Palace Intrigue and Entering the Palace Through a Selection 宫斗，选秀入宫

1. 51 绝 A Stunning Film Queen Possesses Someone in Another World, Masters Palace Intrigue, and Becomes Empress 绝美影后搞魂穿，玩转宫斗成皇后 Ink Phoenix Cloud Letter墨凰云笺Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Powerful female lead transmigrates into another person's body + high-IQ palace intrigue + one woman takes on the entire harem + not both leads' first time] A stunning award-winning actress transmigrates into the body of a concubine-born girl who has been drugged with an aphrodisiac and is still expected to enter the palace. Entering the palace would be one thing, but her rank is low. Her rank being low would be one thing, but she has no money either. No matter. Sister Shen knows exactly what sh 226Reads6.4Score—Shelves
2. 52 清 A Qing Dynasty Rebirth: The Big Shot Helps Me Win Over Zhen 清穿复仇，大佬助我谋禛心 Jia Xiaoqi嘉小麒Ancient Romance672k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + historical setting + sweet romance + court intrigue + a little household and harem drama + brotherhood] (Completed) I crossed three hundred years of time just to meet you, while you endured three hundred lonely years, waiting in vain for my return... Jianing wakes up one morning to find that she has transmigrated, and is forced to inherit the tragic memories of the original owner's final moments. Bullied and abused! Her belly cut open to save someone else's unborn child! The or 701Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   It's quite good. Both the male and female leads are intelligent. In the early stages, they test each other, but later they team up to fight against others.

3. 53 小 The Theatrical Little Palace Maid Charms the Tyrant with Her Alluring Swagger 小宫女戏精，撩拨暴君媚又飒 September Pear Blossoms九月梨花Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Strong Female Lead + Clear-Eyed Heroine + Palace Intrigue + Sweet Romance + Building a Career + Getting Rich] Sheng Yunshu never imagined that, just after transmigrating into the imperial harem, she would become one of the new palace candidates. All under heaven belongs to the emperor, so escape is out of the question. She might as well win the emperor’s favor and build a career. Want to get rich? Lay the groundwork first, then keep the tricks coming. A carefully arranged encounter and a gentle 1.4kReads8.6Score142Shelves
4. 54 咸 The Laid-Back Consort: Rising Step by Step 咸鱼娘娘：步步高升 Melancholy Cantaloupe忧伤的哈密瓜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + palace and household intrigue + childbirth + doted on exclusively later] Jiang Wan transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking palace consort of an emperor with no children. To protect the people around her, she has no choice but to compete for a little favor. Who knew she’d end up giving the emperor a chubby baby boy! Emperor: “She’s the birth mother of my only son. Of course I have to protect her.” Who knew that all that protection would turn into affection? As Jiang Wan ris 19.1kReads8.9Score1.7kShelves

   Reader note

   Coming from a humble background, the female protagonist entered the palace based on her beautiful appearance, suggesting she could bear many children. After giving birth to a prince, she rose through the ranks.

5. 55 江 The Realm as My Betrothal Gift: The Cold Emperor's Beloved 江山为聘：冷面帝王的心尖娇 Autumn Hues, Remembered Traces秋色忆痕Ancient Romance286k WordsCompleted The year Shen Zhiwei entered the palace, all she wanted was to be invisible. Her father said that since the Shen family came from a merchant background, being chosen as a palace consort was already a tremendous imperial favor. She hid her wealth of literary knowledge and put on an act of meekness and dullness, only to stumble upon Consort Chen's earth-shattering secret. "Sister, have you heard where the former dynasty's imperial seal is hidden?" Consort Chen's prayer beads brushed against her fi —Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Palace intrigue, a good story

6. 56 山 Ashes of the Realm: The Phoenix Rises in the Southern Sea 山河烬：凤起南溟 Autumn Hues, Remembered Traces秋色忆痕Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [Protection, political intrigue, betrayal, and renewal. From palace lady-in-waiting to founding empress, she heeds Heaven's mandate, ushers in a new era, and brings peace to the land. The story of an extraordinary empress's rise!] The Yan clan of Nanming has, for generations, guarded the hidden spiritual leyline that sustains the dynasty's fortunes. As dynasties rise and fall, the new emperor, Xie Lanzhou, sweeps across the realm with an iron fist, yet remains conspicuously silent about the Yan —Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 57 朱 Cinnabar Calamity: The Bone-Chess Chronicles of Yujing 朱砂劫：玉京弈骨录 Autumn Hues, Remembered Traces秋色忆痕Ancient Romance261k WordsCompleted When modern-day forensic doctor Shen Yi dies, her soul transmigrates into Wei Zhao, the daughter of a convicted official in the Great Yin dynasty. To protect herself, she must rely on her astonishing autopsy skills, carefully navigating the bloody chess game unfolding in the treacherous city of Yujing. With a scalpel in her left hand, she cuts open corpses to uncover the truths the dead have to tell. With a cinnabar brush in her right, she pens deadly footnotes into secret records of political i 1Reads—Score—Shelves
8. 58 娘 The Empress Is Determined to Rise to the Top 娘娘她立志登高位 The Moon Has Set in the West月已西Ancient Romance679k WordsCompleted Scheming beauty x stern, cold emperor (soul transmigration + palace intrigue + not mutually devoted + eventually his one and only) In the third year of Zhaowu, Wen Zhuohua abandoned the path laid out for her and entered the palace as a palace-selection candidate. She loves wealth, splendor, power, and status. All under heaven belongs to the sovereign, and nothing in this world is more exalted than imperial authority. Once in the palace, she treads carefully in the harem and puts on an act for th 15.2kReads9.0Score2kShelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist transmigrates! She enters the palace through a talent show! Later, she becomes the emperor's sole favorite! Both the male and female leads are cunning, sensitive, cautious, and incredibly intelligent—a true battle of wits! The female lead is a master of disguise, lying without batting an eye, subtly flirting, and maintaining a natural balance in their interactions. She gradually tests his limits, slowly increasing her importance until she firmly takes control. The male lead gradually falls for her, becoming possessive, jealous, conflicted, and trying to appease her. Even though he knows she might not be entirely innocent, he still falls for her, creating a captivating and suspenseful story! The writing is also superb, with some particularly delicate descriptions!

