Seeing Lan Xiuyuan's absent-minded look, Qin Kou'er couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright! Fifth Master, hurry up and pack it up! You still haven't told me what you want!"

Lan Xiuyuan looked at Qin Kou'er, thought for a moment, and slowly said, "May I have a mandarin duck purse that Kou'er embroidered herself?"

Qin Kou'er seemed to be taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Alright! As long as Your Highness doesn't mind my rough skills, I'll present them to Your Highness together when the Prime Minister celebrates his birthday!"

"Alright! Then I'll wait for Ke'er's purse!"

Lan Xiuyuan felt that today was his lucky day, as if all the good things had fallen on his head in an instant!

While walking and chatting with Qin Kou'er, Qin Kou'er asked Lan Xiuyuan and Hu Tianyong what they liked so that she could decide on the gifts to give them.

Lan Xiuyuan smiled easily and said, "Grandpa doesn't really need anything! Kou'er doesn't need to prepare anything special, as long as the sentiment is there, that's enough!"

Qin Kou'er immediately frowned in displeasure, glaring at Lan Xiuyuan coquettishly, and said, "Fifth Master, why are you being so perfunctory with me! I just arrived in the capital, and the birthday gift I gave to the Prime Minister is just a perfunctory thing. If others see this, won't they say that I am a disrespectful person! Although I haven't seen much of the world in Yangzhou, I know that officials pay more attention to etiquette and face! Fifth Master, you are simply trying to harm me!"

Hearing Qin Kou'er say so much at once, Lan Xiuyuan immediately nodded and admitted his mistake, saying, "I was wrong! I was wrong! Our Kou'er is so sensible. My maternal grandfather has always loved calligraphy, especially the works of the great calligrapher and painter Wei Wen. He has always praised them highly! The old man has wanted to collect one piece for many years, but you know how few of Wei Wen's works have survived to this day. There are only three pieces in the palace, and the Emperor especially loves them. This has always been my grandfather's regret. So, if Kou'er has any works by a master, why not give one away? Of course, I won't let Kou'er give it away for nothing. Didn't you want to open a few more pawnshops? I've already had someone choose a location, and I'll have someone send the address over later. If Kou'er likes it, I'll send the land deed over as a congratulatory gift for Qin Tiange opening a branch in the capital!"

Qin Kou'er immediately frowned and said, "What does Fifth Master take me for? Does he feel bad about giving the Prime Minister a little something? Humph, why don't you ask Jiang Ming how many birthday gifts I've given them over the years!"

Lan Xiuyuan was taken aback and was about to apologize for his abruptness when Qin Kou'er smiled and said, "But if Fifth Master really gives Kou'er a few places, then Kou'er would be too embarrassed to offend Fifth Master, so I'll accept them!"

Upon hearing Qin Kou'er's words, Lan Xiuyuan burst into laughter. His joyful expression astonished everyone around him, as they had never seen him laugh so happily before.

As Qin Kou'er chatted and laughed with Lan Xiuyuan, she glanced casually at the street corner. Old Seven was gone, replaced by another stranger she didn't recognize.

Qin Kou'er and Lan Xiuyuan chatted for a while longer before saying goodbye and going home.

As soon as Qin Kou'er's sedan chair entered the alley leading to her home, she saw a group of people guarding the place.

When Jun Yannuo saw Lan Linxue pacing around like an ant on a hot pan at the door, he couldn't help but sigh heavily.

As soon as Lan Linxue looked up, she saw Qin Kou'er's sedan chair entering. Without waiting for the chair to come to a stop, she rushed over.

"Qin Kou'er, come out here!"

As Lan Linxue spoke, she went up and lifted the sedan curtain. The sedan bearers saw this and quickly lowered the sedan to prevent their master from falling out.

Qin Kou'er glanced lazily at the furious man in front of her, got up, pushed him aside, and walked straight out.

When Lan Linxue heard that Qin Kouer was actually holding hands with that bastard Lan Xiuyuan while shopping, she was immediately furious. Her head was practically glowing with lust, and she wanted to rush out and beat the two of them to death.

As a result, not only was she pinned down by Lao Qi and his group, who grabbed her waist and legs, but Shuanghua also coldly remarked, "Miss Qin always acts with discretion. If anyone disrupts her plans, be careful you don't end up being kicked off the bed! Women are all petty; if you push them too far, they might just turn a lie into a truth!"

Lan Linxue thought about it and realized that although Shuanghua's deadpan face was annoying, what she said did make some sense. If Qin Kou'er was really pushed too far, that damned woman might actually run away with Lan Xiuyuan. Even if he hanged himself at her door then, it might not have any real effect!

So, Grandpa Lan patiently waited until he reached Qin Kou'er's door to block it. He originally wanted to go in, but Hai Tian was guarding the door, and he couldn't even get close to it.

Seeing that Qin Kou'er really didn't take him seriously, he became even angrier. He grabbed Qin Kou'er's hand and roared, "I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me?"

Qin Kou'er glanced at Lan Linxue with a cold face and said indifferently, "Let go! Or I'll beat you up!"

Lan Linxue thought about Qin Kou'er's martial arts skills and immediately obediently let go of her hand.

Seeing this, Lao Qi and the others felt a thousand times contempt for Lan Linxue: She just jumps around in front of them, but when she sees someone powerful, she doesn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Lan Linxue released Qin Kou'er's hand, but grabbed her clothes, still tilting her head and stubbornly remaining angry: "Tell me what you were doing just now?"

Qin Kou'er glanced at him, then pointed at Lao Qi and said lazily, "Didn't he just tell you? I went and cheated on you!"

One sentence nearly made Lan Linxue faint. This damned woman is now so open about cheating on him; does she even have any feelings for him anymore?

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!