Palace Intrigue: The Real Deal, Scheming at Every Turn, With a Transmigrated Female Lead 宫斗文，真宫斗，步步为营，勾心斗角，女主穿越

1. 1 王 A Concubine’s Daily Struggle to Stay Alive in the Prince’s Manor 王府侍妾的苟命日常 Panda Little Moneybags熊猫小财迷Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Intense Household Intrigue + A Touch of Ensemble Cast + Plot-Driven + Everyone Has Eight Hundred Schemes] After transmigrating into the body of a concubine in the Prince of Jing's residence, Xie Run only wants to live in peace and, ideally, reach a hundred years old. At first, everything in the prince's residence is orderly. The prince shares his favor equally, the princess consort's position is secure, and the secondary consorts and concubines know their place. Who could have guessed that ever 23kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves

   Reader note

   These books, especially "The Favored Concubine" and "The Imperial Concubine," are truly among the top 12 palace intrigue novels on the website.

2. 2 金 The Golden Palace Locks Away the Spring Breeze 金阙锁春风 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance757k WordsCompleted Her entire family perished, she was left dependent on others, the dynasty fell, and she married and divorced. In just eighteen years, Yu Zheng has endured things most people never face in a lifetime. A noblewoman of the former dynasty, all she wants now is to stay alive. She plans to enter the palace as a maid, then use her literacy to earn a post as a court official and support herself. She never imagined that the new emperor would send her to the Fourth Prince’s residence as a gesture of goodw 21.1kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
3. 3 穿 The Daily Life of a Laid-Back Concubine After Transmigrating 穿越之闲鱼妾室的日常 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance480k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + household and palace intrigue + no golden finger + devoted love later on] Zhang Xinian transmigrated into the body of a concubine in Prince Jing’s household. Above her was the princess consort, backed by powerful connections and ruthless in her methods. Beside her was a brainless side consort with overwhelming fighting prowess. Below her, a reborn woman and a transmigrated woman were locked in fierce competition. Zhang Xinian trembled with fear. She had no golden finger and did 105.4kReads9.4Score12.3kShelves
4. 4 清 Qing Transmigration: The Side Consort Has an Assist System 清穿：侧福晋有助攻系统 Waiting for the Night in the Snow雪上等夜人Ancient Romance494k WordsCompleted A word of caution: This is a novel, not history, so don't scrutinize it. The names and anything else that differs from history are all invented for the story. If that's not your thing, read at your own risk. [Alternate Qing Dynasty + Assist System + Everyday Leveling Up + Raising Children] Song Shurou transmigrates and becomes a Song Concubine in the early years of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. Song Concubine has a breakout? System: Don't worry, Shurou. Just say one sentence to Yongzheng, and w 14.5kReads9.3Score974Shelves

   Reader note

   My absolute favorite is the first book! It's so good, my number one palace intrigue novel. The plot is intricately woven, and after finishing it, I felt like a complete idiot. The story is so unpredictable, yet once you understand the twists and turns, it all makes perfect sense. The second and third books are also great; they're time-travel stories.

