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.

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TBC