

The Story of Saiunkoku
The Story of Saiunkoku
1. Every Good Story Has a Hidden Side
2. A Frog in a Well Does Not Know the Great Ocean
3. The Talented Hawk Hides its Talons
4. Casting Pearls Before Swine
5. There is no Genius Without Hard Work
6. Lacking the Finishing Touch
7. Even the Strongest Swimmer May Drown
8. Wanting to Borrow a Cat's Paws
9. The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step
10. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
11. There is no Cure for Lovesickness
12. Discretion is the Better Part of Valour
13. From a Gourd Comes a Horse
14. On a Rock for Three Years
15. Children Do Not Know Their Parents' Hearts
16. There are no Devils in the World
17. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie or Poking a Bush Draws Out Snakes
18. You Can't Hide by Burying Your Head in the Sand
19. If You Love Your Child, Send Her on a Journey
20. Flowers Blooming from Dead Wood
21. The Wise Know When to Approach Danger
22. Where There is Life, There is Hope
23. It's the Company that Makes Travel Unpleasant
24. Water on a Sleeping Ear
25. An Accidental Resemblance
26. Ravens in the Moonless Night
27. The Prettier the Flower, the Higher the Branch
28. Worry Gives Small Things Large Shadows
29. Many Years' Worth of Thoughts in a Single Day
30. Women are Brave
31. A Diamond in the Rough
32. A Woman's Word is Her Bond
33. No Use Crying Over Spilt Milk
34. Poison Gets the Better of Poison
35. Meeting is the Beginning of Parting
36. All is Right in the World
37. Tears Fall Like Rain From Heaven
38. There is no Today After Today
39. Fate is an Inscrutable and Interesting Thing
کورتە
Saiunkoku is a world of eight provinces or houses, each named after a different colour. The new Emperor, Shi Ryuuki, has gained for a reputation for being uninterested in courtly matters and for flaunting his love for men. Shuurei, although born of the important Kou family, has difficulty making ends meet. She easily accepts an invitation to be the Emperor's concubine in order to turn him into a good ruler. The mysterious Seiran, a young man who was adopted by her father, goes with her as Ryuuki's bodyguard. Entering the imperial palace revives Shuurei's dream of being a court official, and, together with the many companions she meets along the way, continues moving bravely forward while trying to fend off the Emperor's advances.