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. 101 谢 Empress of the Xie Family 谢家皇后 Song of the Yue People越人歌Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In her first year in the palace, she is a Talented Lady. In her fifth, she is a Jieyu. In her tenth, she wants to become empress. As empress, she can hold on to everything she treasures and keep it from being taken away. She can protect herself and her child, and she can... stay by his side. This is a road with only one direction: take a single step back, and all will be lost. The bright yellow ceremonial parasol moves forward, and the emperor's procession slowly enters the city gate. A yellow p 8.9kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves
2. 102 惊 Shocking! The Legitimate Princess Defies Fate Every Day! 惊！嫡公主她每天都在逆天改命！ Ran Qiqi冉七柒Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Female-led power fantasy + ruthless, unhinged heroine + an extreme “I’d rather betray others than let them betray me” mentality] Xuan Mingyao was reborn at the age of seven, back before anything had happened. Though she was the empress’s legitimate daughter, a princess treated like royalty, her younger brother, the crown prince, was about to die of illness. Her mother would soon be consumed by worry, grow estranged from the emperor, and eventually be deposed in the witchcraft scandal. Overnight 28kReads9.4Score3.8kShelves

   Reader note

   Both of these are examples. The first book features a princess who ascends the throne through her own efforts. Although she has a younger brother, there's no sibling rivalry. There's a scene where she poisons someone on ice, which really surprised me. There's no romantic pairing, but she has a harem after becoming queen. The second book features a strategist who is somewhat soft and gentle around family and friends, but becomes incredibly calm and wise once she starts plotting and doing serious business—a very striking contrast.

3. 103 重 Reborn: The Wronged Couple, Emperor and Empress, Have Both Returned 重生之怨侣帝后都回来了 Camphor Doesn't Have the Surname Xiang香樟不姓萫Ancient Romance191k WordsOngoing [Reborn] + [Court Intrigue] + [A Doomed Couple’s Mysteries] + [Past and Present Lives] On her wedding day, Shen Qingwu was murdered. Her father was framed for treason because of her, and his entire family was executed. When she opened her eyes again, twenty years had passed. Reborn as a peasant girl named Zhao He, she woke to find herself being hunted. What? The original girl was her own descendant? Why had the emperor ordered the extermination of everyone named Shen? What secret lay behind her —Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   It's definitely a story of political intrigue, but unlike others, the emperor and empress, murdered by a conspiracy, are reborn twenty years later. They investigate the truth of their past lives under new identities. The plot is intricately woven, with no female rivalry, only political maneuvering, and minimal romance.

4. 104 王 After the Prince Was Poisoned, He Clung to Me, a Forensic Doctor 王爷中毒后，赖上我这小法医 He Sheng鹤笙Ancient Romance2.2M WordsCompleted [Published novel + forensic pathologist + revenge + two strong, devoted leads + satisfying revenge + powerful characters + redemption] She is Qu Zhen, the top female forensic pathologist at the National Security Bureau in the 21st century. Her jade-like hands have dissected the dead and saved the living. With a simple flip of her hand, she can turn the clouds and bring on the rain. But after a mission goes wrong, her soul transmigrates to another world. When she opens her eyes again, she is the 6.8kReads9.1Score957Shelves

   Reader note

   📚 Just finished reading *The Imperial Physician's Splendor*, and I couldn't put it down! The character Qu Zhen is so powerful! A modern forensic doctor transmigrates to ancient times, skillfully dissecting corpses and saving lives—she's a true heroine! Revenge, suspense, and romance—the plot is so gripping it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Especially the interactions between her and that "crippled" man—so sweet yet heart-wrenching! If you enjoy stories with strong, clean-cut leads, this is a must-read! 🔥

5. 105 重 Reborn and Doted On: The War God's Brilliant Physician Wife 重生娇宠，战神王爷的医品悍妃 Jade Ink, Sparse Shadows锦墨疏影Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Super sweet, no angst + Reborn for revenge + Decisive and ruthless + Two strong leads, neither saintly] In her previous life, the Crown Prince schemed against her. On her wedding day, she went from being the legitimate princess consort of Prince Li to the Crown Prince’s secondary consort. She did everything she could to help him take the throne, only to see her entire family wiped out and die pierced by a rain of arrows. Reborn on the eve of her wedding, she won’t give the Crown Prince another 2.7kReads9.3Score452Shelves
6. 106 大 Building Infrastructure in the Great Qin! Ying Zheng Discovers I’m a Woman 大秦搞基建！我女儿身被嬴政发现 Chu Jian Ci楚见辞Ancient Romance663k WordsCompleted The second part of this book is complete, so you can read with confidence!٩(๑ᵒ̴̶̷͈᷄ᗨᵒ̴̶̷͈᷅)و Transmigrates into a younger body + adored by everyone + no CP + career-focused + System + infrastructure building + cute pets + unifies the Six Kingdoms + changes the fate of dying in the second generation After attending a friend's Hanfu gathering, Zhao Jiuyuan was urged by his father back home in Hanzhong. As he drove through a tunnel, he somehow entered a time tunnel and transmigrated to the Qin Empi 15.7kReads9.4Score2.3kShelves

   Reader note

   This is super good, so strategic!

