recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Ashuu

Hien Palace

**Ashuu** (阿繍, *****Ashuu*****?) is a palace lady of the Palace Dyeing Bureau who works at Hien Palace. She knows many stories about the inner palace.

## Appearance

Ashuu is a middle aged woman who seems to be in her forties. She has tanned and wrinkled skin. Since she was chosen to be a palace maid, she has a beautiful face.

## Personality

Ashuu is a pleasant and easygoing woman who likes to tell the younger maids all kinds of stories about the inner palace and the consorts who reside within.

## History

Ashuu arrived at the inner palace as a maid at some point during the reign of Koushun's father. She had seen the concubine Lady Han a few times but had never spoken to her.

## Plot

Ashuu is in the washing area of Hien Palace, washing cloth in a tub when Ryuu Jusetsu and Jiujiu come up to her to ask about the concubine who hung herself. Ashuu tells them about Lady Han, a low-ranking concubine who hung herself after poison was found in her room, the same poison that killed the then-pregnant Magpie Consort at the time. She claims that the ghost of Lady Han can be seen sometimes, scaring Jiujiu. When Jusetsu asks her if she knew if Lady Han wore jade earrings or if Lady Han's maids or servants are still in the inner palace, she doesn't know. She doesn't discount the possibility of Lady Han being framed when Jusetsu brings it up and mentions that there are often many questions surrounding the deaths of concubines in the inner palace. Jusetsu then asks her about the inner palace during Koushun's grandfather, the Flame Emperor's time. Ashuu doesn't know much about that since she wasn't at the inner palace during that time, but talks about how the Flame Emperor didn't have much concubines due to the fact that he was already old when he ascended the throne and had an heir, as well as having to spend most of his time on government. However, she tells them how she heard that the Flame Emperor keeps the lights on through the night when he visits the empress' palace because he is haunted by the silver-haired ghosts of the previous imperial family, who he had killed, even the women and children. After hearing that story, Jusetsu and Jiujiu leave.
Episode 3

## The Whistle

**The Whistle** (花笛, *Hanabue*?) is the third episode of the Koukyuu no Karasu anime.

## Synopsis

The highest-ranking consort of the inner palace who resides in Enou Palace, Kajou, visits Yamei Palace. Kajou wants to know why her flower flute has remained silent. A flower flute is something that is hung from the eaves at the end of winter to mourn for those who died that year. It is said that the dead come back with the wind that heralds the arrival of spring and sound the flute. Kajou was worried that her flower flute didn't sound when her lover, Ou Genyuu, died. At her request, Jusetsu tries to summon Ou Genyuu's soul and talk to him.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Reijou
* Jiujiu
* Un Kajou
* Ka Koushun
* Un Eitoku
* Tan Kai
* Onkei
* You Senjou
* So Kougyou
* Ei Sei
* Gekkaou (flashback)
* Tei Ran (mentioned)
* Ran Hyougetsu
* Ou Genyuu (soul form)
* Setsu Gyoei (mentioned)
Ran Yuu

**Ran Yuu** (鸞夕, *Ran Yuu*?) was the founder of the Ran dynasty and the former Summer King.

## Appearance

He had the signature silver hair of the Ran clan, which gave him his nickname of the "Silver General." He is described as a "young lion-like" man when he advanced towards the capital.

## History

After the Summer King Shou killed his Winter King Sui and the goddess Wulian Niangniang didn't choose another Winter King for hundreds of years, the country of Shou was embroiled in war and had no stable dynasties. However, one day, Wulian Niangniang finally broke her long silence and chose a new Winter King. She sent a golden bird to help lead Ran Yuu to the Winter King she had chosen. The Winter King was a twelve-year-old slave girl, and Ran Yuu rescued her from her slave master. He named her Koushou, as slaves didn't have names. Now with the Winter King helping him, Ran Yuu's path to the throne was cleared. He marched his army from the provinces and broke through the gates of the capital. He became king at the age of twenty-eight.

Ran Yuu understood that the loss of the Winter King was what started the war and that Summer King couldn't rule without the Winter King. However, he didn't let Koushou name herself the Winter King because he claimed that having two kings would lead to another war. It was unknown whether he only wanted to monopolize the power or if he truly believed that it would cause another war. He enclosed her in the inner palace, separated her from her priests, took away her authority as king, and renamed her the Raven Consort, counting her as one of his consorts. He never visited her bedchambers, as he knew that it was love for the Winter King that started the war.

He compiled a falsified history, the *Soutsuten*, which stated that there were never two kings. The history book made no mention of the Summer and Winter King, and the Raven Consort was made to be a descendant of Wulian Niangniang's priestess. Koushou agreed to all of this, because she loved Ran Yuu, and his words were everything to her.
Kogen

**Ko Gen** (顧玄, *****Ko Gen*****?) is a eunuch of the Internal Affairs Ministry who served the Empress Dowager. He was behind a plot to poison Ka Koushun and was subsequently arrested.

## History

Ko Gen once worked for the Empress Dowager. After her arrest, he was demoted to the Internal Affairs Ministry. At some point, he was bribed by the Empress Dowager to plot the assassination of Koushun. He approached Shin, a former attendant of the Empress Dowager who now works at Palace Secretarial Bureau, with the plot. They decided to use poison, and because Shin's parents were medicine sellers, she was easily able to obtain poisonous herbs. But they were unable to proceed with this plot easily because they were being closely watched by Koushun's spies. They decided to use Ri Shuuyou, a new palace lady who also worked at the Palace Secretarial Bureau, to carry the poisonous herbs to Chou Eki, Shin's lover who worked at Hien Palace. Neither Ri Shuuyou nor Chou Eki had any knowledge of what they had in their possession.

