Ancient Romance Novels with a Seemingly Carefree but Actually Cunning Young Lord as the Male Lead 男主表面是玩世不恭的世子爷但实际上深藏不漏古言

1. 1 纨 The Playboy Won Me a Noble Title, and the Reborn Matriarch Went on a Killing Spree 纨绔为我夺诰命，重生主母杀疯了 Folded in the Mist折雾里Ancient Romance905k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication] [Clear-headed, independent true heiress x play-the-pig-to-eat-the-tiger fake wastrel] [Female-oriented fiction + heroine reborn + hero transmigrates + political intrigue] After more than ten years as the wife of the Ningyuan Marquis's heir, managing the household and dutifully serving her parents-in-law, Shen Tangning believed she had done nothing wrong. Not until the usually distant heir began an affair with her half sister, now married to his younger brother, and they 57.6kReads9.2Score7.6k14d adds

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   This is amazing!!! It's not about the Crown Prince, but it's so good! It fits the description of a carefree and secretly powerful character [smirk]. The male lead is a doting husband, and he even fell in love with her in his previous life [kiss]. The female lead manages both her career and love life well without losing her mind, I really love that [kiss]. Hehehe, the scumbag is reborn halfway through life and the sky falls down [OK]. What touched me the most was that there's an empress! (Not the female lead). ... I also really enjoyed the side couples, they made me lose track of time. It's just that the author @, could you please be nicer to Jingyu? [Crying][crying][crying] My heart died at the end.

2. 2 镇 The Young Lord of the Protector of the State: The Great Qian Dynasty’s Number One Playboy 镇国公子：大乾第一纨绔 Carefree with the Wind扶风自在Historical307k WordsOngoing His soul transmigrates into the body of Great Qian’s number one wastrel. He marries an enemy princess and rides across the land! With the spirit of a literary plagiarist upon him, he borrows Du Fu’s “Climbing High” and listens to music at the pleasure quarters, though it’s all just an act. The Northern Mang invade, the Northwest rises in rebellion, and the Western Regions seize the chance to plunder. Watch as the Duke of Zhenguo’s son puts them all down, one by one! 156Reads—Score714d adds

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   On the surface, he's a spoiled young master, but in reality, he wields immense power in the court.

3. 3 花 A Song of Flowers by Night 花夜吟 Heart's Words, Flower's Language心言花语Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Synopsis: [A cruel, possessive male lead + a beautiful, strong, tragic, and icy female lead + fantasy setting + manipulation + control + revenge + marriage before love + love that grows over time + mutual salvation] The Phantom Night Witch, Hua Li, bears the demonic breath of Taotie. After the ruler of Chiyu seals it, she is married off to Ling Ye, Prince of the Southern Commandery. Ling Ye drains her blood to cure his poison, turning her into his “medicinal catalyst.” She also swallowed Qiongqi 720Reads9.4Score10114d adds

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   The male protagonist in this book appears gentle on the surface, but is actually ruthless.

4. 4 涅 Reborn From the Ashes, I’ve Returned to Settle Every Score 涅槃重生归来有仇报仇有怨报怨 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance627k WordsCompleted “Reborn after returning from Nirvana, she settles every score and repays every grievance. A bond from a past life becomes a fate in this one.” Eight hundred years ago, she and he vowed to be husband and wife in their next life, promising to love each other for all eternity. Centuries passed, the world changed, and the past faded like smoke. Eight hundred years later, she was reborn, but fate had other plans. It was as if she'd been born into the wrong family. Her father showed her no affection, 3.3kReads8.6Score20414d adds

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   Losing his beloved from both past and present lives, he turned white-haired overnight. "In this life, I clearly met her first, we clearly fell in love first, how could I have lost her?" Bai Jingxuan hated himself, pounding his head in frustration. Thinking of the loving moments they shared in both lives, the longing and pain of those two lifetimes intertwined, flowing like a river. He was heartbroken, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe. Unable to suppress the overwhelming grief, he wept uncontrollably, his sobs echoing through the courtyard. The once dignified and refined young master Bai, unable to bear the blow of losing his beloved, turned white-haired overnight. He trudged through the snow-covered courtyard towards the gate, his robes fluttering, his silver hair flying, the snow swirling around him, as if he had become one with the icy landscape, indistinguishable from it. He left the mansion and headed directly towards the Prince of An'nan's residence, An'nan silently following not far away.

