Rain of a Hundred Flowers

It took Feng Daiku an entire day to set and reattach Ma the Fifth's leg. Even though he still could not walk, Ma the Fifth had not forgotten his cultivation practice. Feng Daiku was filled with worry. "Fifth Brother, don't move around so recklessly. Just let me handle things. Your leg tendons were just rejoined, so you must be extraordinarily careful." After two hours of cultivation, Ma the Fifth took a short rest, just as a subordinate arrived to report that Shen Rongqing had come to visit. Feng Daiku smiled faintly. "Another fair confidante has arrived to dote on you." Ma the Fifth shook his head. "I don't feel like seeing her today." Feng Daiku tapped the bridge of his nose playfully. "Don't overthink it. I'm not a jealous woman. You really should meet with her; perhaps you can probe for some news. Just be careful and by no means aggravate your leg." Once Feng Daiku left, Ma the Fifth had his men invite Shen Rongqing inside. Seeing Ma the Fifth lying in bed, Shen Rongqing asked with concern, "Junyang, what happened?" Ma the Fifth smiled. "How did you find out something happened to me?" "I only just heard." Shen Rongqing felt there was nothing amiss about that, but Ma the Fifth felt uneasy. After returning to Green Water City, he had not contacted her at all. Why had Shen Rongqing shown up so promptly? In truth, Shen Rongqing was not at fault. She was an important member of the Brotherhood Alliance and a prominent figure in Puluo Province. Yesterday, Ma the Fifth had been carried off the train on a stretcher, and she naturally had channels to learn of such major news. Shen Rongqing had come to visit him with no ulterior motive, but as things stood, Ma the Fifth harbored deep animosity toward He Jiaqing. "Junyang, just how did you injure your leg?" With an easy smile, Ma the Fifth replied, "I've been busy these past two days and took a careless tumble. I reckon I just strained some sinews and bones. A few days of rest will fix it right up." Shen Rongqing breathed a long sigh of relief. "Rumors had it that your leg tendons were severed. It scared the life out of me." Ma the Fifth said, "It makes me feel guilty to have caused you such worry." The two chatted for a short while, but the conversation soon petered out. Shen Rongqing could tell that Ma the Fifth's mood was off. Just then, the button at her chest began to vibrate. Shen Rongqing rose to take her leave. Ma the Fifth merely said, "Pardon me for not seeing you out," without making any effort to keep her. Once outside Xiaoyaowu, Shen Rongqing tightened the button. She had thought it would be He Jiaqing reaching out, but it turned out to be the scout assigned to keep watch over Zhang Xiuling: "Miss Shen, it's raining in the Hundred Flowers Garden." Shen Rongqing looked up at the sky. Under such clear, sunny weather, how could it be raining? Besides, this time of year was meant for snow. The scout explained, "It isn't ordinary rain coming down—it's a rain of petals! Zhang Xiuling is hosting a tea party in the garden, and it seems to be an important affair. Would you like to come have a look?" A shower of petals falling over the Hundred Flowers Garden was indeed a momentous event. Shen Rongqing hurried over to the garden. Petals carpeted the ground both inside and outside the walls, each one vivid and plump. Shen Rongqing picked up a petal and gave it a pinch; it snapped crisply, splashing fragrant nectar over her fingers. The lingering perfume made her reluctant to even step into the grounds. Back then, Zhang Xiuling had once enlisted a Grass Cultivator to alter the blooming seasons so that all the blossoms in the garden would open on the very same day. Shen Rongqing had witnessed that grand spectacle, but even when all the flowers had blossomed at once, the Hundred Flowers Garden had never been as resplendent as it was today. The tea party was bustling with excitement, attended by quite a few prominent figures. Yet this bustling scene was not something just anyone could comprehend—it had nothing to do with social standing or depth of cultivation. A good number of people had come from the Lu family. Lu Chunying, Duan Shaoxia, and Lu Yuanxin all praised the beauty of the petals, but they saw nothing beyond that aesthetic charm. Only Xiao Yeci understood that there was a deeper meaning behind it, though it was not convenient for her to speak of it. Youtao stepped forward and pinched Xiao Yeci's cheek. "Why do you look like you've got something weighing on your mind?" With a straight face, Xiao Yeci said, "I don't have anything on my mind. Aren't these flowers gorgeous?" Youtao lowered her voice and asked, "Is it inconvenient for you to talk here? How about the two of us head home first, and you can explain it to me in private?" As