Ko Gen and Shin would have secret talks at night regarding the plot. One of those conversations were overheard by Koushun's spy, but they were not able to hear its content. However, a civil servant named Kaku Kou was able to eavesdrop while he was sneaking into the inner palace. The spy caught Kaku Kou running away from the bushes but was unable to catch up with him. However, Kaku Kou dropped a jade earring, which the spy brought back to Koushun, who then begins his own investigation to find the owner.

## Plot

After hearing the testimonies of Kaku Kou and Jiujiu, who is acquainted with Ri Shuuyou, Koushun moves quickly to arrest both Ko Gen and Shin, who confessed to the plot.
Ran clan

The **Ran clan** (欒, *Luan*?) was a clan that was the imperial family before the current Ka clan. Almost all of its members were executed after the ascension of the Flame Emperor. Ryuu Jusetsu is its sole surviving member.

## Members

* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Ougyoku (deceased)
* Ran Hyougetsu (deceased)
* Ran Meiju (deceased)
* Ran Yuu (deceased)
Sui

**Sui** (綏, *****Sui*****?) was a Winter Sovereign who ruled the country of Shou. Her death by the Summer King, Shou, plunged the country into a thousand years of war.

## Biography

Like all the Winter Kings before her, Sui was chosen by Uren Niangniang to preside over rituals and impart her words. The Summer King of her time, Shou, fell in love with her and eventually killed her. It is unclear why he killed her. Some claimed that it was because she rejected him, while others claim that she formed a relationship with Shou's younger brother and Shou got jealous. For the next several hundred years, the armies of the Summer King and the armies led by the Winter King's priests clashed with each other. Despite the Summer Kings changing from generation to generation, Wulian Niangniang didn't choose another Winter King, causing the people to believe that she was punishing them for the loss of the Winter King.

## Appearance

Sui was said to be a "maiden with a translucent beauty that seemed to radiate a refreshing light from within."

## Powers and Abilities

As a Winter Sovereign, Sui presumably had the powers that all Winter Sovereigns had.
Reijou

**Reijou** (麗娘, *****Reijou*****?) was the previous Raven Consort and Winter King before Ryuu Jusetsu.

## Appearance

When Jusetsu first met her, she describes Reijou as being an old woman dressed in beautiful clothing.

## Personality

Reijou appeared to have been a strict but loving woman.

## History

Reijou was the daughter of a noble family. She had been the Raven Consort since the reign of Koushun's grandfather, the Flame Emperor. During the reign of Koushun's father, the feathers of the golden bird Xingxing turned into an arrow that was shot into the roof of the You house's gate, signifying the selection of the next Raven Consort. The successor, Ryuu Jusetsu, was six years old when she was brought to Yamei Palace. Reijou pitied her for having to live in Yamei Palace for the rest of her life now that she had been chosen. Reijou told her about why her mother had to run away and why she had silver hair. She dyed Jusetsu's hair and kept her within the palace as much as possible in order to keep her identity as a descendant of the previous imperial family safe.

She taught Jusetsu how to read, write, and the magic of the Raven Consort. Jusetsu learned her antiquated way of speaking from her. Reijou devoted her wisdom, knowledge, and love to Jusetsu. Even when she died, she had already planned out Jusetsu's future.
Volume 2/The Man in the Mask

**The Man in the Mask** (仮面の男, *Kamen no Otoko*?) is the third chapter of Volume 2 of the *Koukyuu no Karasu* series.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ka Koushun
* Ka Meiin
* Ei Sei
* Un Eitoku
* Un Kajou (mentioned)
* Sha (mentioned)
* Tei Ran (mentioned)
* Empress Dowager (mentioned)
* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Jiujiu
* Onkei
* Setsu Gyoei
* Wulian Niangniang (mentioned)
* Reijou (mentioned)
* Kippuku Shihitsu
* Kiji (mentioned)
* Ui (mentioned)
* Ishiha
* Kouran (mentioned)
* Ran Hyougetsu (mentioned)
* Sakyuu You
Sai Enrin

**Sai Enrin** (西婉琳, *****Sai Enrin*****?) was the Magpie Consort during the Flame Emperor's reign. She died by drowning herself in a pond.

## History

Enrin's father was the general secretary of the Ministry of Personnel at the time, making him the most successful person in the clan despite their family being relatively far from the main branch. Because of this, the family's hopes were pinned on him, and by extension his daughter. It was hoped that Enrin would enter the inner palace as a consort.
Natsu no Yuki

**Natsu no Yuki** (夏の雪, *lit. **Summer Snow***?) is the ending theme of the *Koukyuu no Karasu* anime, performed by the singer krage. It was released on October 12, 2022. It was first played at the end of "The Jade Earring, Part 2" and was used in place *Mysterious* in "Xiangfu Incense."

