Chapter 1699 - 308: Both Are Impostors

"Brother Binbin, this second house mistress, like us, is also fake."

"Brother Xiao Yuan, is there another infiltrator in the Zhao family?"

"Possibly, more than one."

...

Zhao Yi was waiting outside the temple, and soon a maid came:

"Young Master Xu, the mistress is willing to see you, please come in."

Zhao Yi was never worried about not being summoned, because his mother's image was such that anyone in the family with worries or burdens could go to her to confide.

She would use Buddhist teachings to enlighten you, allowing you to find peace of mind.

These conversations could all be recorded and serve as small stories in Buddhist scripture.

Because, those who asked questions came with prepared questions, fearing that Chen Cui'er would find it difficult or inconvenient to answer.

This was the specific manifestation of the third house's transcendent status in the Zhao family.

In the pavilion, Chen Cui'er held Buddha beads in her right hand, with a Buddhist scripture placed in front of her.

His mother looked like a delicate lady, and combined with the current environment and atmosphere, there was truly a sense of devotion to Buddhism.

However, Zhao Yi inwardly followed in the footsteps of his ancestor Zhao Wuyang.

To him, having someone worship Buddhism in the Zhao family that once produced a Dragon King was an absurdity.

A true dragon in one's own family isn't revered, yet someone seeks the void?

However, Zhao Yi, after all, wasn't the family head, and the family traditions of the Zhao family had long been warped.

As he approached the pavilion, Zhao Yi bowed:

"Third Aunt."

"A Xu, come, sit."

Zhao Yi sat down and began to confide.

The topic was simple, nothing more than an eccentric father, a hot-tempered mother, and himself caught in the middle, suffering from both sides.

Chen Cui'er enlightened him with Buddhist teachings.

She spoke a lot of seemingly meaningful yet actually trivial nonsense.

Zhao Yi showed a look of sudden enlightenment and quickly rose to express his gratitude.

Chen Cui'er smiled gently, exuding an air of detachment.

Ah, his mother still hadn't changed, always pretending like that.

It's a pity, all this showmanship was built up by being flattered.

People said the third house had a good son, but conversely, besides having a son who represented the family on the River, it was nothing else.

Zhao Yi took his leave and walked away.

Just as he left the pavilion, Chen Cui'er started tapping the wooden fish and chanting Buddhist scriptures.

"Thump... thump... thump..."

Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Yi saw the fish in the pond on either side of the stone path floating to the surface, gently swaying to the sound of the wooden fish, as if comprehending the Buddhist teachings.

Even without looking at these goldfish, just by listening to the sound of the wooden fish, the Life and Death Door in his chest gave a warning!

This is Buddhist Law, no, it's Buddhist charm!

Only someone with extremely high attainments in Buddhism could emit a Buddhist charm, attracting worship and making animals listen.

Zhao Yi's expression and pace remained unchanged, but inside, waves were surging!

He couldn't believe that his mother, Chen Cui'er, had genuinely devoted herself to Buddhism and reached such depths. For someone as shallow as her to study deeply in the void was an absolutely ludicrous joke.

And this, only meant one thing, which was:

The person in the pavilion wasn't his mother!

Zhao Yi prepared to leave this place and meet up with Li Zhiyuan.

Li, something's not right!

On the way from Lake Heart Pavilion to the second house courtyard, one would pass by a secluded courtyard.

No one lived here now, because the former master was On the River.

This courtyard bore the memories of Zhao Yi and Old Tian.

During the toughest days, it was Old Tian who patiently accompanied him. Throughout the entire mansion, only Old Tian treated him as a suffering child, while the others were waiting to see when this so-called genius would die from the influence of the Life and Death Door.

So, when passing here, Zhao Yi couldn't help but glance again.

And with that glance, he saw a figure standing inside the house.

Zhao Yi stopped in his tracks, pretending to reminisce, and walked in.

The window was half-open, supported by a frame below. The reason it wasn't very visible from outside was because he had once practiced the Array here. Though it was set up and taken down for fun repeatedly, there were nonetheless residual traces of the Array, naturally suppressing people's perception.

The person inside should have also sensed his arrival.

This was his father, Zhao Heming.

Zhao Yi: "Third Uncle."

Zhao Heming seemed only to notice Zhao Yi now, slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "Oh, A Xu, what brings you here?"

Zhao Yi's father always liked to portray elegance, and his appearance was indeed very fitting.

Zhao Yi: "I was seeking enlightenment from Third Aunt, and on my way back, I passed by here, thinking of Brother Yi who hadn't returned from the River for a long time, so I came in to take a look, simulating the scene to feel nostalgic."

Zhao Heming nodded: "I do too. Everyone says there are great waves and dangers On the River. The family all speculated what name he gained again on the River, but as his father, I only care about his safety."

Zhao Yi: "With Brother Yi's skills, he definitely won't have any issues. In the future, our Zhao family may have another Dragon King again!"

Zhao Heming: "I just wish for him to return safely from the River, that's enough."

With that, Zhao Heming sat on the room's largest and most ancient bed, his hands caressing the quilt gently, as if feeling his son's presence.

However, he sat on the wrong bed.

Zhao Yi's bed was the small one in the corner, the companion bed for the servants, also Old Tian's bed.

As a child, it was Old Tian who cradled him, putting him to sleep on that small bed.

By the time he grew older, he became particularly fond of that small bed, even sleeping alone on it, sending Old Tian to sleep on the large bed.

Zhao Heming shouldn't have made a mistake, because when the couple came here to glance icily at him, he was on the small bed.

Later, once he was confirmed to surpass limits continuously, surviving under the Life and Death Door, and was officially recognized as the genius of this generation by the family, the couple came to the courtyard to find him lying on the small bed, while Old Tian lay on the large bed, taking an afternoon nap.

Zhao Heming reprimanded Old Tian for being disrespectful and disregarding the rules, wanting to punish Old Tian, but he angrily retorted, unreservedly pointing at them and said:

If you want me to remain your son, from now on, don't come into this courtyard, or I'll adopt myself into another house!

Zhao Yi: "Third Uncle, I'll take my leave."

Zhao Heming: "Hmm."

He continued to reminisce, caught in this rich overflow of fatherly love and concern.

Zhao Yi turned away and left.

As he walked, he muttered to himself:

"Haha, Li, you probably won't believe this... my dad and mom both seem to be gone."