Power Struggles ♛ Masterminds Behind the Board ♞ Schemes to Rule the World ♝ 权谋流♛ 执棋流♞ 谋算天下流♝

1. 101 大 Great Xia Lords 大夏王侯 A Night of Misty Rain一夕烟雨Eastern Fantasy4.7M WordsCompleted As eternal night descends and demons run rampant, a shy young man walks into the Summer Palace on the eve of a century-long darkness. 282Reads8.4Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The first book is absolutely intricate with political intrigue and scheming, and the villains are all very strong. The second book is by the same author as the first, but I personally don't like the male protagonist's character in the second book.

2. 102 镇 The Nation-Protecting Prince Consort 镇国驸马爷 Xuan Zhi轩轾Historical3.1M WordsCompleted [System + political intrigue + mind games! The story only gets better as it goes] Ji Ping’an, a die-hard Three Kingdoms Kill player, passes out while gaming. When he wakes up, he’s transmigrated to the Dayu Dynasty and, by some fluke, become its biggest doormat of a son-in-law: the princess’s husband. He also activates a Three Kingdoms Heroic Spirit System. With enough gold, he can summon any general, strategist, warlord, or beauty from the Three Kingdoms. From then on, Ji Ping’an sets out to ge 65.5kReads8.9Score5kShelves

   Reader note

   High-scoring political maneuvering, strategic planning, and behind-the-scenes manipulation—[Note]

3. 103 烟EN Misty Rain Tower 烟雨楼 A Night of Misty Rain一夕烟雨Eastern Fantasy9.5M WordsOngoing [The print edition is now available nationwide at all major retailers] "Traditional xuanhuan" "No harem" In the land of Jiuzhou stands a tower called the Misty Rain Tower. Its master, Li Qingzhi, is hailed as a peerless prodigy, holding life and death in his hands beneath the cover of night. Yet what the world doesn’t know is that someone else stands behind the Misty Rain Tower, its true founder. Using the guise of a spoiled young master as cover, he manipulates the winds and clouds and plots ac 868.6kReads9.6Score70.4kShelves
4. 104 风 The Debauched Prodigal Son 风流败家子 Heavenly Fragrant Eyes天香瞳Historical3.8M WordsCompleted [Entry in the January 2020 Silver Vote Contest] Wang Kang, a university student from the twenty-first century, finds his soul in ancient times and becomes the wastrel young master of an earl’s household. He was too poor in his previous life, so in this one he wants nothing more than a beautiful wife, a life of wine and dreams, and the easy existence of a wastrel who can coast through life. But he never expected his family to be surrounded by crises and troubles to keep piling up from outside... 19kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves
5. 105 大 The Ming Dynasty's Greatest Maverick 大明第一狂士 Long Yuan龙渊Historical4.8M WordsCompleted In the 35th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, a ruthless schemer is reborn as the son of a county deputy magistrate. Using modern political tactics, he cracks one strange case after another. With modern strategies of maneuvering and intrigue, he shakes the imperial court and becomes unstoppable! Rebel bands run amok? Under my powerful army, they’re nothing but fodder! I will rebuild the Ming dynasty, extend its might across the seas, and usher in an unprecedented age of prosperity! 7kReads9.1Score673Shelves
6. 106 龙 The Dragon Rises in Jinling: Reviving the Tang Dynasty for Five Hundred Years 龙起金陵，再续大唐五百年 Guest at the Deer’s Call鹿鸣客Historical163k WordsOngoing “The emperor in Chang’an, the army of the Wei residence.” The Wei residence’s household troops had become a thing of the past beneath the executioner’s blade, while the emperor in Chang’an lived in constant fear amid troubles both within and without. Does an emperor have some special birthright? Whoever commands the strongest troops and finest horses becomes emperor! Flames raged everywhere. Looking across the land, the Tang was now divided among rival regional warlords: Zhu Wen, Li Keyong, Yang 52Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Not eccentric enough [facepalm] Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, very slow-burn (participate as a bystander in the early stages), no system, no modern technology, no showing off, no mindless plots, no cultivation, no melodrama, no time travel, no protagonist halo, has history, war, characters, calculations, and strategies, an adopted son usurps power and controls the regional warlords, eventually unifying the world and continuing the five-hundred-year-old Tang Dynasty.

