Chapter 125

C125 – You Are Quite Open-minded

Tang Yue blushed and gently pushed him, but he didn’t resist, allowing the embrace to continue.

He could feel the steady pulse of Crown Prince Zhao and the reassuring strength of his chest, evoking a sense of security within him.

It was almost surreal to experience this level of comfort from a young man. Had Crown Prince Zhao matured early, or had he been too carefree in his previous life?

“I’m not skilled in sweet-talking or flattery. I hope you don’t mind,” Crown Prince Zhao consoled Tang Yue while rubbing his back and planting a kiss atop his head.

Tang Yue smiled at him and replied, “That’s perfectly fine. If Your Highness were overly smooth-tongued, I might have been concerned.”

Tang Yue didn’t inquire about the fate of the group of kidnappers; it wasn’t the primary concern. All that mattered was that, from this moment on, the compassion and admiration he held in his heart were enough to move him deeply.

In this lifetime, regardless of the ultimate outcome, he was determined to pursue the love he desired, even if it meant flying close to the flame like a moth.

“The wedding is fast approaching. How are the preparations at the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion coming along? I’m here to help if there are any difficulties,” Crown Prince Zhao inquired.

Tang Yue was reminded by this and, checking the date, felt his heart race. He gently pushed Crown Prince Zhao away, touching his own nose awkwardly. “These matters should be handled by the family. Your Highness need not trouble yourself with them.”

“I’m more than willing to help.” If not for the prestige of the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion, Crown Prince Zhao would have personally overseen all the arrangements for Tang Yue.

Imagining that he would soon take Tang Yue under his wing and build a life together filled Crown Prince Zhao with anticipation for the future.

Having grown up within the confines of the palace and experienced the ravages of war, Crown Prince Zhao had not felt this kind of zest for life in many years. This sensation, it seemed, was happiness.

After their conversation, Crown Prince Zhao arranged for a carriage to take Tang Yue back home. According to custom, the two of them were not allowed to meet before the wedding, but as they were of the same gender, it went unnoticed by others.

At his doorstep, Tang Yue encountered Xiang Ann. The latter halted his carriage and greeted him with an air of importance, saying, “Master, I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while!”

Tang Yue couldn’t be bothered to correct him and went straight to the point, asking, “Xiao An, why have you been waiting for me?”

Xiang Ann nodded cautiously, glancing around before discreetly retrieving a bag from his backpack and handing it to Tang Yue. “Master, please inspect this. I have a lingering suspicion about its contents.”

“What’s in it?” Tang Yue inquired, accepting the bag and carefully examining its contents. His reaction was immediate, his eyes widening in astonishment. He struggled to hold onto the bag without dropping it.

Internally, he cursed. Was this youngster attempting to play a macabre prank on him? Who would carry human body parts around and present them like valuable treasures?

“Ahem… Where did you come across this item?”

“I obtained it from a deceased body, Master. Would you suggest that your disciple had the audacity to dissect a living person?”

That was a delicate matter to broach.

“Very well, but why do you believe there’s something amiss with it?” Tang Yue stashed the cloth bag away and concealed it within his robes. He gently pulled Xiang Ann’s arm and guided him indoors.

Conversing about such unsavory subjects in front of others was ill-advised; it could provoke fear and discomfort.

Once inside his own courtyard, Tang Yue changed into fresh attire. A servant brought tea and food, but upon glancing at it, Tang Yue waved the servant away. The sight of bloody human organs had thoroughly quenched his appetite for barbecue.

“Take a seat, and please elaborate,” Tang Yue instructed, serving Xiang Ann a cup of tea and seating him at the same level.

In this era, the master-disciple relationship adhered to strict conventions, akin to the paternal bond. It wasn’t as egalitarian as modern teacher-student relationships.

Tang Yue hadn’t initially intended to take on a disciple. On one hand, he believed that passing on his knowledge of Western medicine in this era was challenging. On the other hand, he found Xiang Ann’s unpredictable and audacious nature difficult to manage.

These prodigious youngsters were often endowed with unique talents. They could achieve remarkable feats, but they were equally prone to monumental blunders.

Given Tang Yue’s current medical expertise, he couldn’t entrust it to someone who was overly impulsive. The work involved precision inside the human body, and there was no room for recklessness.

Xiang Ann gingerly unveiled the cloth bag, revealing its contents. Tang Yue covered his nose and approached for a closer look. Soon, he discerned the crux of the issue.

“Look, my disciple retrieved this heart from the deceased’s body. It appears different from what I usually encounter.”

“Oh? How is it different?” Tang Yue wasn’t an internist and wasn’t well-versed in heart conditions, but he had a basic understanding of what a healthy heart should look like.

