CHAPTER 724: CHAPTER 292 THIS TIME IT’S SWINDLER AGAIN (8)_2

Just as Jia Zhen was about to finish speaking, He Tiantian snapped a duster across Jia Zhen’s face.

"Scoundrel!"

He Tiantian, with a look of disappointment as if hating iron for not becoming steel, scolded unceremoniously, "You unfilial son, while your old man is still residing at Xuanzhen Temple for cultivation, I don’t even have my own place for quiet cultivation."

"You’re talking about buying a mountain on the outskirts of the city and building a Taoist temple for your old man, yet you’re thinking of building a garden for your cousin who lives next door?"

Jia Zhen:...

What’s happening?

My own father has been cultivating at Xuanzhen Temple for over ten years and has never mentioned wanting to build another place for quiet cultivation.

Why is he using this matter as leverage now?

And directly calling him "unfilial"?

Ah, father, one shouldn’t easily accuse one’s son of such a crime—it could be fatal!

Jia Zhen felt incredibly wronged and also had a growing sense of dread.

He was not only afraid of his father’s scolding for being an "unfilial son" but was also concerned about his father’s attitude towards Jia Yuanchun.

In Jia Zhen’s eyes, his father was certainly a calculating and visionary man.

When Jia Zhen had assisted Prince Yizhong in settling his concubine outside the family, Jia Jing, though finding it absurd, had not stopped him.

Later, when Jia Rong was arranged to marry Qin Keqing, Jia Jing had said nothing.

Then, after Qin Keqing died in the Jia family, Jia Zhen specially ordered someone to report the death, and still, Jia Jing showed no reaction.

Every time his father reacted this way, Jia Zhen felt at ease—these things could be done without danger.

But now, his father showed no great warmth towards the Virtuous Princess Consort in the palace but instead referred to her as a "cousin next door," a term that suggested estrangement.

Hiss—

Jia Zhen couldn’t help but inhale sharply, perhaps Jia Yuanchun’s recent promotion was not only unbeneficial to the Jia family but a disaster?

And the Provincial Villa!

Jia Jing had stayed at Xuanzhen Temple for over a decade and had never complained about it or shown any desire to have his own place built in the suburbs.

Now, as the Jia family was preparing to draw funds to build the Provincial Villa, father was, was—

"Father, it’s all because your son wasn’t thoughtful, seeing you have always lived at Xuanzhen Temple, and I thought you truly liked it there. This way, your son will immediately find someone to buy land and build a garden!"

Whether out of filial piety or trust in his father’s political shrewdness, Jia Zhen couldn’t afford any laxity.

He had to build a beautiful place for his father’s cultivation.

Not a Taoist temple, since his father hadn’t become a monk.

Hmm, it’d simply be a villa for recuperation, just with architectural elements of Taoism.

"Hmph, that’s somewhat more like it!"

He Tiantian snorted coldly from her nose.

Then, her expression shifted as if she sensed something.

Jia Zhen, closely watching every move of his father, saw He Tiantian’s expression and felt a jolt in his heart.

Then, Jia Zhen watched, somewhat at a loss for words, as his father swiftly pinched his fingers and murmured under his breath.

That look, was just like one of those swindlers blustering and deceiving people outdoors.

Jia Zhen:... quite unexpected.

Since when did Grand Master, who used to be engrossed in chanting and alchemy, start showing this fortune-telling behavior?!

He Tiantian, seemingly oblivious to Jia Zhen’s astonished face, performed for a bit, then suddenly her eyes lit up as if she really had foreseen something.

She said nothing and immediately strode towards Duke Rong’s Mansion.

Though Jia Zhen was baffled, he dared not delay and hurriedly followed He Tiantian.

His cautious demeanor was not unlike Jia Rong’s when facing him.

He Tiantian walked briskly for a distance, then stopped and continued with the hand seals.

Jia Zhen continued to watch with a sense of indescribable emotion.

Then, He Tiantian again started walking briskly forward.

Jia Zhen, step by step, followed her.

After walking for a while, He Tiantian stopped again to calculate, not forgetting to mutter, "Should find someone to bring a compass!"

Jia Zhen’s eyes brightened, though feeling it was absurd, he respectfully said, "It’s my oversight for not preparing a compass for you!"

First fortune-telling, now a compass.

His Grand Master has truly gone down the irreversible path of a swindler.

He used to be a dignified Immortal, and now, how has he become so delusional?

Although both involve the character for "divine," alchemy and cultivation have a considerable difference from being an Itinerant World’s swindler.

Jia Zhen inwardly criticized but dared not show it on his face.

He bowed and stood, like a little sidekick, closely attending He Tiantian on either side.