High-IQ Novels About Scheming and Conquering the World, with No Forcefully Idiotic Side Characters #高智商，谋略天下的小说，不要强行智障的配角

1. 151 大 Great Tang: Li Shimin Begs Me to Start a Rebellion 大唐：李世民求我造反 Joy Throughout the Land天下乐Historical3.1M WordsCompleted Li Ke transmigrates to the Zhenguan era of the Tang dynasty. He plans to use his skills as a motivational speaker to brainwash a loyal crew and keep his head down as an unremarkable prince. But eight years after transmigrating, he discovers that he brought along an entire national strategic reserve warehouse. So Li Ke throws caution to the wind. If he’s going to be a prince, he might as well be one who fears nothing and lives as freely as he pleases! First, he starts a newspaper to build his rep 156.4kReads9.5Score16.9kShelves

   Reader note

   The protagonist, Li Ke, initially intended to use his skills as a pyramid scheme lecturer to brainwash his followers and retire as a prince. However, after discovering the strategic warehouse, he changed his mind and decided to become a carefree prince and transform the Tang Dynasty. With his open-mindedness, wit, and intelligence, he implemented a series of reforms in the Tang Dynasty using modern knowledge and resources.

2. 152 她 She Just Wants to Lie Low, but They Keep Forcing Her to Rebel 她想咸鱼躺，非逼她造反 Warfires Stain All烽火尽染Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] Lu Songli transmigrated into a book and became the cannon-fodder first wife of Xie Zhan, the male lead of The Powerful Minister's Beautiful Young Second Wife. In the book, her friend Zhao Yutan, who returned in glory from a place of exile, would steal her husband. The two of them carried on behind her back while she was gravely ill, and their affair literally angered her to death. Lu Songli was about to roll up her sleeves and tear into the cheating scumbag and 107.4kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves

   Reader note

   This is truly amazing! It's the most intellectually stimulating and enjoyable novel I've read on Tomato. Both the protagonist and the antagonist are incredibly intelligent. Watching the brilliant and intense strategic battles between Lü and Xie was a real brain-teasing experience, and the witty language keeps the reader hooked. In short, "Awesome!!!"

3. 153 退 After Breaking Off the Engagement, the Foolish Princess Marries the Ninth Lord with Her Four Maids 退婚后，傻妃携四大丫鬟嫁九千岁 Clingy Little Tomato粘人小番茄Ancient Romance1.8M WordsOngoing [Palace Intrigue + Household Intrigue + Historical Romance + Princess Consort + Legitimate Daughter + Medical Skills + Two Powerful Leads + Cunning + Playing the Fool + Reborn + Fiercely Protective + Political Scheming] 99% of the comments are positive! Read with confidence! Su Qian, once the leader of a special forces unit in the apocalypse, died unexpectedly while carrying out a mission. With her portable medical space, she transmigrated to ancient times and into the residence of a great gener 22.8kReads8.1Score3.8kShelves

   Reader note

   The male and female leads team up: a pure battle of wits where misunderstandings are avoided, only tacit understandings of mutual exploitation prevail. The female lead's cheat ability is captivating: her medical space grants her modern-day superpowers, allowing her to heal and save lives while simultaneously committing murder and robbery. [Admiration]

4. 154 说 I Was Supposed to Be a Laid-Back Prince Consort, but You Became a Land Immortal 说好当闲散驸马你竟成了陆地神仙 Jasmine in Winter冬日里的茉莉Historical503k WordsCompleted Li Guanqi, a top big shot of the twenty-first century, transmigrates to ancient times after an accident and becomes the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, a family with immense power at court. He is known as the greatest wastrel under heaven. Everyone mocks him as useless and uneducated, never realizing that he possesses an incredible golden finger. He originally planned to lie flat, spend his days cockfighting and walking dogs, and enjoy music and theater, living the good life he never had in his pre 117.7kReads7.6Score5.5kShelves

   Reader note

   One word: awesome! Two words: incredibly awesome! Behind-the-scenes footage, cleverly conceived. If you don't like this kind of thing, don't click. Highly recommended! [Cool][Cool][Cool][Cool]

5. 155 你 Hey, You! Do You Really Have to Be This Low-Key?! 你小子！用不用这么低调！！ Half a Cup of Lingering Sorrow半盏残忧Eastern Fantasy2.1M WordsOngoing The immortal, undying ancient dragon left behind only a rotting corpse. The phoenix, unafraid of death, was reduced to a single broken root feather. The auspicious qilin, surrounded by good fortune, could not foresee its own death. The Black Tortoise, master of countless laws, had its shell forcibly stripped away. The cemetery of the gods still stands, watching the ruins endure for millennia, while grass and trees flourish and fade through the seasons. Who dares claim to be immortal… The years t 1.6kReads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The ancient dragon, who schemed behind the scenes for eternal immortality, left only a decaying corpse; the phoenix, fearless of death, was reduced to tattered feathers; the auspicious qilin, surrounded by good fortune, could not foresee its demise; the Xuanwu, having condensed all the principles of the universe, had its shell stripped away by human hands; the graveyard of the gods remains, witnessing the eternal cycle of time, the changing seasons, and who dares claim immortality?

