Chapter 103: What Are You Looking at Me For?

The sight of Si Kouyan carrying Ji Tianxin into the hall caused everyone present to catch their breath.

It was, quite simply, a feast for the eyes.

Never had they seen a pair—one tall, one small—embody such a breathtaking aesthetic. Even though the youth wore a silver mask, his poise and bearing were so imposing that one could not help but let their imagination run wild regarding the face hidden beneath it. There was a calm, noble air about him that seemed even more refined and elevated than the majesty displayed in the opulent hall.

The child in his arms, dressed in a white gown, looked like a white butterfly nestled against his dark robes. The stark, vivid contrast between the black and white only served to highlight the doll-like, exquisite features of the little girl.

How incredibly pleasing to the eye!

For a moment, many were left stunned and motionless.

Ji Yuanruo was also taken aback. That man... to be able to enter so openly and brazenly—who on earth was he?

Meanwhile, Duan Yu was equally shocked. Seeing Ji Tianxin in someone else's arms, he felt a strange, sour pang of jealousy in his heart. He hadn't even had the chance to carry her himself yet...

Duan Zi stood up abruptly, her pretty face lighting up. "Benefactor, little sister!"

As she was carried in, Ji Tianxin’s eyes swept across the room. Upon spotting Ji Huaili, she signaled to be let down. Sensing her intention, Si Kouyan gently lowered her to the ground. Once her feet touched the floor, Ji Tianxin walked straight back to her seat.

Seeing Ji Huaili standing nearby, staring at her in a daze as if petrified, along with the others who were watching her take her seat, Ji Tianxin blinked, looking somewhat bewildered.

"What are you all looking at me for? Sit down, don't stand on ceremony." Ji Tianxin spoke with deliberate, measured pauses, leaving some of the onlookers struggling to catch their breath.

The remark cast a strangely bizarre atmosphere over the hall.

Ji Huaili: "..."
The officials: "..."
Even the imperial family and those from the Yufeng Academy felt a bit disoriented.

The way she said that... it sounded as if she were the host of this place.

Su Qing stepped forward and stood behind Ji Tianxin.

Watching Ji Tianxin’s peculiar behavior, Duan Yu wanted to laugh but had to hold it in. Emperor Duan Qing merely frowned; although he also found it a bit strange, Ji Tianxin’s slow, unhurried tone made it impossible for anyone to truly feel angry. Besides, she was, after all, just a child.

A trace of gentle amusement overflowed in Si Kouyan's eyes.

Ji Huaili, caught between sitting and standing, felt awkward; yet, seeing that Ji Tianxin had already sat down, he found himself sitting as well, quite against his own will.

The members of the Ji family exchanged glances, not daring to make a sound. In any case, if any trouble arose, the old master would take the lead, and if he couldn't handle it, there was always Miss Tianxin. In the eyes of the Ji family, Miss Tianxin had already become a presence even more formidable than Ji Huaili. Furthermore, they felt a strange sense of security whenever she was around. It was that paradoxical mix of fear and the desire to cling to a powerful figure; after all, Miss Tianxin was formidable. Even if they were afraid, as long as they were with her, they felt safe—even if she looked like such a tiny little thing.

"That was him just now..." Yan Xu whispered.

The people from Yufeng Academy all shifted their gazes toward Si Kouyan, their eyes filled with deep, heavy scrutiny.

The corners of Si Kouyan's mouth beneath the mask curled slightly. Then, he stepped forward. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, filled with awe and suspicion, he bowed to Duan Qing. "Si Kouyan pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The simple salute and the brief, concise greeting caused the entire Taiyang Hall to erupt in a sudden stir.