Chapter 180: Posthumous Reputation
Before Su Arong came back with the doctor, Su Fengzhang could only feed Madam Liu a few sips of spiritual spring water. However, spiritual spring water was not a panacea after all. In comparison, drinking this thing for many years could regulate the body, but its effect in first aid was average.
After carrying the person into the house, Su Fengzhang glanced at the room and found that the layout inside was very simple, without any trace of luxury. It can be seen that the Liu family is having a hard time.
Liu Neng was still a child after all, and he started crying again when he saw this. He didn't even remember to push Su Fengzhang away, and he kept sobbing.
Fortunately, Su Arong brought the patient back quickly. The old doctor walked slowly, so Su Arong carried him back directly.
"Doctor, how is Madam Liu?" Su Fengzhang wasn't overly anxious, but Madam Liu's face looked truly terrible. She looked like she was on the verge of death, which was truly terrifying.
The old doctor sighed and said, "This old lady has been overly worried and overworked for years, and her health has long been damaged. Seeing her experience such a dramatic change today, it's even more damaging to her health."
Su Fengzhang also frowned and said, "If I stop working so hard and take good care of myself, can I recover slowly?"
The old doctor shook his head and said, "He's old. Even if he can be well taken care of in the future, it will definitely be a hindrance."
"But it's not life-threatening for the time being. I'll prescribe a milder medicine for you to take first. You have to treat this illness. Don't get angry and don't be stimulated like this again." said the old doctor.
The old doctor wrote a prescription and Su Arong went with him to buy the herbs. After a while, Mrs. Liu woke up.
She uttered a mournful cry, opened her eyes and saw Su Fengzhang talking to Liu Neng.
This was also the first time that Su Fengzhang met Liu Neng. In fact, he didn't have much interaction with Liu Wei, so he didn't really know much about the Liu family. According to the time, the child should have been born in Qingzhou and later followed Liu Wei to the capital.
Su Fengzhang waved his hand and said, "Your name is Liu Neng, right? My name is Su Fengzhang, and I'm your father's friend."
There was still vigilance in Liu Neng's eyes, but Su Fengzhang had a gentle temperament, the kind that made people feel good at first sight, even children were no exception. Soon, he walked over hesitantly.
After taking a closer look at Su Fengzhang, Liu Neng said, "Are you really my father's friend? You don't look like his friends."
Most of Liu Wei's friends are military generals. Not only are they all big and strong, but they also have a tough temperament, which is very different from Su Fengzhang.
Upon hearing this, Su Fengzhang reached out and touched Liu Neng's head, saying, "We've known each other for many years. If it weren't for your father, our entire village would have been destroyed... Later, he saved me, and today I can stand before you."
"Your father is a hero..." Su Fengzhang said this, but he couldn't hide the grief in his heart.
Liu Neng looked up at him and asked, "Uncle, is my father very powerful and majestic?"
"Yes, he is very powerful and impressive."
Liu Neng was delighted when he heard this and said, "When will he come back? If he comes back, no one will dare to bully grandma anymore. They won't dare to scold or beat me anymore."
Hearing this, Su Fengzhang frowned: "Is anyone bullying you?"
Liu Neng said with a stern face: "They all say that I am an orphan and that my father will never come back."
Su Fengzhang was speechless because Liu Wei would never come back.
Finally, he could only hold the child in his arms and said, "I won't let them bully you anymore."
Liu Neng leaned in his arms. Su Fengzhang didn't look very strong, but his arms were warm and broad, making the child feel a little nostalgic for a moment, but he still asked: "When will my father come back?"
Su Fengzhang didn't know how to answer his question. He didn't even dare to look at the child's hopeful eyes.
"Aneng, stop bothering this uncle. Can you go play in the yard for a while?" Old Lady Liu said while trying to support herself.
Su Fengzhang then realized that she had woken up and quickly said, "Old Madam, please lie down and rest first. The medicine will be ready soon."
Old Madam Liu just stared at Liu Neng, who went out looking rather depressed.
Outside, Liu Neng squatted beside Su Arong who was boiling medicine, muttering: "Grandma is always like this. I am not a child anymore. Why don't you let me listen?"
Su Arong smiled, touched his hair and said nothing.
Inside the room, Madam Liu gestured for Su Fengzhang to sit down in front of the bed. She sighed and asked, "Sir, did I scare you just now?"
Su Fengzhang quickly said, "Madam Liu, there's no need to do this. Just call me Fengzhang. General Liu and I are friends for life and death."
"Madam, I'm sorry I couldn't bring General Liu back."
Madam Liu's face was sallow, and her former spirit had faded. She looked even more decrepit. She shook her head and said, "How can I blame you for this? Ever since the day he left for Yunzhou, I've been dreading this day, and now it's finally here."
Seeing that he was sad again when he mentioned Liu Wei, Su Fengzhang asked, "Old Madam, I wanted to ask before, why is the Liu family like this now..."
