The Emperor and the Assassin ( Jing ke ci qin wang / 荆轲刺秦王)

THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN

King Ying Zheng.

Have you ever forgotten...

the commandment of your Qin ancestors...

to unite all under heaven?

No, never.

Ying Zheng wouldn't dare!

King Ying Zheng.

Have you ever forgotten the commandment...

of your ancestors to unify all under heaven?

No, Ying Zheng has never forgotten, not for a moment.

Gong Li

Zhang Fengyi

Li Xuejian

Screenplay By Chen Kaige - Wang Peigong

Director of Photography Zhao Fei

Production Designer Tu Juhua - Lin Chi

Sound By Tao Jing

Edited By Zhao Xinxia

Music By Zhao Jiping

Costume Designer Mo Xia Omin - Huang Chuo Ping

Art Directors Yang Su Ton - Ji Wei Hwa

Propmaster Yi Jin Zou

Associate Director Zhang Jinzhan

Associate Producers Philip Lee - Sunmin Park

Production Supervisor Zeng Qanghui

Qin Invades The Kingdom of Han

Executive Producers - Han Sanping Suguhiko Kadokawa - Hiromitsu Furukawa

Produced By - Chen Kaige Shirley Kao - Satoru Iseki

You're a great warrior.

You should be promoted and continue to fight for Qin.

What's your name?

King Ying Zheng.

- Your Majesty! - Don't move.

You die a brave warrior of Qin.

Directed By Chen Kaige

Chapter One: The King Of Qin

The Queen Mother's Quarters

Prime Minister Lu Buwei at the Queen Mother's service.

If I am not mistaken...

it has been almost seven years since we last met.

The Queen Mother has a fine memory.

That was when he first entered into your service.

And look at his achievement.

Today he bears the title of Marquis.

It's not the fault of the Marquis.

After all, he used to be your retainer.

Where would he be today if you had not given him the opportunity to serve me?

Marquis or not...

he is still your servant.

How true.

However...

I do enjoy his company a great deal.

It is time my son should get married.

The Marquis has found a lady for him.

She is a princess from the Kingdom of Han.

The princess calls me her uncle.

Are you aware...

that your son is going to eliminate Han?

Really?

If Han is eliminated, won't my homeland of Zhao be next?

What will happen to my position if Zhao is eliminated?

I have no interest except the well-being of the Queen Mother.

But if Qin eliminates the other six kingdoms...

who will pay tribute to Her Majesty?

Clever, aren't you?

Take good care of the Queen Mother for me.

Trust me...

I have no interest in politics.

But I must ask...

once the six kingdoms are eliminated...

what use will the king have for you...

the prime minister?

Then allow me to congratulate you on your son's marriage.

The King's War Council

All of Han is in our hands, except for the capital.

The city has been under siege by our troops for almost 30 days.

The Han people have lost their will to defend.

But our provisions can only last for seven days.

Therefore, I beg you to make a final decision as to war or peace.

If we destroy Han, the whole world will be shocked.

What if all six kingdoms join forces against us?

It's in our best interest to preserve Han.

I disagree.

We have amassed enough troops to take the Han capital with ease.

There's no reason to accept a stalemate...

when you can have victory.

Li Si, you are not the prime minister yet.

- Han Ambassador. - Present.

You are free to return to Han.

Yes, Your Highness.

The king and the nobles of Han will be eternally grateful to you...

for preserving Han.

That's fine.

Prime Minister, I want a drink.

Bring me some wine.

This is not a toast...

this is a punishment.

Why am I punishing myself...

when I should be celebrating?

Because...

we have 250,000 troops ready...

to attack the Han capital!

But instead...

I have been advised not to destroy Han.

That it is in our best interest to preserve Han.

I should be punished for keeping my silence.

Li Si, repeat what you have said!

Your Majesty...

are you also punishing me with this drink?

No, I'm punishing myself...

for allowing you to remain prime minister until today.

It doesn't matter who is king.

I will always be...

the prime minister.

In the name of Qin, kill Lu Buwei!

I dare you.

Prime Minister.

Please!

I have no choice but to dismiss Prime Minister Lu.

Li Si...

issue the following decree:

Remove Mr. Lu's title...

but give him 5,000 tons of grain...

100 pounds of gold, 10 good horses.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I ask to be dismissed as the commanding officer.

I'll stay at home and await my punishment.

You're going to take the Han capital in seven days.

But if you fail, how should I punish you?

Cut off my head!

But Your Majesty, I hear that you will marry a Han princess.

I don't want your head...

I want your horse.

You have a wonderful steed.

How do you judge a good horse?

By his teeth.

Wrong.

By his eyes.

You can tell everything about an animal...

from his eyes.

Marquis?

Yes, Your Majesty?

I understand that you'll be my uncle?

This is the Queen Mother and the prime minister's idea.

You're always so busy.

Please come riding with me today.

I'm afraid of heights. I can't ride.

Afraid of heights, are you?

Even on a horse's back?

Your Majesty, it tickles.

General Fan.

His Majesty asks the Marquis, is it high or not?

As high as high can be.

Cross!

Cross!

Remove your robe.

How much is two times three?

Two times three is six.

How much is three times three?

Whatever His Majesty wishes it to be!

Marquis, what's wrong?

The Queen Mother is worried.

I've just been entertaining His Majesty.

That way he'll trust me.

Lady Zhao has arrived.

- Good morning, Lady Zhao. - Good morning.

Good morning, My Lady.

When you think of it...

my son's marriage is quite unfair to Lady Zhao.

When we were hostages in Zhao...

Ying Zheng's father could not do housework.

Nor could I.

So we hired her to help out.

She was only this high.

When she had free time, she would help Ying Zheng herd horses.

She was such a nice girl and beautiful.

No wonder my son loved her so much.

She possesses a strong will and a somewhat wild personality.

It might be hard to reign her in.

Do you think she has changed her ways?

No.

When we were allowed to return to Qin...

she had no intention of coming with us.

Ying Zheng started to cry.

She laughed and said...

"What are you crying about? I'll go with you."

So she joined us.

Your Majesty...

I've come to say farewell.

Where are you going?

I'm going home to Zhao.

Why are you leaving me? Why?

Your daily visits seem more like an obligation.

Is this what our love has become?

Do you still know what I want?

How I want to live?

You don't.

I must smile all the time...

speak softly and walk gently with my head down.