Any Stories With a Scheming, Calculating, Coolheaded Female Lead? 有没有女主善权谋，心思贼重，沉着冷静的文

1. 1 求 Begging for Love 求娇 Three Lives, Three Three叁生三三Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Strong Heroine and Hero] [Love-Hate Relationship] [Defying Fate] [Print edition signed with a publisher] Gu Miaoyin always thought she was the pampered darling her emperor treasured most, until the Great Jin fell and the Northern Hu cavalry smashed through the palace gates. Only then did she realize how tragic her life was. Ten years of the emperor's favor could not withstand a sudden change of heart. In the end, she and her mother were trapped in the imperial city and burned alive. Reborn into 36.3kReads9.5Score4.9kShelves

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   A love-hate relationship, especially in the early stages when it's truly cutthroat. The female lead is incredibly cunning, intelligent, and decisive, constantly keeping the male lead in check. The characters are vividly portrayed, making for a fantastic watch.

2. 2 谈 Explosives Under the Negotiation Table: The Young Lady Storms the Imperial Court 谈判桌下埋火药，大小姐入朝杀疯 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The heroine’s creed: Power and money are what let a woman live freely and boldly!] [Strong heroine + satisfying story + vying for the finest men in the realm] Jiang Yu thought she’d be content with a modestly comfortable life. But when she turned eighteen, one ridiculous twist after another came her way. First, the husband she had supported with her own money for years passed the imperial exams at the top of his class, then demanded a divorce so he could marry a noblewoman. Then the Duke’s mans 37kReads9.2Score5.4kShelves

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   🌈This is a fantastic read, a strong female lead story, highly recommended! [Thumbs up] 🌈This is a novel about a woman entering officialdom. Imagine being the only woman among a group of men to hold a high-ranking official position, one with real power and influence; you can imagine how skilled, strategic, and cunning she is. 🌈Note: The female lead focuses on her career; romance is minimal, with her marriage to the prince only taking place in the finale. If you like this type of story, give it a try.

3. 3 公 The Princess Holds Sway Over the Court, and Her Harem Is Full 公主权倾朝野，鱼塘挤不下了 Old Yellow Rabbit老黄兔Ancient Romance3.4M WordsCompleted Original title: The Princess Holds Sway Over the Court, and Her Fish Pond Is Full [Historical Romance + Scheming + Everyone’s Darling + Reincarnation Before Birth + Favorite Concubine + Harem Intrigue + Wish Fulfillment + Alluring Heroine + System + Rise to Power] One day, after transmigrating, Liang Yue became the apple of her favorite concubine mother’s eye. The three thousand imperial consorts could not match her mother’s radiance, and the entire Great Xia treasury could not rival her uncle’s 22.1kReads7.4Score6kShelves

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   These two books are absolutely fantastic. One is about a political heir who transmigrates into a book, specifically a reincarnation. From a young age, she begins her schemes, orchestrating events from behind the scenes. The second book features a reincarnation as the daughter of a powerful concubine in her maternal grandfather's family, a falcon raised by the emperor himself—how could she not harbor ambitions to seize the throne?

4. 4 小 The Little Palace Maid's Thoughts Were Read 小宫女被读心了 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the palace as a maid, Qin Jianjian works diligently, flatters those above her, and deceives those below her. In the end, she becomes the top-ranked maid serving the Empress Dowager. She has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of her profession. Money she’s openly entitled to, along with money she shouldn’t have, keeps flowing into Qin Jianjian’s pockets. Delighted, she just has to wait until she’s old enough to leave the palace and retire early. Who could have guessed the 15kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves

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   I'll cry if no one's read these three books! Highly recommended!!! The first one has a super ruthless female lead; the second is a true story of a powerful family; and the third, "The Villainous Sister and Her Little Fish," is really good.

5. 5 女 The Disguised Dragon's Scheme: My Rogue Disciple Courts Me in His Dreams 女扮男装潜龙计，逆徒梦里泡为师 Mu Yanfeifei沐妍菲菲Ancient Romance607k WordsOngoing [Historical Intrigue + Female Spy in Disguise + Ensemble Mind Games + Martial Arts Mystery] [Female Martial Arts Master Disguised as a Man × Rebellious Disciple Who Defies His Teacher] The world is the board, and all living things are its pieces. Thirty years ago, a copy of A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains turned the tide during a palace coup. From then on, victory made kings and defeat made corpses, and the throne changed hands. Thirty years later, talents emerge across the nine regions, a 294Reads8.9Score—Shelves

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   I highly recommend this underrated gem. It's a female-centric undercover political maneuver with a cast of characters engaging in intellectual battles. The writing is excellent, the plot is rich and insightful, and all characters are highly intelligent. It has a hardcore, realistic style and is suitable for both male and female readers!

