Military doctor Wu Hezou

"Old Wu... is that the old gentleman from that day?" Tang Feng recalled the old gentleman's words and then softly asked, "Ziliang... am I not going to live much longer?" Tang Feng looked at Zhou Ziliang, feeling a pang of sadness and grievance. He had finally made up his mind to get married, but unexpectedly, this had happened. The old military doctor's words from that day lingered in Tang Feng's ears, but at the time, he hadn't had time to ponder them carefully. Now that he was feeling better, Tang Feng felt a little scared as he thought about the old military doctor's words. "Don't talk nonsense!" Seeing Zhou Ziliang's pale face, Tang Feng knew he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected himself, "Just kidding, I know I won't die."

"Even joking is not allowed, Xiao Feng. I don't want us to only have the next life."

Tang Feng had been resting in bed for the past few days. Zhou Ziliang was afraid that if he didn't recover properly, his illness might become chronic. Tang Feng suffered, not only having to take medicine every day, but also being forbidden from even getting out of bed. "I want to go for a walk... Is that alright?" Seeing Tang Feng's pleading look, how could Zhou Ziliang refuse? "Sure... but wear more clothes." Zhou Ziliang took four or five pieces of clothing from the rack and placed them on the bed. "Get up, slowly, I'll help you put them on." Zhou Ziliang slowly helped Tang Feng sit up. Actually, since returning to the Marquis's mansion after his last illness, Tang Feng had felt much better; at least his chest wasn't as tight and painful anymore. Seeing the clothes Zhou Ziliang had given him, he couldn't help but frown. "Wearing so much?" Zhou Ziliang took Tang Feng's hand and pressed it against his own cheek, making Tang Feng shiver. "Look, your hands are so cold, and you say you're wearing a lot of clothes?" Zhou Ziliang helped Tang Feng put on each piece of clothing, finally tying on his cloak. "Come on, slow down, a sedan chair is prepared outside."

"A sedan chair?" Tang Feng meant going out for a stroll to sit in the courtyard for a while, since he'd been cooped up indoors for days and wanted some fresh air. He hadn't expected Zhou Ziliang to have prepared a sedan chair. "I'll take you out of town to see Old Wu. Although he's feeling much better, you're still coughing badly at night. I'll have him prescribe some more medicine for you."

"More medicine..." Tang Feng was helped into the sedan chair by Zhou Ziliang, and couldn't help but complain, "Ziliang, I really want to get better soon... I don't want to be bedridden anymore." Zhou Ziliang listened to Tang Feng's complaints and straightened his clothes, afraid that he would get cold in the dead of winter. "You will, after you see Old Wu, you will get better soon." Tang Feng knew that Zhou Ziliang was just coaxing him. How could this illness get better so quickly? Even the doctor said that he couldn't see anything wrong with it, so how could he get better so quickly?

Zhou Ziliang helped Tang Feng out of the sedan chair upon arriving at the military camp. He then asked Chen Ke to escort Tang Feng into the tent while he went to find the old military doctor. "Is the young master feeling any better?" Chen Ke felt sorry for Tang Feng, as his long-awaited marriage had been interrupted by the death of a loved one. Tang Feng, sitting on the couch, shook his head. "It's nothing, Brother Chen. Why are you like Ziliang? What could possibly be wrong with me? Don't worry about me." Chen Ke wanted to ask something more, as the soldiers had been very worried about Tang Feng's health these past few days. Just as she was about to speak, Zhou Ziliang entered with the old military doctor. "Young master, are you feeling any better these past few days?" The old military doctor, seeing Tang Feng looking at Zhou Ziliang, said, "Young Marquis, please fetch me a basin of water. I need to give the young master acupuncture." Zhou Ziliang nodded in agreement and also took Chen Ke away. "Is the young master afraid that what he said might cause the young marquis to worry?"

Tang Feng nodded. "I did feel much better after going back, but my chest still feels tight and painful... and my cough hasn't gotten better either."

The old military doctor stroked his beard, listened to Tang Feng's words, and finally sighed, "I haven't found the cause of this illness yet. I can only say that you have weak heart and lungs, a deficiency you were born with. But I heard from your servants that your health was good many years ago... How could this be..."

"Then... how long can I live?" Tang Feng's biggest worry wasn't his physical condition, but how much longer he could stay with Zhou Ziliang. After the changes in his body over the past few days, even though Tang Feng didn't understand medicine, he could guess the general situation. The old military doctor shook his head. "It's hard to say. If you experience frequent chest tightness and pain, accompanied by coughing up blood, then... perhaps two or three more years! If the symptoms lessen, then as long as you continue taking medication, you should be able to live for more than ten years. However, living to the same age as an ordinary person is almost impossible!" Tang Feng looked at the old military doctor, each word piercing his heart. He thought to himself, "Two or three years...? Old Wu, I beg you, please don't tell Ziliang. You can't tell him this... We've just gotten married, and now he knows when he'll die? He and his family won't be able to handle it." The old military doctor stood up, his face serious. "You need to think this through. Being prepared is different from not being prepared, young master. If he knew this day would come, he might be able to accept it calmly, but if you suddenly die, no one can accept it! Besides, as your body gets weaker and weaker, anyone with eyes can see it." "I..."