5. 5 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 68.4kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves
6. 6 谁 Whose Favored Concubine Doesn't Get Herself Killed? 谁家宠妾不作死啊 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Pei Shiyuan had always thought that, as a concubine-born daughter, she thrived at her family home because she knew a little tea ceremony and all she had to do was flatter her father, the head of the household. She had been quite pleased with herself about it, right up until she entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The Eighth Prince’s mother, the Noble Consort, was so favored that the Empress had no room to stand. His maternal family wielded so much power that the court officials could barely b 77.9kReads9.5Score8kShelves
7. 7 纵 So What If You’re Reborn? 纵你重生又如何 Yao Yaoya妖幺芽Ancient Romance169k WordsCompleted [The main story is complete] [Two powerful leads + no point in being reborn as a concubine’s daughter + face-slapping and punishing scoundrels + the male lead has a secret crush] [A cool, composed beauty with overwhelming combat prowess vs. a mysterious, bewitching prince] [One-on-one romance + happy ending + single and chaste] Her mother was the most favored legitimate princess, her uncle was the reigning emperor, her maternal grandmother was empress dowager of the realm, and her older brother 2.4kReads8.9Score309Shelves
8. 8 白 The White Moonlight Noble Consort’s Daily Life in the Harem 白月光贵妃的后宫日常 Yuanzi Eats Mulberries元子吃桑葚Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted (Cover used with permission) With an illustrious family background, breathtaking beauty, and the distinction of being the emperor’s moonlight, Jiang Hui should have found life as a Noble Consort effortlessly easy. Unfortunately, the sisters in all but name in the Eastern Palace, wave after wave of beautiful candidates from the provinces, and the supposed substitutes who resemble her in looks and bearing all tell her the same thing: no one can walk unscathed through the imperial harem. [Alternate 24.6kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves
9. 9 高 The Road to Glory for a Noble Lady 高门贵女的荣华之路 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance324k WordsCompleted As the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping's household, Lin Chuyue married the Fourth Imperial Grandson, Zhou Xiao, as his principal wife at sixteen. At nineteen, she became a princess consort, and at twenty-six, she rose to become the most powerful woman in the Great An Dynasty: the empress. Who hasn't exclaimed that Lin Chuyue was born under a lucky star? Yet the hardships she endured are too painful to speak of. Zhou Xiao's childhood sweetheart of a cousin, a concubine reborn, and a ma 4.9kReads8.8Score310Shelves
10. 10 国 The Imperial Academy’s Fallen Woman 国子监破鞋 Flying King1996飞大王1996Ancient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing 136,543 people have already missed this book because of its title... One-of-a-kind pure heroine + nobody is innocent + romance and desire + the fate of the nation. Beauty fades, and with it, love. Golden fingers are just something people say to fool the gullible. She is a soul from another world, sharp-eyed and streetwise. In this decaying dynasty, she aims to amass a fortune beyond imagination and avoid the humiliation China suffered over the past century. 20Reads9.2Score168Shelves

    Reader note

    Reading warning: If you are looking for sweet romance, 1v1, clean romance, or mindless wish-fulfillment stories, please proceed with caution. This book takes a realistic approach to family, country, and career.

11. 11 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves
12. 12 贵 After the Noble Consort Checked Out, the Coldhearted Emperor Begged Her to Come Back 贵妃娘娘摆烂后，冷厉君王低头哄 Returning South南归Ancient Romance272k WordsCompleted [Both leads are virgins + sweet, doting romance] Jing Zhao transmigrated into a book as the villainous cannon-fodder supporting character, Consort Zhao. In the book, Consort Zhao was arrogant, overbearing, and jealous, yet supposedly adored by the emperor. [Not really.] She knew she was nothing more than a shield. Once the emperor's beloved, the heroine, entered the palace, he would kick Jing Zhao aside. In the end, she'd die horribly after being driven by jealousy to frame the heroine! To save 4.1kReads8.8Score330Shelves

    Reader note

    This palace intrigue novel is absolutely amazing! The extreme tension between the male and female leads is incredibly captivating. She died in a car accident in modern times and transmigrated to this world, becoming a lowly concubine chosen through a selection process. To return home, she must successfully win over this aloof and powerful emperor. The female lead is quirky, beautiful, and possesses exceptional acting skills. She meticulously plots her way to power, ultimately winning the male lead's heart with boundless devotion. From his concubine to empress, it's proof of his love. In the end, he discovers that the deeper his love for her, the stronger her power to return home becomes… Heartbroken, she sacrifices herself for love. There's a twist!

13. 13 疯 Mad Empress: I’ll Be the Harem’s Number One White Lotus 疯批皇后，争做后宫第一白莲花 Luo Zhi洛枝Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Transmigration into a fictional setting + highly intelligent heroine in palace intrigue + face-slapping + a volatile, multifaceted personality + not a clean romance] Lin Junxue transmigrated to the Xie Dynasty, an era that had never existed in history, and ended up as an unloved empress who had no idea how she died. She’d thought she was a powerless, unloved empress, but it turned out the original owner’s father was a first-rank military marquis, a loyal servant of the court for three generatio 24kReads9.1Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This is an absolute palace intrigue story. Since you've transmigrated and taken over someone else's body, you have to take revenge, seize power, and show everyone in the harem what the number one innocent flower is. You must make Emperor Bo Qing completely devoted to you.

