Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 898: Return to the Central Plains

Song Qingshu asked in confusion, “Weren’t you in seclusion on Spirit Snake Island?”  

“Spirit Snake Island was just a front. We didn’t stay there much. But when traveling the martial world, we needed identities, so my husband and I took on the aliases of the Lady Taohua and the Silver Leaf Gentleman from Spirit Snake Island,” Daiqisi explained.  

“Small hermits hide in the wilderness; great hermits hide in the city. Concealing yourselves in the Jin Dynasty was indeed a brilliant idea,” Song Qingshu couldn’t help but praise.  

Pleased by his approval, Daiqisi smiled faintly, her radiance filling the room. “Qianye and I arrived in the capital of the Jin Dynasty and, by chance, met Wanyan Quan—who wasn’t yet emperor—and his younger brother, Wanyan Yuan. Both of them seemed… quite infatuated with me. After discussing it with Qianye, we decided to pose as siblings and deliberately got close to them. Given their noble status in the Jin Dynasty, this would not only help Qianye complete his mission but also provide us protection. Even if the Ming Cult came looking for us, we’d have the royal family as a shield.”  

“So you later married the Prince Changsheng and became his consort?” Song Qingshu’s expression turned odd. Han Qianye must have had an incredibly broad mind to let his wife marry another man.  

“Yes. At the time, Qianye and I debated which brother to choose. Just then, we learned Wanyan Quan was about to inherit the throne. Worried about the complications of operating within the imperial palace, we chose Wanyan Yuan instead. The amusing thing was, the two brothers fought over me, each truly believing I favored Wanyan Yuan more.” Though Daiqisi’s mind was under control, the disdain in her cold laugh was unmistakable.  

Song Qingshu mused, “You thought Wanyan Yuan would be easier to manipulate?”  

Daiqisi nodded slightly. “Indeed. On our wedding night, he barged into the bridal chamber in a lustful frenzy. But how could someone of my status let such a vile man take advantage of me? I used a Western Region hallucinogenic smoke to knock him out. This Persian drug also induced illusions, making him believe he had… been with me.”  

Song Qingshu glanced at Emperor Xizong, who lay on the bed, drooling with a foolish grin even in his sleep. The “Western Region smoke” she mentioned must have been the same powder he had just exhaled. Poor Wanyan Yuan—thinking he had married a peerless beauty for over a decade, only to have never truly touched her.  

“Later, I made an excuse to return to his fiefdom. At the time, Wanyan Yuan doted on me and feared his brother Emperor Xizong might covet me, so he agreed immediately. But since he held a high-ranking court position, he had to remain in the capital most of the time. This allowed Qianye and me to live together freely in his territory…” Daiqisi continued.  

Song Qingshu almost pitied the Prince Changsheng—his head practically a verdant pasture. Wait… perhaps not, since Daiqisi and Han Qianye were already married.  

After some thought, Song Qingshu could only sigh: ‘The nobility sure have complicated lives!’  

“That period was the happiest time of my life. But before long, Qianye was poisoned by a Western Region monk. We sought treatment from the Butterfly Bone Physician, Hu Qingniu, but he refused to help, citing his rule of only treating Ming Cult members. Qianye didn’t last long before passing away.” Hatred flashed across Daiqisi’s face. “Later, I finally got my chance and killed Hu Qingniu and his wife to avenge Qianye…”  

Song Qingshu nodded. According to The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, this coincided with Zhang Wuji suffering from the Xuanming Divine Palm’s cold poison and seeking treatment at Butterfly Valley—the timelines matched.  

But what intrigued him more was the Western Region monk who had poisoned Han Qianye. Online theories from his past life suggested the monk was likely Fan Yao, the Bright Flame Right Emissary, disguised as the “Suffering Monk” in the Ruyang Manor.  

Fan Yao had once been infatuated with Daiqisi. Handsome and high-ranking, even Yang Dingtian and his wife had considered them a perfect match. Yet Daiqisi rejected him outright. That alone might have been bearable—after all, as a Persian Ming Cult Saintess, she was bound by vows of chastity.  

But then came Han Qianye, inferior in both looks and martial arts, yet Daiqisi abandoned everything for him. The proud Fan Yao couldn’t endure the humiliation and, consumed by jealousy, secretly orchestrated Han Qianye’s poisoning.  

Song Qingshu didn’t know if this was true, but he wasn’t interested in seeking justice for Han Qianye now. Instead, he pressed on, “But I heard that later, the Persian Ming Cult came for you. After the battle on Spirit Snake Island, you and Xiao Zhao returned to the Persian headquarters?”  

Daiqisi acknowledged with a hum. “Xiao Zhao is my daughter. According to the sect’s rules, she inherited my former status as Saintess. Around that time, the Persian leader passed away, so the elders invited her to become the new leader. Thanks to this, I was spared the punishment of death by fire.”  

“After returning to Persia, we found the situation dire. The Mongol western conquest had wiped out many kingdoms, even threatening the Persian Ming Cult. We sent countless assassins to eliminate Mongol leaders—many princes and generals fell, but we never managed to harm their Great Khan, Temujin.”  

Song Qingshu’s heart chilled at her words. Behind her calm tone lay untold bloodshed. No wonder so many Mongol leaders had died in this world—the second generation was nearly extinct, leaving only Temujin and a few third-generation princes. The last Western Xia marriage tournament had been delayed precisely because Hulagu was severely injured in an assassination attempt.  

Daiqisi’s next words confirmed his thoughts. “For millennia, the Persian Ming Cult stood unshaken in the Western Regions, with European dukes and lords currying favor with us. Our accumulated strength far surpassed that of the Central Plains Ming Cult—countless experts, legions of devoted warriors. But after years of assassinating Mongol leaders, our forces were nearly wiped out, even the previous leader dying in battle. By the time Xiao Zhao and I returned, the situation was desperate. I remembered our arrangements in the Jin Dynasty and decided to return to the Central Plains, using the Jin to stall the Mongols and buy time for Persia.”  

Song Qingshu suddenly frowned. “Did you not receive any instructions from Ming Zun?” Since Ming Zun had reincarnated through Zhang Wuji, he wouldn’t have allowed his stronghold to fall without contacting the Persian branch.  

“Ming Zun?” Daiqisi looked shocked. “Has he descended with divine revelation?”  

“Never mind. Continue,” Song Qingshu shook his head. She likely hadn’t heard—perhaps she’d left Persia before the news arrived.  

Daiqisi composed herself and continued, “But shortly after my return, I found Wanyan Yuan on the brink of ruin. Though ours was a false marriage, he had treated me kindly all these years. I couldn’t stand by and watch, so I entered the palace to see the emperor. The rest, young master, you already know.”