As he hurried day and night toward Sichuan and Yunnan, Gu Yankai felt a wave of intermittent chest pain, leaving him somewhat dazed. Nearing the border, he nearly fell from his horse. Fortunately, his warhorse, which had been with him for several years, retrieved him just in time.

After arriving at the camp, Gu Yan summoned the military doctor. After examining the wound, the doctor said, "The external injuries should be healed, but the internal injuries will not last unless you rest for a few years."

While packing up the pulse pillow and medicine box, the military doctor asked, "Didn't you go back to Beijing? Why are you back again? Are you trying to save your life?"

Gu Yankai clutched his chest and said, "Why does it hurt more the longer it goes on?"

The military doctor asked again: "Does your chest hurt from time to time?"

Seeing Gu Yankai nod, the military doctor said again: "Your symptoms are normal. You didn't listen to the doctor's advice, and you deserve to suffer."

Despite his sharp tongue, the military doctor still prescribed some relief medication and warned, "Let me tell you, if you rush around day and night again, you might end up lying down and unable to get up."

Gu Yankai took the prescription and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

Although he said this, he knew in his heart that a new war would soon break out and there was no way he could stop.

Molan, who lived in the same city, was currently serving the old princess a meal. The royal princess, in this local prince's palace, was no different from any other woman. While the old princess didn't give Molan a hard time, she didn't take her seriously either.

After serving the old princess for many days in a row, Molan sometimes wanted to sprinkle a handful of medicine into the soup when she was alone in the bed curtains so that the old woman would not be too arrogant.

The prince's son often visited Molan in the first few days of his wedding, but he was soon captivated by a singing girl. However, each new love didn't last long, and in the past two days, he has started to favor a young prostitute.

Having experienced Liang Han's philandering, Molan didn't mind men's infidelity. However, in her current situation, if the prince's rebellion succeeded, Molan might not end well. If the rebellion failed, Molan, as a princess of the imperial family, would naturally suffer even more.

Sometimes, when Molan passed by the lake in the mansion, she felt the urge to jump in. She had thought that with her status as a noble and wealthy woman, she could live a carefree life, but she had never imagined that she would marry into this pernicious prince's mansion.

If I fell into the water and died again, would I be able to change my identity? With this thought in mind, Molan spent more and more time by the lake every day.

A few days later, the prince's son, Prince Wu, came to ask, "Princess, why do you go to the lake every day?"

Molan took the tea from the maid and handed it to Prince Wu. With a smile on her face, she replied softly, "I found the scenery by the lake so beautiful that I lingered a little. If you don't like it, I won't go."

Prince Wu, who had been staring at Molan, lost some of the murderous intent in his eyes after hearing this. He took the teacup and used the lid to skim off the excess tea, but did not drink it.

After a moment, Prince Wu said in a deep voice, "The weather is still a bit cold now, so it would be good for Princess to stay indoors and do some needlework."

These words sounded like they were expressing concern for Molan, but in fact, both of them knew that they were a warning.

Molan nodded meekly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I just found a few patterns and want to make you a dress." Seeing that Prince Wu's expression had softened a bit, Molan continued, "Your Highness likes green pines. If I embroidered a pine and cloud pattern on it, would you like it?"