Lady Northern Feng raised an eyebrow at Feng Wu. "I'll beat about the bush a little and see how he feels about you."
Feng Wu picked up her cup, trying to change the subject. She noticed something on Lady Northern Feng's face and frowned.
Noticing Feng Wu's unblinking gaze, Lady Northern Feng felt disturbed. "Kiddo... why are you staring at me like that? It gives me the creeps."
The frown on Feng Wu's face grew bigger. "Your Ladyship, I need to speak to you in private."
Lady Northern Feng was bewildered. Why was the girl so serious all of a sudden? Since she had always liked and trusted Feng Wu, the lady dismissed all the maids so that Granny Tao was the only servant left in the room.
"Lady Feng, you..." Feng Wu asked after some hesitation. "You sweat easily these days, don't you?"
Lady Northern Feng was surprised by the question and Granny Tao answer for her immediately. "That's right. Her Ladyship has been sweating profusely in her sleep in the past month, but she rarely sweats during the day."
"Does she wake up at midnight every day, covered in a cold sweat?"
"Yes! That's right!" Lady Northern Feng nodded in a hurry. "That's exactly what's been going on. I've been jerking awake at midnight every day. I can always go back to sleep soon afterward, which is why I haven't thought much of it. How did you know that?"
Feng Wu smiled bitterly. "Because midnight is when the Yin and Yang energies replace each other."
"Huh?" Lady Northern Feng didn't know what that meant, but still felt concerned.
Feng Wu then asked, "Do you occasionally feel dizzy when you get up in the morning these days? But the sensation goes away after a while?"
"Yes!" Lady Northern Feng nodded. "Xiao Wu, you're spot on! I felt that way several mornings in a row and I sent for doctors. But they only told me that I was plagued by weakness and needed more rest. That was all they could say about my case."
Feng Wu examined Lady Northern Feng's face, then leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Has it been a while since you had your period?"
Lady Northern Feng's eyes widened. "How... how did you know that?!" She looked at Granny Tao when she said that.
Granny Tao smiled bitterly. "Your Ladyship, I would never tell Miss Wu such a private matter."
Lady Northern Feng believed her. She then turned her sharp gaze on Feng Wu. "How did you know that?!"
Her menstrual cycle was so private a matter that the only other person who knew about it was a female medicine refiner in the medicine refiners guild!
Feng Wu shrugged. "I can see it on your face."
Lady Northern Feng wouldn't believe it. "You're too young to be able to do that. I don't believe you."
Feng Wu gave her a wry smile. "If you let me check your pulse, I can tell you how long it's been since you had your period."
Lady Northern Feng stared at Feng Wu suspiciously.
Feng Wu gave her another wry smile. "Your Ladyship, I wouldn't have involved myself in such a matter if it wasn't for your kindness toward me."
That convinced Lady Northern Feng. The girl was wise in the ways of the world and played it safe. Bringing up this matter was already against her philosophy.
"Alright." Lady Northern Feng raised her right arm and rested it on the table in front of Feng Wu.
Even that female medicine refiner from the guild couldn't tell how long it had been since she had her period; how could Feng Wu know? Even Granny Tao wasn't so sure.
Feng Wu narrowed her eyes as she checked the lady's pulse.
She almost never actively tried to help a patient, but when she did, she would spare no effort.