Political Intrigue, Darkness, High Intelligence, and Masterminds 权谋，黑暗，高智商，布局

1. 501 郭 Guo Jingyuan's Notes on Officialdom 郭敬远官场笔记 Mountains, Rivers, Wind, and Rain山水风雨Urban595k WordsOngoing Set firmly against the backdrop of its era, this novel brings political realism and commercial idealism together seamlessly. The protagonist, Guo Jingyuan, has an exceptionally accurate grasp of economic trends and a remarkably keen business instinct. While still at university, he earns his first fortune at colleges across the capital. But determined to fulfill his ambitions, he resolutely enters politics, starting at the grassroots level while building his business career in parallel. In busine 133Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The novels are all closely integrated with the historical context, combining officialdom and business, and are written very realistically. They all get better with each reading, highly recommended!!

2. 502 大 The Benevolent Ancestor of the Tang Dynasty 【大唐仁祖】 Tang Renzu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors三皇五帝唐仁祖Historical973k WordsCompleted [Golden Finger] [Transmigration] [Li Ke] [Political Intrigue] [History] From the start, he transmigrates into Li Ke. Facing certain death, he uses Li Shimin as a chess piece and goes head-to-head with the Changsun clan and the Guanlong aristocratic families, deftly resolving the struggle over the crown prince's succession. From the start, he is trapped in a dead end: Changsun Wuji has already begun plotting to frame him, and the deadly purge of Zhenguan Year 17 is less than six years away. He 5.6kReads—Score492Shelves

   Reader note

   The plot is stunning! This novel is of such high quality as a historical romance or a serious drama, with the potential to become a classic. If it were adapted into a TV series, no other novel could surpass it! This novel is high-quality, intellectually stimulating, not mindless, logically sound, and features brilliantly portrayed characters! "Emperor Renzu of Tang" is a nearly million-word novel that will be completed in mid-September, with all foreshadowing resolved, plot holes filled, and a satisfying ending. It is recommended to read the comments section of the last chapter first, where the author provides a summary of the entire novel, which will aid in the reading experience. The author's writing style, word choice, plot structure, imperial strategies, political maneuvering, emotional nuances, military warfare, court intrigue, and governance are all top-notch. The author's writing is astonishing, the scope grand, the themes lofty, the thoughts profound, the knowledge solid, the cultural depth deep, and the political maneuvering masterful. If you don't like it after reading it, you can slap me in the face!

3. 503 我 I Rule the Great Yong Through Martial Might 我在大雍以武称帝 A Man with a Wu Hook男儿带吴钩Historical2.0M WordsCompleted Ten years ago, the eldest grandson of the Great Yong dynasty was kidnapped from the Eastern Palace and fell off a cliff, his fate unknown. At the time, the virtuous Crown Prince Xiao Rui was leading an army to sweep through the Northern Rong. Just as he was about to capture their royal court, he learned that his beloved son had met with disaster. Overcome with grief and rage, he died on the battlefield. Struck by one blow after another, Emperor Wude turned white-haired overnight. The Great Yong 8.6kReads8.2Score553Shelves
4. 504 大 Great Qin: I Become a Sage Through Reading, and from the Start I Summon the Great Snow Dragon Riders! 大秦：我靠读书入圣，开局召唤大雪龙骑！ Black Ant黑的蚂蚁Historical2.9M WordsCompleted After accidentally transmigrating to the Great Qin Dynasty, Ying Ziye becomes the Eighth Prince and awakens a God-Tier Reading System. The more he reads, the stronger he gets! Reading brings unlimited rewards, and reading can even make him a sage! So Ying Ziye shuts himself away to read all day, working diligently and avoiding trouble. Then, at last, the day comes! The First Emperor is gravely ill and intends to tour the eastern lands in search of immortality. The Mohists are making their move. 3.1kReads7.2Score262Shelves
5. 505 重 Reborn in the Officialdom: In My Previous Life, I Was a Jianghu Big Shot 重生官场之上一世我是江湖大佬 Forty Quanzi四十权子Urban495k WordsCompleted [Reborn amid the twists and turns of officialdom + a distinctive and original plot + powerful allies from the start + everything under control + a heavenly beauty and a perfect match + climbing ever higher, step by step] In his previous life, Chu Yifeng returned to Longcheng after five years as a special forces reconnaissance soldier. He saved Bao Yubo, a powerful underworld boss, and was swept into a maelstrom. Step by step, he entered the criminal underworld and became a crime lord, ruling his 331Reads6.0Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Chu Yifeng, who served as a special reconnaissance soldier for five years, was a mafia boss in his previous life. After being reborn, he first worked as a driver and bodyguard for a mayor of a third-generation Red Army family, then befriended a top-tier military general, eliminated corrupt officials to obtain hundreds of millions in start-up capital, and guided a mafia boss to launder his money and establish a real estate empire. With his precognitive abilities, he stepped onto the path to heaven step by step. [Top Post]

