C31 – Are You Kidding Me?
“Do you understand the consequences of not addressing your leg issues?” Tang Yue tried to approach the subject gently.
Wang Zizhao stared back at him in silence, causing Tang Yue’s smile to disappear.
“Okay, I’ll be direct. Your legs and bones haven’t recovered well, and the healing process hasn’t been successful. Even if the scabs have healed, your legs are still deformed. Moreover, any additional stress in the future may lead to fractures.”
Wang Zizhao was aware of this fact. It was likely that every doctor he had consulted had told him the same thing.
“Can it be cured?”
“It can be treated!” Fractures were commonplace in medical procedures and were not particularly difficult to address. “However, there are a few things you need to know beforehand.”
“Please proceed.”
“Your leg bone has almost fully healed. To treat it, we will need to re-break your leg bones and cut open the muscles in your legs. After resetting the bones, we will need to use a device to fix them in place. We will then need to suture the muscles layer by layer.”
“…” Wang Zizhao examined Tang Yue intently, attempting to determine the validity of his words.
Was this a serious treatment method that he had never heard of? Was it truly worth it to risk further damage to his leg?
Tang Yue awkwardly touched his nose. “I understand that this may be difficult for you to accept. If you tell others, your family and friends might not agree with your decision. That’s why I wanted to talk to you privately. After all, this is your personal matter.”
Wang Zizhao’s eyes revealed a complex expression. He had always found the young dandy’s words, actions, and attitude to be strange. There were so many peculiarities that he had to be cautious of.
“I can understand why you want to undergo a bone removal surgery. Is the fixation you mentioned implanted from the inside?”
Tang Yue nodded with a smile. “Ninth Prince, you are indeed clever! Your high school level IQ is impressive.”
Wang Zizhao did not want to receive the compliment. He lifted his leg and imagined someone cutting it open, inserting strange objects, and sewing it back up. The thought sent shivers down his spine.
“When your legs are healed, what will happen to the objects that are inserted…”
Tang Yue interrupted confidently, “When your legs are healed, the objects can be removed. Don’t worry, it’s just a minor surgery. The pain will only be temporary.”
“Is there no other option?” Wang Zizhao took a deep breath.
Tang Yue hesitated for a moment before responding, “This is the fastest and most effective method. Of course, it could be treated with a cast. However, the results may not be as desirable. After all, this is the second time you’re receiving treatment.”
“How confident are you?”
“If you can find what I need, there’s a 90% chance!” No surgeon would ever claim to be 100% certain of their surgery, especially in this era where resources were scarce.
Without anesthetics, stainless steel plates, and steel nails, performing surgery was difficult.
“What do you require?”
“The first thing I need is anesthetics. After administration, it puts the patient into a temporary coma, so they can’t feel any pain.” Tang Yue wasn’t sure if anesthetics existed in this era, but the primary components were Mandara Flower, Black Head, and Arisaema. If the ingredients were complete, making it wouldn’t be difficult.
Wang Zizhao pondered for a moment and said, “Imperial Doctor Wu uses the Golden Needle Acupoint Stabbing Technique to induce unconsciousness. Would that be feasible?”
Tang Yue’s eyes lit up. Of course, how could he forget the most potent acupuncture technique in TCM? There were historical examples of anesthesia using acupuncture.
“Local anesthesia is acceptable, but I suggest general anesthesia is preferable.” If a scalpel was used on the human body, the patient might be easily stimulated. If they moved during surgery, it could result in a failed operation.
“What else?” Wang Zizhao didn’t immediately make a decision. He knew that things weren’t that simple.
“The second requirement is for bone fixation. I referred to it as a bone retractor, but it’s not easy to make.” It’s not that it’s impossible to make, it’s that in this era, making a stainless steel or titanium alloy bone contact plate was impossible.
“What materials are needed to make it?”
Tang Yue spoke two words that Wang Zizhao had never heard of before. “Stainless steel and titanium alloy!”
“……”
The two of them locked eyes for a moment, and seeing the “you’re teasing me” expression on Tang Yue’s face, Tang Yue was the first to break the gaze. “I know it’s difficult, but I’ll figure something out.”
In reality, he didn’t need to perform an anastomosis. He was simply used to doing it during surgeries. He needed to study the materials he wasn’t familiar with.
Wang Zizhao’s expression gradually calmed, and he probably believed Tang Yue was unreliable. “Life and death are determined by fate. It doesn’t matter if it can’t be cured.”
“It can be cured, I assure you!” Tang Yue fixed his gaze on Wang Zizhao. As the director of the surgery department, if he couldn’t perform a minor surgery like this, then what was the point of his position?
Wang Zizhao looked at him deeply, clearly surprised by Tang Yue’s confidence. The corner of his mouth curved into a slight smile. “In that case, I’ll entrust it to the young dandy.”
