The dance girls in Willow Dance House practiced the choreography under the supervision of Fan Xiyun ,Mizi Lian and Mizi Xue. Several cartons were carried inside by servants who seemed to belong to a common master because they wore the same colour of attire.
Mizi Lian excused herself and went to talk to the supervisor of the servants who had just carried the cartons in. The cartons contained several packed dresses they had ordered to wear for that night's performance.
"My boss said if the dresses are not to your liking he can reimburse your funds,"the supervisor spoke in a polite tone.
"I trust your boss' skills but I will inspect them and give you feedback."
"Okay,"the supervisor bowed and walked out.
Ziran Hall was just a few li from Wenxue Hall. Ziran Hall was absolutely different from Wenxue Hall in terms of classroom arrangement and aura. The seats were arranged in two columns with eight rows each and each student sat alone evoking a sense of independence. After the morning greetings,Master Zhuang distributed blank handbooks to each of them.
"Take out your writing brushes,"Master Zhuang spoke in a commanding voice sending shivers down the spines of the students.
"I'm going to orate some rules for you to jot down. Be attentive because I will only orate the same rule twice,"Master Zhuang added
"Rules?" The learners began grumbling in a lower register.
"Every place has its rules and the rules should be followed all the time,"Master Zhuang emphasized.
He read out the Dos and Don'ts emphasizing more on the Don'ts which included things that were forbidden in class like eating , sleeping,making unnecessary noise among others. Master Zhuang then began walking around checking whether they had jotted down all the rules he had orated and confronted those who hadn't.
Master Zhuang proceeded to introduce the concept of political science.The learners tried their best to be alert all the time as Master Zhuang's penetrating landed on each of them monitoring them from time to time. It was a gaze that reverberated with terror and one could feel as if he was staring into their souls.
For beginners political science entailed having an overview of the dynasty's timeline and key historical events , understanding the political structure and governance and finally the role of the emperor and court officials such as ministers. Master Zhuang didn't allow them to ask further questions,he assumed they had understood and those who didn't it's probably because they weren't paying attention in class.
Jiang Bihai Chen being the inquisitive daredevil as he always was ,simply raised his hand up fearlessly and asked a few questions.
"Go and do research,"Master Zhuang spoke up in a clear stern voice and packed up his stationery and left. The learners stood up stretched their backs and sighed with relief. It was the first hellish lecture they had experienced so far but they were glad it ended well especially the boys because they wouldn't have any lecture till the following week.
The following day the girls gathered at Orchid Needlecraft Haven for their first needlework class. Nanny Su Qiaoling was there placing sewing kits on each table occupied by the girls. Nanny Su Qiaoling was a very talkative person. She chatted with the girls as she did her task.
"Nanny Su, will you be the one teaching us needlework?"Jiang Li asked.
"No,"Nanny Su answered smiling mysteriously.
"Then who will be teaching us?"
"Silence girls and sit properly!"a cold, harsh and commanding female voice filled the room's atmosphere. Her no - nonsense aura could be detected in all corners of the room.
The girls sat straight and tight and looked down. The commanding voice belonged to Matron Zhao Yunshan,the housekeeper who was in charge of all female servants at the palace. She was very strict and known for her harsh punishment techniques. She was also in charge of teaching the maids needlework and embroidery. In her teens,she had managed to enter the palace because of her exceptional sewing skills that captured the attention of the late Empress Dowager. Due to the late Empress Dowager's favour she was promoted to be the housekeeper and ever since she had been serving at the palace with her whole body and soul.
As the girls picked up their sewing kits in terror,their hands shuddered with fear inscribed within them. Since these weren't any mere servant girls,Matron Zhao was a little lenient with them. She inspected them as she taught them how to do a few simple stitches.
Yingtao Hua was having hard time. She was used to holding larger things like bows and arrows that didn't require extra care. The needle slid between her fingers a couple of times and pierced her in the process. The more the needle slid between her fingers,the more her rage was building up. She tightened the grip on the needle and it bent in the process making it harder to use. In a set of twenty four needles,she had already tossed aside six needles that she felt were no longer useless. Matron Zhao didn't fail to notice the mess she had done.
"Some of you ladies here are butterfingered so let me remind you that the needles we use here are of high quality you might not find them elsewhere so if you exploit yours before twenty four lectures are over you won't get any,"Matron Zhao spoke in a calm yet threatening tone glaring at Yingtao Hua and then she walked out and left them to practice the needlework.
"Sister Jiang Li,your stitches are so fine,"Lianhua Feng complimented her.
"My mother taught me how to do a few simple stitches nothing special."
"I envy you unlike a butterfingered someone who has been holding onto arrows like a man since childhood and now has to hold these tiny needles,"Lianhua Feng spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Sister Feng,what do you know? Sister Yingtao is actually considered a heroine in this generation. How can I compare myself to her?"Jiang Li responded in the same sarcastic tone.
Yingtao Hua couldn't control the rage building inside her,she dropped the piece of clothing she was sewing in fury and turned to confront the two.