Chapter 108

C108 – A Soft-hearted Man

As Tang Yue prepared to depart, Zhang Chun naturally stuck close behind him. However, before he could exit the room, Wang Dingjun had already left him trailing.

“Disciple, where do you intend to go?” Wang Dingjun inquired with a friendly smile.

“Let’s return home,” Zhang Chun replied, standing behind Tang Yue with an innocent grin.

“And where is your home? Does Loyal and Brave Marquis Prefecture still exist in Ye City?”

“A friend’s home is like one’s own home, right, Brother Tang?” Zhang Chun playfully pinched Tang Yue’s arm, urging him to vouch for him.

It was evident to Tang Yue that Zhang Chun had the demeanor of someone caught in an affair and was incredibly deferential towards him.

Tang Yue furrowed his brow and replied vaguely, “Staying here is fine. We’ll be departing tomorrow, so there’s no need for you to shuttle back and forth.”

When he wedded Crown Prince Zhao, he would also have to stay here. While Zhang Chun might be a bit dense, he would manage just fine within the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Wang Dingjun’s sinister grin sent shivers down Zhang Chun’s spine. “I don’t mind the trouble at all. I promise to arrive early tomorrow morning. Brother Tang... you won’t leave me to fend for myself, will you?”

Tang Yue gazed at his timid expression in disbelief. He was tempted to claim he didn’t know Zhang Chun. After all, he was a newcomer from the twenty-first century—how could he fear ancient customs?

With a merciless push, Tang Yue handed Zhang Chun over to Wang Dingjun. “Then I entrust him to Scribe Wang. He’s still young and inexperienced. You must teach him well.”

“No worries, His Highness has tasked me with instructing him in martial arts. I shall take it very seriously.”

Zhang Chun wished he could ask Wang Dingjun not to be too serious, but he had no words.

Tang Yue waved farewell without any lingering concerns, leaving Zhang Chun to amuse himself in the somewhat eerie mansion.

On the first day, Wang Dingjun didn’t subject him to any torment, remarking, “We have a long journey ahead.”

After Tang Yue departed from the crown prince’s residence, he instructed the coachman to take him to Imperial Doctor Wu’s abode. It was impractical for him to run a clinic by himself. If he sought to hire a renowned physician and a herbalist, he needed to establish connections with the Imperial Medical Office.

Imperial Doctor Wu was a true master in the world of traditional Chinese medicine, ranking at the pinnacle of this era. In this age, traditional Chinese medicine held great sway, and Tang Yue urgently required such a skilled practitioner.

When they arrived at Imperial Doctor Wu’s residence, Tang Yue dispatched a messenger to convey his request. The doorman was courteous and invited them to wait in the inner chambers, personally going to inform Imperial Doctor Wu.

After a brief wait, Tang Yue spotted Imperial Doctor Wu, sporting a short haircut with mud-stained feet and a few dry leaves adorning his head.

Imperial Doctor Wu rose from his seat and led Tang Yue out of the room. “Haha... You’re absolutely right. A physician is indeed a member of the family. That’s a positive sign. I have a challenging and intricate medical case. Young one, lend me your expertise in diagnosing it.”

Tang Yue followed in the footsteps of Imperial Doctor Wu and entered a study adorned with shelves of books and disheveled bamboo scrolls. Numerous unfinished manuscripts lay scattered across the floor.

“There was a patient in his sixties who, despite his overall good health, experiences occasional bouts of abdominal pain, vomiting, chest discomfort, and other symptoms. The most severe episode even left him breathless, but he would recover after a few days of rest. What could be afflicting him?”

“Have you observed any irregularities in his heart rate?”

“Based on the pulse examination, there does appear to be some heart rate instability.”

Tang Yue’s initial diagnosis leaned toward cardiac infarction, a common ailment among the elderly, but cardiac failure couldn’t be ruled out either.

The definitive method involved checking the electrocardiogram, white blood cell count, and red blood cell sedimentation rate. Unfortunately, there were no available instruments for such tests at present.

Tang Yue proceeded to inquire about the patient’s daily habits, strengthening the suspicion of cardiovascular infarction.

Heart attacks could be triggered by various factors: excessive workload, overindulgence in food, constipation, emotional distress, or exposure to cold.

“While there isn’t a perfect treatment at this stage, there are several recommendations the patient should adhere to. Please relay these messages to the patient, senior.”

“Please give me a moment.” Imperial Doctor Wu hastily fetched a writing utensil and bamboo scroll, positioning himself seriously in front of Tang Yue.

Tang Yue located the brush he needed. It appeared this type of brush was highly efficient. He inquired, “Is the brush ready?”

Imperial Doctor Wu paused before breaking into laughter. “Excellent! Quite excellent! Using this brush is far less taxing than wielding a carving knife. At my age, my hands aren’t as steady as they used to be, and carving is a cumbersome task. This brush is much lighter.”

Tang Yue couldn’t help but smile. It seemed fulfilling the wishes of others was a source of great pride.

“His Highness’s invention is truly a boon for the people. Learning to write will become much easier in the future.”

Tang Yue recognized that what truly revolutionized literacy was the introduction of paper, which stood as the most significant innovation.

“Keep in mind that patients like this one should adopt a conservative diet. They should consume smaller, more frequent meals, avoiding high-fat and high-calorie foods. Spicy or overly stimulating foods, as well as alcohol, should be avoided. Encourage them to consume more porridge.”

“Wait, what constitutes... high-fat and high-calorie foods?” Imperial Doctor Wu inquired, puzzled.

“In simple terms, it refers to fried foods, meat-rich dishes, and certain pickled items. These can lead to excessive consumption and exacerbate the condition.” Tang Yue decided not to delve into high blood pressure, as explaining its definition would prove challenging.

Apart from these dietary guidelines, Western medicine offered some medicinal treatments like aspirin enteric-coated tablets. Tang Yue didn’t mention these options for now, planning to later secure a few bottles of oxygen therapy for the patient.