes, yellow sand and rain descend, enveloping the city of Handan, which lies hundreds of miles away yet feels so close, its stability precarious. Qin General Wang He leads his army arrayed outside the city, while Zhao General Pang Yi stands ready for battle. Only upon the death of a Qin envoy, awaiting a command, do the two armies engage in combat, arrows flying like locusts. Trebuchets and crossbow carts advance and retreat, inflicting heavy casualties not only on soldiers but also causing innocent civilians to perish, shattering families and nations.
With the first frost of early August, as the seasons seem to defy order and chaos reigns, Lu Buwei, discerning the shifting tides, decides to forsake his luxurious abode and escort Lord Win Inhuman out of the city, seeking a new patron. Lord Win Inhuman, hailing from the royal family of Qin and having served as a hostage in Zhao for eight years, now married to Lady Zhao Ji and father to Prince Ying Zheng, recognizes the escalating conflict and opts to reassess their strategy, entrusting Shen Yue with the protection of Lady Zhao Ji and her son.
Prime Minister Zhao Sheng of Zhao suspects collusion between Lu Buwei and Lord Win Inhuman and orders his subordinates to detain Lu Buwei in the residence of Plain Jun. Despite several rounds of interrogation yielding no results, Zhao Sheng instructs General Li Jian to lead troops to "cut the grass and eliminate the roots." Sensing the imminent danger, Lu Buwei rushes to Lord Win Inhuman's residence, only to find Lady Zhao Ji and her son missing, prompting them to depart hastily.
However, although the carriage successfully avoided the pursuit of the soldiers, after several twists and turns, but in Handan city under the obstruction of the gate guards by the king's orders, dare not release at will, Lv Buwei to the determination of death can be seen considering the past kindness, he finally ordered to open the gate In the twilight of the night, the carriage slowly drove out of the city gate, through the suburban wilderness, both sides of the bleak and quiet, all around the silence.