The Eternal Emperor is told through four intertwining voices—each revealing a different angle of China's most enigmatic ruler. Below is a quick reference to the main narrators and key figures across the story.
THE FOUR VOICES
IMMORTAL SOUL – YING ZHENG (QIN SHI HUANG)
The voice of the emperor's immortal soul—reflecting from eternity on power, legacy, and regret. Dark, introspective, and unforgiving.
LÜ BUWEI
A merchant from the state of Wei who rises to become Chancellor of Qin. Ambitious and calculating, he grooms Yiren (Ying Zheng's father) and orchestrates a new dynasty—claiming the title of Zhong Fu (Second Father).
LADY ZHAO
A beautiful and naive dancer from Zhao, first Lü Buwei's consort, then gifted to Yiren. Becomes mother of Ying Zheng. Vain, instinct-driven, and dangerously out of her depth.
XU FU
A Fangshi (mystic-alchemist) from Qi. Charismatic, manipulative, and mysterious. Serves as Ying Zheng's elixirist in the emperor's pursuit of immortality.
KEY CHARACTERS (A–Z)
CHENG JIAO — Half-brother of Ying Zheng. Son of Yiren and the Han Princess.
DAN — Crown Prince of Yan. Childhood companion of Ying Zheng during their time as hostages.
FANGSHI LIU — Chief Fangshi of Qin. Oversees court mystics and alchemical research.
FU SU — Eldest son of Ying Zheng. Known for his moral character.
HAN PRINCESS — Secondary consort of Yiren and mother of Cheng Jiao.
HU HAI — Youngest son of Ying Zheng. Later named his successor.
JING KE — Assassin sent by Prince Dan to kill Ying Zheng.
LADY HUAYANG — Queen of King Xiaowen. Grandmother figure to Ying Zheng. Key to Yiren's elevation.
LAO AI — Secret lover of Lady Zhao. Installed at court through deception.
LI SI — Legalist philosopher and Qin Chancellor. Architect of Qin's bureaucratic empire.
MENG TIAN — General of Qin and protector of Ying Zheng in youth.
WANG JIAN — One of Qin's greatest generals during the unification wars.
XIA JI — Yiren's blood mother.
XU AN — Xu Fu's younger brother. A reluctant yet gifted Fangshi and alchemist.
YING JI — Great-grandfather of Ying Zheng. King Zhaoxiang of Qin.
YING XI — Uncle of Ying Zheng. Eldest son of King Xiaowen.
YING YIREN — Father of Ying Zheng. Originally a Zhao hostage, later King Zhuangxiang of Qin.
YING ZHU — Grandfather of Ying Zheng. King Xiaowen. Died soon after coronation.
ZHAO GAO — Close eunuch attendant to Ying Zheng. Secretive and politically dangerous.
ZHENG YI — Lü Buwei's loyal fixer and headman.