7. 107 弄 The Jester 弄臣 Su Mian Says苏眠说Ancient Romance83k WordsCompleted [Yunyuan, a cold, deep and double-sided empress, vs. Du Weisheng, a gentle, scheming and double-sided scholar] [Historical romance + high-quality novel + love and hate + mutual salvation + palace intrigue + empress + beautiful but tragic + court power struggles + female supremacy] Empress Yunyuan seized power by murdering her father and took the throne by harming her brother. She appoints only her own people, brings disgrace to the imperial palace, and keeps hundreds upon hundreds of male favori 2.2kReads9.2Score221Shelves
8. 108 帝 The Empire's First Prince Consort 帝国第一驸马 Heavenly Fragrant Eyes天香瞳Historical4.4M WordsCompleted [New book release: The Rebellious Son Is Invincible, the final installment of the Empire Trilogy] Guan Ning transmigrates, hoping to live a carefree life of wine, women, and luxury as a young prince. Instead, he becomes a prince consort whose engagement has been broken off. Rumor has it that no dynasty can last more than 300 years. The Great Kang Dynasty is at that very threshold: a golden age is in turmoil, loyal ministers are being persecuted, and an age of chaos is about to begin. He will top 113.8kReads9.1Score10.6kShelves
9. 109 逆 Defying Heaven's Cute Beast: The Peerless Demoness Rules the World 逆天萌兽：绝世妖女倾天下 First Day, Seeing the Moon初一见月Ancient Romance6.2M WordsCompleted [Print Edition of One Thought, Ashes Return to the Mountain: Preorders Open September 27 at 7 p.m.] Her own sister ripped out her phoenix bone, stole her talent, and tossed her into the Demon Rift like a dog! But against all odds, she survived and became the little demon girl cherished in the palms of the monsters living in the Demon Rift! The monsters of the Demon Rift: “Anyone who lays a hand on Niannian declares war on our entire demon clan!” She returns to the Five Continents, cuts down her 148.2kReads9.6Score19.2kShelves

   Reader note

   Strictly speaking, the second book is a political intrigue novel. Jiang Chiyu says, "I want to borrow your power." "Why?" "Because of my ruthlessness." The romance is also good. The female lead makes the male lead see more than just hatred; it's a mutual redemption story. She's not omnipotent, and you might feel a sense of unease. You can find my review (I suggest reading it after you finish the book). However, the female leads in the first four books are all exceptionally intelligent and calculating. Lin Du, the "Du" in "Du others, Du yourself." "They want to use me as a pawn, so I overturned the game, betting everything to fight for the best ending. I am the player and also my own pawn." As for the male lead in this book, their romantic storyline isn't that heavy; it's more about a resonance of souls. "We are accomplices in defying the heavens," "The Buddha saves all beings, you save me." Regarding Ye Linglong's book, I can only say the scope is huge. You might not even know who the real enemy is or why after reading half of it, because it's written from the perspective of the main characters, gradually peeling back the fog. It's very engaging. The romance only gets really strong towards the end; the others aren't very prominent. However, the male lead truly accompanies the female lead's growth. Yin Nian feels like a book most female-oriented novel readers would read. The content is rich; the female lead is confident and strong, ruthless to her enemies and even more ruthless to herself, willing to scheme against herself. The male lead is also... Well, I don't really know how to describe my reading experience.

10. 110 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 266.5kReads9.6Score31.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Both of these books are fantastic! The first one is about a reborn woman who meets a time-traveling man and they journey together, with incredibly exciting political intrigue. The second one is a pure historical romance novel about political intrigue. Both are excellent reads.

11. 111 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 50.6kReads9.7Score7.4kShelves
12. 112 真 The True Hero 真大侠客 Pine Needles Under a Microscope显微镜下的松叶Eastern Fantasy251k WordsCompleted He pulled out an ancient-looking bamboo slip of unusual design and said softly, “Everything I want, I can get for myself. There’s no need for any of you to help.” He murmured a few words, then tossed it lightly. The bamboo slip turned into a streak of azure light, filling the entire cave. When the light faded, the cave was packed with countless soldiers and generals made of green bamboo. The demons were stunned. The handsome scholar smiled and said, “I am a man of letters, yet I carry a hundred —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Political intrigue, fantasy, and imaginative plot twists—enough chit-chat, this book is sure to be a treat!

