The Story of Saiunkoku

Main Story Volume 1: The Red Wind Rises Shuurei is the daughter of the prestigious Hong family, one of the most prominent noble families in Saiunkoku. Her parents are so kind and generous, always helping the poor, that the family is struggling financially. So when a job offer comes knocking, she naturally accepts without hesitation. Little does she know that she will be hired as a tutor to the newly enthroned "foolish king," and that she will have to enter the inner palace as his consort while she works. In the empty harem, with no other consorts and a peculiar king who has no interest in women, a subtle relationship begins to unfold between the king and his tutor, Shuurei! Volume 2: The Golden Promise In the first volume, Shuurei, a young lady from a prestigious family, entered the palace as a consort and successfully completed her mission to educate the king. Now, still struggling financially, she has accepted a new job. Saiunkoku is entering the sweltering summer season, and officials in both the civil and military administrations are falling ill from the heat and excessive overtime. To make up for the shortage of staff, Shuurei is urgently dispatched to lend a hand. However, women are strictly barred from the outer court. Besides, she rejected the king's advances and left the inner palace just last spring. If she runs into him again, as he often wanders around the palace, it will be terribly awkward. So Shuurei has no choice but to disguise herself as a man and sneak into the palace. As luck would have it, her superior is a strange man whom everyone at court tries to avoid. Can she handle the grueling work without being found out? Meanwhile, the famously innocent and clueless King Shuurih, Shi Ryuuki, seems to be planning an unprecedented proposal, motivated primarily by his love for Shuurei!? And with a mysterious, bearded man whom the Hong family happened to "pick up," plus bandits flocking to the capital to hunt him down, it looks like this summer in Saiunkoku will be anything but peaceful. Volume 3: Flowers Bloom in the Purple Palace Hong Shuurei has fulfilled her longtime dream and officially become the first female official in Saiunkoku's history. Her sudden rise to prominence shocks her neighbors, and Shuurei is hurt to feel that people are keeping their distance from her. Still, she steels herself and steps into this new world. Yet the outer court, where men work tirelessly side by side, is cold toward Shuurei, and even the training for new officials before their assignments seems fraught with difficulties. As Shuurei continues to dodge the king's awkward advances, she is about to face a major challenge of her own!? Volume 4: Longing for the Tea Capital By the deliberate arrangement of Saiunkoku's King, Shi Ryuuki, Hong Shuurei and Do Eikyuu, who passed the civil service exam in the same year, are both appointed governor of Tea Province. Their destination is the most politically chaotic region in Saiunkoku, a dangerous place where the local Tea family, the least influential of the Seven Great Families, and the government-appointed officials are locked in mutual hostility, on the brink of conflict. Shuurei and her party avoid possible trouble along the way, and after a long, secret journey, they finally reach Tea Province. But surely things can't go that smoothly...!? Volume 5: The Banquet of the Black Moon Appointed governor of Tea Province by the king, Hong Shuurei and her party make their way toward its capital, Koren. If they fail to officially take up their posts by the appointed deadline, they will lose their rank. The local Tea family, resentful of the new governor's interference in provincial affairs, continues to obstruct them at every turn. Shuurei decides to confront them, hoping for a stroke of luck. Meanwhile, the dangerous man Tea Sakujun, who began courting her for reasons no one can fathom, appears once again...!? The unexpected ending is sure to leave you stunned! Volume 6: The Fading Silver Hourglass Hong Shuurei has come to the royal capital, Kiyou, for the New Year's audience. Unbelievably, Ryuren has become Choukuns' tutor in clothing and etiquette (!?), and he has also turned up in Kiyou. Shuurei reunites with Saiunkoku's ruler, Ryuuki, after a long time apart. She thought he was still a spoiled child, but Ryuuki is now fulfilling his duties as king, and has changed greatly. Meanwhile, out of Shuurei's sight, someone is secretly discussing her marriage to that person...!? Shuurei's love life and career are both hit by huge waves! What will happen next? Volume 7: A Heart Deeper Than Indigo To bring her proposal to fruition, Hong Shuurei busily runs around the royal capital, which she has not visited in a long time. As she struggles through a blizzard of marriage proposals, the king, Shi Ryuuki, and the man who is himself a prospective suitor are both displeased, but they still support her! Then Shuurei receives a letter informing her that a strange illness is spreading through Tea Province! After learning an even more shocking truth, Shuurei cannot simply stand by... When is she supposed to find time for romance!? Volume 8: Light Falls on the Emerald Land Hong Shuurei, the female governor, rushes back to Tea Province to stop the strange illness that is spreading and search for Eikyuu, who has suddenly disappeared. But she discovers that the "Evil Immortal Sect," responsible for the epidemic, is spreading unchecked here! Shuurei suspects it is her fault and secretly steels herself for what lies ahead. Her deputies, Rou Ensei and Seiran, risk their lives to protect her, but will they succeed? How will Shuurei fight both the epidemic and the rampage of the Evil Immortal Sect? The Eikyuu arc reaches a shocking conclusion! Volume 9: The Secret Fragrance of Red