In 1729, the Yongzheng Emperor set up an office inside the palace to handle a war in the northwest. It became the Grand Council (军机处), and it remained until 1911. Its ministers turned the emperor’s spoken instructions into edicts. They also discussed major affairs, but their opinions went to the emperor for his decision.
Chinese Wikipedia sums up their position with a classic description. They “only transmitted and wrote, and could not add the slightest counsel in between” (只供传述缮撰，而不能稍有赞画于其间). The power of decision rested entirely with the emperor.