loyalty and hope

[Hii peoples, sorry for the late update '-', I was busy buying presents for my mom today and I still didn't pack all of them... well ig I have to do tmrw some more. BTW can u gimme some suggestions for what I should buy? But no perfumes, don't wanna send the vibe that she smells...]

Hua Jing exited the building through another door and ended up at the entrance again. He didn't even consider waiting for the other eunuchs and just told the carriage driver to drive them back to the trainee's yard. Today's incident would surely see consequences and attract attention, but it is not a too rare case. There have been several cases of Blessed awakening at a young age. It was just a new thing for the Eunuchs, as those who awaken so early normally do so because of their special bloodline. Besides the Imperial Family, there are only the Noble Clans where it happens occasionally 2-3 times every generation, which is why it would cause attention in the first place, otherwise he'd just be another possible genius in the future. 

But now, things were different. The Eunuch's, at least that one very passionate High Eunuch, has many plans for their standing in the empire. Hua Jing is very clear to which he is loyal to: 

1. The Empire, as all Eunuchs are seeking a harmonious and steadily progressing Empire. Unlike the power-seeking Nobles, Officials and Generals, they mainly want the Empire to thrive, and surely there is a bit of ambition, but without their yang roots, their ambition would end in their lineage. The system of teaching for the Eunuchs is but a mentor-protege relationship, nothing binding nor truly lasting, as normally there are no large benefits but much work. The social hierarchy of Eunuchs is no different, surely there are many ranks, but in the end they all serve the Empire to the best of their ability. They also treat everyone of their ranks as their brothers, forming a brotherhood where camaraderie is prevailing, making the Eunuchs a very enclosed group.

2. The Eunuchs, as already said, they feel like serving the Empire with their fellow brothers to be the most important, but still put the Empire above their brothers. Still, they admire and care for each other like fellow soldiers following orders in war. Which is unsurprisingly one of the reasons they feel closer to military officials than other officials.

3. Lastly the person they are loyal to are the Noble Clans. No such clan would have the right to prevail under normal circumstances, as it's the epitome of being a lasting opposing power against the Imperial Family. Yet for them to be allowed to exist means two things: they have power and did significant achievements for the Empire. Them being beneficial to the Empire gives them certain reverence from the Empire, making it not unusual to see an eunuch among the ranks of stewards in the Noble Clans... well of course that's when these Noble Clans can trust such people who hold them only in the third position when it comes to loyalty.

...

Hua Jing and Ji Li arrived only shortly back in the trainee's yard. The drive back was very quiet, and Ji Li considered several times whether he should say something but decided against that because it seemed to be unnecessary as Hua Jing looked at him with hope and reverence in his eyes.

He carried the small toddler back to the building, even though he knew it could walk, there was no need for over-exertion currently. In the building he packed the few toys that he thought would please Ji Li and put them into a small bag he then carried away.

Carrying the baby and the bag, the thin young man barely 17 years old didn't seem to struggle in the least. He left the building and went around the trainee's yard till the end where a three-story building stood high and clean. In front where some eunuchs guarding the entrance.

They straightened their backs when they saw Hua Jing coming their way, making it very obvious for everyone that they were fearful of this seemingly nice Junior Eunuch. Well, just like the incoming Intermediate Eunuch Exam for Jing, there was the Junior Eunuch Exam for all those that spend 15-16years in the trainee's yard. The only difference being that no matter what, everyone from the trainee's yard had more than enough time to prepare for the relatively easy exam, which consists of the reports of the various heads checking on their work and their general knowledge over every day matters of the palace. These were of course not guarding a door like they did in the trainee's yard, not those tasks where only to exert and text their determination and readiness to follow the orders despite their own weaknesses.

Hua Jing went into the building and slowed down his steps. He carried the baby upstairs towards the second floor where there were several bedrooms. 

"Little Li, I will take you to my room. As I am going to be promoted soon, I will be taking care of the trainee's yard entirely, and currently my room is the largest as the manager's room. The only larger on is the heads room in the trainee's yard, which is Senior Eunuch Lin's abode, but he will leave and after preparations, I will move there, and you can live in the managers room." Jing looked at Li who acted like he understood, although some nouns and verbs were difficult, he could rime it somehow together. "I am sure, and I will make sure that everyone is contend with you living there. From tomorrow onwards I will teach you little things. And after my own Exam, I will take time to fully impart on you a lot of theoretical knowledge. Haha, look at you, little jade. Truly a befitting name. You understand so well when you are so young, I am sure that you will be a revered Eunuch in the future. When you are, don't forget me, your grand mentor Lin and... also don't forget Tian Xuan, he also cares for you and even brought you all these toys you play with!"

Ji Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry... he just lost his jewels and barely forgetting that he is still a person averted from this theme, clearly not sure about his own feelings towards all that. Yet here he is, a eunuch which is supposed to be his mentor, but he has a boyfriend and at such a young age at that! He didn't know whether he should river this man for not giving up his passion even being a eunuch or if he should cry because he got a very unreliable and mood-swinging mentor! 

After shaking his head and looking around the room, he saw that it was very spacious and there were various tables who were packed full of papers and rolls. He wondered whether he truly is in a simple yard managers room and not mistakenly ended in the emperor's own study! Clearly this study being one of the reasons he never aspired to hold too much power, he didn't know if he escaped a thief only to end in a bandit's den.

Looking at the papers with a slight headache, Ji Li frowned because he forgot one major thing before he started looking at the papers. He couldn't read, at all! Just understanding was challenging as he tried his best to compare the words to those he knew.