7. 107 疯 A Madwoman Transmigrates Into a Powerful Figure, and the Empire Goes Off the Rails 疯批穿成大佬后，江山开始癫了 The Snail Who Types码字的蜗牛Ancient Romance510k WordsCompleted Su Tang transmigrated into a book, becoming a minor female character who dies in chapter three of a rebirth novel. But she soon discovered that the original owner had powerful connections and was a remarkably skilled fighter. This start actually seemed pretty good. Her awful relatives like making trouble? No problem. A few beatings will teach them to behave. The female lead wants to foist her gay fiancé on her? Sounds good. She has to get married anyway, and at least the guy’s good-looking. The 3.8kReads9.0Score368Shelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist leverages her own strengths, employing tactics such as borrowing power and strategic maneuvering to both precisely resolve immediate crises and steadily advance her goal of overthrowing the old order. This reduces obstacles on her path to power and facilitates the smoother progress of her ambition to overthrow the regime.

8. 108 福 The Lucky Little Princess 福气小王妃 Cuckoo布谷鸟Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Jiang Muxue: “It's strange. How did I get noticed by the Prince Yu's household after just one trip to a temple?” Before they met, Li Jingheng: “This is ridiculous. I've somehow been engaged without even knowing how it happened.” After they met, Li Jingheng: “This engagement isn't so bad after all.” After they married, Li Jingheng: “Imperial Uncle, I don't want to take any concubines.” Jiang Muxue's ideal life was to have a little money and grow trees and flowers. But she unexpectedly became eng 12.8kReads9.0Score1.3kShelves
9. 109 穿 Transmigrated as a Treacherous Minister's Legitimate Daughter, She Plays the Part to Perfection 穿成奸臣嫡女，她本色出演 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance565k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + Career-focused early on + Sweet romance + One-on-one romance + Both leads are devoted to each other] [Two-faced, ruthless minister's daughter × Wild, formidable iron-faced general] The ruler of the business world transmigrates into a book overnight, becoming the daughter of the treacherous chancellor. She throws her weight around and commits every kind of evil, with the label “vicious supporting female character” practically branded onto her. She's madly pursuing the 86.4kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Some are being serialized.

10. 110 女 The Vicious Villainess in a Matriarchal World Raises Her Fish Online 女尊恶獠在线养鱼 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Matriarchal society + sweet romance + one-on-one + devoted to each other] [Calculating and ruthless princess × obedient, loyal guard] The capital's good-for-nothing Second Princess is beaten in the street by another woman for pursuing a man, then crashes into a stone lion. After recovering from her serious injuries, the Second Princess seems like a completely different person: kind to others, uninterested in competing, and always helping her sisters. It isn't until the day this powerful princes 15.1kReads9.5Score1.6kShelves
11. 111 科 Imperial Exam Triumph: The Strongest Female Grand Secretary 科举逆袭：最强女首辅 Dressed in Splendor宝妆成Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted After finally becoming the first female heir in her family, she opens her eyes and finds herself back before the revolution. Her father is dead from the start, leaving her with a frail mother and three beautiful older sisters. She is the only son who can carry on the Cheng family line... Cheng Qing looks down at her slightly developed chest, wondering what on earth went wrong. Surrounded by scheming wolves, Cheng Qing, now with a new soul in her body, sets herself two small goals: First, keep pr 8.5kReads9.5Score1.3kShelves
12. 112 宠EN Favoring a Concubine and Disgracing Your Wife? I Quit as the Marquisate's Matriarch! 宠妾灭妻？这侯门主母我不当了！ Li Wu礼午Ancient Romance598k WordsCompleted [Annual Top-Rated Novel Ranking] Voting has begun! Search for “Annual Top-Rated Novel Ranking” to vote for this book, A Return to the Boudoir. Thank you! [Traditional historical romance + inner-courtyard drama + reborn revenge and face-slapping + a prince pursues his wife] Lin Yunwan was the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Lin clan. When her Marquis household was on the verge of losing its title, she married Lu Zhengliu, the heir to the marquisate. On their wedding day, her husband coldly 54.8kReads9.3Score7.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This is an incredibly powerful female protagonist novel! The heroine defies fate, not only changing her tragic ending from her previous life, but also conquering battlefields and quelling rebellions, leading the people to a peaceful and prosperous life. Her epic journey from a noblewoman to the throne is magnificent! It opens a new chapter in women's governance! The writing is consistently excellent, the plot is well-developed, the characters are vividly portrayed, and the whole book has a grand scale. Those who enjoy stories of national and familial love shouldn't miss it!! A reborn female protagonist versus a self-important transmigrated woman—who wins and who loses? I stayed up several nights reading it!!

