Jun Hua rested in her home lazily the next day. By her side, Xia was preparing for the things she needed at school.
"Miss, you have to prepare early. Your lesson on Monday is about embroidery and you need to learn how to hold a needle properly."
Jun Hua stared at the needle like it was her greatest enemy. She had tried a lot of times only to get her hands pricked countless times. The calm demeanor she usually possessed as a general was vanished completely in front of this one needle.
"I hate embroidery!"
Xia smiled helplessly. Surprisingly, the excellent 'Jun Min' had times like this when she was defeated completely without any chance to retaliate.
"Come on, you're the one who wanted to learn these things in the first place."
Jun Hua sighed. "If I knew how troublesome this is, I would have preferred to stay at the frontline and just forget my identity as Jun Hua…"
"Miss…"
Filled with reluctance, Jun Hua picked up the needle, thread and silk. Before long, the sound of an angry woman filled the room.
Xia didn't know whether to laugh or cry seeing the helpless situation Jun Hua was in. In the end, she could only put away the embroidery tools and took out a book. This time she selected the math book.
"A woman needs to learn etiquette, music, painting, needlework, and mathematics. I can't help with etiquette, music, and painting, but at least I know math and needlework."
Jun Hua picked up the book that Xia brought out and started to do the exercise. In a couple of minutes, she returned the book to Xia.
"I'm done."
Xia looked at all the answers with wide eyes. Jun Hua answered the entire questionnaires written in the book perfectly. Xia felt like bursting into tears, to think that she needed one whole day to finish this book, and yet her young miss could do it much more quickly…
Jun Hua laughed. "I have learnt about all of it when I was studying strategy, so it's normal that you cannot beat me. Anyway, what I need to learn are those other things aside from math."
In terms of math, if there was anyone among the girls at the academy could beat her, it would only be a miracle in itself. Since she had to think about various strategies days and nights, she's already very familiar with calculations and the likes. If one wanted to find her match, they'd better call another general or veteran strategist.
Xia took the book resentfully. "Madam Mu will be here this afternoon. She will give you some introductions for etiquette and painting."
"She has finished her task?"
"It appears so. You should be glad that she's willing to be your teacher."
Jun Hua nodded. Madam Mu used to be a palace maid, but she slowly climbed through ranks and became a female official. Her main job was to teach etiquette and manner, but she retired years ago. In the past, her mother also studied under Madam Mu and learned a lot from her.
A lot of noble families were trying to invite Madam Mu to teach their daughters, but she's quite picky and will not accept requests lightly. The reason she was willing to come here was that she had good relations with Jun Hua's mother and she was also one of the few people who knew about her dual identity.
"I only hope that she won't treat me too harshly."
"That's…" impossible. Xia wanted to say that, but she didn't dare to. She could only pray that her miss can survive throughout the arduous training.
That afternoon, Madam Mu arrived. She had a round face that seemed to exude friendliness in spite of her old age. She was dressed in plain silvery gray brocade dress and her hair was tied together with a simple pin. Her whole appearance seemed modest and neat.
"Little Hua, you have grown up," Madam Mu looked at Jun Hua with a smile. She met the girl once before, but at that time, the little girl was dressed as boy.
Jun Hua smiled. "Thank you, Madam Mu."
Madam Mu examined Jun Hua carefully. She did not expect that the girl-like boy she met in the past would turn into an exquisitely beautiful flower. Even though she had seen and met a lot of beautiful women, she had to admit that Jun Hua was undoubtedly among the top ranks.
The little girl was wearing a white dress with a flowery skirt. Her profile was extremely delicate with fair skin similar to a porcelain doll. Her hair was tied into a bun with a silver ribbon. Her clear eyes were so beautiful they seemed to glitter under the sunlight.
Deep in her heart, Madam Mu felt pity towards Jun Hua that such a beautiful face had to stay hidden from the whole world. Indeed, the more beautiful someone is, the more trouble they would bring especially in this era. If it wasn't like that, why was there phrase: 'a calamitous beauty'?
"It's time to start our lesson. I will teach you how to walk gracefully."
"Please, Madam Mu."
Once she started teaching, Madam Mu turned into the strictest person in the world. Jun Hua had to repeat the same things for more than a dozen of times until she could do it right. By the time she was done learning how to walk gracefully, the sun had set and Jun Zhenxian had gone to sleep.
"Grandfather didn't wait for me?" Jun Hua wiped her sweat as she asked.
"No, Old Master said that he was tired and wanted to rest early," Xia answered.
Jun Hua nodded. She had to admit, walking with such speed and care about her skirt movements was indeed terribly taxing. If not because she had experienced hell in training under her grandfather, she doubted if she could pass this lesson safely.
"Heat up some food. I'd like to eat before sleeping."
"But, Miss…"
"I won't go to sleep straightaway after eating. I will walk around a bit."
Although it was what Jun Hua said, eventually, she still fell asleep after eating. She was dead tired, both mentally and physically. Since this was not the battlefield, Jun Hua was reluctant to force herself awake much longer.
Xia sighed helplessly. She could not really understand her miss at all. At one point, she was the young general, and another, she was a spoiled young lady.
Madam Mu also went to rest. She was quite satisfied with Jun Hua's progress since that girl could hold out that long under her training. Tomorrow afternoon is going to be another lesson day.