## Lyrics

* Kanji
* Romaji

しんしんと降り積もる雪を

まっくろに染めた私の運命に

だんだんと差し込む陽だまり

まっさらに溶かす夏の温もり

永遠に眠ったあなたの見た夢

叶える為に私ができること

我想要幇助イ尓 it's true

深い闇の中で陽が射すように

私に願いかけてくれたから

あなたのくれた

光の花束が今でも

交わることのない季節を繋ぐ

痛みの証明

夏に降る雪でいれるかな

ひとり泣いてた私の涙を

“優しさ”　と名前つけてくれたこと

イ尓是我的所有 it's true

こぼれた陽　掌で束ねるように

私の世界照らしてくれたから

あなたのくれた

光の花束が

今はもう届くことのない季節に触れる

痛みの証明

いつかまた何処かで会える？

季節が逆に巡っていく

ゆらり雪が空に昇る

如果時光能返回

少しだけあなたに届く？

会いたい　でも　会えないから

夏の歌を唄う　嗚呼

果てなく咲いた

枯れない花　誓いの花は

嗚呼　あなたのいない世界を

生きてゆくための証明

あなたのくれた

光の花束が今でも

交わることのない季節を繋ぐ

痛みの証明

夏に降る雪でいれるかな

Shinshin to furitsumoru yuki wo

Makkuro ni someta watashi no sadame ni

Dandan to sashikomu hidamari

Massara ni tokasu natsu no nukumori

Towa ni nemutta anata no mita yume

Kanaeru tame ni watashi ga dekiru koto

(Wo xiang yao bangzhu ni It's true)

Fukai yami no naka de hi ga sasu you ni

Watashi ni negai kakete kureta kara

Anata no kureta

Hikari no hanataba ga ima demo

Majiwaru koto no nai kisetsu wo tsunagu

Itami no shoumei

Natsu ni furu yuki de ireru kana

Hitori naiteta watashi no namida wo

"Yasashisa" to namae tsukete kureta koto

(Ni shī wo de suoyou It's true)

Koboreta hi tenohira de tabaneru you ni

Watashi no sekai terashite kureta kara

Anata no kureta

Hikari no hanataba ga

Ima wa mou todoku koto no nai kisetsu ni fureru

Itami no shoumei

Itsuka mata dokoka de aeru?

Kisetsu ga gyaku ni megutteiku

Yurari yuki ga sora ni noboru

(Ruguo shiguang neng fanhui)

Sukoshi dake anata ni todoku?

Aitai demo aenai kara

Natsu no uta wo utau aa

Hatenaku saita

Karenai hana chikai no hana wa

Aa anata no inai sekai wo

Ikiteyuku tame no shoumei

Anata no kureta

Hikari no hanataba ga ima demo

Majiwaru koto no nai kisetsu wo tsunagu

Itami no shoumei

Natsu ni furu yuki de ireru kana

## References

1. ↑ https://kokyu-anime.com/music/ed.html
Onkei

**Onkei** (温螢, *****Onkei*****?) is a eunuch who is ordered by Ei Sei to serve as Ryuu Jusetsu's bodyguard.

## Appearance

Onkei is described as a beautiful man with almond-shaped eyes and monolids. He has a slender physique. He has a straight horizontal scar on his cheek.

## Plot

Onkei is asked by Ei Sei to be Jusetsu's bodyguard and follow her secretly after she decides to go with her handmaid Jiujiu to Sen'e House, which is located in a lawless area of the inner palace. He saves the two from being attacked by eunuchs and easily drives the eunuchs away. He introduces himself to Jusetsu, who thanks him and asks who the eunuchs were. He guesses that they must be the Empress Dowager's men.

He accompanies Jusetsu and Jiujiu into Sen'e House to speak with So Kougyou, the former handmaid of Lady Han. Kougyou's tongue was cut out, so she couldn't speak, and since there are no writing supplies in the building, Jusetsu decides to bring Kougyou back to Yamei Palace so she can write what she knows. She asks Onkei to carry her back. Once settled, Kougyou writes about the truth behind Lady Han's death, the subsequent coverup by the Empress Dowager, and the story behind her jade earring that Jusetsu is entrusted with by Ka Koushun. She faints after the strenuous effort and Jusetsu sends Onkei out to the medicine office with a list of herbs to obtain.
Uren Niangniang

**Uren Niangniang** (烏漣娘娘, *Uren Nyannyan*?) is a goddess worshiped in Shou. She is currently imprisoned in the body of the Raven Consort. She is also referred to as **"the Raven"** by her older brother, the Owl.

## Appearance

Uren Niangniang is depicted as a large black bird with four black wings, a pig's torso, and lizard feet. Her face is that of a beautiful woman with white skin, red lips, and hair decorated with gold and jewels.

## Description

According to legend, Uren Niangniang flew six thousand nights from the other side of the sea and landed in Shou. She chose a man and a woman to rule over the people. The man was named the Summer King, in charge of governing, while the woman was named the Winter King, in charge of religious rites. While the title of Summer King was handed down a lineage of male heirs, the Winter King was a maiden selected randomly by the goddess. All was peaceful until one Summer King, Shou, killed the Winter King Sui for reasons unknown. The forces of the Summer King and Winter King warred against each other. It is speculated that Uren Niangniang was furious by the killing, because no new Winter King was chosen for a thousand years while there have been several Summer Kings after Shou.

The land was engulfed in turmoil until one day, Uren Niangniang decided to choose a Winter King once more. She chose Koushou, a young slave girl, and used a golden bird to lead the Summer King Ran Yuu to her. Koushou used her powers to help Ran Yuu obtain the throne. With the country now at peace, Ran Yuu knew that the Winter King must never be lost again, so he built the inner palace and confined Koushou there. Koushou agreed to this, because she was in love with Ran Yuu, and somehow imprison her within her own body, as well as the bodies of successive Raven Consorts, so that no subsequent Raven Consort could leave the imperial palace. If they attempt to leave, it would be viewed as a betrayal of Uren Niangniang and they would lose their life. History was rewritten so that the origin of the Raven Consort was changed to being a descendant of the priestesses of Uren Niangniang. Later Raven Consorts are taught that Uren Niangniang is imprisoned beneath Yamei Palace instead of inside their own bodies.

Despite being imprisoned, Uren Niangniang is able to escape he inner palace on moonless nights and fly around as Yeyoushen. This process causes great pain for the Raven Consort. People would keep lanterns burning through the night and close every window and door in fear of being taken away by Yeyoushen.

