Two years ago, Liu Ruyi brought a fortune in dowry into the Marquis's household and became a “widow before the wedding,” never having completed the ceremony. Two years later, her mother-in-law drugged her and sent her to her brother-in-law's room to “continue the family line,” only to welcome her husband and his pregnant saintess back soon afterward.
“A merchant's daughter isn't worthy of the Marquis's household. Become the saintess's concubine.” Her husband's words were the last straw.
Liu Ruyi wiped away her tears and pointed at her brother-in-law in the wheelchair. “I've changed my mind. I'll marry him.”
From then on, the Marquis's household took a dramatic turn: the second branch feasted on delicacies every day, while the first branch was overwhelmed with debt; she strolled through the streets wearing South Sea pearls, while the saintess's “secret recipes from the Heavenly Mountains” became synonymous with shoddy goods. Xie Yunzheng seemed to spend his days reading, but in truth he held immense power. One word from him, “Who dares lay a hand on my wife?” was enough to silence every official.
When the emperor fell gravely ill and the court was thrown into turmoil, Xie Yunzheng put a young emperor on the throne and became regent. Only then did Liu Ruyi drawl, “I told you not to mess with people from Jiangnan. We have money, sure, but we also have what it takes to flip the table.”
