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. 51 清 Qing Transmigration: Stay Calm, Princess Consort! The Fourth Prince Will Win You the Empress's Throne 清穿：福晋稳住！四爷给你挣后位 Willow Bank杨柳岸Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [An alternate Qing dynasty, unlike the historical one.] After transmigrating, Yun Qu swallowed nervously as she faced her complicated new circumstances. She had become the Fourth Prince's primary consort. What was she supposed to do? Could she ever go back? Once she learned that returning was impossible, Yun Qu accepted her fate. She decided to raise her son well and treat the Fourth Prince like her boss, serving him diligently. If he pointed east, she wouldn't go west. If he wanted to take a co 19.1kReads9.1Score1.5k14d adds

   Reader note

   First, it's a pseudo-Qing Dynasty time-travel story, so there's no need to draw historical conclusions. The female lead originally just wanted a promotion, but the Fourth Prince insisted on giving her his heart as well. Second, she was a palace maid, but gained the Emperor's favor. Third, all of the Emperor's children were born to the female lead.

2. 52 重 Reborn Palace Maid: She Only Wants to Fight for the Emperor's Favor 重生宫女之她只想宫斗 Lady Yejiu夜九娘Ancient Romance444k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiaoyun spent years confined in the Cold Palace before finally being released. What she got in return was a useless husband and a wicked mother-in-law. This time, she decisively betrayed her mistress and climbed into someone else’s bed, successfully rising in status. And then she became the lowest-ranking palace maid… When Emperor Jingheng first saw Jiaoyun, he was merely captivated by her looks. “How can this palace maid have fairer skin than the Noble Consort?” Jiaoy 710Reads9.1Score10214d adds
3. 53 娇 The Pretty Palace Maid's Step-by-Step Rise to Empress 娇娇宫女，步步为后 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / not both partners’ first time / devoted love in the later story / not a strong heroine; the female lead cries easily and isn’t particularly clever, so don’t expect too much!] After three years in the palace, Yue Li has worked carefully and waited for a chance at promotion. Just before she is promoted, a palace maid sharing her room is sentenced to death for offending a consort. Thunder crashes and rain pours that night as blood spatters everywhere. Terrified, Yue Li cannot sle 25.1kReads9.3Score12.4k14d adds
4. 54 谁 What Kind of Concubine Bears Four Sons and a Daughter, Then Becomes a Noble Consort? 谁家通房生四儿一女，还当贵妃啊 Autumn Is Long秋很长Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + One-on-one romance + Many children + Sweet romance + Inner- and imperial-palace intrigue] In the fortieth year of the Xihe era, Lüqing became a concubine-in-waiting to Prince Jin. She knew full well that she had to earn Prince Jin's favor and give birth to a child as soon as possible if she wanted to secure her place in the prince's household. For eight years, she contended with the other women in the inner court, using every means at her disposal to 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5k14d adds
5. 55 入 A Stand-In in the Palace? The Noble Consort Goes on a Killing Spree 入宫当替身？贵妃娘娘她杀疯了 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance221k WordsCompleted [Alternate-History Palace Intrigue + Fertility and Many Children + Scheming, Unhinged Villainess + Ensemble Cast in the Harem] Wan Yunsi had had enough of being a lowly concubine-born daughter whom anyone could bully and who never had enough to eat. So she took the initiative to scheme against the Wan family and her father, becoming the twin sister of her infertile legitimate-born elder sister and entering the palace as a consort. From the moment she stepped through the palace gates, Wan Yunsi k 48Reads8.4Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   First book: Completed, high rating. A woman who played palace intrigue games in her past life transmigrates into a real palace. She's not a romance fanatic and dislikes scumbag emperors. The system becomes practically nonexistent later on. She has two sons and a daughter. Be prepared for some heartbreak. Watch as the heroine, Song Yuyan, rises from a lowly concubine to become Empress Dowager. Second book: Not yet completed, around 80 chapters. No transmigration or system. Palace intrigue. The concubine's daughter, Wan Yunsi, disguises herself as the legitimate daughter and is the twin sister (a fake). She has a child and is currently choosing a name (to be chosen by the Empress Dowager). A villainous character; please avoid if you're not a fan. Third book: Completed, high rating. A story of a real and fake heiress. I haven't read it yet; it's a sweet romance. Note: The order is 1, 3, 2. All by the same author. Because not many people read the second book, I'm recommending books for those experiencing a reading slump. There are 5 books in total. I haven't read the other two, but they are completed and were published before these three. Please avoid if you don't like them.

