Chapter 183: If You Don't Mind, Qing Is Willing to Fulfill Nephewly Duties in Brother Gu's Place! (3)
Gu Hanyan fell completely silent.
Clearly, she wasn't too pleased.
By nature, she was indifferent—aside from her brother and his child, no one had ever really mattered to her.
So for some outsider to suddenly start calling her 'aunt'—how could she be happy about that?
That silence was clearly rejection.
Even putting her personality aside, most people would find it odd.
They'd only met twice.
Someone you barely know suddenly insisting on a familial title—it was weird.
"I've been mourning these last few days."
"As his brother, I not only failed to help him—I had to be protected by him."
"That's such an enormous debt. I never even got the chance to repay it."
"I've been restless for days, searching for a way to honor his memory..."
"And today, after learning your identity, I finally know what I must do."
As Su Qing spoke, he dropped to one knee, voice full of sincerity.
"If you don't mind—Qing is willing to call you 'Auntie' and fulfill filial duties in his place!"
Put like that, it all sounded perfectly reasonable.
"Huh?"
The golden-haired beauty blinked at the odd request, visibly stunned.
She hadn't expected things to escalate so suddenly. She was totally unprepared.
Even so, that didn't mean she couldn't respond.
So sincere... she should refuse, of course!
This wasn't a trivial matter. She couldn't just accept on a whim!
But before she could get a word in, the boy continued:
"Please give me this chance. I'm sure Qingzhou would've wanted to be filial too."
"He no longer has the chance—so let me do it for him. It's all I can do now. Please, Auntie!"
"With me around, I can ensure you walk the Southern Court safely and protect you for life in his stead!"
Su Qing didn't give her time to respond—he kept going.
Of course he knew Gu Qingzhou wasn't dead—but pretending not to helped lower her defenses.
Only by showing sincerity could he earn her trust and avoid the usual scheming.
Gu Hanyan was stunned.
She looked at the boy's youthful face and unwavering gaze, and her heart wavered.
Even she, a saintess with a serene mind, found it hard to resist such honest emotion.
She wanted to tell him her nephew wasn't dead.
But as someone who knew how to play the long game, she held that thought back.
Explaining would take too long—it was better to keep the secret for now.
Truthfully, her purpose in inviting him here had been to take him as a disciple.
The Empress's favorite in the Southern Court was already the most influential man below her.
Taking him as a disciple meant she could benefit from all his resources.
With the Empress's favor and the empire's support, she could better seek revenge against the demonic sect.
But now, she found it hard to bring up the idea.
He was so genuine, so straightforward—how could she still try to use him like that?
For her nephew, he had sacrificed so much—could she really not compare?
By comparison, she seemed like a petty schemer.
A hint of guilt quietly bloomed in her heart.
"Stand up. We can talk after you get up."
Gu Hanyan said, slightly uncomfortable.
Her discomfort was understandable.
She prided herself on having faced countless intense moments—always calm.
But this... this was a first.
Truly—what a strange, unpredictable world!
"A man's knee is golden. If I kneel, I need an answer."
Su Qing shook his head, full of stubborn determination.
Clearly, he wasn't getting up without a result.
The golden-haired woman thought that was fair. She reached to help him up—then paused.
If she pulled him up and he just knelt again, what was the point?
The air fell silent.
Gu Hanyan hesitated, her face showing visible conflict.
How to put this… even if she accepted, it didn't really conflict with her original goal.
Originally, she wanted to be his master. If she accepted, she'd become his aunt instead.
And frankly, the latter sounded much more intimate.
So the question was—should she say yes?
This boy was the one her nephew had sacrificed to protect.
Surely, he could be trusted...
Before meeting Su Qing, Gu Hanyan had already gathered a lot of intel on him.
Setting aside everything else—she knew very well how many times he'd helped her nephew.
She knew exactly what kind of situation her nephew had been in.
If not completely hated, he was definitely unpopular.
His wife was brilliant, but he was considered useless.
Everywhere he went, people looked down on him—so helping someone like that gained nothing.
Yet Su Qing had helped him. Repeatedly. Wholeheartedly.
What did that say?
That Su Qing had strong values. A righteous heart.
His reputation in the capital might be bad—but he might actually be a great kid.
And besides... she herself was from a wicked sect—what was she judging?
In fact, she felt a strange kinship with Su Qing.
A kind soul misunderstood and maligned—just like her.
All those insults, probably born from jealousy.
Many critics of the Empress likely didn't dare speak out, so they aimed at her favorite.
So young, yet carrying so much...
At that moment, Gu Hanyan felt a new tenderness and affection for the boy.
"So I really... can't repay Qingzhou's debt after all?"
Su Qing bit his lip, lowering his head.
The stubborn fire on his face cooled into quiet sorrow.
The pretty boy's expression at that moment—its impact on the opposite sex was easy to imagine.
He knew his strengths and was using them on purpose.
After all... he'd played the cute act in front of the Empress countless times since he was a kid.
What could he do? His Empress Beauty just had a weakness for that type.
And the big sister in front of him? She was just as susceptible.
Despite her aloof nature, her heart was surprisingly soft.