Raven of the Inner Palace

"Raven of the Inner Palace" (Japanese: 後宮の烏, Hepburn: Kōkyū no Karasu) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kōko Shirakawa and illustrated by Ayuko. Set in a fictionalized ancient China, the series follows the story of the Raven Consort, a special consort in the inner palace who does not serve the emperor. The Raven Consort, named Shouxue, possesses mysterious abilities and takes on various requests, from finding lost items to cursing others. The narrative revolves around Shouxue's encounter with Emperor Gaojun, and their intertwined destinies gradually unravel the secrets hidden within history. The series was published by Shueisha in seven volumes from April 2018 to April 2022, and was adapted into a 12-episode anime television series by Bandai Namco Pictures, which aired from October to December 2022. The English dub of the anime was produced by Crunchyroll, and the light novel series has been licensed for English publication by Seven Seas Entertainment. It is a popular series that combines fantasy, mystery, and palace romance elements.