The Winter Ministry, located in Seiu Temple and in charge of religious rites, serves her and obey the Raven Consort. The Winter Minister is one of the few people who know the true history. Those who serve the goddess wear grey robes as a symbol of the goddess's dutiful servants.
Anime

## Raven of the Inner Palace

***Raven of the Inner Palace*** (後宮の烏, *Koukyuu no Karasu*?) is the anime adaptation of the *Koukyuu no Karasu* novel series. It was announced by Shueisha Orange Bunko on December 13, 2021.

It began airing on October 1, 2022 and received an English dub by Crunchyroll. Fans are still awaiting a second season to properly conclude the novels.

## Plot

Deep within the palace lives a mysterious woman known only as the Raven Consort. Some say she's an old woman, others that she's young and beautiful. But all are agreed on this: her mysterious mystical arts have the power to call forth and exorcise/pacify spirits, cast fatal curses, and find what has been lost—for a price.

When the young emperor, Koushun, seeks out the Raven Consort to make use of her mysterious mystical arts, what follows will overturn the court...and perhaps even the whole country.

## Staff

* Director: Chizuru Miyawaki
* Series Composition: Satomi Ooshima
* Character Designer: Shinji Takeuchi
* Music: Asami Tachibana
* Animation Production: BN Pictures

## Cast

* Ryu Jusetsu: Saku Mizuno
* Ka Koshun: Masaaki Mizunaka
* Eisei: Taku Yashiro
* Jiujiu: Marika Kouno
* Onkei: Nobunaga Shimazaki
* Tan Kai: Nobuhiko Okamoto
* Un Kajou: Reina Ueda
* Ishiha: Mana Hirata

## Gallery

### Images

Anime announcement celebration drawing by AyukoTeaser visualKey visual
### Character Sheets

Jusetsu's anime designKoushun's anime designEi Sei's anime designJiujiu's anime designXingxing's anime design
### Trailers

TVアニメ「後宮の烏」ティザーPV／2022年10月より放送予定！Teaser trailerTVアニメ「後宮の烏」本PV第一弾／2022年10月より放送予定！First PVTVアニメ「後宮の烏」本PV第二弾／2022年10月1日（土）より放送開始！Second PV
## References

1. ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-13/koko-shirakawa-kokyu-no-karasu-court-intrigue-novel-series-gets-anime/.180600

## Official Sites

* Official website
* Official Twitter
Koushou

**Koushou** (香薔, *****Koushou*****?) was the first Raven Consort. She was the Winter King to the Summer King, Ran Yuu.

## History

Koushou was a slave until the goddess Wulian Niangniang chose her as the first Winter King in hundreds of years. Ran Yuu, led by a golden bird, rescued her from her slave master when she was twelve-years-old. Because she was a slave and thus didn't have a name, Ran Yuu named her Koushou. She used her powers to help him succeed the throne and traveled with him and his army to the imperial capital, where he became the emperor. Ran Yuu knew that the Winter King must never be lost again, or he would lose his own position and the country would lose Wulian Niangniang's blessing once more. However, he didn't let Koushou call herself king, claiming that two kings would be the cause of another war. He enclosed Koushou within the inner palace, separated her from her priests, and renamed her title as the Raven Consort. Despite counting her as one of his consorts, he never visited her bedchambers, as he knew that love for the Winter King was what started the war in the first place.

Koushou agreed to all of this because she loved Ran Yuu and his words were everything to her. Ran Yuu created an official, false history where there were never two kings and that the Raven Consort was a mere descendant of the priestess who served Wulian Niangniang.
Akehime no Omeshibito

**Akehime no Omeshibito** (朱華姫の御召人, *****Akehime no Omeshibito*****? lit. The Princess of Ake's Poetry Reciter) is a novel series written by Kouko Shirakawa. It was first published under Shueisha's Cobalt Bunko imprint in 2014, with illustrations by Yuriko. The series got a reprinting in 2022 with new cover art by Ayuko. It serves as a "starting point" for *Koukyuu no Karasu* and is set in the same world.

## Volumes

September 16, 2022 (reprint)
October 20, 2022 (reprint)
ISBN 978-4087444483 (reprint)
Episode 12

## Siblings

"**Siblings"** (兄妹, *Kyoudai*?) is the twelfth episode of the *Koukyuu no Karasu* anime adaptation.

## Synopsis

Searching for Onkei, who hadn't returned, Jusetsu enters Jakusou Palace. There, she meets the haggard Magpie Consort, Kin Keiyou. After losing her beloved brother, she was thought to be confined to her bed with grief, but she was actually spending time with someone in the palace. It was her brother, who was supposed to be dead. Keiyou explains that he was revived using his hair and mud.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ka Koshun
* Ryu Jusetsu
* Eisei
* Kin Keiyou
* Hou Shougetsu
* Jiujiu
* Ishiha
* Shinshin
* Keiyou's Elder Brother (flashback)
* Mud doll
* Onkei
* Tan Kai
* Jo Sei (flashback)
* Koushou (flashback)

## Adaptation Notes

* The Raven Consort is revealed to be the twin sister of "the Executioner" of the Palace of Seclusion who was originally a bubble that had split in two from the seas where the almighty gods and goddesses dwell.
Ka Meiin

Koutou Academy

**Ka Jun** (何洵, *****Ka Jun*****?), courtesy name **Meiin** (明允, *****Meiin*****?), is the Chief Imperial Scholar as well as the assistant minister for the Ministry of Finance. He serves as an advisor to the emperor Ka Koushun.

## Appearance

Meiin is a man in his forties with an intelligent bearing.