13. 113 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

    Reader note

    Bai Hui comes from a distinguished family: her mother is a favored princess, her uncle is the reigning emperor, her maternal grandmother is the empress dowager, and her brother is a young general. From a young age, she received training under her grandmother's tutelage. While outwardly gentle and graceful, she is actually highly skilled in martial arts and decisive in battle. Despite her low-key demeanor, Bai Hui still arouses the jealousy of her half-sister. In their battle of wits, Bai Hui unexpectedly discovers that her half-sister is a reincarnated person. However, even reborn, her half-sister remains foolish, attempting to steal Bai Hui's talent and status, and even coveting her fiancé. Bai Hui remains calm, devising a counterattack that thwarts her half-sister's schemes one by one.

14. 114 汴 Spring Deepens in Bianjing 汴京春深 Wheat小麦Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Audio version now available, welcome to listen] Madam Rongguo, Wang Fu, devoted herself to her family until she fell gravely ill and died. She was reborn in the body of Meng Jiuniang, a foolish illegitimate daughter who was only seven years old. In her previous life, her husband became her uncle in this life, and her son became her cousin. In this life, Meng Wan had a simple wish: to live peacefully and watch her son, her cousin Su Fang in this life, grow up safe and sound. But as she and a gro 18.9kReads9.5Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Some people's brains are just... How did they even grow up? Someone like me, who's not very bright, still loves reading stories with brains! [Facepalm][Facepalm] [Heart] I transmigrated into a book, into the male lead's cannon fodder wife—the kind who dies. Whatever, it's a marriage swap, right? Fine, nobody should regret it! [Attention][Attention]

15. 115 她 She Finds It Tiresome 她对此感到厌烦 Feihe妚鹤Anime Fanfiction315k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + No Romance + Western Fantasy + Female Awakening + Strong Female Lead] At a friend’s recommendation, player 6237486 bought a dating sim called The Goddess Chronicle. But she never expected to transmigrate into the game and become its heroine, Lilith. Even after successfully winning over the male lead, Lilith didn’t return to reality. To escape the game, she had no choice but to complete every route. Round after round, she replayed the game, winning over all the male leads and re 46.8kReads9.7Score7.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Career-driven female protagonist, female-oriented novels featuring powerful female protagonists and intrigue! All three are exceptionally well-written; the first two are set in ancient times, and the third is a Western fantasy.

16. 116 死 The Dead Concubine Becomes the Duke’s Mansion’s Cousin Miss 死去的外室她成了国公府的表小姐 Heavy Snow in May五月下大雪Ancient Romance1.6M WordsOngoing Original title: Passing as a Noblewoman [Historical ensemble cast] [Power struggles] [Not reborn] [Plot-driven] [Romance] [Male lead is sexually inexperienced] [Ensemble cast, multiple protagonists, multiple perspectives] [Pei Yuehuan and Chen Man are both heroines. The protagonist field cannot be changed after the contract is signed, so it lists the main pairing of this story.] The imperial capital holds many secrets, and much resentment. There are merchants falsely accused and thrown into pris 42.4kReads9.4Score4.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! Everyone in the cast is intelligent; there are no purely good or bad characters! Each character has their own shining moments.

17. 117 萧 Xiao Xiao Turns Toward the Southern Branch 萧萧向南枝 Mu Jiu霂九Ancient Romance134k WordsOngoing The Ghost King, Nan Zhi, awakens amid a chaotic age, burdened with the feud between two clans and the mission of rebuilding the demon race. Clad in red and proud before the world, sharp-witted and perceptive, she gradually lifts the layers of gloom veiling the troubled world, and step by step enters the “deadly trap” he laid for her. Lost memories and feelings from this life intertwine; hidden truths and blurred lines between right and wrong overlap. He stays by her side, journeying with her and 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Here, the female lead is meticulous and the male lead is cunning, creating a powerful tug-of-war between them.

18. 118 恶 The Villainess Becomes the Legitimate Daughter: I'm Just Pretending, Don't Get Too Attached 恶女成嫡：我装的，你们别太爱了 Peach Blossoms Reflected in Wine桃花映酒Ancient Romance617k WordsCompleted (Print edition goes on sale at 7 p.m. on September 19 / Several short animated adaptations are now streaming) [Wicked Villainess Transmigrates into a Book + Total Control + “Training Dogs” Romance + Male Rivals in a Shura Field + Exes Begging for Her Back + Face-Slapping and Scumbag Punishment] [The heroine is a true villainess: a stunning, calculating temptress who never hesitates to manipulate others] Jiang Chuji, the legitimate daughter of the prime minister, was an ill-fated girl sent to a t 59.7kReads9.4Score8kShelves

    Reader note

    My lips were constantly twitching while watching; the female lead was really treating the male leads like dogs! Even after being treated like dogs, they were still begging for her love, and they all knew they were just fish in her pond.

