The Daily Survival of a Highborn Matriarch

The Liu family was one of the four wealthiest households in Jiangnan. Their legitimate daughter, Liu Xi, was not only stunningly beautiful but also a gifted businesswoman, adept at planning and strategy.

Many people gossiped spitefully: "So what if she's capable? In the end, won't she still marry into a household, bear children for a man, and waste her life away?"

Liu Xi refused to be confined to the inner household, but the prefect pressured her to marry.

She had no choice but to go to the capital and find an in-law family she could easily manage, so she could keep being the boss of her own domain.

The Earl's residence in the capital looked grand from the outside, but inside it was a complete mess.

Shao's father was weak-willed, and the heir, Shao Yu, was utterly mediocre.

Shao's mother was gravely ill. Before she died, all she wanted was a capable daughter-in-law to manage the household and uphold the Shao family's standing.

The two families hit it off and arranged the engagement early.

But just as the wedding date was being set, the legitimate son Shao Yu suddenly changed his mind. He declared that he would rather die than marry a lowly merchant's daughter.

Shao's mother was so furious she burst into tears. She had no choice but to bring all the Shao family's sons before Liu Xi and let her choose!

She even said, "If none of these will do, I also have a youngest son studying at Tongshan Academy. He's just turned fifteen."

Liu Xi: ...No, that's not necessary.

In the end, she chose Shao Yu's six-foot-tall half-brother, a formidable martial artist who, after being framed by wicked men, had been reduced to making a living as a blacksmith in the army.

Even though he was a son of a concubine, others still considered Liu Xi's marriage a match above her station.

Even if this marriage raised her social standing, the Shao family would never accept her, let alone allow a merchant's daughter like her to establish herself as the Earl's household's principal wife.

Thus, no one in the capital had any faith in this marriage. At first, even Liu Xi herself had only wanted a family she could easily manage, so she could keep doing business and making money.

Who could have guessed that after the wedding, not only would the once-declining Shao family grow more prosperous by the day, but her foolish, uncouth husband would also rise through the ranks, earning noble titles with his illustrious military achievements?

And Liu Xi, born to a merchant family, would become the most powerful matriarch in the entire capital.

Theme: A harmonious family brings prosperity in all things.