RPG: DIARIES OF AN APOTHECARY

There are private bathrooms for the consorts and communal bathrooms for servants. Intrigue: Bathrooms are places where defenses are lowered. It's difficult to hide physical secrets (like marks, scars, or one's true gender in the case of disguises) in bathrooms. Maomao often uses bandages to hide her scars and avoid questions, which leads to misunderstandings.

The color of clothing is strictly regulated by rank. Emperor: Golden yellow (exclusive). High Consorts: Vibrant reds, purples, silks embroidered with gold. Maids: Pale pinks, light greens or muted blues, simple fabrics like hemp or cheap cotton. Eunuchs: Robes of dark or neutral colors, specific hats according to their administrative rank.

High-ranking consorts wear long, ornate nail protectors (made of gold, silver, tortoiseshell) on their little and ring fingers. Meaning: They demonstrate that they don't need to do manual labor. They are status symbols and, sometimes, improvised weapons if sharpened.

Criminals who kidnap children and young women to sell them to brothels or wealthy families as servants. Modus Operandi: They attack in rural areas or dark alleys of the capital. Relationship: They were the ones who kidnapped Maomao while she was gathering herbs, changing her fate from a free apothecary to a palace servant. They are despised but tolerated due to official corruption.

Although there is currently peace, there are underlying tensions. Succession: The lack of an adult male heir is the greatest threat. Famines: If the harvests fail, the mandate of heaven is weakened. Rebellions: Religious sects or disaffected clans (such as the Shi Clan) await any sign of weakness to attack.

Despite Maomao's logic, the world is governed by superstitions. Directions: Avoid building doors facing northeast (the demon door). Colors: White is for mourning, red is for celebration and protection. Ghosts: It is believed that the spirits of deceased consorts haunt wells or gardens. Maomao uses these beliefs to scare away intruders or to cover up his activities.

Communication: Within the palace, messages travel via eunuch messengers. Outside, swift horsemen are used. Secret: There are secret communication networks using carrier pigeons or hidden codes in innocent-looking letters (such as embroidery patterns or flower arrangements).

Paper is valuable but affordable for the bureaucracy. Ink comes in solid sticks that must be rubbed with water on a stone. Detail: The quality of the paper and the smell of the ink can be clues in mysteries (for example, paper treated with invisible chemicals that are revealed by heat). Maomao can read and write, a rare skill for a servant, which initially gave her away to Jinshi.

A "new" and rare ingredient imported from abroad. Scene: Maomao uses or identifies it. It is seen as an exotic luxury and a potential aphrodisiac or bitter medicine. Its introduction shows active trade with distant lands.

A common plant that Maomao uses frequently. Use: It is used to polish mirrors (due to its oxalic acid) and as a mild medicine. Symbolism: It represents how knowledge of the "common" can solve complex problems. Maomao often surprises scholars by using "weeds" for important tasks.

The popular belief that the harem was cursed and killed the heirs. Truth: Maomao discovered that it wasn't magic, but ignorance. The use of lead-based makeup, the burning of toxic incense in enclosed spaces (carbon monoxide), and undiagnosed food allergies (such as honey in babies) were the real causes of high infant mortality.

The "Kowtow" is the complete bow, touching the ground with the forehead. Usage: Mandatory before the Emperor, the Empress Dowager and High Ranking Consorts (if you are of lower rank). Consequence: Failure to perform the bow correctly or looking someone of a much higher rank in the eye without permission can result in flogging or execution. Maomao is an expert at performing a perfect bow to go unnoticed and avoid trouble.

Residence of Consort Lishu. Style: Youthful, full of cute decorations but sometimes in bad taste due to Lishu's immaturity. Atmosphere: Unstable. The maids often intimidate or manipulate their mistress due to their young age and lack of character. Maomao often intervenes (directly or indirectly) to correct these imbalances.

Residence of Consort Gyokuyou. Style: Warm, cozy, with Western influences (thick rugs, cushions). Red and jade green are the predominant colors. Atmosphere: This is the safest and most cheerful place for Maomao. There's a familial feeling among the maids. More flexibility in private etiquette is allowed thanks to the nature of Gyokuyou.

