Gu Xiao found Lu Li's adorable, dazed look quite amusing; it had been a long time since she had seen Lu Li looking so sleepy.
Holding the clothes, Gu Xiao walked to the window and reached out to scratch Lu Li under the chin.
Lu Li cooperated fully with Gu Xiao's actions, pursing her cat-like lips, lifting her chin slightly, and squinting her eyes in enjoyment.
If Lu Li had a pair of cat ears and a tail, they would probably be wagging right now.
"Xiao Xiao, Xiao Li, time to get up and eat."
Just then, Jing Hanshuang's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Ah!"
The still-groggy Lu Li immediately let out a small gasp upon hearing Jing Hanshuang's voice from outside. She instantly woke up, grabbed the clothes from Gu Xiao's hand, and started putting them on.
"Slow down, it's fine. They won't come in."
Seeing Lu Li in such a rush, Gu Xiao said with a smile.
"Oh, why are you pulling me back?"
Outside, Jing Hanshuang's voice came again.
"They might not be up yet."
Just as Jing Hanshuang was about to enter, Jing Yuan reached out from behind and grabbed her arm.
"I'm a girl too, what's there to be afraid of?"
"Not everyone is comfortable with others seeing them improperly dressed."
"Fine, then let's wait outside."
Jing Hanshuang felt he had a point, nodded, and sat down with Jing Yuan at the stone table in the courtyard.
"Second Miss, Third Young Master, breakfast has been delivered."
Just then, a maid wearing a Qipao pushed a dining cart and walked in.
"You can set it down here."
Jing Hanshuang pointed to the stone table in front of her.
"Xiao Li, go wash up first."
In the bedroom, Gu Xiao grabbed Lu Li, who was trying to rush out immediately after putting on her clothes.
"But wouldn't it be impolite for me to do this?"
Being a guest in someone's home and making the hosts wait outside.
"It's fine. Jing Yuan and Sister Shuang aren't sticklers for rules. If you treat this place like your own home and relax, they'll actually feel more at ease."
People always hold themselves to a higher standard in front of strangers, especially when staying as guests in someone else's home.
But this wasn't what Gu Xiao wanted. She brought Lu Li here precisely so Lu Li could quickly integrate into this circle.
This way, her path of cultivation in the future would be smoother, with fewer frustrating incidents delaying her practice.
"Is that really okay?"
Lu Li was still hesitant. In her view, even if others didn't mind small issues, she couldn't accept it with a clear conscience.
In her opinion, interaction between people is mutual; only by showing mutual understanding can a relationship last.
"It's fine, just listen to me."
Gu Xiao walked behind Lu Li and gently pushed her into the bathroom.
Unable to argue with Gu Xiao, Lu Li had no choice but to grab the facial cleanser and speed up her washing.
Sensing Lu Li's urgency, Gu Xiao picked up a comb and began helping Lu Li tidy her hair.
A few minutes later, after Lu Li quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth, she saw Gu Xiao take out toner and other skincare products.
"Want some?"
"No, no, let's hurry up and go out."
The already anxious Lu Li naturally couldn't waste time on these things, so she pushed Gu Xiao out of the bathroom.
"Alright, our Xiao Li is naturally beautiful and hard to ignore, so it doesn't matter if you skip it."
As they left, Gu Xiao put the toner back on the sink.
"Creak."
The door to Gu Xiao's bedroom opened, and Gu Xiao and Lu Li stepped out.
"Xiao Li, Xiao Xiao, come quickly and eat."
Seeing the two come out, Jing Hanshuang, who was chatting with Jing Yuan, turned around and waved them over.
"Sister Hanshuang, Jing Yuan, you didn't have to wait for us."
Arriving at the stone table, Lu Li noticed that the breakfast on the table hadn't been touched, clearly indicating they were waiting for her and Gu Xiao.
Jing Hanshuang: "It's fine, neither of us is very hungry yet."
Jing Yuan: "We just finished our morning exercise; it's good to rest appropriately before eating."
While speaking, Jing Hanshuang quickly urged them both to sit down.
After sitting down and looking at the table full of delicious food, Lu Li first sighed in admiration, realizing this was truly the most luxurious breakfast she had ever seen.
"Miss Xiao Xiao, the Madam requests your presence."
After the four of them finished breakfast, a servant arrived at Wutong Courtyard.
"Ah, what must come, comes."
The lady etiquette instruction, delayed by eighteen years, has finally arrived.
"Lu Li, come with me."
After dismissing the maid, Gu Xiao turned and said to Lu Li.
"Is that allowed?"
"Why wouldn't it be? It's not a big deal."
Gu Xiao had decided: she would drag Lu Li along. Having company for this sort of thing would make it less boring and difficult to endure.
"What did Her Majesty the Mother call you for?"
Next to Jing Yuan, Jing Hanshuang turned her head and asked curiously.
"Just go and see for yourself," Jing Yuan said, curving his lips into a smile.
"You're not trying to trick me again, are you?"
Jing Hanshuang looked suspicious. It wasn't that she was naturally distrustful; it was just that she had suffered too many losses because of Jing Yuan.
"How could that be? Am I that kind of person?"
Jing Yuan felt wronged. He always believed he was very respectful and protective of his older sister.
Otherwise, how could Jing Hanshuang and he have such a good relationship?
"You absolutely are."
Don't think that just because you've put on human skin, I don't know that you're actually a fox inside.
Jing Hanshuang was utterly certain. She always heard that in other families, the older sister tricked the younger brother, but here, it was the exact opposite.
Can't win, absolutely can't win.
"Let's go."
Jing Yuan stood up and followed behind Gu Xiao and Lu Li, walking out of Wutong Courtyard.
"If we're going, we're going."
Jing Hanshuang followed closely behind.
Since Pei Lingyi was still waiting, the four of them quickened their pace.
More than ten minutes later, the four arrived at the Main Hall. As they approached, they could hear Pei Lingyi and another woman talking and laughing.
"Aunt Pei, I'm here."
Gu Xiao was the first to enter the Main Hall and greeted Aunt Pei inside.
Hearing Gu Xiao's voice, the two people talking in the Main Hall stopped.
Today, Pei Lingyi was wearing a white Suzhou-style Qipao, predominantly patterned with plum blossoms, highlighting her gentle temperament.
Next to Pei Lingyi was another woman also wearing a Qipao, but unlike Pei Lingyi's Suzhou-style Qipao, she was wearing a Shanghai-style Qipao that emphasized her figure.
Her face was charming and vibrant, and the fitted Qipao perfectly outlined her curves. Her beautiful black hair was coiled up at the back of her head with a hairpin, and her every movement was dignified and elegant.
This was precisely the Etiquette Teacher Pei Lingyi had invited for Gu Xiao: Mu Shuyi.
She was also Jing Hanshuang's Etiquette Teacher when she was young.
"Gu Xiao, let me introduce you. This is Mu Shuyi, your future Etiquette Teacher."
"And this is Gu Xiao, the daughter of my good best friend."
Pei Lingyi pulled Gu Xiao forward and introduced the two women.