Lu Qiqi rushed to the West Gate camp without stopping, and after entering the camp, she hurried to Qin Shiyu's tent.

The guard lifted the tent flap, and as soon as Lu Qiqi crawled into the tent, she was pulled to a spot further inside.

Just now, Qin Shiyu heard the guard report that the Lord of Kangle Township was waiting outside the tent, and his heart sank.

She released Lu Qiqi's hand and lowered her voice, "Did something happen at the camp that the Township Head Kang Le suddenly came to visit?"

Lu Qiqi looked up at Qin Shiyu, who was frowning, and said softly, "There is no problem at the main camp yet, General Qin. I have come here to discuss something."

Upon learning that everything was alright at the main camp, Qin Shiyu's slightly furrowed brows relaxed. Remembering what Song Yanqing had entrusted to her before leaving, she said, "Speak freely."

Lu Qiqi said, "General Qin, according to the agreement between An Yi and the Prince of Li Bei, they should have returned to camp no later than last night. Now that it is broad daylight, we have not seen them. They must have encountered danger on the way and been delayed in returning."

As they spoke, Lu Qiqi caught a glimpse of a small sand table in the tent and guessed that it must be Qin Shiyu's, which he placed in his tent to simulate battle scenarios.

Before Qin Shiyu could speak, she walked to the sand table alone and looked down to search for the two groves in the dark.

She found it in just a few moments.

She casually picked up a few thin bamboo sticks from the wooden frame of the sand table and stuck them into the sand table to represent the two forests and the place connecting the Yanlian Mountains.

Qin Shiyu was puzzled as to what she was going to do, so she approached Lu Qiqi step by step with a questioning look in her eyes.

When she saw the thin bamboo that Lu Qiqi had planted on the sand table, she suddenly turned her head to look at the pretty face that was staring intently at the sand table with its eyes downcast.

A moment later, Lu Qiqi pointed to the slender bamboo on the sand table, "If he encounters danger, he will definitely return to the West Camp through the alley in the forest."

Qin Shiyu never expected that Lu Qiqi could guess the route the prince took back to camp after encountering danger without even thinking.

She couldn't help but scrutinize Lu Qiqi again.

Lu Qiqi, who was only concerned about Song Yanqing's safety, naturally did not pay attention to the burning gaze behind her.

Instead, he continued to recount his speculations, "I prepared some sleeping pills for him, which would be very effective in this forest, making it easy to assassinate any enemies who discover their whereabouts."

That's what they said, but they still failed to return to camp on time, which was the biggest variable.

Before Qin Shiyu could react, Lu Qiqi turned around and met Qin Shiyu's phoenix eyes again. She said, "General Qin, the Prince of Libei must have encountered danger on this road. Please send someone to meet him."

Qin Shiyu looked at Lu Qiqi, who had a serious expression and a determined look in her eyes, and said, "Even if you have never been to Ximen, this general has already made this plan."

She had already agreed with the prince that if they missed the return to camp, she would send a team of shadow guards to search for them.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Qiqi quickly added, "I'll go too."

"no!"

Without hesitation, Qin Shiyu blurted out, "The young master instructed me before he left to ensure your safety. I absolutely cannot let you take any risks."

At this point, she added, "Since you have a close relationship with the Crown Prince, you should know his intentions. Don't gamble with your life."

Lu Qiqi blinked twice, automatically transforming the phrase "close relationship" into the idea that General Qin knew she had once saved Song Yanqing.

So she said, "Since General Qin knows that I have a close relationship with him, he will definitely follow the escort team out of the pass this time."

The meaning was self-evident to Qin Shiyu.

Even if she stops Lu Qiqi today, Lu Qiqi will still find a way to leave seclusion and find the prince.

Qin Shiyu never expected that the relationship between the two was so deep.

For a moment, he couldn't help but look at Lu Qiqi's lower abdomen.

In an instant, she thought of herself and her deceased husband, who had not been able to see each other one last time before he died, a regret destined to be the greatest of her life.

Suddenly, I realized that the regret in my heart could not continue.

She had learned from the Crown Prince that the Princess of Kang Le was skilled in martial arts, and given her intelligence, she would protect herself during this trip out of seclusion for the sake of the child in her womb.

She absolutely could not become the executioner who hindered the Princess of Kang Le from leaving the pass to find her husband!

Thinking of this, Qin Shiyu took a deep breath and made a decision, saying, "Princess Kangle, the journey ahead is fraught with danger. I will send more people to protect your safety."

As she spoke, she looked at Lu Qiqi's lower abdomen and said, "I also hope that you can take your health into consideration."

Lu Qiqi had no idea what a jumble of thoughts were going through Qin Shiyu's mind.

When she learned that she could leave the pass, the corners of her mouth immediately turned up, revealing her white teeth. "Thank you for your concern, General Qin. I will definitely take good care of myself and bring Song Yanqing back safely and intact."

Having made the decision, Qin Shiyu quickly summoned the Shadow Guards that Song Yanqing had specially arranged before setting off, just in case.

The Shadow Guard consists of twenty people, all of whom are carefully selected elites.

One of them was a familiar face to Lu Qiqi; it was An Jiu, who burned down the cannibal village.

In the dead of night, twenty men gathered in the general's tent. When the Shadow Guards heard that there was a woman among the entourage, they all showed expressions of surprise.

These people certainly do not include An Jiu. Thanks to An Yi, he received a tip that the Princess of Kangle Township would soon become the Crown Prince's consort.

The Crown Prince may be in danger this time, and as a loving couple, Princess Kang Le would naturally not sit idly by and wait for their fate.

He had once seen the head of Kang Le Township imprison all the people of the village in a warehouse. A woman with such abilities must be no ordinary person.

Therefore, those who knew the inside story all felt that Princess Kang Le was skilled in martial arts and medicine, and was a perfect match for the Crown Prince.

Lu Qiqi took in all the surprised and inquiring looks from the crowd.

She didn't say much, but said, "When you come out of seclusion this time, just follow the Shadow Guard's way of doing things, and don't worry about me."

If I find any trace, I will leave marks along the way. If not, you need not come looking for me; I will find a way back to camp myself.

Upon hearing this, not only did the Shadow Guards exchange bewildered glances, scrutinizing the expressions of those around them, but even Qin Shiyu's face showed a hint of surprise.

Before anyone could react, An Jiu clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Yes!"

The highest-ranking leader of the Shadow Guards here is An Jiu, and he obeys orders. Naturally, the other Shadow Guards have no choice but to follow orders.

So, in the dead of night, under Qin Shiyu's arrangement, the twenty-one people quietly left the West Gate tower.

Qin Shiyu stood atop the city gate, watching Lu Qiqi, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, lead twenty Shadow Guards, galloping away from the city gate until they disappeared from sight.

She longed for Song Yanqing's safe return and hoped that no more lovers in this world would be separated forever.

As soon as Lu Qiqi left the city gate, she rode under the moonlight, using the Big Dipper as her compass, and sped through the narrow paths in the forest.

Despite the jolting motion on horseback, her only belief at that moment was that she must bring Song Yanqing back safely!