6. 156 三 Three Feet of Spring 三尺春【王嘉懋、李十七主演 短剧同名原著小说热播中！！！】 Evergreen and Everwhite长青长白Ancient Romance371k WordsCompleted The captivating beauty Li Shuwan, whose background is shrouded in mystery × the aloof, proud General Li Fengyuan, hard-mouthed but soft-hearted Ancient romance + premium novel + one-on-one romance + both leads' first love + sweet romance + mutual devotion + palace intrigue + simmering tension + secret crush + age gap + reunion after years apart When she was seven, Li Shuwan was brought back from the countryside to the General's Mansion, becoming Li Fengyuan's relative in name only. Knowing her 21.4kReads9.4Score2.5kShelves
7. 157 山 A Strategy for Realm and Rivers: Chronicles of Court and Jianghu 山河策【庙堂江湖录】 Hermit of the Cave Peak洞顶山人Historical309k WordsCompleted [Peerless Heir] [Jianghu and Court] [Blood-and-Iron Warfare] [Political Intrigue and Wits] [Alternate History] [Chivalry and Tenderness] [No Transmigration] [No Golden Finger] The Dingbian Prince’s household is wiped out. Ten-year-old heir Ling Canglan narrowly escapes. After years in hiding, he makes his name in a single stroke. He studies both literature and martial arts, and grows into a man of great talent. Faced with the enmity of his country and the hatred of his family, he joins the army 2.2kReads7.0Score155Shelves

   Reader note

   Absolutely fantastic.

8. 158 天 The Spirit Consort of Tianlan: A Tale of Strange Dreams 天澜灵妃之异梦传奇 Ultraman Kaman奥特卡曼Ancient Romance371k WordsCompleted [Historical palace intrigue | Strong heroine | Quick transmigration | Three golden fingers | Agent transmigrates | Rise to godhood] Top agent Murong Lingxi transmigrates into the body of a disgraced consort banished to the Cold Palace and unexpectedly unlocks three top-tier golden fingers: mind reading to see through every act of hypocrisy and every scheme, an endless supply of pills and weapons from her portable space, and a life simulator that predicts every mortal crisis. The villains are cr 9Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Highly recommend these two incredibly insightful strategy books! [Thumbs up][Cool][Heart] The protagonists and other characters' thinking is as sharp as a blade, and their decisions as ingenious as a game of chess. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up] The author's writing is so sharp, full of twists and turns, and every word is a gem.

9. 159 少 The Young Judge of Cases 少年青天断案录 Hermit of the Cave Peak洞顶山人Mystery567k WordsCompleted [Mystery and Crime Solving] [Court and Jianghu] [Political Scheming and Wits]… A bizarre, earth-shaking case shattered twenty-seven years of peace in the Great Yan Dynasty. In a single day, three prefects of Jingnan Circuit died under mysterious circumstances. Xu Xinghe, the nineteen-year-old Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was entrusted with the task in a moment of crisis and sent to investigate the southern frontier with the emperor’s sword. After enduring countless dangers and pain 2.4kReads—Score194Shelves
10. 160 官 Officialdom Is Like a Chess Game 官场如棋 Bao Erri鲍尔日Urban2.5M WordsCompleted There is no straight road through life, especially when it comes to being an official. Hao Xiaodong spent many years navigating the political arena before gradually understanding its many hidden rules. Now, following his novel The Way to Promotion, a new story is here for readers. Join us as we witness another kind of life in the world of officialdom. 34.1kReads9.2Score4.4kShelves

    Reader note

    After reading it, I felt like I was brainless! No wonder others get promoted so quickly! This book is about interpersonal relationships, the survival rules of the workplace and officialdom! I especially like one sentence in it: Common sense is more important than knowledge.

