Learning in the Palace

The next day, the capital was busting in activity more than usual. A total of 37 girls were going to the palace to learn proper etiquette and social manners to present themselves better on Princess Ming Hui birthday party.

Jun Hua stayed in her carriage calmly. She was not feeling much excitement over going to the palace. All she wanted was to have some peace and not getting dragged onto this kind of social activity. Of course, it was going to be impossible given her background. Though only concubine-born, her father was the prime minister after all.

Xiao Yun rarely went out so she was looking at the commotion with great interest. Even Xia could not help herself but to laugh in front of such cute movement.

"You will have more chance to stare outside later," Xia said.

Xiao Yun pouted. "But it's only Sister Xia that got the chance to go outside all this time."

"You will have your chance. Don't embarrass our Miss and sit down."

Xiao Yun finally gave in and sat down obediently. She did not want to make any trouble for Jun Hua so she held herself back. Jun Hua herself didn't really pay any attention towards the antics of these two. Her mind was busy thinking about a lot of other things.

Xia presented the pass that Princess Ming Hui gave them before to the guard. Soon, Jun Hua's entourage entered the palace grounds. The palace was huge with so many buildings standing all around it. Jun Hua herself knew that she won't get lost as long as she followed the main road. Walking on a long road was nothing to her but the other girls' breathing already turned uneven.

All these girls that came from various noble households were assigned in one big building. On the first ground was a magnificent hall. Their rooms were located upstairs and they needed to go to their room first to place their belonging and let their servants wait before gathering on the hall.

"Jun Hua!" hearing the call, Jun Hua's steps suddenly stopped.

Fan Lanying waved to her. "Are you ready? We already have a lesson this afternoon."

"That quick?"

"Yes."

Sure enough, when they were gathered in the big hall, there was one person in charged, standing in the middle. She was in the middle of announcing that she was the one who will teach them and the lesson started at that moment.

"The first lesson today is the correct posture when standing." This female teacher was one of the instructors who trained people within the palace. She wouldn't treat anyone with gentleness or leniency whenever she was teaching. This teacher did not care about the family background of these ladies. The only thing she cared for was to get her students the right postures and manners.

For Jun Hua and Fan Lanying, body posture was not a problem because they have been used with it. However, it was different on the other noble girls who thought of it as torture. They were not used to walking for so long.

If it was just walking in gentle manner, it would be the torture for both of them. But this time they got off lightly.

"It's good that we only have to be standing up today," Fan Lanying smiled. She had not expected that she would pass with today's lesson without problems. She could already imagine how hard it would be like if she were to walk gracefully.

"Yes, I agree," Jun Hua nodded. She had been serving in the military and even became a general so simple standing was not a problem. Even if they asked her to stand up for a whole night, she could definitely do it. But to walk gracefully and all, she needed some intensive lessons to get used to it.

Fan Lanying stretched her body. "The etiquette of the palace is harsher than in the academy. Best wishes for both of us tomorrow."

"I just hope we don't get punished heavily."

After practicing, they went to the dining room to eat. The dishes in the palace were really good and many times better than the usual food they eat.

"This is the first time I eat this good," Fan Lanying said happily.

Jun Hua laughed a bit. For her, this was not the first time to taste such delicious meals because the food served to them somehow resembled those at the Restaurant Han Yan. Not only that, the food on that restaurant was actually even better than those at the palace.

She picked up some of the dishes she had never seen before and tasted them. She found that the skill of the chef must be really good to make this kind of food.

Not only Jun Hua and Fan Lanying, most of the noble girls were also whispering among themselves. They too found that the foods served were far better than what they usually eat. Only some of them may get the chance to eat some better food.

Jun Hua managed to eat a lot of food. Compared to her small frame, the amount of food she had consumed was definitely a lot more than what other girls had. Especially with most of the girls kept on eating a small amount of food, she became a unique one among them.

"How can you eat so much with such a small body?" Fan Lanying asked in surprise. She herself only ate a bit more because she had been training in martial arts and had bigger appetite. But she still didn't dare to eat a lot of food because it would make her fat.

Jun Hua shrugged. She was training in martial arts too, so it was normal that her appetite was much bigger. But it was a secret she could not tell to other people, not even Fan Lanying.

After they were done with dinner, the girls proceeded to their respective rooms to rest.

"Miss, we have prepared water for you," Xia said when Jun Hua returned.

"En," Jun Hua answered. She took a bath quickly before returning to her bed and continued to work on her embroidery. The red flower was still there. Jun Hua picked a blue thread and started to do her work.

"Miss, your embroidery skill has become more exquisite," Xiao Yun said with sparkling eyes.

Jun Hua smiled. "Thank you Xiao Yun. Can you do embroidery as well?"

Xiao Yun nodded in excitement. Jun Hua asked the girl to do it with her and to her surprise, the skill Xiao Yun had with needles was very good. Jun Hua had to admit that she still needed to learn a lot from these women.

"Xiao Yun, try to look at mine."

"Okay Miss."

"Miss, it's already late at night, you need to sleep."

"Xiao Yun, how about this one?"

"Miss…."