Qi Yue took the jade pendant, its surface warm to the touch, engraved with cloud patterns unique to the Northern Di: "This is too precious, I..."

“Take it,” Xin Suiyun said, holding her hand. “Seeing Yu is like seeing me. No matter where I am, my heart will always be with you.”

Qi Yue carefully put away the jade pendant, then took out the peace charm she had been seeking for a long time from her sleeve: "This is for you, to bless your safe return."

Xin Suiyun accepted the amulet, his eyes filled with tenderness. He gently embraced Qi Yue, this time the hug was unrestrained, filled with reluctance and promise.

“Wait for me to come back,” he whispered in her ear, “and when I have cleared all the obstacles, I will welcome you as my wife in a fair and square ceremony.”

Qi Yue nestled in his arms, her tears soaking his clothes: "I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes."

The next morning, Xin Suiyun quietly left the capital. Qi Yue stood on the city wall, watching his carriage disappear into the morning mist, clutching the jade pendant tightly in her hand.

Xin Rui stood beside her and whispered, "He will come back."

Qi Yue nodded, her gaze firm: "I believe you."

Back at the Qi residence, life seemed to return to its usual tranquility. But Qi Yue knew that everything was different. She began to proactively learn household management, read classic texts on court politics, and even consulted her father about the border situation.

Xin Xiyao noticed the change in her daughter, feeling both gratified and worried: "Yue'er, why have you been interested in these things lately?"

Qi Yue smiled: "Mother, your daughter has grown up and can't live under your protection forever. I want to learn more and become someone who can stand on my own."

What she didn't say was that she wanted to be worthy of Xin Suiyun, someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him through thick and thin.

Time flies, and three months have passed in the blink of an eye. Every day, Qi Yue would go to the city tower and gaze into the distance for a while, hoping for the return of that familiar figure. What she didn't know was that every few days, a carrier pigeon would fly from the south, bringing snippets of information about her, and then flying south again with its longing.

That day, Qi Yue was gazing into the distance from the city tower as usual when she suddenly saw a rider on horseback galloping into the city. The rider was dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard and seemed to be in a hurry. A sense of foreboding washed over her, and she rushed back to her residence.

Inside the mansion, Qi Huaihe was having a private conversation with a weary-looking general. Upon seeing Qi Yue enter, the two immediately ceased their conversation.

"Father, is there news from the south?" Qi Yue asked directly.

Qi Huaihe exchanged a glance with the general and sighed softly, "Suiyun's whereabouts in the south have been exposed, he was ambushed, and his whereabouts are unknown."

Qi Yue's vision went black for a moment, and she barely managed to steady herself by holding onto the edge of the table: "What do you mean by 'missing'?"

"He broke through the encirclement after being ambushed, but was seriously wounded and fell into the river. His fate is still unknown," the general said sadly.

Qi Yue gripped the jade pendant at her chest, forcing herself to remain calm: "How should the search proceed? May I go?"

“The Crown Prince has already sent people to search with all his might, but you absolutely cannot go.” Qi Huaihe firmly objected, “It’s too dangerous there; the remnants of the Northern Di are still active.”

That night, Qi Yue tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She took out the jade pendant Xin Suiyun had given her, pressed it to her heart, and prayed silently. Suddenly, she noticed a line of tiny engravings on the inside of the pendant, which she had not noticed before.

Upon closer inspection by candlelight, it was a proverb from the Northern Barbarians: "Clouds follow the moon's shadow, life and death follow each other."

Qi Yue's tears fell onto the jade pendant. She made up her mind that no matter how dangerous it was, she would find Xin Suiyun. She would find him alive or dead.

The next day, she secretly visited Qin Sang. Upon hearing the news, this highly skilled female physician immediately offered to accompany her.

“I am familiar with the terrain in the south and have also treated Suiyun before, so it is most appropriate for me to go along,” Qin Sang calmly analyzed. “But we need to plan carefully and not act rashly.”

Just as the two were discussing, Xin Rui rushed over: "I knew you would do this." He looked at Qi Yue with a complicated expression, "I have already asked the Crown Prince for permission to lead a team south to search. If you insist on going with me, you must follow my arrangements."

Qi Yue was overjoyed and surprised: "Cousin, you..."

“Suiyun is not only your sweetheart, but also my brother,” Xin Rui said firmly. “I will not give up any hope of finding him.”

Three days later, a small, elite team quietly departed from the capital. Inside the carriage, Qi Yue watched the capital city recede into the distance, clutching her jade pendant tightly in her hand.

"Suiyun, wait for me," she murmured to herself. "This time, it's my turn to come find you."

What awaits her in the South are unknown dangers and challenges. But for the person worthy of her devotion, she will go without hesitation.

The journey south was not smooth. To avoid attracting attention, Qi Yue and her group disguised themselves as ordinary merchants, traveling day and night. In each town they reached, Xin Rui secretly sent people to inquire about Xin Suiyun's whereabouts, while Qin Sang visited local clinics to ask if there were any seriously injured people seeking treatment.

For the first time, Qi Yue was far from the capital and witnessed the real landscape of the Great Qi Kingdom. Along the way, she saw not only the Jiangnan water towns described in poems, but also people displaced by years of war and farmers emaciated from heavy taxes.

“I used to only read the classics in the palace, but I didn’t know that the common people were suffering so much.” One evening, Qi Yue looked at the orphans begging by the roadside and couldn’t help but sigh.

Qin Sang sighed softly: "This is the land that Sui Yun has always protected. He often said that although the hands of the secret guards are stained with blood, it is so that more people can live and work in peace."

Qi Yue remained silent. She understood Xin Suiyun's choice more and more, and her determination to find him grew stronger.

Ten days later, they arrived at Linjiang Prefecture, where Xin Suiyun had last disappeared. This was a vital transportation hub connecting the north and south, bustling with merchants and travelers, and also harboring various powerful factions. Xin Rui arranged for everyone to stay at an inconspicuous inn and immediately began their investigation.

“Three months ago, Sui Yun was ambushed here and fell into the Cangjiang River during the fierce battle.” Xin Rui spread out a map and pointed to a turbulent river. “We have searched all the villages within ten miles downstream, but we have not found any trace of him.”

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