she spoke, Youtao slipped an arm around Xiao Yeci's slender waist. "Go home with you first?" Xiao Yeci blushed. "We shouldn't. Sister Xiuling invited us here, so it would be rude to leave early." Chu Huaiyuan had also been invited. Looking at the blanket of petals on the ground, she felt as if she had heard an old saying about this somewhere, yet could not recall it at the moment. Noticing Boss Lu sitting in a corner of the garden, she went over and asked, "Mr. Lu, this petal rain must hold some significance, but my memory fails me." Boss Lu appeared to ponder earnestly for a moment. "I seem to remember it has something to do with the Hundred Flowers Sect, but what that connection is, I can't quite recall either." Chu Huaiyuan rolled her eyes at him. How could he not remember? He simply refused to say it out loud! Zhang Xiuling was busy greeting guests when a subordinate alerted her, "Miss Shen is here." "Rongqing! You're finally here!" Zhang Xiuling hurried to the garden entrance to welcome her. "I was waiting for you!" "Waiting for me?" Shen Rongqing smiled. "Xiuling, you didn't even send me an invitation." Zhang Xiuling looked astonished. "I didn't send written invitations to anyone; I had people go invite everyone in person. I dispatched someone to your film company." Shen Rongqing nodded. "They probably couldn't find me, then. I wasn't at the company today." "Then you can't blame me for that! Why are you nitpicking etiquette with me? Come, have a seat." Shen Rongqing sat in the garden for a while, had a cup of tea, and after letting Zhang Xiuling know, took her leave early. She loved admiring flowers, and a sight like today's was something she might never see a second time in her life. Yet she felt ill at ease. The guests who had come to admire the blossoms today all seemed to harbor a subtle hostility toward her. More importantly, she had urgent business to handle. Returning to the film company, she immediately reached out to He Jiaqing, trying until late into the night before she finally heard his voice: "Rongqing, what is it?" Knowing He Jiaqing was busy, Shen Rongqing kept it as brief as possible: "A shower of petals fell over the Hundred Flowers Garden. This is the Hundred Flowers Sect's—" He Jiaqing cut her off. "I don't have time for this right now!" The connection was severed. Shen Rongqing ruffled her hair in frustration. Pulling a pack of cigarettes from her drawer, she drew one out, lit it, and took a deep drag. With that single puff, Shen Rongqing coughed violently for a long time. She did not usually smoke; this pack had been a gift from Ma the Fifth. Now Ma the Fifth had changed, and Zhang Xiuling had changed too. Just because Shen Rongqing worked for He Jiaqing, everyone seemed to shun her, yet He Jiaqing would not even spare the patience to hear her finish a single sentence. "If you don't want to hear it, fine. Saves me the breath anyway!" After a couple more coughs, Shen Rongqing suddenly laughed, a laugh drenched in bitterness. He Jiaqing was indeed extraordinarily busy; the reclamation of the newlands had reached a critical juncture. He had made full use of the Inner States' resources and wealth to bring all thirteen tracts of land to eighty percent reclamation. Right now was the crucial phase of transitioning the newlands into proper lands, leaving no room for any missteps. When Shen Rongqing brought up a rain of petals, He Jiaqing assumed it was just another piece of romantic poetic indulgence from Puluo's celebrated talent. At a time like this, how could he have the mind for such nonsense? Shu Wanjuan, however, took considerable interest in the matter. He went out of his way to ask He Jiaqing, "I heard a rain of a hundred flowers fell in the Hundred Flowers Garden. Aren't you going to have a look?" He Jiaqing shook his head and laughed. "How could I have the leisure to admire flowers?" Hearing the words 'admire flowers,' Shu Wanjuan understood that He Jiaqing was entirely ignorant of the Rain of a Hundred Flowers. Shu Wanjuan said, "I'd like to visit the Hundred Flowers Garden myself. Such a spectacle is rarely seen." He Jiaqing said, "Senior, please exercise caution. If you run into the peddler in Green Water City, no one will be able to save you." Shu Wanjuan sneered. "That is not for you to worry about." That very afternoon, Shu Wanjuan left the newlands, but he did not go to Green Water City. Instead, he went to Bloodfang Mountain and found Shan Chengjun. "Did you know that a rain of a hundred flowers fell over the Hundred Flowers Garden?" Shan Chengjun was eating grapes, mumbling incoherently, "What rain of a hundred flowers? What's it good for?" Suppressing his disgust, Shu Wanjuan explained to Shan Chengjun, "The Hundred Flowers Sect is one of the factions in Puluo Province, said to have been founded by the God of a Hundred Flowers. If a rain of petals falls in the Hundred Flowers Garden, it proves the God of a Hundred Flowers is about to reveal themselves." Shan Chengjun looked completely bewildered. "What God of a Hundred Flowers? How come I've never heard of them?" Shu Wanjuan frowned. "Do you pay no attention whatsoever to the affairs of Puluo Province?" With a solemn face, Shan Chengjun retorted, "Who says I don't? Wherever that peddler goes, I find ways to keep an eye on him! Does this God of a Hundred Flowers have anything to do with the peddler?" Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "Not particularly, no." Finishing a cluster of grapes, Shan Chengjun spat out the seeds. "Then why the hell are you telling me this? What kind of status do I hold? Why should I give a damn about some petty faction?" Shu Wanjuan said, "You don't need to care, but He Jiaqing has to. He swallowed up the Hundred Flowers Sect, and now that the God of a Hundred Flowers seeks revenge, He Jiaqing will have to find a way to deal with it." This time, Shan Chengjun caught on. "You mean He Jiaqing won't be able to hold onto his territory?" Shu Wanjuan nodded. "Thirteen tracts of newlands, reclaimed to eighty percent. While he's busy clashing with the God of a Hundred Flowers, we can take the opportunity to seize those thirteen territories." Shan Chengjun's eyes lit up; this was music to his ears. "Go on, keep talking. What happens after we take the territories?" Shu Wanjuan said, "The Great Shang has suffered a devastating blow. I've received word that the Bandit-Quelling Battalion was attacked, the Great Crucible was damaged, and even the Grand Sacrificial Altar in Haocheng was smashed to pieces." Growing increasingly excited, Shan Chengjun snatched another bunch of grapes and popped several into his mouth in quick succession. "Keep going, I'm listening!" Shu Wanjuan said, "If we secure these thirteen territories and present them to Lord Qiao, it will be providing charcoal in the snow. Your previous defection to the Tufang State can be forgiven and forgotten. And if we want to be ennobled as kings, bringing it up at that moment would be entirely reasonable. Lord Qiao certainly won't—" Smack! Shan Chengjun hurled a grape straight into Shu Wanjuan's face. "Look at your damned lack of ambition! It's a disgrace just talking to you!" Shan Chengjun spat directly at Shu Wanjuan. Wiping the grape juice from his face, Shu Wanjuan snarled, "What brilliant plan do you have, then? Speak one that isn't disgraceful, let's hear it!" The Bloodfang Monster swayed her hips as she approached the table, pouring a cup of wine for each of them. "We're all on the same side; let's not harm our harmony." Shan Chengjun pulled the Bloodfang Monster into his embrace. Dipping his finger into the wine, he drew a circle on her belly. "Look closely. This represents those thirteen newlands. "First, we take these lands into our hands, then we find a local god to anchor and occupy the territory." Shu Wanjuan asked, "Where are you going to find a local god?" Shan Chengjun slapped the Bloodfang Monster's belly. "My wife right here! Pure indigenous seed blood native to Puluo Province. Even that peddler won't have grounds to object!" Shu Wanjuan looked at the Bloodfang Monster. "Do you possess cultivation above the clouds?" The Bloodfang Monster gave Shu Wanjuan a dirty look, planted a kiss on Shan Chengjun, and pouted without answering. Shan Chengjun also rolled his eyes at Shu Wanjuan. "So what if she hasn't reached above the clouds yet? My wife swallows handfuls of pills every day; isn't reaching it just a matter of time?" This was not an empty boast; the Bloodfang Monster knew how to refine pills, a fact Shu Wanjuan was well aware of. Shu Wanjuan followed up, "Once the territory becomes proper land, what do you plan to do next?" "What do you think? Thirteen territories, an entire dominion of our own! We won't need to wait for Qiao Yi to grant us kingship; we can crown ourselves kings!" Shan Chengjun grinned, his mouth splitting wide. Shu Wanjuan glanced around for a long while, but not a single stone cracked or burst. "Old Shan, are you speaking the truth?" Swallowing a grape, Shan Chengjun nodded. "I'm an honest man! Given our history together, would I play you false?" Shu Wanjuan stood up. "Crowning yourself king in Puluo Province? Do you think the peddler will tolerate you? Have you grown tired of living?" Smack! Shan Chengjun slammed another grape onto Shu Wanjuan's face. Shu Wanjuan was genuinely baffled as to how Shan Chengjun could strike so swiftly, so accurately, and crush the grape so thoroughly every single time. Shan Chengjun continued plotting on the Bloodfang Monster's belly. "Look closely. This