"Old Wu, the water's here," Zhou Ziliang said, placing the basin of water beside the old military doctor. The old doctor washed his hands and said, "Young master, take off your clothes, I'm going to give you acupuncture." The acupuncture needles themselves didn't hurt, but Zhou Ziliang still held Tang Feng's hand reassuringly, afraid Tang Feng would be frightened. "Old Wu, about Xiao Feng's illness..." Tang Feng, hearing Zhou Ziliang about to ask the old doctor about his condition, cleared his throat, afraid the old doctor would let something slip. The old doctor glanced at Tang Feng, who was constantly giving him meaningful glances, and snorted coldly, "Hmph! This old man doesn't know anything about this. Young master, there's no cause for your illness, this old man is powerless to help." Tang Feng sighed silently. Although the old doctor had said he didn't have many years left to live, he hadn't told him to speak like that. "Zi...Ziliang, it's not a very serious illness, shall we...go back?"

"How could it not be serious? He was just coughing." Zhou Ziliang pulled Tang Feng's clothes up a bit, then saluted the old military doctor. "Wu Hezou, Mr. Wu, Xiao Feng is my life. If anything happens to him, I, Zhou Ziliang, will not live on. You have miraculous healing skills and a compassionate heart. I only ask that you stay at my residence and prescribe medicine and treat Xiao Feng."

"Why should I?! What right do you have to tell me where I'm going?! Even your father wouldn't dare make such a demand of me, and you, a little brat, dare to boss this old man around!" Wu Hezou, carrying his medicine box, was about to leave. Zhou Ziliang wanted to chase after him, but Tang Feng stopped him. "Forget it... He's one of your father's old subordinates. What you're saying is indeed a bit excessive. Why don't we go back..." Zhou Ziliang looked at Tang Feng, hugged him, and whispered, "Even if he's one of my father's old subordinates, I'll still plead with my father. I can't let you get into trouble."

"You..." Why bother... Seeing Zhou Ziliang's serious expression, Tang Feng sighed. "Let's go back... I feel a bit cold." Tang Feng tugged at his coat. Zhou Ziliang, of course, wouldn't let Tang Feng get cold. A stove had already been lit inside the sedan chair. After helping Tang Feng in, Zhou Ziliang, unusually, didn't ride after him on horseback, but instead got into the sedan chair with him. "Mother said she'd stew some chicken soup for you today, to nourish you properly." Tang Feng's head started to ache at the mention of chicken soup. "No... I've been drinking it for days. Why don't you tell Mother?" "How can I persuade her? If my mother has a good temper, she'll just kick me and that's it. If she has a bad temper, she'll chase me all over the yard." Although Madam Zhou usually doted on Tang Feng, Zhou Ziliang was a different story. In Madam Zhou's mind, Tang Feng had been weak and sickly since childhood, afraid to speak loudly, and incredibly timid. But what about her own son?! Having spent so much time and energy in the army, and being incredibly strong, he was practically invincible unless you gave him a good whack. Tang Feng chuckled at this, the first genuine laugh he'd had in days. "If Mother heard you say that," he said, "she'd definitely give you a beating too."

In Zhou Ziliang's eyes, Tang Feng knew how to please. When Madam Zhou brought over the chicken soup, even though Tang Feng didn't like it, he drank it all up. After finishing, he praised Madam Zhou's cooking, which made Madam Zhou smile broadly. She told Tang Feng to rest well and was about to take the dish away when Zhou Ziliang stopped her. "Mother... I have something to discuss with you, about Xiao Feng..." Madam Zhou looked at Tang Feng sitting on the bed reading, then at Zhou Ziliang. "Come out and talk. Don't disturb Xiao Feng's rest."

"Mother... could you please ask Father to persuade Wu Hezou to come and treat Xiaofeng? Xiaofeng's illness is strange; even Wu Hezou can't diagnose it. Where in Xiling City can we find a doctor who can cure him?" Madam Zhou frowned, her face full of worry. "Is he that sick? But... Xiaofeng looks much better than he did a few days ago!"

"Old Master Wu has been unable to diagnose the illness, so... I went to the military camp today, and although my words were somewhat abrupt and impolite, I... still ask Mother to ask Father to plead with Old Master Wu."

After thinking for a moment, Madam Zhou nodded. "Alright, I feel more at ease knowing he's here to treat Xiao Feng. I'll talk to your father about this, don't worry!"

Originally, Zhou Wuhai didn't want to get involved, but he couldn't withstand his wife's beatings. The next morning, he went to the military camp to invite Wu Hezou, carrying a pot of good wine and a roast chicken. "Old Marquis, I, Wu Hezou, certainly have a lot of influence. Your son couldn't get me to come, so you've come to invite me?" Wu Hezou broke off a chicken leg and put it in his mouth. "It's not that I don't want to treat him, it's just that your young master's illness is something I've never seen before! What if I kill him?" "Can't you speak more politely? If my wife finds out, she'll definitely come to argue with you." Zhou Wuhai poured himself another cup of wine and slowly drank it. "Just give it a try! My son and that child are deeply in love. They've had a lot of ups and downs together, and it hasn't been easy for them to be together. If you can save him, you will; if you can't, we understand and won't blame you."

"You're really something! Fine, fine, for this chicken leg, I'll consider it a favor. I'll come to your house tomorrow, is that alright?" Wu Hezou was always sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Since Zhou Wuhai had come to invite him, he couldn't refuse. Besides, he knew that Tang Feng's illness was difficult to treat, and most doctors would be helpless.