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

Chapter 574

Moreover, Chu Liu was a master of the Blue Gate and a special talent. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had all sorts of special talents, and someone like Chu Liu was naturally indispensable.

Of course, if Chu Liu's identity is to be revealed, he needs to use another identity, Zhou Chu's distant cousin, instead of revealing his identity as a waiter at Zuixianlou.

If he were to reveal his identity as a waiter at Zuixianlou, many people would have to re-evaluate Zuixianlou.

However, given that he was Zhou Chu's distant cousin, his direct placement in the Embroidered Uniform Guard could be seen as Zhou Chu abusing his power for personal gain, but no one would associate this with the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

The reason is readily available: we're going to the Ding family to propose marriage, and we can't afford to be of low social standing.

"See, I told you long ago, this is nothing. Only you can be troubled by the Ding family."

Sun Qiang looked at Chu Liu with a disdainful expression.

When Chu Liu heard this, he scratched his head sheepishly.

The preparation of bear paws is quite elaborate, and there are significant differences between different bear paws. The best-tasting one is the right front paw, because bears use their right front paw to collect honey. In winter, a bear's right front paw will store a lot of honey, and the bear will rely on licking its right front paw to get through the winter.

In this way, even if the right forefoot is not marinated in honey, its taste is completely different from the other bear paws.

"Second brother, what do you mean by giving me that tiger whip? Do I look weak?"

Lu Wei then approached Zhou Chu, his voice filled with righteous indignation.

"You're not afraid. Give me back the tiger penis. I'm going to stew it and eat it."

Zhou Chu glanced at Lu Wei and said.

Lu Wei's expression froze upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Zhou Chu to act so unpredictably. He had only come here to prove that he was not weak, but he was really reluctant to return the tiger whip.

In fact, he has been feeling somewhat powerless lately, which is related to his frequent visits to the brothel.

"You're always going to the brothel to perform rituals. Do you still practice martial arts every day? Can you even get up?"

Zhou Chu said irritably.

Hearing this, Lu Wei became even more embarrassed.

"Didn't I tell you that going to the brothel once a month is fine? But you go there every day, you don't practice martial arts, and you can't concentrate on your studies. If I find out you go to the brothel so often, I'll break your legs."

Zhou Chu said with a serious expression.

With Zhou Chu away from the capital for more than two years, Lu Wei was like a wild horse, spending his days visiting the brothels.

Upon hearing this, Lu Wei, seeing Zhou Chu's serious expression, was immediately too frightened to speak.

"Don't worry, Second Brother. From today onwards, I will visit you at most once a month."

Lu Wei hurriedly assured him.

"That would be for the best. The provincial examination is just around the corner. If you fail again this time, do you think your uncle will forgive you? Do you think you can hide your going to the brothel from your uncle and elder brother?"

Zhou Chu snorted coldly.

Zhou Chu gave Lu Wei the tiger whip not to mock him. With the provincial examination just around the corner, Lu Wei was unlikely to pass if he continued like this, as his mind was not on studying at all.

"You mustn't leave the house before the provincial examination. Study hard, or I'll break your legs!"

Zhou Chu said sternly.

Upon hearing this, Lu Wei trembled with fear.

"Don't worry, Second Brother, I'll go study right away."

As he spoke, Lu Wei jogged away from the Zhou residence.

The bear paw was stewed for most of the day before it was served, along with many other dishes.

"Eat it while it's hot."

As Zhou Chu spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

On the sixth day of the lunar month, Sun Qiang and Chu Liu were not polite at all, and the three of them were very comfortable together.

"The three of us haven't had a drink together in a long time. Let's have a good drink today, and then go to the Ding family's place tomorrow."

As Zhou Chu spoke, he picked up his wine glass.

Sun Qiang and Chu Liu hurriedly raised their glasses and drank a toast with him.

None of the three drank too much. Zhou Chu had too many things to deal with every day, and even when he wasn't busy, he didn't dare to get drunk easily.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhou Chu was well aware that countless people were watching him.

He didn't get drunk on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year because he had something on his mind.

Sun Qiang still needs to manage Zuixianlou tomorrow, so he doesn't dare to get drunk.

"Things are different now than they used to be. Back then, we could get drunk."

Zhou Chu said with a hint of helplessness.

When Chu Liu and Sun Qiang heard this, they looked at each other without saying anything.

They knew very well that Zhou Chu just wanted to say something and didn't need their agreement.

The next morning, news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

The waiter at Zuixianlou, named Chu Liu, turned out to be a distant cousin of Lord Zhou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Lord Zhou directly promoted him to the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Imperial Guards went to great lengths to make a grand spectacle of this.

"Isn't Lord Zhou supposed to be incorruptible and impartial? How could he do this?"

A commoner in the capital asked the person next to him with a puzzled look on his face.

"That's enough. Lord Zhou has been an official for so many years. Have you ever heard of him arranging anything for anyone else? This distant cousin of Lord Zhou has worked at Zuixianlou for many years. I heard that a few days ago, he fell in love with a rich young lady, but her family looked down on him because of his lowly status. If you were Lord Zhou, what would you do?"

Another person said.

"Is that so? But I have heard of Lord Zhou's cousin. He has indeed worked at Zuixianlou for many years. If I had a relative like Lord Zhou, I would probably have to beg him ten times a day."

"Who can argue with that? Lord Zhou has already been more than selfless. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is ultimately under the control of Lord Zhou and His Majesty. Sending someone in is really nothing. It's not like they're selecting officials through the imperial examination."

"Yes, Lord Zhou must have been very upset to see his cousin being humiliated."

Others echoed.

"What? That Chu Liu is the cousin of Commander Zhou of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Upon hearing this news, Ding Jun dropped his teacup, unable to hold it any longer.

"We're doomed, we've treated him so badly, what if he wants to settle scores later..."

Ding Jun's eldest son paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.