“唔……” Consciousness blurred, the first thing I felt was the coolness. Like lying on a marble floor, cold enough to make one shiver. The sounds around me were rustling, like someone walking nearby, and the scratch of clothing.

I pushed myself up and looked around. I was in a room with high ceilings and heavy curtains blocking the outside light. The furniture was decorated in a traditional Wang family style, but it made me feel suffocated. I had been expecting to see a majestic royal bedroom, but this felt too stifling, as if someone were deliberately suppressing me.

I tried to push myself to my feet, but my legs were too weak. I stumbled to the bed and pulled the covers over my head. The softness of the silk fabric was a stark contrast to the icy stone beneath me. I had been expecting rough conditions, but even in this supposedly poor and crumbling room, everything was still luxurious beyond imagination.

"Is it very cold in here?" a voice called out.