6. 506 明 Getting By in the Late Ming 明末混日子 Swatting Mosquitoes in My Sleep睡觉打蚊子Historical1.2M WordsOngoing A little nobody arrived in a brand-new world. What path would he take here...? Perhaps he would change this place. Perhaps he would remain nothing more than a speck of dust, arriving quietly and leaving just as quietly. Perhaps he would try his hardest and still fail. Whatever happened, life would go on, and tomorrow would still come. He just wouldn't be that young man anymore. 286Reads5.3Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   It's still pretty good.

7. 507 刘 Liu Bowen: Tides of Fortune in the Imperial Court 刘伯温之宦海沉浮 Gurgling Spring泉之淙淙Historical565k WordsCompleted Liu Bowen: Rising and Falling in the Sea of Officialdom abandons the magical realism commonly used in earlier works about Liu Bowen. Its main approach is realism, with touches of romanticism. Following the ups and downs of Liu Bowen’s official career, and set against the peasant uprisings led by Fang Guozhen, Xu Shouhui, Wu Chengqi, and others, it offers a many-sided portrait of the vibrant world of the late Yuan dynasty. It depicts both the contests of wits and political maneuvering among strat 158Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Intrigue and wit, high intelligence

8. 508 绝 The Peerless Sword God 绝色剑神 Zhi Ge Wen Mo止戈问墨Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted That winter, the martial world died. Tianwaitian slaughtered the entire martial world, staining rivers and mountains with blood. Beauty meant death. Zhao Qinghe was the most remarkable princess in the world, and the most beautiful woman in the world. When she smiled, the mountains and rivers paled. When she drew her sword, even immortals bowed their heads. Her Flowing Cloud Soft Sword made her invincible in three moves. Two even more dangerous women were always at her side: Luo Qinghan, “De 464Reads8.1Score191Shelves

   Reader note

   That winter, the martial world died. The Heavenly Realm slaughtered the entire martial arts world, staining mountains and rivers with blood. Beauty is synonymous with death—Zhao Qinghe, the most beautiful princess in the world, the most beautiful woman under heaven. When she smiled, the world paled in comparison; when she drew her sword, even immortals bowed. Her Flowing Cloud Soft Sword was invincible in three moves. Beside her were two even more dangerous women: Luo Qinghan, "Ink Feather Godslayer"; and Wen Wanqing, "Gentle Palm Suppressing Heaven." The three were unassuming, like refined ladies, like delicate flowers. Their two adorable pets were even more extraordinary: the Myriad Demonic Ice Python "Frost Profound," and the ancient divine beast "Soul-Devouring Golden Eyes" Ink Flame. The winter snow had not yet stopped, but the killing had already begun. The sharpest sword in the world was wrapped in the sweetest sugar.

9. 509 费 Why Go to All That Trouble? Wouldn’t It Be Better to Transmigrate as a Leader? 费那劲干啥，直接穿成领导不香吗 Lone Shadow, Cold Moon孤影冷月Urban1.2M WordsCompleted A note: The protagonist is a spineless, inexperienced shut-in, not a hero who sleeps among beauties and wakes with the world in his hands. A groveling nobody scraping by on dirt must gradually transform into a soaring roc, rising through the heavens and stirring up the winds and clouds. That kind of change takes time. After being heartlessly abandoned, the groveling nobody transmigrates into a leader in the central district of a provincial capital and enters the heart of power. He is nervous, ye 5.7kReads8.5Score287Shelves
10. 510 序 Sequence: A Twin-Souled Mastermind Bestows Power on Abyssal Monsters! 序列：双魂幕后，赋予深渊怪物！ Yan Zhi Fei Shi研之绯世Urban147k WordsCompleted Behind the Scenes + Ensemble Cast + Cards + Sequences + SCP + Dark and Twisted + Monsters + Yokai + Lovecraftian Horror + Smart Characters + Two Souls, One Body + Slice of Life in a Japanese Light Novel Style (The first two chapters have overly long setup and can be skipped) This is the story of an ordinary person who is reborn in Neon with a card monster System. Those who suffer the hardships of the world and those oppressed by the powerful are all granted magic by the gods. The world is thrown 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Brother, that's exactly right.

