Real Political Intrigue Fiction: Nothing Shallow or Brain-Burning, That’s My Taste 真正的权谋小说（不尽兴，不烧脑，我吃食）

1. 251 走 The Horse-Riding Hidden Scheme 走马藏局 Kai Zhong Feng Shui凯中堪舆Urban1.2M WordsOngoing Geomancy and the Yin-Yang arts rule the world, while the Jianghu is full of schemes! At twelve, Shen Qianfan became an orphan and was cast adrift in the Jianghu. He grew up teaching himself from books scavenged from trash heaps, cleared his father's name, and pressed on through one Jianghu con after another, setting schemes and breaking them, navigating schemes within schemes. He cut a path through every obstacle, built a business empire, and leveraged his influence to establish a regional milit 1.6kReads6.3Score185Shelves

   Reader note

   Wonderful, captivating! Kai Zhongkan's novels, starting with "The Path of Feng Shui Cultivation," followed by "One Man and One Mouse Cultivate Immortality," and then "Mecha Immortality: Invincible from Exile to Mars," have now concluded. These three books form a cultivation trilogy. Now, he's back with a new book, but this time he's not writing about cultivation. Instead, he's focusing on things closer to home: feng shui, human nature, kung fu, strategic planning, breaking through barriers, the eight major martial arts sects, and his journey of overcoming obstacles to build a business empire and leverage regional military power… This new book is called "The Hidden Game of Horsemanship," where "horsemanship" represents feng shui, and "the hidden game of horsemanship" represents the human heart. The book's message: In this world, the human heart is more terrifying than ghosts. But you can't be afraid; if you are, you lose.

2. 252 性 Wild at Heart, A Master Flirt: The Coldhearted Prince Goes Mad for Her 性子野，撩的花，寡情王爷疯魔啦 Wenxin Ruoshui文心若水Ancient Romance906k WordsCompleted [Both Leads Are Inexperienced + Faux Uncle and Niece + Political Intrigue + Ensemble Cast + Regretful Pursuit] [Quirky, Scheming Heroine VS. Vengeful, Unhinged Uncle] Xie Ning, the second daughter of the Prince of Jing’an’s household, has just arrived in Yandu when she wanders into the wrong room and is used by a man as an ingredient in an antidote. After one wild night, she intends to treat it as a fleeting fling, but he petitions the emperor to grant them a marriage. He is the mighty Prince of 1.7kReads9.2Score188Shelves
3. 253 冒 After Passing Myself Off as the Heiress, My Powerful Brother Lost Control 冒认千金后，权臣兄长失控了 Lu Xiwan鹿溪晚Ancient Romance116k WordsOngoing [Fake heiress + not-quite-siblings + aloof powerful minister + historical political intrigue + ensemble cast + mystery of an old case + heroine's growth + love that develops over time + mutual devotion + happy ending + one-on-one, both leads' first love + slow burn + restrained romance + politics at the forefront] Fifteen years after the southward exodus, A Yuan, an orphaned girl who had lived among refugees, was brought into the Pei household to impersonate Pei Lingyi, the legitimate daughter w 301Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   I recommend "After Impersonating a Heiress, My Powerful Brother Loses Control," a historical romance focusing on political intrigue and the mystery of her birth. The romance is subtle and restrained, and the story unfolds at a slow pace. If you prefer serious political intrigue novels, you might enjoy this one.

4. 254 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
5. 255 穿 A Lowly County Office Clerk with Kids at Home and No Rice to Cook 穿成县衙小吏，家有儿女等米下锅 Don't Discuss the Wind-Banner, Follow Your Heart心动莫论风幡Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [A clerk is no official, and the desk is a mountain of blades] [No errors in the ledger, every stroke of the brush decides joy and sorrow] The male lead had only just transmigrated when someone cracked him over the back of the head. After missing work for three days, he nearly got struck off the rolls. His father thought he was saddled with two useless dependents. His older brother thought he was too inflexible to make money. His fourth younger brother feared his lowly clerk's status would tarni 165.9kReads9.2Score22.8kShelves

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this one. A political intrigue novel with a unique perspective. It tells the daily stories of ordinary officials and commoners in a county town during the Northern Song Dynasty. Exquisite details and a stark depiction of social customs make you feel as if you've been transported to the bustling city life of the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago. It's not a wish-fulfillment novel, but it has its emotional moments. It's not about political intrigue, but it portrays human relationships and social dynamics. There are no romantic pairings, no cheat codes, and no modern knowledge to overwhelm you; it's a hyper-realistic ancient Chinese novel. It's almost a million words long, well-developed and juicy, so you can start reading now. Weaknesses: Slow-paced, not a wish-fulfillment novel, no romantic pairings, relatively uneven plot development, some chapters are too detailed, so impatient readers should avoid it.

