Chapter 22: Treating the Daughter of a Noble [1]
At the words of the **busa** (governor), Chang-gwon shook his head.
“My daughter is being well taken care of by the female doctors sent by you, sir.”
“Well taken care of? Those female doctors told me themselves. They’re running around in panic, saying no medicine is working.”
“This is all because my daughter is foolish. She will be fine after some time.”
There was no one more stubborn than him.
He wouldn’t even listen to someone of higher rank.
The **busa** was just as frustrated.
“Hey, Kang-hyuk. You give it a try. Can’t you cure her?”
Saying he could cure a disease he knew nothing about was a bit much.
Besides, he didn’t particularly like Chang-gwon.
‘But if I score points with this guy, maybe he’ll stop saying unnecessary things to my father.’
Like telling him to go to the **hyanggyo** (local Confucian academy) to study.
Moreover, Kang-hyuk took great pride in his medical skills.
“I can at least take a look at the illness. Surely, I’m better than the female doctors.”
“Of course. Exactly. This friend here even cured my long-standing illness. You know Sun-shin, right? He saw him just yesterday. What happened?”
“I set his broken leg, and he’s now recuperating. In a month or two, he should be able to move like before.”
“You see? This is what I’m talking about!”
“I saw it too, before. It’s like magic, really.”
Even the **pan-gwan** (magistrate’s assistant) joined in, praising Kang-hyuk.
With three people making a commotion right in front of him, even someone as stubborn as Chang-gwon couldn’t resist.
In the end, he had no choice but to step back.
“Fine. But you cannot meet her face-to-face.”
“What? But—”
Kang-hyuk instinctively tried to protest, but then remembered Chang-gwon’s title.
“Professor, sir. Diagnosis requires seeing the patient.”
“Then you won’t be seeing her.”
Chang-gwon folded his arms and turned away.
Looking back at the **busa**, all the **busa** could do was shrug, offering no alternative solution.
Though the **busa** held higher rank, he couldn’t meddle in family affairs.
This time, Kang-hyuk had to step back.
“Understood. I’ll only talk to her then, right?”
“That… should be fine. But the door must remain closed.”
He was basically saying to just pretend to examine her.
There was no other option.
Kang-hyuk nodded reluctantly.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Haha. Now that everyone’s backed down a little, things are looking good. Let’s enjoy ourselves first!”
As the **busa** enthusiastically took the lead, the others couldn’t just sit idle.
Even the **gisaengs** (courtesans) started playing drums and raising the mood.
Kang-hyuk wasn’t particularly fond of mingling with high-ranking people like this.
‘I still need to check on Yi Sun-shin later, and then there’s his daughter as well.’
It was a good excuse to slip away.
He cautiously approached the **busa** and spoke in a low voice.
“Sir, since I need to treat Yi Sun-shin and the professor’s daughter, I shouldn’t overdrink.”
“Ah, yes, yes. You shouldn’t push yourself. I understand. You may return to your seat.”
The **busa** was already completely absorbed in the **gisaengs**, waving his hand dismissively, as if Kang-hyuk no longer mattered.
“Thank you, sir.”
Kang-hyuk returned to his seat.
By then, the **busa**’s servants had placed a tray of drinks in front of everyone.
‘Liquor was harder to come by than I thought, but they sure have plenty here.’
It was obviously from the local government office.
‘The drink the **busa** gave earlier was pretty good too.’
He had said he wouldn’t overdrink, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t drink at all.
Kang-hyuk quietly sipped the liquor.
‘Mm. Good. I’ll drink slowly, so I won’t get drunk.’
It had been hard enough getting up here sober.
There was no way he’d be able to get back down if he got drunk.
‘Not like I can let Yeon carry me.’
When he turned his head, he saw that Yeon was also having a good time.
Thanks to the leftover snacks and drinks from the feast, she was enjoying herself too.
The hearty laughter from the party echoed up to the pavilion.
‘No matter how tough she is, she’s too small to carry me.’
Even if she was nimble and skilled in martial arts, some things just weren’t possible.
Yeon, barely 160 cm tall, couldn’t carry Kang-hyuk, who was over 185 cm.
They had never weighed themselves, but the difference in their sizes must have been almost double.
‘No, it’s not going to happen. She definitely can’t carry me. Let’s drink moderately.’
She wasn’t some ant.
Kang-hyuk slowed his drinking even more.
His tolerance was so high that he wasn’t even feeling tipsy yet.
‘This should be ending soon.’
One of the good things about parties in Joseon was that they didn’t drag on for too long.
Sure enough, the **busa**, after having his fill of drink, dusted off his pants and stood up.
“Alright, it’s getting late.”
Though he said it was getting late, it was still closer to midday.
But it was late for staying on the mountain.
Though there were soldiers around, tigers were still a threat.
Back then, it wasn’t uncommon for tigers to appear even in civilian areas.
There was a reason chamber pots were widespread.
They said people would sometimes die while going to the bathroom.
“Sir, shall we go?”
The **pan-gwan** quickly stood and guided the **busa** out of the pavilion.
Everyone else was on horseback, but the **busa** was carried in a **gama** (palanquin).
‘Did they carry that all the way up here?’
Kang-hyuk looked at the **gama** bearers with pity.
They already had a determined look in their eyes.
Like soldiers preparing for battle.
“Then, I’ll be off first.”
