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

Chapter 145

"This humble Taoist, Feixiazi, greets Layman Zhou."

Inside the Zhou residence, an elderly man with white hair and beard, and a kind face, bowed to Zhou Chu and said...

If it weren't for the fact that this person was wearing a Taoist robe and a Taoist hat, Zhou Chu would have thought he was just an old man next door. However, unlike ordinary old men, Fei Xiazi in front of him had no hostility in his eyes, nor any other emotions. He only had a kind and gentle face, which made people feel exceptionally comfortable.

Feixiazi, whose real name is Han Mao, was born into an official family. He is the great-uncle of Han Jie, the Vice Minister of Revenue. He is now eighty-one years old, but Zhou Chu saw that apart from his white hair and beard, he could not see many wrinkles on his face. When he first arrived, he was also very agile.

In his early years, Han Mao was frail and sickly. In addition, he failed the imperial examination, so he began to study medicine. He studied under Wang Hengqian, Wang Shanren, and Huang He, the immortal of Wuyi Mountain. Finally, he learned the secret techniques of Chen Dounan, a master of Emei Mountain. He became a skilled doctor and traveled all over the world.

During the Zhengde era, Zhu Houzhao originally intended to keep this medical master by his side as a precaution. For this reason, he specially bestowed upon him the title of "Embracing Oneness and Upholding Righteousness True Man". At that time, Feixiazi's name resounded throughout the capital and he was known as Bai Feixia.

Long ago, Zhou Chu had begun trying to contact this eminent Daoist. When Wang Yangming was in the capital, Zhou Chu had specifically mentioned this matter. Unexpectedly, Wang Yangming said that he knew Feixiazi, who had benefited greatly from his philosophy of the unity of knowledge and action, and the two became close friends despite their age difference.

Upon hearing this news, Zhou Chu immediately perked up. Zhou Chu knew very well that even if Han Jie went to invite him, he might not pay any attention. So he asked Wang Yangming to help him send a message to see if he could invite him to the capital. Wang Yangming said he would try to find Feixiazi's whereabouts.

After all, Feixiazi traveled the world and his whereabouts were uncertain, so Wang Yangming was not absolutely certain.

Unexpectedly, the old Taoist priest actually came.

"I am extremely honored that you could come, Daoist Master."

Zhou Chu returned the greeting with a Daoist bow.

"When I first heard from Layman Leshan about Layman Zhou, saying that he was so young yet so well-rounded, I was a little skeptical. But now I see that seeing him in person is truly better than hearing about him."

Feixiazi laughed.

The hermit of Leshan was none other than Wang Yangming.

The young Taoist disciple beside him was quite surprised to see his master so flattering the young man before him. He had traveled the world with his master, who had always been indifferent to those in power and wealth. Why was he acting so differently now?

"You flatter me, Daoist Master."

Zhou Chu was very pleased to receive such high praise.

"I observe your fortune, Layman. The path you are about to take has been mentioned to me by Layman Leshan. This path is fraught with difficulties. Even if you succeed, you are destined to be alone. No one will understand you. You are doing this for the Ming Dynasty and for the people, but the people will not be grateful to you. They may even hate you. Have you thought this through?"

Feixiazi came to the capital because Wang Yangming told her about Zhou Chu's extraordinary qualities and the path Zhou Chu would take in the future. Both Wang Yangming and Feixiazi were well aware of how difficult this path would be.

They couldn't do it, so they all admired Zhou Chu, this young man.

If possible, they were willing to protect Zhou Chu. Fei Xiazi understood that he could only save a few people by practicing medicine, but he could not save the people of the world.

But the path this young man is about to take could save countless people of the Ming Dynasty in the future.

"I have never thought of receiving anyone's gratitude for what I have done. I do not care how the world views me. If I were to enter the demonic path, I would slaughter all the demons in the world."

Zhou Chu spoke these words with a solemn expression.

Feixiazi was deeply moved by these words, and even the young Taoist beside him felt that Zhou Chu was completely different from before.

"In that case, I am willing to offer my humble assistance."

Feixiazi solemnly bowed to Zhou Chu with her hands clasped in a fist salute.

Zhou Chu sent someone to the palace to report, and soon Huang Jin, accompanied by many eunuchs, solemnly arrived before Fei Xiazi.

"This servant, Huang Jin, pays respects to the True Man of Embracing Oneness and Upholding Righteousness."

Huang Jin said with extreme respect.

When Jiajing learned that Zhou Chu had invited this legendary Taoist master, the one his elder brother had tried to keep but failed, he was extremely excited and wished he could come and greet him in person.

Before Huang Jin arrived, Jiajing specifically instructed that he must treat Feixiazi with utmost respect.

"No need for formalities, sir. I will simply follow you into the palace."

Feixiazi laughed.

Upon hearing this, Huang Jin breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that many high-ranking Daoists had eccentric temperaments, and he had been somewhat uneasy, but now he was completely at ease.

After Feixiazi left with Huang Jin, Zhou Chu summoned Chunlan.

"Bring me all the visiting cards from these past few days so I can take a look."

Since Zhou Chu became the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, visiting cards have been pouring into his residence every day like snowflakes, never stopping. However, Zhou Chu has had no time to deal with these people these days.

Soon, Chunlan and the other servants placed a pile of visiting cards on Zhou Chu's desk.

Zhou Chu casually picked up one, glanced at the name, and threw it into the brazier next to him. He looked at them one by one and soon found the one he was looking for.

Yan Song's visiting card, and Han Jie's visiting card.

I will be leaving the capital soon, and before that, I need to make final arrangements, at least to cut off Yan Song's escape route and make it impossible for him to associate with people like Yang Tinghe or Yang Yiqing.

Zhou Chu wanted to make Yan Song a lone minister, a minister who only served the emperor.

As for Han Jie, whether out of consideration for Han Yuan'er or Fei Xiazi, I should take care of him a little and give him some final advice. Whether he listens or not is up to him.

"Go and tell both families to come over tonight."

Zhou Chu handed the two visiting cards to Chunlan.

Upon hearing this, Chunlan dared not delay and immediately arranged for her subordinates to carry it out.

After receiving Zhou Chu's reply, Yan Song was caught in a dilemma.

When he sent the visiting card, Zhou Chu was still at the height of his power, but things are different now. This commander is now being impeached by civil and military officials, and his fate is destined to be bad. If he were to go to see him now, wouldn't he be standing on the opposite side of the officials?

For a moment, Yan Song didn't know whether he should go or not.

Going there might be a rare opportunity for him. In the year or so he spent in the capital, Yan Song witnessed the prosperity of the city. Putting aside everything else, with his wealth, he could only afford to eat one meal at Zuixianlou.

Yan Song is still renting a house, which reminds him of Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty, who rose to the position of prime minister but could not afford a house in Bianjing.

Although the houses in the capital of the Ming Dynasty were not as extravagant as those in the Song Dynasty, a three-courtyard house still cost four or five thousand taels of silver and three or four thousand strings of copper coins.

This caused Yan Song's heart to waver. He thought that he was over forty years old but had accomplished nothing and couldn't even afford a house. Yan Song felt that his life was a complete failure.

He had previously relied on Xia Yan's connections, since they were both from Jiangxi, and Xia Yan had helped him out of convenience. However, in the recent controversy over etiquette, Yan Song had not taken sides indiscriminately.

Yan Song knew very well that he had probably already aroused the dissatisfaction of this Minister of Rites. Yan Song also knew that he was destined not to be on the same side as them, nor on the same side as Yang Yiqing.

After figuring all this out, Yan Song made up his mind immediately and prepared to go to the Zhou residence for the meeting.