Chapter 194: Be Good, You Don't Want Her Majesty to Find Out, Right? The Empress Dowager Is Overflowing With Dominance! (2)
"Qing'er..."
Gu Hanyan looked at the expression on the youth's face, eyes welling with emotion.
Such heartfelt devotion and attentiveness—how could she not be moved?
She'd endured countless storms, betrayals, and schemes.
She'd wandered endlessly, consumed by thoughts of vengeance.
But after meeting him, she felt alive again.
She felt warmth, tenderness, and a budding sense of belonging.
The blonde beauty nodded and reached out to hold Su Qing's hand. No words were needed.
With such a capable nephew, things really were different now!
"Great!"
Su Qing cheered joyfully.
As a pure-hearted but experienced young man, he really knew how to work an older woman's heart.
The more innocent he acted, the more positive feedback he received.
Of course, there was one condition—he had to look likable.
Otherwise, it might just backfire.
The guilt in Gu Hanyan's eyes grew even stronger.
But her affection... that increased even more.
The guilt was, naturally, due to her internal desire to use Su Qing.
She wanted to take their relationship seriously, to keep their familial bond pure.
Su Qing immediately led the blonde beauty to the residence he had already prepared.
He was clearly very satisfied with how things turned out.
No doubt about it—the plan was a complete success. Gu Hanyan was more than halfway conquered.
Asking for her help in the future wouldn't be an issue at all.
Which meant what? It meant he had yet another high-powered thigh to cling to!
As a villain, he felt his chances of survival were increasing.
After escorting Gu Hanyan to the prepared residence, Su Qing gave her a full tour.
Thanks to his careful planning, everything matched Gu Hanyan's tastes perfectly.
"Aunt, how do you feel about this place? If it doesn't suit you, I can find another."
Only after finishing the introduction did Su Qing ask.
"No need to change it. I'm very satisfied. Qing'er, thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Gu Hanyan was touched, pulling him into a warm hug.
Feeling moved was natural—anyone would be when seeing a room full of precious cultivation treasures.
Especially when he said she could use anything she wanted.
Even as someone who'd seen her fair share of big scenes, the former Holy Saintess of the Demonic Sect was stunned by this gesture.
"As long as you like it, Aunt. Get some good rest here. I'll come visit whenever I can."
"And of course, if it's convenient, you're always welcome to visit my manor too!"
Su Qing said in a muffled voice.
His lips were blocked by facial cleanser. That was just how his voice sounded right now.
What could Gu Hanyan even say?
Faced with such a sweet, obedient nephew, she could only nod earnestly.
Moments later.
Su Qing walked with a light step back to White Jade Pavilion, planning to casually check on Her Majesty.
Wait, that didn't sound right—he meant to check on his sister.
Between siblings, a little casualness was normal.
Even though they were already way past casual...
That was the plan, anyway. But before he even got close to the Empress, Su Qing felt a chill down his spine.
He suddenly turned around, the corners of his mouth twitching.
Around the corner, a figure was peeking out with half her head exposed, watching him with an eerie intensity.
Everything in White Jade Pavilion moved at a slow, peaceful pace, full of serene stillness.
In that quiet atmosphere, turning around to see something like that was genuinely terrifying.
If this woman weren't so breathtakingly beautiful, it would've been even more horrifying.
"...Mother, what are you doing over there?"
Su Qing gave a dry laugh as he asked.
He had a strong hunch that trouble was heading his way.
Su Mengxi: staring intently.
"Mother, there's nothing on my face, right?"
Su Qing swallowed hard.
That ominous feeling kept growing.
Still silent, Su Mengxi raised a finger and beckoned him over before vanishing behind the corner.
Su Qing: "..."
Why did he feel a creeping sense of dread?
He glanced back at the Empress's residence, then reluctantly followed.
If something really did happen, surely Her Majesty would show up in time... right?
Moments later.
Swish... swish...
The sound of a blade slicing through air echoed repeatedly through the room.
"Mother, what exactly is going on?"
Su Qing looked at the Empress Dowager's death stare and gulped again.
She had peeled apples for him before, back when they got along well.
But today, her movements were much slower than before.
And that snow-white blade, its cold gleam reflecting on his face, made him more and more uneasy.
Even the boldest man would feel nervous.
He hadn't even done anything!
So why did this feel like the death scene from a horror drama?
Why did it feel like he was about to get the "yandere girl catches you cheating" treatment?
"Little Qing hasn't been behaving at all~~!"
Su Mengxi casually placed the half-peeled apple into a fruit plate and stabbed the fruit knife down beside it.
The icy blade, combined with her breathtaking but cold beauty, gave off a strange allure.
"Mother, Little Qing has always been good! Hug me!"
Feeling the danger escalate, Su Qing made the smartest decision: act cute!
He wasn't sure what was going on, but this was never the wrong move.
To his shock, his attempt at affection was met with disdainful rejection!
Since childhood, no one had ever refused him when he acted like this!
Could it be... now that he was grown, his charm and killing power had declined?
"Hug? Heh, funny how you never act this cute normally."
"Is this what really excites you about me? This kind of mood?"
"No wonder you get so close to that ice-cold woman. I've just been spoiling you too much."
Su Mengxi looked at him with disgust.
Under her luxurious robes, her long legs crossed elegantly, making her appear even more regal and aloof.
Compared to her usual liveliness, she now fully radiated the majesty of a woman fit to rule the world.
Su Qing listened to the jealous teasing, a question mark slowly rising above his head.
Ice block face?
Then it finally hit him, leaving him shocked and speechless.
Clearly, the Empress Dowager had seen his intimate interaction with his aunt earlier.
And Gu Hanyan was just a bit cold by nature, how did that become "ice block face"?
This kind of nickname giving... sure felt a lot like jealousy.
"Outrageous. Doing that kind of thing on my turf—you really don't put me in your eyes, do you?!"
Su Mengxi's gaze grew increasingly dangerous.
Not only had she seen them being close, she'd even seen them bathing together!
This was her territory, and now some random woman had entered?