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

Chapter 385

Although it's basically impossible to hide it now, since Dong Rui could guess it, others can guess it to some extent as well.

Zhou Chu could reveal himself, but he couldn't attract too much attention.

Dong Rui's daughter, Dong Shu'er, whose eyes lit up when she heard this.

"Father, do you know the identity of that young master from Zhangjia Village?"

The news of Zhangjia Village not only reached Dong Rui's ears, but also those of his wife and daughter. Dong Shu'er was filled with curiosity about this seventeen or eighteen-year-old young master from Zhangjia Village.

I heard that at least a thousand fully armored soldiers are stationed outside Zhangjia Village. With such a level of protection, the people in Zhangjia Village are definitely not ordinary big shots.

Dong Shu'er is just fifteen years old now and has no interest in the young masters in Shaoxing. She has always wanted to find an opportunity to climb the social ladder. Influenced by storybooks, Dong Shu'er feels that with her own qualities, it is not impossible for her to meet a big shot one day and be taken to the capital, thus rising to the top in one step.

"At present, it is very likely that it is Lord Zhou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Dong Rui took the robe from his wife and, with the help of servants, changed his clothes while speaking.

"Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lord Zhou?"

Upon hearing this, Dong Shu'er's eyes lit up. Over the past year, she had heard Zhou Chu's name countless times. While not everyone knew about what Zhou Chu had done in Suzhou Prefecture and even the entire Jiangnan region, a noblewoman like Dong Shu'er certainly knew a great deal.

After all, Dong Rui, as the prefect of Shaoxing Prefecture, had been living in constant fear last year, terrified that Zhou Chu would settle scores with him.

When Dong Shu'er suddenly learned that the important figure in Zhangjia Village was actually Zhou Chu, she was very excited, more excited than ever before. Looking at the whole of Jiangnan, and even the whole of the Ming Dynasty, who could compare to this powerful commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lord Zhou?

This is the man she will marry in the future. If she can marry Zhou Chu, she will not only be the wife of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but also the future mistress of a marquis's mansion.

Others might not know that Zhou Chu had been granted a marquisate, but Dong Rui and other officials in Jiangnan who were interested in Zhou Chu knew about it. Dong Rui mentioned this to Dong Shu'er more than once.

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old Marquis, who was also the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, held a position of immense power and influence, and every aspect of him was fatally alluring to Dong Shu'er.

"Dad, I'll go to Zhangjia Village with you."

Dong Shu'er realized that this was her chance, and she would regret it for the rest of her life if she missed it.

"What are you going to do?"

Dong Rui asked, his face full of doubt.

“Father, Lord Zhou is seventeen or eighteen years old, unmarried, and I have never heard of him being engaged to any young lady. Why can’t it be me?”

Dong Shuer directly stated her thoughts.

Upon hearing Dong Shu'er's words, the eyes of Dong Rui's wife, Dong Shu'er's mother, lit up.

“That’s right. Lord Zhou is probably still recovering from his injuries in Zhangjia Village. If our Shu’er can stay by Lord Zhou’s side to take care of him, the two of them might very well get together. That would be a great help to your career, sir.”

Li, Dong Rui's wife, analyzed.

Dong Rui's eyes lit up when he heard this. He himself was not very capable and was a muddle-headed official, but that did not mean he did not want to climb the ranks. If he could climb up to Zhou Chu, his future career would be smooth sailing.

He had heard that Zhang Cong had only recently entered officialdom, and Yan Song had only returned to the court two or three years ago. The two of them had clung to Zhou Chu's powerful backing. Although Yan Song had been temporarily imprisoned for the assassination attempt, Dong Rui knew that it was only a matter of time before he was reinstated.

Zhang Cong, needless to say, is currently the governor of Southern Zhili and also handles affairs in Jiangnan Province, making him incredibly powerful.

If his daughter could marry Lord Zhou, he might very well become a powerful regional official like Yan Song and Zhang Cong.

The thought of this made Dong Rui feel his blood boil.

"Then you should go with your father to see Lord Zhou."