Full orchestral arrangements that sound like they belong in a period drama, because they basically do. The Story of Saiunkoku's second OST expands on the first with richer compositions and more emotional range. "Seppaku - Kessen" hits with urgent strings and taiko-style percussion during the battle scenes, then "Namida no Pavane" pulls everything back with this devastating slow melody that just aches.
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Sakujun's character theme carries so much tension and ambiguity in a single motif. The desert theme "Sabaku, Hate Shinaku" and its reprise bookend the album with this vast, lonely feeling that fits the political intrigue perfectly.
Mid-2000s anime scoring at its most confident. If you watched Saiunkoku and skipped the OST, you're missing half the emotion.