6. 6 宠 He Spoiled His Concubine and Neglected His Wife. Reborn, I Broke Off My Engagement to the Scumbag and Married the Prince 宠妾灭妻，重生我退婚渣男嫁王爷 Zhi Zhi之知Ancient Romance640k WordsCompleted The physical book is available on all major platforms. Formerly titled Riding the Phoenix. [Reborn + Powerful Female Lead and Male Lead + Nation and World + Political Schemes] Before the age of seventeen, Shen Yu was the legitimate daughter of a military family who could wield a blade and charge into battle. After seventeen, she became the frail wife of Jiang Manor's Vice Minister Jiang. Her father and brothers died in battle, and the entire Shen family was honored for their loyalty. Bearing 88.8kReads9.5Score12.2kShelves

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   The first book is a true tale of a powerful ancient family of eunuchs and ministers! Everyone is incredibly intelligent!! The female lead is resourceful, decisive, and leaves no potential danger unaddressed! The second book is exceptionally well-written!! Highly recommended by seasoned readers!! This is a grand story of political intrigue and national righteousness! Everyone carries their own mission! Both the male and female leads are extremely strong, deeply trust each other, and always prioritize the greater good!

7. 7 身 Body Swap: The God of War Prince Takes Over My Household Battles 身体互换：战神王爷替我宅斗 Clear Breeze Begonia清风海棠Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [1v1, Fun Romantic Comedy, HE, Wise and Cool-Headed Young Lady vs. Adorable God of War Prince, Both Chaste, Happy Ending] The people of the Jiang household notice that their young lady has been acting strangely lately. The young lady used to be quiet and gentle. Now she’s still quiet, but there’s a murderous aura about her. In the garden, her sweet-talking younger sister affectionately reaches to link arms with her. Ye Zhan dodges at once, her voice full of disdain. “If you want to talk, then ta 11.1kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves

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   The female lead is skilled in political maneuvering, and the male lead is adept at martial arts; the two are a perfect match. They happen to swap souls, with the female lead plotting important court affairs while the male lead always appears arrogant.

8. 8 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 41.5kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves

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   [Laughing][Laughing] I'll stay up all night to finish reading it. Every chapter is so funny that I can't stop reading. The more I read, the more I want to read, and the more I laugh. I wish I could read it all in one go. I won't stop until I finish it.

9. 9 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
10. 10 贵 The Noble Consort Gains Mind-Reading Powers and Uncovers a Shocking Secret 贵妃有了读心术后吃出惊天大瓜 Flowing Clouds in Flight流云飞度Ancient Romance638k WordsCompleted [Historical romance. Mind-reading. Face-slapping. The heroine awakens. She shines on her own. The hero is barely involved. Later, the consort will leave the palace and take her child to make her way in the world. Please don’t complain if it’s not your thing.] After taking a tumble in the imperial gardens, the arrogant and overbearing Noble Consort Yu, who reigns supreme over the harem, wakes up to discover that she can hear other people’s thoughts. It turns out the emperor’s affection is an illu 5.3kReads9.2Score717Shelves
11. 11 宁 Ning Yan: When Women Rule the Roost 宁兖，牝鸡司晨 Books Bring True Wealth有书真富贵Historical168k WordsOngoing [Ensemble political intrigue + entrusted heir + factional strife + expansion of the realm + redressing an old injustice] [Wronged powerful minister male lead x emperor female lead disguised as a man] Also known as "After I Blundered into the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Was the Imperial Family" On a winter night in the seventh year of Chengxu, Emperor Zhao Ning Fu suddenly went mad. Wearing the robes of his favorite consort, Yan, he climbed the bell tower and rang the funeral bell before fall 189Reads—Score104Shelves

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    A ensemble drama of power struggles, including the entrustment of a young heir, factional infighting, territorial expansion, the redress of old grievances, and counter-espionage. No time travel, no idiotic supporting characters. Also known as "After Accidentally Entering the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Am the Imperial Family."

12. 12 重 Reborn, I Become My Arch-Enemy's Living Widow Sister-in-Law 重生后，我成了死敌的活寡嫂子 Two Times Four Means Prosperity二四得发Ancient Romance517k WordsCompleted [Both leads are reborn + sister-in-law and brother-in-law + an aloof beauty brought down from her pedestal + emotional push and pull + winning her heart and her body + devoted couple] The Eastern Palace has no crown prince, and the princes are locked in a fierce struggle for the throne. Ning Miao and Yan Mobai are the top strategists of their generation, each serving a different master. They cross paths over a map of iron mines and kill each other. Only after her death does Ning Miao learn tha 39.2kReads9.4Score5.8kShelves

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    Both the male and female leads are incredibly intelligent! A truly excellent read!

