The Merchant's Mask

In the twilight years of the Kaiyuan era, a destitute scholar murders and replaces a wealthy grain merchant during a chance encounter at a secluded inn. Armed with meticulous observation and a forged ledger, he infiltrates the merchant's life, only to discover that the stolen identity is a labyrinth of debts, secret deals, and a looming imperial audit. As he navigates the suspicions of a sharp-witted wife and a rival guild, his perfect technical forgery begins to erode under the weight of a hollow motive, forcing him to confront the terrifying question: in becoming someone else, has he lost himself forever?