## Plot

Meiin is asked by Ka Koushun about the cash flow at Teirui Palace, where the Empress Dowager is under house arrest. He tells him that there is nothing suspicious, but there is almost certainly hidden assets, since the Empress Dowager has been selling government positions at a rapid pace.

Meiin shows Koushun, Ei Sei, Ryuu Jusetsu, and Jiujiu (the latter two dressed like eunuchs) around Koutou Academy when they arrive to question Kakukou about the jade earring. When he learns that Kakukou had snuck into the inner palace despite knowing the punishment for it, he is furious and yells at him for his stupidity.
Empress Dowager

The **Empress Dowager** was the former Empress of the Inner Palace of China. She was under house arrest at the imperial villa Teirui Palace after her stepson Ka Koushun took the throne. When her role in the plot to poison her late husband's lover Koushun was discovered, she was tried and executed for her crimes but not before casting a lethal curse on the new Emperor to ensure his eternal torment.

## Personality

Based on the accounts of other people, the Empress Dowager is a cruel and tyrannical woman who terrorized both the Outer Court and the inner palace during her reign. She has a good understanding how to hurt others. She is behind the deaths of many consorts, including Koushun's mother Consort Sha. She seemed to have a overbearing influence and charisma, as Koushun didn't execute her upon seizing the throne because he was worried it would bring negative consequences because of her influence, and she still has supporters and allies even after her house arrest.

## History

When she was the Empress, the Empress Dowager pushed or threatened the Previous Emperor and seized influence along with her relatives. She had a son, but he died at a young age, so Koushun was made the crown prince. She constantly harassed his mother, Consort Sha, the then-Crane Consort, and eventually poisoned her when Koushun was ten, framing it on a maidservant who was quickly executed to get rid of evidence. She also killed Koushun's good friend and confidant Dan Ling.

She then deposed Koushun as the crown prince when he was thirteen. She also forced pregnant consorts to have abortions and cut out the tongues of maids she didn't like. She had people executed on made-up charges. When Koushun was eighteen, he marched into the Empress' palace with the Forbidden Army and defeated the eunuchs and court officials who curried her favor and took the throne. Instead of executing her, Koushun placed her under house arrest at Teirui Palace because he was afraid of the backlash.

## Plot

Though under house arrest, the Empress Dowager is still scheming. She has been selling government positions at a rapid pace to fill her own pockets, but the confiscated money doesn't match up with the estimated sum, leading Koushun and his ministers to believe that she is hiding the money with some of the eunuchs who are still loyal to her.
Shin

**Shin** (辛, *****Shin*****?) is a palace lady who worked at the Palace Secretarial Bureau. She was a former attendant of the Empress Dowager and part of a conspiracy to poison Ka Koushun.

## History

Shin was once an attendant who served the Empress Dowager. After the Empress Dowager was deposed and placed under house arrest, she was transferred to a leisurely position in the Palace Secretarial Bureau. At some point, she got into a relationship with Chou Eki, a eunuch who worked at Hien Palace. Ko Gen, a eunuch who also served the Empress Dowager, approached her with a plot to assassinate the emperor. Because Shin's parents were medicine sellers, she was able to obtain poisonous herbs for the plot. However, since both Shin and Ko Gen were being watched by Koushun's spies, they weren't able to move forward with the plot easily. In order to shake off suspicion, Shin used Ri Shuuyou, a new palace lady at the Palace Secretarial Bureau, to send the herbs to Chou Eki under the guise of sending love letters. Shin was able to get Ri Shuuyou to do this for her by promising to put in a recommendation for her to be promoted to attendant. Neither Ri Shuuyou nor Chou Eki were aware of what they had in their possession.

Shin and Ko Gen would have secret talks at night about the plot. One of those conversations were overheard by Koushun's spy, but they were not able to hear its content. However, a civil servant named Kaku Kou was able to eavesdrop while he was sneaking into the inner palace. The spy caught Kaku Kou running away from the bushes but was unable to catch up with him. However, Kaku Kou dropped a jade earring, which the spy brought back to Koushun, who then begins his own investigation to find the owner.

## Plot

After hearing the testimonies of Kaku Kou and Jiujiu, who is acquainted with Ri Shuuyou, Koushun moves quickly to arrest both Ko Gen and Shin, who confessed to the plot.
Ou Genyuu

**Ou Shou** (欧宵, *****Ou Shou*****?), courtesy name **Ou Genyuu** (欧玄有, *****Ou Genyuu*****?), was a bureaucrat. He was killed in a riot caused by disciples of the Moon Truth Sect. He was Kajou's lover.

## Personality

According to Kajou, he was like "cooled hot water," a gentle man who never hurt others with his own fire.
Episode 7

## Glass Prayer

**Glass Prayer** (玻璃に祈る, *Hari ni Inoru*?) is the seventh episode of the Koukyuu no Karasu anime.

## Synopsis

Hyougetsu and Princess Meiju, who are members of the previous dynasty, died in the battle without fulfilling their marriage promise. After his death, Hyougetsu became a ghost and found Princess Meiju, who also became a ghost, loitering under the willow tree, but didn't respond to his voice.

In order to save the Princess, Hyougetsu didn't cross over to paradise and continued to stay in this world. Despite his best efforts, the princess remained unresponsive to him. How can the princess be saved? Jusetsu makes a hypothesis.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Jiujiu
* Ka Koushun
* Ei Sei
* Ran Hyougetsu
* Xingxing
* Flame Emperor (mentioned)
* Ran Meiju
* Tei Ran (ghost)
* Sha (ghost)
* Empress Dowager (voice)
* Reijou (flashback)
* Un Kajou
* Onkei
* So Kougyou
* Keishi
* Tan Kai
* Hou Ichigyou
* Shougetsu
Un Kajou

**Un Kajou** (雲花娘, *****Un Kajou*****?) is the current Duck Consort. She is the granddaughter of the prime minister, Un Eitoku, and Ka Koushun's childhood friend.

