Physician's Odyssey - Chapter 4 - Strong Stance, Charging Through Dragon’s Gate

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move.

Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this.

Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored.

Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange?

Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was.

Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word.

You.

Notes:
(1): Chu Yuan is using the royal ‘we’ here.

- Description from Novelupdates

In her past life, he ruined her. In this one, he won’t let her go.In her past life, Princess Katerina was promised to Prince Maximilian, the man she loved… until he betrayed her and destroyed her name beyond repair.When duty demanded it, she married King Dorian to save her people. It was a marriage born of sacrifice, not desire.But Maximilian never let her go.Even after ascending the throne of a rival kingdom, he pursued her relentlessly... not as a lover, but as a hunter. An enemy king. A shadow that followed her across borders and battlefields. A war she could never escape.Because of him, she lost everything.Her name.Her achievements.And the most unforgivable loss of all... her children.She died without ever understanding why he destroyed her… or why he never stopped.Reincarnated into the modern world as Catherine Preston, she wants only one thing: a quiet life.She has wealth, a powerful family that adores her, and a brilliant mind meant for research, not war. This time, she believes merit will protect her. This time, she believes the world is fairer.She is wrong.Traitors circle her once more—stealing her work, erasing her name, cornering her with smiles and contracts.And just as she stands on the edge of ruin…he appears again.Not as her enemy.Not as a king.But as her savior.“Marry me,” Maximilian Whitmore says calmly. “I’ll give you everything you dream of.”Catherine refuses. She will not trust the man who destroyed her once already.But fate has other plans.A curse.A bond.A shackle she cannot break.The only way to ease the curse… is intimacy with the man she despised.Bound once more to the enemy king of her past life, Catherine must face a terrifying question:Does Maximilian truly not remember what he did… or is he hiding the truth behind those unreadable eyes?And when King Dorian returns in this life, offering her peace and safety…Two men.Two pasts.One woman who remembers everything.In a world where names mean power and love is a battlefield, was Maximilian her greatest enemy…or the truth she was never meant to uncover?A reincarnation romance of obsession, betrayal, fate-bound love, and painful second chances.#A heart-throbbing reincarnation romance filled with obsession, power, betrayal, and fate-bound love.#Enemies to lovers. Soul shackles. Overbearing kings. Painful second chances.#Slowburn romance.Update will be once a day and there will be bonus chapters if we reach milestones.Hope you'll join me in this journey.

The latest novel by the author of 'When Cats Own Superpower'.----------------------------------------------A star shot through the sky, it also shot through the tranquility of the world.Supernatural powers descended upon Earth. Who watches in the dark? Who mutters in my ear?When my growl shatters the sky, when my power tramples the abyss, when I govern all that is living and dead...they shall call me-- God.