Residence of Consort Lihua. Style: Elegant, cool, decorated with whites and blues. Full of fine silks. Atmosphere: After Lihua's recovery, it's a disciplined but healthy place. The new ladies-in-waiting are selected for their strength and common sense, to avoid the mistakes of the past (the lead dust).

They surround the entire capital. They are massive, patrolled day and night. They have four main gates (North, South, East, West) that close at sunset. No one enters or leaves at night without a special imperial pass. The curfew is strict.

An eccentric artist commissioned to paint portraits of the consorts. Personality: Obsessed with beauty, but not conventional beauty. He prefers to paint bone structure, muscles, and the "truth" beneath the skin. Relationship with Maomao: He is fascinated by Maomao's face when she looks at poisons (a terrifying expression of ecstasy). Sometimes he helps draw sketches of suspects or crime scenes.

A phenomenon that Maomao explains scientifically. Belief: Cursed spirits that burn in the night. Reality: Combustion of natural gases or chemical reactions (phosphorus) in swamps or graves, or tricks using colored chemical powders to scare people. Maomao uses science to debunk the supernatural, which makes her seem like a "witch" or wise woman to the ignorant.

Palace: Refined dishes, many courses, rare ingredients (shark fin, swallow's nest). Aesthetics and the balance of the five tastes are prioritized. The risk of poison means that the food often arrives cold to the Emperor after being tasted. Commoner/Maomao: Street food, kebabs, rice porridge (congee), steamed buns. Maomao prefers simple, nutritious food or unusual ingredients (snakes, insects) that they consider medicinal.

The Li Empire is vast. The North: Cold, prone to barbarian invasions. Source of furs and mercenaries. The West: A trading region (Silk Road), where Gyokuyou is from. Traits like red hair and light eyes are common here. They bring spices, carpets, and glass. The South: Warm, humid, producer of rice and exotic fruits. The Capital: Temperate climate with four seasons. Winters are cold and require charcoal braziers (danger of carbon monoxide, a mystery that Maomao solves).

The empire uses a bimetallic system. Silver Coins (Tael): For large transactions, officers' salaries and wholesale trade. Copper Coins (Cash): Round coins with a square hole in the center, strung on cords. Used by common people for food, clothing, and daily services. Value: Maomao is very conscious of money. She calculates everything in terms of how many poisons or medicines she can buy. One silver coin is a considerable monthly salary for a servant.

Not all prostitutes are the same.

1. Oiran/High-Ranking Courtesans: Cultured, artistic, they choose their clients. A night with them costs a fortune. They don't sell their bodies easily; they sell the illusion of romance and art.
2. Mid-Range Prostitutes: Attractive, know how to play instruments, accessible to wealthy merchants.
3. Yotaka (Night Flower): Street prostitutes or prostitutes from low-class brothels. Hard lives, no protection, low cost. Golden Rule: If a courtesan becomes pregnant, her value drops to zero unless a client pays off his debt (redemption).

In the Palace, hairpins are not just decorations; they are social currency and messages. Material: Gold and jade for high rank; silver, bone or wood for low ranks. Gift: If a man gives a woman a hairpin, it is a courtship or marriage proposal. At the Festival: Consorts give hairpins to officials. Receiving one from a high-ranking consort is an immense honor. Jinshi (as a eunuch) receives tons of hairpins from consorts who want his favor, but he gives his own (the most valuable one) to Maomao, who doesn't understand the romantic/political weight of the gesture and uses it to open locks or test poisons.

A comical but vital character. He doesn't have a proper name that's often mentioned, only "Lahan's older brother." Occupation: Expert farmer. Personality: Obsessed with growing vegetables, especially sweet potatoes. He is simple, honest, and very physically strong. Role: Provides high-quality food and sometimes rare ingredients. Lakan (his biological father) ignores him because he has no talent for strategy, but he is happy with his crops. Maomao respects him because he understands the value of plants.

A recurring plot involves a drug capable of inducing a state of coma so deep that it simulates death (reducing pulse and breathing to a minimum). Use: Used in conspiracies to remove people from the Inner Palace (faking their death) or for covert assassinations. Ingredients: Maomao suggests it is based on plants from the nightshade family (such as datura or pufferfish in precise doses). Knowledge of this drug is dangerous and prohibited.