territory is already secured. Next, we plant the flags." Tearing off a piece of grape skin to resemble a tiny banner, he stuck it to the left of the Bloodfang Monster's navel. "The first flag belongs to Puluo Province. After all, we're on Puluo's turf, so we have to give the peddler some face." Shu Wanjuan was stunned. "You mean we surrender to the peddler again? Would he even take us back?" "All your life you only know how to surrender—that's why I look down on you! Shut up and listen to me finish!" Shan Chengjun tore off another piece of grape skin and stuck it to the right of her navel. "The second flag flies for the Shang State. They're the ones granting the territory, after all, so we must maintain their dignity too." Shu Wanjuan's mustache twitched on his lip. "Surrendering to the peddler while also wanting to serve the Shang State? How could you even conceive of such nonsense?" "What's so hard to conceive?" Shan Chengjun tore off a third piece of grape skin and stuck it above her navel. "The third flag flies for the Tufang State. After all, I'm currently working for Tufang, so including their banner lends us legitimacy." Shu Wanjuan stared blankly at Shan Chengjun. "Surely there isn't a fourth flag?" "There is!" Shan Chengjun stuck another piece below her navel, tickling the Bloodfang Monster into a fit of giggles. Pointing at the fourth grape skin, Shan Chengjun said, "This is the banner of Wansheng Province. I've made plenty of friends in Wansheng Province, all men of grand ambition. If we want them to lend us a hand, we definitely have to raise a flag for them!" Shu Wanjuan pressed his lips together. He genuinely could not fathom the words coming out of Shan Chengjun's mouth. Back during the war, an arrow had pierced Shan Chengjun straight through the cheek, causing him to leak air from both sides of his mouth when he spoke. Even in that state, listening to him had not been nearly as exhausting as it was today. Shu Wanjuan felt he ought to leave, but he still had to hear Shan Chengjun finish: "Just these four flags? Nothing else?" "There's one more!" Shan Chengjun applied a fifth piece of grape skin, right in the center of her navel. "This flag belongs to the two of us! The flags before are just decoys; the real rulers will be us! From now on, this territory will be named the Shan-Shu State. I'll be the Great King, and you'll be the Second King!" "Splendid!" Shu Wanjuan offered praise. "Great King, I shall go prepare for your coronation. Farewell!" As Shu Wanjuan turned to walk away, Shan Chengjun's face darkened. "What? Dropping the load and quitting already?" "It's not quitting," Shu Wanjuan said, shaking his head. "I lack such greatness, and I'd hate to delay your eternal hegemony!" "Cut the damn drivel!" Shan Chengjun waved the Bloodfang Monster away and turned to Shu Wanjuan. "Old Shu, do you really think that if you dispose of He Jiaqing and hand over the territories to Qiao Yi, he'll actually make you a king? Do you think that just because Qiao Yi is in dire straits and you bring him great merit, he'll treat you like a human being?" With his hands behind his back, Shu Wanjuan looked into the distance and said, "Merit and credit aren't the most important thing; what matters is the bond forged by delivering charcoal in the snow!" "Bullshit!" Shan Chengjun spat at Shu Wanjuan again. "Qiao Yi is a man aiming to become emperor! What kind of sentimentality are you babbling about with him? When he was about to freeze to death and you handed him a lump of charcoal, he thought that charcoal was worth more than gold. Once he's warm and safe, looking back at that charcoal, he'll see it as worthless rubbish!" Shu Wanjuan remained silent. Shan Chengjun's words struck home like heavy blows to his chest. Neither spoke for a long time. Shan Chengjun tossed a cluster of grapes to Shu Wanjuan—not at his face this time, but into his hand. "Old Shu, you'd better heed my advice. The thirteen local gods on those thirteen tracts have already been slaughtered by He Jiaqing. You can forget about receiving rewards from Qiao Yi; if your merits merely cancel out your offenses, you'd already be exceptionally lucky. "And let me tell you this: anything within Puluo Province can be negotiated, but if you fight for territory on behalf of the Shang State, that peddler will never spare you! Even if he has to chase you all the way to Chaoge, he'll take your life! "When that time comes, you won't keep the land, you won't keep your life, and you'll be despised on both sides. Which path to walk is yours to choose." Shu Wanjuan let out a long sigh. "Those whose ways are different can make no plans together!" With that, he sat back down at the table and asked Shan Chengjun, "Do you intend to eliminate He Jiaqing directly?" Shan