6. 56 东 The Eastern Palace’s Hidden Darling 东宫藏娇 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance222k WordsCompleted [Sweet, imaginative historical romance + Pursuing his wife through live comments + A forced romance that turns mutual + A beautiful airhead + A sinister crown prince + The real and fake heiress] To earn money for her seriously ill mother and her injured brother, desperate Pei Jiaojiao sold herself into slavery at the Eastern Palace. Her pretty face and timid, trouble-avoiding nature earned her a place serving in the Crown Prince's study, assigned by the steward. Her daily chores were simple: gri 4.2kReads9.1Score31714d adds
7. 57 玉 Yu Wujiao 玉无娇 Cherry Red樱桃红Ancient Romance443k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue + clear-headed heroine + high intelligence and emotional intelligence + not an only-one relationship + no System or portable space + a heroine who grows over time (not a wish-fulfillment story), not blinded by love. After her parents and younger sister are brutally killed, Jiang Yuxin, daughter of a convicted minister, realizes that becoming a favored consort is the only way to change things. At nineteen, the emperor is at an age when he falls easily. He falls for one woman afte 272Reads8.8Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   I recommend these two books; they are very good.

8. 58 入 After Entering the Palace, the Obsessive Emperor Wouldn’t Let Me Leave 入宫后，偏执帝王不许我出宫 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance509k WordsCompleted [Not both virgins, not a strong heroine, a little angst early on, devoted love later] In the fourth year of the new emperor’s reign, Consort Duan died suddenly of an illness in the palace. At the time, Shen Jiafu was not yet fifteen. The Empress Dowager was from the Shen family. Half a year later, she summoned a Shen daughter to the palace to attend to her, claiming to be ill. Shen Jiafu traveled from Quzhou to the imperial capital. In public, she was gentle and well-behaved, like a charming flo 14.1kReads9.0Score1.3k14d adds

   Reader note

   They're all very good; I have many more on my bookshelf.

9. 59 我 I, the Ultimate Schemer: The Empress Calls Me a Living Yama 我，最强毒士，女帝直呼活阎王 Xing Xing Zi星星子Historical4.3M WordsOngoing [Search Tomato to watch the short drama: The Third Greatest Stratagem of All Time] Gao Yang transmigrated to the Great Qian Dynasty just as the Empress ascended the throne and began recruiting talent from across the land. So he volunteered himself as a poison strategist! The Empress: “Suppose you personally wiped out your enemy's entire family. As you looked at the bodies scattered everywhere, you suddenly realized there was still a child in the house. What would you do?” Gao Yang: “I'd say, ‘Re 382.6kReads9.2Score32.3k14d adds

   Reader note

   "You dare to decipher His Majesty's edict to recruit talented individuals? If I don't break your legs today, I'd rather die!" A murderous roar rang in his ears. Gao Yang groggily awoke, his head throbbing. Deciphering an imperial edict? Hadn't he just set up a scheme, swindling millions of dollars from several foreigners, then hired a few blonde women, intending to bring glory to the nation at a hotel? Gao Yang instinctively opened his eyes, his surroundings coming into view. He had climbed onto a courtyard wall, lying horizontally on it. Below, in the antique-style courtyard, a group of people stood at the foot of the wall, urging their young master to calm down and not act rashly. Several maids were also outstretched, ready to catch Gao Yang at any moment.

10. 60 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is absolutely amazing! You won't regret buying it, fellow book lovers, come and check it out!!!