13. 13 惊 Shocking! The Flower-Palace Courtesan Is Pregnant, and the Barren Prince Will Have an Heir 惊！花魁孕崽，绝嗣王爷有后了 Orange Glow and Treasure橘光宝气Ancient Romance256k WordsCompleted [Just rated, score may rise] (Sly yet spirited beauty × fake playboy, fake infertile, real prince) [Household-intrigue power fantasy + devoted couple + everyone’s favorite + marriage before love] Jiang Li took the place of a princess who had fallen on hard times and was sold into a brothel. After thirteen years, on the day she became the star courtesan, a mysterious man bought her first night, and she unexpectedly became his cure for pent-up desire. Who knew she was naturally fertile? After one 1.2kReads8.2Score145Shelves

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    This clever and shrewd courtesan is particularly skilled in palace intrigue! She unexpectedly becomes pregnant with a prince's child. With her sharp mind and superb methods, she thrives in the Marquis's mansion, relying on her child's advantages and her own abilities, and has her prince husband completely under her control!

14. 14 驸 My Consort Took a Concubine, So I Cast Him Off; He Rebelled, So I Became Emperor 驸马纳妾我休弃，驸马造反我称帝 Paper Tiger纸老虎Ancient Romance541k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication] [A noblewoman and a transmigrated woman join forces to contend for the throne. Strong female lead, ensemble cast, political intrigue, no romance] Yuan Xuan was born to be a pawn. For the sake of the realm, she lived as a man and served as crown prince for over a decade. When her younger brother was born, Yuan Xuan returned to living as a woman and became a discarded pawn. Abandoned by everyone, she had no one left who didn’t want her dead. Less than a year into her marri 15.7kReads9.5Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    I won't elaborate on the quality of Lin Du's work. Both books are by the same author ① a woman scheming for power, each character is well-developed, the female characters each have their own charm, and the male characters are also portrayed powerfully. No one is purely evil; they are all thinking of themselves!

15. 15 全 Everyone in the Sect Is Love-Brained, Except Me, a True Lunatic 全宗门都是恋爱脑，唯我是真疯批 Paper Tiger纸老虎Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted The complete print edition of A Double Crossing is now available on all platforms. Relationship blogger Lin Du died of a broken heart after being driven crazy by hopeless romantics. After death, she transmigrated into a tragic romance cultivation novel, becoming the beautiful, powerful, yet doomed junior uncle who paved the way for the protagonists' great love with her own ashes. After reading the script, she slowly typed a question mark. “Have they dug up every wild vegetable on this sect's mou 234.9kReads9.7Score27.6kShelves
16. 16 庶 A Lowborn Daughter Gives Up? I’ll Seize the Crown and Rule the Court Instead 庶女摆烂？反手夺嫡掌朝堂 Megni梅格尼Ancient Romance152k WordsOngoing [Soul transmigration + political intrigue + comeback + household infighting + face-slapping] [Warning: The heroine is calculating and scheming, not a saintly, self-sacrificing white lotus at all. She endures hardship early on, then gets her revenge in spectacular fashion. Romance is just a bonus; this is a career-focused story, not a love story. Not recommended for readers who want a romance-obsessed heroine.] A carefully planned car accident and an inexplicable journey through time and space br —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Absolute wisdom, profound cunning. Highly recommended!

17. 17 嫡 The Legitimate Daughter's Cunning, and Her Way with Husbands 嫡女善谋，御夫有道 Optimistic Sunflower乐天派向日葵Ancient Romance421k WordsCompleted [Calculating Earl’s Legitimate Daughter vs. Cold and Ruthless Heir to the Duke] [Power Couple, Sweet Romance] Shen Yunshu, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Earl of Xiting, is the only legitimate heir of her generation. But her father, Lord Shen, favors a beautiful young concubine who has both a son and a daughter, while her domineering grandmother can’t stand her either. Always calm and unruffled, Shen Yunshu only wants to live a quiet life with her mother. Yet people keep trying to disrupt 9.5kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    She patiently explained, "You are the head of the household. If Grandmother and Father want Aunt Ji's son to be successful, they will naturally register him under your name as the eldest legitimate son. With the support of his maternal grandparents, as long as he studies diligently, his career will be a smooth road ahead. Mother, the one who should be worried now is not you, but Aunt Ji."

18. 18 黑 The Black Lotus Princess: Topple the Realm and Slay the Emperor Father 黑莲花公主：覆天下，弑君父 Yunye Qiqi云叶柒柒Ancient Romance929k WordsCompleted Mu Huining, crown princess of the Mu Kingdom, once treated all the world with genuine kindness. In return, her mother was wrongly accused and died, her younger brother perished in a sea of flames, and she became the lowliest person in the palace. On the day she came of age, she overheard a conversation in Fengyi Palace and learned the truth: the aunt who had doted on her for sixteen years was her mother’s killer, and all the credit for her great virtue had gone to someone else! A compassionate h 421Reads6.8Score107Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead, Mu Huining, is the eldest princess of the Mu Kingdom. On her coming-of-age ceremony, she overhears her stepmother's true appearance and is sent to the northern desert for a political marriage. The male lead, Helian Ye, is initially indifferent to the female lead and is merely a business partner. Later, he discovers he has fallen in love with her by chance and quickly expresses his feelings. Together, they find the female lead's younger brother, return to seek revenge, and the female lead becomes the empress… It's incredibly good! I wait for updates every day. Highly recommended!