11. 511 东 A Bastard Son in the Eastern Jin: From Dowry Servant to Rising Star 东晋庶子：从陪嫁仆从开始逆袭 Xingdong's Banhuan Longbing兴东的板桓龙兵Historical1.1M WordsCompleted The comic adaptation just came out. If you’re interested, go check it out. No System + political machinations + comeback + reform + aristocratic clan power struggles + plotting from behind the scenes In the first year of Jianwu, Sima Rui declared himself emperor, while the Langya Wang clan held the court in the palm of its hand. Under the Nine-Rank System, those from humble families had no way forward, as aristocratic clans monopolized the court generation after generation. Lu Heng, a tomb raide 5.3kReads7.8Score420Shelves

    Reader note

    It's barely watchable; although it has many shortcomings, it's still watchable.

12. 512 九 The Ninth-Rank Heavenly Doctor 九五天医 Liu Yuanxi柳元西Eastern Fantasy4.4M WordsCompleted What is an emperor worth mentioning? He rules one nation, while this man commands the rulers of countless lands. What is a miracle-working physician worth marveling at? A doctor heals the sick and injured, while this man can cure all the world's ills. He is Hai Bao'er, a man skilled in both letters and arms, with peerless medical knowledge and extraordinary schemes. [Story Synopsis] ■ Overnight, the Lei family of Dongyang Commandery was framed and destroyed by a coalition of enemies. This centur 399Reads8.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's fantastic, definitely worth watching. A meticulously planned and executed piece.

13. 513 我 Slaying Dragons on the Road to Power 我在仕途斩群龙 Muha of the Celestial Masters' Palace天师府的穆哈Urban2.6M WordsCompleted 3.5kReads8.2Score316Shelves

    Reader note

    To achieve something truly extraordinary, one must be cunning and treacherous, and possess a high IQ.

14. 514 权 The Road to Power: Starting as a Temporary Transfer to the General Affairs Section 权力巅峰：从借调综合科开始 Morning Glory Big Bro牵牛一哥Urban419k WordsCompleted That’s right, Zhang Zheyuan was reborn. His last life was just too hard! This time, he’s aiming for the pinnacle of power! People who want to win don’t smile, so why can’t I stop the corners of my mouth from turning up?! 24Reads6.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Strategic planning, overall structure, and officialdom!

15. 515 开 From the Start, I Can Summon: Turns Out I'm the Mastermind 开局召唤：我竟是幕后黑手 The Imaginary Writer's Wild Ideas假想作的脑洞Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsCompleted He transmigrates as the Sixth Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, a prince incapable of cultivation. But he can summon all kinds of people and factions from Chinese history. The hidden Web in the depths of Great Qian, Wudang, the leader of the righteous martial world, the Money Gang, which gathers the world’s wealth, the Beggars’ Gang, the world’s greatest gang, Bai Xiaosheng, who knows everything about the martial world, the eccentric Demon Cult, and Lu Bu, who loves having adoptive fathers... Th 16.3kReads8.0Score705Shelves

    Reader note

    🔥🔥Book Synopsis: The Great Qian Dynasty is in turmoil. The sixth prince rises to power, the Luo Net lies hidden, and the martial arts world is led. The Money Gang enriches the rich, the Beggars' Sect members are present, the All-Knowing Scholar comments, and the Demonic Cult is shrouded in mystery. Lu Bu's adoptive father, Gongshu Liusha, and Dugu Qiubai gather forces. The princes vie for the throne, the sixth prince is behind the scenes, and the court and martial arts world are all under his control. The dragon robe is donned, the crown prince ascends the throne, and the ministers and imperial guards all clamor to withdraw. The sixth prince's schemes astound the princes; the fate of the world is now in his grasp.🔥🔥

