In the winter of the twenty-third year of Yongjing, heavy snow came early to the northern frontier. Langya Pass fell, the three cities of Yanmen ran out of food, a young general died in battle, and the entire Shen family was wiped out over a "forged imperial decree."
Ten years later, the Great Yong dynasty fell.
Shen Yan died at the end of the chaotic age, but carried the memories of a fallen dynasty back to three days before his father confessed to a crime.
In this life, he would save his father, uncover the truth behind the forged decree, cut off the plot to sever the northern frontier's grain supply, and defend the three cities of Yanmen that had once been destined to fall.
But he soon discovered that history was no old ledger whose mistakes could be casually corrected.
Those he saved might one day die in his place. A case brought to light might reveal even deeper debts left by imperial power. Every fate he changed brought another snowfall rolling across the land.
The green lamp still burned, but the fish tally was incomplete.
Amid the ashes and snow of the old Yong dynasty, some defended the city, some entered the game, some gave their lives for their innocence, and some spent a lifetime repaying the land's old debts.
