China, the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220), early 3rd century. As a young girl, Lingju (Zhang Zimu) is captured by mysterious forces and, along with other children, forced to undergo brutal training to be an assassin; over the years she forms a close friendship with fellow trainee Mu Shun (Robin Liu), which develops into an idealised love as they grow older. In 219 the adult Lingju (Crystal Liu) is finally sent on her mission - to be a concubine to the powerful warlord-cum-chancellor Cao Cao (Chow Yun-fat) at his estate in Yecheng with a view to eventually assassinating him. The adult Mu Shun (Tamaki Hiroshi) has meanwhile been sent to the nearby royal capital of Xudu, as a court eunuch to Emperor Xian of Han (Alec Su), as part of the same mission. @filmbiz.asia