inner palace; harem; seraglio
Refers to the section of a palace where the emperor's consorts and female attendants lived, especially in historical East Asian courts. Often used in descriptions of the Heian period or similar settings.
Many court ladies served in the inner palace during the Heian period.
The inner palace was a space forbidden to men.
imperial consort
By extension, can refer to the consort herself, though this usage is less common and typically found in historical or literary texts.
She received the emperor's favor as an imperial consort.