Chapter 9

Chapter 9

My good days as a princess lasted only seven days.

Matron Li was true to her word. Before long, she invited a female instructor to teach me.

The instructor had once served as a female official in the Ministry of Rites, and was intimately familiar with every kind of palace etiquette.

Upon learning that her student would be a princess, she spent the entire night poring over classics and manuals, compiling a complete set of rules a princess ought to learn.

Instructor Song was very strict.

She taught me that when a princess gave a formal bow, she must lift her skirts and kneel, raising her hands level and steady. She must not look timid, nor creep about like a mouse.

I practiced the whole morning and just barely managed to learn sixty percent of it.

Then she taught me that in my dealings with others, I had to be reserved and proud, and refer to myself as “this palace.”

That, I picked up quickly enough.

She also taught me that during meals, I had to wait for the palace attendants to serve the dishes before I could eat. Otherwise, it would be improper.

But that attendant was far too slow with the chopsticks, and the portions were tiny. After three servings, it still was not enough for a single mouthful.

And yet she had already set down her chopsticks and stopped serving me.

I was rather angry. Then Instructor Song began lecturing on Precepts for Women and Instructions for Women.

A woman should be gentle and demure. She should be dignified and polite. She should guard her chastity. She should be tolerant and magnanimous.

Not a single word was said about how men ought to behave.

I was furious. “Back when I was begging, those young masters and young ladies never cared whether I was a boy or a girl when they tossed me alms. How is it that now that I’m a princess, I have to humble myself instead?”

Instructor Song’s brows drew together slightly. She was angry, but for a moment, she did not know how to refute me.

In the end, she could only say helplessly, “Enough. You have studied for a full day as well. We shall stop here for today. Your Highness may return and rest.”

It was already getting late. The setting sun spilled in through the gaps in the window.

I rubbed my empty stomach, my temper rising.

I could no longer remember anything about etiquette or propriety. I reached out, twisted off a chicken drumstick, and stuffed it into my mouth.

Then I lifted my chin at her. “Then I’m leaving.”

Of all the etiquette I had just learned, not a single bit had been put into practice.

The anger Instructor Song had been suppressing in her eyes surged up once more.

Through gritted teeth, she said, “Bring the ruler!”

I took a terrible beating.

Instructor Song did not hold back. My bottom was beaten red and swollen, blooming like a fresh batch of brown sugar sponge cakes straight out of the steamer.

When the Empress Dowager applied medicine for me, her heart ached terribly.

A trace of anger showed in those eyes that were usually so gentle. “That was far too heavy-handed! She’s only a girl of twelve or thirteen. Was there any need for her to be so cruel?”

Matron Li advised, “Instructor Song has always been upright and principled. That has always been her temperament. She did it for the princess’s own good.”

“Because it was for Ah Man’s own good, she could beat her like this? She is flesh that fell from my own body. I have not even had time to cherish her for more than a few days, and already that woman has ruined her like this…”

As she spoke, her tears fell in a continuous stream again.

I comforted her. “Actually, it doesn’t hurt that much…”

Matron Li immediately perked up. “Then it seems tomorrow’s lessons can continue as usual. I will go right now and-”

I quickly cut her off. “But! It still hurts a little. Lessons are completely out of the question. I need to rest for three days.”

“Is that all right, Mother?”

The Empress Dowager had been somewhat hesitant at first, but the moment she heard that, what little reason remained in her mind was stirred into mush.

She cupped my face and kissed me again and again.

The delight in her eyes was about to overflow.

“All right, all right, all right. Whatever my Ah Man says is fine…”

I turned my head and gave Matron Li a sly smile.