Doctor goes back to Joseon

Chapter 89: Gwanghae [1]

 

It was late in the evening, but Ganghyuk continued teaching.

It was scheduled to be over some time earlier.

However, nobody thought of leaving.

“Then should we eat something that would be left undigested?”

They were asking questions one after the other.

Ganghyuk tried to see who was the one asking this question.

It was Heo Im.

All of the students in the room had eyes filled with curiosity, but Heo Im’s eyes were on a different level.

‘Heo Jun is interested in medicine and herbs. If he were born in modern times, he would be a physician or a pediatrician.’

Heo Jun recorded everything Ganghyuk said.

Therefore, he did not have time to ask questions.

On the other hand, Heo Im was imitating the operation using his hand.

Whenever he had time, he followed the hand movement Ganghyuk showed.

‘He is quite clever.’

Professors said in the university.

To make evaluate, one must not focus on the answers, but the questions they asked.

The questions showed their level of understanding.

The extended class started because of Heo Im’s question.

If he were not an acupuncture therapist, Ganghyuk wanted to teach him.

He felt sorry for him.

Ganghyuk thought Heo Im had the qualities to be a good surgeon.

‘The lectures will help him anyway.’

Ganghyuk answered his question.

“Yes. The health of the anus and rectum depended on what we eat. If we reduce the amount of rice and eat more vegetables, you will have more stool…”

Squeak.

While Ganghyuk was answering the question, a sound interrupted them.

Ganghyuk shut his mouth, and Heo Jun looked at the origin of the sound.

Heo Jun was the highest among the officials on night duty.

The rest of them left the palace a long time ago.

Therefore, they did not expect anyone.

“Scholar Baik. I will go and see.”

“Yes.”

“Who visits here at this time?”

Heo Jun went out, massaging his legs. He sat down for a long time it numbed his legs.

Ganghyuk felt tired as the lecture stopped.

Pitpat, pitpat.

The man walked into the building.

There was a voice.

“There are many shoes here. Are there many night guards in Naeeuiwon?”

“As far as I know, there are not so many night guards.”

“It seems there is an emergency.”

The footsteps grew faster.

Heo Jun felt his heart beat hasten.

He recognized his voice.

‘Why is Prince Gwanghae coming here?’

He was not born from the queen. His mother was one of the concubines of Seonjo. However, Seonjo did not have a son with the queen so one of the concubines’ son might succeed Seonjo.

Prince Imhae, Gwanghae, or Shinseong might be chosen as the Crown Prince.

It was highly probable that Prince Shinseong would be chosen, as his mother was Inbin who was Seonjo’s most beloved concubine.

Anyway, Prince Gwanhae was not an easy man.

Not only because he was a prince but also because of his dignity.

Those who have met him felt shared the same sentiment. He had something different from ordinary people.

While Heo Jun was thinking, Prince Gwanghae came into the Naeeuiwon.

“Ah, you are the nightguard tonight.”

He recognized Heo Jun.

He knew Heo Jun cured Prince Imhae. Prince Imhae was his political rival, but he did not care. Heo Jun bent his body as if he were caught breaking the law.

“Your Highness, what brought you here? Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Eum. My wrist is always the same. I don’t feel comfortable.”

He murmured looking at his right wrist.

It seemed he was back from the shooting range.

Apparently, he’s feeling his wrist hurt again.

Heo Jun could see his hand was trembling with his bare eyes.

Heo Jun bent his body.

“I am sorry. My medicine might not work well.”

“Eum? No. The medicine worked. The problem is the effect of the medicine did not last.”

Gwanghae smiled remembering the small pill Heo Jun had given him.

Heo Jun gave him a tablet a day. He wanted to have more, but Heo Jun told him he would only take one tablet a day.

“By the way, why are so many people gathered in the Naeeuiwon?”

“Ah…”

Heo Jun looked within the Naeeuiwon.

Although the people inside tried to be quiet, the crowd’s noise could not be contained.

Such as sound from clothes.

Coughs.

Sneezes and yawns.

They did not do anything wrong.

All of the fellows in the building were authorized.

Ganghyuk and his fellows had their permit signed by Jeong Cheol, and the others were working in the Naeeuiwon.

Heo Jun opened his mouth carefully.

“I am afraid to say this, your highness, but we were having a lecture at this hour.”

“You are the one taking the lecture? Not giving?”

Heo Jun had a good reputation in the palace.

When Prince Imhae was sick, Heo Jun was selected to be his doctor because of his reputation. There were higher ranking doctors within the office of Jubu and Jikjang, but Heo Jun took the responsibility as Cheomjeong.

He proved his ability by curing Prince Imhae completely.

He became the peerless doctor in the palace, which meant he became the peerless doctor in Joseon.

However, now he said that he was listening to a lecture.

Knowing this, Gwanghae became curious.

“Yes, your highness. He has deeper knowledge in medicine than me.”

“I would like to meet him. I have never heard of anyone who had better medical knowledge than you.”