## History

Since Kajou was the granddaughter of Un Eitoku, who was Koushun's childhood tutor, she and Koushun were playmates and childhood friends. According to Koushun, she was more tomboyish when she was younger.

## Plot

Kajou visits Yamei Palace with a retinue to speak with the Raven Consort, Ryuu Jusetsu. She introduces herself to Jusetsu and asks about Koushun's frequent visits to her, but Jusetsu doesn't say much about it. Kajou asks if Koushun requested her to put a deadly curse on the Empress Dowager, as there are rumors floating around about that. Jusetsu replies that since the Empress Dowager was executed, she wasn't killed by a deadly curse. Kajou mentions that there are people who are jealous of her since she is the first consort Koushun has visited frequently. As the most powerful consort, since there is no empress, she is in charge of the inner palace. Relieved now that she has met Jusetsu, she mouths to her that she will visit her again tomorrow and leaves.

## Trivia

* She is three years older than Koushun.
* She is around ten years older than Jusetsu. Her youngest sister is the same age as Jusetsu.

## References

1. ↑ Volume 1, The Flower Flute
2. ↑ Volume 2, The Blue Sparrow
Episode 11

## Groundwork

**Groundwork** (布石, *Fuseki*?) is the eleventh episode of the Koukyuu no Karasu anime adaptation.

## Synopsis

Jusetsu visits Seiu Temple and finds Setsu Gyoei and Koushun playing Go. Jusetsu takes Gyoei's place and plays against Koushun. After the game, the two talk in the garden for a while. Gyoei, who sees this, gives Jusetsu a warning after Koushun leaves. Compassion is different from love. She shouldn't get any closer to Koushun. The Raven Consort shouldn't desire anything. That was the way Jusetsu should be as the Raven Consort, as taught to her by Reijou.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Jo Sei
* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Jiujiu
* Xingxing
* Tan Kai
* Onkei
* Ka Koushun
* Setsu Gyoei
* Reijou (flashback)
* Ei Sei
* Ishiha
* Kin Keiyou
* So Kougyou
* Un Kajou
* Shougetsu
Summer Sovereign

The **Summer Sovereign** (夏の王, *Natsu no Ou*?) is a position held by the Emperor of Shou. Unlike the Winter King, the position is passed down through a certain bloodline of male heirs.

## Description

When Wulian Niangniang came to Shou after flying from the west, she chose two people to rule. One was the Winter King, a maiden who presided over rituals, while the other was the Summer King, a man who was in charge of governing. The Winter Kings were randomly chosen by the goddess's oracle, while the Summer Kings inherited the position. The two kings ruled Shou in peace for five hundred years until the Summer King Shou killed the Winter King Sui for unclear reasons. While there is much speculation as to why he killed her, it is agreed that Shou loved Sui to the point of wanting to kill her.

After this event, the armies of the Summer and Winter Kings clashed for many years. The country fell into ruin during this time, and there was no new Winter King even though there had been several Summer Kings because Wulian Niangniang had remained silent. It is believed that this was her punishment towards the Summer King for killing the Winter King. The names of the Winter and Summer Kings soon became forgotten. This all changed one day when an army led by Ran Yuu marched towards the capital and crowned himself as the new ruler. He was able to do so easily because he was accompanied by Koushou, a slave girl who was chosen by Wulian Niangniang as the new Winter King. After nearly a thousand years, the Summer and Winter Kings were finally together again. Ran Yuu created a new history where there was ever only one king, and the titles of Winter and Summer King became buried with only the Winter Minister and Winter King (now Raven Consort) knowing the truth.

## Known Summer Kings

* Shou
* Ran Yuu
* Flame Emperor
* Previous Emperor
* Ka Koushun
John A. Macdonald

**John Alexander Macdonald** (10 January 1815-6 June 1891) was a Canadian politician who served as the first prime minister of Canada from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 until his death in 1891. Macdonald was born in Glasgow Scotland on 10 January 1815 to Hugh Macdonald and his wife Helen. When Macdonald was a child his family immigrated to Kingston in the province of Upper Canada (modern day Ontario). While in Kingston Macdonald became a prominent lawyer and gained a seat in the province legislature. In 1856 Macdonald became premier of Canada under a coalition of parties led by Allan MacNab. Macdonald would take advice from his political rival George Brown to form a coalition between all the provinces. In 1864 Macdonald would attend many conferences discussing confederation between the provinces and on 1 June 1867 the new nation was born. Macdonald became Canada’s first prime minister following its creation and right away faced major issues. The province of Nova Scotia was treating to leave Canada and many within Canada feared annexation from the United States. The first Canadian federal election was held in August of 1867 with Macdonald Easley wining a majority of seats in parliament with strong support from all major provinces. Nova Scotia would agree to remain in Canada in exchange for better economic aid. Macdonald was a strong supporter of western expansion and was able to negotiate a purchase of Ruperts land from the Hudson’s bay Company for $1,500,000. In 1869 rebellions in Manitoba broke against joining confederation. The rebellion was crushed with Manitoba joining Canada shortly soon afterwards. Macdonald hoped to expand further by annexing British Columbia with promises of a railway connecting the country from sea to sea. Macdonald hoped to secure funding for the railway by 1872. He was unable to do so and thus took a bribery from Hugh Allen to fund the construction of the railway. The scandal would soon come to light and Macdonald lost the next election to the liberals under Alexander Mackenzie. Macdonald became leader of the opposition following his defeat in the 1874 election but would come back to power in 1878 and started construction of the railway. Macdonald approved construction of several residential Indian schools to assimilate Indian culture. By 1881 construction of the railway was over and it opened shortly soon afterwards. Macdonald died while in office in 1891.
Episode 5