11. 61 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.3kReads9.2Score95314d adds
12. 62 撩 After Flirting with the Emperor, the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 撩拨皇帝后，贵妃她不想负责 Butterflies Dance into Tragedy蝶舞成殇Ancient Romance607k WordsCompleted Household intrigue in the beginning, palace intrigue later. Bai Zhi was the legitimate daughter of the prime minister. Though born to the prime minister's household, her mother died young and her father remarried. He doted on her younger sister, while Bai Zhi spent sixteen years unloved by her father and mother. Then an imperial decree came: the emperor had chosen her to be Prince Ying's concubine. Later, Prince Ying ascended the throne. "Your Majesty, this is terrible! Consort Xian slapped Lady 1.1kReads7.4Score11214d adds
13. 63 直 The Bold Consort Flirts with the Emperor, and He Begs for Cuddles Every Day 直球贵妃撩帝王，他竟日日求贴贴 Baby Little Ball北鼻小丸Ancient Romance450k WordsCompleted [Just got a rating, and it’ll slowly go up from here~ Welcome, everyone!] [Palace intrigue, not an innocent romance] [Sweet romance; the male lead falls early and dotes on her exclusively after about ten chapters] [A clever, brave, strong, stunning beauty who speaks her mind × a clingy, love-struck puppy of an emperor] Shen Chaoying opened her eyes to find herself sitting in the sedan chair taking her to the emperor’s bedchamber. She looked around and nearly fainted on the spot. Thanks for askin 997Reads8.8Score13214d adds
14. 64 宫 A Heart Caged Behind Palace Walls: Consort Yuan Is Promoted Again 宫墙锁心宠，元妃娘娘又晋位了 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted No one is completely devoted to one person in the early part of the story, so don’t read if that’s a dealbreaker. The emperor is a scoundrel at first, but utterly doting later. More sweet than angsty. [Palace intrigue and rising to power + many children + absolute favor + climbing to the top one step at a time] Su Zhitang, the daughter of a general, enters the palace as a beauty after the selection. Her father is already a second-rank official, so she only wants to heed her mother’s advice, keep 607Reads9.0Score10114d adds
15. 65 听 Rumor Has It the Noble Consort Alone Enjoys the Emperor's Favor in the Deep Palace 听说贵妃在深宫独得圣上恩宠 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance568k WordsCompleted When they were young and love stirred in his heart, he took her in. Once he held power, he had no choice but to hide her away. In the lonely inner palace, she waited quietly, day after day and year after year. For power and status, he feared nothing. He overcame every obstacle and held her close. Behind layer upon layer of palace gates and red walls, a dream within a dream awakened the lovers from their reverie. 8.5kReads9.0Score55514d adds
16. 66 妃 A Consort's Scheme for the Emperor's Heart 妃谋帝心 Falling Ashes坠落的灰Ancient Romance527k WordsCompleted With her father turning a blind eye and her stepmother throwing her weight around, Mu Li is ordered to marry an old prince as a concubine. They tell her this is her fate. Mu Li refuses to believe it. She has never believed in fate… Just then, the imperial household holds its selection of consorts. Daughters of officials of rank eight or above who are of suitable age may participate. Mu Li thinks: Since I’m to be a concubine, why not become the concubine of the most powerful person in the realm? 9.1kReads8.9Score1k14d adds
17. 67 后 Tales of a Harem Struggle 后宫奋斗记 Spring Has Filled the Blossoming Branches华枝春已满Ancient Romance674k WordsCompleted Sweet romance + palace intrigue + a slow, steady love story + adorable children + devoted love later on In the sixth year of Zhengli, Qu Su, daughter of the Imperial Medical Academy's director, was ordered to enter the palace. Many years later, Qu Su had risen from Junior Lady to Noble Consort. Her children surrounded her, and her Yuyan cosmetics shops had spread throughout the land. Looking back, she saw that the man had always been protecting her from behind. Qu Su: I love you, and I love myse 17.9kReads9.1Score1.9k14d adds
18. 68 清 A Qing-Era Consort Who Captured Kangxi's Heart 清穿康熙心上妃 Oh Ah Wei哦啊喂Ancient Romance48k WordsOngoing A new story is here! Come read my work on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 62Reads—Score10314d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue, female protagonist transmigrates

19. 69 岁 Years in the Palace 岁岁宫阙 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance706k WordsCompleted Liu Yuetang was sent to a country estate by her legitimate mother the day she was born. When she came of age, her older half-sister gave up her chance to enter the palace because of a dream, stole her match, and spent the night with her betrothed. Liu Yuetang went along with it and decided to enter the palace to carve out a bright future for herself. Once inside, she kept a low profile, learned the arts of the bedchamber, and mastered the art of playing hard to get, pouting coquettishly, and put 10.7kReads8.9Score1.4k14d adds
20. 70 庶 The Fortunate Concubine 庶女有福 Leng Chu冷初Ancient Romance474k WordsCompleted The third daughter of the Chu family, Chu Lingran, is breathtakingly beautiful, with peerless looks. In truth, she is merely a concubine-born daughter of the Chengbo Marquis household, always cautious and modest, playing the pig to eat the tiger. Her stepmother took a fortune-teller’s words, “This girl will have many descendants,” and sent her to the Crown Prince’s residence to serve as a childbearing tool. But the full prediction was: “This girl will have many descendants, for she is destined t 1.3kReads9.0Score14014d adds
21. 71 成 On Our Wedding Night, the Obsessive Crown Prince Took Me to the Eastern Palace 成亲当晚，偏执太子夺我入东宫 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted The aloof, possessive Crown Prince × the dazzling beauty who loves money Everyone in the Eastern Palace knows that the Crown Princess was snatched away from someone else by the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince, as elegant as jade and as clear as moonlight, fell into the sea of love, there was no climbing back out. He Yue transmigrated to ancient times and became the owner of a rouge shop. She wasn’t rich or powerful, but her life was peaceful and carefree. Then one day, the woman she liv 34.7kReads9.0Score2.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first three books are all written by the same author and are very good. In the first book, the male lead shows a tiny bit of affection for the female lead at the beginning, but not much; it's mainly shown through their later interactions. In the second book, the female lead enters the palace to give birth to her cousin's child. From a low-ranking concubine to the Empress, the male lead goes from using her to falling in love with her (PS: When the male lead is choosing a crown prince, he's still considering whether to make the female lead's child the crown prince, which many people criticize). In the third book, the female lead transmigrates and takes over the original owner's mess, gradually changing the male lead's preconceived notions about her. Later, the male lead falls in love with her, but she doesn't reciprocate. The male lead also knows that she's just compromising with the times; she remains clear-headed. In the fourth book, when the male lead promises someone else a lifetime of monogamy, she uses her own power and her family's to successfully make him fall in love with her, while also severely tormenting him in the process. In the fifth book, the female lead is extremely cautious, never giving anyone a chance to harm him. She clearly knows that the male lead is only using her to maintain balance in the harem. Now that the male lead has passed away, the female lead is ruling from behind the curtain. In the sixth book, the female lead is forcibly taken back to the Eastern Palace by the male lead after saving him. It's a 1v1 story; the male lead loves the female lead but is extremely controlling. The female lead has a white moonlight (her unrequited love) and doesn't love the male lead, but she may eventually compromise. She can't go back, nor can she leave, making it somewhat depressing to read. The female lead seems to have been gradually assimilated by that era, much like Ruoxi. In the seventh book, also a 1v1 story, the female lead saves the male lead and is later taken back to the Eastern Palace by him. The two are deeply in love.