16. 516 我EN The Monsters I Created! 我创造的怪物！ No One in the World Will Ever Meet Me Again世人千万再难遇我Urban1.6M WordsCompleted [Behind the Scenes + Ensemble Cast + Cosmic Horror + No System + No Romance] Also known as: Dark Revelation Gods and demons, dragons, and the apocalypse were once fairy tales. The mysteries of this world have faded from sight, yet someone has brought those long-lost things back into the public eye. And every clue, every lead, points to a man named Chen Ye. “Friends, would you cast off this flesh and join us in embracing evolution?” Extended blurb: Sequence 001: The Mimic Sequence 002: The Deep O 66.7kReads9.2Score6.2kShelves
17. 517 穿 Transmigrated into a Heroic Warlord 穿越枭雄 Buddha's Seal佛之封印Historical2.1M WordsCompleted A young special forces soldier is struck by lightning and transmigrates into the foolish son of a blacksmith in the Great Xia dynasty. On the very day he arrives, his father dies in battle, his mother dies of grief, and the authorities force a marriage on him. Their already impoverished life is made even harder. Luckily, armed with modern knowledge, the protagonist first makes eel traps and promotes fishing. After the authorities embezzle the reward money for a tiger-slaying hero, he begins a co 1.4kReads8.5Score133Shelves

    Reader note

    A special forces soldier, struck by lightning, transmigrates into the body of a blacksmith's mentally challenged son in the Great Xia Dynasty. His father dies in battle that same day, his mother dies of grief, and the government forces him into a forced marriage. His already impoverished life is further shattered. Fortunately, aided by modern knowledge, the protagonist first learns how to catch eels and promotes fishing. A tiger suddenly appears in the yard, but the protagonist easily kills it using a technique from the elementary school story "Tang the Tiger Hunter." The tiger-hunting hero deserves a reward of 1000 taels of silver, but the corrupt government embezzles 995 taels. Thus begins a power struggle with the corrupt official. The official, greedy for money, wants the protagonist to participate in bandit suppression, ideally dying in the process. Unexpectedly, the protagonist possesses incredible abilities, beheading the bandits in their stronghold. He easily defuses every trap they set. Just as the Great Qi, with an initial force of 200,000, invades, the protagonist leads a hundred-man team composed of village guards, government troops, and bandits, achieving numerous victories. He repels the powerful northern nomadic tribes and even orchestrates a battle between the two powers. The two powerful nations resolved their conflict through diplomacy, uniting to pressure the Great Xia in an attempt to extort a large sum of money. However, the protagonist used a broken piece of glass to sow discord between them. The nomadic tribes descended into civil war, and the Great Xia royal family was embroiled in internal strife, resulting in the emperor's murder. The princes were manipulated by their maternal relatives in a power struggle, plunging the Great Xia into further chaos…

18. 518 与 With Jin Chang’an (Based on the Screen Adaptation Starring Song Yi and Cheng Lei) 与晋长安（宋轶、丞磊主演影视原著） Jiu Lu Feixiang九鹭非香Ancient Romance155k WordsCompleted The hit drama starring Song Yi and Cheng Lei is now airing! A beloved historical romance by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang! Female general vs. puppy-like boy. The child she casually picked up turns out to have two sides? A cold little gentleman by day, a loyal black knight by night. Is he a puppy turning into a wolf, and which side is the real him? A tale of love and hate between a female general and the heir of an enemy state! Li Shuang, the adopted daughter of a great general, guards the borders of the Grea 5.9kReads9.6Score957Shelves

    Reader note

    Love is not bound by cause and effect; fate determines life and death. When we first met, our hearts were already intertwined; looking back suddenly, ten years have passed, and ten years have gone by in my heart.

