Doctor Goes Back to Joseon

Chapter 23: Secret Treatment [2]

These were the times when oil was very expensive. Furthermore, it seemed Changgweon did not have a great financial foundation, so he could not use oil extensively. Additionally, there was only one old servant in the house.

Ganghyuk thought he could do it without being noticed, as he did not want to ask Changgweon about it.

‘He was persistent even before the governor. He will definitely not listen to me.’

He had seen numerous people, although the relationship was limited to doctor and patient. Hence, he could make an educated guess.

Although, he was surely not a physiognomist…

‘I will come back later after the bell rings. I don’t want a scuffle.’

Ganghyuk looked back Yeoni, He would need her if he could not touch the girl directly. After all, she could jump over this kind of a wall easily.

‘Ok, I will do that.’ Once he had made up his mind, he felt at east.

“Do you know what it is?”

“Ah” Ganghyuk answered with serious face. She had fever and pains, which meant she had an infection. Although he did not know what kind, it would be better to take antibiotics.

“First of all…”

Ganghyuk took out antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and narcotic analgesics for him.

“Give her these. She would feel a bit better.”

She would at least have a sound sleep with them. Furthermore, It would be easier if she fell fast asleep when he came back at dawn.

Changgweon bowed his head without knowing of Ganghyuk’s plan.

“Thank you. I will not forget the gratitude if she recovers.”

“No, sir. I will come back tomorrow,”

“Will you?”

“Yes, I am a doctor, and a doctor must see his patient. Goodbye.”

And after saying that, Ganghyuk left along with Yeoni hurriedly. The yard was very small, so it did not take too long.

“Sir, you are really great.”

“What?”

“How did you know of the disease even when you did not see the patient?” Yeoni seemed to be moved. If it were true, it would be miraculous indeed. But, on hearing her, Ganghyuk shook his head with bitter laughter.

“I am not a God, so how can I know?”

“Pardon? You gave her a medicine.”

“They will work, but they cannot cure her completely.”

“Then, what should she do? When I heard her voice, it seemed like she was dying.”

Yeoni had a soft mind even though she was very tough.

Ganghyuk suddenly lowered his voice and whispered to Yeoni while looking around to see if there was somebody else. His breath tickled her ears; Yeoni shrank her body a little, but he did not care.

“Your specialty is high jump, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We need to come back here.”

“Here? When, sir?”

It was already dark, which meant it is not the time to go anywhere.

“After the bell.”

“After the bell? During the curfew?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Is it because…?”

“Yes, I need to see her. I need your help. Can you?”

Yeoni became sober with Ganghyuk’s remark. She knew that he did not care about the etiquette, but she had not imagined it to be to this extent.

How could a nobleman think of intruding in a lady’s room at night?

“Oh my goodness! You mean to take her at night?”

“No, no…! I don’t mean that.”

He did not intend to take her to somewhere else. If he did, he would be rolled in the straw mat first. It would not matter even if he were the only son of Seungmun and a beloved of the governor.

“Then, do you mean to intrude her room? If she yells, what shall we do?”

“No worries. I gave her narcotic analgesic to make her asleep.”

“But, she will make a fuss if a man touches her.”

“Ah, you will touch her.”

‘What does he mean?’ Yeoni opened her eyes wide. “Do you mean that I will examine her?”

“Yes, it will not be a problem if you touch her.”

“I… I have not treated anybody.”

He had guessed so. He also figured that she maybe knew many people who needed to be treated.

“It is OK… I will teach you.” Ganghyuk nodded his head with confidence.

“What?”

“Not only am I good at curing the patient, but I am also good at teaching.”

“Oh my goodness!”

He boasted about himself without batting an eye indeed. Yeoni couldn’t help but look downwards with some anxiety.

Ganghyuk asked, “Why, you think you cannot do it?”

Hearing the provocative question, Yeoni reacted sensitively. She was the girl who wore men’s clothing and worked as Eoreumsani.

She had a pride and spirit by nature.

“Why do you think I am not confident?”

“Okay then, we go after the bells, eh?”

“Ha…” It seemed she had fallen into the trap. She had never thought of roaming around after the curfew.

Yeoni sighed as she looked at Ganghyuk, “Then please let Makbong come together.”

“Makbong?”

He remembered Makbong instantly: short and stout with muscles. He might be good at somersaults, but he probably would be slow.

“Why him?”

“Makbong is good at going around at night stealthily.”

“OK, but what does he do at night? Why is he roaming around at night?”

“En…” Yeoni hesitated for a while. She was a girl who was stronger than ordinary men, so she could avoid spilling out things she didn’t want to. Ganghyuk waited without forcing her while thinking that there must be a reason.

Fortunately, she did not make him wait for a long time.

“There is a town of widows near here.”

“Widow Town?”

“Makbong did something for them and got paid.”

“Work? At night? Aha, I see.” Ganghyuk nodded his head, seeming that he understood.

‘Yes, when I saw Makbong on the swing, I noticed that he must have a strong waist.’

He must have a somewhat frightening strength. Widows who had not had intercourses with men for a long time might be tempted. He did not need any PR or advertisement for sure.

The night in Joseon was quiet, and there was no soundproofing system, which could indirectly prove his skills in avoiding detection.