22. 72 娇 When the Delicate Consort’s Eyes Turn Red, the Cold Emperor Pulls Her Close and Spoils Her 娇娇娘娘眼一红，冷戾帝王揽腰宠 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance343k WordsCompleted [Just started posting, the score will rise over time] [Complete] [Palace intrigue and putting scoundrels in their place + Devotion in the later stages + A clearheaded heroine gradually winning over a distant, aloof hero] To protect the Dingyuan Marquis household, An Qingyao resolutely entered the palace. Her goal was clear: to become the most exalted woman in the land. With bright eyes and pearly teeth, she was dazzling beyond compare and earned the emperor’s particular favor. In just three year 4.3kReads7.7Score46814d adds
23. 73 东 The Eastern Palace's Beauty: This Favorite Consort Is Mine! 东宫姝色：这宠妃我当定了！ Sheng Qian笙浅Ancient Romance520k WordsCompleted [The heroine is doted on from the very beginning. The story focuses on sweet romance, not scheming palace intrigue. The hero adores the heroine and is even a little lovesick. If that's not your thing, please move along, and don't leave a bad review over it. The heroine rises from a junior consort to a favored consort, Crown Princess, and Empress. The hero is a crown prince at first and becomes emperor later.] Su Niannian has landed in a male-lead-centric novel! Her new identity is Su Ling, the 30.3kReads9.4Score2.9k14d adds
24. 74 我 I’m Sweet and Well-Behaved, So Why Am I the Harem’s Only Favorite? 我又乖又美，独宠后宫怎么了？ Yi Jiu Lu宜久录Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance + Harem + No Angst] A lively, stunning beauty + a devastatingly handsome, love-struck good emperor. (He’s love-struck but knows right from wrong) (No cutthroat palace intrigue) (Not a devoted couple) (Fast-paced) (Heroine’s halo) Ji Wanqing transmigrates into the harem of the Emperor of Yan and becomes a low-ranking concubine. The moment she arrives, the arrogant Consort slaps her. The Consort is bad enough, and the Empress is no better, using her to stoke the Consort’s anger. Wit 4.1kReads9.2Score46714d adds
25. 75 娘 The Empress Is Far Too Ambitious 娘娘她太有事业心了 11 Means 1111就是11Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue! Palace intrigue! Scheming + palace intrigue + sweet romance + slight ensemble cast] [You won’t regret getting invested!!] Watch a sweet, ambitious girl work her way up, one step at a time! From an Attendant to an empress who rules the realm! A sweet girl who plays dumb but is really a wolf in sheep’s clothing × a cold, cunning emperor! His sole favorite? Can you really believe the emperor has just one? True love? The palace is a deep sea. All Lin Yueqing can do is seize the emp 12Reads—Score—14d adds
26. 76 贵 The Alluring Imperial Consort Climbs to the Top by Winning the Emperor’s Favor 贵妃娘娘妩媚诱人，一路争宠上位 Cheng Shuang乘霜Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted [A drama-loving, cunning heroine who puts on a beautiful act × a hero who falls for all her tricks] The heroine is spoiled by his affection, and the hero keeps lowering his standards for her Shen Yue knew from childhood that she had to fight for whatever she wanted. Having watched her concubine mother bow and scrape around the household, she wanted to win a respectable place in the world for them both. As a concubine-born daughter, no high-ranking family would take her as a principal wife. If sh 2.8kReads8.8Score24514d adds
27. 77 娘 Her Majesty Reigns Supreme in the Harem 娘娘她宠冠后宫 Feng Lin作者风林Ancient Romance241k WordsCompleted Liu Qingtong, granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, was born into a distinguished family. Noble and refined, she possessed the beauty of an immortal and was betrothed to the legitimate son of the Duke Rong household. Before the wedding, however, the young master of the Duke Rong household became embroiled in a scandal, and the Liu family resolutely broke off the engagement. With the imperial selection of consorts approaching, all unmarried respectable young women had to enter the palace to be consid 1.4kReads6.8Score13114d adds
28. 78 开 Thrown Into the River From the Start? The Foxlike Consort Takes the Palace by Storm 开局投河？贵妃狐媚子大杀四方了 Qiao Yan乔焱Ancient Romance462k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Not Both Leads’ First Love + Transmigration + Beloved Consort + Devoted Love Later] Yun Tang, a top-tier star and award-winning actress, wakes up one day to find she has transmigrated into the fictional Chengyu Kingdom, where she is the lowest-ranking palace attendant. From the start, things go badly: a hidden enemy pushes her into the water. The three most powerful women in the harem all want her gone, but thanks to her peerless acting skills and alluring charm, she manages t 171Reads7.8Score—14d adds
29. 79 入 I Entered the Palace to Help My Sister Keep the Emperor’s Favor, but Became His Cherished Favorite 入宫替嫡姐固宠，却成皇上掌心宠 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she entered the palace and devoted herself to helping her legitimate elder sister keep the emperor’s favor. In the end, she died without a body to bury, abandoned by her family. Returning to the year of the imperial selection, Luo Shuran calculates her every move. Her breathtaking beauty is her only weapon. She sheds her youthful timidity and blossoms into a woman of captivating charm. One fleeting glimpse, like a fairy fallen from the heavens, catches the emperor’s eye. 6.1kReads9.3Score87814d adds
30. 80 中 The Empress of the Central Palace 中宫元后 King Smile笑笑大王Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + marriage before love + palace intrigue] (This is a fictional setting, written as I please. Please don't hold it against me if it doesn't fit history.) Qiao Shanshan, who lived to thirty on Blue Star, died while saving a child. Only after reaching the underworld did she learn that it wasn't her time to die. The soul reaper had taken the wrong person. To make it up to her, the King of Hell promi 15.4kReads8.2Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    Recommended, it's good.