19. 119 窃 The Book of Stolen Lives 窃命书 Heavy Snow in May五月下大雪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of this book, A Book of Ashes and Joy, premieres at 12:15 a.m. on February 13. If you're interested, keep an eye out! [Regains control after being possessed | Not a wish-fulfillment story | Plot-driven | Light ensemble cast] Lin Ruochu, the legitimate daughter of a general's family, was possessed during her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. The transmigrated woman, sold off by a System, used every means to “win over” the young heir of a marquis's estate. She turned e 37.6kReads9.4Score5.7kShelves
20. 120 重 Reborn as the Villainess to Protect My Family: I’ll Save Grandma and My Sister 重生恶女守家：祖母阿姐我都要 Qu Wei去微Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiang Zhiyue was deceived by her stepmother into doing many terrible things, earning her a notorious reputation. Her elder siblings died because of her, and she was accused of plotting to kill her grandmother. Her eyes were blinded, her voice stolen, and the tendons in all four limbs severed. In the end, she was thrown into a river, still full of resentment. Her stepmother then used the corpses of her blood relatives to claim her mother's title as Duchess of the State. When 14.1kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Framed and killed, I'm reborn. Watch how I stir up trouble and protect my family.

21. 121 榜 Catch a Husband at the Results Board, and My Scheming Groom Is Irresistible 榜下捉婿，腹黑夫君太撩人 Optimistic Sunflower乐天派向日葵Ancient Romance347k WordsCompleted [Clear-eyed, wealthy beauty VS scheming, devoted top scholar] [Marriage First, Love Later; Sweet Romance] Zhao Wanqing, the legitimate daughter of Prince An of the Great Yue Dynasty, was frail as a child. At the abbot’s guidance at Xiangguo Temple, she learned that she needed to marry someone whose Four Pillars of Destiny were purely yang. Prince An loved his daughter dearly. He followed every lead until he found her destined match, then shamelessly begged the emperor to arrange the marriage, fi 6.5kReads9.1Score822Shelves

    Reader note

    Super good!!! It's a story of a legitimate daughter's intrigue, full of palace intrigue, domestic power struggles, and face-slapping moments. Both of this author's books are excellent, without time travel or reincarnation elements. They have solid literary skills and are purely ancient romance novels!

22. 122 心 The Scheming Beauty's Conquest Notes 心机美人的攻略手札 Drink a Little Less Milk Tea少喝1点奶茶Ancient Romance582k WordsCompleted Jiang Fu swore from a young age that she would climb the social ladder and marry into a powerful family. She was willing to use any means necessary. On the eve of the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter’s wedding, the groom’s side was rocked by a scandal of epic proportions. Jiang Ruyue, who had been pampered all her life, immediately refused to marry him. So the Jiang family secretly brought back Jiang Fu, the concubine-born daughter who had been raised far away. The Jiang family looked down on 4.8kReads9.3Score612Shelves

    Reader note

    Read and enjoy! ☘️ The Jiang family looked down on Jiang Fu, who came from a small town, and only planned to find a substitute bride to suffer in her place when the wedding day arrived. However, the Jiang family never expected that in the days leading up to the wedding, one after another, powerful and influential young men would step into their home…

23. 123 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

    How does one become a favored concubine? It's definitely not about luck. It's about the heroine's lifelong understanding of imperial psychology and human nature, and her meticulous planning at every step.

24. 124 男 Keep All That Male Beauty Away! I Only Want the Throne! 男色通通闪开，本宫只想要登基！ Nan Wanxu南婉徐Ancient Romance436k WordsCompleted [Reborn + strong female lead + true and false princesses + woman ascends the throne + political intrigue] Would being the founding emperor’s only daughter, surrounded by handsome men, be amazing? Lan Zhaoyu says it’s not amazing at all! All she wants is to be a sovereign with no spouse, in the literal sense: an unmarried empress! Her father handpicked legitimate sons from distinguished noble families, all accomplished in both civil and military arts, and adopted them as his sons. They all fawned 2.3kReads9.1Score365Shelves

    Reader note

    A female protagonist's intrigue and power struggles. The female lead possesses abilities, strategies, wisdom, and methods; the story is highly engaging and extremely enjoyable.

25. 125 嚯 What?! The Male Courtesan Kept by the Fallen Princess Is the Enemy Crown Prince 嚯！亡国公主养的小倌是敌国太子 Colony PCR菌落PCRAncient Romance543k WordsCompleted [Strong Heroine + Political Intrigue + Mutual Devotion + One-on-One, Both Virgins + Satisfying Read] A calculating, responsible, fabulously wealthy heroine with a ton of secret identities who isn’t a good person × A hero who was abandoned after being used, turned dark, and shamelessly clings to her, wanting nothing more than to be her dog After her former fiancé’s family schemed against her, she narrowly escaped being sent to an enemy state for a political marriage. Did Chi Nanzhi cry? No! She 112Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A male prostitute? A prince? After three years of this, she left him with a ten-thousand-tael breakup fee, thinking she'd never see him again. But the male prostitute is stubbornly persistent, refusing to leave. "It's alright, I have money. Supporting a male prostitute won't cost much." But why does the prince at a foreign palace banquet look exactly like the male prostitute? Can she support thousands upon thousands of male prostitutes, or even a prince of a nation?! [Sparrow's Masterpiece][Already Added to My Bookshelf]

26. 126 娘 The Empress Is So Cunning, Her Political Rivals Are Doomed 娘娘心机太深，政敌要被玩死了 No Worries, No Worries无烦无烦Ancient Romance416k WordsOngoing [Female-Led Political Intrigue, Workplace Power Fantasy, Ruthless in the Later Stages, Interlocking Cases] Just how satisfying is a truly career-driven female lead? She takes an eighth-rank county deputy and raises her to a third-rank official, and turns a palace maid who swept floors into the head of the Six Bureaus. A maid in her service is getting married? She gets a lavish wedding outfit and a procession stretching ten miles! Want to build a career? Pick any prime shop in the capital! The he 98Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The author is incredibly perceptive; every action is imbued with meaning, and a single glance reveals a new thought. The plot flows smoothly and captivatingly; the author uses three storylines to destroy a single character, demonstrating exceptional cunning. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a slow-burning narrative with political intrigue.

