Chapter 28: Fever, Fever [2] Shivering.
To put it in more medical and refined terms—chills.
It could be a precursor to a fever or a result of a high fever.
Neither was a good sign.
"She's shivering?"
"Yes. It started all of a sudden."
"Mm. Let's go take a look first."
"Yes, Young Master."
Just a moment ago, she had been well enough to eat an entire chicken.
And now she was suddenly shivering.
It was far too abrupt.
Kanghyeok hurriedly grabbed his house-call bag and stepped out.
Dolseok, who had been joking around earlier, followed with a stiffened face.
"She's inside the room right now."
Okseok stopped in front of Seungmun's room.
—clack, clack, clack, clack
A strange knocking sound came from inside.
What is that sound?
Tilting his head, Kanghyeok listened closely.
Is that… something hitting against something? This old man—this might be serious.
Kanghyeok's face darkened instantly.
He was not his real father, but his personality and appearance were the same.
Even the blunt affection he showed him.
This won't do.
Kanghyeok quickly removed his shoes and stepped up to the doorway.
Yi Sun-sin, who stood beside him, spoke with a worried expression.
"He must be in great pain."
"I need to examine him first."
"Yes. If you treat him, he will recover. I know it."
Yi Sun-sin glanced down at his own leg, whose stitches had already been removed.
Kanghyeok's skill was so extraordinary that it no longer interfered with daily life at all.
Regardless of Kanghyeok's personality, as far as medicine went, Yi Sun-sin believed he was the best in all of Joseon.
He had seen someone suffer a similar injury and remain crippled for life.
If not for Kanghyeok, he himself would have met the same fate.
"Father, I'm here."
"Ah… yes…"
His voice sounded terrible.
Kanghyeok immediately opened the door and stepped inside.
Seungmun was wrapped tightly in his blanket, trembling violently.
Even in the middle of summer, he seemed unbearably cold.
"I'll check your condition first."
"Yes… yes…"
Kanghyeok opened his house-call bag.
Seungmun had only heard about it before—this was his first time seeing it directly.
It was filled with unfamiliar instruments, entirely different from the medical knowledge he knew.
"As I've heard… truly strange."
"Yes, but it is effective. First, I'll check your temperature."
Kanghyeok carefully inserted the thermometer into Seungmun's ear.
Seungmun frowned at the unfamiliar sensation but did not resist.
If Kanghyeok were incompetent, would Busa Kim Yungil and Jeong Changgwon have praised him so much?
—beep
Thanks to its daily renewal, the thermometer's battery was always full.
Kanghyeok quickly read the temperature.
39.8°C… that's too high.
There was a reason he was trembling like this.
For an elderly man, this was not a fever that could simply be endured.
"It may feel a bit cold."
"Yes…"
Seungmun, dazed from the high fever, simply let Kanghyeok handle him.
Not that Kanghyeok intended to give an injection anyway.
Mm… lung sounds are fine.
That alone was somewhat reassuring.
There was little more dangerous to the elderly than pneumonia.
But everything else also seemed fine.
Throat is fine, ears are fine. Abdomen doesn't show anything either…
There was no clear reason for such a high fever.
In other words—an unknown fever.
"Do you… see anything?"
Still in pain, Seungmun trembled violently.
"Mm."
Kanghyeok only let out a short sound.
He still could not determine the cause.
For now, use medication.
In a hospital, he could have observed further.
Or conducted additional tests.
But here, blood tests were impossible, and there was no X-ray equipment.
He had no means to risk waiting for a precise diagnosis.
"First, take this medicine with water. It should make it more bearable."
"All of this?"
"Yes, Father."
"Very well."
Seungmun swallowed all four pills at once.
Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs—strong medication.
I gave him antacids too, so it shouldn't cause problems.
Since he himself was a doctor living with him, he would catch any side effects quickly.
"Let's see how the medicine works."
"Yes… Okseok!"
"Yes, Master."
"Light a fire in the room. I'm freezing."
Lighting a fire in midsummer.
It was an absurd request.
Okseok exchanged a glance with Dolseok.
But only for a moment.
"Yes, Master. I'll do it right away."
Fortunately, they had already chopped plenty of firewood to boil chickens.
At Dolseok and Okseok's command, several slaves began lighting the fire in Seungmun's room.
Warmth quickly spread throughout the room.
For Kanghyeok, who had no fever and was not cold, it was unbearable.
Whew, it's hot.
But he was not tactless enough to show it in front of Seungmun.
"How do you feel now?"
"Better than before. I don't know if it's the medicine or the fire."
"Don't be anxious. Let's wait a bit longer."
"Very well."
After some time passed, Seungmun visibly improved.
Whatever the reason, people in this era responded to medicine very well.
"I feel much better. I think I can sleep now."
"Yes, Father. Please rest well."
"Yes. You've worked hard."
Kanghyeok picked up his house-call bag and stepped out of the room.
He'll probably have another fever tomorrow.