5. 5 落 You Can't Bring Back a Runaway Bride 落跑娘子追不回 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance523k WordsCompleted I make my own fate, not heaven. She is no innocent little flower, no frail girl everyone can bully and trample on. If someone takes a swing at her or sets her up, she'll pay them back twice over. Su Wan, a merchant's daughter full of schemes, defies fate, plots her escape, and seeks refuge with one of the capital's most powerful families. Using their influence, she secures a good marriage prospect and gives her whole heart to her fiancé's family. But things don't go as planned. A spiteful woman 1.6kReads8.6Score10114d adds
6. 6 前 You Doted on Me in My Past Life, So Why Make Me Your Concubine in This One? 前世宠我入骨今生纳我为妾？ Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance337k WordsCompleted Several hundred years later, she is reborn as a human. After more than a decade spent in a fog of madness, she returns to her own body with memories of her past life and searches among the masses for the lover she once cherished above all. But he wears a mask, consumed by a deep hatred and forced to bide his time as he seeks revenge. The lovers meet for the first time in this life, and one look spans a thousand years. She recognizes him, but he treats her as a pawn in a beauty trap. With the ene 1.1kReads—Score—14d adds
7. 7 双 A Love Beyond Death: My Husband Awakens and Spoils Me Every Night 双魂绝恋：夫君觉醒夜夜宠 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance59k WordsOngoing A tug-of-war of passion, sweet and bittersweet in equal measure. Fate played a cruel trick. She rode away in a grand red bridal sedan, dressed in a phoenix crown and red wedding robes, while he returned home in a black coffin, clad in white. Wedding music and funeral dirges mingled as two processions, one red and one white, passed each other in the snowy, frozen wasteland. He was a noble young master of the marquis's household, graceful as jade and gentle as a breeze. She was a beautiful young c 85Reads—Score—14d adds
8. 8 海 Begonia Blossoms: The General's Wife Is Reborn and Goes on a Rampage 海棠笑：将军夫人重生她杀疯了 I Eat Grapes Without Spitting Out the Skins吃葡萄就是不吐皮Ancient Romance350k WordsCompleted A cold-faced, devoted general and a clever, gentle legitimate daughter I, Shen Zhiyu, died once. I burned in the flames, the pain searing to the bone. Only as I lay dying did I learn that the woman kneeling and crying over me was the enemy who had abducted me and drained my blood. My true identity was the Duke's Estate's legitimate daughter, switched at birth and kept from her family for fifteen years! When I opened my eyes again, Heaven had given me another chance at life. In this life, weari 754Reads—Score10414d adds

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   The main couple is a young general and a clever young lady. The secondary couples include a calm emperor and an orphaned empress, the eldest son of a noble family and the legitimate daughter of the late emperor, a playboy prince and a dignified lady. The main characters and supporting characters in this book are all really smart, brave and resourceful in their actions, and have a strong sense of patriotism.

9. 9 惊 A Glance Like a Startled Swan, Disrupting My Heart 惊鸿一瞥，乱我心曲 Mountain Forest Mist山林雾气Ancient Romance290k WordsCompleted [Not transmigration or rebirth | Classical setting | Spoiled young lord × noblewoman of Zhaojing] Su Pianzhi, Zhaojing’s most prestigious young lady, has a life as perfect as a meticulous ink painting, until she meets Yan Linchuan in the Western Market. He is the infamous heir to the Prince of Zhenbei, riding through the streets in red, yet one brief, stunning glance is enough to stir her heart. He teases her for living like a jade-carved bodhisattva, while she sees through the old wounds bene 258Reads—Score11414d adds

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   The male lead appears to be a carefree and irresponsible playboy, but he actually carries a heavy burden and walks alone. The female lead is engaged to her childhood sweetheart, but her father is framed, and the sweetheart's family breaks off the engagement to avoid being implicated. The story after the male and female leads get together is incredibly sweet and definitely worth watching!!!

10. 10 清 Clear Clouds, Gleaming Shadows 清云曜影 Daidai Xueqing玳玳雪青Female-Channel Fanfiction200k WordsCompleted The stunning, beautiful youngest legitimate daughter of a prince's household × the carefree, rakish minister who only pretends to be a playboy Mu Qingjia is the youngest legitimate daughter of Prince Shouning, and her beauty could outshine the whole country. Her older sister married the Crown Prince, then was murdered after giving birth to a royal grandson. After what happened to his eldest daughter, Prince Shouning has no intention of letting another daughter marry into the imperial family. The 7.3kReads8.2Score73014d adds
11. 11 淮 My Heart Shines on You by the Huai River 淮水照卿心 yue's Writing Worldyue的写作世界Ancient Romance552k WordsCompleted An imperial decree grants Yu Wanqing, the brilliant daughter of the Prime Minister's household who excels in all six arts, in marriage to Ye Jinghuai, the notorious wastrel of the Duke's household. On their wedding night, she finds a bloodstained arrowhead tucked into his clothes. Within the walls of their sprawling residence, she glimpses the turbulent truth hidden beneath his outrageous act. He thinks their marriage is just another carefully staged performance, unaware that her keen eyes have 6Reads—Score—14d adds
12. 12 病 A Fragrant Illness, a Sickly Beauty, and Her Spoiled Husband Can’t Keep Up the Act 病骨生香，纨绔夫君他装不下去了 Wei Liao苿燎Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Complete] Mutual first-timers, happy ending [Scheming playboy. Secret crush turns mutual × lazy, sickly beauty × devoted husband] Wen Qionghua is the only legitimate daughter in three generations of the Xuanhe Prince's household. She is breathtakingly beautiful, yet frail and sickly from birth. Betrothed by imperial decree to the aloof Buddhist devotee Xie Linfeng, she is publicly humiliated by him for the sake of a woman who sells noodles. She raises her weary eyes. “Let’s break off the engage 9.3kReads8.7Score1.3k14d adds