“Ah.”

Heo Jun was hesitant to guide him to Ganghyuk.

He remembered his behavior.

Heo Jun was so shocked at the behavior of Ganghyuk that he put the pus on the nose of the governor.

He did not show any respect to the governor, although he was a high-ranking official.

When Ganghyuk gave him a pill, Heo Jun felt Ganghyuk was pulling his legs.

Heo Jun was worried about his rude behavior.

If he showed his behavior to Prince Gwanghae, all of them could die.

“Why are you hesitant?”

“Ah…The lecturer is not really someone interesting.”

“What is that? Is he from the lower class?”

Heo Jun shook his head.

Ganghyuk did not have any problem with his status.

He was a nobleman.

That is more shocking though.

“No, he is the first son of Baik Seungmun.”

“Seungmun? Ah, the one who served as Daejehak in Hongmungwan.”

“Yes, your highness.”

“Oh, his son has good knowledge in medicine? Interesting.”

Gwanghae showed curiosity.

He was a prince, but he was also a teenager.

He had an interest in peculiar people.

Maybe Ganghyuk could satisfy his curiosity.

He was a very strange person anyway.

“Yes, please understand him with your generosity, Your Highness, even if his behavior is improper.”

“Okay. I would like to see him. Your comments made me even more curious.”

“Yes, your highness. This way, please.”

Heo Jun walked ahead to show the way.

It was the place where Ganghyuk gave a lecture.

As he expected, Ganghyuk was sitting down on the floor carelessly.

‘Lying down’ might be a better word to describe what he’s doing.

He leaned on the back of Dolseok and Makbong, using them as cushions, and he placed his legs on the knees of Yeoni.

He looked like he was sitting on a hammock.

“Eum”

Gwanghae moaned after seeing a totally unexpected scene.

There was no one lying or sitting like that in the palace.

It could be suitable if it was done by scoundrels in the marketplace.

Some of them raised their heads after hearing the moaning, and they stood up and bowed.

“Your Highness.”

The rest of them stood up when they heard as to where the sound came from.

Yeoju, who was behind Ganghyuk, stood up, too.

The only people who did not stand up were Ganghyuk, Dolseok, Makbong, and Yeoni.

Ganghyuk could not hear the sound, thinking of something, and the others were sleeping.

Fortunately, Gwanghae was not angry.

He pointed Ganghyuk with an interesting face.

“Is he the man you are talking about?”

“Yes, your highness. He is exhausted and may have fallen asleep. I will wake him up.”

“Okay. I would like to be acquainted with him.”

Heo Jun patted Ganghyuk’s shoulder hastily.

“Eo…Scholar Baik.”

“Eum? Ah, Dr. Heo. I was thinking about which tool we should make first. Haha.”

Ganghyuk scratched his head.

He was absorbed in the thought of making tools.

It was not simple to make those tools in Joseon.

‘It would be too difficult to make forceps.’

He did not know the level of technology in Joseon, but it seemed impossible for blacksmiths in that era to make forceps.

They could not make small teeth for forceps.

He had to think of a method to simplify the teeth of forceps, but he had no idea how.

‘Comparing to forceps, scalpels would be easier.’

It would be difficult to make its blade disposable style.

However, if they’d make an integrated style so the scalpel had the blade from the beginning, it would not be too difficult.

Now that he thought about it, their daily labor involved making swords. People did not call them swordsmiths for no reason after all.

The only difference would be the size.

However, the blacksmith in the palace would be the best in Joseon.

Heo Jun forcibly turned Ganghyuk’s head to him.

“Scholar Baik. See who is here.”

“Eum?”

Ganghyuk did not move at all even though he had seen Gwanghae with his eyes.

His ignorance and Gwanghae’s sudden appearance made the scene ridiculous to onlookers.

Who could imagine that he would meet a prince by chance?

Although he lived in Joseon where there were far more princes compared to modern times…

“Show your respect. His Highness is Prince Gwanghae.”

Heo Jun’s voice was nearly crying only then did Ganghyuk recognized the situation.

“Eo!”

Ganghyuk stood up hastily.

He bowed.

There should be other courtesy, but he was ignorant of the etiquette in Joseon.

It was fortunate that Ganghyuk did not try shaking hands with Gwanghae.

“How are you? I am Baik Ganghyuk.”

Ganghyuk’s greeting missed all honorific expression such as Prince or Your Highness, but Gwanghae didn’t mind. Instead, he showed curiosity.

“Eum, I am Lee Hon.”

Ganghyuk tilted his head for a moment.

Soon he realized Hon might be his real name. In Joseon, they used many names. Gwanghae was the alias used with the title Prince.

‘Yes, the royal family of Joseon was Lee.’

It was natural for the family name of the Prince to be Lee since it was the Lee Dynasty.

“Glad to…no no, honored to meet Your Highness.”

“Haha.”

Gwanghae shook his head laughing.

“Well, come on. Sit down again. I am curious what you were teaching.”