14. 14 恶 The Wicked Supporting Actress Is Reborn and Wins at Life 恶毒女配重生后躺赢了 Bei Xin贝芯Ancient Romance622k WordsCompleted The emperor has never touched anyone but the heroine! One beloved consort in the harem + 1v1 romance + fictional setting. Meng Yan only learns on the brink of death that she's a supporting character in a sweet palace-intrigue novel. In the story, she loves the emperor, Lu Haozhi, devotedly until the very end. She diligently competes for his favor and tirelessly fights the innocent white-lotus heroine, only to land herself in the cold palace and die miserably in the snow. After being reborn, she 21kReads9.1Score2kShelves
15. 15 综 Film and TV Crossover: A Qing-Dynasty Empress Dowager's Daily Life 综影视：清宫太后日常 Zhi Yu 1014栀虞1014Female-Channel Fanfiction412k WordsCompleted One heroine per arc + self-interest above all. Everything is about securing her own position, and she takes the initiative. ① The Empress Dowager Chongqing, Niohuru, was hailed as the most fortunate woman in history. She closes her eyes as her children and grandchildren weep by her bedside. She has lived cautiously, and she has known great wealth and status. But neither her parents and husband nor her grandsons and great-grandsons matter as much as her son Hongli, the Qianlong Emperor. Mother an 2.2kReads8.8Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    Volume Two: A Fanfiction of Consort De from The Legend of Zhen Huan. The female protagonist is originally Consort De's granddaughter, who transmigrates into Consort De's body. She quickly eliminates Consort Tong, raises the Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince, and eventually the Sixth Prince ascends the throne. The female protagonist becomes the Empress Dowager, tormenting the late Empress Chun Yuan and Zhen Huan.

16. 16 退 After Breaking Off the Engagement, the Foolish Princess Marries the Ninth Lord with Her Four Maids 退婚后，傻妃携四大丫鬟嫁九千岁 Clingy Little Tomato粘人小番茄Ancient Romance1.8M WordsOngoing [Palace Intrigue + Household Intrigue + Historical Romance + Princess Consort + Legitimate Daughter + Medical Skills + Two Powerful Leads + Cunning + Playing the Fool + Reborn + Fiercely Protective + Political Scheming] 99% of the comments are positive! Read with confidence! Su Qian, once the leader of a special forces unit in the apocalypse, died unexpectedly while carrying out a mission. With her portable medical space, she transmigrated to ancient times and into the residence of a great gener 22.8kReads8.1Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    The male and female leads team up: a pure battle of wits where they clash head-on, with no misunderstandings, just a tacit understanding of mutual exploitation. The female lead's cheat ability is eye-catching: her medical space grants her modern-day superpowers, allowing her to heal and save lives while simultaneously committing murder and robbery. [Laughs]

17. 17 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 87.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I found the first three books incredibly good. In the first one, the female lead knew what she wanted, didn't love the male lead, and eventually became empress herself. In the second one, the female lead had a high social status, was childhood sweethearts with the male lead, and was also very clear-headed. In the third one, the female lead transmigrated and was bound to a life simulator; she had to become a concubine before the age of 30, or she would die suddenly at 30.