11. 161 那 That Year, That Cicada, That Sword 那年那蝉那把剑 Mo Yu默煜Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsCompleted Holding a cicada from summer doesn’t necessarily mean holding the whole summer in your hand. But grasp that sword, and you hold an entire world of martial arts. Wield a three-foot blade of gleaming steel. Dream of becoming a revered Sword God, if only for a day. Be an invincible Sword Immortal, if only for a moment. Sever the headmaster’s treasured pagoda and knock the emperor’s crown from his head. He laughs aloud: “Eight kings with zithers, lutes, harps, and pipes; four imps with grotesque fac 82.2kReads9.3Score8.2kShelves

    Reader note

    (1) I have seen the great swordsman Shangguan Xianchen, whose sword chilled fourteen provinces; I have seen Gongsun Zhongmou, who wielded the Zhuxian sword and whose name was known throughout the land; I have seen the late Emperor Xiao Yu, who took over the grasslands from his wife and unified the world; and I have also seen my master pass away a year after I entered the martial world, leaving behind only the Xuanming sword and the Zhuxian sword. I didn't cry much, but I drank a large bowl of wine in front of my master's cenotaph, breaking his vow. Then, Momo took over the responsibility of reviving the Sword Sect from his master. He slowly matured and lost the naivety of his childhood when he first came from Xiaofang Village. Yes, sometimes holding a cicada doesn't necessarily mean holding a summer, but holding a sword means holding the entire martial world.

12. 162 敌 Enemy Princess: I Can't Take It Anymore, Princes, Take More Concubines! 敌国公主：受不了，皇子多纳妾吧！ King of Fire火王之王Historical773k WordsCompleted [Harem + Flirting + Struggle for the Throne + Rousing + Political Intrigue + Conquest + No System] Xiao Chen's soul transmigrates into the body of a good-for-nothing prince. From the start, his older brother frames him, and he ends up sleeping with the enemy kingdom's supposedly hideous princess! But it turns out the princess is a peerless beauty in disguise! His brothers regret it so badly they practically break their third legs slapping them! Forced to marry the princess and exiled to the bitt 3.2kReads8.4Score374Shelves

    Reader note

    In modern times, the protagonist transmigrates into the body of a seemingly useless fourth prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Initially betrayed by his brother and entangled with a princess from an enemy state, he thinks he's in dire straits. However, the princess turns out to be a stunning beauty. The male lead uses his wisdom to dismantle the schemes, strategizes, and defends the borders. The storyline, a blend of political intrigue and sweet romance, is incredibly engaging.

13. 163 山 Beauty and Strategy in a Land of Rivers and Mountains 山河美人谋 Moonset月落Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Proud young lady who always gets even vs. frail, scheming Ninth Prince] Her fiancé was a total jerk, and he was planning to kill her to keep her quiet. Ye Jiao decided to strike first and find a scapegoat while she was at it. She thought the scapegoat would be a transparent, sickly “living corpse,” but rumors were misleading. He was clearly a two-faced, deeply cunning Ninth Prince. After Ye Jiao used the Ninth Prince’s name to punish her scumbag fiancé, Li Ce, the real Ninth Prince: “Miss, I be 18.3kReads9.5Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The male and female leads are both intelligent, strategic, and capable of both overt and covert schemes. They are also deeply sentimental and possess a strong sense of national responsibility. There are no absolutely good or bad characters, only those with different perspectives.

14. 164 桃 Ride Out to Battle, Peach Blossoms in My Wake 桃花马上请长缨 June六月Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of June's novel, Power and Favor 3: Power and Favor in the Capital, is now available on Hongguo App. She cared for her in-laws and used her dowry to support the General's household, only for him to use his hard-won military achievements to ask for the female general's hand as his equal wife. Zhan Beiwang mocked her. “Song Xixie, do you know that your fine clothes, rich food, and glittering jewels all come from General Yi Fang and me fighting bloody battles to hold back 15kReads9.5Score5.5kShelves
15. 165 系 The Claiming the Throne Series: Historical Romance Collection 《夺嫡》系列古言套装 Moonset月落Ancient Romance2.8M WordsCompleted [Sweet Historical Romance + Mutual Devotion + Palace Intrigue] Popular author Yueluo's trilogy of sweet romances: lighthearted and hilarious, with sweetness turned up to the max! "The Fight for the Throne": A feisty young lady who always gets even × the scheming, lovesick Ninth Prince. A laugh-out-loud, sugar-sweet battle for the throne! "Joy with You": A venomous, calculating king × a clever and decisive queen. A perfect match who will conquer the world together! "A Fine Day Bestowed upon You": 60.6kReads9.6Score6.1kShelves
16. 166 再 Move Again and I'll Kiss You 再动就亲你 Extra-Large Soup Dumpling超大小笼包Modern Romance334k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available, published under the title He's So Sweet] A new neighbor moves in upstairs, and she's a transfer student in the same year as him. What a coincidence: this devastatingly handsome guy ends up sitting next to her. He's gorgeous, but dangerous. One little touch and she might not make it out alive. “Big bro, don't move. I'll stay away from you. Please don't hit me!” To her surprise, her usually cold desk mate frowns, looks at her, grabs her retreating hand, and holds it i 21.8kReads9.5Score3.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The male lead is not handsome