31. 81 在 A Hundred Ways to Win the Emperor's Heart in the Harem 在后宫征服皇帝的一百个技巧 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ever since entering the palace, Yun Li has become a shameless schemer. Two-faced and insincere, she puts on an act every day. When dealing with the emperor’s favorite consort, she tears into her until she’s furious, then clutches her chest with a wounded look and says, “I’m so envious that His Majesty dotes on you.” When someone tries to frame her, she casually slaps them, then bursts into tears. “Why would you treat a kind person like me this way?” When speaking with the empress, she nods absen 12.3kReads9.5Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue, I have no feelings for the emperor, but it's very good!

32. 82 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3k14d adds
33. 83 重 With My Reborn Son's High-Stakes Schemes, Becoming Empress Dowager Is No Dream 重生儿子手段高，晋升太后不是梦 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Fictional Imperial Harem Drama + No Romance + Giving Birth and Raising Kids + My Son Must Be Crown Prince + Ambitious + Clear-Eyed] Content warning: The romance isn’t mutually exclusive, she doesn’t love the male lead, and there are painful, heartbreaking parts. The male lead is a scumbag emperor. Song Yuyan was hooked on a palace-harem management game. She never expected to open her eyes and find she had transmigrated to ancient times. After keeping a low profile for three years, she entered t 3.6kReads9.3Score41814d adds
34. 84 精 The Refined Self-Serving Life of the Imperial Harem 精致利己的后宫生活 Extra Extra Extra Spicy微微微微辣Ancient Romance906k WordsCompleted Content warning: Good and evil are relative, human nature is complicated, and the heroine is an unapologetic self-interested pragmatist. As a low-ranking palace maid, she has hundreds, even thousands, of mountains bearing down on her. Life is truly miserable... Rather than toil away her whole life, become a eunuch's bedmate, and be cremated after death, with her ashes scattered into the Rebirth Well so that they become one with his... Ji Hansu decides to find herself a better place to end up. As 1.3kReads7.2Score11714d adds

    Reader note

    Each of these books is excellent, and the female protagonists are all very intelligent.

