Chapter 258: Crazy Couple 18

“You must be Xiao Hua, right?”

The woman smiled gently, her voice as soft as a spring breeze. “I am your female tutor. My surname is Ji, and my given name is Dan. From now on, you will be studying with me.”

Ji Xiaohua was taken aback for a moment, but she quickly recovered and bowed. “Hello, Teacher!”

Ji Dan gave a slight nod, her tone gentle.

“Good. From now on, we are family. Go wash up first. We’ll begin our lessons shortly.”

Ji Xiaohua nodded, a thrill of excitement rising in her heart.

She had just turned to go wash up when she saw the young maid approach with a broad smile, her voice bright and cheerful.

“Miss Xiao Hua, I’m a maid here. My name is Little He. From now on, you can leave all the household chores to me. Just focus on your studies.”

Hearing this, Ji Xiaohua flushed slightly, her voice tinged with shyness.

“You don’t have to call me ‘Miss.’ Just Xiao Hua is fine.”

Little He smiled and nodded. “Alright, Miss Xiao Hua.”

With that, Little He followed Ji Xiaohua into the room with a smile and deftly prepared warm water, a towel, and a soap bean for her to wash with.

She gently soaked the towel and handed it to Ji Xiaohua, her tone soft.

“Miss Xiao Hua, why don’t you wipe your face first? I’ll go get a fresh change of clothes for you.”

Ji Xiaohua took the towel, feeling a bit awkward.

“Little He, you don’t have to go to all this trouble. I can do it myself.”

Little He shook her head with a smile, her tone insistent.

“Miss Xiao Hua, you’ll be studying with the teacher from now on. Please leave these chores to me. You just need to focus on your studies and not worry about anything else.”

At her words, Ji Xiaohua blushed again, looking a little embarrassed.

“But… I’ve never been waited on like this before. It feels a little strange.”

As Little He pulled a clean set of clothes from the wardrobe, she said with a smile,

“You’ll get used to it, Miss Xiao Hua. As Miss Ji’s own sister, it’s only natural that you don’t have to do these little things yourself.”

Ji Xiaohua wiped her face and watched Little He’s busy figure, a warmth spreading through her heart.

She said softly, “You’re so kind, Little He. Thank you.”

Little He turned around, beaming.

“You’re too polite, Miss Xiao Hua. It’s my duty. Here, try on this outfit and see if it fits.”

Ji Xiaohua took the clothes, hesitating.

“This outfit… isn’t it too expensive? I usually just wear coarse cloth. I’m afraid I’ll ruin something so exquisite.”

Little He shook her head with a smile, her tone encouraging.

“Miss Xiao Hua, you’ll be studying with the teacher. It’s only right that you dress respectably. Besides, your sister had these clothes specially prepared for you. You can’t disappoint her kind intentions.”

Hearing this, a flash of gratitude appeared in Ji Xiaohua’s eyes. “My sister is so good to me.”

Little He nodded, her tone gentle.

“She is. The Eldest Miss dotes on you the most.”

Little He smiled as she helped Ji Xiaohua change, then carefully straightened her collar and cuffs, her voice filled with satisfaction.

“Miss Xiao Hua, you look absolutely beautiful in this outfit!”

Ji Xiaohua looked at her reflection in the mirror, flushing slightly. Her voice was shy.

“Really? I’ve never worn such beautiful clothes before.”

Little He beamed and said, “Of course, it’s true! You’re destined for great things, so it’s only right that you dress the part.”

A warmth spread through Ji Xiaohua’s heart once more.

She looked at Little He, her eyes full of gratitude. “Thank you, Little He. You’re so good to me.”

Little He shook her head with a gentle smile.

“You’re too polite, Miss Xiao Hua. It’s what I should be doing. Come, let’s go have breakfast first. The teacher will be giving you a lesson soon.”

Ji Xiaohua nodded and followed Little He out of the room.

She looked at the bright sunlight in the courtyard, her heart filled with anticipation.

Little He led Ji Xiaohua toward the dining hall. Her steps were light, and she kept glancing back at Ji Xiaohua, her eyes full of care.

Inside the dining hall, a carved wooden table had been polished until it was spotless, with several exquisite breakfast dishes already laid out upon it.

Ji Xiaosong was already seated at the head of the table. When she saw Ji Xiaohua enter, the corners of her lips curved up in a gentle smile.