18. 18 人 Life Simulator: I'm a Pro at Rising Through Palace Schemes 人生模拟器：宫斗升职我专业 I Eat Tomatoes Without Spitting Out the Skins吃西红柿不吐番茄皮Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + System + Golden Finger + A Story That's 30% Indulgence and 70% Playing It Safe] (Important, important, important!!! Content warning: The heroine is an ordinary person who grows over time. At first, she has some girlish romantic notions; she isn't highly intelligent from the start. Not a mutually exclusive first-love story, and the male lead doesn't dote on her alone. Don't read if these bother you.) From the start, she's in the hardest difficulty mode. After s 6.9kReads9.1Score666Shelves
19. 19 宫 Palace Intrigue Begins Before the Selection 宫斗从选秀前开始 A Cluster of Flowers一丛花令Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, she endured a life of hardship and instability. From the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an to a government courtesan available to any man, she finally escaped a life of being passed from one man to another, only to jump from the tiger’s jaws into the wolf’s den. She walked on eggshells at every step until she finally became the real power behind the prefect’s household. But the misery of her first half of life had already left her body broken beyond repair. Only o 7.7kReads9.0Score763Shelves
20. 20 鬓 Hairpins and Beauty 鬓花颜 Peach Who Doesn't Slack Off桃子不摸鱼Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main story complete] [Maid + sisters in the inner palace + ensemble-focused story] [The heroine is a native of this world, with no transmigration, rebirth, or hidden identity] After her mother dies of illness, Meng Shu’s father takes a new wife almost at once. She endures years under her stepmother’s hand, but in the end, she cannot escape being sold. A trafficker’s rope drags her away from her homeland and casts her into the fabulously wealthy Tang household. Her exceptiona 34.9kReads9.2Score4.5kShelves
21. 21 我 I’m Fighting for Favor in the Palace, and You’re Watching the Show??? 我在宫斗，你在看戏？？？ Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance492k WordsCompleted A no-holds-barred harem showdown. Got the guts to join? ^_^ [Pure palace intrigue + characters who aren't dumbed down + clear-headed heroine + no pointless self-torment + cheerful and lighthearted] After Qiu Ju dies, she transmigrates to the Qianyuan Dynasty and becomes a low-ranking palace maid. Because she doesn't want to get up at three in the morning to work, she decides to seduce the emperor... Her modest goal: become a consort who has to get up no earlier than five in the morning... 5.5kReads9.0Score533Shelves

    Reader note

    The plot is reasonable and lighthearted, the female lead is clear-headed, not love-struck or a saint, it's pure palace intrigue.

22. 22 娘 The Consort Is Coy and Alluring, and Has Her Sights Set on the Throne 娘娘又茶又媚，一心只想上位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Alternate history + pure palace intrigue + clear-eyed heroine who doesn’t love the emperor] Su Qingyao looks like a delicate beauty, but she is more clear-headed than anyone. In the imperial harem, all she wants is power. Before the emperor, she is the picture of understanding. “Your Majesty is my only support.” “With Your Majesty by my side, I have nothing to fear.” But what she is really thinking is: Thank goodness she made plans long ago. The man before her is the least reliable person of al 168Reads7.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A true palace intrigue novel

23. 23 人 A Harem Palace Survivor's Guide to Living to 120 人在后宫，只想活到120岁 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance419k WordsCompleted The rating just came out, and it's really low ꈍ◡ꈍ #Quick transmigration heroine + multiple male leads + ends 1v1# Yun Jianxue died. Thanks to her accumulated good karma, she chose to become a civil servant in the Underworld. Calling it civil service is a bit of a stretch. In reality, she travels through various small worlds to complete missions. Along the way, it's inevitable that she attracts a few souls. Yun Jianxue swears: she really isn't doing it on purpose. 1.1kReads8.4Score100Shelves
24. 24 都 I'm Already a Concubine, So How Could I Not Go Mad? 都做妾了，哪有不疯的？ Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance762k WordsCompleted #She miscarries from the start. What's wrong with going a little crazy?# #The heroine isn't a good person, the hero isn't a good person, and nobody's a good person# Yuan Xiangxue transmigrates. Other heroines either become mothers without the pain or get an overpowered golden finger. She's the unlucky one who miscarries from the start... Then she takes a look at her new identity: she's become the concubine of Liang Yujing, the ninth prince of the Great Liang Dynasty. She was a perfectly good per 5.3kReads8.6Score499Shelves
25. 25 宫 Palace Intrigue's Winner: I Rise to Power by Raising Kids 宫斗赢家：我靠养崽上位 Fu Qian Qian福千千Ancient Romance430k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and childbirth, no golden finger, not a devoted couple] “Your Majesty, Ning Guiren's red mandarin-duck bellyband is still hanging from that scoundrel's belt!” Opening her eyes to such a shocking scene, Ning Yuxi immediately kicked the scoundrel aside and ran for it. Seriously, did she have a death wish, giving the emperor a cuckold's horns? An emperor who loves the throne more than beautiful women? No problem. Two children in three years? What's that? I'll have three in two! Wha 144Reads6.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all top-tier palace intrigue novels: The first one, though unfinished, features well-developed characters, great supporting couples, and most importantly, the author is incredibly talented. Books 4, 5, 6, and 7 feature female leads who are clear-headed, don't love the male lead, or treat him like family (the father of their children). The second book not only allows the female lead to avenge herself by killing the emperor but also makes her empress, elevating the status of women. The entire story is free of melodrama, has no plot twists, and the female lead is a homebody. Books 3, 6, and 8 have a great relationship between the female and male leads later on, with the female lead focusing on her career in the early stages.