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    Very good, recommended.

13. 13 错 I Mistook a Playboy for My Husband, and He Spoiled Me Rotten Across the Capital 错把纨绔当夫君，被他宠冠京城 Shi Yiyuan十一源Ancient Romance123k WordsOngoing [Pure historical romance | Alternate history | Sweet romance | Not a strong female lead | Second male lead chases his wife and suffers] (Overindulgent, sinister young lord vs. outwardly gentle, inwardly strong beauty) [The female lead has an eye condition at first, but it will get better later] Rong Zhao's fiance has climbed the social ladder by attaching himself to the powerful. To cover his tracks, he wants to kill her. Rong Zhao survives, but injures her eyes. To protect herself, she boldly m 2.9kReads—Score44814d adds

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    This is really good, you absolutely have to read it! It's very emotionally intense and also very sweet. A cold and ruthless young master x a gentle yet strong-willed beauty! The author's writing is excellent, and the chemistry between the two is absolutely amazing 🥰🥰.

14. 14 神 The Mighty Little Constable 神通小捕快 Seven Stars in Hand手握七星Martial Arts2.0M WordsOngoing “One leaf riding the wind, roaming ten thousand miles; a dashing constable, famous throughout the land.” The most righteous men are often those society looks down on, and heroes rise from the streets. The spring breeze and I are both passing travelers, but your name alone belongs to the martial world. Ye Fei, a lowly errand boy at an inn, is rejected by the Su family because he's nothing but a nobody who runs errands! Who could have guessed that after getting drunk, saving a beauty, and catching 15.1kReads8.8Score1.5k14d adds

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    Hidden within the everyday life of ordinary people lies chivalry and unparalleled talent; an ordinary constable may possess extraordinary abilities.

15. 15 万 The Heartthrob Heir Breaks In and Robs Me 万人迷世子他入室抢劫 Lushan Scenic Area Song庐山景区曲Ancient Romance435k WordsOngoing [Beautiful, universally adored male lead x Quiet, homebody female lead with obsessive-compulsive disorder] [National duty and political intrigue] (first four volumes) + [Lighthearted, funny, sweet romance] (last three volumes) + [Funny stories from the past] [The male lead appears at the end of Chapter One] Shen Zhiyi only wanted to live a quiet life, but a baffling poisoning case involving a princess drew her into the vortex of political intrigue in the capital. The one in charge of investigati 67Reads—Score—14d adds

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    In this book, the male lead is a prince with extremely high intelligence; he's both beautiful and strong.

16. 16 杀 The Kill Order Has Been Issued 杀令已下 Cold Weather, Rain天寒雨Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsOngoing Three underworld bosses join forces to put out a contract, offering a million in gold to kill the mysterious assassin "Heavenly Shadow." The Killing Prison accepts the contract. The kill order is issued, and the plot is set in motion! But no one expected that when the contract arrived at the Killing Prison, the target's name would have been changed to... him! He had signed the kill order with his own hand, only to send himself into a deadly trap. Poisoned, surrounded, betrayed, and hunted, h 7.7kReads7.3Score40214d adds

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    Super good-looking martial arts movie

