In Shanghai, China, within the French Concession, the grand opening of the Third Global Flower Kingdom Open Election has taken place. With handsome brows and delicate eyes, their glances full of charm and allure, countless beauties… A beauty that stirs the heart. In a groundbreaking live broadcast, the President of Flowerland is elected by universal suffrage for the first time. Under the masterful direction of Ma Zouri, chairman of the election committee (played by Jiang Wen), the Flowerland presidential race unfolds with all the flair and elegance of the Republican era, capturing the attention of hundreds of millions. In the final showdown, three leading stars each showcase their talents, their prowess so evenly matched that it’s hard to tell who will prevail. As the left dragon and right tiger vie for supremacy, with birdsong like song and swallows dancing in flight, Wan Yan Ying—possessing both breathtaking beauty and a heart full of boundless love (played by Shu Qi)—takes the stage last, unleashing one dazzling move after another and leaving the audience spellbound.

　　The crown of the grand election fell to Wan Yan. The spectacular third Flower Kingdom Grand Election catapulted Ma Zou‑ri into the national spotlight, turning him into a hot‑ticket figure on Shanghai’s social scene—and elevating his partner and childhood friend, Xiang Feitian (played by Ge You), to newfound fame as well. The newly crowned Flower Queen, Wan Yan Ying, kept her promise and embarked on a citywide tour, drawing countless admirers. Yet the truth was that Ma Zou‑ri had masterminded the entire Flower Kingdom election from start to finish; he and Wan Yan Ying were, in fact, longtime lovers. Her re‑election set off subtle shifts in their relationship.

　　Just as all of Shanghai was going wild over Wan Yan Ying’s election, news broke that she had been murdered, and Ma Zou Ri, who had been very close to her, became the prime suspect. What should have marked the end of the story—the Flower Kingdom’s grand election—instead turned into the beginning of another. As Ma Zou Ri went on the run, a colorful cast of characters emerged one after another.

　　The shrewd Xiang Feitian treats the capture of Ma Zou‑ri as a bargaining chip for promotion and advancement, turning a once‑close friendship into a deadly rivalry. Under Xiang Feitian’s manipulation, the “second‑generation warlord” Wu Qi (played by Wen Zhang) and the “renowned star of the Magic City” Wang Tianwang (played by Wang Zhiwen) make their entrances, while the identification by Wan Yan Ying’s aide, Shu Wan Gou (played by Na Ying), further solidifies the charges against Ma Zou‑ri. Meanwhile, multinational forces entwine and jostle for influence, with powerful elites eyeing the situation hungrily; even Shanghai’s most formidable warlord, General Wu Dashuai (played by Liu Liniang), and his wife, Qin Sainan (played by Hong Huang), join forces to plunge Ma Zou‑ri into the abyss of fate.

　　The circumstances of Wanyan’s death remain shrouded in mystery, and Ma Zouri’s life hangs by a thread—everything is muddled and enigmatic—until Wu Liu (played by Zhou Yun) makes his appearance. Ma Zouri’s fate undergoes yet another earth‑shaking transformation; a verdict that seemed all but sealed takes an unexpected turn, and a grand wedding sets off a heart‑pounding escape.

　　Shanghai—once a city that drove Ma Zou Ri mad with passion—has, in the blink of an eye, become the very thing that drives him wild. To him, it is a modern metropolis where miracles are born, a fashion capital brimming with surprises, and also a kaleidoscopic, spellbinding city, rife with intrigue and steeped in sin. Ma Zou Ri’s ultimate adventure is both a legendary tale of life and death and a heartrending ballad of love and hatred.