35. 85 淑 Has Consort Shu Turned Evil Today? 淑妃娘娘今天黑化了吗 Butterflies Dance into Tragedy蝶舞成殇Ancient Romance586k WordsCompleted When Shen Lanzhi entered the palace, she was granted the rank of Consort, a second-rank title. Also entering as a consort was the Empress Dowager Zhou’s own niece. With the throne vacant, everyone said the Empress Dowager’s niece was sure to become empress. But the throne remained vacant for six long years. During that time, Shen Lanzhi rose from Zhaoyi to Consort, then to the first-rank title of Worthy Consort, and finally became empress. She had always hoped to be a virtuous empress. She didn’ 1.3kReads5.4Score13114d adds
36. 86 乱 Two Beauties in a Chaotic Age: A Maid's Survival Guide to the Inner Household 乱世双姝：丫鬟的后宅生存录 Storyteller from Shu蜀中说书人Ancient Romance735k WordsOngoing Keywords: Maid, Sisters, Surviving in Troubled Times, Household Intrigue Author’s Note: I’m preparing to run a book test soon. The platform is giving my book some exposure, but it’s driving me crazy. They’re keeping it on life support with a measly hundred or two hundred views. These next few days will decide everything. If the book takes off, I’ll stick to the original plan and write a long novel of around a million words. The original setup spanned four generations. The two heroines would rise 237Reads8.4Score—14d adds
37. 87 凭 The Consort Rises in the Palace by Mastering a Special Sleeping Technique 凭借特殊睡觉技巧，娘娘宫斗上位 Run, Pork Belly!五花肉快跑Ancient Romance220k WordsCompleted Not a faithful-couple romance! Not a faithful-couple romance! She doesn't love the Emperor! Entertainment-industry superstar Liu Qianqian transmigrates one day into the body of an unfavored palace concubine, only for a reborn, unknown supporting character to make it her mission to kill her! To stay alive, she has no choice but to fight for the Emperor's favor and climb the ranks. What to do about the reborn supporting character? No need to panic. Her Highness has a knack for sleeping: men can't 23Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue, not romance-driven.

38. 88 做 To Be a Favorite Consort, You Have to Be Arrogant and Overbearing 做宠妃，就是要嚣张跋扈 Idle Talk浮言Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [A supremely self-serving, spoiled princess + a calculating, proud, even-tempered emperor + neither lead is chaste + he dotes on her exclusively later on] Chu Feiyu, a princess of the Great Chu, is struck by unforeseen misfortune and sent to Great Ye in a bride exchange. As a foreign princess, she can neither become empress nor empress dowager. There is no room left for her to climb in the imperial harem. All her boundless energy has nowhere to go. What can she do? Make trouble, of course. 9.7kReads8.8Score93914d adds
39. 89 王 The Princess Consort's Married Life 王妃的婚后日常 Cloud Mud云泥巴Ancient Romance314k WordsCompleted Neither the heroine nor the hero is reborn or transmigrates, and neither has a golden finger. A quiet, everyday story of love after marriage, set in a purely ancient setting. The heroine’s beauty is an asset. Her upbringing has made her cold and aloof, slow to warm up, and self-centered. The hero is taciturn and sharp-tongued, and his temperament becomes even harder to read after his leg is injured. Wei Zi is naturally beautiful and wants to marry into a powerful family so she can live a carefre 168Reads5.8Score—14d adds
40. 90 宠 A Concubine’s Guide to Self-Cultivation 宠妾的自我修养 A Touch of West River Moon一抹西江月Ancient Romance219k WordsCompleted [Not a Pure Romance] [Pure Palace Intrigue] [Revenge] [Self-Reliance] Qin Zhen, the illegitimate second daughter of the Qin family, was treated as a sacrificial pawn and sent by her own family to the Eastern Palace, where she became one of the Crown Prince’s concubines. With her maternal family now at odds with her, how can she survive in the Eastern Palace? Then she’ll start by winning over His Highness the Crown Prince. 33Reads—Score—14d adds
41. 91 我 My Years as a Benevolent Mother in the Qing Palace 我在清宫做圣母的那些年 Tsukimino E月见里绘Female-Channel Fanfiction2.5M WordsOngoing [A vengeful ghost from a mass grave × a scheming palace-conquering beauty × a golden finger bigger than the sky] Shanyue, a ghost from a mass grave, is reborn in the worlds of Empresses in the Palace and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace as a “living bodhisattva,” carrying a body full of resentment. Save the consorts? Soothe the children? She turns the consorts against one another and uses others to assassinate royal heirs. Beneath the compassionate guise of Guanyin lurks a demon from the depths o 31.3kReads8.7Score1.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    A chilling tale of palace intrigue and power struggles! Transmigrated into the body of Empress Yixiu, she becomes everyone's "dark moonlight," sheltering her sisters from the storms of life—but who cares how the storms come from! Every step is a calculated scheme, a brutal betrayal. Qi Yuebin gives birth to two sickly daughters, both of whom eventually die. Nian Shilan gives birth to a son with an unusual appearance, and is drugged and rendered immobile. Rouze's facade is exposed, and she becomes the very thing Fatty Orange hates most. Zhen Huan's affair is exposed as a surrogate mother. Shen Meizhuang is imprisoned in the Cold Palace, where her affair with Wen Shichu is discovered, implicating her family. Feng Ruozhao has a child but is forced to fight for it, ultimately losing and losing her child. An Lingrong is executed after slaying the dragon… In short, it's a truly terrifying thought!

