The Emperor's Palace

Shinobu Tomioka is the wife of Giyu Tomioka and the Empress of the country of Languo (蓝国 — Lánguó). Shinobu is a petite and graceful young woman with a refined appearance.
Main characteristics.
Height: 151 cm.
Weight: 37 kg.
Age: 18 years.
Face and hair.
Eyes: Large, deep purple. They lack pupils, giving the gaze a static appearance, reminiscent of the compound eyes of insects.
Hair: Black, fading to a bright purple color at the ends.
Hairstyle: pulled back into a yakai-maki (French twist) bun. Parted into two strands at the forehead, framing the face.
Accessory: A large butterfly-shaped hair clip in purple and turquoise to secure the bun.
Hairpin: A large purple and green butterfly-shaped accessory that holds her hair in a bun.
Clothing. Usually wears clothing appropriate to her status as empress.
She wears an exquisite hanfu that combines lilac, pink and soft turquoise shades.
Basic elements of the outfit.
Upper shirt: violet-lilac color with wide sleeves, from under which white cuffs of the underwear are visible.
Collar: V-neckline finished with contrasting dark purple trim.
Skirt: long, fluffy, a delicate turquoise-white color, falling in soft folds to the ground.
Belt: An intricate combination of a pink fabric base under the bust and a long dark purple sash tied over it, the ribbons of which hang down the center of the skirt.
Scarf (Pibo): A long, airy, translucent shawl in a bright, biodegradable color that is draped over the shoulders and hangs loosely at the sides.

Giyū Tomioka is the Emperor of the country of Languo (蓝国 — Lánguó).
Basic data.
Age: 21. Height: 176 cm. Date of birth: February 8th. Appearance: Giyu is a tall young man with distinctive features: long, shoulder-length black hair; thin eyebrows; sharp, dark blue eyes.
Clothing. Usually wears clothing appropriate to his status as emperor.
Ceremonial style: On formal occasions and at receptions, he wears a luxurious, long black robe (often a yuanlingpao), over which he may wear a hanfu embroidered with gold or red silk.
Casual Style: In a more informal setting in the inner chambers, he may wear robes in lighter or deeper blue tones with fine silver threads.
Decorative elements: his robes are always decorated with traditional imperial embroidery in the form of dragons, and a richly decorated belt adorns the waist.
Personality.
Giyu's character can be described as reserved and contradictory: serious and cold-blooded, he rarely shows emotions.

Airi is the emperor's wife, the empress of the country of Jinyuanguo (金源国 / Jīnyuánguó). She is a short young woman with pale skin and a slender build. She is 23 years old, stands 161 cm tall, and weighs 51 kg. Appearance:
Hair: long, straight, silver, hip-length.
Bangs: Straight, on either side of the face. Eyes: The color of dawn, framed by thick lashes.
Personality: calm, intelligent, playful towards her husband.
Clothing: Traditional Chinese Hanfu (Tang Dynasty style) dress in soft pink and blue tones.
Basic elements of the outfit.
Rubakha (Zhu): a white undershirt with wide, flowing sleeves.
Skirt (Qun): multi-layered, high-waisted, tied under the bust.
Fabric: The top translucent layer is decorated with a delicate floral print depicting lotuses.
Belt: A wide pink fabric belt tied into an intricate bow with long dangling ribbons.
Decoration: the belt is decorated with beaded pendants (inlo), emphasizing the festive look.
Scarf (Peabo): A long, flowing pink ribbon shawl that wraps gracefully around the character's arms and back.

Official palace physicians.

These are court physicians appointed by the emperor. Their status is high, they report directly to the palace administration and are responsible for the health of the emperor, concubines, and noble residents of the palace.

• Access and restrictions. They have the right to enter restricted areas, but their movements are strictly regulated, especially in the harem: for example, they can only approach the concubines and the empress in the presence of guards to avoid any suspicion of inappropriate behavior.
• A formal approach. These doctors rely primarily on classical medical canons (traditional Chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis, and standard prescriptions). In the story, they often turn out to be overly conservative and overlook subtleties like poisonings or rare diseases.
• Bureaucracy. Their reports and diagnoses become part of palace documents, which means they can be used in political intrigue: an incorrect diagnosis or delay in treatment can cost a doctor a career or even his life.

The maids live in the rear part of the palace (Hougong) - in rooms specially designated for servants.

How their housing is arranged

• Shared bedrooms. Most maids sleep in shared rooms furnished with simple beds or mats. The space is designed for functionality, not comfort: the main thing is that everyone fits in and can quickly gather at the first call.
• Small rooms in groups. Handmaids are divided into squads or by function (for example, some are responsible for the Emperor's chambers, others for cleaning, others for laundry and the kitchen). Each such group may have its own room near its "area of ​​responsibility."
• Location near utility corridors. Maid quarters are located in side corridors, near storerooms, laundries, kitchens, and utility rooms. This allows them to quickly complete errands and remain "invisible" to the nobility.
• Minimal personal space. The girls have almost no room for personal belongings: usually a small drawer or shelf for modest items. Everything is arranged so that the maid is always ready for work.

Where do the warriors (guards and guardsmen) live?

Warriors and guards are housed in barracks and guardrooms along the perimeter of the palace and at the main gate:

• Outer barracks near the walls. The bulk of the guards live in barracks outside Neigong, often in a separate section of the Outer Palace (Wai Gong) or just outside the outer walls. These contain shared dormitories, training areas, weapons storage, and kitchens.
  Guardrooms at gates and posts. At each important passage (the main gate, the gate between Vaigong and Neigong, the entrances to the rear palace) there are guardrooms where guards rest between shifts. These are usually small rooms next to the guard post, so that the changeover can be done quickly.
  Elite guards at the emperor's chambers. The emperor's personal guard and those on particularly important posts are housed in special guardrooms next to the ruler's private chambers and the main halls. These rooms are closer to the center of power, but still separated from the living quarters of the nobility and concubines.

Warriors are deliberately kept outside and on the borders so that they do not interfere with court affairs, but can quickly respond to threats.

The Imperial Palace is more than just a luxurious building, but a complex, multi-layered world with its own hierarchy, rules, and dangers. It is divided into several zones, each with its own function and atmosphere:

• The Outer Palace (Waigun). Here, state affairs are decided, official ceremonies are held, and officials conduct negotiations. This is the "face" of the empire, the space of power and protocol.
• The Inner Palace (Nei Gong). The domain of the women of the imperial court: concubines, maids, and ladies-in-waiting. Here, politics rages—the struggle for the emperor's attention, influencing decisions through favorites, gossip, and intrigue.
  The Rear Palace (Hougong) is the heart of the palace's secrets. It is here that the main character, Maomao, finds herself, initially as a simple servant. In this part of the palace, hidden conflicts are particularly intense, poisonings and secret conspiracies are common, and trust is rare.

The palace's architecture emphasizes privacy and austerity: high walls, long galleries, courtyards, gardens, numerous passages, and gates that control access between zones. Everything is designed to separate people by status and conceal what is not intended for public view.