Story of Saiunkoku, Volume 8

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 has been falsely accused of cheating on the Imperial Exam by those who don't want women working as civil servants. Shurei must attend an inquiry to prove her innocence, but her opponents are plotting to make sure she never arrives at the palace.