No matter how effective the medicine was, an infection would not resolve in one go.
Yi Sun-sin, who had been waiting outside, asked,
It seemed he had grown quite fond of Seungmun.
"How is he?"
"His fever has gone down for now."
"As expected. You are a divine physician."
"It's too early to say."
"Then I shall retire as well. If anything happens, inform me too."
"Yes, understood."
Yi Sun-sin walked off toward the guest quarters.
Okseok and Dolseok, who had been standing at a distance, rushed over.
Their faces were slightly smudged with soot, likely from tending the fire.
"How is Madam?"
"Okseok, you must watch over her carefully tonight."
"Of course."
"If she develops a fever again or calls for me, come immediately."
"Yes, Young Master."
Kanghyeok returned to his room with a troubled expression.
The house-call bag sitting alone looked pitiful today.
I thought having just this would be enough.
A single bag clearly had too many limitations.
It was not as if he could build a CT scanner here.
Even I am helpless without proper tools.
Even the range of medicine he had was extremely limited.
Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, antacids.
Aside from unusual ones like Viagra, they were all basic medications.
There was no telling when an untreatable illness might appear.
Especially in an era lacking proper hygiene and understanding of infectious diseases.
It's pointless to worry.
It was not something he could solve.
With an uneasy feeling, Kanghyeok went to bed.
"Kanghyeok, your medicine truly is remarkable."
The next morning, Seungmun looked perfectly healthy.
It was as if the fever from yesterday had been a dream.
Before even eating breakfast, he was already outside walking in the yard.
"You truly feel fine?"
"I do. So this is the skill of a divine physician I had only heard of."
That, in itself, was strange.
No matter how effective the medicine, could a fever nearing 40 degrees vanish so suddenly?
"Let me… examine you once more, just to be sure."
"Very well."
Seungmun readily entrusted himself to Kanghyeok.
But no matter how much he examined him, he found nothing abnormal.
Just as before.
It's a good thing, but…
Something felt off.
For now, continue the medication.
According to Okseok, he had slept well through the night.
His urine showed no significant change either.
"You've improved, but please continue taking the medicine."
"Very well, very well."
"You're not feeling any discomfort from the medicine?"
"None at all."
"Understood."
Though the fever had subsided, there was no certainty.
He did not want to be absent if it flared up again like yesterday.
He had already lost his real father that way.
Failing in filial duty once was enough.
"Dolseok, no clinic today. Let's rest tomorrow as well."
"Yes, of course. Madam is unwell."
"Send someone to the Busa with medicine."
"Yes, Young Master."
He could not ignore the Busa either.
From what he had heard, that man would not remain merely the Suwon Busa for long.
It was widely said he would soon be summoned to the capital.
Having connections at court never hurts.
Especially in a centralized state like Joseon.
Why else had Seungmun been receiving gifts from local officials?
All thanks to his disciples now serving in the capital.
Using chili peppers as leverage felt somewhat cheap.
But what could he do? It was the only weapon he had.
Still… is he really fine?
On the surface, Seungmun looked completely normal.
He ate, read, and conversed with Yi Sun-sin.
Only drinking alcohol was avoided.
The next day was the same.
After two days of good condition, everyone relaxed.
Dolseok, Okseok, Yi Sun-sin—
Even the patient himself.
Only Kanghyeok continued observing Seungmun with suspicion.
No matter how I look at it, this feels wrong.
Yet there was no way to confirm it.
All he could do was wait.
But when even the following day passed without incident, Kanghyeok himself relaxed slightly.
Maybe he's just recovering like this?
If even Kanghyeok thought so, there was no need to mention the others.
Dolseok even began humming to himself.
With no duties left at the main house, he was practically idle.
"Young Master, shall we go to the market? I'm bored."
It seemed idleness was making him crave alcohol.
Thanks to Kanghyeok, his pockets were well-lined.
"Mm."
"Madam should be fine now."
"No. Let's stay today as well. If she's still fine tomorrow, I'll treat you."
"Really? I have money now too, you know."
"Not more than me."
"That's true."
Dolseok nodded, thinking of Kanghyeok's accumulated wealth.
At least in Suwon, no one had made money this quickly.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
Okseok came running urgently.
With the exact same expression as three days ago.
"What is it?"
"Madam is trembling again!"
"Alright. I'll go immediately."
Kanghyeok grabbed his house-call bag and ran toward Seungmun.
No one spoke of noble dignity now.
This was no time for that.
"Oh… dear…"
Seungmun was once again wrapped in blankets, trembling violently.
Kanghyeok rushed to him and began examining him.
Temperature: 40°C.
But his lungs and throat were still fine.
Then, for some reason, Kanghyeok's eyes caught the mosquito bites on Seungmun's skin.
Mosquito… fever after three days… malaria.
Now that he looked closely, the liver seemed slightly enlarged as well.
Something one would only notice when consciously checking.
Good. I know the cause now.
The problem was the treatment.
There was no antimalarial medication in his house-call bag.
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