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

Chapter 346

Lord Zhou, Zhou.....

Yan Shifan suddenly realized who his father was, and that the man who dared to hit him was surnamed Zhou.

Yan Shifan suddenly realized Zhou Chu's identity and felt a chill run down his spine.

Others may not know, but Yan Shifan does. His father's current status, position, and power were not due to anyone else, but to the man standing before him.

In an instant, Yan Shifan felt a chill run down his spine and wished he could slap himself twice.

"No need for formalities. Yan Shifan has sent you to settle the case I filed against him."

Zhou Chu looked at the county magistrate, crossed his legs, and said.

"what?"

The magistrate looked at Yan Shifan, then at Zhou Chu, and was dumbfounded.

He never imagined that the person who beat Yan Shifan was Zhou Chu, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and that he would be put in charge of solving the case? This wasn't a case to be solved; it was a matter of life and death.

"My lord, this..."

The county magistrate didn't even dare to look up at Zhou Chu, and looked at Yan Shifan with a troubled expression.

Yan Shifan panicked at this point, completely losing his previous composure and not knowing how to handle the situation.

Yan Shifan wouldn't be afraid of anyone else, but who was this person in front of him? Zhou Chu, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a notorious "living devil" in Jiangnan and even the entire Ming Dynasty officialdom.

Although Yan Shifan had only been in Suzhou Prefecture for less than two months, he had heard countless legends about the Zhou and Chu states.

"Lord Zhou, Grandpa Zhou, please don't sentence me, please don't sentence me."

In his panic, Yan Shifan blurted out something inappropriate.

"No verdict?"

Zhou Chu glanced at Yan Shifan and said.

"No verdict!"

Yan Shifan hurriedly said.

"Have someone go and fetch your father."

Zhou Chu poured himself a cup of tea and said as he drank it.

Yan Shifan felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, but dared not refuse, and immediately sent his servants to invite Yan Song.

The county magistrate, sitting there in a daze, was unsure whether to get up or not.

"Go back, there's nothing for you here."

Zhou Chu looked at the county magistrate and said somewhat impatiently.

It's almost impossible to say that there's no problem with this magistrate being so afraid of him. However, Zhou Chu was too lazy to care about such a minor official as a magistrate. Besides, if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. As long as the magistrate is dedicated to his work, Zhou Chu didn't care about anything else.

Upon hearing this, the magistrate felt a great sense of relief and left with profuse thanks.

Although the shopkeeper was unaware of Zhou Chu's identity, he could tell from the reactions of Yan Shifan and the county magistrate that this young man must be an important figure. He hurriedly served tea and water and had the waiter bring over some snacks.

Zhou Chu didn't stand on ceremony. He had to admit that the food in Suzhou Prefecture might not suit his taste, but this pastry was really delicious. It wasn't too sweet and the texture was just right.

There were many plates of snacks in front of Zhou Chu, and he ordered one of each kind.

Zhou Chu tried them one by one, and especially liked the osmanthus cake.

"This is good, bring a few more plates, and take the rest with you."

Zhou Chu waved his hand and said.

Zhou Chu was not the emperor, and an emperor should not show particular fondness for a certain thing or a certain dish. Zhou Chu did not have this concern, and besides, Zhou Chu would not stay in Suzhou Prefecture for long.

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper hurriedly ordered someone to make osmanthus cake.

Zhou Chu ate osmanthus cake while glancing at Yan Shifan beside him.

"What? It hasn't been long, and your Yan family has produced such a wastrel like you?"

Zhou Chu joked.

"My lord, I'm innocent! Their food is really bad, and I haven't done anything that would anger heaven or man, have I?"

Yan Shifan said with a face full of grievance.

"How long have you been in Suzhou? Did you act like this back in your hometown?"

Zhou Chu looked at Yan Shifan and asked.

Yan Shifan was speechless upon hearing this.

"If you dare to do this now, in two years you'll be abducting women. What else wouldn't you dare to do?"

Zhou Chu's expression hardened.

The more Zhou Chu spoke, the paler Yan Shifan's face became. He could almost foresee what Zhou Chu would say about him when his father arrived.

But Yan Shifan was helpless at this moment. After all, Zhou Chu had really hit the nail on the head. In the past two months, he had been testing the waters step by step and expanding his ego step by step. If Zhou Chu hadn't suddenly appeared, he really couldn't say what he could have done in another year or two.

Yan Song arrived quickly, and when he learned that Zhou Chu had suddenly appeared in Suzhou Prefecture, he felt somewhat guilty.

Since Zhou Chu left Suzhou Prefecture, it wasn't just Yan Shifan who became arrogant; Yan Song's ambition and lust for power also swelled considerably. Now, many officials in Suzhou Prefecture and even throughout Jiangnan are trying to curry favor with him.

However, Yan Song was still very cautious. He knew very well that he could be greedy for money, but his first priority was to serve the emperor and the court. Therefore, he would select capable people to appoint those officials who came through his connections.

Yan Song was ruthless in his selection of talent.

When Yan Song learned that his son had been caught by Zhou Chu for causing trouble, he was drenched in sweat.

Yan Song was well aware of Yan Shifan's behavior during this period, and even felt that there was nothing wrong with his son's actions. He, Yan Song, had finally achieved his current power, and his son was simply an extension of his power.

Yan Song didn't even dare to ride in a sedan chair; instead, he mounted a fast horse and headed straight for the restaurant.

Yan Song looked very embarrassed; this posture was mainly for Zhou Chu's benefit.

"Sir, why didn't you tell me you were coming to Suzhou?"

Yan Song approached Zhou Chu, panting heavily.

"If I give you a heads-up, how can you see Lord Yan's power and influence in Suzhou Prefecture? How can you see your son behaving this way?"

Zhou Chu finished the last bite of osmanthus cake, clapped his hands, and said...

"My lord, I know I am guilty. However, those officials who came through connections were all carefully selected by me. I did not just randomly select them. I only promoted those who were capable."

Yan Song was very clever. He knew very well that it would be too easy for Zhou Chu to find out about him. Moreover, he was promoted by Zhou Chu himself. To deceive or hide things from Zhou Chu would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

Zhou Chu was quite satisfied with Yan Song's openness.

"The rest is fine, but if your son continues like this, he'll be a menace sooner or later."

When Zhou Chu said this, he glanced at Yan Shifan, who was on the verge of tears.

"It is my duty to discipline you."

Yan Song said with a face full of shame.

"You should know that I had Mr. Yangming open an academy in his hometown of Yuyao?"

Zhou Chu looked at Yan Song and said.

"I have heard about it."

Yan Song lowered his head and said meekly.

In reality, given Yan Song's current power, such a thing could not be kept from him. Any rumors he had heard were merely his way of being modest.

“Your son is coming with me there. Spoiling a child is like killing him. He won’t turn out well if he stays by your side.”

Zhou Chu looked at Yan Shifan, then at Yan Song.