13. 113 穿 The Book Transmigrator Tears into the Reborn Woman, Even Ripping Out Her Hair Ornaments 穿书女手撕重生女，头花都扯掉了 Camellias and Wine茶花与酒Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted (Don’t worry about the rating. New books have few readers at first, but it will rise.) [A transmigrated woman takes on a reborn woman] [Fictional ancient setting, no need to nitpick] Gu Qingli transmigrated into a satisfying revenge novel about a woman reborn. She wasn’t the heroine, but the wicked supporting character who had killed her, and the first person the heroine would take revenge on after being reborn. Gu Qingli herself had been born into a political family. She was gentle, quiet, an 12.6kReads8.9Score924Shelves
14. 114 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 118.9kReads9.6Score13.8kShelves
15. 115 我 I Founded the Night Watch, Protecting the Nation from the Supernatural, and Now I'm Exposed! 我创建守夜人，为国镇诡被曝光！ Hates Drinking Hot Water反感喝热水Mystery373k WordsCompleted [Supernatural resurgence + no romance + subverting expectations] Lin Wuyang transmigrated to a parallel world and discovered that supernatural entities were gradually returning. So he planned ahead, founded the Night Watch organization, and secretly spent ten years suppressing the supernatural for Daxia! Ten years later, he gathered a hundred ghosts and used his own flesh and blood to build a Great Wall protecting the nation, holding back the supernatural tide! The sudden appearance of the red G 4.1kReads9.2Score295Shelves

    Reader note

    It's super good, but the main character hasn't appeared much yet.

16. 116 以 Scheming for the Throne 以权谋君 You Sui有绥Two Male Leads212k WordsCompleted When Wei Chun was eighteen, he wandered by mistake into Zhaohe Hall, the residence of Si Yan, the only prince of Emperor Si Liang. There he met the young, innocent Si Yan and fell in love at first sight. He never managed to leave that moment behind. In the years that followed, Wei Chun, who wielded great power and commanded a mighty army, granted Si Yan everything he wanted and helped him do whatever he wished. Yet though Wei Chun made his feelings so clear, Si Yan never once spared him a glance 995Reads9.3Score127Shelves

    Reader note

    It's so good! 2️⃣ The male lead is a prince who enters the palace disguised as a eunuch, all for revenge. The palace intrigue and power struggles are ruthless and intense. 1️⃣ There are two male leads. The emperor orchestrates a grand scheme to be with his beloved. This kind of love story intertwined with power struggles is highly recommended. The cunning and intrigue of the court, and the emperor's strategies, are all very well written.

17. 117 穿 I Reincarnated as the Wicked Eldest Princess, and I'm Not Changing My Ways 穿成恶毒嫡长公主，不洗白 I Want to Be a Rich Lady我想当富婆Ancient Romance359k WordsCompleted [Romance + Sweet Love] Shang Changge transmigrated into a book, becoming the notorious eldest legitimate princess in a male-oriented power fantasy. As a villain, Shang Changge wasn't worried at all. Reforming her image was out of the question. She just wanted to keep doing whatever she pleased. Her evil plans came in three parts. 1 Shang Changge: “Take out the old emperor so my beautiful crown prince brother can ascend the throne without a hitch.” Her beautiful crown prince brother: “...” Why co 3.6kReads9.1Score315Shelves
18. 118 手 With the Notable Ministers System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man in Ancient Times 手拿名臣系统，我在古代女扮男装 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Xu Yue transmigrates into a book. She becomes the delicate, vulnerable cousin of the male lead in an examination-themed novel: her mother died young, she has no brothers and no one to rely on, and her family won't take her in, so she is awkwardly forced to live in the male lead's home. In her previous life, Xu Yue rose from being an orphan to earning a doctorate. She never believed in fate, and even though it was hard for women to get by in ancient times, she never stopped thinking about how to 115.9kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves
19. 119 匹 A Common Man Takes the Stage 匹夫驾到 Qian Xiao千笑Urban2.4M WordsCompleted (Signed for print publication) (One heroine, no System, not a power fantasy, Chinese-style supernatural abilities) Among the infinite parallel worlds, there is a special world called Nanke, and a special group of people known as Calamity Exorcists. They soar through the skies and burrow underground, know the past and present, and travel between parallel worlds in different eras to carry out missions. A young man who calls himself a commoner is chosen by fate to enter Nanke’s mysterious academy, 75.6kReads9.4Score7.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Once a move is made, there's no going back; [admiration]

