Name: Schemes of the Inner Palace
Author: Mu Bai Xu Xu Tu

Synopsis

The Earl's household has fallen into decline, and the Jiang family believes that if you can't afford to offend someone, you should keep out of their way.

Jiang Shuyao and her two siblings were drilled from childhood to endure whatever they could when they were out and about. But kindness invites bullying, and some people just insist on walking all over you.

Her younger brother had his hand broken, and every avenue her father pursued for help was blocked. Their opponent was a rising star at court, whose family had produced Consort Rong, favored above all others in the imperial harem. They didn't take the Jiang family seriously.

So what if she was a favored consort? Who says someone else couldn't take her place? Jiang Shuyao entered the palace selection with a clear head. She sought favor, not love, and played the fool while keeping her claws hidden. From a seventh-rank Palace Woman to empress and then empress dowager, she fulfilled the promise she had made to her family. She weathered decades of rise and fall in the harem, gaining some things and losing others.

The imperial harem was filled with beauties, but Xiao Rui kept an impossible woman in his heart. To him, every other woman was a matter of weighing benefits and putting on an act. Years later, when he looked back, the woman at his side was smiling brightly.

Stats

455Chapters

6kReads · 30 days

241.4kReads · all time

353Shelf adds, last 14 days

7.5Score

More by this author

The General’s Wife Can’t Leave the Marital Home

Heir, Don't Bother Me: I Won't Be a Concubine

In booklists 12

Brand-New Writer Here. I’ll Leave Five-Star Reviews for Yours, and I Promise to Return the Favor.

Looking for books similar to "Strange Disaster Begins in Well Village".

1.2kBooks117kViews8hUpdated

Are There No Original Stories? They’re All the Same, Like They Were Made from a Template

Looking for books similar to "Transmigrated as a Treacherous Minister’s Legitimate Daughter, She Plays Herself to Perfection".

2.1kBooks120.6MViews1dUpdated

New Authors Reviewing One Another’s Work

Looking for books like Twin Stars in Ancient Times. It's good, I love it! New authors, let's review each other's books. Tell me when you've read mine, and I'll read yours too.

1.7kBooks1.1MViews2dUpdated

Looking for a Novel Where the Male Lead Has to Support Two Families, and Has Been Plotting It All Along

Looking for books like After My Brother-in-Law Took on Both Branches of the Family, My Husband Came Back (Record of Missing You).

371Books7.2MViews5dUpdated

Pure Palace Intrigue, with Cutthroat Scheming. The Female Lead Must Be Clever

385Books10MViews6dUpdated

Palace Intrigue # Historical Romance

Looking for books like "No More Slacking: The Concubine's Daily Hustle in the Prince's Manor (A Concubine's Rise to the Clouds)". Palace intrigue, historical romance, highly rated.

138Books7.3kViews12dUpdated

Palace Intrigue Where a Low-Ranking Concubine Rises Through the Ranks with Her Wits

Something like Empresses in the Palace would be great. I want a palace-intrigue story that starts with the selection of consorts, with a clearheaded heroine who's sharp and emotionally intelligent.

205Books15.3MViews15dUpdated

Palace Intrigue Stories About Climbing to Power

No rebirth, no transmigration, and the author must have good writing. I'm looking for stories about rising through the ranks, such as a palace maid, a secondary consort, or a servant girl working her way up to become a noble consort.

173Books2.9MViews15dUpdated

Palace Intrigue Novels, a Million Words Long

Looking for stories like The Phoenix Palace's Scheme: My Empress Consort Is No One to Mess With. The female lead is a master of both medicine and poison, carefully maneuvering her way through the imperial harem. The emperor and empress join forces to break through the schemes, with politics and romance unfolding side by side. The harem's conflicts reach into the court, with twists and turns revealing a shocking conspiracy. Everyone is smart, and...

422Books14.4kViews2moUpdated

Feel-Good Harem Novels with Smart Leads

Looking for books similar to "The Noble Consort Is Especially Cautious (Phoenix Hairpin)". Good writing, nothing cringey, and hopefully the story respects my intelligence.

75Books3.3kViews3moUpdated

The Female Lead Isn't the Official Wife, but the Male Lead Spoils Her

22Books21.5kViews4moUpdated

Unhinged Beauty × High-IQ Palace Intrigue

Looking for books like *The Mad Empress Wants to Be the Number One White Lotus in the Harem (Phoenix’s Schemes: The Story of the Legitimate Empress)*. 🌟 Why I recommend it: This empress is not to be trifled with. 1. A crazy character who delivers a thrilling read. 2. A suspenseful start with loads of foreshadowing. 3. Palace intrigue that turns the usual tropes on their head,

225Books19.5kViews4moUpdated