Shadow

Years ago, the kingdom of Pei lost the important city of Jingzhou to the kingdom of Yang after the popular and brilliant Commander Ziyu (Deng Chao) lost a duel to the infamously unbeatable Yang Cang (Hu Jun). The cowardly king of Pei (Zheng Kai) is enraged after discovering that Ziyu has challenged Yang Cang to a rematch without authorization, demoting Ziyu to commoner status despite the objection of military officials. The king offers to marry his beloved sister Qingping (Guan Xiaotong) to Yang Cang's son Yang Ping (Leo Wu) to sue for peace. Yang Cang returns an insulting counteroffer to make Qingping a concubine, which the king accepts to the disgust of Qingping and General Tian (Wang Qianyuan), who openly supports Ziyu and whom the King also demotes.