Miri Mikawa – författare

Rimi has spent most of her life making food for the protector god of the land. She is suddenly sent as a tribute to the great empire of Konkoku, becoming one of the emperor’s concubines. She comes close to losing the taste of her home country, but she is saved by the cuisinologist Shusei. As she dreams of a reunion with the kind scholar, she does her best to survive in the envy-filled rear palace with the help of her natural cheerfulness and her skill as a cook. Then out of nowhere, she is arrested and sentenced to be executed on the charge of disrespecting the emperor! How will Rimi get out of this mess? Find out in this China-inspired fantasy story about a princess and her love for food surrounded by gorgeous men.

The Declaration of Stability—a ceremony where the four highest-ranking consorts of the rear palace compete for the new emperor’s favor—draws near. In an attempt to pacify the consorts as they prepare for the ceremony, the food-loving princess Rimi, along with the cuisinology scholar Shusei, are appointed as the consorts’ cooks. Rimi finds herself hard at work dealing with the womens’ strong personalities. Emperor Shohi also starts to approach Rimi frequently under the pretext of wanting to see the Quinary Dragon. Shusei is happy that Shohi has become interested in women, but at the same time, he feels conflicted somehow. That’s when the priceless treasure required for the ceremony is suddenly stolen!

Just after Rimi and Shusei had vowed to cast away their feelings for each other, Emperor Shohi asked Rimi to become his empress. Now, Rimi is spending her days on edge. Suddenly, the Quinary Dragon falls ill, and Rimi travels to the old capital of Hanin to find a cure. There she discovers a mirror, and strange things start to happen around her, including a bedridden Shohi whom Rimi needs to make food for. While she searches for the cause behind what is happening, she discovers a shocking secret about Shusei! It’s time for Rimi to make a difficult decision to protect her place in the world.

Delicious and painful, volume six of the popular Chinese culinary court drama is here! Shusei has left Emperor Shohi''s side to stand against him as head of the Ho House. Rimi, wondering what she can do, decides to take over the study of cuisinology. However, when the prefectural administrators all refuse to collect taxes, the imperial court is thrust into turmoil! When it appears that an administrator will be arrested for treason, Shusei intervenes and defends him. Standing in direct opposition to Shohi, Shusei leaves Rimi feeling confused. She''ll have to confront her relationship with food and decide what truly matters to her!

Both the Quinary Dragon and Rimi, the empress to be, have vanished from the palace! While Emperor Shohi has Jotetsu and Hakurei search for her, Shusei follows his own hunch and pursues a man who has both the motive and the means to make her disappear: Shu Kojin. When Shusei confronts his cruel, adoptive father, he''s told that...Rimi is dead?! Precious memories mix with hostility in this exciting eighth volume!