27. 127 黑 The Crown of the Dark Moon 黑月光冠冕 Three Lives, Three Three叁生三三Modern Romance2.5M WordsCompleted [The first print volume is now available] [Sweet Romance in a Wealthy Family] + [A Forbidden Love Falls from Its Pedestal] + [Characters Awaken] + [A Chaotic Love Rival Showdown] “You are a cannon-fodder character in this world. Your character tags are: beautiful, vicious, and stupid. When you were eight, you were adopted by the Shen family, the most powerful family in Whale Harbor. The head of the family treasured you like a gem, but you joined forces with your villainous mother to scheme agai 310.8kReads9.5Score42.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book is a collection of stories about power struggles within a wealthy family, featuring both overt and covert schemes; it's exceptionally well-written.

28. 128 望 Longing for the Remaining Snow 望余雪 Ji Xin稷馨Ancient Romance338k WordsCompleted Cui Jinzhi was a member of the Time Administration, and she had one final mission. She had to uncover why a small world had fallen into chaos and why its plot had collapsed. After observing it for a long time, she discovered only that the people were suffering because of their ruler's incompetence. So she disguised herself as a man and worked her way up to become the world's prime minister. Using her own efforts, she stabilized the chaot 1.2kReads9.3Score127Shelves

    Reader note

    🌾🌾🌾①A cold and aloof female prime minister & a stoic and seemingly innocent but actually cunning prince. This book is incredibly good! It's a court intrigue novel where the female lead disguises herself as a man to enter officialdom, working her way up to the position of prime minister. She single-handedly stabilizes the chaotic court situation and meticulously cultivates the male lead into a wise and benevolent ruler. It's truly amazing! I stumbled upon this underrated gem of a novel. The author's writing is skillful, the characters are well-developed, the immersion is incredibly strong, the plot is brilliant, and the logic is excellent. Highly recommended!

29. 129 天 The Heaven’s Chosen Decree: The General’s Daughter Rules the World 天骄令：将门娇娥独步天下 Fruit Is Scarce in the Northwest西北水果少Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Political intrigue]+ [Strong female lead]+ [Sweet romance]+ [Mutual devotion] The heroine’s story: In her previous life, Pei Zhao trusted the wrong person and died a miserable death. Reborn, she finds that even Heaven is playing a joke on her. Her father is killed in battle, her elder brother is gravely wounded, and the Duke of Dingguo’s residence, a family of loyal heroes who have served Northern Liang for a hundred years, is plunged into turmoil overnight. Pei Zhao braves the storm and fights 2.4kReads9.2Score377Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist is knowledgeable in military strategy and tactics; this is my favorite book! [Laughs][laughs]

30. 130 盛 Beloved Above All in a Golden Age, With the Land as Dowry 盛世独宠，山河为聘 Wilderness Siren荒野塞壬Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Male emperor and female monarch, political intrigue, devoted to each other, sweet romance, both leads are natives of a traditional historical setting] One was an emperor’s chosen star who brimmed with murderous rage; the other was a brilliant woman destined for a tragic fate. Yun Zhenzhen chose Chu Yu to protect her family and save her own life. To her, it was nothing more than a mutually willing bargain. But the bold, unrestrained man held her close and shielded her from every open attack and 1.1kReads9.1Score118Shelves
31. 131 让 She Tortures the Madman, Slays Her Way Through the Story, and Becomes Empress 让疯批受虐，她杀穿全文当女帝 Mirror Beyond the Clouds云外镜Ancient Romance676k WordsCompleted [No romance + strong female lead + career-focused story + frail, villainous woman + cold-blooded lunatic + woman disguises herself as a man + a touch of political intrigue + not a brainless power fantasy] After going on a killing spree in the cultivation world in her previous life, Xie Nanzui is sentenced by the Heavenly Dao to become the heroine of an ancient-style novel full of physical and emotional torment. In the original story, the heroine is used by the male lead's first love. The other w 347Reads8.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both of these are about strong female protagonists, ruthless and devoid of love… The first one is about a woman who skillfully manipulates even family ties; there are emotions involved, but not many. The second one, as the title suggests…

