About

(The Palace) Imperial Palace The residential and administrative area for the Imperial Family. Inner Court (Rear Palace) The residential and administrative area for the Consorts and their ladies-in-waiting. Inner Palace The residential and administrative area for court ladies and eunuchs. Broadly speaking, the Inner Court and Imperial Palace are part of the Inner Palace, but they are distinguished by status. The distinction of where the Inner Palace ends was clarified in the Outer Court arc. Outer Court The setting for the Outer Court arc. The location of government offices where most civil and military officials work. Town The setting for the Town arc. Government offices located away from the palace. (Offices/Occupations) Consort Members of the ruling class from various regions who married into the Imperial Family for political purposes. They are divided into High-ranking, Middle-ranking, and Low-ranking Consorts based on their background. Lady-in-waiting Direct administrative and security personnel who serve the Consorts and Imperial Family in the Inner Court. Occasionally, beautiful women are sent as ladies-in-waiting with the intent of receiving the Emperor's favor instead of the Consort. Court Lady Maids who perform various chores in the Inner Court. In a broad sense, ladies-in-waiting are included, but usually, those referred to as court ladies are the ones doing menial labor. Only virgins can become court ladies in consideration of potentially receiving the Emperor's favor, but many view it as a period to find a husband or undergo bridal training. They can marry after leaving, often with a dowry. Unlike the official women of the Outer Court, anyone can technically become a court lady in the Inner Court. However, lower-class court ladies doing laundry are often illiterate and from low status, frequently sold by parents or kidnappers. In contrast, direct ladies-in-waiting for Consorts are often from good families. The service period is usually two years, and most are contract workers unless they are the head lady-in-waiting of a palace. If a court lady bears the Emperor's child but he denies it, she is not recognized as the mother of royalty, and the child is not considered royalty. The child is sent away, and the lady cannot become a Consort. To prevent the leaking of royal blood or claims of royal birth outside the palace, the lady is confined within the Inner Court for life, separated from her child. If their home family is wealthy, ladies who didn't become Consorts might be released by being granted to a vassal. However, those from humble backgrounds who received the previous Emperor's favor could never leave. They continued to work in the clinic until death. Those who died without bearing children were not recorded in the Inner Court archives; they were buried in the Inner Court garden with only their names on their tombstones. They lived and died confined within the palace walls. Eunuch Male administrative and medical personnel who have been forcibly castrated to work in the Inner Palace. Civil Official Administrative staff working in the Outer Court or Town. They have the least presence in the story. Military Official Soldiers working in the Outer Court or Town. They have more presence than civil officials due to guarding the protagonist, Maomao. Medical Official Medical personnel working in the Outer Court or Town. Official Woman / Female Official Administrative staff working in the Outer Court or Town. Unlike court ladies, they passed an examination to enter and take great pride in their work. Female Physician Female medical personnel working in the Inner, Outer, or Town areas.