Starring Chang Chen, Cecilia Liu and Wang Qianyuan, the film was released in China on August 7, 2014.

Caught in the midst of the intrigue are three lowly cash-strapped officers of the embroidered uniform guard (锦衣卫; pinyin: Jǐnyīwèi), the imperial secret police of the court at the time, who are tasked with killing Wei.

[4] In 1620 AD, Wei Zhongxian is the head Eunuch to the ailing emperor and controls the embroidered uniform guard, the secret police of the Ming Dynasty.

Shen Lian, a lowly captain of the guard along with his two comrades Lu Jian Xing and Jin Yi Chuan are asked by Zhao Jingzhong to take kill or capture Wei.

Shen kills Zhao while Yan helps and is scheduled for death row however receives a pardon from the newly crowned Chongzhen emperor.

It's a film of plot twists and turns and moral ambiguities punctuated with combat scenes, an ensemble piece with strong performances and an involving storyline.