42. 92 怎 How Can Anyone Resist the Noble Consort's Alluring Charm? 怎敌贵妃百媚千娇 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + heroine transmigrates] In the fifth year of Yongyan, the emperor ordered a selection of consorts. Wen Wanyu was the most beautiful among the candidates. With her charming looks and soft, lilting voice, she was as delicate as a flower and soon won the emperor’s favor. She had once been the apple of her father’s eye, but when he was framed and her elder brother humiliated, she defied her whole family and asked to enter the palace to protect them. From the darling 2.2kReads8.9Score19414d adds
43. 93 人 Life Is a Play, and the Empress Is All About Her Acting Skills 人生如戏，娘娘她纯拼演技 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + witty banter + sweet, delicate beauty + calculated mind games] The leads are not each other’s only partners. If that bothers you, don’t read. Be prepared for suspicion in the early chapters, followed by affection later. The pacing is slow, so proceed with caution if you prefer fast-paced wish-fulfillment stories. As a double award-winning actress and a seasoned star of palace intrigue dramas, how could Shi Yan possibly lose her nerve after transmigrating into the imperial hare 5kReads9.3Score53214d adds
44. 94 咸 The Laid-Back Consort: Rising Step by Step 咸鱼娘娘：步步高升 Melancholy Cantaloupe忧伤的哈密瓜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + palace and household intrigue + childbirth + doted on exclusively later] Jiang Wan transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking palace consort of an emperor with no children. To protect the people around her, she has no choice but to compete for a little favor. Who knew she’d end up giving the emperor a chubby baby boy! Emperor: “She’s the birth mother of my only son. Of course I have to protect her.” Who knew that all that protection would turn into affection? As Jiang Wan ris 19.1kReads8.9Score1.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    Sisters, these 6 palace intrigue novels kept me up for three whole nights! Each one is finished, which is so reassuring, and the high-energy plots are impossible to put down! ✨ 💫 "The Empress is So Charming and Alluring, Who Needs the White Moonlight?" Reborn Imperial Concubine × Obsessive Emperor|When the Substitute Awakens, She Turns the Tablet on the White Moonlight. "This Empress will not be anyone's shadow." The emperor-seducing techniques in this novel are amazing! The female lead has the emperor completely under her control; the reverse-taming plot is so satisfying! 💫 "After Entering the Palace in Place of Her Sister, the Imperial Concubine Seduces the Emperor to the Throne" Scheming Concubine × Cunning King|Palace intrigue and promotion story + political intrigue. From substitute to the head of the six palaces, see how the female lead uses her beauty to play chess, and in the end, even the emperor is willing to become her pawn. The battle of wits is divine! 💫 "The Empress is Both Alluring and Seductive, Rising Through Palace Intrigue" A tea master × A tea-appreciating emperor | A guide to raising a noble consort, a top-tier green tea strategy, and an emperor who is an expert in tea appreciation. The two use each other's tricks but end up falling in love. The ambiguous period is full of tension, and their smiles never fade! 💫 "The Charming Beauty Deliberately Seduces the Cold Emperor" A pure and alluring beauty × A restrained emperor | When a scheming heroine meets a cold emperor, see how she melts his iceberg step by step. Watching this late-night update will make you roll around in bed with sweetness! 💫 "Palace Intrigue Starts Before the Selection" All villains × Palace intrigue werewolf game | Starting in hell mode, 80 foreshadowings are planted before the selection. The heroine's IQ is always on point, dealing with every move. The political intrigue is mind-bending and addictive, and you can never guess the ending! 💫 *Jiang Wan's Harem Promotion Diary* A workplace drama intertwined with palace intrigue and a real-life record of promotions and salary increases. The female protagonist navigates the harem step by step using KPI-based performance evaluations, treating concubines as colleagues and the emperor as her boss. The blend of modern workplace tropes and palace intrigue is delightfully entertaining! 🌟 Reading Guide: ✅ All books are complete, no waiting required. ✅ Each book includes full spoilers and analysis. ✅ Instructional descriptions of palace intrigue techniques. ✅ Strong romance and career storylines.