26. 26 累 I'm Exhausted! To Fool Him, I Pretend to Be Sweet and Innocent Every Day 累死！为了骗他，本宫日日装娇纯 Deer in the Deep Forest深林的鹿Ancient Romance455k WordsCompleted “If you want to win, you have to learn how to lose first.” Meng Xianxiang lost a life, and learned to struggle, to seize what she wanted, to scheme and plan, and to claw her way up. Looking back on her previous life, she had lived in a stable, eaten pig slop, served tea and emptied chamber pots, enduring abuse and humiliation at every turn. Each memory was a stab to the heart. Given another chance, she wants status and power, and a world where no one dares bully her again. Behind the palace’s re 3.5kReads9.2Score302Shelves
27. 27 清 Qing-Dynasty Time Travel: The Drama Queen Consort’s Epic Blunder 清穿雍正：戏精娘娘翻车实录 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Qing Dynasty Setting + System + Childbearing + Mind-Reading] Cui Xueman, a top finance student in the 21st century, transmigrates one day and opens her eyes to a huge character for “funeral offerings” in the mourning hall. Fainting from shock… That's perfectly normal, isn't it? When she wakes up again, she receives the good-or-bad news: she's transmigrated, and to the Kangxi era, no less. But the long-awaited standard issue for transmigrators, a golden finger or System, is nowhere to be seen! F 1.5kReads9.1Score117Shelves
28. 28 人 In the Imperial Harem, My Goal Is to Become the Empress Dowager 人在后宫，目标太后 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance358k WordsCompleted # Palace intrigue is out of the question. I'll eat snacks, watch the drama, and have children, that's the plan # Cui Xuejian transmigrated into the past and became a low-ranking palace consort. Powerful figures towered over her, while a few insignificant nobodies clawed at her feet. With things like this, why bother with palace intrigue? Better to just give up and coast! Cui Xuejian believed that as long as she kept out of trouble, no monsters, demons, or other ghoulish creatures would come afte 1.7kReads9.2Score138Shelves
29. 29 娇 The Spoiled Consort's Road to Glory 娇气包娘娘的荣华路 Qingxi Hexi清兮禾兮Ancient Romance385k WordsCompleted Sweet romance! Undivided love! She’s doted on to the max! [The heroine is cunning, a little black lotus hidden beneath a rabbit’s skin] [The hero has a harem and isn’t chaste, but once he meets the heroine, he devotes himself to her alone in a one-on-one romance] The third young lady of the Sheng’an Marquis’s household, born to his secondary wife, was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Sweet and clever, she knew how to win favor. Her grandmother and father favored her, and even her legitimate 13.4kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book features a concubine who becomes the sole favorite in the palace, but the female lead is quite cunning! The second book features a female lead who transmigrates into a book, but that doesn't matter. The male lead goes from using her to gradually falling in love, and the female lead schemes step by step to become the most favored concubine in the harem! The story of the concubine (General Song), Empress Cui, and the female lead is truly heart-wrenching!

30. 30 帝 The Emperor's Cherished Consort 帝王娇宠 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance417k WordsCompleted [Not a pure-love couple / not a strong heroine / weak heroine / little palace intrigue / slight angst early on, exclusive devotion later] Shu Li began having frequent dreams after she was transferred from the Hall of Sacred Books to serve the emperor. In them, a tall man stood not far from her. The first time their eyes met, she woke with a start. The second time she saw his face, he grabbed her by the throat and frightened her. The day after waking from the dream, she suddenly realized that 8.3kReads9.2Score887Shelves
31. 31 朕 The Emperor Finds His Consort Alluring; I Find His Majesty a Jerk 朕见贵妃多妩媚，妾见皇上甚是渣 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance458k WordsCompleted [No transmigration or rebirth] [Pure palace intrigue] [The heroine never falls in love] Jinyue, the legitimate eldest daughter of a general's household, is chosen in a selection for the imperial harem. The Empress appoints her as a spy and marries her off to the Crown Prince as a secondary consort. The moment she enters the Eastern Palace, she understands that she and Zhongli Jin are bound only by mutual interest. There can never be the slightest affection between them. After sixteen years in th 2.5kReads9.0Score239Shelves

    Reader note

    I really love these books! The female leads are all very intelligent. My top recommendation is Yao Yao (The Villainess Transmigrates into a Book).

