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

Chapter 163

For more than two months after Zhou Chu left the capital, Yan Song was put on the hot seat. Jiajing Emperor specially arranged for him to dismiss redundant officials. Yan Song knew very well that this was his opportunity, and if he seized it, he could rise rapidly in rank.

As for offending his colleagues? Yan Song had thought it through from the beginning. If he were afraid, he wouldn't have taken on this job.

Therefore, Yan Song withstood immense pressure, and with the support of Jiajing and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he managed to accomplish this task despite the difficulties and the fact that it took about three months.

The price he paid was that he offended almost all of his colleagues in the court, and at this time Yan Song was subjected to scorn wherever he went.

Yan Song felt wronged. He had done all the dirty and tiring work for the emperor, but the emperor never mentioned anything about promotion or wealth.

With these thoughts in mind, Yan Song left the Imperial Study feeling wronged. As soon as Yan Song left the Imperial Study, Huang Jin followed him.

"Lord Yan, please wait."

Huang Jin's voice is soft and gentle, like a spring breeze.

Upon hearing this, Yan Song was overjoyed, knowing that the real show was about to begin.

"Is Lord Yan feeling wronged?"

Huang Jin asked.

"You flatter me, Eunuch Huang. I serve His Majesty and the court. How could I possibly feel aggrieved?"

Yan Song would naturally not reveal his true thoughts.

"Lord Yan, there is no need to feel wronged. His Majesty is helping you find a suitable position. His Majesty's idea is to first send Lord Yan to a local area as a prefect, and after he has gained enough experience, he will be transferred back to the capital and entrusted with important responsibilities."

Huang Jin naturally didn't take Yan Song's nonsense to heart and continued speaking.

Yan Song's eyes lit up when he heard this. The prefect was a fourth-rank official, while Yan Song's current position was the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, a third-rank official. On the surface, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy was one rank higher than the prefect.

However, the power and influence of official positions are completely different. To put it bluntly, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy is nothing more than a figurehead. His daily role is to advise the emperor on what he should and should not do. In short, this position is disliked by everyone, including the emperor.

Most importantly, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy had little real power.

The position of prefect is completely different. As a fourth-rank official, he manages a prefecture and wields great power in the local area. It is a demotion in name only, but a promotion in reality. Moreover, the emperor has said that he will be recalled to the capital and entrusted with important responsibilities in the future. How could Yan Song not be excited when he heard this?

In fact, in Jiajing's original plan, he intended to promote Yan Song's position further and keep him in the capital. After all, the Ming Dynasty did not have the concept of going down to the grassroots to gain experience. Many candidates for prime minister would accumulate seniority in the Hanlin Academy and then slowly step into the cabinet.

However, Zhou Chu's secret report to him mentioned Yan Song's appointment. Zhou Chu was planning to make a move on the prefect of Suzhou. Once the prefect of Suzhou, Wang Zan, got into trouble, the position of prefect would be vacant.

As one of the wealthiest and most important towns in the Ming Dynasty, Suzhou Prefecture had always had a lucrative position as its prefect, which countless people would fight tooth and nail for. If this position were given to Yan Song, he would probably be even more delighted.

However, it was not advisable to reveal this too early, so Jiajing had Huang Jin make a grand promise to Yan Song to appease him first.

"Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch Huang."

Yan Song had become much more tactful at this point, subtly placing a piece of silver into Huang Jin's hand.

Huang Jin didn't stand on ceremony and simply put the money away. He had no problem taking the money, so it was his right to keep it.

"Since you're so kind, Lord Yan, I have another piece of news here. I wonder if you'd be interested?"

Huang Jin pretended to be mysterious.

Upon hearing this, Yan Song became even more excited, as he hadn't expected such a series of good things to happen to him today.

"I hope Eunuch Huang will offer me more guidance."

Yan Song bowed and said.

"His Majesty is preparing to send an envoy to Annam. I have heard that Lord Ouyang is Lord Yan's brother-in-law. Lord Yan can inform him of this matter. If Lord Ouyang is interested, he can come directly to the Imperial Study to meet His Majesty."