19. 519 玄 Xuanhuan: My Sword Strikes Just a Little Too Slowly 玄幻：我的出剑速度有亿点慢 Shadow Afraid of the Dark怕黑的影子Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted Lin Qiye thought that with a sword in hand, he could live freely and take on the world, but he was betrayed and killed. In this life, he follows his own path, keeping his sword hidden in his heart. The Sword Saint of Heaven and Earth: “You draw your sword too slowly…” The Sword Saint of Heaven and Earth, dead! The Sword God of the Nine Netherworlds: “Everyone says you’re slow to draw your sword. You really are no match for me…” The Sword God of the Nine Netherworlds, dead! The White-Robed Swor 660Reads8.1Score103Shelves
20. 520 未 The Future Time Peeping Tom 未来时间偷窥者 Classmate Qiaqia恰恰同学Mystery117k WordsCompleted In the middle of the mourning hall, thin streams of red liquid slowly seeped through the gaps in the coffin and dripped to the floor, where they blossomed into vivid red roses. The crimson roses slowly spread. As if guided by some spirit, they did not flow anywhere else, but kept creeping toward the man and woman, as though some magnetic force were drawing them in. A cold wind blew through, and the doors of the mourning hall creaked softly, as if something were trying to squeeze inside. Just the 13Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist's values ​​aren't very upright, but he's very realistic. Unfortunately, his reality was suppressed by the platform for twenty-two days before he was just released.

21. 521 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: The Concubine-Born Heir's Rise to Power 女穿男，庶房嫡子的逆袭 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Now available as an audiobook with a full cast. [Alternate history] + [Woman transmigrates as a man] + [Born into this world] + [Imperial exams and business in the early story] + [Court politics later on] + [One female lead, with a relatively small role] + [A touch of ensemble cast] + [No golden finger] Xie Chengxi was born into another world as the sixth son of the Xie family, a minor family in Bianjing's Grain Transport Guild. His father was the clan's rejected son, kept under pressure for yea 34.6kReads8.3Score3.9kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is beautiful

22. 522 锦 A Match Made in Splendor, Her Beauty Rules the World 锦绣良缘之男颜倾天下 Su Ang苏盎Ancient Romance232k WordsCompleted Shen Heng was an unremarkable young lady among the official families of Shangjing. Aside from her somewhat striking looks, the one thing that made people take notice was her “remarkable achievement” of being jilted by the Prime Minister’s legitimate son. 3.7kReads9.7Score586Shelves
23. 523 开 Suspended from the Start? I Join the Discipline Inspection Team Instead 开局停职？我转投纪委调查组 Second Master Jiangmen江门二爷Urban7.5M WordsOngoing His superior was under investigation, his girlfriend was cheating on him, and after being targeted by office rivals, he was forced onto leave. Yang Dong hit rock bottom from the start, never imagining that a phone call would change the course of his life. He was seconded to the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation team to save his superior, only to inadvertently trigger a massive storm. Yang Dong had this to say: "No need to panic. I'll have a cigarette and calm down first!" (No hare 533.5kReads9.3Score28.8kShelves

    Reader note

    *Yang Dong faces his darkest hour at the start, but navigates the political arena with remarkable composure thanks to his exceptional foresight. *A nobody rises through the ranks from the front lines of public security, relying on his extraordinary foresight.

