Chapter 049: How to Treat Toothaches in Ancient Times
**
Chang’an was a whirlwind of activity.
It boasted famous taverns, the brothels men dreamed of, bustling gambling dens, Confucian academies, an imperial observatory, and massive markets in the East and West.
Its prosperity far surpassed that of any simple county town.
As a former capital, its profound heritage was beyond comparison with ordinary cities.
Having seen the neon lights and glitz of the modern world in his previous life, Long Tian wasn’t particularly moved by this ancient display of decadence.
Everything here was splendid, but it wasn’t his to enjoy.
What good was excitement? He needed to cultivate connections first.
Minister Zhang Wen’s mansion was located in the northern part of the city.
This was where the Imperial Palace used to be.
After the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the capital was moved to Luoyang, and the palace here became a temporary palace, inhabited only when the Emperor returned.
It had fallen into a state of decline, not exactly crumbling, but it carried the melancholy air of a sunset.
However, in the north of the city, many residences of nobles and high officials remained.
Even if one lived in Luoyang, getting a house here would definitely not be a mistake.
Zhang Wen’s mansion appeared quite imposing. Its vermilion-lacquered gates and the gilded characters on the plaque radiated an aura of opulence.
Guided by servants, the group arrived at the main hall.
Zhang Wen sat in the seat of honor, his expression arrogant.
Though he carried a faint smile, he exuded an air of class superiority, the look of a ruler looking down at a subordinate with innate entitlement.
“Greetings, Lord Minister,” Dong Zhuo and his group bowed deeply.
After all, this was a superior official; court etiquette demanded no less.
“Ah, General Dong, Little Tian. Come, sit,” Zhang Wen waved to the servants. “Bring the finest tea!”
Once the tea was served and the servants dismissed, Dong Zhuo didn’t beat around the bush. He got straight to the point.
“My Lord, we hear your wife seeks medical care. Little Tian possesses some medical knowledge. Might he examine her?”
“Oh? You know medicine?”
Zhang Wen had a good impression of Long Tian. The young man had saved his life, after all, and that image of him as a god of slaughter was hard to forget.
In these chaotic times, having a subordinate like that was a major source of security.
Long Tian clasped his fists, his expression solemn and earnest.
Looking at him now, one would never suspect he was a scoundrel who’d committed incest with both his mother and grandmother!
“I’ve long studied the art of Qi. Food is the foundation of life, and ailments like cold-induced sickness are commonplace. Better to rely on oneself than others. With this knowledge, I can care for my family.”
“Ah, it seems Little Tian is a very filial man. Excellent, excellent.” Zhang Wen nodded, not doubting him for a second.
No one would joke about medical skills in a setting like this; if you claimed to be a doctor here, you had to deliver.
Curing his wife was actually a secondary goal for Zhang Wen. His true purpose was to contact his wife’s maternal family, the Zhao Hou clan, to arrange funding.
“In that case, go and see her. Attendants, escort Captain Long to the Lady’s quarters.”
**
As the rumors suggested, Chang’an was home to nobles of all ranks, their status inherited through generations.
Some had lost their way and fallen into decline, while those who knew how to manage their wealth, using servants to handle the “lowly” business of trade, were quietly amassing fortunes. They were the ultimate landlords.
With the capital moved east, Chang’an had essentially become the nobility’s private backyard.
The Zhao Hou clan was among the top tier of these elites. Their lineage could be traced back to the grandsons of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty.
They weren’t just powerful; they were the definition of high society.
Long Tian expected to be led to a private bedroom, but instead found himself waiting in an adjacent side hall.
It was not far from the main hall, and he could still hear the laughter and conversation of Zhang Wen and Dong Zhuo.
Soon, a flurry of footsteps approached.
Several maids led the way, followed by a middle-aged woman whose hair was beginning to silver at the temples.
Her features were delicate and dignified, and she wore a rich silk robe that lent her an air of grace and poise.
This was Zhang Wen’s wife and the sister of the Marquis of Zhao: Liu Liu.
“Are you Doctor Long?”
“I am, My Lady. Please, have a seat. Where exactly is your discomfort?”
Long Tian produced a small medical pillow to support her wrist, making it easier to take her pulse.
“Toothache. It hurts so much I can’t sleep,” Lady Zhang replied, clutching her right cheek. Even speaking seemed to cause her physical agony.
Seeing this, Long Tian understood why Lady Zhang’s long search for a doctor in Chang’an had yielded no results. It was a toothache!
Toothaches were essentially untreatable in ancient times, at least not completely.
In the late Eastern Han, the only person likely studying this with any depth would be Zhang Zhongjing, and he was an official who studied medicine as a hobby, not a doctor for hire.
“A toothache is not untreatable, but it’s quite troublesome. First, we must determine the pain’s nature, assess the tooth’s condition, and decide if a filling is needed, all requiring examination.
My Lady, dental treatment may seem improper to ordinary folk, as it requires you to open your mouth while I administer medication and use instruments for diagnosis. I should clarify upfront: If this is unacceptable to you, we can treat this as a joke and forget I mentioned it.”
Long Tian played it smart. While the concept of “chastity” wasn’t as suffocating in the Eastern Han as it would be in later centuries; as widows remarried all the time, and even Cao Cao loved taking other men’s wives, so virginity held little weight.
Still, this didn’t mean one could act without restraint. Moreover, if a bride wasn’t a virgin in her first marriage, gossip would inevitably follow.
Lady Zhang, however, was past the point of caring about decorum.
Even a faint smile sent waves of stabbing pain through her. “Doctor, proceed with the examination. I have the authority to decide this matter!”
Her confidence stemmed from her brother’s status. She was no commoner, but a true noblewoman, which allowed her to speak with righteous conviction even to her husband.
This assurance came from her formidable maternal family, granting her the boldness to speak her mind.
“Then I must ask you to lie upon the couch. Someone! Bring towels and pillows, and move that bed over here.”
Though this was Long Tian’s first time treating a patient, he remained remarkably composed.
He had just happened to bring some aloe vera gel, which could be used for pain relief.
The bed was originally pushed against the wall, but he had the servants pull it out.
Long Tian then reached out and, with his bare hands, ripped the wooden guardrail off the back of the bed to get a better angle.
The sheer strength displayed left Madam Zhang utterly dumbfounded. She had never heard of a medical examination like this, let alone seen one.
Curiosity piqued, she wanted to see if this young healer could truly cure her toothache!
After all, toothache isn’t a disease, but when it strikes, it feels like death itself!
