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

Chapter 672

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I will take my husband back first."

After everyone left, only Zhou Chu and Jiajing remained at the table in the inner hall.

Jiajing smiled.

"No wonder so many people love to drink. You really feel different after drinking. There are many things you wanted to say but didn't dare to say before, but now you can say them out loud."

"Your Majesty should drink less alcohol, as it is harmful to your health."

Zhou Chu couldn't help but remind him.

"I know what's going on. Isn't this your wedding? I'm indulging myself for once. When you had Wenfu tell me that I was very likely to become emperor in the future, although I was making preparations, I was still very skeptical of what you said. I didn't expect them to be so bold as to kill my grandfather, kill Emperor Xiaozong, and even dare to use the same methods to kill my brother. They are simply lawless."

As Jiajing spoke, he picked up the hangover soup and took a sip.

"When my elder brother passed away and I was about to enter the capital, I was actually quite uncertain. I was very afraid that if I didn't listen to them, they would kill me. But I also knew that if I followed their wishes, they would become even more unscrupulous and ride roughshod over me. At that time, would the Ming Dynasty still belong to my Zhu family? Who would really call the shots in the Ming Dynasty?"

When Jiajing got to this point, he couldn't help but get a little excited.

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty. I am but a sword. Only Your Majesty can wield this sword well. Back then, Emperor Xianzong was also a man of great talent and ambition, but he could not trust Wang Zhi completely. His heart was not firm enough. How many people can trust Your Majesty? As the saying goes, a thousand-mile horse is common, but a discerning eye is rare."

Zhou Chu couldn't help but sigh.

Zhou Chu's words sounded like self-praise, but Jiajing didn't think there was any problem. With Zhou Chu's abilities, calling him a thoroughbred was an exaggeration.

"In all my years as emperor, I have only a handful of people I can truly confide in. Even with Huang Jin and Wen Fu, there are many things I cannot say to them. Today, I am only able to say these things because I am emboldened by the alcohol."

Emperor Jiajing sighed.

Although Jiajing was slightly tipsy, his mind was unusually clear.

On this day, Jiajing and Zhou Chu talked a lot. They talked about how disheartened they were by the previous empress, how disappointed they were with the current empress, and how Lin Yao had repeatedly come to the palace to beg him.

As they chatted, Jiajing sobered up considerably.

"I didn't expect we'd chatted for so long, it's almost dark now. I must return to the palace. Hengqi, you should hurry to your bridal chamber. No need to see me off. You're going to enjoy the bliss of having two wives today."

Jiajing looked at Zhou Chu and couldn't help but tease him.

At this moment, Huang Jin entered at the invitation of the two men.

Seeing that Jiajing's steps were still a little unsteady due to drinking, the emperor hurriedly stepped forward to support him, and the two left the Zhou residence.

Jiajing said there was no need to see him off, but Zhou Chu still escorted Jiajing all the way out of the Zhou residence before turning around and returning home to his own room.

At the door of the side room, Chunlan was still standing there serving.

Have they eaten?

Zhou Chu looked at Chunlan and asked.

"This servant has prepared mung bean soup and some pastries for the two ladies. They are all light and refreshing, and the two ladies have eaten quite a lot."

Chunlan said respectfully.

During a bride's wedding, she usually doesn't have the opportunity to eat. Even if she does eat, it shouldn't be something like fish and meat, as that would be too unseemly. You can't just lift the veil and start feasting, can you?

Hearing this, Zhou Chu nodded in satisfaction and waved to Chunlan, indicating that she could leave.

Chunlan bowed respectfully and then left.

Zhou Chu pushed open the door and entered, seeing the two brides sitting by the bed. He then sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and gulped it down.

After chatting with Jiajing for so long, Zhou Chu had barely drunk any alcohol, and with no one else around, he couldn't even ask for a pot of tea; his mouth was already parched.