6. 256 世 The Noblewoman of a Great House Rules Above All 世家贵女她权力至上 Bingze Moli冰泽陌璃Ancient Romance224k WordsCompleted [Strong female lead + no CP, because that stuff can go die + fun + no System + no transmigration + no pocket dimension + no being reborn] (A practice piece, please be kind) Once you enter the palace gates, you find yourself in a sea of intrigue. Power comes with bloodshed, and sincerity is nothing but the biggest joke. In this scheming imperial harem, who isn’t putting on an act? “I have no wish to compete with the world. Eagles and falcons, do not suspect me.” “Scions of the great clans all str 293Reads6.3Score—Shelves
7. 257 魏EN The Wei Clan's Cursed Son Becomes Grand Secretary—Now They Beg Me to Return 魏家孽种成首辅，全族跪求我认祖 A Salted Fish in Everyday Life生活中的咸鱼Historical1.6M WordsOngoing (Also known as The Wei Fox) [Political Schemes][One Female Lead][Ensemble Cast][The Wei Faction] Condemned from birth, I was given the name Niesheng. On the day I was born, my mother died in childbirth, and my grandfather mourned before the ancestral hall. The whole household looked at me askance, all calling me a disaster star who had stolen another's fate. My biological father hated me like an enemy, my elder half-brother regarded me as an omen of bad luck, and my stepmother hid a knife behind 645kReads9.2Score90.3kShelves

   Reader note

   They all started with a disadvantage, turned the tide in the early game, established themselves in the mid-game, and dominated the late game.

8. 258 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
9. 259 我 I Debate the Classics with Great Scholars in the Embroidered Uniform Guard 我在锦衣卫跟大儒辩经 A Grain of Rice in the Vast Blue Sea沧海茫茫粒米身Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Yang Zhi, a top salesman and philosophy graduate student in his previous life, transmigrates to the end of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Through a twist of fate, he joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard, passes the imperial examination, enters the Hanlin Academy, and debates the classics with the great scholars at court! 5kReads8.8Score355Shelves

   Reader note

   The most realistic depiction of power struggles, an unprecedented novel showcasing the downfall of the Han people! My novel features vivid character portrayals, a reliable historical background, and a plot full of twists and turns, unfolding slowly like a stream flowing to the sea.

10. 260 流 A Hooligan Becomes Empress, Then Leads Her Consorts in Rebellion 流氓直升女帝，她带着妃子造反 Buy Some Things买点东西Ancient Romance203k WordsOngoing [Strong Female Lead + Turbulent Times + Farming + Development + Conquest + Rebellion + No System] Chu Lan was a beggar, but one day she was suddenly thrust onto the throne as the new ruler. The previous emperor died, leaving behind a complete mess. Ministers, maternal relatives of the imperial family, and regional princes schemed against one another, each hoping to seize imperial power. The court was in turmoil, rebellions were spreading, foreign enemies surrounded the realm, and the treasury w 5Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 261 权 A Woman in Power 权姝 Wind and Sunset风夕阳Ancient Romance628k WordsCompleted Legitimate daughter | Devoted hidden guard × Long-suffering childhood friend, the prince | Pure romance | Court intrigue | Strong female lead | Nation and family The court of the Great Qi dynasty is in turmoil, with the struggle for the throne brewing beneath the surface. The Molong cavalry bears down on Zhenmen Pass, where starving, freezing soldiers hold the border with their flesh and blood. On the battlefields of a troubled age, it is not only men who march to their deaths. Fu Ziyou brav 534Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A political intrigue story featuring a cast of intelligent characters. Princes and noble ladies team up to seize a gold token, overcoming three trials each designed to test the depths of human nature. The plot twists and turns. Highly recommended.

12. 262 纨 The Pampered Life of a Spoiled Commandery Princess 纨绔郡主得宠日常 Zhao Pian赵骗Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Signed for publication. The print edition is expected to be available by the end of the year. No! This! Is! Not! A! Romance! No CP! No rebirth, no transmigration, a thoroughly evil heroine, a power-struggle story A truly wicked heroine, vying for power over the realm, genuinely unhinged, ruthless, and rotten to the core Questions that come up while reading can only be answered by reading on. The willful, overbearing young princess of the Prince of Zhenbei’s household takes a fancy to Pei Jinnian 51.1kReads9.4Score6.4kShelves

    Reader note

    I almost gave up at first because of the title, but I finished reading it without skipping a single page. It's a female-centric power struggle novel with no romantic pairing, which was very satisfying to read because the female lead never suffered any injustice and got all her revenge. The content also has some very interesting parts. 🤔 If you're looking for something to read, you should definitely give it a try.