20. 120 谢 No One Knows the Xie Family Has a Talented Daughter 谢家有个才女都不知 Xiao Junzi萧君子Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Mutual exclusivity, equally matched leads, playing the pig to eat the tiger, a scheming heroine, pure historical romance. The cold, calculating Third Master VS the scheming, talented beauty The Xie family had many sons but few daughters, so they were willing to take in and adopt children from distant relatives. Feng Zhuohua was one of them, raised in a courtyard alongside several other adopted daughters. The Xie family of Qinghe was a prosperous clan with a history spanning centuries. For genera 7.2kReads9.0Score989Shelves
21. 121 从EN Once Upon a Time, There Was a Demon-Suppressing Pass 从前有座镇妖关 The Cat from the Xu Family徐二家的猫Urban3.0M WordsCompleted Once, there was a pass like this. Once, there was a group of people like this. Every inch of this pass was stained with blood. These people would not return until they were dead. All so that, amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood, in their final moments, they could turn around and see the lights of countless homes shining behind them, with peace and safety year after year. 160.1kReads9.6Score18kShelves
22. 122 清 A Farewell to Quiet Joy 清欢辞 Wu Tong梧桐Ancient Romance96k WordsCompleted Xiao Qinghuan, daughter of the Marquis of Wuyang, was praised by everyone in Bianjing as a fine young lady from a distinguished scholarly family. She was beautiful, gentle, and charming. Before she had even come of age, countless young men from prominent families had come to ask for her hand, but she had not taken a liking to a single one. The man she loved was a peerless hero. “The young ladies in the capital are all pretty much the same, dull as dishwater. Especially the ones from scholarly fa 20.2kReads9.2Score2.1kShelves
23. 123 召 Invincible Summons: My Wife Conquers the Realm for Me 召唤无敌：老婆为我打江山 Scopolamine东莨菪碱Historical1.1M WordsCompleted On the Tianyuan Continent, the land is divided into nine provinces and four wilds, with countless kingdoms standing side by side. Zhou Yuan transmigrates to Qingzhou as the son of the reigning dynasty’s great general. Unfortunately, though his father is a hero, the son is a failure. His martial arts have been crippled, leaving him unable to cultivate and with both legs disabled. King Qi still isn’t reassured, so he grants Zhou Yuan the title of royal son-in-law. Luckily, the Supreme Summoning Sy 7.6kReads8.4Score381Shelves
24. 124 这 This World Is on the Brink of Ruin 这个天下，危在旦夕 Iced Sweet Tea冰甜茶Ancient Romance275k WordsOngoing [Political Intrigue + No Romance + Strong Female Lead + Disguised as a Man, Later Reclaims Her Identity] Original title: This Realm Is on the Brink of Ruin One-line summary: Transmigrate, become emperor, and figure out how to be a useful emperor. Full summary: “The deer has fled Yan, and all the realm pursues it.”, The Hunt for the Deer She transmigrated into a book and became emperor overnight. It should have been a joyous occasion. But this Great Yan dynasty was beset by natural disasters. The 543Reads9.3Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    [Laughing][Laughing] Transmigrated into the body of a nineteenth prince who stumbled upon the throne, ascended it in a time of crisis, disguised as a man, and was an unknown figure who froze to death. This country is on the verge of collapse in a few years; the court is controlled by two factions; assassins are lurking… Can this country be saved by changing the opinions of those around her, establishing imperial authority, and winning over the hearts of the people? The country depends on the people.

