Liaodong, Shengjing.
The Eastern Tartar Khan Palace.
Huang Taiji was speaking with his second Fujin, Buerbutai, in the inner palace.
"Why does the Great Khan want only xiucai scholars, not juren or jinshi graduates?" Buerbutai asked.
"Xiucai can read and write, but they have not yet absorbed too much talk of loyalty and filial piety. They are easier for us to use," Huang Taiji said with a smile.
"The Great Khan's wisdom surpasses all others. I had thought the higher one's scholarly rank, the better."
"It will be the same in the future. We want none of those with high scholarly ranks. Their bones may be soft, but their hearts are proud. Even if they kneel, they will never truly submit to our Qing Dynasty." Huang Taiji reclined against the couch, his gaze cold and sinister.
At that moment, a palace maid carefully brought over two cups of clear tea.
"Please have some tea, Great Khan and Fujin."
Huang Taiji took the tea and had just taken a sip when, in his haste, he suddenly scalded himself.
"Is the Great Khan all right?" Buerbutai hurriedly asked.
"Drag her away. Beat her. Beat her to death and be done with it!" Huang Taiji said directly to the palace maid.
Two Eight Banners Gebushixian soon dragged the palace maid away.
"Fujin, save me! Save me!" The palace maid's wails quickly faded beyond the palace gates.
Buerbutai did not say a word from beginning to end. She merely hurried to bring cool spring water for Huang Taiji to quench his thirst.
"These servant girls are always so disrespectful in their work. I heard that in the Southern Dynasty, there were even palace maids who dared to kill the emperor. They simply lacked discipline; the defiance in their hearts had not been ground away."