13. 263 开 A God of Slaughter from the Start: Why Is the Emperor Rebelling? 开局成杀神，陛下为何造反？ Running Pork Knuckle奔跑的肘子Eastern Fantasy3.5M WordsCompleted Framed, reduced to slave status, and sent off to serve in the army. Fine, fine. So that’s how you want to play? Then what can you do when I pull out my Godslayer System? Why should those high officials in court be allowed to lord it over everyone else? I’ll take up my butcher’s knife and carve my way through this chaotic age! “Host has slain an elite enemy and gained 1,000 experience points.” “Host has achieved the Thousand-Kill milestone and received a reward: Eight Hundred White Snow Dra 33.8kReads8.3Score2.8kShelves
14. 264 神 I'll Create the Gods: My Power Has No Known Limit from the Start 神由我来造：开局异能上限不明 Zhua Yu Jun拽鱼菌Urban354k WordsOngoing [Combat Thrills] + [Mind Games] + [Delusional Comedy] + [Strategic Maneuvering] + [A Touch of Mystery] + [Lone Wolf to Wolf Pack Ensemble] + [Two Powerful Leads: A Scheming Female Boss and a Cocky Mastermind] + [Ensemble Cast in a Vast, High-Martial-Arts World] + [Multiple Types of Dungeons] My name is Si Longtian. I'm sixteen. By day, I'm the sweet and beautiful school belle. By night, I'm the Boss known as the "Shining Reverse Scale." The one-legged female boxing champion of urban legend? Th 23Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A novel filled with intrigue and power struggles, the entire book cannot be stored in one's mind.

15. 265 我 I, the Ultimate Schemer: The Empress Calls Me a Living Yama 我，最强毒士，女帝直呼活阎王 Xing Xing Zi星星子Historical4.3M WordsOngoing [Search Tomato to watch the short drama: The Third Greatest Stratagem of All Time] Gao Yang transmigrated to the Great Qian Dynasty just as the Empress ascended the throne and began recruiting talent from across the land. So he volunteered himself as a poison strategist! The Empress: “Suppose you personally wiped out your enemy's entire family. As you looked at the bodies scattered everywhere, you suddenly realized there was still a child in the house. What would you do?” Gao Yang: “I'd say, ‘Re 386.2kReads9.2Score32.8kShelves

    Reader note

    This is a novel about power struggles and treacherous schemes. The male protagonist is a time traveler who starts by answering the imperial edict.

16. 266 伏 Ambush 伏杀 Mo Bai1莫白1Historical1.4M WordsCompleted [Original title: Ambush] Beneath the awe-inspiring might of Heaven, all living beings are mere ants. And yet he dares, with the strength of an insect, to turn the world upside down. For family, for friends, for the burning hatred in his heart, for the nightmares that haunt him year after year, for justice, and for fairness. This story is set in an imaginary world and has no connection to actual history. Everything in it is fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 14kReads8.3Score890Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a well-written fictional political intrigue story. The characters' motivations are reasonable, the schemes are logically sound, and there are no forced or illogical plot points.

17. 267 眉 The Sand Between His Brows: The Ailing Power Minister Topples an Empire 眉间砂：病弱权臣他掀了江山 Lu Yexian鹿野仙Two Male Leads542k WordsCompleted (Two male leads) (Both powerful) (Empress) (Rebellion) (Beautiful but tragic) Mad beauty x obsessive secret-police officer | Regicide to raise an army | Alpha sister and brother | Tomb-guard romance Jiang Sui was born under an ill star. The vermilion mole between his brows is the mark of a “corrupt official's son,” as the powerful call him. His essays at the academy astound everyone, only for him to be framed for cheating and thrown into death row. He dips his brush in blood and sneers as he wri 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a good read. From the son of a disgraced official to the regent, the protagonist's older sister also rises from a concubine to an empress.

