Southern Chu.
In previous years, Southern Chu had been plagued by internal strife. Emperor Li Yuanli spent several years stabilizing domestic and foreign affairs, restoring peace to the nation and firmly securing his throne once more.
Time flowed quietly, and over the years, whispers and rumors about Qing State inevitably reached Li Yuanli's ears.
As summer approached, the weather grew increasingly sultry. The roses in the Southern Chu palace bloomed in vibrant splendor. Dressed in his dark imperial robes, Li Yuanli dismissed the unnecessary palace attendants and made his way through the layered thickets of roses to a hidden prison deep within the imperial gardens.
The prison was concealed underground, nestled in a partially abandoned limestone cave. The cavern was bitterly cold and damp, its frozen pool encased in ice, the chill lingering for years.
At the center of the pool stood a crystal ice coffin, empty and silent, as if awaiting the arrival of a destined soul.
