Chapter 22: Treating a Thief [1] At the Busa's words, Changgwon shook his head firmly.
"My daughter is being well cared for by the medical women you sent, Busa."
"Well cared for? I heard directly from those medical women. They're stomping their feet saying nothing works."
"Is that not simply because my daughter is foolish? It will improve with time."
There was stubbornness, and then there was this level of stubbornness.
He would not even listen to someone of higher rank.
The Busa was just as frustrated.
"Kanghyeok, you tell him. You can cure it, can't you?"
It did not sit right with Kanghyeok to claim he could cure an illness he had not even seen.
And it was not as if he liked Changgwon either.
Still, if I earn some points with this man, Father will nag me less.
Like telling him to go study at the hyanggyo, for example.
Moreover, Kanghyeok had an unusually strong sense of pride in his medical skills.
"I can at least take a look at what kind of illness it is. I should be better than the medical women, after all."
"That's right. Exactly. He even completely cured my long-standing illness. And you know that Sunshin fellow, right? He treated him yesterday as well—how is he doing?"
"I set his broken leg, and he is currently recuperating. In a month or two, he will be able to move like before."
"See, this is what I mean!"
"I've seen it myself before—he really is incredibly skilled."
Even the Busa's sycophantic Pangwan chimed in.
With three people making a commotion in front of him, even Changgwon had no choice.
In the end, he took a step back.
"Very well. However, you must not see her face directly."
"…Pardon? But—"
Kanghyeok started to object without thinking, then recalled Changgwon's title.
"Gyosu Sir, treatment is not something that can be done without seeing the patient."
"Then do not see her."
Changgwon immediately crossed his arms and turned away.
When Kanghyeok looked to the Busa, he merely shrugged, as if there were no other option.
Though the Busa outranked him in office, he could not interfere in family matters.
This time, Kanghyeok stepped back instead.
"Understood. But we can at least talk, correct?"
"That… should be acceptable. But the door must be closed."
That was practically the same as telling him to only pretend to examine her.
There was no other choice.
Kanghyeok nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, I will do as you say."
"Ha ha. Good, good. Seeing each of you bend your stubbornness like this is pleasing. Now then, let us enjoy ourselves first!"
With the Busa taking the lead, the others could not simply remain still.
The gisaeng beat drums and janggu, raising the mood.
Kanghyeok had no particular interest in mingling with such high-ranking people.
I still need to check on Sunshin later, and also see that daughter over there.
It was a fairly decent excuse.
He quietly slipped away to the back and carefully spoke to the Busa.
"Sir, I should refrain from heavy drinking since I must treat Sunshin and the Gyosu's daughter."
"Ah, yes, yes. You must not overdo it. Very well, you may return to your seat."
The Busa was already completely absorbed in the gisaeng.
He waved his hand dismissively, as if Kanghyeok was of no concern.
"Yes, Sir."
Kanghyeok returned to his seat.
By then, the Busa's servants had already placed individual drinking tables in front of each person.
Alcohol is supposed to be quite a precious commodity, but here it's overflowing.
It was obvious the alcohol had come from the government office.
The drink the Busa gave me earlier tasted good too.
He had only said he would not drink excessively, not that he would not drink at all.
Kanghyeok quietly savored the liquor.
Mm. Good. I should drink slowly so I don't get drunk.
It had already been difficult enough climbing up here while sober.
There was no way he could make it back down drunk.
And it's not like Yeoni can carry me.
When he turned his head, Yeoni was also enjoying herself in her own way.
Thanks to the leftover snacks and alcohol from the feast being passed over there, laughter rang out loudly even from her side.
No matter how strong she is, she's too small to carry me.
Even if she was agile and skilled in martial arts, some things were simply impossible.
Yeoni, who was not even 160 cm tall, could not carry Kanghyeok, who was over 185 cm.
He had never measured his weight, but it was probably nearly double hers.
No way. She absolutely can't carry me. Better drink in moderation.
It was not as if she were an ant.
Kanghyeok slowed his drinking pace further.
His alcohol tolerance was so high that he did not even feel tipsy.
It should be ending soon.
There were a few good things about Joseon-era feasts, and one of them was that they could not drag on endlessly.
Sure enough, the Busa, now thoroughly drunk, stood up and brushed off his clothes.
"Alright, alright. It's getting late."
It was still close to broad daylight, hardly late at all.
But it was late for being up in the mountains.
There were a few soldiers around, but if a tiger appeared, it would still be dangerous.
It was a time when tigers frequently showed up even in villages.
Chamber pots had not become widely used for no reason.
There were even quite a number of people who died on their way to the toilet.
"Sir, let us go."
The Pangwan hurriedly stood and escorted the Busa out of the pavilion.
Everyone else had horses, but the Busa had a palanquin.
They carried that all the way up here?
Kanghyeok looked at the palanquin bearers with pity.
They were already steeling their resolve.
Like soldiers heading into battle.
"Well then, I will take my leave first."
"Yes, please go safely. I will pay my respects tomorrow."
The Busa waved his hand like an old professor leaving a company dinner early and climbed into the palanquin.
The Pangwan followed behind on horseback.