A building full of drawers containing thousands of herbs, minerals, and dried substances. Access: Restricted to court physicians and authorized pharmacists. Scent: An intense blend of ginseng, mugwort, musk, and mold. Importance to Maomao: It's her "sweet shop." This is where she prepares medicines for the Inner Palace under the supervision of the quack doctor. She often finds low-quality or stolen ingredients, leading her to uncover corruption among the suppliers.

Characters that appear when Maomao works at the Outer Court. Yao: A young noblewoman, proud but somewhat clumsy and insecure. She wants to be a medical officer so she won't depend on a husband. She has traumatized by her abusive uncle. En'en: Yao's devoted servant. She is stoic, protective, and has obsessive tendencies towards her mistress (she idolizes her). She is extremely competent in domestic tasks and defense. Role: They become Maomao's coworkers and friends, forming a peculiar trio that solves mysteries in the Outer Court.

The only legitimate form of social advancement in the Empire. How it works: Brutal and competitive exams open to men (and theoretically women, though with many barriers) from all classes. They assess knowledge of Confucian classics, poetry, strategy, law, and mathematics. Importance: Passing guarantees a position in the state bureaucracy and a lifetime salary. Failing can mean financial ruin for a family that invested in the candidate's education. Maomao has the intellectual capacity to pass, but her gender and lack of interest in politics keep her out, though she eventually takes exams to become a medical assistant.

The administrative center of the Li Empire, separate from the Inner Palace. This is where the male officers, ministers, and the army work. Atmosphere: It's a place of intense bureaucracy, paperwork, and political debates. Women are rarely seen here, except in very specific roles or if they have passed the official exam (which is extremely rare and difficult). Dynamics: In contrast to the tense silence of the Inner Palace, the Outer Court is noisy and active. This is where Jinshi operates in his "true" public identity (sometimes) or as a visiting official, and where Lakan wields his military power.

Occupation: Maid / Spy. Appearance: Small, with a round face and an inoffensive appearance that allows it to blend into the background. Personality: Cheerful, cheeky, and a gossip. She loves meat buns. Role: Initially serving Consort Loulan, her loyalty is flexible and pragmatic. She is an expert at gathering information and moving undetected. Later, she becomes an unlikely ally to Maomao, providing critical intelligence in exchange for food or favors. She is extremely skilled at throwing objects and escaping.

Age: 19-20 years. Occupation: Officer of the Outer Court, administrator of the finances of the La clan. Appearance: He wears glasses, has a serious and academic appearance. Personality: Obsessed with numbers and money. He is extremely pragmatic. He doesn't care about people unless he can "calculate" their value. He has a strange relationship with Maomao; he sees her as a valuable asset (because she is useful and doesn't spend much), but he is also somewhat afraid of her. Skills: Instant mental arithmetic and impeccable financial management. He's the one who really runs the Lakan household, since his adoptive uncle is useless in everyday life.

Age: Unknown (appears to be a child due to a medical condition, but is elderly). Appearance: Very short stature, childlike appearance (loli), always dressed in heavy imperial clothes that make her look like a doll. Personality: Capricious, harsh, and protective of her son (the current Emperor). She hates Ah-Duo because of the death of her other son in the past (a baby swap and a mistreated illness caused a family tragedy). Role: She represents the supreme moral authority within the harem. Even the Emperor must show her absolute filial respect. She lives in a separate palace but within the imperial compound.

The most powerful and dangerous noble family that rivals the Emperor's power. Leader: Shishou (Loulan's father). Objective: To accumulate absolute power, even if it means overthrowing or manipulating the imperial lineage. They control much of the bureaucracy and the army. Methods: Bribery, assassination, and placing their members in key positions. They are responsible for several acts of sabotage within the Inner Palace to destabilize the other consorts and the Emperor. Their eventual downfall is a massive turning point in world politics.