32. 132 京 The Capital's Darling: Every Young Master Falls for Her 京圈万人迷，少爷们全部沦陷 Wooden Raisin木提子Modern Romance355k WordsCompleted [A timid, dark little wretch, weak-hearted but hard-hearted, who stabs you while tearfully apologizing, versus a pack of mad dogs, once noble and arrogant but dragged from their lofty pedestals] Yi Ning first met Si Mingxian in the courtyard house of the Shi family in the imperial capital. Back then, she was just an orphan from the countryside, and he was so proud and aloof he didn’t even look at her. A little sparrow with its feathers still ruffled flew into Phoenix Terrace and glimpsed a corne 1.5kReads8.7Score171Shelves
33. 133 贫 Just a Poor Rogue Cultivator. Why Are You Kneeling, Fellow Daoist? 贫穷散修一枚，道友何故下跪？ Knife, Medicine, Pen刀药笔Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [No romance, ensemble cast] [A goofy trio of wandering cultivators] [Female-led cultivation progression, few scenes involving children, skip if that bothers you] Song Li transmigrates into a cultivation novel as the evil female supporting character. After bullying the heroine, she is thrown by her own brother into the Abandoned Infant Pagoda, where she dies at the hands of countless vengeful infant spirits. Waking inside the pagoda, she looks at the crying spirits and says, “I can be your mother 31.8kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    💫💫💫This book is so good! The female lead, Song Li, is the brains of the trio. She outwits and outmaneuvers the villains, always thinking ten steps ahead. Her intelligence is exceptional. The plot is full of twists and turns, and every character is vividly portrayed.

34. 134 重 Reborn as a Man: Feng Qiansui Rules the Court 重生女扮男装：凤千岁权倾朝野 A Duo Guli阿朵古丽Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Completed. Villainess + woman disguising herself as a man + reborn + strong heroine + no romance The heroine is a true villain: greedy, ruthless, highly skilled in martial arts, and sharp-tongued! Scene One: Asking the Emperor for money Emperor: “I appoint you imperial inspector for the south. Investigate the affairs in Xuzhou thoroughly. If you find anyone committing crimes and undermining the state, and verify the evidence, punish them according to the law! I grant you this golden badge. Whoev 982Reads9.2Score130Shelves
35. 135 天 Peace Under Heaven 天下长安 Lan Jia Sanshao蓝家三少Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted Princess Yiyang of Dazhao is breathtakingly beautiful, ruthless, and cruel. While the late emperor still lived, she kept male favorites, amassed private troops, purged the imperial harem, and schemed for an heir. She was more brazen and domineering than the few useless princes. After the emperor died, she seized power, purged the court, killed senior officials, and placed a new emperor on the throne. She ruled as a woman who usurped a man’s role, controlled the court, and held the Son of Heaven 1.3kReads9.0Score147Shelves
36. 136 云 Where the Clouds and Mist Gather 云烟处 Yue Qingmeng月清梦Ancient Romance115k WordsCompleted [Jianghu + political intrigue + mystery + sweet romance + ensemble cast] A gentle, refined crown prince vs. his clever, quick-witted junior sister After receiving a secret letter, he rushed to Liangzhou. His master hurriedly sent his junior sister down the mountain to help. She knew medicine and martial arts, but was even better at drinking and running away. He never expected that before she’d had her fill of fun, her senior brother would be poisoned... An upright official praised by all con 4Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is sometimes lively and sometimes calm. Although he is the high-ranking crown prince, he only has one trusted guard by his side. He wants to go to the countryside to find his lost sister, but he is surrounded by dangers and difficulties. There are endless mysteries in the countryside and endless struggles in the palace. With only a female junior sister disguised as a man to help him, what kind of bloody storms will they experience?

37. 137 和 On the Day We Divorced, a Mad Beauty Snatched Me Away 和离当天，我被疯批美人抢走了 Little White Pile白色小乌堆Ancient Romance311k WordsCompleted Mutual devotion + a rival who gets his comeuppance + happy ending Synopsis One: Jiang Xueci transmigrated into a book, becoming the brainless heroine who still loved the male lead even after he slaughtered her entire family. Jiang Xueci: “Ha...” How is that any different from falling in love with the prime minister of Japan in the real world? Suffer for the male lead and then get back together with him? No way. I'll cling to the antagonist's leg instead. With the story in my hands, either I live 1.4kReads9.2Score159Shelves

    Reader note

    The pinnacle of female-oriented political intrigue novels; a truly excellent book whose title doesn't do it justice. I love the kind of ruthless, cunning, career-first-the-outside-relationships female protagonist who gradually defeats the transmigrated woman. Her inherent nobility is palpable throughout the entire book.

38. 138 开 Can a Cannon-Fodder Nobody Cultivate Immortality and Pilot a Mecha from the Start? 开局炮灰也能修仙开机甲吗？ Shui Yu Xueqing水玉雪青Ancient Romance215k WordsOngoing [Strong Female Lead + Instanced Dungeons + No Catfighting + Everyone's Favorite + Ensemble Cast + Political Intrigue + Not Reborn] On the eve of a chaotic age, Huai Zhen was stabbed to death and left with the infamy of being “a songstress who knew nothing of her country's impending doom.” She had hoped to be reborn in style, but a “Storybook Spirit” tried to tempt her: You're a cannon-fodder character in a tale. Want revenge? I can help you steal Su Ruyan's male lead! Huai Zhen: What kind of f —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this one! The female lead is incredibly smart. At the beginning, the book spirit tells her she's just cannon fodder in a storybook, but she doesn't believe it at all. She directly obtains the book spirit's core information. The plot is fantastic from the start. She first enters a modern-day instance to gain knowledge and improve her mental power, then returns to the mortal realm to begin a political intrigue storyline, and finally ascends to the throne as Empress. There should be even bigger storylines to come! The world-building is truly grand, the writing is excellent, and the imagination is amazing.

