The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 552

"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your kindness. All my achievements are thanks to Lord Zhou's cultivation. I was merely following his orders and did not deserve such a reward from Your Majesty."

Lu Yunjin bowed and said.

"I haven't granted you a marquisate because I've already taken that into consideration. You must accept this title of General Zhenyuan."

Jiajing looked at Yun Jin and smiled.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Yun Jin stopped arguing and accepted Jiajing's reward.

"Then the General's Armor, along with some other items, will be sent to your home. You may now leave."

Jiajing waved his hand and said.

After Yun Jin left, Jiajing looked at Zhou Chu.

"Zhou Hengqi has made unparalleled contributions to the Ming Dynasty. Effective immediately, Zhou Hengqi is hereby conferred the title of Duke of Dingguo, with a fief of five thousand households, and his fief is Taiyuan. Zhou Hengqi is also conferred the title of Left Pillar of State and promoted to Grand Master of the Palace."

Jiajing said loudly.

Upon hearing this, the entire court was in an uproar. It should be noted that the Ming Dynasty had not officially conferred the title of Duke for many years. Of course, the title of Duke bestowed upon the deceased Empress Dowager's brother did not count; such a Duke was merely a title with no real power.

Not to mention that Zhou Chu was also appointed as the Left Pillar of State and promoted to Grand Master of the Palace.

This reminded everyone of one person: Xu Da, the Duke of Wei during the Hongwu reign.

Of course, Xu Da received far more official titles throughout his life than Zhou Chu did at the time, but Zhou Chu was only twenty years old, which was the most terrifying aspect.

Thinking about these things makes many people feel like they have a fishbone stuck in their throat, wanting to refute them, but unable to find any reason to refute them.

After all, considering Zhou Chu's military achievements and the things he had done for the Ming Dynasty, these rewards were not excessive, and could only be described as moderate.

But the fact that Zhou Chu was the one who received the reward made many people feel uneasy.

"Your Majesty, this reward is too much; I truly cannot accept it."

Zhou Chu bowed and said.

"Not at all. If it were up to me, I would give you any more rewards. But you are still young and have a long road ahead. I have thought about it for a long time and decided to give you these rewards. Don't complain about me."

Jiajing said with a hint of helplessness.

If we follow Jiajing's original idea, he would have wanted to bestow upon Zhou Chu every possible honor, such as Grand Tutor and Military Advisor.

However, considering that Zhou Chu is now in the eye of the storm, Jiajing reduced the rewards again and again, and finally settled on the current honors.

If Jiajing lacked any one of these three titles—Duke of Dingguo, Grand Master of the Palace, or Left Pillar of State—he would feel uneasy.

"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your kindness."

Since Jiajing had put it this way, Zhou Chu really didn't know how to refuse and could only accept it.

After bestowing the appropriate rewards and honors, Jiajing waved for everyone to leave the court.

"Weighing instrument, you have made an unparalleled contribution to our Great Ming Dynasty this time."

On the way back from court, Yang Shen looked at Zhou Chu, who had become much darker and stronger, and sighed with emotion.

After two years in Tibet, not only did Zhou Chu get much darker, but even Yun Jin's skin turned wheat-colored.

"It's all thanks to Your Majesty. Your Majesty has a broad mind and cares for the world. Without Your Majesty's trust and delegation of power, what could I have accomplished?"

Zhou Chu smiled.

"That's too modest. Your Majesty is certainly a wise and virtuous ruler, but even a wise ruler needs capable ministers to assist him. You are one of those capable ministers and generals in His Majesty's service."

Yang Yiqing, who was standing nearby, followed and smiled.

"Your Excellency is too kind. I am truly unworthy of such praise."

Zhou Chu waved his hand and said.

The group left the palace chatting and laughing all the way.

As soon as Zhou Chu returned to the Zhou residence, he saw Lu Wanshan waiting anxiously at his door, and he was immediately puzzled.

"Is something wrong?"

Zhou Chu looked at Lu Wanshan and asked.

Upon hearing this, Lu Wanshan knelt down in front of Zhou Chu with a thud, then began slapping himself hard across the face, quickly swelling it up.

“Your subordinate deserves to die. I shouldn’t have transferred the Imperial Guards who were on duty at the Fang residence. That’s why the young master of the Fang family was kidnapped by villains. It’s thanks to His Majesty’s wrath that the young master was found safely.”