17. 167 权 Power Over All Under Heaven: The Path of a Master Strategist 权倾天下：谋臣之路 Traveler Across Qingchuan清川渡客30k WordsCompleted The Road to Power: A Strategist's Rise —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    From an unknown sage living in seclusion in the mountains to a behind-the-scenes mastermind stirring up the court, he devised strategies with his silver tongue and discerned people's hearts with his ability to read people's expressions. He assisted a wise ruler, brought down treacherous officials, and forged a path to the top for a strategist in the vortex of power.

18. 168 反EN The Villain Should Be Invincible 反派就应该无敌 Bored Little Bai无聊小白啊Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted The animated adaptation is now streaming: The Lord Who Suppresses the Nine Heavens: The Protagonist Should Be Invincible Reborn as the leader of a demonic cult, he obtains the Villain Invincibility System and from then on makes the cult invincible. I am Zhou Qiong, leader of the demonic cult. No one is allowed to contradict what I say. Even while protecting the cult with one hand, I remain invincible in the world. 33.8kReads9.3Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    There are only these two books about fighting for supremacy on my bookshelf, come on, let's have some fun!

19. 169 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. 160.1kReads9.6Score18.1kShelves

    Reader note

    🔥The ultimate mind-blowing blow of "Ten Days to the End"! Ten people are trapped around a bizarre round table, and the rotting goat-man announces: "You must create a god!" 🕰️As the rusty clock strikes its thirteenth chime, professional conman Qi Xia suddenly sneers—he smells the stench of the goat mask overlapping with the perfume of his wife from his memories! His fingertips trace the dark patterns on the edge of the table, instantly deducing three escape routes: "The so-called creation of a god is to turn everyone into corpses." 🦂The Twelve Zodiac Death Game begins! In the Earth Goat's life-or-death riddle, Qi Xia tears up the rulebook, using mathematical paradoxes to solve the "inevitable death trap"—while everyone cheers, he splashes the antidote on the wall, and the mottled water stains reveal bloody coordinates: "Remember, surviving the tenth day is the beginning of the curse." 🧩A Chinese-style mind-blowing twist × a high-IQ game! Qi Xia uses lies as his chess pieces, setting up a thousand-year-old killing trap in the time-folded city of the End. With each reincarnation, he carves a bloody mark on the goat-man's spine, until the 999th rebirth, when the clock gears suddenly reverse—it turns out the so-called "Nuwa mending the sky" was a hoax stitched together by the protagonist himself! ⚠️Warning: You will constantly doubt your own memories while reading. When the final chapter reveals the identity of the "eleventh person," please make sure there are no mirrors around…

20. 170 乱 The World in Chaos: Biographies of Heroes from the Late Luan Dynasty 乱世天下：栾末英雄列传 Clouds and Water Are Ink云水皆墨Historical365k WordsOngoing [Traditional style + ensemble cast + alternate history + war + power struggle] His benefactor, the great general, died for his country by taking his own life. Little Wuzi witnessed it but was powerless to change the outcome. Even after death, his lingering soul could not bear to fade away. By a stroke of fate, he traveled back a hundred years. The long sweep of history unfolded before his eyes like a scroll: The great clans were arrogant and domineering. How could their power be confined to one 10Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    In chaotic times, who reigns supreme? The victor is king, the vanquished is condemned. Petty schemes and tricks amount to little; true heroism lies in assessing the situation and seizing opportunities.

21. 171 献 Lord of Sacrifice 献祭之主 Wang Xin王信Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted [A new book from a veteran author, guaranteed quality and regular updates.] [No System, beast taming, high martial arts, fantasy] Chen Gu transmigrates into a fantasy world where martial artists reign supreme and strength is everything. However, most people have no talent for martial arts. For ordinary people, the only way to reach the top is to spend nine years studying beast-taming theory and become a... Beast Tamer! While others cautiously spend their few spirit stones at the beast market, ch 2.9kReads8.6Score311Shelves
22. 172 只 As Long as They Have Health Bars, I'll Kill Even the Gods 只要有血条，神明也杀给你看 Don't Eat Fish Porridge不吃鱼粥Urban3.2M WordsCompleted [Hunter: You can see the health bars of all things, and every attack is guaranteed to deal damage, even to gods!] [Stalker: Stealth through the darkness, hunt beneath the light!] [Executioner: The time for your sentence has come!] “Come on, come on, take a blade!” “Immortal? Once your health bar hits zero, you die!” “As long as it has a health bar, I can kill it, even if it’s a god!” The dark side of the world, a shattered map, strange creatures from the abyss... There is no light behind them, 130.1kReads9.3Score14.6kShelves
23. 173 双 Bound Together Across Two Lifetimes, We’ll Grow Old Together 双世缱绻，与君共白头 Dreamer Dadao爱做梦的大道Ancient Romance727k WordsCompleted [Two powerful leads who rise to greatness | Complete souls | Extreme contrast | Love across two lifetimes | Sweet romance and court intrigue] A modern married couple are reborn as babies in the Tianqi Dynasty. He becomes an iron-fisted Crown Prince, commands the Xuanhuo Army, and plots to industrialize the realm. She becomes a queen of commerce, controls trade routes along three borders, and holds the lifeblood of the people in her hands! Toward their enemies, he presides over the execution of t 5.5kReads8.1Score646Shelves

