Chapter 050: Lady Zhang’s Treatment
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Zhang Wen arrived as soon as he heard the news, with Dong Zhuo following closely behind.
Both seemed eager to witness the treatment; after all, a toothache was considered practically incurable in this era.
Whether in Chang’an or Luoyang, no doctor could truly “fix” a bad tooth. Patients were forced to endure the agony, and once the pain started, it almost never truly vanished.
“What are you two doing here? The doctor is treating me. You should go back to your wine and wait,” Lady Zhang said.
She had no desire to be seen with her mouth agape, so she drove them away without mercy.
She was being relatively polite; had she been in a worse mood, her words would have been far sharper.
Zhang Wen felt a wave of embarrassment.
He had come out of pure curiosity, only to be shooed away by his own wife in front of his subordinate; it was a significant blow to his pride.
Dong Zhuo’s face also flushed with heat. He felt a surge of irritation but couldn’t vent it, knowing he was technically in the wrong for intruding on a lady’s private quarters.
Long Tian, ever quick-witted, stepped in to smooth over the awkwardness.
“They likely just came to ask if any preparations were needed. The Lord Minister is simply concerned for your wellbeing, My Lady. This is my uncle, and it was he who recommended me for your treatment.”
“Hmph. Since that’s the case, there’s nothing for you to do here. You may leave,” Lady Zhang said, her tone softening only slightly as she dismissed her husband again.
Women who held the upper hand over their husbands were not uncommon even in these times, though most maintained a facade of being virtuous and dutiful.
Since ancient times, strong-willed women have always been a presence.
Even the mother of Emperor Wu was a divorcee; she had kicked her first husband to the curb before entering the palace to become a high-ranking concubine for the Emperor.
Many ministers had also been dumped by their wives early in their careers.
In an era that encouraged procreation and remarriage, this was hardly a rare sight.
Zhang Wen and Dong Zhuo bowed and took their leave.
Had Long Tian not spoken up, they would have been left in a humiliating position.
Both felt a flicker of gratitude toward him; the lad knew how to handle business and, more importantly, how to handle people.
“My Lady, please rinse your mouth with warm water first to cleanse it thoroughly. Then we may begin,” Long Tian said, laying out his simple tools.
His method was straightforward: clean the decayed area, reduce the inflammation, kill the pain, and then seal the cavity.
After a period of recovery, he would perform a permanent filling.
It was essentially a modern dental procedure, though significantly more difficult to execute with ancient technology.
Lady Zhang did as she was told. After rinsing, she lay back and opened her mouth.
To open her mouth so wide before a young man was a highly uncomfortable and shameful experience.
But the toothache had become unbearable, forcing her to consent.
That’s how people are, they rarely do what they dislike unless pushed to the brink by pain.
Long Tian began by tapping the tooth with his tools, asking where it hurt to pinpoint the location.
Once identified, he activated his [Diagnosis] skill. A loading bar appeared in his mind; he didn’t need to worry about the fine details, as the system skill would handle the precision work for him.
At first, Lady Zhang felt a sharp sting, but as the treatment progressed, the pain gradually ebbed away, replaced by a warm, tingling sensation where the agony had once been.
Half an hour later, Long Tian stood up to wash his hands in a nearby basin.
“It is done, My Lady. I’ll now apply a sealing medication. In two weeks, we’ll perform a deeper treatment to fill the missing tooth portion. Your condition stems from tooth loss exposing the underlying tissue, causing the pain. Do you feel the difference now?”
Lady Zhang moved her jaw and found the agonizing throb had vanished.
She exclaimed with delight, “It’s gone! The pain is gone! Truly gone! Doctor, you’re truly amazing!”
Long Tian smiled and shook his head, gesturing for her to remain lying down. He produced more salve and reached into her mouth, rubbing it against her gums.
“This is only preliminary treatment. The gap still needs to be filled. If left unfilled, it will recur within a month. To truly cure the root cause requires more time, but as long as it’s permanently resolved and you’re free from this torment, it’s all worthwhile. Toothache may not be a serious illness, but when it strikes, it feels like death itself.“
“Ah… yes. Thank you, Doctor. I have prepared a small gift; please, you must accept it.” Lady Zhang said.
She was a shrewd woman. Long Tian was young, a veteran of the battlefield, and possessed incredible skills.
A man of his talent, coupled with his recent merits in suppressing the rebellion, had a limitless future if he found the right patron.
“You are too kind, My Lady, but I have no need for gifts. If you have friends or other lords who suffer from ailments, please simply recommend me to them. To be honest, we are currently trying to raise funds for our upcoming stay in Luoyang,” Long Tian said suggestively.
He was vague about ‘how’ they planned to use the money, but the intent was clear.
Buying and selling official positions was a dirty business, but it was the reality of Emperor Ling’s reign.
The Emperor had no shame; he didn’t care about his reputation, only his coffers.
Lady Zhang smiled upon hearing this and sat up straight.
“You are quite honest, Doctor. Few speak to me as frankly as you do. Very well, I grant your request. If you ever need anything in Chang’an, come to me. There is little in this city I cannot settle.”
“My thanks, My Lady. Is there anywhere else you feel discomfort?”
Long Tian asked, maintaining a warm, gentle smile. He knew the importance of a good first impression, it was the key to extracting more benefits later.
His medical skills and his medicine blueprints were his ticket into the circle of the nobility, but he had to cultivate those relationships carefully.
Having experienced the first treatment, and having already overcome the shame of opening her mouth, Lady Zhang decided to be blunt.
“Sometimes, my abdomen pains me greatly. It happens for a few days every month. Does the doctor have a cure for this?”
Menstruation was a taboo subject in ancient times, and women were usually mortified to speak of it.
However, Lady Zhang figured that since he had already looked into her mouth, she might as well let him look into everything else.
Long Tian paused, then leaned in to whisper, “That would require a further examination to see if there is internal trauma or a blockage. I would need to see your abdomen… though I fear it would be improper.”
Lady Zhang looked at him with surprise. “Why do other doctors not require such a thing?”
“That is why I can cure the ‘incurable’ while they cannot. To banish a disease, one must first see the symptom. When bound by the shackles of etiquette, a doctor’s conclusion is often inaccurate, making a full recovery impossible.”
Long Tian explained with a perfectly straight face. In reality, he didn’t need to see it, but he was saying it by design.
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