32. 32 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 56.9kReads9.5Score7.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book features a female protagonist who is reborn and schemes against the emperor to rise to power step by step. The second book is my favorite; the female protagonist goes from being a concubine's daughter to becoming empress through scheming and seduction of the emperor. The third book is very sweet. The fourth book has been adapted into many short dramas; it's a tragic love story spanning three lifetimes. The female protagonist in the fourth book is truly remarkable; she takes care of herself from a young age, becomes the crown prince's concubine, seduces the crown prince, and then moves into the empress's palace.

33. 33 出 Born Humble? Made Noble Consort Three Months After Entering the Palace 出身低微？入宫三月封贵妃 Immortal Osmanthus Pudding人仙桂花酪Ancient Romance209k WordsCompleted [A stunningly beautiful heroine + ruthless revenge + palace intrigue + both leads' first love, don't ask me how it works, the emperor has his ways] Ten years ago, the Tang clan was framed by villains and sentenced to execution, their blood flowing for miles. No one knew that beneath the mountain of corpses, the youngest daughter of the Tang family was still alive. Ten years later, Tang Wanhua changed her name to Ning Sitang and entered the imperial harem on the strength of her unparalleled beaut 638Reads8.9Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    This isn't a time-travel story; it features a native female protagonist, the kind who's incredibly cunning, with lots of palace intrigue—one wrong step and you're doomed.

34. 34 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 118kReads9.5Score11.2kShelves
35. 35 却 Yet You Betrayed the Spring's Grace 却负春恩 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Print edition now available. Search for Ascending to the Clouds on any platform to buy] [Original titles: Ascending to the Clouds / Loathing the Vermilion Walls] [High-IQ Palace Intrigue + Pure-Hatred Heroine + No Disposable Characters] [No transmigration, no rebirth, no golden finger] [The blurb doesn’t do it justice. Please go read the story] How do you become an emperor’s favorite concubine? A prestigious family? A good education? A gentle, respectful, modest, and accommodating nature? Unfor 25.3kReads9.2Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Both books are by the same author and are incredibly good, but the content and the overall experience are completely different. Personally, I prefer the first one.