“Notice how the gap in this heart seems larger than that of a typical heart. Additionally, these blood vessels don’t appear as delicate…”

Tang Yue nodded in approval as he listened. This young one showed promise in the field of medicine, demonstrating an ability to learn independently at such a tender age.

“Master, do you think the deceased died due to an illness?”

Tang Yue shook his head. “You’ve only shown me one heart. It’s premature to determine the cause of death based solely on this. Even if there are issues with the heart, it doesn’t necessarily imply death from heart disease.”

“My father conducted an examination. There were no external injuries or signs of poisoning. He couldn’t establish the cause of death. Witnesses reported that the deceased died suddenly during a conversation with someone else. Family members attested that the deceased was in good health and had no preexisting conditions that could lead to death.”

“He died suddenly?”

Xiang Ann nodded. “Yes, that’s correct. Do you think illness could be a factor?”

Tang Yue didn’t give a direct answer. Instead, he pointed to specific areas of the heart and explained, “The deceased’s heart indeed exhibits anomalies, likely indicating congenital heart disease. This condition is typically associated with issues like a narrow pulmonary artery, aortic artery constriction, ventricular septal defects, unclosed arterial ducts, aortic arch abnormalities, pulmonary artery irregularities, and so forth.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“However, if the deceased had never shown signs of illness before, it stands to reason that sudden death wouldn’t occur unless there was an extreme trigger.”

“A trigger?”

“Yes, particularly through words or intense emotions. Patients with congenital heart disease are highly susceptible to emotional stress. Their emotions need to remain stable to prevent erratic heart rhythms and insufficient blood supply, which can easily lead to shock.”

“Shock… What does that entail?” Xiang Ann rested his chin on his hand, gazing at Tang Yue with curiosity, as though eager to learn more.

Tang Yue couldn’t help but smile. With such a promising student, he might eventually surpass him in the field.

“Shock is a sudden condition where the body experiences reduced effective blood flow and microcirculation blockages, leading to vital organs receiving insufficient blood and oxygen. In simpler terms, it’s when a patient’s heart suddenly stops beating, and their breathing ceases, resembling a state of false death.”

Xiang Ann retained every word in his memory, though the full significance eluded him. He inquired, “Can a person survive without breathing and a heartbeat?”

“Actual death is characterized as brain death. If the heart regains its rhythm and breathing resumes, it’s not considered death.”

“So, a person in shock isn’t really dead? Can they be saved?” It almost sounded like a fantastical tale to Xiang Ann, and he swallowed in disbelief.

“Certainly! But it hinges on the circumstances.”

Xiang Ann gazed at Tang Yue with eager eyes, brimming with delight. “Master, please accept me. I promise to bring honor to my sect.”

Tang Yue didn’t firmly reject him this time. Encountering such a promising disciple wasn’t common. Besides, Xiang Ann was at a suitable age. Given a few years of mentorship, he might truly become a renowned healer.

He cautiously remarked, “My medical knowledge follows a distinct path, quite different from contemporary practices. Are you certain you can embrace it?”

Xiang Ann vigorously nodded. “As long as your medical skills can heal and save people, they’re exceptional. There are no factions.”

“You’re remarkably open-minded!” Tang Yue mumbled to himself, inwardly agreeing. Maybe he had overly compartmentalized traditional and modern medicine. It seemed that these ancient people could adapt.

“If you become my disciple, you must obey my guidance and adhere to a set of rules. The most crucial one is refraining from experimenting on living beings. If you’re caught, you’ll be expelled from the sect and turned over to the authorities.”

“I agree, and I’ll consider you my mentor for life. You’ll be like a second father to me from now on!”

“Ahem…” Tang Yue nearly choked on his saliva. He couldn’t help but think, “This young man knows how to seize an opportunity. How could someone his age already have such a grown-up son?”

“Don’t get too excited yet. I’ll give you a one-month probationary period. If you pass, then I’ll officially accept you as my disciple. If not, don’t blame me for being strict.”

“One month…”

“Is there a problem?”

Xiang Ann scratched his head, hesitatingly adding, “You’re about to marry into the Crown Prince’s Palace soon. I doubt you’ll have much free time in a month. Besides, I won’t even be able to enter the Crown Prince’s Palace. Should we shorten the probation period?”

Tang Yue, who had been reminded twice in a day about his impending wedding, found it hard not to consider it.

It was the first time someone had bargained over the length of the probation period. Tang Yue felt somewhat awkward as he brought up his impending marriage. “Let’s extend it by a few more days. In the future, you’ll have the freedom to come and go in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Thank you so much!” Xiang Ann exclaimed joyfully. When he went back to inform his father, he was sure to receive praise and prove that he wasn’t just fooling around. He would become the Crown Princess’s disciple in due time!