18. 268 狂 The Knockout: I Let Gao Qiqiang Go from the Start! 狂飙：我开局放了高启强！ User10955111用户10955111Male-Channel Fanfiction342k WordsCompleted Before you stands Lin Jiajing: Qi Tongwei's only brother, Gao Yuliang's favorite student, the man Zhong Xiaoaï could never have, the one Gao Qilan has secretly loved for twenty years, Gao Qiqiang's true boss, the one who brought Tazhai to an end, and a graduate student at Handong University of Political Science and Law! [In the Name of the People + Ice Breaking Action + The Knockout] [No System] 86Reads8.4Score—Shelves
19. 269 聚 At the Foot of Demon-Gathering Mountain 聚魔山下 Loves Eating Dead Fish爱吃死鱼Eastern Fantasy34k WordsOngoing [A slow pace and careful buildup, all to tell a story that delves deeper into human nature.] [Brothers at Odds] “If you don't come back to help me, Saville... then we'll have to be enemies for the rest of our lives. We've always tempered each other. It's not that one of us changed, but that we were forced to be swept forward by history.” [The King's Commission] “Listen, Saville. You are the sharpest sword in the Kingdom of Carlos. I'll be waiting for you to bring back the scroll and save us, eve 8Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Western fantasy, an alternate world, a novel featuring multi-racial national wars, espionage, and political intrigue.

20. 270 嘿 Hey! The Deposed Emperor of the Three Kingdoms 嘿！三国废帝 May for the Rest of My Life余生五月Historical714k WordsOngoing I transmigrated into the body of Liu Bian, a disgraced and unlucky emperor, and from the start Dong Zhuo drove me out of Luoyang. All I had were two broken-down carriages, a few palace maids, several skinny horses, and a rusty cleaver. Other transmigrators get a System and a golden finger. I got nine years of compulsory education and a head full of half-baked history theories picked up from Bilibili. What, the elite cavalry of Xiliang? Let me introduce you to modern management theory. What, the 8Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Watching... It's quite interesting...

21. 271 官 The Biggest Hothead in Officialdom 官场第一愣头青 Model Huiyin模特徽因Urban6.9M WordsOngoing In the system, having powerful connections can provide welcome shelter. But sometimes, leaning on a powerful patron means being treated like a puppet, manipulated and controlled by others... Jiang Zhen initially refused to be controlled, but gradually changed his mind. He came to understand that Elder Xu's influence over him wasn't about control, but about guiding him as a person, beyond the rules of institutions and the conventions of the underworld. In the end, he deeply understood the career- 137.4kReads9.3Score10.4kShelves
22. 272 钟 Zhong Xiao'ai, Can You Handle This Kneel? 钟小艾，这一跪，你遭得住吗？ Nightfall on the High Terrace高台夜色Male-Channel Fanfiction1.2M WordsCompleted After being reborn, watch as they change their fate one step at a time, make up for the regrets of everything they lost in their previous life, and navigate the treacherous twists and turns of a turbulent world! 24.7kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I just finished reading this book, and I found it to be very good overall.

23. 273 权 The Power of the Imperial Favorite 权宠天下 June六月Ancient Romance4.1M WordsCompleted Live-action short-form drama: The Power and Privilege 4: Ruling the World is now streaming on Hongguo. A brilliant medical PhD transmigrates into the body of the Chu Prince’s discarded consort. As soon as she arrives, she encounters a critically injured patient. Guided by her medical ethics, she treats him, only to nearly be thrown into prison on false charges. When the Retired Emperor falls gravely ill, she finds a way to treat him, but that hateful Poison King misunderstands and berates her. I 10.3kReads9.4Score3.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Political intrigue, suspense, and patriotism—these four books are excellent without being intellectually taxing.

24. 274 穿 After Reincarnating as a Wretched Old Woman, I Just Want to Live a Laid-Back Life 穿成极品老妇之后只想当咸鱼 Every Inch Is Gold寸寸金Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted The old woman was a real piece of work. She drove her eldest daughter-in-law to her death, then doted on her second son, who passed the highest imperial exam and married the daughter of the prime minister. She even encouraged him to favor his concubine and neglect his wife. In the end, the prime minister had the whole family killed. The old woman suddenly came back reborn, only to be scared to death by what she had experienced in her previous life. Manxing, a promising 25-year-old woman, transmi 31.1kReads9.4Score4.2kShelves
25. 275 官 The Official Road, Starting at Level Three 官道，从三段开始 Mr. Fishjoy鱼乐先生Urban512k WordsOngoing My name is Bu Qingyun. (I hold a senior government post and have a fortune worth over a hundred million.) Let me tell you a secret. Ever since I was in elementary school, entering politics has been the light of my ideals and the flame of my ambition. It was buried in my heart like a seed, ready to take root and sprout as soon as the soil was right... 18.6kReads7.6Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Intrigue and scheming, this novel fully reveals the secrets and mysteries of officialdom! A highly recommended read that you'll never tire of.

