The following contains spoilers for Episode 8 of Raven of the Inner Palace, "Blue Swallow", now streaming on Crunchyroll.
From deadly politics to heart-wrenching abuse and violence, much cruelty exists within Raven of the Inner Palace. Even Shouxue's isolation is an example of the subtle, yet unsettling darkness present in Shou. Though hardened by the social restrictions of her role as Raven Consort and the tragedy she experienced herself, Episode 8 shows that Shouxue is a surprising source of light in a such a dark place.
Throughout the series, Shouxue encounters the heartbreaking stories of those who have suffered under the strict social structure, punishments, and injustices common to the era as she works through various ghost cases. In the very first episodes, Shouxue discovers the ghost of a woman who was framed for murder and killed due to sociopolitical tensions. Each episode quietly, yet poignantly unearths yet another cruel aspect of Shou's culture, reminding viewers of the darkness that lies beneath the setting's beauty. However, Shouxue's gentle kindness in response to such unsettling stories proves that she represents hope to many of the series' characters.
Shouxue Uncovers the Sad Tale of a Young Eunuch
Wei Qing's depressing backstory in Episode 5 has already demonstrated the cruelty that many eunuchs face, but Episode 8 brings yet another sad tale of a young eunuch. After Yi Siha comes to her with news of a ghost only he can see, Shouxue sets out to uncover the story of this ghost so that she can put the ghost to rest. As Shouxue finds out through her investigation, the ghost belongs to a young boy who was executed for accidentally killing a bird while trying to harvest feathers. Though the boy was aware that killing the bird is considered a crime and punishable by death in Shou, he still came forward, willing to suffer the consequences.
Though Shouxue acknowledges the shamefulness of the young eunuch's behavior, she also recognizes the tragedy of the situation. As Shouxue states when comforting the ghost's mourning friend, death is scary, but it is also natural. Even in her rational advice, Shouxue's sympathy and respect for humanity is evident in how she strives to bring peace both to the ghosts she encounters and to the people with lasting grief.
Other Eunuchs Find Warmth in Shouxue's Attitude
The ghost of the young boy and his grown friend are not the only eunuchs Shouxue brings peace to in Episode 8. Yi Siha, the young eunuch who brings Shouxue news of the ghost, endures his own suffering at the hands of his masters. After Shouxue notices that his legs are hurt and offers to treat him, she discovers welts that indicate beating. Though this already disturbs her, Shouxue stumbles upon other eunuchs holding Yi Siha down and flogging the back of his legs as punishment. Angered at this show of cruelty, Shouxue demands that they stop and never beat Yi Siha again, ultimately resulting in him being thrown out. However, Shouxue sets out to find arrangements for him and ultimately takes him in herself.
Though she has experienced the full extent of cruelty and darkness in Shou herself, Shouxue is not willing to let Yi Siha and other eunuchs suffer in silence. She even brings up the issue with Emperor Gaojun, expressing her desire for change. Her response shows the care she has for those who suffer in Shou's unfair system. After noticing Shouxue's kind attitude and intolerance of cruelty, Wen Ying, a eunuch already in Shouxue's service, expresses how much her kindness has moved him and touched his heart, revealing to her the suffering he endured that lead to him becoming a eunuch.
Shouxue may have poor social skills from her years in isolation, but she shows more humanity than most. While Episode 8 especially highlights Shouxue's kindness, each episode demonstrates her warmth even amid her cold personality as she works to bring peace to those who suffered and provide refuge for those who need it.