REAL Masters of the Forbidden City: The Imperial Household Department

Think being the Emperor in the Qing Dynasty's Forbidden City was a nice gig? Think again. Let's explore a fascinating government office in Chinese history that really held all the power: the Imperial Household Department (內務府, Nèiwùfǔ). I'll tell you some absolutely crazy stories of how this department used its total control over the Emperor's money to hold him financially hostage, with scams so absurd they sound made up, including a bowl of soup that cost 60,000 taels and a simple patch on the Emperor's pants that cost a fortune. We'll explore the 'culture of collusion' that turned the Emperor's servants into his masters, creating an untouchable empire within an empire that ultimately helped bleed the Qing Dynasty dry.