“Very well, I’ll provide you with an answer in three days!” Tang Yue stood up and looked down at Wang Zizhao. “But before the surgery, I will have someone write a document stating that you consented. If anything happens, you cannot hold me responsible.”
He had learned from past experiences not to argue with privileged individuals unless everything was explained beforehand.
Wang Zizhao’s heart, which had just settled down, was thrown into chaos once again. He did not trust them and felt that he must have been crazy to believe this young and seemingly nonsensical master.
However, as long as there was a chance, he was willing to try.
“We will discuss this matter in three days. If you cannot provide a feasible solution, I will consider what you said today as nonsense.”
“What will happen then?” Tang Yue asked, feeling anxious.
The other party gave a cold smile. “Those who dare to speak nonsense in front of me are either silenced or dead by now.”
Tang Yue nervously licked his lips and felt a strange pain. “Don’t worry, I don’t have the courage to speak out.”
“That’s good.” Wang Zizhao summoned someone to escort them out.
As Tang Yue left Prince Zhao’s Mansion, he pondered on how to handle Wang Zizhao’s situation. There were numerous ways to treat bone fractures, but Wang Zizhao’s case was exceptional. It would be best to combine Eastern and Western medicine to cure him. Otherwise, it would not be easy to gain the acceptance of this era.
Once he entered his carriage, Yueyang Marquis began to sigh. “Yue’er, why do you insist on this? Even the best doctor in South Jin cannot heal Wang Zizhao’s leg. Where do you get such confidence from?”
Tang Yue smiled at his father. “Don’t worry, Father. I won’t attempt anything I’m uncertain about.”
He desired to treat Wang Zizhao’s leg not only for his reputation’s sake but also for the young man himself.
If he wanted to continue practicing medicine, he needed patients who were willing to give him a chance. Wang Zizhao held a high status, and if Tang Yue could cure him, he would gain fame overnight. This would be a great way to establish himself.
No one would trust a young doctor in his teens, but it would be a different story if he could cure a case that others had failed to do so.
Tang Yue was nearly forty years old and was unwilling to begin as an apprentice. To earn people’s trust, he had to showcase his skills.
Yueyang Marquis thought Tang Yue was too proud. He couldn’t agree easily as it was related to Wang Zizhao’s health.
Nevertheless, he had already made a bold claim, and it was not easy to retract it.
Upon returning home, Yueyang Marquis ordered his men to search for medical books. He gathered all the medical books he could find and sent them to Tang Yue’s room.
Books in this era were exceedingly valuable. Even with money, they might not be easy to come by. Yueyang Marquis used his connections to obtain some books from the Imperial Medical Office.
Then, an extraordinary sight appeared in the Yueyang Marquis’s mansion. Tang Yue walked ahead of them, while a bookkeeper followed behind, reading the contents aloud.
“The heart is located in the chest, the sun among the suns. It connects to the summertime air, and it is the main god and bloodline. The heart is linked to the small intestine, where blood and glory are generated…”
Initially, Tang Yue found it bothersome. No matter where he went, he could hear the bookkeeper’s voice buzzing in his ear. However, he grew accustomed to it and began to ignore it. On occasion, he would even find inspiration in the contents he heard.
“Qihua is before me. Concealed meridians, surrendering spirits, unlocking the tongue’s potential, and making the will joyful…”
It seemed like the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Cultivation Technique. Tang Yue pondered it for a moment before dismissing the idea.
Wherever Tang Yue went, the sound of his footsteps echoed through the halls. The servants who saw him passing by couldn’t help but smile. His presence made the manor much more lively.
In the backyard, the Marquis’s Wife and Zhao Shi were enjoying some cool sour plum soup. The four maids beside them were fanning themselves frantically, trying to beat the heat.
“Madam, does the young man really intend to treat Wang Zizhao?” asked Zhao Shi’s wife in a hushed voice.
“The Master of the Hou Mansion confirmed it himself. How could it be fake?” The Marquis’s Wife’s face showed a hint of schadenfreude. “That foolish boy doesn’t know his place.”
“Indeed. I just hope that he doesn’t implicate the Marquis’s Mansion.”
“Wang Zizhao is not someone who doesn’t know right from wrong. It’s just that I fear that the boy won’t be able to establish himself in Ye City in the future.”
“But what if he does cure him?”
“Absurd! How could a mere boy compare to the entire Imperial Medical Office? Only the Master of the Hou Mansion would believe in him.” The Marquis’s Wife felt pleased with herself as she thought of this.
She knew that a boy who grew up in the countryside was not worthy of their attention. This time, she would humiliate him for sure!
But wait! Once the outcome was certain, she would persuade the Duke and Duchess to send this boy to their manor on the outskirts of the city. She would then send a few women to bear him children and raise them before bringing him back to their household.
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