The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 5

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. Shurei falls ill and a group of indulgent yet inept men try to tend her. But while her family and the ministers from the court debate how to nurse her back to health, the emperor seizes the chance to sneak into her bedchamber for a visit.