Inner Palace Intrigue
I'm looking for historical fantasy with lots of court drama and intrigue, set in the ancient Chinese Inner Palace or a similar analogue.
I like that the characters are stuck in one place and incentivized to back-stab each other. I also think the contrast of the concubines' lack of agency with their potential for immense soft power makes for interesting social and political dynamics.
I really enjoyed both the Poet Empress and Apothecary Diaries. I did not like Raven of the Inner Palace - it didn't have enough intrigue.
Kushiel's Avatar has the seraglio/zenana setting for part of the book, but it's not really what I'm looking for. It's the third book in a series with a lot of travel, and I'm looking for a boo that takes place primarily in the one location.
I'm mostly looking for books, but I'd take recommendations for other types of media. I'd also take recommendations for straight-up historical fiction.