After resting for a while, she felt much better.
He stood up, walked over to Lan Xiuyuan, squatted down beside him, and asked, "Fifth Master, can we walk now?"
Looking at Qin Kou'er's pale and tired face, Lan Xiuyuan knew that even if he used up his last bit of strength, he would stand up and walk with Qin Kou'er.
It doesn't matter if he dies, but it's absolutely unacceptable for Ke'er to be buried with him in this deep mountain forest.
Lan Xiuyuan thought it over. He would fight to the last breath to get back alive. Otherwise, even if Qin Kou'er got back on her own, she would be torn to pieces by the people behind him.
With a pale smile, Lan Xiuyuan gripped the branches and leaves beside him and struggled to his feet. "It's alright! I can still walk!"
Seeing the extent of Lan Xiuyuan's effort, Qin Kou'er knew he was barely holding on, so she quickly went over and supported him against her, holding him firmly. "Lean on me, let's get out together. Otherwise, with the rain continuing, it's hard to say how high the river will rise! More importantly, don't use your right leg! Don't let your joints grow crooked, and definitely don't let them become misaligned, or you'll be a cripple for life!"
As she spoke, Ke'er half-hugs Lan Xiuyuan's waist and indecently moves forward little by little.
"Kuei, if I really become a cripple, will you despise me?"
Lan Xiuyuan leaned most of his strength on Qin Kou'er, feeling her softness and warm body temperature. Lan Xiuyuan suddenly felt that perhaps this was all fate, fate that made him so close to Qin Kou'er tonight, holding her hand and leaning on her shoulder.
Qin Kou'er had no such thoughts in mind; she was only thinking about getting the rather heavy prince, Lan Xiuyuan, back home as soon as possible.
Without thinking, she said, "Why would Fifth Master ask Kou'er such a question? Kou'er and Fifth Master are partners, how could I look down on Fifth Master! Besides, Fifth Master is so handsome, as long as those young ladies from noble families aren't blind, they would never look down on Your Highness! Don't worry, I will be careful and won't let Fifth Master have any regrets!"
"What does a lady from a respectable family have to do with me!"
Lan Xiuyuan seemed not to have heard anything else, but only this sentence. He was a little unhappy and showed it directly to Qin Kou'er without any defense.
"I just want to know if you, Kou'er, mind whether I'm a cripple or not?" As he spoke, Lan Xiuyuan glanced down at Qin Kou'er, gripping her delicate shoulders even tighter and pulling her closer to him. "Regardless of whether we're business partners or not, would you mind that I'm a cripple?"
Qin Kou'er sensed the change in Lan Xiuyuan, and she couldn't help but look up at him in surprise, only to be instantly burned by his intense heat.
Qin Kou'er was somewhat alarmed. When did Lan Xiuyuan start looking at her like that? And when did he start having other feelings for her? Oh my god, this is not what she wanted!
Lan Linxue alone was already enough to kill her. If Lan Xiuyuan, who was completely unrelated to her, were to appear, Lan Linxue would surely devour her alive if she found out.
Qin Kou'er thought for a moment, then looked up at Lan Xiuyuan seriously and said gently but firmly, "Fifth Master, please don't ask such questions in the future. First, Kou'er is just a commoner, how could a subject dare to look down on the Crown Prince? That's the first point. Second, I, Qin Kou'er, will never look down on my companions. No matter what you are like, as long as you are still Fifth Master, I will always be your friend. Finally, since Fifth Master just said that the Crown Prince has a special affection for me, I don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble that might lead to misunderstandings for the Crown Prince."
Has she made herself clear enough? In short, Qin Kou'er doesn't fancy you, Lan Xiuyuan, so you can easily give up that idea.
Lan Xiuyuan's face was very pale, even more so than when he came out of the water.
Although he knew that Qin Kou'er had a close relationship with the Crown Prince, he did not expect her to reject him in this way.
Lan Xiuyuan was absolutely unwilling to accept this; no woman had ever rejected him so directly before.
Lan Xiuyuan suddenly stopped walking, gripping Qin Kou'er's delicate shoulders tightly, forcing her to confront herself.
"Are you also determined to marry no one but the Crown Prince?"
Qin Kou'er stared at Lan Xiuyuan and nodded forcefully without any defense, delivering a heavy blow to Lan Xiuyuan.
"Why?"
Lan Xiuyuan didn't even realize how he raised his voice.
"For no reason!"
Qin Kou'er disliked Lan Xiuyuan pressuring her at such close range.
"Do you also have a soft spot for the Crown Prince? What's so good about him?"
Qin Kou'er frowned instinctively. Why did everyone in the world speak ill of Lan Linxue? Compared to those corrupt officials, Lan Linxue, aside from being willful within her own limits, had never done anything immoral or unethical!
Moreover, even Lan Xiuyuan himself admitted that Lan Linxue was exceptionally talented, so why couldn't she like a man like that!
Qin Kou'er really hated answering this question; she didn't even bother to answer it.
However, Lan Xiuyuan's gaze was too sharp, so sharp that she had to deal with the problem in front of her calmly, otherwise all her previous efforts would be in vain.
Qin Kou'er smiled slightly, deliberately adopting a humble tone, and said softly, "What's wrong, Your Highness? Why are you so troubled by this issue?"
Lan Xiuyuan had no desire to be led astray by Qin Kou'er.
"This is a very important question. I need to know the answer!"
Seeing that Lan Xiuyuan seemed determined to persist, Qin Kou'er lowered her head and smiled, saying, "Fifth Master also said that the Crown Prince is particularly fond of me. What in the world could be more glorious than a woman marrying the Crown Prince?"
"So you're saying you want to marry Lan Linxue just for his title of Crown Prince, and not because of him as a person?"
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