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The patriarch of the Su family, Su Dechang, was quick-witted and had great business sense. He established the biggest business in the small nation of Northern Mo, called “Dechang’s”. His business reached across the entire nation and even extended into the other three countries of Cloudwind Continent: Southern Man, Eastern Ling, and Western Xia.
Western Xia was the strongest and most ferocious of the four nations. Eastern Ling was the richest and most populous, and Southern Man was a bit weaker. Norther Mo was the weakest of the four nations due to its poor, infertile soil and lack of natural resources, and because its ruler was weak and timid.
The only thing keeping Northern Mo from being swallowed up by the other nations was the brave and bellicose Grand General Mo Zichen, who led his Mo Family Army in protecting the nation.
However, a strong military force without pay and provisions would become a useless army.
For the sake of Northern Mo, Mo Zichen decided to form a marriage with Su Dechang’s family and use Su wealth and trade to help strengthen Northern Mo.
Yet, while Mo Zichen was valiant and adept at fighting, he was rumored by the other nations to be bloodthirsty and ruthless, callous and taciturn.
Su Dechang dared not refuse Mo Zichen’s decision. He could only select the weakest, dumbest, least-favored of his two daughters, the one with the worst business acumen, his second daughter, born to a concubine, Su Biluo, to be married off.
But who knew the current Su Biluo was not the original Su Biluo.
The original Su Biluo hanged herself and the Su Biluo of the 21st century arrived.
If only Su Dechang knew that his most talentless-in-business Su Biluo was actually a gifted CEO from the 21st century worth billions, who was an expert in real estate, retail, restaurants, hotels, finance, you name it, then he would never have married her off.
In any case, Su Biluo was married off!
Bearing the weight of her previous host’s memories, she was out to right the injustices done to the original Su Biluo.
Her mother, Lady Xuan, had been daughter to a wealhy family, but Su Dechang schemed and seized the family property and drove Lady Xuan’s parents to their deaths and took Lady Xuan for himself.
Although it was true that Su Dechang’s wealth could rival a nation, more than half of it was due to Lady Xuan’s family estate.
Lady Xuan’s good looks ought to have made her the favorite over the official wife, but because she harbored resentment and was cold and aloof toward him, Su Dechang was shamed into anger and took it out on her and the kids, beating them and cursing them, treating them worse than the servants.
When Biluo was married off, Su Dechang beat Lady Xuan several times and cursed her viciously, saying that if Su Biluo was not obedient then he would put Lady Xuan and Biluo’s little brother, Su Baiqing, in shackles and make them live in a doghouse.
Su Biluo was filled with righteous indignation. This father who treated his own son like a beast was no better than a beast himself.
Ok, marry her off then. Wasn’t it all just for money?
She not only wanted to make money for the general’s estate, she was even more keen to show up Su Dechang and make him regret it, make him gnash his teeth out in regret.
“Moonglow, Vivid, come in here!”
Su Biluo was little more than a servant herself in the Su household, so how could she have her own maidservants? But these were assigned by the general’s estate to wait on the general’s wife. Since they were assigned to her, she might as well make use of them.
Moonglow and Vivid hurried in to wait on her. Su Biluo neatly instructed, “Fetch me a basin of water so I can wash my face, then bring some tasty food in. There should be some left from the wedding banquet. Bring it all in here.”
Moonglow and Vivid looked at each other in blank dismay. Madame General’s casual, straightforward manner was a rare sight. The general had rushed out with a flick of his hand; why didn’t Madame seem the least bit sad?
“Right away—”
They curtseyed and left.
Soon they were back, one carrying a basin of water, the other a tray of food as they entered swiftly.
Su Biluo had gotten out of her tiring wedding clothes and doffed her bridal crown and was now dressed in a feather blue “as you wish” cloud-patterned gown which looked very clean and tidy.
After washing her face she sat at the table and stared blankly at her “delicacies”.
“The guests must have had big appetites. They ate up all the exotic delicacies? Is this all that’s left?” Her face was a question mark.
A bowl of soy-braised pork, a cup of chicken soup, and a few small plates of vegetables, plus a plate of fruit. Rather shabby for a wedding banquet.
Moonglow smiled wryly. “Madame is mocking us. There were no exotic delicacies. This is what everyone ate. The general’s estate is so poor, it’s a wonder he could even marry…”
Vivid, pulled at her and Moonglow suddenly covered her mouth at her slip of the tongue.
The Courtyard 