    Reader note

    This story features a smart, romantic couple who were childhood sweethearts in their past lives and have been together for 55 years. Both protagonists are reborn. The male lead is a UI designer with a meticulously crafted political intrigue plot (implementing new policies and navigating court politics), a delicate emotional arc (daily interactions and tender care), and practical application of modern skills (double-entry bookkeeping and design applications). It offers a well-rounded blend of sweet romance, political intrigue, strong-willed co-governance, past-life bonds, a deeply affectionate time-travel story, and a profound fusion of romance and political politics.

24. 174 暗 Dark Blade 暗刃 Old Zhu老朱Urban2.1M WordsCompleted [A top-rated completed novel + ruthless hero + no filler + no saintly do-gooder + no System + no cultivation + all kinds of modern high-tech weapons + nonstop thrills] Dragon Guard Security! The company handles security for major overseas projects originating in Huaxia. Its captain, Xiao Feng, is a former commander of an elite special forces unit and a world-class soldier, code-named Dark Blade. With a band of battle-hardened brothers, Xiao Feng provides high-quality security services for Huaxia 132Reads9.2Score—Shelves
25. 175 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

    Reader note

    This book is very well written. I hope the author will keep writing!

26. 176 官 A Meteoric Rise in Officialdom: I Use Medicine to Reach the Pinnacle of Power 官途狂飙：我靠医术问鼎权利巅峰 Old Zhu老朱Urban2.4M WordsCompleted [No transmigration, no rebirth, no System, political scheming, ruthless, single-mindedly focused on treating the sick and saving lives, and even more determined to help ordinary people live better lives] Three years ago, Li Qiushui, born into poverty, graduated with a degree in traditional Chinese medicine from Capital Medical University! To care for and treat his seriously ill father, Li Qiushui resolutely gave up the opportunity to work at a major hospital. He returned to Taohuawu Village to b 9.7kReads8.8Score1.3kShelves
27. 177 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 villain is intelligent, and the female lead gradually takes advantage of him.

28. 178 攀 Marrying Up 攀高枝 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] [Print edition published] Zhang Zhixu had everything from birth. A family with a century of prestige, enviable talent, and a career that kept rising step by step. But he found life terribly dull. Then, one day, an accident struck, and his soul entered a woman's body. A woman who couldn't read a single character, yet dreamed of marrying into a powerful family and becoming a phoenix. · Chen Baoxiang had traveled a thousand miles from the countryside to the capital, hoping 162.8kReads9.6Score22.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist, a wealthy and noble man, inexplicably transmigrates into the body of a greedy female protagonist, forcing them to share the same body. One possesses a distinguished family background, exceptional talent, and a promising career; the other is impoverished, greedy for wealth, and illiterate. The clash between these two contradictory individuals with vastly different identities and personalities immediately captivates readers, leaving them wondering how they will navigate this predicament.

29. 179 通EN The Netherworld Scholar Immortal 通幽小儒仙 You Zi Yin油子吟Eastern Fantasy2.0M WordsCompleted “Where is this?” “Perhaps... the River of Forgetfulness...” “Who are you?” “Wuchang...” “I've never heard of anyone called Wuchang in this world.” “From now on... that's who I'll be!” The soul crosses the River of Forgetfulness, while its thoughts remain on the other shore. What is gained from all beings must be returned to all beings. When Su Mo woke up, he was no longer in his former life. He went to the capital to sit the imperial examinations, but accidentally stumbled into an immortal schem 63.7kReads9.4Score6.7kShelves
30. 180 长 Chang'an Golden Peach 长安金桃 A Gust of Wind, a Night of Heartache人间惆怅风一更Historical314k WordsCompleted “Just be patient. By this time next year, golden peaches will cover the grasslands of Kang.” A glimmer returned to Du Ruhui's gloomy face. It was a coded message. Du Ruhui still needed time for these hidden agents to sow discord, win people over, drive wedges between them, and buy them off amid these tangled relationships… 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both sides are intelligent.