24. 524 权 The Alluring Powerful Minister 权臣妖娆 Minced Meat and Fried Egg肉沫跑蛋Ancient Romance960k WordsCompleted Also known as The Female Top Scorer and The Female Imperial Tutor. He was a celebrated, charmingly elegant top scorer, showered with every favor under the heavens. Only after the Du family was destroyed and he hanged himself in prison did the world learn that “he” was a woman! After her father's death, the family's good name was ruined. Dozens of loyal servants starved to death. The beautiful women of the household were either made into servants or reduced to playthings for officials. Reborn, Du 3.3kReads9.1Score426Shelves
25. 525 玄 Xuanhuan: The Ninth Prince of Great Zhou, Invincible from the Start 玄幻：大周九皇子，开局即无敌 Wind Whisperer风语者Eastern Fantasy450k WordsCompleted [Fantasy + Fortune + Emperor + Ruthless + Invincible + No Heroine] Lin Xuan transmigrates into a fantasy world as the ninth prince of Great Zhou. In this life, he has no interest in the throne and devotes himself to martial arts. After a century of cultivation, he reaches the Grandmaster realm. A man may have no intention of killing a tiger, but the tiger may still want to kill him. To eliminate the threat he poses to the throne, the other princes frame Lin Xuan for plotting to usurp the country 8.2kReads8.4Score392Shelves
26. 526 行 Late in the Day 行止晚 Zhi Er织尔Ancient Romance138k WordsCompleted [Devoted love + emperor and empress + tragic palace romance] 145,000 readers gave it top ratings, and countless readers cried their way through it! The year’s breakout historical romance, a heartache readers can’t forget. A clear-eyed, sweet empress VS a proud emperor whose love never wavers. Born into the imperial family, how can everything ever go as you wish? May we remain together forever, and may I keep you safe and at peace. A gentleman’s word is his bond. In a daze, I saw the moon rise. 25.2kReads9.6Score3.3kShelves
27. 527 别 Don’t Mess with Me, I’ve Got Connections in the Capital 别惹我，哥朝中有人 Mist at the Heart's Tip迷雾心尖Urban142k WordsCompleted I’m Lin Ce, a rookie at work. My boss publicly dumped the blame on me, pinning a three-million-yuan disaster on me so neatly there wasn’t a crack in it. Just as I was about to pack up and leave, my ancestral jade pendant suddenly grew hot: “Tsk, even those censors in the Wanli era cited chapter and verse when they framed someone. Your boss is way too crude.” Zhang Juzheng, Grand Secretary of the Ming dynasty, is living inside my jade pendant! From then on, being made a scapegoat? Not happening. 44Reads—Score—Shelves
28. 528 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. 34kReads9.2Score4.4kShelves
29. 529 修 Are Cultivators Weak? Do You Know the Difference Between Immortals and Mortals? 修仙者弱？你可知仙凡有别 Summer Mouthwash夏日漱口Eastern Fantasy960k WordsOngoing [Cultivators as the Fourth Disaster] [The protagonist does not suffer! The protagonist does not suffer!] This is a starsea era in which everyone has a chance to awaken and become a deity. After five failed attempts, Yang Bai finally awakens a divine domain from the immortal realm on his sixth try: White Jade Capital. He summons cultivators from another world to serve as his followers. Humanity is widely considered the weakest race of deities and has always languished at the very bottom of the pe 2.7kReads7.9Score208Shelves
30. 530 我 I Navigate Officialdom with Geology 我靠地质学纵横官场 Mist at the Heart's Tip迷雾心尖Urban254k WordsCompleted The top student Fang Jue had studied such an obscure field that, when he first entered government service, people dismissed him as a bookworm who knew all about mountains and rock formations but nothing about the real world. Then, on the eve of a once-in-a-century torrential downpour, he used his formidable expertise to issue a precise landslide warning despite withering skepticism. Overnight, the once-underestimated tech geek became the hero who saved 78 lives in the town. But behind the honors 27Reads—Score—Shelves
31. 531 女 The Female Leader's Favorite 女领导的头牌红人 Although虽然Urban3.4M WordsCompleted Wang Yu sat in the meeting room with a copy of Sakura Communications in his hands, waiting to learn where he would be assigned for work. He had returned to a crossroads of fate once again. This time, he did not choose to move far from his hometown and parents. Instead, he dutifully chose a state-owned enterprise. No coasting toward retirement, no lying flat. He climbed the ranks all the way, proving through his actions that seniority does not always have to rule here, either. With the right kind 2.5kReads9.6Score249Shelves

    Reader note

    Enough with the chit-chat, it has everything you need. Don't let the title fool you; it boasts over 200,000 views and a high rating. I read it three times when I had nothing else to read, and each time I had a different experience, leaving me wanting more.

32. 532 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
33. 533 权 The Women in the Shadow of Power 权力阴影下的她们 Mist at the Heart's Tip迷雾心尖Urban441k WordsCompleted Ten years in discipline inspection, and enough corruption case files to fill half a lifetime. Among the countless cases I've handled, I've found one hidden rule: behind every fallen corrupt official stands at least one woman, often a whole group of them. To thoroughly investigate a corrupt official, you first have to understand the women behind him. They are mistresses, money mules, and bait used to ensnare officials. They are also where power, money, and sex intersect, living keys to the code o 606Reads6.2Score100Shelves
34. 534 谋 The Mastermind 谋局者 Senior Brother Snail蜗牛师兄Urban1.5M WordsCompleted In 2000, my buddy and I went to Ruili on vacation, and got caught up in a scheme. I lost everything and wanted to end it all. My mentor saved me on a rooftop and taught me how to set up schemes. That was when I learned that there was a kind of person in this world called a master schemer. The Greed Scheme: He could help others make money, and he could help me make money too. The opportunity was right in front of me, and I couldn’t let it slip away. The Celebrity Scheme: You’re rich and important 74Reads6.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    See? It's absolutely amazing!

