The prince is more stable

Chapter 55: Subordinates

Soup dumplings originated in Bian Jing, but they were invented earlier. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, a chef named Sun made soup dumplings.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang liked this dish very much and named it "soup steamed bun" himself. "Steamed bun" in the Tang Dynasty meant stuffed bun.

Later, during the Song Dynasty, this Diyilou restaurant was opened in Bian Jing. It is said that it still uses the secret recipe from the Tang Dynasty, but the chef’s surname is no longer Sun.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Wei Jie walked into the first floor and looked around.

It is called the "first floor", but the place is actually not that big. The first floor can accommodate about five or six tables, and there are second and third floors above it.

The decoration inside the building is very simple, and people don’t come here for the decoration. It is really good to have such a store in a place like Panlou Street in Bianjing where every inch of land is valuable.

The tables and chairs in the building are quite old, and there is a thick curtain hanging at the door.

What’s amazing is that there are also singing girls holding pipa, walking up and down the stairs, begging guests to order a song or have a few drinks with them.

Accompanying customers to drink a few glasses of wine is not that simple. It means you have tacitly agreed to be touched and grabbed by the customers. It is a flesh trade belonging to the lower class.

There are also idle men in the market who shuttle between the tables. If customers need to buy something or need introductions to other people or things, the idle men will collect tips from the customers and happily help run errands.

The small door to the back kitchen is tightly closed, probably because the owner is afraid that the secret recipe of the soup dumplings will be stolen, so he guards it very strictly. If a customer gets up and intends to go to the back kitchen to see the production process, the owner and the waiter will stop him at the door, smiling but firmly asking the customer to go back.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Wei Jie ordered two trays of steamed buns, a few side dishes and a pot of wine.

The hot buns were served quickly. After removing the cloth from the wrapper, Zhao Xiaoqian discovered that they were somewhat different from the soup dumplings he had in his previous life. They were very large, about the size of a fist, and the skin was so thin that he could practically see the soup swaying inside through the skin.

After picking up one and letting it cool down, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't wait to take a bite. Without letting go, he first sucked the soup from the gap and then bit the filling inside.

After taking this sip, Zhao Xiaoqian almost burst into tears.

The taste of the previous life!
A delicacy that has been passed down for thousands of years, and its taste has not changed at all, makes me feel so happy.

Wei Jie sat opposite him, looking at him blankly.

Eating a bun can make him cry. What is the mental state of this prince of Chu?

No wonder he dared to beat the former prime minister. If this man goes crazy, he might not even let himself go.

"Delicious!" Zhao Xiaoqian wiped his eyes and said, "Thank you, Brother Li Yan, for introducing this place. I will definitely come here often in the future."

This is not about eating buns, but about eating feelings, the nostalgia from the previous life.

Wei Jie pulled the corners of his mouth. People who are not used to laughing, no matter how hard they try, their smiles will be filled with the sinister smell of a villain with a fake smile.

"As long as the prince likes it, I'm glad you come here often."

After eating one after another, Zhao Xiaoqian ate half of the tray and was really full. Then he raised his glass to toast Wei Jie.

The pace slowed down and Wei Jie got down to business.

"Your Highness is taking office today. I would like to tell you about the situation of the Imperial City Department. The Imperial City Department has two departments under its jurisdiction: one is the 'Investigation Department' and the other is the 'Ice Well Department'. Both departments are under the control of the Imperial City Department."

Zhao Xiaoqian was puzzled, but he could understand the term "Investigation Department". As the name suggests, it is responsible for gathering intelligence. The essence of the Imperial City Department is a spy agency, so the Investigation Department is indispensable.

What is Bingjingwu?

Wei Jie explained calmly, "The so-called 'Ice Well Service' was mainly responsible for the imperial palace. The officials, the Empress Dowager, and the nobles in the palace needed ice to cool down in the summer, so the palace set up an Ice Well Service. The so-called 'Ice Well' refers to the place where ice is stored in the palace, providing ice cubes for the nobles."

"After Emperor Taizong, the Bingjingwu changed. It became the spy agency set up by successive emperors in the palace, specifically to monitor the words and deeds of the palace guards. Not only that, the Bingjingwu also had the responsibility of detention."