26. 276 特 Special Forces Soldier Goes Undercover in Northern Myanmar, I'll Die So You Can See 特种兵卧底缅北，我要死给你们看 The World's Mightiest Little Fox宇宙无敌小狐狸8k WordsCompleted I Went Undercover in Northern Myanmar as a Special Forces Soldier. I’ll Die So You Can See. 149Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is amazing.

27. 277 穿 Transmigrating to the Late Qing Dynasty and Falling for Empress Dowager Cixi 穿越清朝末年之爱上慈禧太后 Xiao Fu, Who Loves Shiitake Chicken Stir-Fry爱吃香茹炒鸡丁的小富Historical136k WordsOngoing Lin Yu, a young man from the modern era, unexpectedly fell into the Cold Palace at the end of the Qing dynasty and began an unbelievable, legendary journey. He had superpowers and survived one perilous crisis after another amid the palace’s treacherous intrigues. He tried to save Empress Dowager Cian, protect Zhenfei, and outwit the treacherous Li Lianying. He threw himself into the Hundred Days’ Reform, knowing the road ahead would be difficult, yet repeatedly turned back time in an attempt to —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    More than just power struggles [angry][angry][angry][angry][angry][angry][angry][angry][angry] This is a quick transmigration novel I stayed up all night reading in bed. While others transmigrate to become princes or generals, he transmigrated to the cold palace and was mistaken for a Japanese pirate. Luckily, he has superpowers. The whole thing is high-energy and has no dull moments. Recommendation rating: 10 [Heavy punch][ ...

28. 278 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

    These are highly-rated historical romance novels; every single one is so captivating, I could stay up all night reading them, and read them every day! 👀 Fans of historical romance shouldn't miss these! [Heart emoji]

29. 279 过 Adoption into the Family 过继 Dreams of Spring and Autumn梦话春秋Urban1.9M WordsCompleted This is a novel about a man growing up through blood and tears. Along with the cruelty of reality comes the trickery of fate. But if you’re a man, wipe away your tears and face every hardship. Make yourself tough as steel, unbreakable... 29.9kReads9.3Score3.2kShelves
30. 280 我 I Was Reborn as a Good-for-Nothing Immortal Stripped of My Immortal Bones, and the God of War Went on a Killing Spree for Me 我穿成被剔仙骨的废柴仙，战神为我杀疯了 Yun Chuyin云楚吟13k WordsCompleted I Reincarnated as a Good-for-Nothing Immortal Whose Immortal Bones Were Stripped Away, and the God of War Went on a Killing Spree for Me 204Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It looks great! And it doesn't cause heartburn!

31. 281 卿 My Beloved, Through Every Dawn and Dusk 卿是朝朝暮暮 Sugar-Roasted Little Deer糖炒小鹿Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted Shen Yunshu studied archaeology and had been working for just two years. She loved history, and her favorite dynasty was the Rong Dynasty. A few days ago, she had read an unofficial history of the Rong Dynasty's royal family. Little did she expect that after falling asleep, she would wake up in the Rong Dynasty, sent there by the heavens, as Shen Yunshu, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family of Prince Zhenbei's residence. She had transmigrated to her favorite dynasty and become a descendant 24.4kReads9.4Score2.9kShelves
32. 282 斡 Orduo: After Entering the Drama, I Changed My Fate with a Misguided Immortal Bracelet 斡鲁朵：穿剧后我靠跑偏仙镯改命 Half-Cooked Brain脑子半熟Ancient Romance237k WordsOngoing She transmigrates into a trashy drama she abandoned halfway through, becoming the cannon-fodder supporting female character who is sentenced to death alongside her whole family from the start. The good news is that she finished watching the show: she knows who hands over the knife and exactly where the blood will be spilled, better than the scriptwriter does. She even predicted the trouble that bracelet sent from Mobei would cause. The one thing she didn't anticipate was that the prince everyone 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    New novel about political intrigue