31. 181 凡EN Mortal Bones, Immortal Destiny 凡骨 Master of One Update壹更大师Eastern Fantasy8.3M WordsCompleted (The print edition is now available to buy online) The world's spiritual bones are divided into four grades. First grade: Heavenly Spiritual Bones. Second grade: Golden Spiritual Bones. Third grade: Mystic Spiritual Bones. Fourth grade: White Spiritual Bones. All the rest are ordinary bones, unfit for cultivation. Xu Taiping is an ordinary man with ordinary bones, yet he swears to prove to the cultivation world that ordinary bones can slay demons, ordinary bones can vanquish evil, and ordinary b 561.4kReads9.3Score72kShelves
32. 182 国 The Imperial Tutor Pursues His Wife: His Beloved Only Wants Revenge 国师追妻，掌中娇她一心只想复仇 Yu Ye Mo雨叶陌Ancient Romance171k WordsCompleted Wei Chen was the tyrant’s most ruthless enforcer. Cold and taciturn, distant and aloof, he struck without hesitation, sentencing entire families to execution and staining his hands with blood. But Mu Yaoyao never expected this cruel, vicious man to be so gentle in private. He gave her a rare tenderness and trust, stirring the darkest, most frenzied possessiveness within her. Everyone who had harmed the Mu family had to die. Anyone who dared compete with her for Wei Chen had to die, too! To keep 11Reads6.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is very intelligent and adept at disguising herself in the early stages. She's a yandere and a crazy person with a strong possessive streak towards the male lead, but later becomes an empress.

33. 183 败 The Defeated General 败将 Chi Fei迟非Two Male Leads602k WordsCompleted A chef has come to Liangxi County, his skills so astonishing that he draws food lovers from far and wide. A scholar has come to Liangxi County, writing letters and painting pictures while cursing people to die soon and be reborn. They have only one thing in common: they are both handsome, with perfect figures, and together they have become the county’s most striking sight. The young ladies of every household are practically tearing their handkerchiefs apart, only to learn that the two men are a 2.2kReads9.5Score389Shelves

    Reader note

    A bookworm for decades, I've read almost all of Tomato's completed works.

34. 184 灵 A Mission from the Stars Echoes in the Depths of My Soul 灵魂深处传来来自星空的使命 When the Clouds Return from a Thousand Miles, There May Be an Evening云归千里若有夕Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.3M WordsCompleted [Slow-paced + political scheming + smart characters + world-ending stakes + comedic later on] Deep in the universe, there is an organization of robots. They have human bodies, thoughts, and emotions. But they plunder, kill, and commit every evil imaginable, leaving wails of misery wherever they go. Ao Ran is the commander of one of their warships. Here, ranks are rigid and might makes right. Those at the top have absolute authority. This oppressive and brutal environment stifles the robots’ emot 35Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Try this space-themed fantasy novel. The robots' scheming is no less sophisticated than humans', with each plot unfolding in turn. Every supporting character is vividly portrayed, while the protagonist becomes more of a plot device, helping Aoran and Riel uncover the organization's conspiracy and exact revenge. Currently, they have more screen time than the female lead, as she's in the process of developing her values ​​and worldview around them.

35. 185 东 The Crown Prince's Eastern Palace Game: Crown Princess, Your Secret Identity Is About to Be Exposed 东宫风月弈：太子妃您马甲要掉了 Jiang Qinci江钦辞Ancient Romance251k WordsOngoing [Amnesiac General × Devoted Crown Prince, Multiple Secret Identities × Ensemble Political Intrigue × Court and Kingdom] “She is the White-Throated Swallow of the Northern Border spy network, and the jade-faced killer who makes enemy armies tremble.” Seven years ago, Wei Lanqing escaped an assassination attempt outside the blood-soaked palace, but lost all her memories. She switched identities with her elder brother and fled to the Northern Border... In the spy network, she is a master of intelli —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this historical spy novel! Everyone's incredibly intelligent! The female lead is a powerful female general disguised as a man, who also becomes the Crown Princess caught in the power struggle within the imperial court; the male lead is a cold and aloof Crown Prince, and also the head of a spy network who longs to retire from the world of martial arts! They test each other, fall in love, and vow to work together to bring peace to the land and conquer the vast world!

