The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 9

Shurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern.

While Shurei is receiving her assignment from the emperor, her father, Shoka, is visited by his younger brother, Kuro. Kuro believes Shoka fled the Hong clan to shirk his duty as leader and remains ignorant of his older brother's dark past...