Age: 17 years (approx). Appearance: Exotic and ever-changing. She wears extremely luxurious and ornate clothing, with a style different from that of the other consorts (inspired by antique or foreign fashions). Her makeup is heavy and often conceals her true features. Personality: Mysterious, quiet, and enigmatic. She rarely speaks in public. She seems like a doll without a will of her own, but beneath that facade lies a sharp mind and a hidden agenda. Background: Daughter of Prime Minister Shishou of the Shi Clan. She was sent to the palace as a political tool to increase her father's power. Secret: She is also "Shisui," an ordinary-looking servant who wanders the palace eating insects. She uses this identity to spy undetected. She is a tragic antagonist trapped by her clan's ambitions.

The world is not static; there is a constant struggle. Emperor's Faction: Seeks to centralize power and ensure succession. Empress Dowager Faction: Conservative, protects the interests of the old regime. Regional Clans: They attempt to place their daughters as favored consorts to manipulate imperial politics from the Emperor's bedchamber. Gyokuyou and Lihua represent powerful rival clans.

There are head maids who oversee the training of new girls. They are strict, use physical punishment, and teach etiquette, laundry, and how to serve tea. Failure to master these basic tasks can lead to severe punishment or expulsion (social ostracism).

It's not necessarily a tattoo, but a contract. Many girls are sold by their impoverished parents for a period of years (usually 2 to 10 years). If they manage to survive and fulfill the contract, they receive a dowry and their freedom. Maomao was kidnapped, so her situation is irregular, but legally she is treated as an indentured servant.

A white face powder that supposedly gave flawless skin became fashionable. Maomao deduced that it was poisonous (containing lead) and caused the slow death of consorts and their nursing infants. This incident underscores the scientific ignorance of the court in the face of tradition and fashion.

In addition to the Big Four, there are lower ranks: Middle-Rank Consorts: They have their own rooms but fewer servants. Low-Rank Concubines: They often share rooms or live in communal dormitories. Their goal is to be summoned by the Emperor once for promotion. If they are not summoned before a certain age, they are sometimes given as wives to high-ranking officers.

Physically imposing and psychologically oppressive, they represent the complete separation between the "land of the gods" (the Palace) and the earthly world. Attempting to climb or cross them without permission is punishable by death. Only supplies and corpses can easily pass through.

A mysterious lady of the court and an expert in pharmacology. She is intelligent and calculating. She acts as an antagonist in the resurrection arc and the plots within the palace. She has knowledge of "death-simulating drugs." She is connected to factions that want to destabilize the throne.

A high-risk job assigned to expendable servants or eunuchs. They must taste every dish served to the consorts or the Emperor before they are served. If the dish is poisoned, the taster dies or becomes ill, saving the nobleman. Maomao sees this as a "free feast" because of her immunity and appetite, which horrifies the others.

A biannual event where the Emperor and the four principal consorts are presented to high-ranking officials in the Imperial Gardens. It is a political battleground. Purpose: To showcase the power of the factions and allow officers to see the consorts. Food: Food is served outdoors, which increases the risk of poisoning. This is where tasters (like Maomao) are crucial. Hairpins: Consorts or the Emperor may present hairpins to officers or servants as a sign of favor.

A talented officer and strategist who serves as Lakan's chief assistant. He is extremely capable, has a photographic memory, and handles Lakan's eccentricities with uncanny composure. He is one of the few people Lakan clearly recognizes (like a valuable chess piece). He is polite but inscrutable.

Age: 19-20 years. Occupation: Jinshi's subordinate (officially a servant, actually a guard). Son of Gaoshun. Personality: Impulsive, prejudiced, and fiercely loyal. Initially, he despises Maomao for being a prostitute and for her disrespectful attitude toward Jinshi. He is skilled with a sword but lacks his father's political acumen. Over time, he learns to respect Maomao's deductive abilities, though he remains annoyed by her personality.

Maomao's biological mother. She was the most beautiful and talented courtesan of the Verdemar House, proud and arrogant. She fell in love with Lakan, but due to a misunderstanding (he went to war and couldn't return in time to win her back), she went mad with grief. She cut off her own finger (a broken promise of love) and sent it to Lakan. She became pregnant with Maomao to force his return, which ruined her reputation as a courtesan. Now she lives isolated in an annex of the brothel, suffering from terminal syphilis and mentally unstable.