36. 36 从 From Palace Maid to Imperial Consort: Her Majesty Is on a Killing Spree 从宫女到贵妃，娘娘她杀疯了 Yu Yidao俞一刀Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted It’s bad enough that she’s transmigrated into a palace laundry maid. Who knew a eunuch would take a fancy to her, too? Jiang Zhiyi decides that lying low in the palace is out of the question. She’ll just have to climb the ladder to success. When a eunuch lusts after her, she sends him to his grave. When the concubines vie for favor, she’ll stop at nothing. Jiang Zhiyi knows the imperial harem is a cutthroat workplace where only the capable survive. The palace is full of deceit and intrigue, 6.1kReads8.8Score613Shelves
37. 37 贤 The Worthy Consort Is Still Taking It Easy Today 贤妃今天也在咸鱼 Misty Clear Melody渺渺清音Ancient Romance625k WordsCompleted In the harem of Emperor Chenyuan of the Great Jin, there is a dignified and gentle empress, a charming and lovely Noble Consort, a peerlessly beautiful Consort Li, and a clever, kindhearted Consort Hui. Talented women abound, and the competition is fierce. Han Shuyi looks left and right, but can't find a niche for herself as Worthy Consort. Oh, well. Competing for favor now and then while choosing to lie flat the rest of the time: that's the real truth of life in the harem. * As emperor, Meng Ti 21.7kReads8.2Score2kShelves
38. 38 贵 The Noble Consort Is Cool and Aloof, and the Emperor Yearns for Her Night After Night 贵妃清冷，圣上夜夜相思 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance448k WordsCompleted Shen Qinghe was in the bloom of youth when she entered the palace, where she weathered its intrigues for more than a decade. She had hoped to leave with a reward one day, or perhaps spend her whole life peacefully as a palace official. But then an order came down, and one day she unexpectedly became an imperial consort. She watched these women fight day after day, never expecting to become entangled in their schemes herself. Shen Qinghe could only sigh. He was the emperor, and she was a palac 13.1kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
39. 39 重 Reborn in the Dragon Bed, the Beloved Consort Cries in the Emperor's Arms 重生在龙塌，宠妃抱着陛下哭 Staggering Along蹒跚行Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [A spoiled, sweetly obedient favorite consort VS a gentle, jade-like emperor who's sweet on the outside and ruthless within (they are not each other's first, but he dotes on her exclusively from the beginning to the end)] Jiang Shuyi's life as a favorite consort went smoothly for fifteen years. The emperor was gentle and benevolent, doting on her without restraint, and not a single woman in the harem dared challenge her. But she was blind to her own sister's treachery. In the end, her closest 100.7kReads9.2Score11.2kShelves
40. 40 娘 The Empress Is Exquisitely Charming: Winning the Palace Battles and Raising a Child to Become Empress 娘娘千娇百媚，宫斗养崽坐后位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance486k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Pure Palace Intrigue + Raising a Child + Clear-Headed Heroine + Focused on Her Career + Light Ensemble Cast] Xie Zhao transmigrates to the state of Beiqi, a country that has never existed in recorded history. When she learns she is to take part in the selection two years later, she begins diligently practicing all kinds of skills. After successfully being selected, her goal is to safely give birth to a prince, raise him into an outstanding crown prince, put him on the throne, a 374Reads7.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Absolutely amazing! [Drooling][Drooling] Rejecting childish palace intrigue! These palace intrigue novels are full of wits! Each character is incredibly clever! The female leads are ruthless and cruel, destroying beautiful women with ruthless abandon—it's so satisfying to read, hahaha!!