## Confidant

**Confidant** (懐刀, *Futokorogatana*?) is the fifth episode of the Koukyuu no Karasu anime.

## Synopsis

Every night, two ghosts appear in Koushun's bedroom. Ei Sei is worried about Koushun, who is wasting away because of that. He suggested that he consulted with the Raven Consort, but he only says that it will be useless. The ghosts were the reason for that. They were Koushun's mother and the eunuch Tei Ran, who was close to him. Koushun is filled with remorse for the two deaths. Even though he understands his feelings, Ei Sei couldn't leave him alone and tries to visit Jusetsu, but...

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ka Koushun
* Sha
* Tei Ran
* Ei Sei
* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Jiujiu
* Xingxing
* Ran Hyougetsu (flashback)
* Setsu Gyoei (flashback)
* Tan Kai
* Ran Meiju
* Onkei
* You Senjou (flashback)
* Ei Sei's mother (flashback)
* That lady from vol 4
* Ui
Koukyuu no Karasu Wiki

**We currently have:**

Deep within the inner palace lives a special consort who does not serve the emperor despite her position, known as the Raven Consort. People who have seen her say she looks like an old woman, while others say she looks like a young girl. Stories talk of her use of mysterious arts and how she can take on any request, be it death curses to finding lost things. Koushun, the current emperor, goes to visit the Raven Consort with that intention, without knowing that their fated meeting will become a taboo that will overturn history.

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Flame Emperor

The **Flame Emperor** (炎帝, *Entei*?) is the posthumous title given to the Ka Koushun's grandfather after his death. He was the founder of the Ka dynasty and former Summer King.

## History

The Flame Emperor took the throne from the previous imperial family, the Ran clan, at an advanced age. He subsequently ordered the massacre of the entire clan, down to the women and children. That order was kept all the way to Ka Koushun's reign. It is rumored that the Flame Emperor had to sleep with candlelight because he was haunted by the ghosts of the Ran clan. The inner palace at his time was small because he already had an empress and heirs. As he aged, he grew increasingly paranoid that the people around him wanted to take his throne, and ended up even killing his sons, who were kings.
Episode 4

## The Skylark Princess

**The Skylark Princess** (雲雀公主, *Hibari Hime*?) is the fourth episode of the Koukyuu no Karasu anime.

## Synopsis

A skylark ghost has come to Yamei Palace. It seems to be unable to pass on to paradise because it has regrets. Jiujiu, pitying it, asks Jusetsu to save it. Jusetsu investigates Princess Skylark, who once kept the skylark. When she goes around to question the palace ladies, she hears a certain piece of small talk: a palace that doesn't hand down fabrics or other such things is a failure for an attendant. Jusetsu has never given anything to Jiujiu.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ryuu Jusetsu
* The skylark
* Jiujiu
* Xingxing
* Onkei
* So Kougyou
* Ishiha
* Ka Koushun
* Ei Sei
* Setsu Gyoei
* You Juujou
* Princess Skylark (flashback)
* Empress Dowager (mentioned)
* Keishi
* Sha (ghost)
* Tei Ran (ghost)
Volume 2/Yearning Aroma

***Yearning Aroma*** is the fourth and final chapter of Volume 2 of the *Koukyuu no Karasu* series.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ryu Jusetsu
* Jiujiu
* Jo Sei (mentioned)
* Xingxing
* Onkei
* Ka Koshun
* Setsu Gyoei
* Un Eitoku (mentioned)
* Reijou (mentioned)
* Eisei
* Ishiha
* So Kougyou
* Renjou
* Kin Keiyou
* Keiyou's "brother"
* Hou Shougetsu
* Wulian Niangniang (mentioned)
* Sumaru
* Hou Ichigyou (mentioned)
* Koushou (mentioned)
* Jusetsu's mother (mentioned)
* Shuku Kou (mentioned)
* Tou Senri
* Keishi (mentioned)
* Empress Dowager (mentioned)
* Sha (mentioned)
* Tei Ran (mentioned)
* Kin Koukei

## Trivia

* This is adapted in the anime as the thirteenth episode, supposedly "ending" the anime.
Volume 5

* JP
* EN

**Koukyuu no Karasu 5** is the fifth volume in the Koukyuu no Karasu series.

## Synopsis

The imperial estate is abuzz with celebrations, but the once-lively Yamei Palace sits silently in its shadows. The Raven Consort is supposed to be alone, after all. In order to save Jusetsu from this forced solitude, Koshun chooses a difficult path: to free the goddess Uren Niangniang. With help from some unexpected sources, can Jusetsu break the barriers that confine her to the inner palace? And what will happen if she does?
Un Eitoku

**Un Eitoku** (雲永徳, *****Un Eitoku*****?) is Ka Koushun's prime minister.

## Personality

Un is shown to be loyal to Koushun and admiring of his qualities.

## History

Un was Koushun's tutor and aide since he was young. Even after Koushun was deposed as the crown prince, he still secretly supported him until he took the throne.

## Plot

When Koushun finished his work in the Outer Court, Un informs him of suspicious activities at Teirui Palace, where the Empress Dowager is held under house arrest. He openly laments how the Empress Dowager doesn't seem to understand Koushun's mercy towards her, not knowing that Koushun didn't place her under house arrest out of mercy, but lack of political power.