35. 535 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
36. 536 凭 With Billions to Win Hearts, I Invest in Prodigies and Conquer the Immortal Realm! 凭亿敬人，投资天骄纵横仙界！ Sleeping Pills失眠药丸Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted Shen Fu was the fifth son of the Immortal Emperor Jubao, the one his father valued least. In the Immortal Realm, he was a famous young master in name only. Then one day, he obtained the Prodigy Investment Rebate System. The System could see through prodigies and refund twice the resources invested in them! What? This kid has the makings of an Immortal Emperor? Huh? This little snake has true dragon blood? This woman is the reincarnation of a Female Emperor? Who says prodigies are hard to w 2.8kReads7.9Score189Shelves
37. 537 重 Back in the Game: Cleaning Up Officialdom 重出江湖之整治官场 Millennium Stone Monkey千年石猴Urban228k WordsCompleted A mob boss shakes up and cleans house in the political arena! [No idiotic characters, no System, light mystery] Black is black, and white is white, but the two can also change places! Even the righteous may do shameful things, while the wicked may do good for the country and its people. What matters is how you see things and what you believe, and whether you can answer to your conscience! 52Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A gangster boss stirs up trouble in the government; the story is not intellectually sappy, lightly suspenseful, full of political intrigue, logical, and full of twists and turns.

38. 538 官 The Hidden Rules of Politics 官场暗格 Mist at the Heart's Tip迷雾心尖Urban396k WordsCompleted In July, Yun City sweltered under the heat. The resume of fresh graduate Lin Hao, much like the man himself, was trampled beneath the crowds at the job fair. Graduation led straight to unemployment, and reality weighed heavily on him, until one phone call opened a door: an internship at a subsidiary of the City Investment Group. A monthly salary of 1,750 yuan, with no guarantees and no promises. It was the only straw within reach in his desperate circumstances, and a dusty entrance to an entirel 378Reads—Score—Shelves
39. 539 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 88.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves
40. 540 穿 The Woman in High Heels 穿高跟鞋的女人 Mist at the Heart's Tip迷雾心尖Modern Romance206k WordsCompleted Wen Xinzhu, born in the countryside, earns a place in the civil service through her own hard work and becomes a grassroots official in Taohua Town. She thinks that putting on high heels and securing a stable government job will bring her a peaceful life. But the world refuses to stay still. Inside this seemingly glamorous bureaucratic fortress, her beauty becomes her most conspicuous label, and her heaviest burden. Men’s covetous eyes follow her everywhere, while women’s jealousy hides lethal in 96Reads—Score—Shelves
41. 541 六 The Six Gates: A Battle Against the Demons 六扇门：与魔争锋 Niu Dun牛墩Mystery1.5M WordsCompleted [Full-cast audio adaptation now available] [Court and martial world, political intrigue and mystery, decisive and ruthless] Who is caught in the scheme, and who stands outside it? Who is a pawn, and who has been cast aside? The only thing that makes their enemies tremble isn't the pair of blades in their hands... With a group of like-minded friends by their side, they can find the strength to keep going, no matter how dark the road ahead! 1.3kReads8.8Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    [Heavy Blow][Heavy Blow][Heavy Blow] What kind of scheme is this? Who is orchestrating it? A crime thriller, suspenseful reasoning, court intrigue—how can you fight against evil without some cunning? Every step you take requires planning three steps ahead… The villains aren't stupid either; a slight miscalculation can lead to a decisive victory. [Eating melon seeds][Eating melon seeds][Eating melon seeds]

