Tang Dynasty Female Forensic Doctor Chapter 13: Hua Lou Hou
“Miss, let's go see what is happening." Wan Lu looked at Ran Yan with shining eyes.
"They are looking at women, what are you going to see?" Ran Yan asked laughingly.
Wan Lu asked curiously: "How does miss know that it's a woman?"
Ran Yan's observational skills were always excellent, so long as there was anything out of the ordinary within her line of sight, usually the situation would not escape her eyes, even down to a scar as thin as a needle, let alone this large group of people.
When a litter was carried past earlier, Ran Yan noticed it. The person on the litter used a thin quilt to cover her whole body and face, exposing only her hair and a red silk flower. Summer quilts were already very thin, so even when covered, it still revealed the woman's exquisite figure. Through the thin quilt, the swell of her breasts could already be seen, it could be imagined that this woman's body would certainly stir hearts and move souls[1].
Ran Yan lifted her head and looked around, there was a hospital after the crowd.
"Let's go, there's no harm in taking a look." Ran Yan actually came here to look for business opportunities, and her goal was to treat only women, since they met one on this street, naturally she should approach to take advantage, it could be an opportunity.
There were more and more people gathering on the street, before Ran Yan and Wan Lu could get near, it was already completely surrounded by people. Many women looked on from afar, but did no dare squeeze forward, so Ran Yan naturally could only stand at a distance and look with Wan Lu.
Everywhere was filled with the buzzing of people muttering, but she could not hear a single useful sentence. They both gazed for a moment and felt that there was no point in staying. Just as they prepared to leave, they saw a middle-aged woman in a low-cut ruqun obstinately pulling at an old man. The woman's face was covered with a thick layer of powder, slightly plump looking, her hair pilled into a cloud bun[2]，her red lips painted to look like a cherry[3].
This type of look reminded Ran Yan of the paintings of ladies of the Tang Dynasty. Even though there were some differences, but it was about the same.
"This old man[4] has said it before, I don't do business with prostitutes. Doesn't the brothel have a dedicated doctor?" That old man was already reluctant, now being dragged and pulled at by a prostitute in public, it was extremely indecent, he become even more unwilling, his tone final.
"Great Doctor Zhang, I[5] heard that you're well-known for your kindness in Suzhou city, how can you be so heartless[6]?" The prostitute did not let go and continued to pull at him, her lovely eyes tearful. The sight of her tears almost falling really made the crowd of men feel heartbroken.
But no matter how good looking her face is, it cannot be more eye-catching than her half-exposed breasts brushing tremblingly at the old doctor's arm, really causing people to be envious.
For a time, not a few people chimed in to support her.
"Great Doctor Zhang, could it be that you are looking down on the fact that we are prostitutes?" The prostitute asked without backing down.
Looking down? Of course he looked down (on prostitutes), but these words could not be said out loud. The customs of the Tang Dynasty was open, towards official prostitution, not only there were no laws restricting it or any public criticism, but it was also seen as a romantic affair and turned into a pleasant topic instead, to the extent that it was something that should be followed[7]. Among the citizens, private relations[8] were not seen as serious matters, prostitution meant even less.
The prostitute was really cunning. Many books had mentioned at every turn various officials taking prostitutes as their wives - this kind of issue, in the Tang Dynasty's open culture was already a complicated matter. The Tang Code[9] stated clearly, those whose statuses were two ranks apart could not intermarry, not even to be taken as a concubine. But as the saying goes: a concubine is better than a wife, an illicit lover is better than a concubine[10]. Those powerful officials sometimes pampered the prostitutes to an unbelievable degree; it was no different from bringing them home and providing for them.
Therefore Great Doctor Zhang naturally did not dare to admit to it, repeatedly said: "This old man did not mean that, I'm just not knowledgeable about women’s illnesses. You can ask my neighbours, I've never treated women before!"
Great Doctor Zhang's words, no one doubted them, because he was not the only doctor who did not treat women, other doctors rarely do so as well. Chinese medicine prioritised looking, listening and communication. Almost all genuine doctors were male, naturally it was inconvenient for them to examine women's bodies, thus having no experience towards this type of illnesses was only normal.
"Moreover, without seeing her, just listening to the symptoms you've described, this old man already knows that it is Hua Lou Hou[11] disease. Reportedly, Great Doctor Hua Tuo once handed down the treatment method and it was recorded in Qian Sui Chao Yuan Technique[12]. But as I am not a disciple of the Great Doctor, naturally I have no way of knowing the cure/prescription. I ask that Ms Qing Dai[13] you do not make things difficult for me." Great Doctor Zhang was only bestowed the title "Great Doctor" to show respect due to his kind nature. In this era, this type of Great Doctors was numerous, but it does not mean that they can actually bring the dead to life.