39. 139 侯 The Marquis's Estate Forgot Its Gratitude? The Regent Backs Me, and I Won't Forgive Them 侯府忘恩义？摄政王撑腰，不原谅 Chu Diandian初点点Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Luo Ning took a blade meant for the Empress Dowager and suffered severe injuries, trading her life for her family's noble title. She went south to recuperate for three years, but when she returned, she discovered that her maternal cousin had taken over her courtyard. Her cousin had even replaced her in every aspect. Luo Ning's parents and elder brother adored her, her grandmother favored her, and even Luo Ning's childhood sweetheart secretly admired her, saying that she surpassed Luo Ning in eve 180.6kReads9.4Score27kShelves

    Reader note

    It's incredibly good. The female lead is independent and strong-willed, calm and collected. Her relationship with the male lead develops naturally. But no matter what, she remains independent and clear-headed. It's a great read. The female lead is like a tree, striving to take root and sprout, and then sheltering others from the wind and rain. Every supporting character also has their own thoughts and stories, making it a very enjoyable read.

40. 140 父 If Father Doesn't Die, How Can His Daughter Ascend the Throne? 父皇不死女儿怎么登基 Xuxu Jiaqi栩栩佳期Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Court Intrigue + Ensemble Cast + Villainous Heroine + Dark Younger Brother, a Powerful Team] A scorpion and a venomous snake carve out a path through the treacherous imperial harem. When Li Ruyue was seven, she watched helplessly as the people from the Court of Judicial Review fabricated evidence to frame her mother. Her mother was sent to the Cold Palace, the Qin clan was charged with treason, and all 142 people in Zhaoyang Hall were slaughtered before her eyes. She sat in the blood, watching 3.4kReads9.1Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    This is truly a historical political intrigue novel, a multi-part ensemble piece. The female lead is simply amazing, amazing, amazing! You absolutely have to check it out!

41. 141 谢 The Xie Family's Older Spinster Becomes Empress 谢家的大龄剩女做皇后了 The Dream Wanderer回梦人Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation, "You Pretend to Be a Playboy, I Pretend to Be Blind. Let's See Who Can Keep Up the Act," has surpassed 2 billion views. Go check it out, everyone! [Female-oriented fiction. Male readers, enter at your own risk.] The Sixth Prince has no interest in fighting for the throne, so he decides to become a playboy. To convince everyone, he even deliberately marries a blind woman and proclaims it far and wide: A blind woman can't become empress, so rest assured, I have absolut 35.7kReads8.9Score4.8kShelves

    Reader note

    These are highly recommended; they feature strong female protagonists and are very satisfying reads.

42. 142 嫡 The Noble Daughter Shocks the Capital: Don't Mess With the Carefree Tower Master 嫡女惊华：逍遥楼主不好惹 A Floating Leaf浮叶一株Ancient Romance1.0M WordsOngoing Lin Weier transmigrates as the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, imperial merchants of the Great Yin Dynasty. Knowing the sorrow women face in this era and the enormous risks lurking within her family, Lin Weier resolves to take control of her own life! Disguising herself as a man under the name “Lin Mobai,” she uses the Lin family’s wealth to establish the Xiaoyao House, opening up a much broader path for her family. More than once, she secretly defuses deadly threats against them, giving 52Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist's gradual growth and efforts

43. 143 谁 Who Says I’m a Sickly Weakling? 谁说我是个病秧子 Author Zhong Xiaoqi作者钟小七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Mutually faithful + scheming + fast-paced + no needless angst + feel-good story + no torturous romance] The two overlooked, pitiful youngest members of the Xie and Lu families marry each other in place of their unreliable older siblings. Lu Xuan thinks, “I have to marry someone, so if it’s Xie Miao, that could be interesting.” Xie Miao thinks, “I have to marry someone, so if it’s Lu Xuan, that could be a relief.” You can have any kind of brain you like, but absolutely do not develop a love-stru 14.4kReads9.0Score1.6kShelves
44. 144 日 Drunk on the Road Home at Dusk 日暮醉归途 Mu Qiqi暮萋萋Ancient Romance2.2M WordsCompleted The cool, intelligent beauty Shui Qiaoyou, a general of the former dynasty, and the pure-hearted, reserved prince Chu Moli, a prince of the current dynasty Historical romance, no transmigration, no palace intrigue, no household drama, one-on-one romance, strong female lead. Shui Qiaoyou felt as though she’d merely fallen asleep. When she opened her eyes again, a hundred years had passed. Her homeland, family, and friends were like smoke, long since vanished into the river of time. Fate had left 13.4kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves
45. 145 演 I Played the Emperor My Whole Life, and After Being Reborn, He Still Wants the Crown Prince 演了皇上一辈子，重生他还要太子 One Little Sweet Fish一口小甜鱼Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Original title: Only After His Death Did He Learn That the Empress Did Not Want to Be Buried With Him [The heroine transmigrates, the hero is reborn] As he lay dying, Emperor Tianhe looked back on his eventful life. He had risen from humble beginnings to become the founding emperor, and the world praised his achievements. In his fading consciousness, he saw his virtuous empress, his beautiful consorts, and his weeping children. He felt that his life had been complete. But after he died, his soul 31.7kReads8.9Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The male lead is reborn, and the female lead transmigrates. Both were impure in their previous lives, but are currently both virgins. It's definitely not a saccharine romance, and it's an ancient Chinese story without the usual plot twists of "the world turns cold and the king falls," or power struggles where people actually die.