Chengjun froze for a moment, then whispered to Shu Wanjuan, "I've read a few books too. When you said 'make no plans together,' didn't that mean you didn't want to talk to me anymore?" Popping a grape into his mouth, Shu Wanjuan said, "I meant that my ways differ from Qiao Yi's! Call the Bloodfang Monster back; I need to look at the map again." Shan Chengjun called the Bloodfang Monster over. Shu Wanjuan stared at the map for quite some time, a heavy misgiving weighing on his mind. "Those thirteen territories were promised to He Jiaqing by the peddler. If we kill He Jiaqing, even if we seize the land, the peddler won't let us off." Shan Chengjun chuckled. "Even if we don't kill He Jiaqing, the peddler hasn't planned on letting us off either. But certain matters can be negotiated. We can't seize these thirteen tracts by force; we must take them by cunning, using our brains!" Shu Wanjuan leaned closer to Shan Chengjun. "Are you thinking of using this Rain of a Hundred Flowers to seize them by cunning?" Shan Chengjun nodded. "I don't know what kind of mettle the Hundred Flowers Sect has, but if they can finish off He Jiaqing, this whole business becomes vastly simpler." Stroking his beard, Shu Wanjuan said, "The God of a Hundred Flowers has some past ties with me. This is not out of the question." "What you two are discussing has nothing to do with the map!" The Bloodfang Monster shivered. "Can we stop looking at the map now? It's freezing here!" Out on the newlands, He Jiaqing was calculating the days until the reclamation would be complete when a crowd of reclamation workers surrounded Datou, demanding their wages. Reclaiming newlands was an immense drain of funds. He Jiaqing's personal wealth alone was entirely insufficient to sustain thirteen territories; the vast majority of the capital came from the Shang State. Yet over the past few days, the funds from Shang had failed to arrive, leaving He Jiaqing in a tightening financial bind. Unable to collect their bounties, some workers began causing a commotion across the grounds. Other workers, sensing that something was wrong, were also reluctant to continue working. He Jiaqing sought out Shu Wanjuan. "Senior, what happened with the court? Why hasn't this month's wage shipment arrived?" Shu Wanjuan said, "I originally didn't want to tell you this, fearing it would distract you. A shipment of funds was dispatched by the court earlier, but it was intercepted and robbed en route." "Robbed by whom?" "One of the three major factions of Puluo Province, the Hundred Flowers Sect. You should have heard of them, right?" He Jiaqing smiled. "Senior, this sounds absurd. The Hundred Flowers Sect was subjugated by me long ago. If they had seized such an immense fortune, I would have received word immediately." Shu Wanjuan nodded. "That is precisely why I didn't want to tell you. The closer we get to the critical moment, the less we can allow trivial matters to drain your energy. I'll find another way to handle the money. For the time being, do your best to hold the line." Shu Wanjuan told him not to worry, but as cautious a man as He Jiaqing was, how could he possibly rest easy? The Hundred Flowers Sect, the Hundred Flowers Garden, the rain of petals... He Jiaqing immediately contacted Shen Rongqing: "Rongqing, what was that about the rain of petals you mentioned earlier?" Shen Rongqing said, "Didn't you say you had no time for such things?" "I have time now." Though she felt aggrieved, Shen Rongqing still explained to He Jiaqing: "In certain literary texts of Puluo Province, the history of the Hundred Flowers Sect is documented. "The sect's founder is known as the God of a Hundred Flowers. After retiring into seclusion, it is said this figure continued to protect the sect in secret. Whenever a rain of a hundred flowers falls upon the Hundred Flowers Garden, it is a sign that the God of a Hundred Flowers is descending upon the mortal realm once more." He Jiaqing felt a pang of tension. He had indeed read very few literary works of that kind; he knew the name of the God of a Hundred Flowers, but only the name. "What is the background of this God of a Hundred Flowers?" Shen Rongqing thought for a moment. "There are many accounts. Some say they are the ancestor of Flower Cultivators, while others claim they are the ancestor of Grass Cultivators. "Still others say the God of a Hundred Flowers is not native to Puluo Province, but hails from Mount Dragon King, just like the Dragon Princess. Some even believe the God of a Hundred Flowers is no mortal at all, but a genuine deity." Hearing these local legends of Puluo Province gave He Jiaqing an instant headache. "Rongqing, go investigate the reason behind this rain of petals, and look into the movements of the God of a Hundred