“Yes, have a safe journey. I’ll visit you tomorrow to pay my respects.”
The **busa** waved like an old professor leaving a company dinner, then climbed into the **gama**.
The **pan-gwan** followed behind him on horseback.
“Wake that fellow up.”
Chang-gwon, the professor, stayed behind to take care of the remaining students.
Kang-hyuk planned to go straight to Chang-gwon’s house to check on his daughter.
There was nothing else to do but wait.
He didn’t help out, though.
“Yeon-ah, are you alright?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“But I saw you drinking straight from the bottle earlier. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m a strong drinker.”
Though she claimed to be fine, the scent of alcohol wafted strongly from her.
Judging by her energetic movements, it didn’t seem like she’d need to carry anyone after all.
“Alright, drink some water and take deep breaths.”
“Excuse me?”
“That helps sober you up faster.”
“You know the strangest things, **doryeonnim** (young master).”
Though she looked skeptical, she started breathing deeply.
The alcohol-laden air tickled Kang-hyuk’s nose.
“Yes, just like that. Keep breathing.”
“But how are you so unaffected, **doryeonnim**?”
“I’ve shown you before, haven’t I? I can handle my liquor.”
“Oh, right. You walked home just fine even when the entire household was pouring drinks.”
As they chatted and laughed, Chang-gwon slowly approached.
“We’re done tidying up now. What do you plan to do?”
He was much more amicable now than when they had first met.
Reciting Park Je-ga’s poem must have earned Kang-hyuk some favor.
“I was thinking of going to your residence, professor. There’s no reason to delay the treatment of your daughter.”
Kang-hyuk lifted his medical bag as he spoke.
Chang-gwon still didn’t seem too fond of the bag’s appearance.
But he didn’t go back on his word.
After all, the promise had been made not just with Kang-hyuk, but with the **busa** as well.
“Alright, let’s go. Do you have no horse?”
“I slept in the clinic last night treating someone the **busa** had sent.”
“The road is long, it must have been tough.”
“It’s alright.”
“Then, we’ll go slowly. Follow me.”
Chang-gwon mounted his horse and started riding ahead.
He didn’t ride fast, so Kang-hyuk could keep up, but it was still tiring.
Not a little—quite a lot.
“Ugh…”
Kang-hyuk started to breathe heavily.
Yeon looked at him with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Even if I’m not, I have no choice. Let’s go.”
“I can carry you.”
Yeon gallantly offered her back, making Kang-hyuk chuckle.
“Haha. You’d hurt yourself. Let’s just keep going.”
“I’m strong.”
“I know, I know.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know. But it would hurt my pride to be carried.”
“Let me know if you get too tired.”
“Sure.”
That small moment of laughter seemed to give him a second wind.
He managed to keep pace and eventually reached Chang-gwon’s house.
Though by then, the sun had set and it was already dark.
“You’ve worked hard. My daughter is in her room. Follow me.”
“Yes.”
Chang-gwon opened the side door and strode inside.
‘So even nobles live in straw-thatched houses, huh.’
Compared to Kang-hyuk’s grand home, this place looked almost like a bathroom.
Though Chang-gwon was a **professor** and held a **jong 6-pum** (6th lower rank) position, he lived quite modestly.
He seemed to survive solely on his official salary.
“This is the room.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll tell you in advance. You’re only allowed to stand outside the door.”
“That… understood.”
He was a professor at **Chungmu Hospital**, but here he was, being treated like a mere servant.
If the hospital director saw this, he’d probably faint.
Chang-gwon briefly glanced at Kang-hyuk, then entered the room.
As the door opened, a foul smell wafted out.
‘It must be pretty serious.’
Kang-hyuk’s guess seemed right.
When Chang-gwon emerged, his expression was grim.
“My daughter’s voice is weak, so you’ll need to stand close to the door to speak with her.”
“Hmm. Alright.”
“I’ll be watching the whole time.”
Things were getting more difficult by the moment.
Having come this far, there was no way out.
Kang-hyuk, half resigned, nodded.
“Fine.”
He then moved closer to the door.
“I’m a doctor. I’ve come to ask you a few questions.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Her voice was hoarse and cracked.
‘Her mouth must be dry. She probably has a high fever.’
With Kang-hyuk’s skills, even small clues like this were helpful.
He pieced things together as he asked questions.
“Where does it hurt the most right now?”
“Um… my leg. My right leg hurts.”
“When did it start?”
“About ten days ago.”
Ten days was too long.
It might already be too late to do anything.
Kang-hyuk’s voice grew a little more urgent.
“Did anything unusual happen the day you started feeling pain, or the day before?”
“Um…”
The woman seemed to struggle to remember, pausing for a long time.
Finally, she answered hesitantly.
“Now that I think about it, I think I stepped on something. My foot bled a little. It stopped quickly, so I didn’t think much of it.”
“Ah, I see.”
From what she described, it was most likely tetanus or cellulitis.
Neither of these could be treated by just taking antibiotics.
If something was lodged in her foot, it had to be removed.
‘Should I just go in?’
Kang-hyuk entertained the bold thought but shook his head.
As long as Chang-gwon was keeping a close watch, it would be difficult.
Was there another way?
Looking around, he noticed that the house was much shabbier than his own.
The fence was low too.
‘With a fence that low, I could sneak in without anyone knowing.’