25. 125 臣 I Was Born a Commoner 臣本布衣 Wu Liang Ye武梁耶Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Adapted into a comic-drama: Cast aside despite my great achievements, I build my own royal court] [Adapted into a short drama of the same name + I was once a commoner] [The emperor’s jealousy + never looking back + heading south to capture the dragon + immensely satisfying] Li Zhen transmigrates to an ancient continent! He assists the newly enthroned emperor of Dayu in bringing order to the court. But before his great undertaking is even halfway done, the emperor grows suspicious of him out of 22.6kReads8.1Score3.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Just look at one word

26. 126 低 The Low-Profile Prince Who Spent Ten Years Plotting and Shocked the World 低调皇子，布局十年震惊天下！ A Smile, What Can Be Done一笑奈和Historical1.0M WordsCompleted The Nine Cauldrons shattered, spiritual qi revival began, and the ancient gods awoke from chaos. Immortal sects in the Eastern Wilderness looked down upon the mortal world, while thousand-year-old clans carved out domains of their own. This was an age of great contention: the Human Emperor of Ancestral Xia, the Imperial Sovereign of the Shang, the Immortal Masters of the Zhou, the iron cavalry of the Qin, the strategists of the Divine Han, the Sword Immortals of the Holy Tang, the diviners of t 12.6kReads7.1Score880Shelves
27. 127 不 Before Daybreak 不终朝 Leisurely Rain闲雨Ancient Romance218k WordsCompleted [Two Generals + Love of Country and Home + Long-Suffering Romance + Mystery and Investigation + Mutual Pining + Commander Couple] [A decisive, resilient, loyal and strategic female general vs. the steady, patient and far-sighted commander of the Yinchi Army] Shen Xun and Xie Jin are sworn enemies, bitter rivals whose relationship is common knowledge. They rose to fame in their youth and spent ten years at war, yet in the end, they could not escape becoming pawns. A single imperial decree marryin 2.1kReads9.5Score331Shelves
28. 128 重 Reborn in 1993: Dark Sea 重生1993，暗海 The Gods Want to Go Wild神想出去浪Urban1.9M WordsCompleted The physical edition of Wrathful Sea, Calm the Abyss is now available. Presales officially begin at 19:00 on October 11. [Reborn] [Mystery] [Undercover Agent] [Revenge] [Anti-Drug Operations] [Counterespionage] The golden finger is extremely weak, and he relies on his own abilities. This is a battle of wits between highly intelligent opponents, so you need to keep your brain switched on. There is no showing off and face-slapping! Ideal for veteran readers. If you understand it, you'll find it ve 258.2kReads9.6Score30.8kShelves

    Reader note

    💥 Absolutely worth it! A high-IQ showdown, a comeback from the brink of defeat!

29. 129 请 Your Highness, Go to Your Death! 请皇兄，赴死！ Brew Little Wine煮小酒Historical1.1M WordsOngoing Zhou Che is reborn as the sixth prince of Great Xia, but his five elder brothers keep closing in on him. They want to strip me of my claim to the throne! They want to confiscate what little my family has left! They want to take the woman I love and kill me! If that’s how it is “If you, my brothers, can kill your own kin, why can’t I?” “If you can fight for the realm, why can’t I?” “You all think yourselves capable. What makes me any less so?!” Zhou Che rises with his sword drawn. “Your sixth bro 31.3kReads9.2Score2.5kShelves
30. 130 离 Li Yue Dances in Rainbow Silks 离月舞霓裳 Idly Slaying a Hundred Flowers闲来杀百花Ancient Romance290k WordsCompleted {Rebirth + Political Intrigue + Strong Female Lead} An old-school, slow-burn story: no System, no melodrama, and not a power fantasy She is the noble eldest princess of the Li Kingdom and the supreme leader of the Fengsi Office, which oversees the people’s faith! But in a single palace coup, her father is murdered and her mother takes her own life, all under the machinations of a poison-wielding strategist and powerful ministers. Her younger brother disappears, and she falls from the towering w —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist is skilled in political maneuvering and power struggles, a classic example of political intrigue novels.

