A Collateral Son in Hanzhong

In the first year of the Chongzhen era, Lin Feng dies in a border operation and opens his eyes as the Prince Rui's illegitimate son.

The original owner was the third illegitimate son of Prince Rui. He abducted a young woman and drove her to her death, then was beaten to death with a staff by the wronged woman's family. For thirty taels of silver, the prince's household wants to make the matter disappear.

Lin Feng inherits the body, and the lawsuit that comes with it. His first move is not revenge, but an audit. There are seventeen account books, but he checks only June: just when rice prices should have risen, they fell by five qian. A difference of five qian per shi adds up to twenty-seven thousand taels a year.

Money does not disappear. It just changes where it stands.

He says, "I don't intend to save this dynasty. I intend to replace it."