“Yes, he must be good at avoiding the patrol.”

“Yes, sir. Everything has its use, sir.”

After saying that, Yeoni bowed politely and then went into the inn, while Ganghyuk went into the clinic.

‘Let’s see… Are the two of them getting along well?”

He reckoned that Dolseok would not really irritate Lee Sunshin. He was quick-witted, and knew where he should stretch and where he should withdraw.

‘Squeak.’

The sound of the door opening was too loud. Hearing it, Dolseok came out of the room with bare feet almost immediately.

“Sir!”

Ganghyuk thought that something might have happened to Lee Sunshin because of Dolseok’s seemingly urgent attitude. But, a very comfortable voice of Sushin followed soon after.

“You are late.”

As he looked very comfortable, Ganghyuk was relieved. He then asked Dolseok, who had rushed to him, looking like someone from hell.

“Why are you making a fuss?”

“My God!” Dolseok opened his mouth after shaking his head for a while. “Don’t ask me. He is a real alter cocker.

“Why?”

“I was scolded when I washed the urine pot.”

“Urine Pot?”

“It was same when we ate… No, sir. Please do not let me be alone with him in the clinic.”

It seemed that he really had had a hard time, so much so that he even dared to cling to his master’s trousers.

Ganghyuk pitied him, but he could not help leaving him alone there, so he shook his head while clicking his tongue. “I am sorry. But, I have to go somewhere.”

“What? Now?”

“Yes. Please let me go. I need to see him before I go.”

“No, sir. Do you have to go somewhere this late at night? No, sir. I cannot sleep alone here with him.”

Dolseok tried to keep him from going with pitiful eyes. But, Ganghyuk did not feel any special feelings as the former did not have a pretty face. Instead, he felt something coming from deep inside.

Ganghyuk pushed him and said, “There must be a man to take care of the patient, fellow.”

“Patient? You can see him. He is not a patient at all.”

“He had an operation yesterday. How could he not be a patient?”

But, when he went inside, he understood what Dolseok had said. Sunshin sat at the desk, having the right leg stretched. He held books in his hands, and there were more books on the desk.

“You came back.”

“Yes. Where did you get those books?”

Sunshin pointed at Dolseok with his chin in response to Ganghyuk’s question.

“I asked him to get these books.”

“From where?”

“Here and there.”

When he turned back, Dolseok answered while pressing his lips, “I visited all the noblemen’s houses.”

He surely had a hard time.

‘It is Lee Sunshin. I can do more than that.’

Even if he wanted Ganghyuk to write a book, he would do that. As a matter of fact, it was Ganghyuk who was loose rather than Sunshin being too tight. It was just that Dolseok was accustomed to Ganghyuk’s style too much.

Ganghyuk turned his head to Sunshin again, “How is the wound?”

“You have good skills. I have no pain at all if I don’t move.”

Ganghyuk smiled. Pain was one of the best indications to know the status of the patient after an operation.

‘Nobody will believe if I say that I performed such an operation here.’Ganghyuk had himself thought that it would be impossible before he actually did the operation.

‘Yes, I am a genius.’ Ganghyuk laughed in his mind and undressed the bandage on Sunshin’s leg.

It seemed very good; the part that ruptured in the morning was settling quite well.

“Good. I will sterilize it once more and cover it with new bandage.”

“Thank you,”

“Dolseok, hold the leg.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dolseok was a faithful servant, and a good student as well. He was already accustomed to the dressing works.

‘Yes, I am the teacher, so he must, of course, be able to those things.’ It was natural for Dolseok to do such a thing as he was Ganghyuk’s student.

“Yes, no. Stop there… The toes should be seen.”

“Yes, you told me that the color of toes was important.”

“Yes, you have made improvement.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The bandaging works ended soon thanks to Dolseok.

“It will get better, so you will be able to walk some time later.”

“Thank you. From when can I start using my sword?”

“I will let you know later. Take this medicine.”

“Ok.”

Sunshin swallowed the medicine, showing a disappointed face for a while. But, it did not take long for him to fall asleep because of narcotic analgesia.

Dolseok came to Ganghyuk after making a bed for him.

“Sir, have a sleep here.”

“No. I have to go.”

“Where are you going alone? It will soon be the time for the curfew.”

“I am not going alone.”

‘Not alone, then with whom?’ Dolseok whispered with frightened face. “Are you going with Yeoni? No, sir. If Sir Seungmun knows…”

“Yes, I am going with Yeoni. But, it is not the kind of thing you are thinking. Makbong will go with us as well.”

“Makbong?”

What was he doing with two slaves? While Dolseok was imagining some bad things, there were sounds in the yard.

When he opened the door, Yeoni and Makbong were already there. They came in after climbing the wall.

“Sir, let’s go.”

“Ok.”

Ganghyuk lifted his bag and got ready to leave while the conversation between Yeoni and Makbong was going on.

“How high is the wall there?”

“It is lower than this place. I will jump first, and then, Makbong, you must help him.

“Ok. Who on earth is she?”

“I don’t know. Her father is a professor. You are confident not to be caught by patrol, right?”

“Only if you and sir do well.” Makbong laughed, but Dolseok showed a frightened face. He looked at Ganghyuk with a reproachful look.

‘Now, he is kidnapping a girl.’