It was the young boy's turn. His slender frame and short legs knelt before Your Excellency. He emulated his mother, offering a full kowtow, enduring the blisters on his feet, his head bowed, his hands tightly clenched.
"Is your name Min Na-eun?"
The boy remained silent, his mind consumed with how he might join his mother. How could he implore this esteemed one? He had not even heard the question.
Crack!
"Ow!" He flinched. The stinging pain on his back brought the boy back to his senses.
"Your Excellency Zhang asked! Answer him!" The soldier standing nearby roared, raising his hand, ready to unleash the whip again should the captive disobey or attempt any trickery.
"Stay your hand. This child may not understand the official language." Your Excellency Zhang raised a hand to stop him, his other hand stroking his beard with weariness at such a tedious task. "Where shall he be sent? His body is thin, he likely lacks the strength for mining. He does not even understand our Great Qing tongue. Truly useless. Then, let him be sold as a slave."
Hearing this, the boy quickly raised his head, stammering out an immediate reply, fearing he would be sold as a slave, unaware even of where his mother had been sent. "W-Wait, Your Excellency. T-This humble one... understands what Your Excellency speaks."
"Is that so? Good. At least there is some use in that." Your Excellency Zhang stroked his beard again. "How old are you this year?"
"Ten years old, Your Excellency," the young boy answered before bowing until his forehead touched the hard, hot ground once more. He did not know what to do to be reunited with his mother. There was only one way: to ask directly, devoid of any complex thoughts or cunning.
"This humble one is but an ignorant child. I still require much guidance from my mother. May Your Excellency please send this humble one to the same place as my mother."
The sharp, narrowed eyes re-examined the young boy before him. His youthful face was grimy, smudged with dirt and dust. Some parts had been wiped clean with tears, revealing fair, smooth cheeks. His round, bright eyes shone clearly, though they welled with tears. He appeared utterly pitiable. The tip of his nose was a dusky pink, like an yingtao fruit (cherry). His body was so thin that his bones protruded distinctly.
"You wish to be with your mother?"
"Yes, Your Excellency." The young boy suppressed his joy at this esteemed one's softening demeanor. Perhaps he truly would be allowed to join his mother, without needing to plead much.
"But I do not know your mother. How can I send you to the same place? There are hundreds, thousands of female captives. I have no time to search for your mother."
Hearing the change in tone, as if a glimmer of hope began to slip away, the boy quickly grasped at the last straw. He inadvertently rose to his feet, hastily stating, "My mother's name is Yun Myeongseong. Your Excellency just passed judgment on her earlier."
"Impudence! Kneel now! You are but a captive and have no right to make demands!" The same soldier whipped him across his knees, causing the boy to collapse back down.
"Enough, enough. Do not whip him so hard. What if the child dies?" Your Excellency Zhang turned to the soldier, then faced the kneeling boy. "This is no nursery. There are no wet nurses here to pamper you."
"This humble one understands, Your Excellency. This humble one is strong. Any work my mother does, this humble one can do also. May Your Excellency please send me to be with my mother. This humble one will not forget this kindness for an entire lifetime." His eyes were red-rimmed, and he softly sniffled.
"It is not that I do not wish to help a child such as yourself. It is merely that I must pass judgment upon the captives according to their suitability, so that our Great Qing may have laborers and our land may prosper and flourish. Sigh. I wonder if you will understand when I explain. Let it be known that out of pity, I shall not send you to be a mine coolie. A scrawny child like you would likely tire and die within three days of such work." Your Excellency Zhang stroked his beard, silent for a moment. At last, he decided to speak. "You shall enter the palace as a eunuch. Consider this my utmost mercy. The position of a eunuch is both comfortable and arduous, yet it is not as severe as that of slaves or mine workers. You may rest assured. It may even be that you receive service from a benevolent imperial relative, and you might live a comfortable life, perhaps even attaining a higher position than I."
"A eunuch, Your Excellency?"
"Yes."
"What is a eunuch?"
"You will know once you enter the palace. Take him away." Your Excellency Zhang waved his hand, instructing two soldiers to lead away the bewildered boy, who had no understanding of where he was being taken.