MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!

The second instructor’s lips pressed together tightly, irritation flashing across her face before she smoothed it away.

"You agreed," she said firmly, her voice sharpening. "Just a moment ago, you said you would follow the lessons."

Hua Jing’s eyes widened slightly, her confusion deepening.

"Did I?"

She looked at them again, her expression full of nothing but innocence, as if she were a lost child being scolded unfairly.

"I must have misspoken," she said lightly. "I truly don’t remember saying such a thing."

The first instructor’s face twitched, her patience clearly starting to unravel.

"You did," she said stiffly. "And whether you remember or not, it does not change the fact that this is an order from the Empress."

Hua Jing sighed dramatically, placing a delicate hand to her forehead as if she had just received the worst news of her life.

"This is quite distressing," she murmured, shaking her head. "To think my memory is failing me at such a young age. How terrible."

The second instructor took a deep breath.

"This is not about memory loss, Your Highness," she said through gritted teeth. "We must begin the lessons now."

Hua Jing lowered her hand and blinked up at them, as if she had only just noticed their presence.

"Oh? You’re still here?"

The older women visibly stiffened.

Hua Jing sighed again and finally turned toward Xia Lin.

"Xia Lin," she said, her tone soft but clear, "do you remember hearing anything about etiquette lessons?"

Xia Lin, who had been watching the scene unfold with a mixture of horror and amusement, hesitated before bowing her head slightly.

"I—" She swallowed. "I don’t recall hearing such a thing, My Lady."

Hua Jing smiled, Xia Lin understood her way too well!

Hua Jing’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

"They didn’t?" she asked airily. "Then why do they insist that I did?."

Xia Lin quickly played along, "Beats me!"

The instructors faces were now as red as tomatoes from anger!

She turned back to the two instructors, her expression once again completely innocent.

"Perhaps you could remind me," she said kindly.

The first instructor gritted her teeth so hard it looked painful.

"Your Highness," she said, forcing patience into her tone. "The First Consort already informed you. The Empress has sent us to teach you the necessary etiquette of the palace. You are to listen and follow our instructions."

"Ah," Hua Jing said, nodding.

Then, without hesitation—

"That sounds terribly inconvenient. Let’s not do that."

A stunned silence.

The second instructor’s mouth parted slightly, disbelief flashing across her face.

"You—!"

Hua Jing lifted a delicate hand.

"I mean," she interrupted smoothly, "I have no doubt your lessons are extremely valuable. But don’t you think it’s a little excessive?"

The first instructor gathered herself, standing even straighter.

"This is a necessary duty of all consorts," she said stiffly. "You cannot refuse."

Hua Jing pursed her lips, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her chin.

"Can I not?"

"No," the second instructor snapped.

Hua Jing gasped softly, placing a hand over her heart.

"Such rudeness," she murmured. "To think that two mere palace maids are speaking to a consort like this. How shocking."

The second instructor’s face went red, but before she could respond, the first instructor cut in quickly.

"We are not mere maids," she corrected, her voice straining to remain polite. "We are here on the Empress’s behalf. It is our duty to ensure you are properly trained in palace conduct."

"Properly trained..." Hua Jing echoed.

She tilted her head slightly, pretending to ponder the words.

"That sounds rather important," she admitted.

The instructors visibly relaxed, thinking they were finally making progress.

But then—

Hua Jing smiled.

"But why should I need training?" she asked, her tone light and curious.

The second instructor froze.

"What?"

"I mean," Hua Jing continued, tilting her head sweetly, "I already have excellent etiquette. After all, was I not raised in a noble household?"

The second instructor looked ready to explode.

"You were born from a lowly maid," she snapped. "You did not go through the same training as the rest of the nobility. Your manners are unrefined."

A long pause.

Hua Jing simply smiled.

Xia Lin stiffened beside her, watching anxiously as tension filled the air.

Then—

"How interesting," Hua Jing murmured, her tone dangerously soft.

The instructors exchanged glances, sensing something had shifted.

Hua Jing’s smile was still there, but the amusement in her gaze had faded.

She took one slow step forward, then another, her presence suddenly suffocating.

"Tell me," she said lightly. "Do you know who I am?"

The first instructor hesitated.

"You are the Seventh Consort—"

"No, no," Hua Jing interrupted, shaking her head.

"Who am I?" she repeated.

The two instructors looked uneasy now.

"You are—"

"I am the woman who holds the Crown Prince’s heart," Hua Jing said smoothly, her voice barely above a whisper, yet ringing clear in the still air.

The instructors froze.

"And yet," Hua Jing continued, smiling ever so slightly, "you dare stand before me, questioning my upbringing, my background, my status?"

The second instructor swallowed hard.

Hua Jing tilted her head slightly, her gaze turning sharp.

"If you wish to teach etiquette," she mused, "perhaps you should learn some yourselves first."

A thick silence fell.

Xia Lin barely suppressed a laugh.

The two older women looked as if they had swallowed glass.

Finally, the first instructor cleared her throat, struggling to regain her composure.

"This is an order from the Empress," she reminded stiffly. "You cannot simply ignore it."

Hua Jing gave a mockingly thoughtful nod.

"Fine," she said lightly.

"You may begin."

The instructors visibly relaxed.

But just as they opened their mouths to speak—

Hua Jing casually turned away.

"Xia Lin," she said sweetly, walking toward the veranda, "prepare some tea for our guests."

The instructors blinked.

"But Your Highness—!"

"Ah," Hua Jing interrupted, turning back with a feigned look of innocence.

"Are you not supposed to teach etiquette?" she asked.

"Shouldn’t we start with serving tea properly?"