45. 95 娘 The Empress Is Sweet and Alluring, Winning Favor and Rising to Power 娘娘娇软妩媚，一路争宠上位 Bell Meow铃铛喵Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (A pure palace-intrigue story, not a one-on-one romance, and not a mutually faithful pairing. Proceed with caution!) Bai Ruotang is the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Right Chancellor’s household. At fifteen, just after coming of age, she is sent into the palace to bear a child for her legitimate elder sister and help her secure the emperor’s favor. Unwilling to be reduced to someone else’s pawn, from the moment she steps through the palace gates, she decides she will carve out 10.5kReads8.9Score1k14d adds
46. 96 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.2kReads9.6Score5.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    The pinnacle of palace intrigue novels; the female lead is intelligent and not obsessed with romance; the only palace intrigue novel I've ever finished reading.

47. 97 娘 The Empress Is Charming and Lively, and Wins the Emperor's Heart 娘娘娇媚灵动，惹得皇上心动 Zhuxi Pavilion竹西处Ancient Romance798k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads’ first time + clear-headed heroine focused on living well + doesn’t love the emperor] Xiao Zhaoyuan asked with interest, “What do you usually like to do, my consort?” Cui Qingwan beamed. “I like eating, drinking, and having fun!” Sincerity really is a lethal weapon! Xiao Zhaoyuan couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. He had never met anyone so genuine. And yet this very genuine woman gradually claimed his heart. But then he realized that she 1.3kReads8.7Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    Guaranteed to be pure palace intrigue, the female lead is not tempted, she is very clear-headed and focused on her own life or career, she will not fall in love with the emperor, it is a real palace intrigue, especially in the first book where the concubines come one after another, the emperor really "manages" the harem well [eating melon][eating melon][eating melon][eating melon][eating melon], he has a very good balance and he treats everyone equally, but it is not frustrating or awkward to read.

48. 98 皇 The Empress Is a Max-Level Palace Intriguer, Crushing Everyone 皇后满级宫斗，嘎嘎乱杀 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + infidelity + fictional setting + a resourceful, money-loving, beauty-loving, life-loving empress ✖️ emperor] In her previous life, Hua Shu was a lowly palace maid. She schemed her way to the top of the political ladder, only to be condemned by everyone and branded a wicked woman who brought ruin to the nation. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the unfamiliar state of Chu, as an unloved empress who’s also being made a scapegoat. As if she’d put up with that! S 13.8kReads9.4Score1.8k14d adds
49. 99 两 Two Lives of Joy: The Duke's Legitimate Daughter Is Truly Unrestrained 两世欢：公府嫡女她是真的狂 Dancing Sunflower跳舞的向日葵Ancient Romance667k WordsCompleted (Rebirth power fantasy + married across two lifetimes + palace and household intrigue + political machinations) Ye Liujin once thought she was the happiest young lady in Shengjing. Her aunt was just one step away from becoming empress. Her elder brother was the illustrious Duke of Shanguo, commanding an army of two hundred thousand, while her elder sister was a brave and battle-hardened warrior admired by all, both in court and beyond. She herself had been betrothed in infancy to the Third Princ 17.7kReads9.0Score4.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    They all look so good! (˵¯͒¯͒˵)

50. 100 庶 A Concubine's Guide to Climbing the Ranks 庶女升级手册 Shen Qiniang沈七娘Ancient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing Just as the struggling supporting actress was lamenting that she had nowhere to use her acting skills, a serious illness caused her to transmigrate into the body of Pei Zhaoyue, the seventh daughter of the Pei family. Now she was a hapless girl whose father didn't care for her and whose stepmother treated her harshly. It was time to put her acting skills to good use. She could play any scheme, whether open, covert, or political, in the palm of her hand. After being sent to the palace, she rose s 2Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I think these three books are good! Firstly, I don't understand why the female lead, being the daughter of a princess, has a third brother, and why her stepmother wasn't the princess's second wife after her death. Secondly, it's a pity about the female lead. She fell in love with the male lead, but he didn't understand and was afraid to love her. He was too preoccupied with past relationships and neglected the present, which is regrettable. Thirdly, oh no, no, there absolutely has to be a second book! It's so good! I rarely leave reviews, but this novel is truly amazing, and I've decided to read it a second time.

Other lists with Qing Transmigration: Stay Calm, Princess Consort! The Fourth Prince Will Win You the Empress's Throne