36. 186 开 I’ll Start a Rebellion from the Start 开局要造反 Teng Hanyu Zhu腾瀚育珠Historical631k WordsCompleted What? The county magistrate's arrested my sister! How can I let that stand? Even if I have to blow up the county yamen and destroy the prison, I'll rescue her. What the heck is going on? The lands of Jiuzhou are divided, and corrupt ministers hold sway. The foreign tribes surrounding the Great Ye Empire are stirring, plotting to wreak havoc across the land... 16Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    High intelligence, military confrontation, strategic planning, and conquest of the nine provinces.

37. 187 官 The Road to Power: Starting as a Seconded Inspector in the Police Department 官道：从借调警厅督查组开始 Jiang He将河Urban7.1M WordsOngoing Li Dong was hospitalized after being injured on duty, and his status-conscious girlfriend cruelly betrayed him. Misfortune may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Starting out at a township police station, he faced criminals without fear and skillfully navigated the infighting within the police force, overcoming every obstacle on his way to the top! 95.6kReads8.9Score4.6kShelves

    Reader note

    High IQ: ① There is a tower in the world called the Misty Rain Tower, where the affairs of the world are not controlled by the imperial power, but by one person who manipulates the winds and clouds and schemes for the world. This is not a wish-fulfillment novel. ② The officialdom is like a battlefield. A slight misstep can lead to the abyss. To climb up, one needs a background and strength that surpasses ordinary people. ③ The police uniform is sacred and cannot be defiled. However, this has little to do with the book. It's about getting involved with a rich man.

38. 188 蓝 Love of the Blue Owl 蓝鸮之恋 Smiling with a Humble Heart下心含笑Historical624k WordsCompleted Autobiographical transmigration story: Transmigrating to the Western Han Dynasty, a sequel to May and Anran Length: Over 300,000 characters Main characters: Liu He (Deposed Emperor of Han, Marquis of Haihun, King of Xin Xia), Najun (Queen of Xin Xia, founder of Mingtang) Supporting characters: Liu Feilong (General Fubo), Yan Han (Blue Owl Guard) Chapter structure: Volume One: The Golden Man of the Sacrificial Altar; Volume Two: The City Without Tears; Volume Three: Opening the Heavenly Gate; Vol 1.4kReads9.6Score112Shelves

    Reader note

    Historical Imagination, Emperors: Step into the book and experience a thrilling historical fantasy.

39. 189 花 The Legend of Hua Ziqi 花子期传奇 Armchair Writer空头文学家Eastern Fantasy356k WordsCompleted This book has been adapted into a motion comic, with simultaneous updates on Douyin, Hongguo, and Tomato. [Wuxia] [Mystery] [Deduction] [Master Detective] [Crime Solving] [High Martial] [Sword God] [Gu Long style] He is famous throughout the land, yet scorns fame and fortune; He opposes feudal ethics, yet remains loyal and righteous; He is brilliant beyond compare, yet sometimes muddleheaded; He is charming and carefree, yet keeps his desires in check; He loves meddling in other people's busine 383Reads8.2Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    Wuxia suspense, five kingdoms under heaven, the entire martial arts world is caught in a scheme.

40. 190 殷 The Black Bird Chronicles of Yin Shang 殷商玄鸟纪 Sea Green Takes the Swan海青拿天鹅Ancient Romance257k WordsCompleted The young girl Ying came from the Youxin Fang Kingdom to the court of Dayi Shang. Because her mother had once shared a past with the Shang king, the current queen grew wary of Ying. She was ostracized, nearly assassinated, and even became the cause of a war. Yue, the Shang king's second son, was warm and persistent, devoted to Ying with all his heart. His mother had died young, so the king paid him little attention. Zai, the king's third son, was the son of the current queen. Because of his moth 364Reads8.5Score—Shelves
41. 191 谋 Plotting for the Realm, Seeking Immortality 谋山河，觅长生 Xu Xu Batian徐徐霸天Eastern Fantasy257k WordsOngoing Xu Boyan transmigrates into the heir to the Northern Defender Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty. He had hoped to live out his life in peace, but then his entire family is framed and killed. From that moment on, he sets out on the path of cultivation, plotting to claim the realm and seeking immortality. He wants it all! This is a world where cultivators and mortals coexist, with struggles for power and a long road of cultivation in pursuit of immortality. (No System + Traditional Xianxia + Power S —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Traditional fantasy, political intrigue, and power struggles, without a system.