A middle-aged man with a sparse mustache serves as the official physician of the Inner Palace (since he is a eunuch). He is incompetent, cowardly, and his medical knowledge is mediocre, relying solely on old books he doesn't understand. Maomao often has to subtly correct him or do her job without him losing face. He is the only "doctor" authorized to touch the consorts, which is a serious problem given his ineptitude.

The other ladies-in-waiting of the Jade Pavilion are low-ranking nobles. Initially, they distrusted Maomao because of her commoner origins and appearance (freckle makeup), but they soon accepted her and treated her like a little sister, often trying to apply makeup or dress her in pretty clothes, much to Maomao's horror. They are cheerful and loyal to Gyokuyou.

Occupation: Chief Lady-in-Waiting to Consort Gyokuyou. Personality: Efficient, strict, and protective. She acts as the administrator of the Jade Pavilion. She often scolds Maomao for disappearing or Gyokuyou for behaving undignifiedly, but she is deeply loyal. She is single and worries about her marriageable age, a sensitive subject for her.

In this world, medicine is vital but often misunderstood. Herbs: The main use. Maomao collects herbs in the palace gardens or buys them imported. Poisons: Common in palace intrigues. Arsenic, lead (in makeup), aconite, pufferfish, snake venom. Aphrodisiacs: Highly sought after both in the brothel and the palace. Maomao manufactures and sells them clandestinely to earn extra money. Superstition: Many believe in curses rather than diseases, something Maomao despises.

They are the three highest-ranking courtesans (Oiran) of the House of Verdemar. They are considered "elder sisters" to Maomao.

1. Meimei: The most talented in the arts (music, singing, Go). She is intelligent, maternal, and has a classic beauty. She is in love with Lakan, although she knows that his heart belongs to Fengxian.
2. Pairin: The most voluptuous and sensual. She is cheerful, a little silly, and has a weakness for sweets and young, vigorous men. She acts like the fun older sister.
3. Joka: Cold, distant, and poetic. She is known for her bad temper with customers she doesn't like and her sharp beauty.

An elderly, avaricious, and strict woman who runs the Verdemar House with an iron fist. She is always hitting Maomao or scolding her for not bringing in money or for her experiments. Despite her avarice, she cares for her girls (in her own way) and respects Luomen. Maomao constantly owes her money for the medicinal ingredients and poisons she buys or destroys.

A middle-to-upper-class brothel in the capital's pleasure district. It's Maomao's home. A colorful and vibrant building, filled with music, incense, and beautiful women. Unlike low-class brothels, here art and conversation are valued as much as sex. It's run by "The Old Woman" (The Madam). It's a place where information flows freely and where Maomao learned about the darkest and rawest aspects of human nature.

Appearance: Middle-aged man, wears a monocle, dresses like a high-ranking military officer. Occupation: High-ranking military strategist, head of the La clan. Personality: Eccentric, obsessive, and socially awkward. He's a genius at military tactics and strategy games (like Go and Shogi). Condition: He suffers from severe prosopagnosia (face blindness); he sees people as chess pieces or stones, except for those he cares about deeply (such as his daughter Maomao and his beloved Fengxian). Relationship with Maomao: He is Maomao's biological father. He desperately wants to connect with her, but Maomao detests and avoids him, calling him "that freak." His love story with Fengxian is tragic due to misunderstandings that led to Fengxian's downfall in the brothel.

Identity: Adoptive father of Maomao and biological uncle of Lakan. Past: He was a brilliant physician and official who studied in the West. He was castrated (becoming a physical eunuch) and expelled from court as a scapegoat after a medical incident involving Ah-Duo's childbirth and the death of the Empress Dowager's son. Personality: Kind, patient, and extremely wise. He taught Maomao everything he knows about medicine and morality. Now he works as a doctor in the pleasure district, treating prostitutes with dignity. He has a limp (his kneecap was broken as punishment).

Occupation: Low-ranking servant in the Inner Palace. Appearance: Young, wearing simple maid clothes. Personality: Cheerful, gossipy, energetic, and a little naive. She is the first real friend Maomao makes in the palace. Role: Maomao's primary source of information and rumors. Xiaolan is illiterate, but has a keen ear for gossip from the laundry and kitchens. Her innocence contrasts sharply with Maomao's cynicism. Maomao eventually teaches her to read or finds her a better future outside the palace.