19. 19 女 The Dashing General and Her Pretty Boy: Playing the Lazybones in Jiangnan 女将俏郎：我在江南装咸鱼 Spicy Seared Salmon辣炝三文鱼Ancient Romance186k WordsOngoing Also known as "All I See Is Dust" [Happy Ending + Strong Female Lead + Male Lead Transmigrates + Light Political Intrigue + Light Comedy] #Cool-Headed, Reserved Yet Warmhearted General vs. Witty, Gentle, Scheming, and Clingy Husband# In the winter of the nineteenth year of Shuncheng, General Lu is framed for treason. His steadfast loyalty is branded as treachery, and blood and bitterness stain the capital. Only a young orphaned girl is left behind. Four years later, the late emperor dies, and t 16Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    If you enjoy strong female protagonists in historical romance novels, you might want to check this out. The female lead is decisive and ruthless, not love-struck, and burdened by past grievances. She lies low in Jiangnan while simultaneously dealing with court intrigues. The male lead, who transmigrates from another world, initially only wants to escape his arranged marriage and survive, but gradually comes to stand by the female lead. There's no mindless, artificial romance; the humor is subtly woven into the dialogue and small details, making it a very realistic read.

20. 20 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

    Reader note

    The two remaining books both feature female protagonists who scheme for power, planning ten steps ahead for every one they take, leaving no stone unturned.

21. 21 她 She Just Wants to Lie Low, but They Keep Forcing Her to Rebel 她想咸鱼躺，非逼她造反 Warfires Stain All烽火尽染Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] Lu Songli transmigrated into a book and became the cannon-fodder first wife of Xie Zhan, the male lead of The Powerful Minister's Beautiful Young Second Wife. In the book, her friend Zhao Yutan, who returned in glory from a place of exile, would steal her husband. The two of them carried on behind her back while she was gravely ill, and their affair literally angered her to death. Lu Songli was about to roll up her sleeves and tear into the cheating scumbag and 107.4kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Since we're on the topic, I have to reveal my trump card. The opponent and the female lead are evenly matched; the opponent isn't made less intelligent just to highlight the female lead's strength. The first part of the story features a back-and-forth battle that's very exciting.

22. 22 又 After the Mad Prince Forced Me Into a Relationship Again, I Gave Up 又被疯批王爷强取豪夺后，我佛了 Lin Wanzi林丸子Ancient Romance279k WordsCompleted (A trope-defying, domineering romance; no suffering for the heroine; a reverse hunt; the heroine looks like a benevolent bodhisattva but has a villainess’s heart; the hero acts crude but is secretly a complete lunatic) In her previous life, Lin Shuyue and the unhinged Prince of Qin played out a tragic tale of forced possession: she ran, he chased, and she could never escape. After being reborn, the unhinged Prince of Qin forced himself on her all over again, and Lin Shuyue finally understood. 945Reads8.7Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist has the appearance of a bodhisattva but the heart of a wicked woman. She takes revenge with remarkable swiftness; she commits murder and arson, yet no one suspects her because of her refined and otherworldly nature—she's seen as a living bodhisattva by others. Her interactions with the male protagonist are also compelling, a completely different kind of forceful love story where sincerity is the ultimate weapon!

23. 23 她 She Swapped Bodies with the Tyrant and Went on a Rampage! 她，与暴君互换后，杀疯啦！ Little Chubby, Run!小胖子快跑Ancient Romance371k WordsCompleted [Soul swap + transmigrate into a book + sweet, funny romance + going off the rails + tyrant + wish fulfillment + both leads are each other's first and only] Yun Yaoyao transmigrated into a book, becoming a foolish, timid cannon-fodder character who doesn't even survive the first chapter. No problem. If my family plots against me, I'll assassinate the emperor and wipe out my own clan! But after killing the emperor, Yun Yaoyao was horrified to discover that she and the tyrant had swapped bodies! T 27.2kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    A political intrigue tale set in the imperial court, featuring two exceptionally intelligent characters. It's a satisfying read, without a single moment of frustration. Whoever dares to challenge her, the female lead takes care of. She uses her personal charm to win over the hearts and minds of the court officials, making them willingly serve her. She has them completely under her thumb and always comes up with unexpected solutions. The male lead, at his core, is equally formidable. The two work together seamlessly, and later, they intermittently switch roles with the tyrant—everything you could imagine is there.