## Trivia

* Un's last name is the character for "cloud" (雲, *Un*). His given name contains the characters for "eternity" (永, *Ei*) and "benevolence" (徳, *Toku*).
Volume 7

**Koukyuu no Karasu 7** is the seventh and final volume of the *Raven of the Inner Paalce* novel series.

## Synopsis

Jusetsu attempts to cross the sea to Jie Island, which is the boundary between the gods of Kakurenomiya and Sasaranomiya, but the sea route is blocked by an undersea volcano erupting. If the cause of the eruption was that the Sea Turtle God had angered the Sea God of Sasaranomiya, then defeating the Sea Turtle God would calm its anger.

However, in order to defeat him, the other half of the Raven's body must be regained, and that half is on Jie Island. They are going around in circles. Meanwhile, a black blade, which is the Raven's other half, is in the hands of Hakurai who is walking on Jie Island.
Kouko Shirakawa

**Kouko Shirakawa** (白川紺子, *Shirakawa Kouko*?) is the author of the Koukyuu no Karasu novel series.

## Biography

Shirakawa was born on February 8 in Mie Prefecture. She graduated from Doshisha University. In 2012, she won the 154th Cobalt Magazine Short Story Newcomer's Award with her story *Sakana Biyori* and later won the 2012 Romance Taisho with the story *Usotsuki na May Queen.* This story was rewritten and retitled to *Usotsuki na Lady ~May Day no Kyuukon* when she debuted as a novelist in Cobalt Bunko in 2013. She currently lives in Aichi Prefecture.

## Works

### Anthologies

* *Shinyaku Grimm Douwa -Medetashi, Medetashi?-* (新釈 グリム童話 ―めでたし、めでたし?―): "*Shirayukihime Sensou -Shirayukihime-"* (白雪姫戦争-白雪姫-) (2016)

## References

1. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BD%E5%B7%9D%E7%B4%BA%E5%AD%90
2. ↑ Twitter profile (as of 2022)

## External Links

* Japanese Wikipedia page
* Official site
Skylark Princess

*This article is about the character. For the chapter, see Volume 1/The Skylark Princess.*

**Princess Skylark** (雲雀公主, *Hibari Hime*?) was the daughter of the Previous Emperor and a palace lady. Her real name is unknown. She died at thirteen after drowning in a pond.

## Personality

According to her only friend, You Juujou, the princess was a down-to-earth and kindhearted person. Even though she lived in miserable conditions through no fault of her own, she never blamed anyone and was content with her situation, even refusing to tell her father about it.

## History

The princess was the daughter of the Previous Emperor and a palace lady. Because her mother had no backing or supporters, the two of them were made to live in Sourou Hall, a small palace located on the outskirts of the inner palace. The princess's mother died when she was young, but not before teaching her about medicinal plants. The princess used this knowledge to grow plants in her garden that would help her manage her weak constitution and fever outbreaks. The princess was mocked by her low birth by the other concubines and palace ladies, who nicknamed her Princess Skylark, and she grew up neglected and impoverished.

However, the princess wasn't completely without allies. Consort Sha, whose palace was the closest to Sourou Hall, would secretly send her food from time to time. She was unable to send her medicine because that would arouse the attention of the Empress Dowager. You Juujou was the palace lady who brought the food to the princess. The two girls were the same age and the princess comforted Juujou when she was homesick. Juujou also had a weak constitution, so the princess constantly worried about her. The princess also loved to feed sparrows and skylarks. One skylark in particular had taken to her greatly and was always seen with her.

When the princess was thirteen, she got into an argument with Juujou. Juujou wanted the princess to speak to her father about her situation, but the princess adamantly refused, saying that she was happy with her life as it is. Juujou got angry and left. It was during this time that the princess slipped into the pond near her palace and drowned. Her skylark was said to have flew around the inner palace, crying frantically for anyone to notice and save her, but everyone ignored it, and it eventually also died. Though it wasn't known why or how she drowned in the pond, Jusetsu theorized that she was trying to pick fritillaries (used to soothe coughing fits) growing near the water's edge in order to give them to Juujou as a make-up gift after their argument, but slipped into the pond because of the muddy bank.

## Trivia

* Because they are only half-siblings, she and Koushun have never met each other.
Volume 1

* JP
* EN

**Koukyuu no Karasu** is the first volume in the Koukyuu no Karasu novel series.

## Synopsis

Deep within the palace’s walls lives the secluded and mysterious Raven Consort. Some say she is an old woman, while others claim she is young and beautiful. What all stories agree upon is that she has the power to exorcise spirits, lay fatal curses, and find lost objects—for a price. When the young emperor arrives at the door of the Raven Consort seeking magical assistance, his request could shake up the palace…or perhaps even the entire kingdom.

## Chapters

### The Jade Earring

The emperor Koushun asks the Raven Consort Jusetsu to find the person who dropped a jade earring in the inner palace, unravelling a conspiracy that threatens Koushun's life.

### The Flower Whistle

The Duck Consort, Kajou, asks Jusetsu to fix her flower whistle, as it is unable to make a sound. During her investigation, Jusetsu encounters a ghost connected to the previous imperial family who came to the inner palace to seek something.

### The Skylark Princess

Jusetsu encounters the ghost of a skylark and learns from Jiujiu that it was once the companion to a lonely princess who drowned to her death in the inner palace. Meanwhile, Koushun tries to learn more about the Raven Consort from the Winter Minister, Setsu Gyoei.

### The Glass Prayer

Jusetsu learns of a ghost with silver hair--the mark of the Ran clan--who only appears when the willow trees blossom and might have some connection to Hyougetsu. Koushun's investigation into the origins and nature of the Raven Consort leads him to learn the true history of Shou.