Madam Liu took over the conversation: "You want to ask, Ah Wei is a general after all, why does the Liu family look so down and out?"
"Madam, I don't mean to look down on you. I just want to ask if the imperial court has withheld the military pay."
Madam Liu shook her head and continued, "I don't think you're surprised that I haven't seen Aneng's mother."
"Not long after Awei went to Yunzhou, Aneng's mother fell ill. His mother is a very thoughtful person and can't let go. She didn't even think about the fact that she still has a child to take care of."
"She was ill for several years, and all the money in the family was spent, but in the end, we still couldn't keep her."
"I'm an old woman, so I have no choice but to move here with Aneng." Old Madam Liu coughed and said, "Don't worry. We're actually doing OK. We can eat meat every now and then. We're much better off than many people here."
Just as Su Fengzhang was about to comfort her, he heard Madam Liu continue, "Speaking of which, we have to thank Awei's friends. If they hadn't come to visit us from time to time, we, an old man and a young child, wouldn't be able to live in such peace."
"But they have elderly and children at home, and we can't always ask them to pay for everything."
Su Fengzhang noticed something was wrong and frowned, asking, "According to the laws of the Great Zhou, even if General Liu is in Yunzhou, you and Aneng can still live in the East District."
The so-called East District is actually where the court rents houses. Military generals are different from civil officials. Most of them are sent abroad, but their families usually cannot go with them. Therefore, even if the military generals are sent abroad, their families can continue to rent if they are willing.
Madam Liu smiled bitterly and said, "Of course you can, but it's not appropriate to take up other people's space."
Su Fengzhang figured out what was wrong. There was only one old man and one child left in the Liu family. If you still occupied the house over there, people would gossip about you. The court would not drive you away directly, but if all these gossips added up, it would make it difficult to live with you.
Especially since most of the military generals were vulgar, and so were their family members. If there was a commotion, the Liu family would definitely not gain any benefit.
Perhaps Mrs. Liu had no choice but to move to this place with her children for the sake of peace and quiet.
Su Fengzhang quickly said, "Madam Liu, please let me take care of you from now on. Brother Liu saved my life, and this is what I should do. Please believe me, from now on I will treat you as my family."
Madam Liu didn't agree, nor did she refuse. She just turned around and asked, "Feng Zhang, I entrust the child's affairs to you. I will talk to Aneng slowly. He is old enough and can understand."
Su Fengzhang nodded and said, "Please rest assured, old lady. Although Brother Liu cannot enjoy wealth and honor in the world, he will be honored after his death."
"Then I'm relieved." Old Madam Liu forced a smile, but it was uglier than crying.
Su Fengzhang continued, "After returning to the court, Prince Cheng has already written to His Majesty to reward the fallen soldiers. However, due to the large number of soldiers, the reward has not yet been received. But please rest assured, old lady."
Madam Liu nodded and said, "With Feng Zhang here, I have nothing to worry about."
At this time, Su Arong came in with a bowl of medicine. Su Fengzhang was about to feed Madam Liu to drink it himself, but he saw Madam Liu prop herself up and drink it herself, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I can still take care of myself."
How could Su Fengzhang feel at ease, but he couldn't stay here forever, so he could only let Su Arong stay and help for a while.
After leaving the Liu family, Su Fengzhang felt more and more depressed. Old Madam Liu was not in good health. This was caused by years of hard work and could not be repaired in a day or two.
Liu Neng was too young, only six years old, and was not old enough to support the family. He was definitely worried about him and his widowed mother living here. If he took them in, he was afraid that Madam Liu would not agree.
However, the most urgent task is not these, but to take care of Liu Wei's funeral first.
Back in Yunzhou, General Meng Kun ordered that all the soldiers who died on the battlefield be buried together and established a forest of merit, but it was only a cemetery after all and could not be considered a true posthumous affair.
Before taking care of the funeral affairs, the reward must be finalized first.
Speaking of this, Su Fengzhang also felt a headache. When the emperor lavished rewards at the palace banquet, he thought that His Majesty was very generous. Who would have thought that he was generous to the living but very deceptive to the dead.
Su Fengzhang really didn't understand the thought process behind this operation. Living people might still cause trouble, but dead people were clean and neat. No matter how much rewards were given, there was no fear of their merits surpassing their master. However, the current emperor did the opposite.
The Ministry of Rites has been dragging its feet and Su Fengzhang doesn't believe that the emperor has no intention in this matter.
After thinking about it, Su Fengzhang did not go home directly, but turned around and went to the Ministry of Rites.
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The author has something to say: In fact, when writing this paragraph, Sheng Ge was also hesitant about whether Liu Wei could survive.
But in the end I still wrote it according to the outline. Life is precious.
I was frightened by the missing persons cases in Hangzhou these past two days. It gave me a headache. Reality is more cruel than fiction.
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