Doctors in ancient times usually prescribed medicine according to the formula. If they obtained a prescription formula, they viewed it as a treasure and kept it secret; if they obtained a medical book, they viewed it as a precious heirloom, and were afraid of others stealing its secrets.
So much so that the doctors of this time particularly loved collecting prescription formulas, creating a mainstream culture.
This so called Hua Lou Hou disease was later on called Hualiu disease during the Song Dynasty, and referred to sexually transmitted diseases in general including syphilis, gonorrhoea, mycoplasma genitalium infection, etcetera. During the Ming Dynasty, Hualiu disease was once prominent for a time, but in the modern era the most famous one was definitely AIDS.
This illness was not only hard to cure, but recurred easily. At the moment in this era, contracting this disease, it was only reasonable to return home at once to prepare your coffin.
The moment the surrounding crowd heard it was Hua Lou Hou, there was a sudden uproar and they scattered. A few well-dressed men who probably frequented brothels, immediately sought Great Doctor Zhang for a diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, some insisted on looking the prostitute who received the diagnosis but were blocked by a few large burly men.
Things got heated up. Qing Dai continued to persist and said: "But the person has already been brought here, at any rate you[14] should have a look, and prescribe some medications."
Great Doctor Zhang sighed heavily. Just as he was about to return inside, he suddenly remembered something and halted his steps, then without batting an eyelid, he brought Qing Dai into the medicine hall, and said with a low voice: "Ms Qing Dai, two days ago, this old man met a female Great Doctor at Zhou village five miles away and personally witnessed her saving a person who was dead for over twenty hours."
"Really?" Qing Dai tearful eyes brightened, and quickly asked: "Then I will bring meimei[15] to look for her now, no matter how much it costs I still want to save meimei."
Great Doctor Zhang had always been soft hearted, seeing Qing Dai as a prostitute was actually so loyal, kindly warned: "Later on I managed to find out that the female Great Doctor is from an influential family. Go quietly; otherwise it will damage her reputation, and increase her troubles."
So this Great Doctor Zhang because his hospital was near the east gate, and had always been kind hearted, that day he was asked to go there by the Zhou village people. After the incident, he had thought about going to visit Ran Yan and consult her on medical knowledge, but once he enquired after her, he found out that she was actually the Ran family's legal daughter, furthermore she was recuperating from illness alone on the estate, it would not have been right for him to pay a visit to her.
"Many thanks for the Great Doctor's advice! I will return now to prepare." Qing Dai said, and hurriedly left to oversee the patient being carried away.
Ran Yan witnessed them leaving in a rush and stepped forward and followed them.
Wan Lu started and quickly held her back, saying with a low voice: "Miss, in your current situation, it would be inappropriate to associate with prostitutes!"
Ran Yan did not care the slightest. Wan Lu remembered firmly Miss Xing's instructions, dutifully persuaded: "Miss! Even though this isn't some great sin, but those at the Main House are waiting for you to slip up in order to dispose of you. Miss, whatever that you want to do, send me instead."
Ran Yan seeing that the people in front turned into a secluded alley, said flatly: "Stop talking, follow me."
Working for a long time in forensics led to Ran Yan carrying herself with a kind of dignity that inspired confidence once she started taking things seriously. Inexplicably, it also caused people feel that her words were the truth, and everything she did was a product of calm and careful consideration.
Wan Lu with the unwavering desire to take care of her mistress, immediately turned into dust (not sure what this means), while carrying a trace of unease, obediently shut her mouth.
After following for a while, she was even more impatient than Ran Yan, and kept peering ahead, Ran Yan really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Suzhou city's alleys were all small bluestone alleys, within the city there were lots of water and bridges, the use of sedan chairs were more common than horse carriages, so even the main roads were only wide enough for 4-5 sedan chairs to pass through, whereas the small alleys were only wide enough for two sedan chairs to give way to each other.
After turning a few corners, they did not pass by many pedestrians in the alley anymore. Ran Yan prepared to catch up to them but she saw a few flamboyantly dressed women walking towards the people in front. A middle-aged woman who was also wearing heavy makeup glared at Qing Dai.
Qing Dai's whole body stiffened, stood rooted to her spot. The middle-aged woman walked two steps forward and gave her a resounding slap on her face, her voice insidiously vicious, "I don't care whether the both of you want to live or die! But your actions today, how can I forgive you!"
Before even one or two days passed, the whole Suzhou would know that a brothel had Hua Lou Hou disease, after this day who would dare to visit their brothel?
"Bring them back in!" The middle-aged woman said hatefully.