24. 24 共 Together, We Pledge Our Names on Mount Yan 共许燕山铭 Angelica Sent to Faraway远志寄当归Ancient Romance440k WordsOngoing [Strong heroine + Political intrigue + Nation and family + Ancient war + Powerful couple + Happy ending] A top assassin and a battle-hardened general make a vow to reclaim their homeland. Childhood sweethearts reunited after years apart, they are each other’s sharpest blade and strongest shield. “I am the blade that will reclaim our mountains and rivers. I’ll cut down every enemy, even if I’m left with nothing but bones!” “I am the net that catches you over the abyss. I’ll keep you safe and give 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Do you read novels featuring top-tier female assassins? The female lead in this one is quite formidable.

25. 25 就 Even as a Fake Heiress, I’ll Still Daringly Embrace Doing Nothing 就算是假千金也要勇敢摆烂 Ji Furan纪扶染Modern Romance659k WordsCompleted [Print edition launching across all platforms on August 9, 2025] When Shen Yue was twelve, she accidentally fell into a pond while feeding the fish. That was when she learned the truth: her parents weren’t her real parents, and her five older brothers weren’t really her brothers. She was the Mu family’s fake heiress! Faced with a future where she was destined to lose everything, Shen Yue decided to get ahead… by lying down. If she was going to lose it all anyway, she might as well lie back and 117.8kReads9.6Score13.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The first three books have absolutely amazing female protagonists! [Cool] The first one involves hypnotizing herself to use her instincts to change, all to save the real heiress and prevent the world from ending. The second one shows you what a true noblewoman is like. I won't list the other three books, but you're welcome to read them; they're definitely worth it! [Driving a draft][Bump]

26. 26 攀 Marrying Up 攀高枝 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] [Print edition published] Zhang Zhixu had everything from birth. A family with a century of prestige, enviable talent, and a career that kept rising step by step. But he found life terribly dull. Then, one day, an accident struck, and his soul entered a woman's body. A woman who couldn't read a single character, yet dreamed of marrying into a powerful family and becoming a phoenix. · Chen Baoxiang had traveled a thousand miles from the countryside to the capital, hoping 163.8kReads9.6Score22.8kShelves

    Reader note

    It has to be this book, "Climbing the Social Ladder." You think Chen Baoxiang is just an ordinary heroine who climbs the social ladder? You're mistaken. Our Baoxiang is incredibly clever!

27. 27 走 The Horse-Riding Hidden Scheme 走马藏局 Kai Zhong Feng Shui凯中堪舆Urban1.2M WordsOngoing Geomancy and the Yin-Yang arts rule the world, while the Jianghu is full of schemes! At twelve, Shen Qianfan became an orphan and was cast adrift in the Jianghu. He grew up teaching himself from books scavenged from trash heaps, cleared his father's name, and pressed on through one Jianghu con after another, setting schemes and breaking them, navigating schemes within schemes. He cut a path through every obstacle, built a business empire, and leveraged his influence to establish a regional milit 1.6kReads6.3Score186Shelves

    Reader note

    No clichés, and it gets better with every read! Kai Zhongkan's novels, starting with "The Path of Feng Shui Cultivation," followed by "One Man and One Mouse Cultivate Immortality," and then "Mecha Immortal Path: Invincible from Exile to Mars," are all now complete. These three books form a cultivation trilogy. Now, he's back with a new book, but this time he's not writing about cultivation. Instead, he's writing about things closer to home: feng shui, human nature, kung fu, strategy, breaking through barriers, the eight sects of the martial arts world, and his journey of overcoming obstacles to build a business empire and leverage regional military power… This new book is called "The Hidden Game of Horsemanship," where horsemanship represents yin and yang, and the hidden game of human nature represents the world. The book's message: ... You can't be afraid; if you are, you lose!

28. 28 快 Quick Transmigration: The Noble Lady Is Beautiful and Plays by Her Own Rules 快穿：贵女她人美路子野 Heartless and Loveless无心无爱Ancient Romance994k WordsCompleted She is a modern girl, calm and composed; a refined young lady from a prominent family; an outstanding scion of an illustrious clan; a beautiful, gentle heiress. She is also a fragile seedling struggling to survive in the cracks, a cold-hearted person devoid of feeling, a wise and rational avenger, and a perfect impostor… She is Shu Wu. Wu means awakening, and sounds like “never.” Longing day and night, then suddenly coming to her senses; never making the same mistake again… One day, “trouble” dr 377Reads—Score—Shelves
29. 29 主 The Mistress's Daily Life 主母日常 Zhou Dabai周大白Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [An Aristocratic Lady Tears Apart a Transmigrator + Reborn + An Idyllic, Leisurely Life as the Mistress of an Ancient Estate] Lu Lingjun and her legitimate younger sister, Lu Hanyi, were both reborn. In their previous lives, Lu Lingjun married the second son of a sixth-rank civil official, while her younger sister married the heir to a marquis’s estate. Everyone said her sister had made the better match. But who could have guessed that Lu Lingjun’s husband would become the prime minister and sec 23.5kReads9.0Score3.2kShelves
30. 30 先 Love After Marriage: The Crown Princess Keeps Pretending to Be Good Again and Again 先婚后爱，太子妃又又又又在装乖 I Want to Be a Rich Lady我想当富婆Ancient Romance278k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance] Song Yao, who was born into this world, got married to Nangong Yi, the notoriously violent crown prince. After their wedding, they acted like a proper couple, treating each other with courtesy and respect. Gradually, Song Yao discovered that the crown prince was nothing like the violent man of the rumors. He was gentle, considerate, and easy to get along with. So she let her true nature out and started doing as she pleased. - At first, when facing the crown prince: Song Yao: gent 21.7kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
31. 31 女 Your Majesty, Spare My Life 女皇陛下，饶我小命 He Ziman何子满Ancient Romance150k WordsOngoing A high-IQ empress, political intrigue, and yuri romance. The heroine welcomes men and women alike. She is a heaven-blessed prodigy! A prince's consort is thrown into the Cold Palace for murdering her husband. There, she meets seven other prince's consorts who have also been banished, and forms an alliance with them. Two of the consorts develop a love that goes beyond sisterhood! After escaping the imperial palace, they face a foreign invasion and a campaign by the court to crush them. The court 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is cunning and ruthless; she climbs from princess to the emperor's throne!

