Chinese Imperial Confidential Memorials

I am relieved to read about the existence of an imperial Chinese system whereby confidential memorials (zouben - 奏本) which bypassed the Grand Secretariat were able to reach the Emperor directly.

Said to have begun under Emperor Kangxi (康熙) and formalized under Emperor Yongzheng (雍正), the system supposedly provided the Emperor with detailed information on events and trends, as well as allow him to assert better control over the central bureaucracy. (H. Lyman Miller, "The Late Imperial Chinese State", in "The Modern Chinese State" Ed. David Shambaugh)

Relieved because sometimes I cannot be sure that information I've gleaned from watching Chinese drama serial - whether produced in Hong Kong or China - are historically accurate.

The last time I heard about "zouben" was in the mainland Chinese drama serial Ji Xiaolan (铁齿铜牙纪晓岚 - tiechi tongya Ji Xiaolan) which was immensely popular on the mainland a few years ago.

It's a relief to know that "zouben" really existed, and that I haven't been watching too much Ji Xiaolan, after all.

Incidentally, the Ji Xiaolan series - intelligent, well-scripted, and full of historical and literary puns - momentarily rekindled my interest in watching drama serials, after a lapse of several years.

I really loved Zhang Guoli's (张国立 who played Ji Xiaolan) wit in the show, and Zhang Tielin's (张铁林 who played the Emperor) deep booming voice.