Flowers as well." Shen Rongqing agreed, yet He Jiaqing still could not set his mind at ease. Shen Rongqing was very close to Zhang Xiuling; in this matter, he could not fully trust her. He Jiaqing then contacted Duan Shuqun, instructing him to deploy men to closely monitor Zhang Xiuling's movements. Two days later, Duan Shuqun sent word: Zhang Xiuling had gone to Xiaoyaowu to seek out Ma the Fifth. Zhang Xiuling had taken the initiative to visit Ma the Fifth? As far as He Jiaqing knew, Zhang Xiuling deeply admired Li Qi, but had always maintained her guard against Ma the Fifth. Could the God of a Hundred Flowers truly be about to appear? Or was someone stirring up trouble under the god's name? While He Jiaqing was still doubting the deity's identity, Zhang Xiuling harbored no doubts whatsoever. Her visit to Ma the Fifth was solely to reclaim the Hundred Flowers Sect! "Fifth Master, I know I owe you far too much, and I feel ashamed to ask for your help again. But now even the God of a Hundred Flowers has intervened! The Hundred Flowers Sect was lost on my watch, and I must win back our dignity on the god's behalf!" Ma the Fifth agreed on the spot. He was already planning to move against He Jiaqing, and this request aligned perfectly with his intentions. Another two days passed, and He Jiaqing received another report from Duan Shuqun. Over at Black Rock Slope, He Jiaqing owned a paper mill that had run into a minor business conflict with one belonging to Ma the Fifth. Such matters were usually trivial, easily resolved by sitting down and talking it out. Yet this time, Ma the Fifth did not negotiate at all. He sent men directly to smash He Jiaqing's paper mill to pieces. Upon hearing the news, Datou prepared to rally their men. "I'll take a crew to Black Rock Slope and smash his factory too! This score must be settled!" He Jiaqing held Datou back. "No rush. Keep your eyes on the reclamation first." Walking across the territory, He Jiaqing forced down his fury. At this crucial juncture, no matter what happened, he had to suppress it for now. Arriving at one of the tracts, He Jiaqing looked around, but could not spot a single reclamation worker. "Where are the men? Not a single one working the land?" Datou explained from the side, "I was just about to tell you about this. We've been withholding the workers' bounty pay, and many of them refuse to work for us anymore. This morning, a few people showed up offering high wages and poached every last one of them." He Jiaqing lost his temper on the spot. "You just let them poach our men like that? Why didn't you stop them?" Datou hung his head. "I only heard about it this afternoon. I wanted to go after them, but the other side actually paid them real cash. Since we're in the wrong, it's hard to make a fuss." He Jiaqing's brows twitched. First, intercepting the wage shipment from the Inner States! Then, taking advantage of their lack of funds, swooping in to poach the workforce! It seemed Ma the Fifth was behind all of this, linking each scheme tightly to the next; he had truly put considerable calculation into his moves. Other matters could be tolerated. Delaying the land reclamation, however, was something he could not swallow! Above Qiqiu City, perched atop the clouds. Mu Yuejuan sat on Ai Yeqing's lap, asking coquettishly, "Who do you reckon will win between them?" "It's too early to speak of victory or defeat. The crucial factor is Li Qi. If Li Qi doesn't enter the fray, Ma Junyang will be no match for He Jiaqing." Ai Yeqing toyed with the copper coins in his hand, spinning them twice through his fingers; the two coins transformed into a large handful of petals. Mu Yuejuan took the petals from his hand and began sticking them onto Ai Yeqing's face, one by one. "Ma the Fifth suffered such a grievance—how could Li Qi stay out of it? The two of them are closer than blood brothers!" Ai Yeqing smiled. "Li Qi is ruthless. Back at Santoucha, I lost everything to him. If Li Qi enters the fray this time, He Jiaqing will suffer a catastrophic defeat. Not only will he lose the Hundred Flowers Sect, but he'll lose those thirteen territories as well." Mu Yuejuan kissed Ai Yeqing's cheek. "Can Li Qi even stomach all thirteen of those territories?" Ai Yeqing shook his head. "He can't stomach them. Those thirteen territories were granted to He Jiaqing by the peddler. If Li Qi simply snatches them by force, the peddler will never tolerate it. When the peddler enters the fray, that's when Puluo Province will truly get lively." Mu Yuejuan twirled Ai Yeqing's hair with her fingers. "It's a deal, then—you have to give me half of those thirteen territories." Ai Yeqing pinched Mu Yuejuan's cheek. "Not just those thirteen territories; I'll give you half of Puluo Province's railways too."