Age: 40-50 years. Occupation: Jinshi's personal assistant and bodyguard. High-ranking eunuch (officially). Appearance: Stoic, muscular man with a serious expression. Personality: He is a father figure and the voice of reason for Jinshi. Loyal to the death, competent, and efficient, he is often the only one who can reprimand Jinshi or make him work. He has a relationship of mutual respect with Maomao; she calls him "Right-Hand Man," and he appreciates her competence, often providing her with ingredients or access to restricted areas. Although he presents himself as a eunuch, he is actually a loyal military officer who takes medication to reduce his virility. Similar to Jinshi, he has a wife and children outside the palace (Basen is his son).

Age: 35 years (approx). Appearance: Androgynous, tall, with a mature, "princess-knight" beauty. She often wears simplified men's clothing. Personality: Practical, straightforward, with no interest in frivolous luxuries. She is a childhood friend of the Emperor and was his first consort. She lost the ability to have children after a difficult childbirth (the birth of Jinshi, although officially it is said that her son died). Role: Political mentor. She steps down from her position as consort to make way for new blood, but maintains significant influence. She has a secret and complex maternal relationship with Jinshi. Her departure from the palace marks a major shift in the power dynamics.

Age: 14 years. Appearance: Small, young, and delicate. Personality: Naive, capricious, and easily intimidated. She was the consort of the previous emperor (the current emperor's father) at a very young age, though they never consummated the marriage, and later entered the current emperor's harem. Because of this, she suffers harassment from her own ladies-in-waiting and other consorts who look down on her. She is allergic to mackerel (something they tried to use to poison/frame her). Role: She represents vulnerability and innocence in a hostile environment. Maomao often ends up indirectly protecting her or resolving plots against her.

Age: 23 years. Appearance: Tall, voluptuous (the Emperor's ideal type), with a dignified and cold beauty. Personality: Initially haughty and proud, she suffered a deep depression after the death of her son (the Crown Prince) due to poisonous face powder, ignoring Maomao's warnings. After being cured by Maomao, she becomes more humble and grateful, though she remains strict. She is the Emperor's cousin, which gives her a strong noble lineage. Relationship with Maomao: It evolves from disdain to deep respect. Maomao helps her regain her health and beauty so she can win back the Emperor's favor.

Age: 19 years. Appearance: Beautiful, with reddish hair and green eyes (traits of western regions). She has a well-proportioned body. Personality: Intelligent, wise, and observant. She is the Emperor's favorite consort not only for her beauty but also for her ability to remain calm. She is the mother of Princess Xiaoling. She treats Maomao with great respect and affection, recognizing her talent and protecting her. She is cautious in harem politics but knows when to act. Role: Maomao's main employer. She represents stability and current favor. She comes from an influential merchant family in the west.

Age: 24 years (apparent). Appearance: She possesses an ethereal and androgynous beauty that captivates men and women alike. Long, silky hair, perfect face. Occupation: Eunuch in charge of the Inner Palace (Administrator). Personality: Publicly, he acts with a perfect smile and charming manners, using his good looks as a weapon to manipulate others. In private (especially with Maomao), he is childish, lazy, calculating, and sometimes insecure. He is frustrated by Maomao's treatment of him like an insect or with repulsion, as he is used to being adored. He is intelligent and politically astute. Secret: He is not a real eunuch. He is the Emperor's younger brother (actually the son of the current Emperor and Ah-Duo, raised as a brother to protect him), acting under a false identity to manage the Inner Palace and prevent succession struggles. He takes anaphrodisiacs to suppress his virility.

Raised in the pleasure quarter (Rokushoukan) by her adoptive father, Luomen, a former court physician and eunuch, she learned medicine, pharmacology, and literacy from him. She was kidnapped by human traffickers and sold into the Inner Palace as a low-ranking servant. Her medical knowledge led her to discover the cause of the Emperor's children's illness, which drew the attention of Jinshi and Consort Gyokuyou.

Skills: Immunity to Poisons: High tolerance developed after years of self-experimentation with low doses of poisons and drugs. Deduction: Detective-like ability to solve mysteries based on physical evidence and medical knowledge. Pharmacology: Expert in creating medicines, poisons, aphrodisiacs, and cosmetics.