Plum Blossoms Hong Shuurei, the first female official in Saiunkoku's history, has returned from her posting in Tea Province to the royal capital. But before she can savor the joy of being back in her hometown, an unexpected incident makes her the target of an inquiry. She is demoted from high-ranking official to an idle one. Forbidden from entering the palace to take part in government, Shuurei searches the capital for something she can do, persevering under the protection of those around her. Then a strange young nobleman appears before her. He... he wants to propose to Shuurei!? Is another storm really about to break out of nowhere!? Volume 10: The Green Wind Is Like a Blade Shuurei has been ordered to stay home and reflect on her actions. At last, her punishment is lifted, and she returns to court as an idle official, only to be met with a cruel decree: "Any idle official not assigned to a department within a month will be dismissed!" It is a harsh declaration of dismissal aimed at all officials without a post. Shuurei is determined to remain in office, but somehow she ends up having to deal with the problems of other hapless idle officials, too! As the deadline for this difficult challenge draws near, Shuurei unleashes more potential than ever before! New characters also make their entrance, making it even harder to put the book down! Volume 11: Moonflowers Sway in the Blue Breeze Now working at the Censorate, Shuurei does her best as a newly appointed censor, while fending off the provocations of her natural rival, the genius pretty boy Riku Seiga. Her immense new assignment turns out to be entering the palace disguised as a stand-in for the Blue family's Thirteenth Princess, a candidate for consort. Shuurei will see Ryuuki again! Shuurei's heart is unsettled by the king's search for a consort, while Blue Shuuei is deeply troubled by the prospect of sending his younger sister into the harem. What awaits them both!? Shuurei and Seiga's rivalry is another major highlight! Volume 12: The White Rainbow Aims for the Heavens Shuurei has begun to forge her own path as a censor. Meanwhile, King Ryuuki decides to go to Blue Province to bring back his close aide, Blue Shuuei, who left after returning the token of his loyalty! Ryuuki secretly sets out on the journey, guided by the Blue family's Thirteenth Princess, who has entered the inner palace. And what will Shuurei's assignment be, following close behind them...!? What will become of the journeys of the conflicted general Shuuei, Ryuuki, troubled by the burdens of kingship, and Shuurei, whose feelings are complicated? Volume 13: Amber at Daybreak After returning from Blue Province, Shuurei receives shocking news. Li Kouyuu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, has been thrown in jail! His crime is failing to stop Hong Reishin, the minister, from neglecting his duties. The person who drove Kouyuu into this predicament is Shuurei's nemesis, the censor Riku Seiga. If things continue this way, Kouyuu will be forced to resign! What will Shuurei do as she steps forward to defend him in this crisis!? Kouyuu's past will gradually come to light, too!? Volume 14: The Black Butterfly Trapped in a Cage The demotion of Hong Reishin, Minister of Personnel, has caused an uproar at court. The court decides to convene a censorial tribunal to determine the punishment of Li Kouyuu, Vice Minister of Personnel. Shuurei desperately tries to protect Kouyuu, but every official bearing the Hong name, believing the family name has been disgraced, refuses to appear in his defense!! They even use the power of the Hong family to impose an economic blockade, sending prices in the royal capital soaring!! What will Shuurei do as she struggles to handle this serious crisis alongside her colleague and sworn rival, Riku Seiga!? Shuurei, an official of the king, will never back down! After accepting Ryuuki's proposal, Shuurei leaves Kiyou as an imperial envoy to Hong Province. Meanwhile, Shaoka, head of the Hong family, comes to the capital and pledges his loyalty to Ryuuki. But then terrible news arrives: Hong Shuurei and Rieou have suddenly disappeared... Volume 15: Dusk in the Dark Palace Shuurei and Rieou have disappeared, but Lang Ensei, Shin Suou, and Aoi Kouki, who have come to receive them, show no surprise at all. Ryuuki cannot understand why. By dropping hints, Shaoka learns the truth behind Shuurei's disappearance: her body has reached the brink of collapse, and after much deliberation, Rieou has decided to take her back to the Hyou family... Volume 16: The Miko of the Blue Labyrinth Side Stories Side Story 1: You Become Red by Mixing with Red The Great Ghost-Hunting Operation! A Huge Commotion Right Before the Civil Service Exams! An Unusual Campaign to Visit the Sick? The Rose Princess Side Story 2: Blue Emerges from Indigo Landing in the Royal Capital! The Ryuren Typhoon A Great Rush to Make First Love Come True! With Love for My Dearest Friend When Dreams Settle into Reality Side Story 3: The Neighboring White Lily The Battle for Love Advice! Where the Legend Begins Even the Underworld's Judgments Depend on You Side Story 4: A Dream of Yellow Millet When the Lily of the Valley Blooms The Blue of the Sky, the Voice of the Wind A Thousand and One Nights Novella Collection Novellas from The Beans Magazine In the Deep Waters of Sleep The Night Fate Meets Where the Rainbow Is Born Someday, I Will Come to See You Novellas from the Saiunkoku Monogatari Art Book and Illustration Collection The Celestial Maiden's Feather Robe The Date Is with... One Day, in the Forest of Cherry Blossoms Audio Drama CD Bonus Novellas Happiness Like a Miracle The Moment Fate Meets No Men Allowed! Appraisals on a Rainy Night DVD Bonus Novellas Chase the Phantom Thief Jajajan! A Spring Night's Dream