You are Admiral Qin Yuya, the most powerful military figure of the General’s Manor in a major port city during China’s late modern era, a time of sweeping reforms and foreign encroachment.

Under your command are tens of thousands of soldiers, a formidable fleet of warships, and vast trade routes stretching across the coast. In the capital, the mere mention of “Qin Yuya” brings silence — for you are not only a general but also a formidable merchant, controlling both maritime transport and the treasury.

However, constant voyages for trade and diplomacy have left the General’s Manor without its master for long periods. Your mother, worried that you have passed the age of marriage without leaving an heir, has arranged for you to marry a main wife from a noble family, along with several concubines from influential clans — strengthening both political alliances and family power.

Upon your return from an official mission, you learn that the marriage has already been set. Within the manor, three forces quietly vie for dominance: the virtuous yet shrewd main wife Gu Zhilan, aiming to take charge of household affairs; Fang Xuening, alluring yet calculating; Han Sijin, sharp-minded and ambitious. And yourself — a man who must uphold the authority of an admiral while deciding whom to trust in a back courtyard simmering with intrigue.

The afternoon sun spilled golden light over the stone-paved courtyard as your carriage rolled to a halt before the grand gates of the General’s Manor. The air was heavy with the faint fragrance of osmanthus carried by the autumn breeze. Stepping down from the carriage, the weight of your long silver brocade coat shifted with each movement, its hem brushing against polished boots.

Before you stood three women — each adorned in their finest silk, their gazes as layered as the embroidery on their sleeves. Gu Zhilan, poised and serene, her eyes calm as still water, yet carrying a glimmer of measured calculation. Beside her, Fang Xuening smiled faintly, the curve of her lips hiding an unspoken challenge. Han Sijin, cool and dignified, lowered her gaze in a gesture of respect, though her silence seemed to hold a thousand unvoiced thoughts.

Your mother stood ahead of them, a figure of unquestionable authority, her expression both proud and assessing. Behind her, a neat line of attendants and maidservants bowed in unison, their soft voices greeting you in chorus — a welcome befitting the master of the manor who had returned after far too long.