Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Finally, they entered the palace. From the outside, they could only see the high palace walls. They only knew that it was very big. But when they actually walked in and were inside, they realized how small they really were.

"Have you all been to the palace?"

Chu Yao was very curious, he must have never been here before.

"Since I got married, I have been attending every palace banquet with my father and mother, such as the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, the Emperor's birthday banquet, the Queen's birthday banquet, the birthday banquets of some princes, or the celebration banquets of some meritorious officials. I have been there all the time."

Zhen Luo said this with a somewhat disgusted expression. The main reason was that these banquets were basically the same, and every time there was a talent show, which was very boring.

"Cough cough~"

Xiao Zuochen coughed a few times, wanting Zhen Luo to be careful with his words. Although he didn't care what others thought of the things in the palace, he was still in the palace and it was better to be careful with his words and actions.

Zhen Luo also realized that his behavior was inappropriate and quickly changed the subject.

"This is also the first time for Master Liu Li to enter the palace, right? If Prince Qing and Prince Yun don't mind the noise, I'll tell them what's going on in the palace."

"Hey! I want to listen~"

Liuli showed great interest at this time. She had been to the Forbidden City when she was a child, but she was still young at that time and had no interest in those bricks and tiles. Now that she has grown up, she really wants to appreciate the wisdom of the ancients.

"As you wish."

Prince Qing was also a gentle person, so he naturally didn't care about these things. But his words had different meanings in the eyes of Chu Yao and Prince Yun. They both looked at Prince Qing meaningfully, then looked at each other again, nodding to each other, indicating that their previous thoughts were correct.

"Listen carefully~"

Zhen Luo saw Chu Yao was distracted and called him quickly.

"The palace is mainly divided into two parts, the outer court in the south and the inner court in the north. To put it simply, these are the two places where the emperor works and lives. For example, we entered from the Meridian Gate, and now we are in the outer court. Walk along this road under your feet, pass the Qianqing Gate, and you will reach the inner court. The entire palace is centered on this road under your feet, and the two sides are the same size and length."

“Is the layout the same on both sides?”

Chu Yao began to ask questions.

"Of course not. Just like your room, it's square, but the furnishings inside are not completely symmetrical. You can do whatever is convenient and comfortable for you.

For example, the outer court is basically where important ceremonies are held and where ministers meet the emperor. From the outside to the inside, there are the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. There are also some small halls and pavilions on both sides, which are where ministers report to work. They are all in the palace, so it is very convenient for the emperor to find a certain adult when he has something to do. "

"Are all the ministers present in the palace?"

"Definitely not! For example, if the people have grievances, they can go to the Dali Temple and beat drums to appeal for justice. If it is inside the palace, how can the people get in? And the Ministry of Works also has its own government office outside the palace. You can understand that most of those inside the palace are civil servants of various positions."

"Oh~ What about the inner court?"

"Inner Court? I don't know much about the Inner Court. I've never been there."

After Zhen Luo finished speaking, he looked around and saw that there was no one around. He pulled Liuli and Chu Yao and spoke in a low voice.

"The emperor doesn't like others staying in his house. He has a strong sense of territory!"

Liuli laughed out loud after hearing this. Ancient emperors really didn't like outsiders to enter their harem casually, because they had too many wives and couldn't keep up.

"It's time to go this way~"

Because several people were going to the Ministry of Revenue to check something, they naturally could not walk straight along the central axis.

After walking for a long time, they finally arrived at the Ministry of Revenue. The attic here was not very big, with three floors. The top two floors were used to store the registration of land and population, tax collection, and the financial accounting of the entire country in the past hundred years. On the first floor, with the door as the center line, there were desks symmetrically placed on the left and right, and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were busy with their own affairs.

Lord Zhang Mingli, the Minister of Revenue, who was sitting in the front row, was really shocked when he saw Qing Wan and Prince Yun walk in together.

"Your Highness Prince Qing, Your Highness Prince Yun."

When he shouted, the officials around him stood up and saluted.

"No need to be polite, you have worked hard, please continue to be busy, we only have a small matter."

Prince Qing told everyone to mind their own business and they only needed to chat with the Shangshu.

But the Minister thought that Prince Qing and Prince Yun came here for the pension mentioned earlier.

"Your Highnesses, are you here for the pension issue? It will take us a few days to calculate the specific payment for the year."

"I am not here today for this matter, but I want to ask Master Zhang for a favor."

"Oh? Your Highnesses are not the only ones who need your help."

Xiao Zuochen looked at Liuli. Liuli took out a piece of paper from her arms, opened it and handed it to Lord Zhang. On it was the list of victims of the serial murder case.

"This is?"

Although the Dali Temple had come to the Ministry of Revenue to inquire before, it was not Lord Zhang who was in charge, so he was not familiar with these names.

"These are the names of the victims of the serial murder case. The Dali Temple told us that the Ministry of Revenue proved that they were in Tai'an City ten years ago. But I want a more precise statement. Did they live in Tai'an City since they were born, or did they just come to Tai'an City ten years ago?"

"this?"

Mr. Zhang was stunned for a moment, then quickly agreed.

"Then I will send someone to search for it right away. Your Highnesses, please sit aside and wait."

After Lord Zhang finished speaking, he directed two lower-ranking officials to go upstairs to check the list, while he stayed on the first floor with these people.

"Master Zhang, don't worry about us. Just take care of your own business first."

"It's okay. I will stay here with the two princes."

Lord Zhang remained unmoved and continued to stand aside, no one knew why.

About an incense stick of time later, the two officials who went upstairs to check still did not come down. Prince Yun asked Lord Zhang, but he said that there were too many books upstairs and it would be difficult to find them in a short time.

So they had to wait a little longer.

After another stick of incense, no one came down. Xiao Zuochen couldn't help it and wanted to go up and check it himself.

"Your Highness, this is unacceptable. The Emperor has stipulated that no one except officials from the Ministry of Revenue is allowed to enter!"

Xiao Zuochen glanced at him. Was he using the emperor's words to pressure him?

Xiao Zuochen was about to say something when he heard a loud announcement from outside.

"The Queen has arrived—!"