32. 32 嬿 Yanwan Is Reborn as the Legitimate Daughter: Taking on Ruyi and Her Obsession 嬿婉重生为嫡：整治如懿斗懿症 Roast Duck Sansan烧鸭三三Female-Channel Fanfiction620k WordsOngoing [A Story of Yanxi Palace spin-off] [More martial arts than palace intrigue] [Not a one-on-one romance] [The female lead is Wei Yanwan reborn] [She is a princess and rarely gets directly involved in palace intrigue] [The female lead is no saint: she's neither kind nor pure] In her previous life, Wei Yanwan was mercilessly insulted by Ruyi and her lackeys. The consorts who fancied themselves noble ladies mocked and ridiculed her for her low birth, and Ruyi's laughable prayer-flag plot left her pow 2.1kReads8.3Score215Shelves
33. 33 穿 After Transmigrating into a Book and Starting a Rebellion, the Yandere Puppy Thinks I'm Too Crazy 穿书造反后病娇小狗嫌我太疯骨 Qian Ye Bai千夜百Ancient Romance208k WordsOngoing [Not a flower and an old cow; same-age leads] [Both pure] [One-on-one] [Xin Xi and Tan Wangchen] [Both powerful, with the female lead stronger] Xin Xi came from another world. Beneath her calm expression lay a quiet, almost obsessive madness. She had no desire to return home, and was wholly absorbed in an unfinished game... The System forced her to become the original male lead's empress and bear his children. The enemy nation's gloomy, obsessive hostage prince hated her because she was like a m 106Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both of these books feature composed female protagonists; the first focuses on political intrigue, while the second has more romance.

34. 34 我 I Tormented the Lovesick Psycho a Thousand Times, and He Gave Me a Golden Chain 我虐病娇千百遍，病娇送我金锁链 Amidst Misty Rain on the Terrace楼台烟雨中Ancient Romance337k WordsCompleted A possessive, jealous, lovesick male lead × a gentle, sunny, principled female lead "Both virgins, confinement, mild coercion, a groveling chase for love + happy ending" Shen Wan transmigrated into The Sickly Lover's Handbook as the vicious supporting female character who brutally tormented the male lead, Xiao Yue, body and soul, only to be beheaded by him and fed to the dogs. Looking at the male lead before her, whom the original owner had seized as a slave and who had yet to conquer the world, 3.1kReads8.9Score352Shelves
35. 35 反 The Villainess Kills with Her Beauty 反派她以美貌杀人 Shattered Starlight夜空碎光Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted (The heroine is a true villain. If you prefer morally upright characters, read with caution.) She was the villain of a book, but she never knew it. But what did that matter? Her beloved was dead. How could those responsible for his death be allowed to live? She toyed with the world in the palm of her hand, laying schemes within schemes and concealing deadly intent at every turn. Her gentle nature and ethereal beauty were both weapons, and no one could stand in the way of her revenge. The person 4.1kReads9.4Score479Shelves

    Reader note

    1. Both the male and female leads are inherently rebellious, gradually carving out their own power in the treacherous political arena. 2. The story features a villainous second female lead, a trope common in traditional Chinese romance novels, but presents a different perspective on this gentle yet ruthless female villain. 3. The female lead is incredibly intelligent, courageous, resourceful, and possesses a clear and rational mind.