31. 131 佞 The Treacherous Minister 佞臣 Read a Little, Xu Bai读点叙白Mystery549k WordsCompleted [Amnesiac, Highly Skilled Detective X Cold-on-the-Outside, Warm-Hearted Eunuch in Power] [Historical fantasy + Mystery-solving + Two Beautiful, Powerful, Tragic Leads + Taking Another's Place + Marriage Before Love + Amnesia] After Zhao Yuqing is gravely wounded and loses her memory, she wanders to Jianzhou, where she is rescued by the kindhearted young lady of the Jia family. To repay her, Zhao Yuqing, gifted with both martial prowess and intelligence, solves the Jia family's murder case, only 808Reads9.1Score125Shelves
32. 132 春 Spring Robes in Disarray: Only to Unravel the Chancellor's Desires 春衫乱：只为奸臣解风情 Fish in the South City南城有鱼Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + reborn to change fate + devoted husband + political intrigue and revenge. The heroine is gentle yet resilient, kind and perceptive. The hero is a noble, powerful minister, beautiful and tragic. Many foreshadowed clues and twists.] Lin Shu was a noble young lady from the capital, raised without ever having to lift a finger. When disaster struck the Lin family, Lin Shu became a government slave. She was put to washing and dyeing cloth in the Imperial Household Dep 12.1kReads9.4Score1.5kShelves
33. 133 佛 Buddha's Son of Heaven 佛子天 The Gods Want to Go Wild神想出去浪Urban1.9M WordsCompleted [No System, no golden finger, an underdog's comeback, a grim early story and a thrilling later one! Anti-drug operations + counterespionage + a brutal start + underworld conflicts + love of country and family] With a mysterious background, a strange family, and a vast shadow lurking behind him, a student with a tragic past is driven to become a madman feared by both the underworld and the legitimate world! A madman who wants to turn the entire world upside down! He crushes the demons and monster 14.4kReads9.4Score2.3kShelves
34. 134 亲 The Prince's Legitimate Son, with China's Greatest Heroes at My Back 亲王嫡子，我身后全是华夏人杰 Crazy About Braised Fish酷爱红烧鱼Historical1.7M WordsCompleted [System] [Summoning] [Martial World and Imperial Court] After transmigrating to another world, Qi Zui, heir to a prince of the dynasty, had planned to give up trying and simply enjoy life. But then he activated a System. PUAed by it, he had no choice but to summon heroes from the novels and history of his previous life, build up his resources, form his own faction, and take control of the dynasty so he could achieve his goal of doing nothing. “One day, I’ll gain true freedom!” Qi Zui stared at t 15.3kReads7.8Score717Shelves
35. 135 围 Hunting a Movie Star: I Took Down the Underworld 围猎女星：我干翻地下江湖 Upstream Traveler逆游人Urban325k WordsOngoing [A passionate underworld saga set in the jianghu, with female celebrities, a harem, cunning scheming, power struggles, capital, and intricate, brain-burning plotting] [This is not a brainless story. If you like low-quality, mindless fiction, stop after the first three chapters. The underworld is more than gangsters, and the jianghu is more than fighting. The first thirty chapters reveal just a fraction of the picture. I’ll use my own experiences to show you what the underworld really is, and wha 190Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Tired of the same old feel-good novels? Check out this one! A treacherous game of power unfolds as capital schemes to ensnare female celebrities, while the ordinary protagonist forges alliances and turns against his former self, transforming from a manipulated nobody into a mastermind who controls the entire game.