17. 17 英 Heroes Shed No Tears: The Jade Sword Imprisons the Dragon 英雄无泪之玉剑囚龙 The Dream of 800 Million Women八亿少妇的梦Eastern Fantasy162k WordsCompleted [Traditional wuxia with high-powered martial arts] [No System] [No cultivation] Rumor has it that each of the five city lords under the Great Qian dynasty possesses a peerless treasure. Whoever obtains all five can break through their limits, master unparalleled martial arts, unite the Jianghu, and rule the world. The greatest force coveting these treasures is Guixu, the most mysterious organization in the Jianghu. Its leader, known as the Night Emperor, is a fearsome, unfathomable master, ruthl 130Reads—Score—14d adds
18. 18 京 The Capital's Number-One Playboy and His Mischief-Making Wife 京城第一纨绔作妖夫妇 Spicy Dofu Milk麻辣逗福乳Ancient Romance210k WordsOngoing [Vicious Female Lead] [Unhinged and Mad] [Tears Apart Hypocrites and Torments Scum] [Clear-Headed, Not Love-Brained] [Sweet Romance] Yan Zhi became the vicious female lead in the original story, destined to drink poison and meet her end. She landed in a desperate situation from the very start: after a night of entanglement, she lost her virginity and stabbed her biological father with a hairpin. She secretly swore to track down that man and make him pay dearly! But when they met again, she was t 24Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! The cannon fodder's rise to power novel, *The Capital's Number One Playboy Couple*, features a female protagonist who is reborn, sees through people's hearts, and abandons her high position as Crown Princess to become a playboy princess. The couple joins forces to cause trouble, confronting powerful figures in the court; their daily interactions are both flirtatious and hilarious!

19. 19 纨 The Spoiled Young Marquis Is Still Building His Career Today 纨绔小侯爷今天也在搞事业 Wan Changru, Who Loves Vegetarian Pork Floss爱吃素香松的万长儒20k WordsCompleted The Spoiled Young Marquis Is Making a Career of It Again Today —Reads—Score—14d adds

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    I thought it was just a rebirth story, but the worldview was peeled back layer by layer, and the scope of the story broadened.

20. 20 腹 I Pounced on the Scheming Prime Minister 腹黑相爷被我扑倒了 A Broad Mind Adds Years to Life心宽可增寿Ancient Romance113k WordsOngoing [No-Brain Fun] + [Historical Political Intrigue] ≈ [Sweet Romance] Slow burn! Lighthearted sweet romance. The heroine is a lovable goofball, always positive and optimistic. The hero is a scheming powerful official who plots to rule the world, but the heroine is the one person who leaves him helpless. #Historical Sweet Romance #Scheming Powerful Official #A Blackhearted Hero Beneath a Gentle Facade #Mutual Healing #Feel-Good Power Fantasy #One-on-One, Both Pure #Historical Political Intrigue #Liv 24Reads—Score—14d adds
21. 21 异 The Physician Princess with Supernatural Powers 异能医妃 Foodie Fish吃货鱼Ancient Romance151k WordsCompleted Ouyang Yun is a gifted physician skilled in both Chinese and Western medicine. She died of exhaustion while fighting zombies in the apocalypse. When she awoke, she had transmigrated into the body of the legitimate daughter of a minister. Her health had been frail ever since her mother died when she was two, and her family wanted nothing to do with her. They sent her to a mountain temple and left her to fend for herself. Fourteen years later, now highly capable, Ouyang Yun descends the mountain t 123Reads6.7Score—14d adds

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    The male lead is great, and the female lead is good too. Highly recommended! [Thumbs up][Thumbs up]

22. 22 王 The King’s Way: Who Can Stand Against Me? 王之道谁与争锋 I Am Wild吾狂尔Historical260k WordsOngoing He is Zhao De, the empire's fourth prince, raised in luxury and wanting for nothing. Yet, by imperial decree, he assumes a false identity, abandons the dignity of his princely rank, and joins the army on the battlefield. Starting as an unknown soldier at the very bottom, he fights bloody battles on the frontier and narrowly escapes death time and again. Together with brothers-in-arms who share his life and death, he rises step by step amid the smoke and chaos of war. In the mortal world, he 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    He was Zhao De, the pampered fourth prince of the empire, living a life of luxury and ease. Yet, by imperial decree, he abandoned his princely status and joined the army. Starting as a nameless soldier, he fought his way up the frontier, surviving countless battles, and forging his own path with his sworn brothers amidst the chaos of war. He encountered love, romance, and tenderness in his heart. The court was rife with intrigue, brotherly suspicion, power struggles, and intrigue among aristocratic families; the battlefield was a battlefield of fierce competition, with renowned generals blocking his way, powerful enemies lurking everywhere, and life hanging in the balance. He endured estrangement from his father, estrangement from his brothers, the bond with a beautiful woman, the life-or-death struggle with a close friend, and the destiny of a formidable foe. From a lowly soldier, he rose step by step to command military power, establish his reputation, pacify the frontier, and shake the court. He broke through the chessboard of chaos, rising against the tide to become king amidst the turmoil of the world. The golden throne was within reach; the vast empire was now in his grasp. Should we remain steadfast in our loyalty and surrender power to the Emperor? Or should we inherit the eternal legacy and ascend to the throne? When the chaos of war ends and the world bows in submission—I ask you, in this world today, who else but me can claim this position!

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