33. 283 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
34. 284 簪 The Flower-Pinned Young Man 簪花少年郎 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted When they first met, Qiao Yanan mistook the young man's sex, taking the breathtakingly beautiful youth for a girl. Thinking they were both fellow sufferers in this world, she treated “her” with great warmth, stirring the young man's heart. Once his identity was revealed, Qiao Yanan asked him to pose as her fake fiancé for her own safety. Having fallen for a beautiful young woman, the boy's heart beat faster and faster. He gladly accepted his new fiancée and did everything he could to turn their 10.4kReads9.6Score1.6kShelves
35. 285 开 A Puppet Emperor from the Start: I Summon China's Legendary Heroes 开局傀儡皇帝，我召唤华夏英灵 Little Baozi Is a Bean小小包子是个豆Historical1.2M WordsOngoing On the first day Xiao Cheng transmigrated, the entire court was laughing. They laughed at him for being the most pathetic puppet emperor, and laughed that he wouldn't live to see the end of the year. Xiao Cheng didn't answer back. He was counting, figuring out how many of those smiling faces in the hall would still be around by year's end. On the third day, Gao Lishi cleared out the imperial harem. A month later, Zhang Juzheng's performance assessment system had half the court on its knees. L 5.2kReads7.2Score343Shelves

    Reader note

    A system summons that requires thought~

36. 286 苟 Laying Low in Hehuan: The Sect's Demonesses Pour Their Qi into Me Every Day 苟在合欢：全宗魔女每日灌我灵气 Ning Xixue宁汐雪Eastern Fantasy1.6M WordsOngoing [Xianxia + dark + multiple heroines + comedy + unconventional twists + decisive and ruthless] Reborn, and from the start reduced to a cultivation resource for a demonic sect. What should he do? Asking online, and it’s urgent! Who says a crippled spiritual root means you can only let others slaughter you? With enough nerve, the sect master becomes your servant. With ruthless enough methods, the empress becomes your Dao companion! Jiang Fan uses yin and yang as his pieces and the world as his game 24kReads8.1Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Wild History Rumors/

37. 287 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

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book. Set against the backdrop of the Warring States period, it tells the story of a cunning ruler and a clever queen who work together to unify the six kingdoms. The book is not just about romance, but also about national affairs; not just about intrigue and strategy, but also about great talent and ambition. The character of Zhao Zheng in the book is the perfect image of my beloved ancestor, and the happy ending makes up for the regrets of history.

38. 288 重 Only After Being Reborn Did I Learn I Was the Cool and Aloof Minister's White Moonlight 重生才知，我竟是清冷权臣白月光 October Orange十月橙Ancient Romance661k WordsCompleted [Revenge on scumbags + sweet romance + switched marriages + reborn heroine vs. transmigrated heroine + a seemingly aloof, secretly twisted beauty] In her previous life, Chu Mingyuan learned only as she lay dying that the younger sister who had secretly been sleeping with her husband was not born to her late mother. She was actually a concubine-born daughter who had been switched at birth by a concubine. Chu Mingyuan died with regrets. Thankfully, Heaven took pity on her, and after her death she 9kReads8.9Score947Shelves

    Reader note

    This rebirth-themed historical romance novel is a rare gem among Tomato's truly intriguing political intrigue stories!! Absolutely everyone, go read it!!

39. 289 第 The Number One Son-in-Law: I Really Don't Want to Rebel! 第一赘婿，我真不想造反啊！ Tangyuan2023丸子2023Historical4.5M WordsCompleted Historical fiction, a touch of ensemble cast, not mindless wish fulfillment, everyday interactions with the heroines, and family life. Also known as: My Wife Is a Grandmaster. Who Wouldn't Lie Flat? No one helps me reach for the clouds, so I tread through snow to the mountaintop alone. If fortune was never meant for me, I'll climb Kunlun by myself! The strategist risks everything by entering the game, all to bring Dongling back into the light! One vow: “I hunger to feast on the flesh of the nort 19.1kReads7.8Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    [Attention][Attention] High-IQ political intrigue, court intrigue, martial arts battles, and national warfare—a major work by the renowned author @2023. 🌈 Historical fiction with a rich and diverse cast of characters. Looking back, the early plot is initially captivating, but the characters play a crucial role in the later story, adding many unexpected twists and surprises. After 1 million words, you will be completely immersed in the historical game the author has created. 🌈① The protagonist starts weak and is bullied, but grows stronger with each challenge. 🌠 The later chapters reveal a deeper meaning. 🍀 The harem is not just for show; it features characters with both literary and martial talents, as well as strategic acumen.