Little He quickly stepped forward and gently pulled out a chair for Ji Xiaohua. After Ji Xiaohua was seated, she carefully pushed the chair back into place.

Then, she turned to a food box on the side and steadily lifted out a bowl of steaming porridge with both hands. The porridge was a creamy white, the grains of rice plump and full, and it gave off the faint, sweet scent of red dates and longan.

Little He carefully placed the bowl of porridge in front of Ji Xiaohua and said softly, “Miss Xiao Hua, this is a beauty-enhancing porridge made especially for you. It has red dates, longan, and lotus seeds. It’s both nourishing and delicious. Please, have a taste.”

Ji Xiaohua gazed at the exquisite bowl, her eyes filled with wonder and gratitude. “Little He, this is too much trouble.”

Little He waved her hand with a smile. “It’s no trouble at all. My greatest accomplishment is seeing you eat well, Miss.”

With that, she took a plate of delicate pastries from the food box. The pastries were shaped like lotus flowers, their petals dotted with finely ground powdered sugar that glittered in the morning light.

“Mr. Ji and I made these lotus crisps fresh before we came today. They’re crispy, sweet, and delicious. Please try one, Miss.”

As she spoke, Little He pushed the plate of pastries closer to Ji Xiaohua.

At that moment, Ji Xiaosong, who had been watching quietly, spoke up. Her voice was soft but held an undeniable authority.

“Xiao Hua, from now on, don’t be so reserved here. You must eat and drink well to be able to focus on your studies. Little He is here to serve you, and you must learn to adapt to that.”

Ji Xiaohua nodded quickly. “Thank you, Sister.”

She picked up a spoon, gently scooped up some porridge, and brought it to her lips. The soft, glutinous sweetness instantly spread across her tongue, and she couldn’t help but show a look of contentment.

Watching from the side, Little He’s eyes filled with relief. At the right moment, she offered a silk handkerchief. “Miss, eat slowly, so you don’t burn yourself.”

Ji Dan had been sitting quietly to the side, watching Ji Xiaohua sample the porridge and pastries.

It had spent all last night compiling and collecting all the information on the current dynasty, all so it could perform skillfully today.

After Ji Xiaohua had swallowed her first mouthful of porridge, Ji Dan gently set down her teacup, sat up a little straighter, and began to speak.

“Xiao Hua, the art of dining is not just about filling your stomach, but also about etiquette. In the imperial court and the mansions of the nobility, dining etiquette is of great importance. You will encounter it often in the future, so today, we will begin learning with breakfast.”

As she spoke, Ji Dan slowly picked up her chopsticks with a graceful and fluid motion. She gently laid them horizontally across her bowl, signaling for Ji Xiaohua to watch closely.

“You see, there’s a proper way to place your chopsticks. They must not be crossed, nor should the tips be pointed at others. Resting them across the bowl is the dignified way.”

Ji Xiaohua watched Ji Dan’s movements with rapt attention. She nodded thoughtfully and copied her, picking up her own chopsticks and laying them across her bowl, though her movements were still a bit clumsy.

Ji Dan gave a small nod and continued, “When taking food, you must not rummage through the dishes. You should only take what is directly in front of you.”

With that, she extended her chopsticks, picked up a lotus crisp, and placed it on her own plate. Her movements were light and effortless.

Seeing this, Ji Xiaohua also carefully extended her chopsticks to pick up a lotus crisp from the plate. But she was so nervous that her chopsticks trembled, nearly knocking the pastry over.

Little He, watching from the side, couldn’t help but frown slightly. She wanted to step forward and help, but a look from Ji Dan stopped her.

Ji Dan encouraged her softly, “Don’t panic. Take your time. You’ll get the hang of it with a little practice.”

Ji Xiaohua took a deep breath and tried again. This time, she steadily picked up the crisp and placed it on her plate, a trace of delight appearing on her face.

Next, Ji Dan demonstrated how to hold a bowl and drink soup elegantly. She lifted her bowl, turned slightly to the side, and took a delicate sip of porridge, her movements as smooth as flowing water.

Ji Xiaohua imitated her earnestly and, with Ji Dan’s patient guidance, gradually began to grasp the basics.

In this warm atmosphere, breakfast became a lively lesson in etiquette.

「Just as they finished breakfast, Wu Chufeng sent someone over.」