"Any criminal arrested by the Imperial City Division will be temporarily detained by the Bingjing Office before being handed over to the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple for interrogation. Of course, if it is a serious criminal case, the Bingjing Office will also conduct a private interrogation before handing it over to the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple for trial."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly understood.

Simply put, there are two departments under the Imperial City Bureau, one is the Investigation Bureau and the other is the Ice Well Bureau.

The Investigation Department was responsible for investigating and arresting people, while the Ice Well Department was responsible for detaining and interrogating people. Furthermore, the Ice Well Department was a crucial line of defense within the Imperial Palace, with its spies lurking within the palace, specifically monitoring the words and actions of the palace guards to ensure the safety of the emperor.

"We are here on official business. Can we control the Investigation Department and the Ice Well Affairs?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked again.

Wei Jie said, "Of course, the Investigation Department and the Ice Well Department are under the Imperial City Department. The Crown Prince and I are the highest-ranking officials in the Imperial City Department. Both departments under our jurisdiction obey you and me..."

After a pause, Wei Jie added: "...from now on, I will mainly obey the orders of the Crown Prince."

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately took a liking to Wei Jie.

This guy knows how to behave himself. He doesn't need to get involved in anything. He's already smarter than a monkey.

"Aren't there three people in charge of the Imperial City Office? Besides you and me, there is another one?" Zhao Xiaoqian did not forget the conspiracy that had slipped through the net.

If you don't accept it, just blow his head off as usual.

Wei Jie said, "There's another official stationed in Zhending Prefecture on the Song-Liao border. He's specifically responsible for gathering information about the Liao enemy and mobilizing troops. The Imperial City Office was originally established for this purpose."

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but be secretly surprised.

Such a mysterious and covert spy agency is indeed very powerful and can take care of everything from the inside out.

Zhending Prefecture is too far away, and there is no way to establish authority over him for the time being.

After learning about the general situation of the Imperial City Bureau, Zhao Xiaoqian started to talk about business.

"I have something to trouble you, Brother Li Yan..." said Zhao Xiaoqian.

Wei Jie hurriedly said, "Just tell the prince."

"It's 'Prince, please give your orders'... Oh, never mind. As long as you are happy."

Zhao Xiaoqian paused and whispered, "Compile a list of officials from Bianjing and other places who are members of the Old Party for me."

Wei Jie said, "The Imperial City Office has a list of officials from both the old and new parties, and the Crown Prince can check it at any time."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded, not surprised.

If the Imperial City Division didn't even have this basic intelligence, Zhao Xiaoqian would have to find someone to take action against him internally.

Zhao Xiaoqian continued, "Has the Imperial City Administration obtained any evidence of crimes committed by the old party officials in Bianjing?"

Wei Jie hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes, but not many. There is a doctor in the Zuosi, a clerk in charge of imperial ceremonies, and two secretaries... Most of them are suspected of corruption and bribery. There is also a scholar in the Tianzhang Pavilion whose residence is beyond the regulations."

"These people are all from the old party. The Imperial City Bureau has direct evidence of their involvement, but they have never been questioned."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed and said, "Hand over the evidence involving these people directly to me tomorrow. Don't let any news leak out."

Wei Jie asked with some concern, "Is this what the Crown Prince is going to do...? Is this what the Emperor wants?"

"Don't inquire about social affairs."

Wei Jie immediately shut up and didn't dare to ask any more questions.

But he had a vague understanding in his heart that this must have been instructed by the government.

This official was determined to restore the country and had far-reaching ambitions. The court was about to change. The fate of countless old party officials was changed from then on, and they bid farewell to the political stage completely.

Since the emperor took power, he transferred Zeng Bu and Zhang Dun to the capital, broke the ancestral law and appointed clan members as officials, and Zhao Xiaoqian collected evidence of crimes committed by old party officials.

Every step shows that the government is strangling the old party.

The role played by the Imperial City Bureau is the life-threatening rope in the hands of the emperor.

(End of this chapter)