40. 290 神 The Gods Devour Earth 神噬地球 The Old Donkey Keeps Braying驴子老叫Sci-Fi & Apocalypse530k WordsOngoing [Ensemble Cast] [Anti-Cheat Story] [Political Intrigue] [Slow-Burn, Not a Power Fantasy] [No Stereotypical Characters] [Intellectual Battles] [A Mix of Classical and Modern Chinese Prose, Not for Everyone] (Revised through Chapter 34 of Volume Two. The remaining chapters will be updated gradually.) Thermodynamics applies in this book. You cannot regenerate mana forever. Any method of increasing one's power will gradually be discovered by others over time, causing its benefits to diminish until t 48.8kReads9.5Score9.1kShelves

    Reader note

    New system, new genre, anti-cheat system. Atheists battle Cthulhu, random passersby beat up cheat codes. [Thumbs up] When everyone's intelligence is on point, the protagonist's halo disappears, and having a cheat code becomes a death sentence.

41. 291 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 67.4kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves

    Reader note

    1. The female protagonist transmigrates to ancient times and is bound to a system of renowned ministers, but she is actually a woman. Therefore, she disguises herself as a man from a young age, takes the imperial examinations, and gradually becomes a powerful and influential minister, remembered throughout history, becoming the white moonlight of a prosperous dynasty. 2. The male protagonist transmigrates to ancient times, taking the imperial examinations step by step, and then becoming a minister, showcasing his strategic brilliance. The story is filled with various emotions, including family ties and friendships, all very moving. The author's depiction of emotions is very delicate, making it a very enjoyable read. 3. The female protagonist is a high-level manager in a modern corporation, a typical professional, but in ancient times she becomes a prince. After the male protagonist takes a concubine, she only treats him as her boss, developing her own career. She treats her followers as team members, rewarding them fairly and promising them great things step by step, eventually becoming an empress dowager. 4. The female protagonist transmigrates into an ancient family as cannon fodder. On a whim, she assassinates the emperor, following the trope of punishing nine generations of relatives. However, she ends up swapping souls with the emperor, a tyrant. After her soul enters the tyrant's body, she makes the dynasty better and better. 5. The female protagonist transmigrates into the Song Dynasty, changing the weak Song Dynasty and turning the tide to save the Southern Song.

42. 292 一 I Woke Up to Find Myself a Son-in-Law 一觉醒来变赘婿 Tangyuan2023丸子2023Historical2.1M WordsCompleted Lan Yuheng dies suddenly from overwork at school and is ultimately dragged back to the underworld by Ox-Head and Horse-Face. The Judge discovers that he's a virgin for the ninth lifetime and takes pity on him, sending him to an ancient parallel world. Here, those so-called poets don't exist, and the Tang dynasty is not the prosperous era it once was. In the end, his fate is changed, granting him endless romantic encounters. But because something goes wrong with Granny Meng's soup, his soul trans 8.3kReads8.2Score711Shelves
43. 293 宁 Ning Yan: When Women Rule the Roost 宁兖，牝鸡司晨 Books Bring True Wealth有书真富贵Historical167k WordsOngoing [Ensemble political intrigue + entrusted heir + factional strife + expansion of the realm + redressing an old injustice] [Wronged powerful minister male lead x emperor female lead disguised as a man] Also known as "After I Blundered into the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Was the Imperial Family" On a winter night in the seventh year of Chengxu, Emperor Zhao Ning Fu suddenly went mad. Wearing the robes of his favorite consort, Yan, he climbed the bell tower and rang the funeral bell before fall 173Reads—Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    A ensemble drama of power struggles, including the entrustment of a young heir, factional infighting, territorial expansion, the redress of old grievances, and counter-espionage. No time travel, no idiotic supporting characters. Also known as "After Accidentally Entering the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Am the Imperial Family."

44. 294 家 My Father Is Emperor Wu of Han! 家父汉武帝！ The Wise Man's Mutt智者的土狗儿Historical1.9M WordsCompleted [Winner of the National Library writing contest] [Top-tier historical storytelling + no System + rebellion + political intrigue + a love-hate relationship between father and son] Reborn in the womb as Liu Ju, the eldest legitimate son of Emperor Wu of Han. His father is Liu Che, the most powerful carbon-based life form on Earth in the second century BCE! And his maternal family’s lineup is even more outrageous! His mother is Wei Zifu, his uncle is Wei Qing, his cousin is Huo Qubing, and his youn 88kReads9.2Score8.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Both are good. The first book is judged by how many people are reading it, while the second book is mainly known for its excellent dialogue.