36. 136 异 City of Beasts 异兽迷城 Peng Pai彭湃Urban3.0M WordsCompleted Gao Yang was an orphan. At the age of six, he transmigrated to a parallel world and began living in a warm family of five. When he turned eighteen, Gao Yang accidentally discovered the truth about the world: this was not a parallel world at all, but a mysterious realm, and all the relatives and friends around him were terrifying Beasts! Gao Yang nearly lost his life 473.6kReads9.7Score67.7kShelves
37. 137 传EN Legend Management Bureau 传说管理局 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted (No harem, no formulaic plot, no invincibility, no System, no brainless decisions, and no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if any of that bothers you.) Du Yu dies an untimely death right at the beginning of the story. Hoping to secure a better spot in his next life, he takes a job with the Bureau of Legendary Tales. His job is to return to legends that have gone off course and put their plots back on track. He never expected that the first mission assigned to an ordinary mortal like him would 171.3kReads9.6Score22.1kShelves
38. 138 重 Reborn in 1975: From the Start, I Tore Up the Order to Return to the City 重生1975：开局撕毁回城调令 Great Cangyue大沧月Urban4.0M WordsCompleted Zhou Yang, an unrivaled patriot who devoted his whole life to his country, was reborn and returned to the remote mountain village where he had been sent down to work in 1975! Looking at the transfer order in his hand, this time he didn't hesitate. He tore it to shreds! In his previous life, he'd been blinded by greed and abandoned his wife and daughter to return to the city, watching helplessly as Li Youwei and her daughter met tragic deaths. Reborn, all Zhou Yang wanted was a warm home with his 160.6kReads9.5Score17.8kShelves
39. 139 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
40. 140 谁 Who Said You Could Really Cultivate Immortality? 谁让你真修仙了？ Qi Qi Ai柒柒唉Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted [Lighthearted] [Invincible protagonist] [Comedy] Qin Luo transmigrates to a cultivation world overrun by monsters and demons. To protect himself, he goes to the Longhu Temple to study under a master, only to discover that his teacher is a fake Taoist who makes a living by swindling people. In the first year, his master tells Qin Luo to meditate and cultivate. He gazes within himself and integrates the foundation of the Great Dao. In the second year, his master tells Qin Luo to scrimp and save. H 28.3kReads8.9Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Have you ever read a novel that makes you both laugh and cry?

41. 141 宦 Tides of the Political Sea 宦海浮沉 Liang Zhoumu梁州牧Urban4.7M WordsCompleted No cheating spouse At the end of the day, every rule follows one fundamental principle: the strongest force gets to decide. This is the “meta-rule,” the rule that determines all other rules. The martial world isn’t all about fighting and killing; it’s about human relationships and social conventions. The same goes even more so for politics. Chen Bo is drawn into an unwinnable game of chess because of a debt he has no choice but to repay. He thinks he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison, but 250.5kReads9.5Score27.5kShelves
42. 142 守 On the Day of the Wake, My Sisters-in-Law Put Me on the Throne 守灵当天，我被众嫂嫂推上皇位 Kitchen God of the Wood Stove柴火灶王爷Historical716k WordsOngoing [Alternate Dynasty + Transmigration + War + Political Intrigue + Ensemble Cast + The Golden Finger Has Been Cut in Half] A high school boy named Tian Shu wakes up one morning in an ancient funeral hall. His widowed sisters-in-law swarm around him, showering him with care. In a feudal age of chaos, the powerful clans hold sway. The System is practically useless, and each sister-in-law has her own agenda. Born into a poor family, can he defy fate, change his destiny, command a vast empire, and mak 4.5kReads8.8Score165Shelves

    Reader note

    Try this one!

43. 143 官 Officialdom: The Abyss of Power 官场：权利深渊 I Love Peanuts我爱吃花生Urban3.5M WordsOngoing Xiao Zhengyang had a brilliant future ahead of him, but a conspiracy cost him his life at the office. His girlfriend left him, and petty people pushed him around. Unwilling to let others control his fate, he sank into despair. In the end, he made that phone call, and from then on, stepped into the abyss. This is a gripping workplace drama. One careless step, and there's no coming back. 41kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves
44. 144 司 Sima the Old Rogue 司马老贼 Tu Xuan土玄Historical895k WordsCompleted He is the gravedigger of Cao Wei and the founder of Western Jin. He is the “old rogue Sima,” and the last winner of the Three Kingdoms. Centered on Sima Yi, this novel unfolds a sweeping panorama of the late Han and Three Kingdoms era. Witness how he treads carefully under the suspicion of three generations of powerful rulers: Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui; how he and Zhuge Liang wage an ultimate contest of will and national strength at Mount Qi and the Wei River; and how, in his twilight years, 463Reads9.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both are hardcore political intrigue novels. Don't be fooled by the title of the second one; it's a Japanese historical political intrigue novel.

