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

Chapter 306

The Lu family mansion is now a marquis's mansion, and the Zhou family mansion next door is also a marquis's mansion. The two marquis's mansions are so close to each other, and have always been a topic of conversation among the common people and young ladies in the capital.

Zhou Chu's past is becoming more and more well-known. For example, Zhou Chu was sold to the Lu family to become a pageboy. When the Lu family was imprisoned, they dismissed their servants, and none of the Lu family's relatives went to visit them in prison. Only Zhou Chu, the pageboy, started working as a shopkeeper in Shen Qing's shop when he was only ten years old.

In retrospect, many people admire Shen Qing's discerning eye, but most have to admit that if it were them, they would never have had the courage to let a ten-year-old child be the manager.

There are many apprentices in various shops who are ten or even eight or nine years old. In fact, most shops have apprentices who are around that age. Some are outstanding and capable, but most people will only let them assist the shopkeeper.

Only when there is absolutely no one else available will a boy of this age be used.

As the saying goes, "a young man's words are unreliable." Most people of this age haven't settled down yet. They might do one or two things very well, but no one can guarantee that they won't make a mistake that will cause huge losses to the shop.

There are people of this age with stable temperaments, but they are few and far between.

Moreover, older people are more experienced in all aspects.

However, it seems now that Shen Qing not only made the right bet, but won a fortune.

Now, Shen Qing has married a Jinyiwei commander as a merchant and has been adopted as a goddaughter by Princess Deqing. This kind of leap and elevation in status is something that no amount of money can bring.

Shen Qing's experiences have been written into countless versions of storybooks by writers like Qin Wan. The Ming Dynasty was full of storybooks, and many great writers would even use pseudonyms to secretly write them.

Of course, some were written openly and honestly.

"Qin Wan, over here."

At the entrance of the Lu residence, Yang Ran saw Qin Wan and waved happily.

"What a coincidence! I didn't expect we would arrive at the same time. We really are telepathic."

Qin Wan approached Yang Ran and smiled.

"Yes, we sisters are of one mind."

Yang Ran said happily.

"Isn't the Zhou residence right next door?"

Qin Wan glanced at another house not far away and asked curiously.

Yang Ran nodded upon hearing this.

"What, you also miss Lord Zhou?"

Yang Ran joked.

"Then you're in trouble. Right now, there are countless noble ladies and young women in the capital who are thinking about Lord Zhou."

Upon hearing this, Qin Wan couldn't help but recall the storybook she had written about Zhou Chu, and then she remembered that one of Zhou Chu's identities was that of the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

I'm afraid my pen name won't be hidden from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but this is such a trivial matter, it shouldn't be reported to Lord Zhou, right?

Thinking of this, Qin Wan shrank back guiltily.

"How could I possibly aspire to the rank of Lord Zhou? Lord Zhou is as dazzling as the sun in the sky. I am well aware of my own limitations."

Qin Wan smiled.

She didn't hide her feelings for Yang Ran, but Qin Wan was also self-aware. She knew very well the huge gap between herself and Zhou Chu, and that there was practically no possibility between them.

People have self-knowledge.

Upon hearing this, Yang Ran took Qin Wan's arm.

"Don't think about these things anymore, let's go inside."

The two entered the Lu residence and discovered that it was a hidden world inside. From the main gate, the Lu residence did not seem very big, but once inside, they found that it was not so. The courtyards were connected one after another, and the artificial hills in the courtyards were distributed in a very staggered way, which should be the work of a master.

Soon, Yang Ran and Qin Wan followed the servants of the Lu family to the place where the women were gathered. When they arrived, many noble ladies had already arrived.

Yang Ran's arrival attracted the attention of many noble ladies, after all, she was engaged to Lu Wei, which made many noble ladies look at her with jealousy.