46. 146 公 The Princess Is Fierce and Beautiful, and Her Shadow Guard Keeps Crossing the Line 公主暴戾绝色，影卫日日以下犯上 Nanhuang南凰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Strong heroine + Feel-good power fantasy + Yandere + Devoted loyalist] Fate played a cruel trick: the most powerful imperial princess on the Jiuzhou Continent was reborn in the body of a lovesick little princess from Western Qi. The moment she awoke, the world was shaken. A scumbag points at her and curses? She orders coldly, “Drag him out and give him fifty more lashes!” The overlord of the business world is her subordinate, the most revered emperor in Jiuzhou is her older brother, the mighty 16.8kReads9.4Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book. The female protagonist is a master strategist who controls not just one country, but nine! It's incredibly captivating. [Sparrow's Delight: A Masterpiece][Sparrow's Delight: A Masterpiece]

47. 147 对 Sorry, I Have Connections in the Underworld. I Can't Die! 对不起，地府有人，死不了！ Deng You Er邓又尔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Ye Qingfan, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yunyang's household, was abandoned at a country estate as a child. On the way back to Shengjing, she is ambushed and left for dead. Her soul follows the Black and White Impermanence to the underworld. A faceless female ghost who has been trapped in the underworld for five hundred years is helped by the King of Hell to return to the human world and live out Ye Qingfan's remaining years in her place. The faceless ghost returns to the human world, 45.4kReads8.9Score4.8kShelves
48. 148 竹 After My Childhood Sweetheart Was Stolen, I Helped My Imperial-Kin Husband Rise to Power 竹马被抢后：转头扶宗室老公上位 Yu susu鱼愫愫Ancient Romance315k WordsOngoing A money-minded, poker-faced transmigrated woman with a PhD in statistics, and a ruthless, patient clan war god whose family tried to take everything from him A powerful couple + transmigration + historical romance + household intrigue + political scheming + business + both devoted to each other Marriage first, love later; intense push and pull; evenly matched rivals; a marriage between two powerhouses Li Qiuyun, a PhD in statistics who had just returned from overseas, was on the verge of becomi 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A modern business PhD transmigrates back to the body of an illegitimate daughter in ancient times. She engages in business, seizes power, and manages the national treasury and military supplies. A story of a resilient female protagonist who single-handedly elevates a member of an obscure royal family to the throne.

49. 149 别 Don't Be Weak, Don't Provoke Her: An Angry Palace Maid Can Restore a Fallen Kingdom 别太弱，别招惹，宫女发怒能复国 Ethereal Fairy霓裳妖妖Ancient Romance748k WordsCompleted [Unusual premise + assassin’s rise + strong heroine + political intrigue + cold and heartless + mildly yandere + cool-headed lunatic + male lead rises from the nth place] * Su Mian was just a palace maid serving a princess. On the day the Southern Yan Kingdom fell, she watched everyone die before her without a flicker of emotion. The princess gave her an even more perilous mission. Until it was done, she had to stay alive. But in a world thrown into chaos, she was sold as a slave and forced to e 25.6kReads9.5Score4.2kShelves
50. 150 皇 The Empress Dies a Horrible Death: The Mad Princess Plots to Claim the Empire 皇后惨死：疯批公主谋江山夺天下 Mint-Flavored Lemon Candy薄荷味的柠檬糖Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Political intrigue + strong female lead + no romance Born into privilege, Mo Xiuqi was the emperor’s legitimate daughter by the empress, and the sunniest, most carefree girl in the capital. She began her studies at three, wrote poetry at five, and excelled at both scholarship and martial arts, never losing to the men around her. The heir she was betrothed to had been her childhood sweetheart. She thought she would be happy forever. On her wedding day, she drank the nuptial wine and lost consciou 25.3kReads8.0Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Two political intrigue novels without a romantic pairing, both featuring meticulous plots and characters with a heart for the world. The first is about the unique princess Mo Xiushen, who cultivates herself, manages her family, governs the country, and brings peace to the world. The second is about a princess raised by the emperor and empress from childhood who learns the art of rulership, rising from princess to crown princess, and finally becoming an empress. Both are completed and can be read in one sitting.

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