The Lu family is, for all intents and purposes, wealthier than nations. Lu Ling has three older brothers, each commanding a major shipping fleet. Of Haicheng's five ports, the family controls three, dominating maritime trade and ruling the coast like uncrowned royalty. Her mother runs an armed escort company that develops weapons, oversees several islands, and is privately known as the Queen of the Seas. Her father may be nothing more than a county magistrate, but he governs the richest county in the realm. As for Lu Ling, she's the youngest daughter of the family. Since women can't enter officialdom, she spends her days eating, sleeping, and generally enjoying life. If she has one redeeming quality, it's her generosity. Rather than handing out money for free, she creates jobs and pays people fairly for their work, earning herself the affectionate title of the Little Lady among the surrounding villages. Her family is convinced she's so kind and lovable that she ought to be empress one day. Unfortunately, she isn't even qualified to enter the imperial consort selection. They curse the emperor and crown prince over it daily without the slightest fear—only stopping after the throne passes to a reigning empress. Lu Ling, however, knows perfectly well that being a wealthy landowner is far more enjoyable. One day she opens a workshop, the next a shopfront, and before long an entire street flourishes because of her investments. The locals prosper, businesses thrive, and whenever she's free, she heads to the pleasure quarter to enjoy music, drink wine, and spend lavishly to improve the lives of the women working there. There's just one secret she can never let her family discover. She likes women. Living alone forever isn't an option, so she quietly begins asking around for women who share her preferences, planning to support one in secret and build a small life together. After all, she has more money than she could ever spend. To her surprise, she actually finds the perfect woman in a pleasure house. Cold, breathtakingly beautiful, and so stunning she looks like a movie star. Rumor has it she was once the mistress of a disgraced official before being sold off to insignificant little Haicheng. Her temper, however, is notoriously fierce—she's already beaten the brothel owner twice. Furious, the owner is willing to sell her for the laughably low price of five taels of silver. Lu Ling buys her on the spot. Not for five taels, but for a hundred times that amount. Then she has the owner thoroughly beaten as well. Three times a day. She brings the beauty home to nurse her back to health, only to discover the woman has lost all her memories. She doesn't remember who she is, and she's just as cold and dismissive toward Lu Ling, refusing to indulge her in the slightest. The entire household feels sorry for their young mistress. Only Lu Ling knows she's completely fallen for her. She's hopelessly obsessed with this beautiful menace. Every day she tells her amusing stories, and little by little the woman softens. She stops causing trouble and even begins looking at Lu Ling with warmth. Just when Lu Ling thinks she's finally won her heart... The woman's memories suddenly return. Her first request? Money. At first it's a hundred taels. Lu Ling gives it to her. Then a thousand. Then one million. Two million. Finally, ten million taels—to raise an army. Every time she takes the money, she disappears without a trace. Only then does Lu Ling belatedly begin to suspect her beloved has someone else. And one day... She really leaves. Her ten million taels are gone, but worse than that, so is the woman she loves. Heartbroken, Lu Ling falls gravely ill. When she recovers, she swears to forget the woman who conned her out of ten million taels, seal away her heart forever, and never fall in love again. Then the sea raiders invade Haicheng. The local garrison flees without a fight, and just as the Lu family's fortune seems doomed to be looted, an army of one hundred thousand descends upon the city. Haicheng is saved. Soon after, the reigning Empress herself visits the Lu residence, terrifying all sixty-odd members of the family. Then she softly says, "Mother. Father." "I am the daughter-in-law you've never met." "I've come to bring my wife, Ling'er, back to the palace." The entire Lu family: ???