Age: 17 years. Appearance: Short, thin, with a face she considers "average" but deliberately hides with makeup to appear freckled and less attractive (a defense mechanism). She has dark hair and observant, expressionless eyes. Occupation: Apothecary / Lady-in-waiting / Poison taster. Personality: Pragmatic, cynical, extremely intelligent, and obsessive. She has a morbid curiosity about poisons and medicinal herbs, even experimenting on herself (her left arm is covered in scars from poison tests and stings). She is indifferent to romance and social hierarchy, viewing nobles as either money-grubbing opportunities or trouble. She has no fear of death but hates stupidity and inefficiency. She is intellectually stimulated by discovering rare poisons or solving medical mysteries.

Castrated men who serve in the Inner Palace. They are the only males permitted on the premises to ensure that any child born is unquestionably the Emperor's. They perform all administrative tasks, heavy labor, and internal security. Their hierarchy is strict, based on seniority and imperial favor. Some eunuchs attain immense political power, acting as spies or advisors. However, socially they are viewed with disdain by outside officials and sometimes by the Emperor's consorts. Physically, the lack of testosterone often gives them higher-pitched voices and an absence of facial hair, although this varies depending on the age of castration. Jinshi is the most prominent eunuch, in charge of administering the Inner Palace, although his eunuch status is a complex facade.

At the top of the Inner Palace's female hierarchy are the Four High-Ranking Consorts. They reside in the four main pavilions and hold the highest status, second only to the Empress (if there is one) and the Empress Dowager.

1. Jade Consort (Jade Pavilion): Currently occupied by Gyokuyou.
2. Crystal Consort (Crystal Pavilion): Currently occupied by Lihua.
3. Consort of Virtue (Pavilion of Virtue): Formerly Ah-Duo, later occupied by Lishu. 4.​ Garnet Consort (Garnet Pavilion): Occupied variably depending on the plot point (Lishu or new concubines). Each has her own retinue of ladies-in-waiting, exclusive eunuchs, and a massive budget. They are direct rivals for the position of Empress.

The supreme ruler of Li. He is a middle-aged man (appearing to be 30-40 years old), astute, and surprisingly eccentric in private. He possesses a distinctive beard and an imposing presence. Although he holds absolute power, he is aware of the factional struggles within his court and uses the Inner Palace to balance power among the noble clans. He is a virile and active man whose primary duty in the Inner Palace is to father a healthy male heir, a difficult task due to a supposed "curse" that has killed several infants. Though he appears aloof, he cares deeply for his surviving children. He values ​​competence over lineage in his direct subordinates. He has a particular fondness for women with "large breasts," a known preference that influences his selection of concubines, though he deeply respects intelligent consorts like Gyokuyou.

The Inner Palace, or Rear Palace, is a city within a city, isolated from the outside world by high walls and strict guards. It is the private residence of the Emperor, his consorts, concubines, and imperial children. No adult male, other than the Emperor and his immediate blood relatives, is allowed to enter, except for the eunuchs who serve as administrators and servants. It is a place of extreme beauty, filled with gardens, pavilions, and luxuries, but it is also a gilded cage. The atmosphere is tense, rife with political intrigue, jealousy, and power struggles among the consorts vying for the Emperor's favor to elevate their own families' status. The population consists of thousands of women (servants and concubines) and eunuchs. Leaving is forbidden to most; servants may only depart after fulfilling their contracts or being expelled.

The main setting is a vast, fictional empire called Li, heavily inspired by Tang Dynasty China. It is an agrarian nation with a strict social hierarchy and centralized bureaucracy. The capital is a bustling metropolis where trade flourishes, but real power resides behind the walls of the Imperial City. The climate varies by region, but the capital experiences four distinct seasons. Society values ​​Confucianism, respect for ancestors, and filial piety. Technology is limited to the pre-industrial era, relying on horses, carriages, and messengers. Medicine is a mixture of traditional herbalism and superstition, although learned physicians do exist. The official currency includes silver and copper coins. The Emperor is seen as the "Son of Heaven," a divine being whose will is law. Outside the capital, there are threats from nomadic tribes in the north and internal political conflicts between powerful clans.