76 To Cultivate, One Should... 10 (1/2)

When the doors of the study opened before his eyes, Feng Tian Mu's countenance revealed a glimmer of hope. His gaze immediately filtered through the study towards the inner recesses, but his expression soon dimmed upon noticing the thick layers of curtains obscuring his view.

Though he rapidly hid the changes in his countenance to reflect a calm visage, the Imperial physician's disappointment failed to escape the maidservants' eyes.

Two pairs of eyes glared silent daggers at the physician's back, every move under their scrutiny without revealing their presence. Following Feng Tian Mu into the study, Wei Xuan flicked his hands at the maidservants in caution, but said no more.

…he didn't have the good impression of this youthful physician as the one he displayed on his countenance.

”Lord Minister,” Feng Tian Mu abruptly turned around to face the moody Wei Xuan. The pair of beady, intelligent eyes stared at the minister, concealing an unknown intention within.

”Does the Lord Minister know the whereabouts of the Esteemed Senior this one had seen last time? This one wishes to reference notes with the Esteemed Senior as I make a diagnosis of the Fourth Young Miss' health.”

Wei Xuan cursed in his heart, before displaying a helpless smile.

”Physician Gao departed for Yuzhou Province just a few weeks earlier,” the minister lied through his teeth, his mind whirling.

”He requested for a month-long leave to tend to his injured sister. Unfortunately, due to a series of unfortunate events, his relative's health severely deteriorated and left this minister with a rather lackluster method of communication.”

”Oh?”

Feng Tian Mu gave a thin smile, before striding towards the rough pillowcase. The Imperial Physician kneeled on a single knee, his fingers faintly quivering as they rolled the sleeve up, revealing the fragile and fair-skinned arm.

Having turned his back towards the minister, the Imperial Physician did not forget to tenderly massage the exposed arm, before settling around the veins within the wrist.

The two maidservants flared with anger as they observed the scene, Xiao Ying barely managing to restrain herself and Xiao Wen besides her before they blew their cover.

”Well?” Wei Xuan inquired after a cup of tea's time had passed.

”Imperial Physician Feng, are there any problems?”

Feng Tian Mu shook his head, his countenance tranquil except for the unhealthy shade of confusion. The young physician deigned not to reply, but instead tilted his head to the side, the handsome eyes narrowing in contemplation.

…besides his infatuation with the mysterious beauty before him, the Imperial Physician's priorities were clear to a certain extent when requested to examine a patient. Though the occasional thought of squeezing the skin as soft as warm mutton jade crossed his mind, Feng Tian Mu's attention was focused on the irregular heartbeat pulsing against the pressed fingers.

”…there's no rebound?” the young physician murmured with a frown, prompting Wei Xuan to lean in with concern.

”Imperial Physician Feng, something wrong?” the minister creased his forehead, glaring at the youthful Imperial Physician before asking in a steely and concerned tone.

”Imperial Physician, did you notice something?”

”Ah? Oh, yes, yes,” Feng Tian Mu hastily nodded his head, the physician's cap nearly shaken onto the floor by the abrupt action. The Imperial Physician twiddled with his thumbs for several breaths, before opening his mouth to reply.

”This… Lord Minister…” the youthful physician began, the pair of eyes carefully inspecting Wei Xuan's countenance for any changes before he continued.

”The Fourth Young Miss's condition… seems rather different than before.”

”Different?” Wei Xuan echoed, his mind making a startling inference that caused him to unconsciously darken his expression.

Had the Imperial Physician before him discover anything about An Fei's condition outside of cold deficiency? If so, was he to step forth and strike immediately even if Feng Tian Mu was a close subordinate of the emperor?

”Yes, different,” Feng Tian Mu affirmed, before reaching over to take another pulse. Retracting his fingers from the young girl's arm, the Imperial Physician spoke with an uncertain tone, his words faltering at times.

”The heart of every living existence, be it human or beast, mortal or cultivator, shares a common attribute, which is to possess a cycle of two pulses; one to propel the blood throughout the body, and the second to restore ample vitality to the heart to begin the next cycle. This cycle which one would normally determine even in a patient suffering from the most vicious of illnesses… is missing from the Fourth Young Miss' body.”

”As from the examinations this one just conducted…” the young physician scratched his head in embarrassment.

”This one cannot clearly determine. It is impossible for the Fourth Young Miss' heart to lack a rebound pulse in her heartbeat, which would imply a certain death. However, the interval between each pulse… is far too long to be considered healthy…”