Han Zhao

She is the sharpest hidden blade in the Qin Empire, and the last guardian watching over civilization.

Ying Zhao (Han Zhao), a noblewoman of Han burdened by her country's enmity and her family's vendetta, uses her extraordinary intelligence and combat skills to become the most secret weapon in the hands of King Zheng of Qin: a core member of the Black Bird Guard. She witnesses the clash of armies and helps unite the Six States, taking part at the heart of the empire in the monumental undertaking of standardizing writing and axle widths. The world sees only her ruthless execution of the king's commands, never the ideal burning in her heart, one that transcends national borders: to bring peace through the rule of law and pass the torch of civilization down the generations.

But the empire's wheels are rolling toward an abyss. Harsh laws and brutal punishments breed ever deeper resentment, the First Emperor seeks immortality, flames consume books, and a storm gathers over the scholars! As civilization's foundations face devastating destruction, Ying Zhao makes the most dangerous choice of all: to “preserve the cultural treasures”!

This is no palace intrigue. It is a battle for the survival of civilization! Witness how a Qin spy navigates the cracks between an empire's rise and fall with cunning, and guards its legacy with her life. Amid the earth-shaking tides of history, she carries out an astonishing rescue of cultural treasures, preserving a vital lifeline for Chinese civilization!