"Wake that fellow over there."
Changgwon, the Gyosu, remained behind to take care of the Confucian scholars.
Kanghyeok planned to go straight to Changgwon's house to treat the patient.
So he had no choice but to wait.
Though he did not lend a hand with the work.
"Yeoni, are you alright?"
"I'm perfectly fine."
"I saw you chugging alcohol earlier. Are you really okay?"
"Yes. I can hold my liquor."
Though she claimed to be fine, the smell of alcohol was wafting strongly from her mouth.
From the way she was hopping around, it did not seem like there would be any unfortunate need for her to carry him, at least.
"Drink some water first, and take deep breaths."
"…Pardon?"
"That helps sober you up faster."
"You really know everything, Young Master."
Though she looked unconvinced, Yeoni kept breathing deeply.
The sharp scent of alcohol mixed with her breath tickled the tip of Kanghyeok's nose.
"Yes, like that. Keep breathing."
"But how are you so unaffected, Young Master?"
"Well… you've seen it before, haven't you? I can handle alcohol."
"Ah, that's true. Even when the entire faction deliberately kept pouring drinks for you, you still walked away."
While the two were chatting, Changgwon slowly approached.
"We are finished cleaning up. What do you intend to do?"
He looked far more amicable than when they had first met.
It seemed reciting Park Jega's poem had worked in Kanghyeok's favor.
"I will accompany you to your residence, Gyosu Sir. There is no reason to delay treating your daughter."
Kanghyeok answered while lifting his house-call bag.
Changgwon did not particularly like the appearance of that bag.
However, he did not go back on his word.
It was a promise not only to Kanghyeok, but also to the Busa.
"Very well, then let us go. Do you not have a horse?"
"I slept in the clinic yesterday after treating the patient you sent, Busa Sir."
"The road is long. It will be difficult."
"It's fine."
"Very well. I will go slowly, so follow along."
Changgwon mounted his horse and rode ahead.
He did not gallop ruthlessly, so Kanghyeok could keep up.
Though it was still difficult.
Not a little—quite a lot.
"Ugh…"
Kanghyeok's breathing grew rough.
Yeoni looked at him with concern.
"Are you alright?"
"Even if I'm not, what choice do I have? Let's go."
"I can carry you."
At Yeoni's bold offer, as she presented her back, Kanghyeok let out a dry laugh.
"Ha. You'll get hurt. Let's just go."
"I'm strong."
"I know, I know."
"I'm serious."
"I know. Still, how could I let myself be carried? I have my dignity."
"If it gets too hard, please tell me."
"Alright."
Perhaps that one laugh had given him a bit of strength.
He managed not to fall behind and reached Changgwon's house.
Though it was already dark after the sun had set.
"You've worked hard. My daughter is in her room. Follow me."
"Yes."
Changgwon opened the wooden gate and strode inside.
So even a yangban can live in a thatched house.
Compared to Kanghyeok's mansion-like home, this place looked almost like a restroom in comparison.
Even though he was a Gyosu, a Junior Sixth Rank official, he lived in such hardship.
It seemed he truly lived only on his stipend.
"This is the room."
"Ah, yes."
"I will say this in advance. You must remain outside the door."
"…Very well."
For someone who was, in name, a professor at Chungmu Hospital, this was treatment befitting a cold reception.
If the hospital director had seen this, he would have been stunned.
Changgwon gave Kanghyeok a sharp look, then entered the room.
Through the briefly opened gap in the door, a foul smell drifted out.
It must be quite serious.
Kanghyeok's guess seemed correct.
Changgwon's expression was dark when he came out shortly after.
"My daughter's voice is weak, so stand right in front of the door and speak."
"Mm. Understood."
"Do it where I can see."
This was getting more and more difficult.
But having come this far, there was no other way.
Kanghyeok nodded with a half-resigned expression.
"Very well."
He moved right up to the door.
"I am a physician. I have a few questions to ask."
"Yes, please ask."
Her voice was extremely hoarse.
Her mouth must be drying out. That means a high fever.
For someone at Kanghyeok's level, even such small clues were useful.
He began asking questions, making his own deductions.
"Where does it hurt the most right now?"
"Mm… my leg. My right leg hurts."
"Since when?"
"It's been about ten days."
Ten days was already quite a long time.
It might already have passed the point where much could be done.
Kanghyeok asked in a more urgent tone than before.
"Did anything unusual happen on the day the pain started, or the day before?"
"Mm…"
The woman thought for a long time, unable to recall easily.
Only after quite a while did she answer uncertainly.
"Now that I think about it, I may have stepped on something. My sole bled, but it stopped quickly, so I didn't think much of it."
"Ah. I see."
From what he heard, it was almost certainly tetanus or cellulitis.
Both were conditions that could not be treated with antibiotics alone.
If something was embedded, it had to be removed.
Should I just barge in?
Kanghyeok briefly considered the bold idea, then shook his head.
With Changgwon watching so closely, it would be difficult.
Was there another way?
Looking around, the house was indeed far more shabby than Kanghyeok's.
Even the walls were low.
At that height… I could probably climb over without being noticed.
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