45. 295 她 She Swapped Bodies with the Tyrant and Went on a Rampage! 她，与暴君互换后，杀疯啦！ Little Chubby, Run!小胖子快跑Ancient Romance371k WordsCompleted [Soul swap + transmigrate into a book + sweet, funny romance + going off the rails + tyrant + wish fulfillment + both leads are each other's first and only] Yun Yaoyao transmigrated into a book, becoming a foolish, timid cannon-fodder character who doesn't even survive the first chapter. No problem. If my family plots against me, I'll assassinate the emperor and wipe out my own clan! But after killing the emperor, Yun Yaoyao was horrified to discover that she and the tyrant had swapped bodies! T 27.6kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves
46. 296 我 I’m Reborn, So Why Are You Still Asking Me to Confess? 我都重生了，你还叫我表白 Soy Milk and Buns豆浆包子Urban423k WordsOngoing [Reborn + Campus Belle + System + Everyday Romance + Political Maneuvering] “With empty sleeves, how could I dare to keep a beauty from her happiness?” Burdened by enormous debt and framed by others, Tang Lin is reborn at eighteen. This time, the spring breeze stirs your long hair, but it’s my dreams it sets in motion. From a naive boy to a devoted man with graying hair, this time, I won’t miss my chance. I’ll confess my love ninety-nine times. This time, Chen Manzhen is the one who comes after 12Reads6.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Tired of mindless, pretentious urban romance novels? Then check out "Let Me Confess!" The male lead is framed by his classmates, ignored by his goddess, stabbed to death while taking a knife for someone, and his first task after transmigrating is to be a simp? Classic business warfare, thrilling fights, absolutely no mindless pretentiousness, and an incredibly sweet storyline—come and read it!

47. 297 钢 Steel and Sunflower 钢与葵 Ripples of a Dream梦的涟漪Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsOngoing This is a serious, dark-toned epic fantasy set on an imaginary continent. It features multiple protagonists, intricately interwoven plotlines, and a profound world. Its many elements include historical realism, political intrigue, steampunk, Cthulhu, mystery, and character growth. It is a slow burn, but never drags. Welcome to a world that belongs to no heroes. Here, pure light does not triumph over darkness. Instead, faith and fate clash in a bloody struggle. Supernatural powers are not blessin 271Reads9.2Score239Shelves

    Reader note

    A Western fantasy! A serious theme, dark atmosphere, political intrigue, and struggle. An epic masterpiece. Numerous foreshadowing elements and layers of mystery await your discovery.

48. 298 变 Transformed into a Southern Song Princess, I Become an Empress for the Ages 变身南宋公主，朕为千古女帝 Bright Moon, Dreaming of Beauty明月梦婵娟Historical739k WordsCompleted [Gender Swap] [Single] [Southern Song Empress] [Reclaiming Lost Territory] [Building the Great Song Empire] A history enthusiast transmigrates to the Southern Song Dynasty and becomes Princess Qi, who was originally destined to die at six months old. She is given the name Zhao Lingsheng. After living a peaceful life as a princess for fourteen years, she recommends to Emperor Ningzong that Zhao Lingsheng be named Crown Princess when his adopted son, the Crown Prince of Great Song, Zhao Xun, falls 2.2kReads8.7Score179Shelves
49. 299 煌 The Glorious World: The Eight Dragons' Final Lament 煌煌乾坤：八龙绝殇 There's a Tavern有一家酒馆Historical201k WordsCompleted In the twenty-second year of the Jingwu era, modern young man Xiao Han happens upon a stroke of great fortune on the road, only to be lovingly crushed by another world’s transporter: a construction truck. His soul crosses over into the body of Yan Hanchuan, heir to the Prince of Zhenbei of Great Yan, and he awakens on the snowy plains of the northern frontier. With the iron cavalry of Xiliang massing at the border and undercurrents swirling through the imperial court, this young man of a new era —Reads—Score—Shelves
50. 300 官 The Road to Power 官途 Dreaming into the Vast Wilderness梦入洪荒Urban9.4M WordsCompleted After graduating from university, Liu Fei, whose origins are shrouded in mystery, repeatedly finds himself facing one crisis after another because of his brash personality. He is attacked from every direction and suppressed by all sides. Watch as Liu Fei charges straight through, crushing every opponent in his path, uncovers the truth about his origins, sweeps aside the great factions, and rises to the pinnacle of life! 10.2kReads9.1Score992Shelves

    Reader note

    "Bloody political intrigue, a desperate counterattack! Is the game already decided? We are all just pawns! #Politicalintrigue #revenge #peak showdown. Multiple political intrigue novels available for book lovers!!!"

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