A Qing princess in the Republican era
From the turn of the new century, the Qing empire has been heralded with ominous impediments one after the other. Their miserable defeat at the boxer rebellion only marked the beginning. Inside the walls of the forbidden city, the power struggle between the emperor and the empress dowager was growing ever intense. Outside the walls, nationalists and revolutionaries were clamoring to overthrow the dynasty. The times have gone tumultuous wherein causes of celebration were fleeting. In 1905, a most welcome news from the inner court came. It has been more than a decade since the emperor married and accepted concubines, but he still did not have a son to inherit the throne. With much anticipation, the emperor looked forward to the birth of a prince. However, much to his disappointment, the child was another daughter. In 1912, despite the edict of abdication being issued, the future of Aisin Gioro Wan Li, once known as Gulun Gongzhu Wan Li or Princess Wan Li of the first rank, was still looking bright. Bound by an internal verbal agreement between her mother and the new president of the republic of China, she was promised to marry the 3rd son of the president, Yuan Kezhen, upon reaching adulthood. However, not everything goes as planned. With the assassination of the president and the short-lived restoration of the Qing dynasty, Wan Li had to escape the forbidden city. Wan Li was a princess, but she was still a maiden born in imperial China. Growing up, she was mostly educated only with the moral principles and social code of behaviour called the three obediences and four virtues. Her personality was gentle, kind, shy, and meek. Instilled to her were traits and beliefs of an ideal wife leaning on dependency to a powerful and influential husband. How was she to survive without the privilege of her birthright during the extraordinary times of the republican era? -- This novel will have at least 3 major arcs. (Yes, I have written that far… at least inside my head. Haha!) 1. Wan Li's childhood in the palace/ forbidden city (qing dynasty until early republican era) Age: 0-12 2. After Wan Li escapes the Forbidden city (early republican era/ Warlord era) Age: 12-16 3. Wan Li in Shanghai. (Republican/ Warlord era) Age 16 onwards — What to expect? This novel will have romance, a lot of it later on but it doesn’t revolve entirely on that. There will be politics. Very necessary as it’s what propels the story forward. Character growth, definitely. For the better or the worse, all there but remember each character would be as human as can be. Drama, face slapping, some darkness, adventure, betrayal, all of it will be in this novel. R-18? There will be but definitely not in the early chapters. Oh and this will have a happy ending, though the roads reaching that would be bumpy. — Cover art: the pictures were grabbed from pinterest then edited by me. Important note to readers: Many events in the novel were based from historical facts. Again, many but not all. Some characters were inspired from historical figures. Take note: INSPIRED. Thus, they definitely have different attributes whether looks or personalities. In this regard, please do not assume that they’re one and the same. The characters here were created by me, so if they’re kinda evil or too kind, don’t think that the real historical figure was. Again, though this is historical, it’s still a work of fiction. So a lot of things and reasons leading to certain factual events may have been romanticized by the author (me).
Chapter 13: Morning greeting IV
"Huang di, don't you still have to make your morning greetings to noble consort dowager Lin and the others? What about after that? Don't you still have to attend your lessons with tutor Chen and tutor Lu?" Empress dowager Ruyi reminded with a friendly smile.
Li Shan furrowed his brows to think. When his mind came up with a solution, he answered with a grin. "Then, we should just go greet them together. She can also join me and Liang Shan in our lessons."
Empress Ruyi shook her head. "Wan Li does not perform morning greetings to the other dowagers. On the other hand, she also cannot join you and Liang Shan in class because she is a girl." She explained.
Li Shan who was denied what he wanted pouted his lips. "Why does she not have to make morning greetings to our other e'niang(s) while I have to? Does she not call e'niang, e'niang, like me?"
Empress dowager Ruyi had to pause. How does she explain in not so many words the complications brought about by politics to a young child without hurting his feelings nor causing him to alienate her daughter?
"Huang di, you are special and a lot of people love you dearly. That's why all of us here wanted to become your e'niang. Wan Li is not the same, she only has me as her e'niang. So, e'niang hopes that you treat her kindly and take care of her in the future. Does huang di understand?" she finally answered.