36. 36 清 Qing Transmigration: Kangxi's Nine Sons Hear My Inner Thoughts 清穿：康熙九龙听到我心声后 Little Falling Leaves落木小小Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Sharp-tongued heroine + one-on-one romance later + Kangxi and the Nine Princes can read the heroine's thoughts + not historically accurate + comedic palace and household intrigue with plenty of detail, and the heroine doesn't suffer in silence + most supporting characters are smart] Wen Yao is a chatterbox, known for her endless stream of snark. When she transmigrated, things were different for her... Everyone else got a System, but all she had left was a gossip panel, abandoned by her System a 10.1kReads9.0Score922Shelves
37. 37 错 After a Mistaken Marriage to the Heir, She Spends Every Day Showering Him with Sweets 错嫁世子后，她每天都在撒糖 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [Reborn + mutually devoted sweet romance + revenge and household intrigue] Jiang Rong was deceived her entire life, and only learned the truth when she was on the verge of death. Returned to ten years earlier, she found herself fleeing an arranged marriage to elope. Jiang Rong gave the scoundrel a thorough beating, then turned around and went back to the prince’s manor to marry. The husband she had run from was Xie Lingxi, heir to the Northern Prince. In her previous life, he had protected he 34.9kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is reborn. The male lead died saving her in his previous life. In this life, the female lead is very affectionate towards the male lead, who initially thinks she's "possessed by the Yellow Springs" and is acting strangely. The two are still quite sweet together, though the female lead is also cunning and manipulative, playing a game of wits where you know the truth but are powerless to stop it. The supporting characters are also very well-developed.

38. 38 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Trust me, if you don't fit the bill, come find me. [Staring][Thinking][Strike hard][Staring]

39. 39 惊 Shock! Reborn on the Eve of My Family's Execution, I Say Let's Rebel 惊！重生回满门抄斩前夜，造反吧 Yi Yangcheng衣漾澄Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Rebirth + feel-good story with a powerful heroine + family and country + political intrigue] A cool-headed, cunning heroine who plans several moves ahead + a brilliant, devoted yet restrained male lead who serves as a high-ranking official at the Court of Judicial Review In her previous life, the entire Ning family, loyal to the throne for generations, was slaughtered. To avenge them, Ning Zhiwei led an army of a hundred thousand to marry Su Mingjin, helping him with all her might as he rebelle 27.3kReads9.3Score3.3kShelves

    Reader note

    It's really beautiful.

40. 40 她 After She Ascends the Throne, She Takes a New Husband, Leaving Her Ex to Weep 她登基后换了夫，新夫不见旧夫哭 Rabbit Purple Moonrise兔紫月上Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (Power! It's a woman's second face! She loves it!) (1V2 + advancing the nation through technology + two men competing for her, only to end up regretting it) Lu Jichen: He is an ill-omened man. On the day his elder brother got married, they smeared dog blood all over his face and locked him in a cellar. Later, she brought him out, washed his hands, let him sit at the table, fed him, and paid for his education. Wei Chiyuan: He is the young lord of an aristocratic clan; she is a young widow. One sc 17.2kReads9.3Score2.1kShelves
41. 41 暴 The Tyrant Tormented Me? I'll Turn Around, Seduce the Powerful Eunuch, and Seize His Empire 暴君虐我？转身勾搭权宦夺他江山 Green Mountain Has Its Say青山有辞Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted For eight years in the palace, Xiangjun fought to get ahead and tried to please everyone, yet the palace’s noble masters still ground her down, used her, humiliated her, and cast her aside... Those nobles basked in all the wealth of the realm atop heaps of corpses and bones, yet mocked her for trying her hardest and not knowing her place. In the end, the child Xiangjun risked her life to bear called her enemy “Mother,” while Xiangjun was cut open alive so the baby could be taken from her. She di 115.2kReads9.6Score16.6kShelves

    Reader note

    This is a direct manifestation of the ego, where no one can overpower the female lead; the ego simply kills the emperor and takes over himself.

42. 42 逢 The Lantern-Bearing Chronicles 逢灯纪 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance982k WordsCompleted (Signed for publication, with screen adaptation rights sold) You're the daughter of a marquis. You want to take your mother's dowry and remains with you? Done. I'll take the dowry and remains, and bring you your mother's divorce papers as well as your own severance papers cutting ties with your family. You were declared dead and became an invisible person behind your brothers. You want to live like a normal person again? Done. I'll restore your name and identity, and make sure you receive the en 87kReads9.3Score12.7kShelves
43. 43 长EN After the Grand Princess Is Reborn, the Chief Grand Secretary Can No Longer Sit Still 长公主重生后，首辅大人坐不住了 Dong Chichi董迟迟Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted [Rebirth + Political Intrigue + Powerful Hero and Heroine + Plenty of Foreshadowing + Serious Ensemble Cast] [Charming, Alluring, Sweet-Natured Yet Cunning Eldest Princess + Autocratic, Possessive Chief Grand Secretary] [Important: This is NOT a wish-fulfillment novel!!!] As a princess, Zhao Huiluan lived in luxury and honor, yet died in the prime of her life. Reborn, she finally realized that all the countless honors and favors she had once been proud of were nothing but illusions. Power is saf 5.4kReads9.2Score744Shelves

    Reader note

    💃🏻Nini's Book Recommendations📖 ❶✨A charming, seemingly innocent but actually cunning princess vs. A domineering, jealous prime minister. A political intrigue novel🦋 Both leads are intelligent, reborn, the plot is fast-paced, the characters are well-developed and realistic! ❷✨A hypocritical, ruthless, and powerful young lady vs. A fierce and unyielding general. I love this feeling of absolute power. Everyone's a villain, but the resourceful heroine and loyal hero are a perfect match!!

