Chang'an was a bustling city, renowned for its restaurants, brothels frequented by men, vibrant casinos, Confucian academies, an observatory, and bustling markets.
Its prosperity far surpassed that of a county town. As a former capital, its historical depth was unmatched by ordinary cities.
However, having witnessed countless nights of extravagance in his previous life, Lu Ming felt little excitement upon seeing the decadent lifestyle of ancient times again.
Everything here was wonderful, but it wasn't his. What good was excitement? He needed to cultivate relationships first.
Zhang Wen's residence was in the north of the city. This area had once been the imperial palace, but after the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the relocation of the capital to Luoyang, the palace became a temporary residence, only used by the emperor when he returned.
It had also fallen into disrepair. While not exactly dilapidated, it exuded a sense of desolate decline.
In the north of the city, many residences of nobles and officials remained. Even living in Luoyang, owning a house here would be a wise choice. Zhang Wen's residence appeared quite grand, with its red-lacquered gate and gilded characters on the plaque exuding an air of wealth.
Guided by servants, the group arrived at the main hall.
Zhang Wen sat in the head seat, his expression arrogant. Although there was a hint of a smile, a sense of class hierarchy was already evident.
The superior looked down upon the inferior, viewing them with a superior gaze.
"Greetings, Lord Minister of Works," Dong Zhuo and his entourage bowed respectfully. After all, he was their superior, and official etiquette had to be observed.
"Hmm, it's Zhongying and Anmin. Come, sit," Zhang Wen instructed a servant. "Serve the best tea!"
After the servant brought the teapot and took his leave, Dong Zhuo didn't mince words, speaking quite bluntly.
"My lord, I heard that Madam is seeking medical treatment. Anmin has some medical knowledge; perhaps he could examine her?"
"Oh? You know medicine?" Zhang Wen had a fairly good impression of Lu Ming; at least he had saved her life, and that god-like image was still vivid in his mind.
The world is not at peace these days; having such a subordinate is a source of confidence.
Lu Ming clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, his face serious and composed, showing no sign of being the beastly scoundrel who had committed adultery with both his mother and grandmother!
"I have been studying traditional Chinese medicine. Food is the most important thing for people; illnesses and ailments are common. It's better to rely on yourself than others. If you know how, you can take care of your family."
"Oh, it seems Anmin is a very filial person. Very good, very good." Zhang Wen nodded, not doubting the man's sincerity.
This kind of thing is not something to joke about, especially not in this situation. They're serious now; how could he joke about it?
This trip to Chang'an wasn't primarily about treating his wife's illness; the real reason was to try and contact his wife's maternal family, the Marquis of Zhao, to secure funds.
"Since that's the case, let's go see the lady. Someone, bring Magistrate Lu to examine her."
As rumored, Chang'an was home to numerous noble families, large and small, all inherited from their ancestors.
Some lacking business acumen had declined, while those skilled in management, employing their servants in lowly commercial ventures, quietly amassed great wealth; they were all landlords.
With the capital's eastward relocation, this area had essentially become the backyard of the nobles.
The Marquis of Zhao was among the elite, his ancestry traceable to Liu Bang's grandson; he was a true noble, perhaps not the most powerful, but certainly among the top.
Lu Ming assumed they were going to the room, but instead waited in a side hall, not far from the main hall, where he could even hear Zhang Wen and Dong Zhuo chatting and laughing.
Shortly afterward, footsteps approached. Several maids led the way, followed by a middle-aged woman with slightly graying hair.
With a beautiful face and dignified appearance, dressed in a brocade robe, she exuded elegance and grace. She was Liu Liu, Zhang Wen's wife and the younger sister of Zhao Hou.
"Are you Doctor Lu?"
"Yes, Madam. Please sit down. May I ask where you are feeling unwell?" Lu Ming produced a small pillow, intended to support the wrist and facilitate pulse diagnosis.
"Toothache, it hurts so much I can't sleep," Madam Zhang said, clutching her right cheek, clearly in pain even speaking.
Seeing this, Lu Ming understood why Madam Zhang had sought medical help in Chang'an for so long without success—it was a toothache!
Toothache was essentially incurable in ancient times, at least not completely. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it was likely only Zhang Zhongjing who had studied medicine, and Zhang Zhongjing, being from an official family, studied medicine out of interest, not to open a clinic.
"A toothache isn't incurable, but it's quite troublesome. First, we need to determine if it's periodontitis or pulpitis, the condition of the tooth, and whether a filling is needed—all of these require examination. Madam, dental treatment might be considered impolite by commoners, requiring you to open your mouth so I can use medication and instruments inside. Please understand this beforehand; if you find it unacceptable, you can take it as a joke and let it pass." Lu Ming was quite shrewd. Although the concept of chastity wasn't strong in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it wasn't uncommon for women to remarry after their husbands' deaths.
Even Cao Cao enjoyed taking other men's wives, so chastity wasn't truly important.
However, this didn't mean he could touch her indiscriminately, and if a woman wasn't a virgin in her first marriage, she would still be subject to gossip.
At this moment, Madam Zhang no longer cared about etiquette. Even a slight smile caused her pain. "Doctor, please proceed with the examination. I can make the decision!"
Madam Zhang's confidence stemmed from her brother. She wasn't a commoner, but a genuine noblewoman, so she could speak with confidence when facing her husband.
This confidence stemmed from having a powerful family background, allowing her to speak with conviction.
"Please lie down on the couch, Madam. Someone, bring a towel and pillow, and move the bed over here." Although this was Lu Ming's first time treating someone, he remained calm, as he had prepared some aloe vera gel for pain relief.
The bed, originally against the wall, was now moved, and Lu Ming had even removed the backrest with his bare hands. The strength he displayed left Madam Zhang somewhat stunned; she had never heard of, let alone witnessed, such treatment before.
She was curious and wanted to see if this young doctor could truly cure her toothache!
After all, a toothache isn't a disease, but when it strikes, it can be excruciating!