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.
MAO JIAO — Qin court official. Persuaded Ying Zheng to release Lady Zhao from Yongcheng and restore her position.
MENG TIAN — General of Qin and protector of Ying Zheng in youth.
SHIFU — Xu Fu's teacher and adoptive father. Master of medicine, alchemy, and philosophy, who shaped Xu Fu's path.
SHIMU— Shifu's wife. Maternal figure to Xu Fu and Xu An, offering emotional stability in their secluded upbringing.
WANG — Salt merchant from Qi. Xu Fu's early mentor, teaching him to read tides, trade, and human nature.
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.