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

Zhou Chu had long been eyeing Shen Lian.

Many people in later generations know Shen Lian, and even more know Wang Yangming, but few know that Shen Lian was Wang Yangming's student and disciple.

His talent and martial arts skills were all learned from Wang Yangming.

Without Zhou Chu's intervention, Shen Lian would have wasted many more years, taking the imperial examinations, becoming a county magistrate, and only being noticed by Lu Bing in his early forties to officially become a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Even in his forties, Shen Lian never forgot his original aspirations and ideals, and his heart was always with the Ming Dynasty and its people.

Perhaps this is why Wang Yangming accepted him as a disciple, and only someone like Shen Lian could learn his philosophy of mind without going astray.

When Shen Lian was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lu Bing and Yan Song had a very good relationship and were very close, after all, they were in-laws. However, Yan Shifan was arrogant and domineering at that time, and Yan Song was no longer the Yan Song who was wholeheartedly devoted to the country and the people. Instead, he was the high and mighty Grand Secretary Yan.

The Yan Party, centered around Yan Song, controlled the entire Ming Dynasty, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary people, while Yan Party officials amassed huge fortunes.

Shen Lian naturally couldn't stand it and impeached Yan Song with a memorial on ten crimes, completely offending Yan Song and his son, becoming a typical example of subordinates rebelling against their superiors at that time.

Countless people in the Embroidered Uniform Guard admired Shen Lian, but none dared to do what he did.

Later, Yan Shifan used the White Lotus Rebellion as a pretext to add Shen Lian's name to the list of traitors, framing him to death.

Such a talent, whether in civil administration, military prowess, or temperament, is exactly what Zhou Chu urgently needs.

The Imperial Guards are desperately lacking in capable individuals who can stand alone; even their elder brother, Lu Bing, is not up to the task.

Lu Bing's personality is too indecisive and he can't make sense of many things, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten so close to the civil officials.

However, with Zhou Chu leading the way for Lu Bing, Zhou Chu naturally wouldn't stand by and watch his elder brother walk down such a path again.

They were even wiped out by the Xu family, how ridiculous!

At this time, Shen Lian was only fifteen years old, the same age as Zhou Chu, and was studying with Wang Yangming. He was at an age where he was worth nurturing.

The news that Zhou Chu had executed Liao Feng, the Vice Minister of Rites, in front of the Grand Secretary and nearly a hundred officials quickly reached the ears of all officials in the capital.

For a time, all the civil and military officials turned pale at the mention of Zhou Chu, the living Yama.

Han Jie, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was still shaken when he received the news.

"Luckily, I didn't go with those people."

Previously, a colleague had asked Han Jie to go to the Northern Garrison Command to put pressure on them, but Han Jie refused.

Han Jie was never one of Yang Ting and Xia Yan's allies. In addition, Han Yuan'er was friends with Zhou Chu. Whether out of public interest or private interest, Han Jie had no reason to be an enemy of the Northern Garrison Command, let alone Zhou Chu.

Sun Jiaojiao's father and her in-laws were also relieved.

“Madam, thanks to your acquaintance with Lord Zhou, my father didn’t do anything foolish.”

Sun Jiaojiao's husband looked at her with a face full of gratitude and said.

"What merit do I, Li Cheng, have to marry such a virtuous and capable wife?"

Sun Jiaojiao's husband said with a face full of shame.

Inside the palace, Zhu Houcong was overjoyed upon receiving the news.

"Very good! Hengqi has indeed not disappointed me. After this battle, I want to see how Yang Yiqing and Zhang Cong will choose."

Zhu Houcong was well aware that these two men, along with many other officials who were not aligned with Yang Tinghe and his group, were still observing the situation. If he appeared weak and incompetent, they would surely take advantage of his misfortune.

However, once our side demonstrates sufficient strength, giving these people hope for speculation, they will choose to intervene.

Of course, killing just one Vice Minister of Rites is far from enough to bring these people to their deaths.

Regardless, it was a good start for Zhu Houcong, and it intimidated the officials.