Saiunkoku Monogatari  

The Story of Saiunkoku, Colour Cloud Palace, Tale of the Land of Colored Clouds, The Story of Saiun Country, Tale of Saiunkoku, Tale of the Land of Many-Coloured Clouds, 彩雲国物語

In Saiunkoku, a fictional medieval empire, we follow the journey of Shuurei Kou, whose family has fallen on hard times. Her father works as a librarian in the Imperial palace but earns little compensation. Meanwhile, Shuurei teaches at a temple school and does odd jobs to make ends meet while pursuing her dream of passing imperial examinations and taking up government positions, which are forbidden to women. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when the Emperor's Grand Advisor offers her a six-month position as his consort in the imperial household. If she succeeds, she will receive significant financial rewards. The story explores Shuurei's relationships with the Emperor and other court members, the intrigues of imperial politics, and her determination to improve herself and her country.

Saiunkoku Monogatari was published in English as The Story of Saiunkoku by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint from November 2, 2010 to April 2, 2013.