Throne of Thorns: The Madam Plays the Pieces and Commands the World

**Worldbuilding:** In a modern urban setting, ancient martial arts clans passed down through the ages and secretive factions skilled in ancient arts, such as mechanical engineering, antique appraisal, and feng shui, remain hidden from view. The Xie family is a top-tier financial dynasty that has stood for centuries, with deep roots and global reach. But its ranks are divided by factional strife, powerful enemies surround it, and it bears the cruel curse of “a century without heirs”: male heirs in the main line never live past forty, and having children is exceedingly difficult.