Chapter 18 - 18. Studying

Hong er POV

After what happened yesterday, the other 4 stones changed into a 4 leaf clover jade neckale. Each leaf had a different color: red, sky blue, dark blue, and green. I can't take off the phoenix earring no matter what I do so I just let it be.

I woke up at 3 AM like usual, after I washed my face and grab my cloak, I went to the library. The guards bowed to me when they saw me.

Hong er: " I'm sorry, I didn't make any soup for you guys today."

Guard: " No it is okay Miss, actually we are not allowed to eat while we work."

Hong er: " Then why do eat the soup yesterday?"

Guard: " We can't reject something that was given by our master."

Hong er: " Ohh, then Jia You!" (it means Fighting!)

I entered the library and looked around the library, 'hhmm what should I read first?' After 20 minutes of walking from the first floor to the third floor, I found 10 super thick books and 8 scrolls of bamboo scroll. Ah Xi helped me carry the books and I carry the scrolls, I'm still not used to let people do my job. I went to the first floor and sat on a chair. I read the book quietly while Ah Xi sit beside me. Actually a servant shouldn't sit with their master but I insisted him to sit or else I will stand up together with him.

I'm still not really good at reading because granny only teached me the commonly used words. So when I can't read the words, I ask Ah Xi. He is very smart, of course he is. To be an elite soldier, you need to have a good physical power and a smart brain.

There are so many candle lanterns around the library, they light up all the library. The sun had risen, the guard used his wind magic to blow off the candle all at once. Woow it is so cool, I can't wait to learn magic from mother. I was only be able to read 2 books in 3 hours, Ah Xi said that the unread books will be sent to my room so I didn't have to search for it.

At 6 am, I went to Xu family's training field with father. He said that he won't be lenient on me even though I am his daughter or a girl. Firstly, he tested my durability, stamina, and strength. After he knew that I can lift 15 kg sandbag with one hand, he was very impressed by my strength despite my age and body size. Later, he made me run around the training field for 15 laps with 7 kg of sandbag on each of my limbs. God, it was tiring!

But he did this for my sake so I won't give up. After that, 30 push ups, 30 sit ups, 20 pull ups, 30 minutes of truss, 5 minutes of plank, 30 squats, and I have to do it for 3 sets with only 10 minutes break for each set. And what's more, I have to do all of that while sandbags are tied on all of my limbs.

The soldiers on the training field looked at me with a weird expression. Hm? Am I that ugly after sweating a bucket? Oh,I forgot to tell you that I am wearing a black shirt and pants.(A/N: just imagine a kung fu clothes because I don't know the name. It is not hanfu.) I tied up my hair into a ponytail, I separate my bangs into halves. Mother said that it is not womanly if I cover face with my bangs.

When I made an eye contact with the soldiers, I smiled but their face got red and they turned around. Are they angry because I smiled at them? Did they think that I mocked them? Maybe I should go apologize to them after the training.

After the warm up, father taught me hand to hand combat. He said that after I learned hand to hand combat, then he will teach me how to use weapons.

After the training*

Xu Tingfeng: " Hong er, did Qing er taught you magic?"

Hong er: " Mother said that she will teach me magic."

Xu Tingfeng: " Good, after you mastered magic and martial arts, I will teach you how to use magic while you fight."

Hong er: " Thank you very much father."

I went to the soldiers and bowed. And then I ran away.

I smiled like an idiot on my way to my room. I took a bath and went to the main hall to eat lunch together with father and mother. After that, the new teacher that mother hired will teach me. There are 3 teachers, one teaches me music, one teaches me literature like poem, history, math, etc, and the last one teaches me medicine. Each teacher will teach me for 2 days in a week,3 hours a day. On Sunday, I will learn etiquette and embroidery from mother.

After I ate my lunch, I chatted with father and mother, then I went to Lotus Pavilion to meet my new teacher. I saw a woman with a white hanfu, her dress fluttered in the air, it looks like she is flying. I cross the bridge and greet my new teacher. When I look up, I saw her surprised expression and she smiled sweetly at me. Am I that ugly?

Lin Yingyue: " Greeting to Young Miss, my name is Lin Yingyue and I will be your music teacher."

Hong er: " Lin laoshi (laoshi: teacher), my name is Xu Feihong, it is nice to meet such a beautiful lady like you."

Lin Yingyue: " Oh my, it is my pleasure to be praised by Young Miss. Then let's start the lesson."

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For three hours, I learned how to play Guqin ( 5 stringed zither). It is a bit difficult actually, I never seen anyone play a guqin before so I don't know anything about these things. I need to practice more.

After that I went to mother's study room to learn magic.

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The soldiers and Lin Yingyue: ' The Young Miss is so cute and pretty.'