CHAPTER 14

You must not be lazy.

You must not be greedy.

You must not have intercourse.

You must not make absurd remarks.

You must not close your eyes.

You must not laugh.

You must not lose your temper.

Minimize yourself; you must not think.

---

East of JoongHeeDang. Walking along the low wall, Raon encountered a simple inner gate.

"Is it here?"

Before walking through the gate, Raon went up on her tip-toes and looked over the wall. On the other side of the wall was a spacious yard filled with young eunuchs wearing their uniforms.

I came to the right place.

Raon entered a rectangular side courtyard. This place was a part of the Department of Eunuchs where the unregistered eunuchs lived and trained.

As soon as Raon entered the courtyard, the young eunuchs chattering in little groups simultaneously turned their attention to her. Their eyes seemed to be filled with curiosity on one part and caution in the other.

"How do you do?"

Raon looked around at her surroundings and greeted them. However, the only response was an empty echo. She felt like she was invited to a hostile situation. Embarrassed, Raon awkwardly smiled as she found a spot in the corner of the courtyard and just stood there.

Ding ding. Shortly, the sound of a bell rang to alert them that it was time for class. The crowd of hundreds of young eunuchs began to move in a neat, organized manner. While they hadn't been bestowed an official rank as of yet, there was still a rank system among them. It seemed that the standard was based on when they had entered the Palace, their age, and the amount of influence their master held.

The novice eunuchs split into two long lines. Catching on, Raon passed the eunuchs in her line and stood at the end.

Shortly, the door opened, and a middle-aged eunuch entered. Instantly, the backs of the novice eunuchs stiffened.

"Please bend."

Puzzled, Raon blankly stood still, prompting the chubby novice eunuch standing next to her to quickly gesture to her with his hand.

"What?"

"Bend your hips like this and bow your head."

Following the novice eunuch's gestures, Raon bent her hips.

Thump-thump. Eunuch Jin, who had been put in charge of the education of the novice eunuchs, walked between the two lines of eunuchs and began observing them with piercing eyes. Then he began to speak unfamiliar words.

"Tong"

A low but clear voice.

The novice eunuch that had received this word became elated and began to follow behind him. Unfamiliar words continued to pop out.

"Yak!"

"Jo!"

"Bul-tong!"

Those that received 'yak' or 'jo' could follow behind Eunuch Jin. However, the eunuchs that received 'bul-tong' couldn't move an inch. A long time had passed like that before Eunuch Jin finally stood before Raon.

"Are you the rascal Hong Raon?"

"Yes, sir."

Instantly, the novice eunuchs began to mutter amongst themselves. The eunuch of JaSunDang, Hong Raon. Her identity was a hot topic among those at the Palace. This was the eunuch that had already withstood several days at the haunted JaSunDang. There was no way Eunuch Jin did not know this.

"Silence!"

One firmly spoken word shut down the murmurs of the novice eunuchs. After looking around the now-silent surroundings, Eunuch Jin unhappily turned his gaze to Raon and...

"Bul-tong, bul-tong! Your posture is bul-tong! Your gaze is bul-tong!"

Three pieces of paper with 'bul-tong' written on them were stuck to Raon's forehead.

"Hehe."

Somebody's muffled laughter could be heard. However, the sound of laughter disappeared quickly at Eunuch Jin's fierce glance. After looking around at the young eunuchs, Eunuch Jin opened his mouth and spoke in a steady voice.

"The role of a eunuch is to open up the Palace in the morning and close it up at night. We are the most trustworthy servants of the Emperor and the royal family. We are also the keepers of knowledge that span from royal edicts to secrets. Us eunuchs are also responsible for the Palace grounds and keeping order, protecting the inner palace, and supervising the court ladies."

Step by step, Eunuch Jin stuck the 'bul-tong' papers onto the eunuchs who didn't pass inspection and looked at them one by one.

"To put it in simply, eunuchs are the leaders of the Palace. Therefore the very first things you must learn are control and self-restraint. However, you all are those that couldn't even master the basics. Especially you!"

Eunuch Jin pointed at Raon with his finger. Raon flinched and straightened her back as Eunuch Jin stared.

"You rascal!"

Instantly, Eunuch Jin's voice boomed.

"A eunuch must never straighten his back."

At Eunuch Jin's criticism, Raon quickly bent down.

"We are the shadows of the Emperor and the royal family. Therefore you must never forget to keep your postures low. Also, you must never make a sound as you walk. Keep your gaze on your feet. You mustn't take one step in front of anyone. Understand?"

"I will keep it in mind."

"Good. Those that received bul-tong will walk around the yard in this basic posture. One sheet of bul-tong paper equals fifty laps. The rest of you, follow me."

After speaking, Eunuch Jin entered into the inner courtyard. The eunuchs behind him trotted after him. And like that, as if they were made from the same mold, they all disappeared in identical postures.

(T/N: The words given by Eunuch Jin are basically grades. 'Tong' = 'pass'; 'Bul-tong' means 'fail/unable to pass'; Tong > Yak > Jo > Bul-tong)

---

"Hyoo."

Finally able to relax, Raon let out a sigh of relief.

Apparently one couldn't officially become a eunuch just by cutting off their lower part. Presently, there were about two-hundred eunuchs in the Palace. Among them, those that were officially registered amounted to sixty-two. The rest that were unable to receive this position remained as novice eunuchs. In order to become an official eunuch, one had to pass the exams given by the Department of Eunuchs.