44. 44 与 Joy with You 与君欢 Moonset月落Ancient Romance657k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] A young king and queen join hands to bring peace to the realm, brimming with ambition! A sinister, calculating ruler versus a clever, decisive queen: evenly matched, they win the world together! Jiang He, daughter of an envoy from Qi, was forced to enter the palace as a servant after her mother died and her father disappeared. Then, just before the marriage alliance, the princess of Qi died a tragic death, leaving 27kReads9.5Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    💥💥💥This book is amazing! The female lead is incredibly intelligent, and the male lead falls for her every day. However, the female lead is very clear-headed; she knows what she truly wants. Highly recommended!

45. 45 骨 Her Bones Are Yet Cold, Her Vengeance Unfulfilled: The Wicked Woman Returns from Hell 骨未寒，仇未报，恶女她从地狱来 Jiyue Ying霁月萤Ancient Romance128k WordsOngoing [Revenge after being reborn + the whole family gets what they deserve, no forgiveness + satisfying inner-courtyard drama] In her previous life, Gu Han Yin was framed by her fiancé and adopted daughter. On the eve of her wedding, everyone caught her in bed with another man. That same day, the adopted daughter stole her identity, became the most favored young lady in the marquis's residence, rose to prominence, and married into the heir's household. They ruined her reputation, trampled over her 49Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend this book!! It's a story of a wicked woman reborn for revenge. It's not mindless or frustrating; it's super satisfying to slap faces and punish scumbags. Chapter 1: Reborn and rampaging through the world; Chapter 3: Slapping everyone in the face; Chapter 5: Catching the scumbag and the bitch in bed together; Chapter 6: The traitorous maid is beaten to death.

46. 46 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
47. 47 读 After Reading His Mind, the Mad Tyrant Decides to Turn Over a New Leaf 读心后，疯批暴君决定洗白 Picking Flowers in the Wind风中折花Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration into a book + woman disguised as a man + mind reading + wish fulfillment + two powerful leads + both leads are devoted to each other] Song Yunchu transmigrates into the tragic villainous chancellor from a melodramatic novel, who dies horribly. According to the original story, she will first be dismissed from office and imprisoned by the villainous emperor, then shot through the heart with a rain of arrows by the male lead, Prince Yi, whom she loves. After weighing her options, So 29.6kReads9.3Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist is a master strategist, ruthless and cunning, skilled in both literature and martial arts, second only to the emperor. On the surface, she's a close friend of the Yellow Emperor, but in reality, she curses him constantly in her heart. It's a very interesting novel; both the male and female protagonists are highly intelligent.

48. 48 主 The Matriarch Shines Alone, and Her Cold-Faced Husband Falls for Her 主母独美，冷面夫君沦陷了 Cool Moonlit Night凉月夜Ancient Romance661k WordsCompleted Top star Zhu Qing'an transmigrated into a book. She landed in the body of a cannon-fodder character with the same name, and opened her eyes on her wedding night? The novel was a tragic romance full of angst. As the vicious female supporting character, the original Zhu Qing'an was naturally ruthless. When she couldn’t have the man she loved, she lashed out and killed everyone, leaving no survivors. The entire cast got a bad ending! So there was no way she was consummating the marriage. Besides, s 1.3kReads8.4Score113Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is incredibly intelligent and cunning. This book is truly amazing! If you're someone who doesn't know how to manipulate men, come and read this! From the very beginning, the female lead is all about physical intimacy and no emotional connection. Only after she has thoroughly trained the male lead to know how to love, does she finally give him her heart.

49. 49 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

    The characters are all stripped of their saintly facades, revealing the complexities and multifaceted nature of humanity. Readers who accept the darker side of human nature will have a better reading experience.

50. 50 千 Qian Jinhuan 千锦欢 Yun Lingge云翎歌Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Completed · [A highly intelligent amnesiac fake princess x a cold, scheming prince] [Not a mindless power fantasy] [Both devoted to each other + classic historical romance + no transmigration, rebirth, or System + political intrigue + doting romance + reunion after a long separation + devotion to country and family + exclusive devotion + the one who got away + happy ending] For twenty years, the second prince of Nantang, Chu Jinyuan, has kept his guard up and trusted no one, until Hua Qianmei ar 501Reads8.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This story fits the bill: the female lead is a fake princess with amnesia, destined to marry a cunning and ruthless male lead. She must uncover her true identity while simultaneously avoiding being exposed and executed. Both leads are exceptionally intelligent, engaging in a battle of wits.

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