The Story of Caiunkoku

The story takes place in the fictional Chinese kingdom of Caiyun. According to legend, a young man, aided by the power of the Eight Immortals, founded Caiyun. Consequently, Caiyun's territory was divided into eight provinces: Hongzhou, Huangzhou, Bizhou, Lanzhou, Zizhou, Heizhou, Baizhou, and Chazhou. Approximately 600 years ago, the king of the time ordered the nobles of each province to adopt one of these eight colors as their surnames (for example, the Marquis of Lanzhou became Lan, the Marquis of Hongzhou became Hong, and so on). Commoners were prohibited from sharing surnames with these eight marquises. Consequently, those bearing these eight colors were considered the most aristocratic of the nobles. Furthermore, because the Marquis of Zizhou, where the capital was located, also served as king, the Zi family became the royal family's surname. Despite being born into the prestigious Hong family, Hong Xiuli lived in poverty. She had to work extensively to support her family. Having experienced the turmoil of the throne struggle as a child, she deeply understood the suffering of the people. From a young age, she diligently studied, hoping to pass the imperial examination, become an official, assist the king, and build a prosperous and peaceful nation. However, as a woman, she cannot take the imperial examination. One day, Xiu Li accepts a high-paying commission from Grand Tutor Xiao and enters the harem as a noble concubine to teach and assist the incompetent emperor. This opportunity leads Xiu Li to a career as an official, and she encounters a variety of people.