41. 41 侯 The Marquess's Wife Wants to Die of Old Age in Peace 侯府主母要寿终正寝 Winter Melon Eats Pears冬瓜吃梨Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted A history major pulls an all-nighter and dies suddenly, only to become Chen Yuhu, the matriarch of an ancient household, with no golden finger whatsoever. But you have to learn to be content. As a modern, clear-eyed college student, Chen Yuhu wants to tell the original matriarch: don't be such a lovesick fool. Treasure your life of immense wealth and status. She certainly does. She sends her biased mother-in-law away to cultivate in seclusion, keeps the obedient and pretty concubine around to pl 34.1kReads9.2Score3.3kShelves
42. 42 都 I'm Already a Concubine, So What's Wrong with a Little Cunning? 都做妾了，有点小心机怎么了？ A Qing Who Loves to Eat爱吃的小晴Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Scheming in the household early on, palace intrigue later + System + Gorgeous heroine + A little childbirth + Sweet romance] [Stunning heroine who is sweet yet ruthless and a brilliant actress × Cold-faced prince who dotes on his wife and lets his imagination run wild] The male lead in this palace-intrigue novel is not sexually inexperienced. He favors the heroine early on and devotes himself solely to her later. Readers who mind should proceed with caution. In her previous life, Su Yujiao was 2.3kReads7.3Score154Shelves
43. 43 贵 The Noble Consort's Thousand Charms 贵妃千娇百媚 Ji Nanzhi寄南枝Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Palace-intrigue novel + reborn black lotus heroine + exceptionally talented actress, rising through the ranks] [The male lead has consorts at first. After falling for the heroine, he favors her, makes her his sole favorite, and eventually dismisses his harem. One-on-one romance.] In her previous life, Shen Fu was a substitute for her elder sister. Her sister was the beloved Noble Consort, the most favored woman in the imperial harem, and lived in unmatched splendor. Shen Fu, timid and frail, ha 3kReads8.5Score345Shelves
44. 44 娘 The Empress Doesn't Want Palace Intrigue, but the Emperor Keeps Stirring Things Up 娘娘不想宫斗，奈何皇上带节奏 Geng Jiujiu耿啾啾Ancient Romance652k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, Palace Intrigue, Political Scheming, Not Both Pure, Absurd Comedy, Devoted Love Later On] Shen Jinruo transmigrated into the body of a low-ranking concubine who had no favor from the emperor. Having lost her freedom, she’d planned to keep her head down and quietly build up her strength. But she soon discovered that in this harem, even if you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will find you. To survive, Shen Jinruo worked hard to adapt and officially joined the harem’s struggl 2.2kReads8.9Score222Shelves
45. 45 娇 The Sweet, Beloved Consort Who Bewitches Hearts 娇娇宠妃惑人心 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Not a pure couple; he dotes on her exclusively later on; a little palace intrigue; the heroine is a master flirt; story complete] She transmigrated from the modern world. Quirky and clever, she was also a brilliant actress. Emperor Shengwu could govern with effortless command, bring peace and stability to the realm, and win battles from a thousand miles away, striking fear across the four seas. He was an emperor who held all power in his hands and ruled over all beneath the heavens. Yun Mengq 54.3kReads9.3Score6.6kShelves
46. 46 踹 Dump the Romance Hero, Seduce the Emperor from a Male-Oriented Novel 踹掉言情男主，勾搭男频帝王 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, revenge, scheming, stunning heroine, seductive mastermind] The short drama His Heart on a String is now streaming! Shen Yuling transmigrated into a romance novel as its heroine. Unfortunately, she was a heroine whose luck had been stolen by a woman who transmigrated into the story. She would die in a fire, taking her unborn child with her, while her entire family would be wiped out. It was a fate the original heroine had failed to change, even after being reborn twice 17kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
47. 47 穿 Transmigrated as Shen Meizhuang: What Sisters? We Barely Know Each Other 穿成沈眉庄，什么姐妹？不熟 Wandering Guest of the Azure Clouds青云逸客Female-Channel Fanfiction1.3M WordsCompleted Overnight, she transmigrated into Shen Meizhuang from Empresses in the Palace, the woman who would “rather die clutching her fragrance on the branch.” The original Shen Meizhuang's fate from her previous life, dying in childbirth, was looming close. She sneered: “Only an idiot could play such a strong hand so badly.” In this life, she planned ahead and proceeded one careful step at a time: She acted like a dutiful daughter before the Empress Dowager, offered tenderness in the emperor's bedchamb 7kReads8.1Score622Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a fanfiction about Zhen Huan, told from Mei Zhuang's perspective. It's an absolute gem, hidden away in the sand. The female lead is the mastermind behind everything, outwardly dignified and elegant, seemingly untouched by corruption, but in reality, the ultimate boss. When Mei Zhuang no longer clings to "sisterly affection," and holds the reins of the plot, how can she, with her outstanding family background, possibly lose?

48. 48 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 266.6kReads9.6Score31.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Both of these books are absolutely fantastic! The first one has such a nuanced and compelling storyline, with the male lead's incredibly strong sense of patriotism and the overall character development being superb. The second one is equally amazing!

49. 49 惹 Offending the Imperial Daughter 惹金枝 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Film and television rights have been sold. The physical book will be available for preorder on July 10 at 19:00.) Shi Buyu was born smiling. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, collapsing a row of outbuildings in the Shi family compound. Days of torrential rain brought devastating floods and countless victims. Rumors soon spread through the capital that she was a disaster star sent into the world. But she was as precocious as a demon, with a photographic memory, and learned bo 257.8kReads9.7Score30.2kShelves
50. 50 宫 Palace Intrigue System: I Become the Emperor’s Favorite 宫斗系统：我成了陛下心尖宠 Long Moon Crossing the Bright长月渡明Ancient Romance306k WordsCompleted [Both Pure + Sweet Romance + System + Devoted Love + Transmigration] Easygoing Qin Zhaozhao transmigrates into the body of a newly arrived imperial consort. She plans to lie flat, but then a palace-intrigue System activates, and somehow she catches the new emperor’s attention. The System says that completing missions earns her rewards, including the chance to become empress. It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly difficult. A noble consort has her eye on the throne, while the emperor’s former fla 335Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Forgive my bluntness, but the first book is the pinnacle of palace intrigue novels! [Angry][Angry] The first book is a female-centric palace intrigue novel! The female lead is ruthless and intelligent! It's not one of those mindless palace intrigue novels written by a novice; it's really enjoyable!

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