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

Chapter 251

If one were to ask what aspect best reflects the vast differences between people, Zhou Chu would say it is definitely painting.

Those with poor talent, or even average talent, can never compare to those who are born with the ability to draw, no matter how hard they try.

It's very possible that the maximum you can reach is just someone else's starting point.

At this moment, Zhou Chu directly felt this point through Xiao Xuwei.

Xu Wei is only a little over a year old now. Many children are just learning to talk and walk when they are a little over a year old, but Xu Wei can already draw whatever he wants with ease.

Zhou Chu was very jealous, jealous of Xu Wei's talent.

However, Zhou Chu also knew that jealousy was useless; you were born with it or you weren't, and that couldn't be changed.

"This is a little gadget I got a couple of days ago, you can play with it."

As Zhou Chu spoke, he casually took out a gold-inlaid jade safety buckle from his pocket. This safety buckle was just a small trinket among the massive amount of treasures he had previously looted.

Unlike later periods, most of the gold-inlaid jade pieces were not actually good jade; the so-called gold inlay was merely a way to cover up some flaws in the jade itself.

Gold-inlaid jade of this era was truly a fine item. Only the finest jade would be crafted into gold-inlaid jade by renowned craftsmen, and the patterns on the gold were extremely exquisite.

After all, in this era, gold is much more valuable than jade. Only the highest quality jade is the most valuable, while ordinary jade is not worth much at all.

"Thank you, weighing instrument brother."

Xu Wei accepted it with a happy expression, and then, under Zhou Chu's guidance, clumsily put it around his neck.

"Master, Princess Deqing is requesting an audience outside the mansion."

Just as Zhou Chu and Tang Bohu were drinking, the Tang family's steward rushed in looking flustered.

"You rascal, why aren't you inviting the princess in right now?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Bohu glanced at the steward, looking at the rain still falling outside, and said with exasperation, "You're such a disappointment."

The steward was also somewhat aggrieved; how could he dare to stop the princess's arrival? But Princess Deqing insisted that he be allowed to announce her arrival first.

It wasn't because of Tang Bohu, but purely because of Zhou Chu, since Tang Bohu was Zhou Chu's teacher.

Zhou Chu's status is different now than before, and even Princess Deqing dares not neglect him.

Since Tang Bohu and Zhou Chu left the capital, the Princess's residence has become deserted again. Lu Bing's mother, Madam Yang, also felt it inappropriate to visit the Princess's residence frequently. In Madam Yang's view, the difference in their social status was too great, and she feared that if she went to the Princess's residence too often, she might be suspected of trying to curry favor.

Little did she know that Princess Deqing wished she would visit her every day, but Princess Deqing couldn't say it aloud because of her noble status and many things she couldn't say.

During this time, Lin Yao kept mentioning Zhou Chu's name. Especially when she heard about the great things Zhou Chu had done in Jiangnan, Lin Yao was more excited than anyone else. So she started to persuade her mother to go to Jiangnan with her, so that she could see her beloved Hengqi brother whom she had been thinking about day and night.

Although Lin Yao persisted, Princess Deqing refused. Seeing that her mother wouldn't budge, Lin Yao went to the palace to beg Jiajing for help.

Jiajing was quite easy to talk to regarding his cousin, and moreover, he hoped that Lin Yao and Zhou Chu would get together, thus creating a connection between Zhou Chu and the royal family.

Just like Shang Yang in the past, who abandoned his confidante and married the princess of Qin in order to pursue his ambitions.

Although Lin Yao is not a princess, she is still the daughter of a princess and has a close relationship with the royal family. If Zhou Chu could marry Lin Yao, it would be a good thing for both Jiajing and the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, Jiajing would not force Zhou Chu to make a choice, but he was still happy to let his cousin go to Jiangnan.