Hearing this, Li Shan stood straighter as he placed his two hands behind his back. His nostrils flared with pride. He does not really understand what love e'niang was talking about, but even as a child, he instinctively knew that everyone here curried for his favor.
"Yes, e'niang." He replied. Then, he peeked sideways to catch a glimpse of Wan Li who was hiding behind e'niang. Wanting to address her, he briefly wondered how he should call her.
Being able to process that Wan Li was e'niang's daughter, he concluded that she must be his sister. The next question was, was she his jie jie or mei mei? He remembered being taught those words by tutor Lu.
Seeing her cowering back, his first thought was that she must have been scared of him. He was already familiar with that appearance given how much he enjoyed seeing the servants in agony. However, he never gave her any reason to do so. It's just the first time they met.
On second thought, he imagined that she must have been too much awed by his natural brilliance that's why she couldn't bear looking at him straight. It's unsurprising because every time people saw him, except for his e'niang(s), oh, and his ahma who he sees from time to time, everyone else would would bow or kowtow to him.
In any case, he thought that she must be feeling fear. Well, he did feel good about that. He was the huang shang. Anyhow, given her behavior, she should be his meimei. Besides, though they were of the same height, he's sturdier than her dainty looking frame.
Feeling proud of his discovery, he said, "Wan Li mei mei, you should stop hiding behind e'niang. You don't have to be afraid of zhen."
Wan Li who heard him address her wrongly still did not budge nor answer. She just continued to grip the end of her e'niang's robe with her white knuckles as if her life depended on it.
Initially, Ruyi thought of correcting Li shan since Wan Li was older than him. However, to do so would be counterproductive. It was he who came to that conclusion on his own and perhaps, it might even become beneficial in the long run. Besides, there was no harm in letting him continue to think that way. When he grows older, he would know the truth on his own.
Li Shan who extended an olive branch to Wan Li was perplexed. Did she not hear him? He looked at e'niang in askance. "Why is Wan Li mei mei still hiding from me? Has she been avoiding me that's why I have never seen her before?"
Empress dowager Ruyi felt surprised that even at the young age of 5, Li Shan could already think that way. But still, it was precisely because she knew that he was just 5, that she can simply choose her words wisely.
"Of course not. Actually, Wan Li's health has not been good for a long time that's why Huang di hasn't seen her till now. Currently, Wan Li is still in the process of recovery, and the reason she's keeping distance is because she's afraid to pass on her sickness to huang di." She explained.
The fact that Wan Li is sticking next to e'niang did cross Li Shan's mind, but then he thought that the physicians still stay with him even when he's sick. Maybe adults don't get affected with that kind of decease and only kids do? In any case, he already experienced getting sick a few times, and though it exempted him from morning greetings, it was quite unpleasant. So, knowing that Wan Li was sick, he took a step back.
"I see. Mei mei is very thoughtful. Wan Li mei mei, zhen hopes that you get well soon. After that, zhen can play with you. Zhen also likes you to meet Liang shan didi."
Wan Li bit her lip, in her heart, she felt guilty. However, she just couldn't overcome her fear. So, she didn't respond.
Not hearing any response nor movements from Wan Li, Ruyi answered kindly on her behalf. "Huang di, Wan Li is thankful for your care. Now, you should no longer delay your other duties."
Thankfully, Li Shan was feeling magnanimous that day, so he didn't mind Wan Li's lack of answer. He understood that even animals would cower away from him initially before he could play with them.
"Alright. E'niang, I will be on my way." Li Shan replied. He bowed then turned to leave the room.
Wan Li hearing him starting to leave can finally breathe. She let go of her mother's robe before peeking to see if Li Shan and the eunuch were gone.
Li Shan as an afterthought looked back and was met with Wan Li's gaze. Finding her doe-like eyes cute, he smiled and waved before saying, "Wan Li mei mei see you tomorrow!"
Then, not waiting for a response, he left.
--
TBC