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

Chapter 647

When Meng Qingyuan first entered the Southern Garrison, he found that all his colleagues looked at him strangely. Their eyes seemed to contain respect, but also a hint of pity. Meng Qingyuan had never seen such eyes from his colleagues before.

"Qingyuan, Lord He wants you to go to his place."

One of the Imperial Guards patted Meng Qingyuan on the shoulder and sighed.

Although Meng Qingyuan was confused, he readily complied and soon arrived in front of He Er. As soon as he entered He Er's office, Meng Qingyuan saw a familiar face, the very same official who had sent him to the Southern Garrison Command.

"Your subordinate greets both of you."

Meng Qingyuan bowed respectfully.

"It's been more than half a year since we last saw each other."

Zhou Chu looked at Meng Qingyuan and smiled.

"Yes, sir, it's been more than seven months since we last met."

Meng Qingyuan answered truthfully.

Meng Qingyuan was much more reserved in front of Zhou Chu than he was in front of He Er. After all, He Er had taken good care of him over the past six months, and they were quite familiar with each other, so he wasn't too reserved on weekdays. But to Meng Qingyuan, Zhou Chu was much more mysterious, and his identity seemed to be quite extraordinary.

Meng Qingyuan was afraid that he might say something wrong and displease the official.

"No need to be so formal, please sit down. Lord Meng has entrusted you and your son to my care. Just treat me as an elder from now on. Your father and I have a pretty good personal relationship."

Zhou Chu took a sip of tea and said.

Upon hearing this, Meng Qingyuan glanced at He Er.

"If the master tells you to sit, then sit. Why are you looking at me?"

He Er broke out in a cold sweat under Meng Qingyuan's gaze. Zhou Chu, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was still here. How could a mere Embroidered Uniform Guard from the Southern Garrison not listen to Lord Zhou and even ask for his opinion? Wasn't he putting himself in a precarious position?

Of course, He Er also understood that Meng Qingyuan was unaware of Zhou Chu's identity. Over the past six months, he had taken good care of him, so He Er was quite gratified that Meng Qingyuan was now seeking his opinion.

At least this kid isn't an ingrate.

"Sit down. He Er has to listen to me. There's no need to ask for his opinion."

Zhou Chu understood the reason and stated it directly.

Upon hearing this, Meng Qingyuan felt that Zhou Chu was even more mysterious than before.

He Er was the Commander of the Southern Garrison. Although he was only a fourth-rank official, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was three ranks higher than the regular officials. He Er's rank was comparable to that of a regular third-rank official. It should be noted that a third-rank official was considered a high-ranking official in the court. Moreover, the Southern Garrison rarely interacted with people outside the Embroidered Uniform Guard system. Even when facing a second-rank official, He Er, as the Commander, might not be so obedient.

Moreover, Zhou Chu addressed He Er by his full name, and He Er bowed respectfully, which shows that the difference in their social status was not small.

Could it be...

A name flashed through Meng Qingyuan's mind; that person was about the same age as the man in front of him.

Thinking about this, Meng Qingyuan's heart pounded.

Before he took up his post in the Southern Garrison, he rarely went out, so he hadn't heard much about Zhou Chu's name or deeds.

During his half-year service in the Southern Garrison, the name he heard most often was Lord Zhou. No one in the Embroidered Uniform Guards of the Southern Garrison dared to call him by his name directly; they all called him Lord Zhou. This made Meng Qingyuan extremely curious, but he didn't dare to inquire too much. He kept to himself and didn't ask any questions.

But in the past six months, Meng Qingyuan had heard his colleagues talk about Lord Zhou's various deeds. Whenever his colleagues mentioned Lord Zhou, they were all full of respect, a respect that seemed to far exceed their respect for the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, Meng Qingyuan felt that this kind of respect was perfectly normal. After hearing about some of Lord Zhou's deeds, he was also filled with respect for Lord Zhou.

He never expected that the person who would get him into the Southern Garrison Command would be none other than Lord Zhou, whom he deeply respected.