42. 542 一 I Accidentally Committed a Crime 一不小心犯了罪 Mist at the Heart's Tip迷雾心尖Rural Life243k WordsCompleted In the February chill of Wushi Village, five-year-old Ding Ding lay collapsed in a vegetable patch, her tiny, cold body wrapped in a bright yellow cloak. A rusty nail embedded in her foot, a fatal bruise from a skull fracture at her temple: Detective Jiang Yuan knew at a glance this was no accident, nor a simple act of murder! As the investigation deepened, the case grew shrouded in mystery. Beneath the village entrance’s parasol tree, three black stones had been arranged in a sinister “Three Yi 34Reads—Score—Shelves
43. 543 百 A Century of Upheaval 百年丧乱 Mo Ying Wu An莫盈勿暗Sci-Fi & Apocalypse2.6M WordsCompleted [Zombies + no saintly protagonist + decisive and ruthless + multiple narrative threads + ensemble cast + apocalypse fortress + war + survival + slow-paced] No rebirth, no supernatural abilities, no System or pocket dimension, no plot armor, and no romantic entanglements. This is not a power fantasy. It focuses more on realistic portrayals, particularly the story of humanity's resistance in an age overrun by zombies, and accounts of people trying to survive the apocalypse from multiple perspectiv 17.7kReads8.8Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This post-apocalyptic novel is so realistic it sends chills down your spine. The protagonist is intelligent throughout, the world-building is grand and full of suspense, and it becomes more and more addictive as you read.

44. 544 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
45. 545 墨 The Ink Moon Halberd: Love and Revenge in the Western Regions 墨月戟：西域情仇 White Rice Dumpling白水粽Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [No AI, entirely written by hand; court intrigue and an ensemble cast, with a traditional plot-driven narrative] [Subtle emotions, sweeping warfare, vivid characters] Beyond Yumen Pass lie the great desert and the Tianshan Mountains. With half Han heritage and half Hu blood, he was born amid the flames of a chaotic age, as the Han and the Xiongnu fought over the Western Regions. In a dreamlike lifetime, he saved the Cheshi princess and uncovered the fated bond between them as husband and wife in 163Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    How could small kingdoms along the Silk Road, without political maneuvering and the support of the mighty Han Dynasty, possibly resist the brutal Xiongnu? [Today's Finale]

46. 546 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
47. 547 权 Power and Favor Across the Nine Heavens 权宠九天 June六月Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted The short drama from the same series, The Beloved Physician, is now streaming on Hongguo. Long Qingruo, a genius of the Red Dragon Clan, was renowned in the twenty-second century as a brilliant doctor and a master surgeon. Yet as soon as she arrived, she was shot full of holes by a hail of arrows, while a whole host of women were lining up to covet her position as princess consort. Ridiculous. She acted decisively, asserting her authority as a wife, taking in underlings, bringing villains to hee 6.2kReads9.4Score848Shelves
48. 548 风 Hong Xiuquan, the Charismatic Heavenly King 风流天王洪秀全 Yu Songhan郁松寒Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Hong Xiuquan, an impoverished scholar in the late Qing, was quite the extraordinary man. He struck out on a new path, launched the Jintian Uprising, rose from humble beginnings, captured Nanjing, founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, dominated eighteen provinces, and ruled for fourteen years over half the realm. He was insatiably greedy, consorting with courtesans and surrounding himself with beautiful women. He gathered beauties from across the land, keeping 2,300 women in his harem to serve hi 11.4kReads8.6Score861Shelves

    Reader note

    It contains historical facts, stories, literary flair, and political intrigue!

49. 549 我 I Only Wanted to Be a Lowly Soldier, but My Strength Wouldn’t Let Me 我只想当个小兵，奈何实力不允许 Fish Fruit Orange鱼果橙Ancient Romance224k WordsOngoing [Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Male Lead + Male Rivalry + Palace and Household Intrigue, but with Men + Political Scheming + Light Comedy + Underdog's Rise + Satisfying Revenge + No Female Lead + Multiple Couples + Ensemble Cast + Everyone Is Evil] In the chaotic era of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the North and South wage war without end. At court, great aristocratic families scheme against one another. Beyond the border, flames of war blaze, and human lives are worth no more than grass. Han Su —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Han Su betrayed six different regimes, and each time he not only escaped unscathed but also gained even more power. Those he betrayed all ultimately failed, while this "traitor" remained like an unyielding toy, always possessing power and wealth.

50. 550 帝 Emperor’s Conquest 帝王业 The Dream Speaker寐语者Ancient Romance367k WordsCompleted The original novel for the television series The Rebel Princess, starring Zhang Ziyi. A thousand miles of blood mark the road to the throne; holding hands for half a lifetime, a beauty brings ruin. She is the daughter the Langya Wang family is proud of, the deepest love of a great ruler, and the power behind the founding of a dynasty. She is a traitor to the aristocratic clans and the last protector of her family, a sinner who brought down the imperial house and an adviser who helped two emperor 947Reads9.5Score143Shelves

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