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

Chapter 709

"Master said that yesterday the master was so busy drinking that he probably didn't have time to eat much. You can't get our Zhou family's dishes outside, so Master specially instructed the head chef to prepare the dishes, just in time to cook them for the master when he wakes up."

As the maid spoke, she placed the food on the table in the room.

Hearing this, Wang Zhi was even more moved. He never expected that such a powerful figure as Lord Zhou would care so much about the feelings of someone as insignificant as himself.

Although Wang Zhi is now a general with a title, he still feels like an insignificant nobody in front of Zhou Chu.

In reality, the difference wasn't that significant. Military officers in the Ming Dynasty held a much lower status than civil officials of the same rank. Zhou Chu's position had already reached its peak, and even many powerful figures in the court, such as Zhang Cong, Han Jie, and Yan Song, would be very reserved in front of him.

Not to mention Wang Zhi.

Looking at the dishes, Wang Zhi recalled the taste of yesterday, his throat involuntarily bobbed, and he couldn't help but sit down and begin to eat heartily.

After eating and drinking his fill, Wang Zhi, led by a maid, arrived at the main hall, where Zhou Chu was already waiting for him.

"Isn't the chef in my household quite skilled?"

Zhou Chu looked at Wang Zhi and smiled.

"I have never eaten such delicious food before. Thank you, sir."

Wang Zhi bowed respectfully.

"There's no need for such formalities at home."

Zhou Chu waved his hand and said.

"I was drunk and behaved inappropriately yesterday. I hope you will forgive me, sir."

Wang Zhi felt embarrassed when he thought about how drunk he had been the day before, especially since it was at his boss's house.

"It's alright. You've been in Japan for many years, and it's not easy for you to come to the capital. How can we not let you have a good time?"

Zhou Chu had no concept of the Dao.

"Thank you for your hospitality, sir."

Wang Zhi bowed again.

Zhou Chu was somewhat helpless in the face of Wang Zhi's excessive politeness.

When are you planning to go back to your hometown?

Zhou Chu looked at Wang Zhi and asked.

"Your subordinates are preparing to depart tomorrow."

Wang Zhi answered truthfully.

“I happen to have a few fine horses in my mansion. Go and choose one. When you return home in glory, how can you not have a fine steed?”

Zhou Chu said.

"Your Excellency has already shown me so much consideration; I dare not ask for more..."

Before Wang Zhi could finish speaking, Zhou Chu interrupted him.

"Stop spouting nonsense. You are loyal to the Ming Dynasty and to His Majesty. These are all things you deserve. This is what His Majesty specifically instructed me to give you."

Zhou Chu waved his hand and said.

After saying this, Zhou Chu did not give Wang Zhi another chance to refuse. Instead, he looked at Chen Tong, the eunuch in charge of raising horses, who was waiting to the side. Chen Tong immediately understood and walked in.

"Sir, please come with us."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi could no longer refuse and had no choice but to follow Chen Tong to the Zhou family's stables.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhou Chu received many fine horses from Emperor Jiajing over the years. Yan Song, Zhang Cong, and others also knew that Zhou Chu loved horses and gave him some top-quality steeds. These horses were kept by Chen Tong and others. Only a small portion of them were kept in the stables of the Zhou family mansion for daily use. Outside the capital, Zhou Chu also had a horse farm.

That horse farm was a piece of land that Zhou Chu bought for a lot of money and specially developed.

Even though the Zhou family's stables didn't have many horses, they were all top-quality steeds. When Wang Zhi saw these horses, his eyes widened. Having fought in many battles over the years, Wang Zhi could naturally tell at a glance which horses were good and which were not.

The horses before him were far superior to the warhorses he had ridden in the army.

"My lord, this Snow-Treading Black Steed is the master's mount, and this one is the mistress's mount. Apart from these two, you may choose any of the others."

Chen Tong pointed to the black horse and another horse and said.

The black horse was well taken care of by Chen Tong and others, and it was shiny and healthy. It ate the best hay every day and would run a couple of laps around the horse farm when it had nothing to do.

Seeing so many fine horses, Wang Zhi was overwhelmed and didn't know which one to choose.

Wang Zhi looked at them one by one, until he saw a horse, and then he couldn't take his eyes off it.

The horse was entirely silver-white, with an extremely dazzling coat color, like silk.

"My lord has excellent taste. This is a fine Akhal-Teke horse, which Lord Lin specially brought to you after conquering the Yarkand Khanate."

Chen Tong explained.

After Lin Lu conquered the Yarkand Khanate, he discovered that Said Khan's horse farm had many Akhal-Teke horses. Lin Lu was a horse lover, so he couldn't resist bringing all of them back. He gave nearly half of them to Zhou Chu, the other half to Jiajing, and kept only one for himself.

The horse in front of Wang Zhi was one of them; the other Akhal-Teke horses were not at the mansion, but at the horse farm.

Upon hearing that it was an Akhal-Teke horse, Wang Zhi's eyes lit up even more. However, thinking of the Akhal-Teke horse's rarity and value, Wang Zhi shook his head, feeling that he shouldn't want such an expensive horse.

"Let's change to another horse; the Akhal-Teke is too expensive."

Wang Zhi said with a face full of reluctance.

"If you like it, that's good. The master has instructed that any horse you fancy, no matter which one, can be taken away. The master has quite a few Akhal-Teke horses in his stables, so you don't need to worry."

Chen Tong said.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi's eyes lit up immediately, and he could no longer hide his love for the Akhal-Teke horse.

Chen Tong immediately understood and led out the Akhal-Teke horse.

"Sir, please give it a try. This Akhal-Teke horse is spirited. Although it has been tamed, you should still be careful since it is your first time riding it."

Chen Tong gave instructions.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi took the reins from Chen Tong, stroked the Akhal-Teke horse's coat, and immediately mounted the horse, feeling an instant fondness for it.

As the saying goes, "Riding the spring breeze, the horse's hooves are swift," which perfectly describes Wang Zhi's current situation.