45. 145 开EN From the Start, Immortal for Eternity, Laying Low Until the End of Time 开局长生万古，苟到天荒地老 Purple Spirit Wind and Snow紫灵风雪Eastern Fantasy6.1M WordsCompleted [Published in print] [Not a wish-fulfillment story + tranquil daily life + lighthearted humor + no female lead + no tragedy + survival expert] Enter with caution. A longevity story told from the perspective of an immortal, spanning several great eras of cultivation. It begins in an ordinary mountain village, moves into a small domain, and then enters the vast world of cultivation, passing through the eras of flourishing development, golden prosperity, the collapse of the rules, the great dark up 563kReads9.7Score72.5kShelves
46. 146 欺 You Dare Bully My Disciple? Do You Really Think I Only Know How to Teach? 欺我弟子，你真以为我只会教书？ Yu Laojiu余老九Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted (The new novel The True Immortal of the Dao is now serializing. If you’re interested, check out Lao Jiu’s profile.) There is a small school in Longquan Town. And there is a Mr. Xu at the school. In this sealed-off land of Jiuzhou, he steadily pioneers the Way of Letters, passes down the teachings of the Dao, and enlightens otherworldly beings, transforming them into spirit folk. At last, Jiuzhou enters a golden age. Then one day, Jiuzhou shatters, and the Divine Land sinks. Mr. Xu stands alone w 30.1kReads8.8Score2.5kShelves
47. 147 火 Naruto: I Transmigrated as Tsunade's Twin Sister 火影：我穿越成了纲手双胞胎姐姐 Fighting Girl Tingting博击女孩婷婷Anime Fanfiction263k WordsOngoing [Dual-audience appeal + hard-hitting political intrigue + alternate history + epic Naruto Warring States era + slow burn + subverting expectations + wuxia elements + fantasy power struggle] This doesn’t follow the original story, and it’s no Naruto dream! This is an original political epic built on the Naruto foundation. If you love sweeping narratives and political machinations in the style of Game of Thrones, dive right in! In Konoha’s early years, Hashirama Senju and his only son both peris 63Reads—Score—Shelves
48. 148 谋 Scheming for the World 谋略天下 The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss潜龙在渊Historical211k WordsOngoing In an age of great turmoil, the Marquis of Luocheng in the State of Yu seizes power through a coup, using methods that are both brilliant and despicable. Amid the rebellion, two infants are accidentally allowed to escape: Ziyu, a prince of the State of Shan, later renamed Wujiu, and Yuyan, a prince of the State of Yu, later renamed Zhao Yang. The two close friends are taken in, one after the other, by the mysterious Yi family, whose mission is to “uphold Heaven's will and bring peace to the land 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A battle of wits and power, where both protagonists and antagonists are highly intelligent; a captivating story with superb writing.

49. 149 人 In Republican-Era China, from Police Chief to the Strongest Warlord 人在民国，从警察局长到最强军阀 Only Music Can Please the Dantian唯曲悦丹田Urban398k WordsCompleted [Republican Era + Summoning + Mass Troop Deployment + System + Power Fantasy + No Female Lead] After transmigrating to the Republican era, Qin Chuan draws a police station right from the start. Starting as a police chief, he soon wields absolute power! District Police Station: 545 personnel in total. The station has a patrol squad, a garrison squad, and a logistics squad. The garrison squad has 300 officers under one garrison captain, armed with Mosin-Nagant rifles. The patrol squad has 150 off 509Reads9.1Score106Shelves
50. 150 我 I Really Run an Orphanage, Not an Assassin's Den 我开的真是孤儿院，不是杀手堂 I Am the Ox Warrior我是牛战士Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsCompleted [Physical book edition now available] [Short drama of the same name is now streaming! Watch it on Hongguo!] [The only martial arts ensemble novel on the entire site with such a wild premise!] [At its peak, 1.5 million readers were following it, ranking seventh across all of Tomato Novel. Readers, come on in and take a look!] [Ensemble cast + System + traits + martial arts] Chen Ye transmigrates to the Great Wu Dynasty and binds himself to an Orphan Training System. As long as he raises orphans, 116.1kReads8.9Score12.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I think they're all pretty good. ^ω^

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