42. 192 战 The Warring States: Alliance of Strategists 战国之军师联盟 Yu Yan欲严Historical1.3M WordsCompleted A modern man transmigrates into an age of warring states and uses his knowledge and experience to help his country become the hegemon of the era. He serves as chancellor to two states and is a genius courted by multiple kingdoms. Through his own efforts, he rises step by step to the top of the Qilin Rankings, becoming the most powerful figure of the Warring States era! 143Reads7.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is absolutely brilliant! [Think about it carefully][Think about it carefully][Think about it carefully]

43. 193 七 Legend of the Seven Killings Hall 七杀殿传奇 Armchair Writer空头文学家Eastern Fantasy714k WordsCompleted [Wuxia] [Mystery] [Deduction] [Detective] [Crime Solving] [High Martial] [Sword God] [Country and Family] [Political Intrigue] The second installment in The Legend of Hua Ziqi series, following Bloodflower Mystery. This book is divided into two volumes. The first depicts the treacherous and unpredictable jianghu, while the second chronicles political intrigue and power struggles at court. A solitary, cold-hearted young man bears a pair of crescent-moon hooks. He entered the jianghu to avenge 670Reads8.0Score101Shelves
44. 194 重 Reborn as a Tyrant in the Great Ming 重生大明当暴君 Painting Lingyan画凌烟Historical3.3M WordsCompleted You think you can secretly collude with the Jian Nu and I won't know? You think you can conceal your commercial taxes and I won't know? The southeast is prosperous, while Shaanxi lies barren for a thousand miles, littered with the starving dead. The court's ministers care nothing for the people's lives or the fate of the realm. They suck the blood of the Great Ming and strip the flesh from its people! Even an ordinary man in a fit of rage can spill blood three feet high. But do you know what hap 17.2kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    It looks great, very nice.

45. 195 虐 Tortured into a Locked Love 虐锁清欢 Already Exists 11已存在的11Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Leng Qinghuan was forced to marry the notorious Prince Yan. But she wasn't some naive, helpless girl. Crying and accepting her fate just wasn't in Leng Qinghuan's nature. She seized every opportunity, with the courage to burn her bridges, fought scheming women, fought the empress, opened shops, learned to solve cases, and more... Through her words and deeds, she proved herself. The woman Prince Yan had once sneered at ultimately became someone far beyond his reach! 293Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Not mentally challenged. An imperial decree separated Qinghuan, her childhood sweetheart, from the Crown Prince. The innocent love of youth is always exceptionally beautiful! Qinghuan accepted her fate of marrying the cold-faced prince, but she never imagined that the blood on her wedding night would end in such a way. Such humiliation! No more illusions of love! She would live for her family! She would fight against scheming women, the Empress, and even the once deeply affectionate Crown Prince became her enemy! After countless trials, she finally became the heroine of her own life!

46. 196 深 Tales from the Inner Chambers (2-Book Set) 深闺记事（套装共2册） Yuan Shuiyang源水漾Anime Fanfiction553k WordsCompleted At six, she and her mother were confined to a nunnery, where she developed a broad and open-minded nature. At twelve, after her mother died, she returned to the family home. Above her was an aunt who hid a sharp tongue beneath a gentle manner; below her was a domineering, spoiled cousin. She had learned all too well that one must never harm others, but must always guard against being harmed. That year, marriage proposals came from two sides. One was her childhood friend, a gentleman known for hi 802Reads9.0Score156Shelves
47. 197 不 Envy Not 不羡 A Little Sweetness from Weiwei薇薇一点甜Ancient Romance648k WordsCompleted [Business-minded female lead + palace and household intrigue + equally strong leads + sisterly support, also titled "The Max-Level Green Tea Starts Over in the Beginner’s Village". Ning Buxian was a master of feminine wiles in her previous life. She kept courting disaster for love and became a scheming green-tea villainess. Reborn, she decides to forget men and focus on her career. She handles household intrigue and business with ease, becoming a green-tea money-hoarder and growing fabulously ri 1.4kReads8.9Score177Shelves
48. 198 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

    Reader note

    ✨✨①The female lead is clear-headed and independent, showing no feelings for anyone in the early stages! The plot is neither drawn out nor abrupt, and the later development involves a complex and ambiguous relationship with the male lead. It's a super enjoyable and satisfying read! [Admiration]

49. 199 青 The Last Ember of the Green Lamp 青灯烬 South Bridge, North Alley南桥北巷Ancient Romance306k WordsCompleted In the bitter winter of the third year of Yuanling, heavy snow blanketed the land. Urgent news arrived from the border: the northwest had suffered a defeat. Shen Zizheng of the Wu Xing Shen family, Marquis of Jing'an, and his eldest son had been killed in battle. His second son was gravely wounded and still unconscious. They requested the Emperor send reinforcements to the northwest. Several days later, a hurried group of people from the general's residence in Shangjing arrived. They had come 2.9kReads8.5Score292Shelves
50. 200 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 7.1kReads9.0Score951Shelves

Other lists with Great Tang: Li Shimin Begs Me to Start a Rebellion