The following contains spoilers for Episode 6 of Raven of the Inner Palace, “The Summer King and the Winter King,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Raven of the Inner Palace brings its world building to a head in Episode 6 with the major reveal of the Raven Consort’s origin story. While the historical fantasy series has hinted at the extent of Shouxue’s limitations and connections with the Emperor as the Raven Consort thus far, fans finally get the in-depth history of her mysterious role that not only explains Shouxue’s social isolation, but also hints at heavier implications for her relationship with Gaojun.
Throughout Inner Palace’s first five episodes, Emperor Gaojun is deeply interested in the history and nature of the Raven Consort — and the role’s ties to the throne. As the Raven Consort is confined to Yamei Palace, little is known about her beyond the swirling rumors. While Shouxue tries to keep Gaojun at arm’s length, he is not satisfied with his limited understanding of the extent of her role. After questioning the Baiyan, the Emperor finally asks Shouxue to enlighten him, revealing the true history of Shou and the nature of their relationship.
Emperor Gaojun Learns the Tale of the Summer King and Winter King
Gaojun asks Shouxue to show him her piece of the Shuangtongdian, a historical record passed down from emperor to emperor. His investigation has pointed him to this document, as it will unveil the hidden history of the Raven Consort. Though reluctant, Shouxue obliges the Emperor’s command, triggering an artfully depicted origin story using both paper theater and Raven of the Inner Palace’s standard art style.
The visual record reveals the feathered goddess Niao Lian founded Shou by raising up two leaders, the King of Summer and the King of Winter. For reasons unknown, the Summer King killed the Winter King, sending the nation into chaos and ruin until Luan Xi took the throne as the Summer King, appointing a former slave girl as the Winter King. While the story suggests a great affection between the two, Luan Xi has Xiang Qiang shut away in Yamei Palace both for her protection and for the kingdom’s stability.
Shouxue’s retelling of the true history of Shou and the Raven Consort shows why she must stay isolated in Yamei Palace — and how she is important to the Emperor. According to the origin story, the Emperor and Raven Consort are bound together as the Summer King and Winter King. The two must exist together, as the Summer King’s disposal of the Winter King is what threatened the stability of Shou for so many years.
Luan Xi’s decision to shut Xiang Qiang away — and the tradition that followed — keeps the Winter King safe and protects the Summer King in return. The series has been hinting that a significant connection exists between Gaojun and Shouxue, and Episode 6 finally explains just how deep this connection is and the historical ramifications at stake.
The Raven Consort’s Origin Story Explains Shouxue’s Trepidation
Though Shouxue has learned to depend on others throughout Raven of the Inner Palace, even making a few friends, Episode 6’s depiction of the Raven Consort’s origin story shows why she has been so socially hesitant and reserved. Her role carries too much weight for her to take it lightly. With the high social and political tensions of the court, even a slight misstep could put her life in danger, which would lead to destruction for Gaojun’s rule and the entirety of Shou.
The importance of this role is a heavy weight to bear, and Gaojun questions why Shouxue doesn’t abandon it. She explains in a heartrending response that Niao Lian has chosen her to be Raven Consort, sinking her talons in her. If she did attempt to leave the palace, she would betray Niao Lian and reap the consequences: death. Shouxue’s role is a sad one, as it is both vital to the Emperor and his country and inescapable.
The restrictions Shouxue must endure are not contrived, but they are crucial for sustaining her role. It is a painful burden for Shouxue to keep distance between her and those she could call friends. She must even be careful not to get too close to Gaojun or fall in love with him to avoid repeating a gruesome history.
Though it lightly touches on the two ghost stories that have been developing over the past couple episodes, Episode 6 heavily focuses on the origin story at the heart of the series. The major reveal pushes Raven of the Inner Palace’s plot forward by providing the context behind Shouxue’s role and setting up hurdles for her and Gaojun’s relationship. As the series continues pursuing its other mysteries, fans now have crucial background information on the history and deeper underpinnings to better understand the series’ direction.
