Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan (2009)

As the Spring and Autumn Period descends on the State of Jin, trouble brews in Duke Jing's court. The treacherous General Tu Angu is intent on destroying his rival, the honorable Minister Zhao Dun. He manages to frame the Minister and orders that over 300 members of the Zhao family be put to death. Princess Zhuang Ji, pregnant with a Zhao child, manages to narrowly escape into the palace and safely deliver a son. Knowing that her child will be hunted down by Tu Angu, the Princess Zhuang Ji entrusts her newborn to imperial physician Cheng Ying. Angered that even one living descendent of Zhao has escaped him, General Tu swears to kill all infants born at that time if the orphan of Zhao is not brought forth. Deeply worried, Cheng Ying consults Gongsun Chujiu, an old friend. Together they agree that this mindless slaughter must stop. Cheng Ying decides to have his own newborn son masquerade as the Zhao orphan. Gongsun Chujiu agrees to take Cheng Ying's child and pretends he was the one to smuggle the infant out of the palace. In this double act of self-sacrifice the orphan of Zhao and all newborns of the kingdom are spared. Because of this act, Cheng Ying wins the trust of General Tu Angu and takes the Zhao orphan to lodge at Tu's mansion. Cheng Ying swallows his pain and labors hard to bring up the orphan. After the orphan has grown into a young man, Cheng Ying decides that the time has come to reveal the tragic history of the Zhao family and the orphan's true heritage. After learning the truth, the orphan of Zhao kills General Tu Angu and is able to avenge his family.