9. 59 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.5kReads9.4Score2kShelves

   Reader note

   The first book is about Zheng Shuning and Fu Junyi. Note that the male lead isn't chaste, but the female lead is. If you mind this, you can skip it. If not, you can read it and see the later part where the male lead is the only one in love with the female lead. The male lead falls for the female lead, and later the female lead also falls for the male lead and loves Fu Junyi. The male lead also falls for the female lead. If you mind this, you can skip it. If not, you can consider reading it. The second book is about Pei Tingyue and Xie Chen. Note that it's not about both being chaste, but it seems to be a transmigration story after the female lead serves the male lead. Later, the male lead is the only one in love with the female lead because he used her in the early stages. Shen Yuyao isn't Xie Chen's white moonlight; she only uses the male lead. The male lead falls for the female lead and loves her, and later the female lead also falls for the male lead and loves Xie Chen. If you mind this, you can skip it. If not, you can read it! The third book is about Shen Jiayu and Pei Yan. Note that the male lead isn't chaste, but the female lead is. If you mind this, you can skip it. If not, you can read it and see the later part where the male lead is the only one in love with the female lead. Also, after the female lead serves the male lead, the male lead doesn't seek anyone else. Initially, the male lead used the female lead, the concubines in the harem, and the court to maintain balance and control. In a few episodes, it was Consort Lu who went to see the male lead. Later, he developed feelings for the female lead and gradually stopped using her. Also, later on, the female lead also developed feelings for the male lead and fell in love with Pei Yan. If you mind this, you can skip it; if you don't, you can watch it! Anyway, I almost forgot about it, so I'm starting over. These three books are all by the same author, Mu Niannian. You can check them out if you like.

10. 60 娇 The Sweetheart Deliberately Seduces the Cold Emperor, and He Falls for Her 娇娇蓄意勾引，清冷帝王沦陷了 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance651k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue + push and pull + seduction and rising to power + falling deeper at every step + devotion to one woman in the later story Loving her and knowing it + a man in power bowing his head for love * The short drama is out now. Search for “The Sweetheart Deliberately Seduces Him, and the Cold Emperor Falls” on Fanqie or Hongguo to watch the full series. * Pei Tingyue transmigrated into a book. She became a disposable consort in The Palace in Power. In the original story, she was simple-m 37.7kReads9.3Score4.4kShelves
11. 61 步 Scheming for the Emperor's Heart at Every Turn! Her Majesty Climbs to the Top 步步谋帝王心！娘娘一路扶摇直上 Ming Family Charcoal Fire明家炭火Ancient Romance315k WordsCompleted (Not a pure romance with only one partner, palace intrigue, favored from the middle onward, and doted on exclusively in the ending) Wen Jing Tan went from a heaven-blessed darling to a confiscated palace slave, and had long since had enough of being beaten and cursed at. One day, she was framed and, by a twist of fate, sent to the emperor's side. From then on, she swore to become The Outcast, second only to one and above all others. She wanted His Majesty's favor, and her family to flourish! The 673Reads8.2Score107Shelves
12. 62 帝 The Emperor Is Aloof and Hard to Approach? He Lures Me to Share His Bed Night After Night! 帝王清冷难近？夜夜诱我共枕眠！ Thousand-Pool Moon千池月Ancient Romance549k WordsCompleted [Live-action audio adaptation available] [Reborn + Palace Intrigue, Not Both Virgins + Favored by the Hero Early On, His Only Love Later + Clear-Headed Beauty Rises to Power + Emperor Becomes Love-Struck Later] [Cool, Distant, Hard-to-Approach Emperor vs. Delicate, Soft, Clear-Headed Heroine] In her previous life, Lin Wanqing was kept outside the palace as the mistress of the younger brother of the reigning emperor. She thought they were in love and that she would become his princess consort. S 3kReads8.8Score339Shelves
13. 63 娘 The Consort Schemes Her Way to Power, and the Emperor Dotes on Her Daily 娘娘心机上位，皇帝日日宠 Ling Ling Yuan泠泠沅Ancient Romance328k WordsCompleted Song Shiwei, a concubine-born daughter of the Dali family, enters the palace in place of her elder sister, posing as the legitimate daughter. She becomes a low-ranking Seventh-Rank Baolin in the harem of Qi Jing, the fifth emperor of the Great Deng Dynasty. With no influential connections or status, Song Shiwei initially just wants to coast through each day, checking in for the daily greetings. At least life in the palace has to be better than it was at home. But in the imperial harem, getting f 318Reads7.4Score—Shelves
14. 64 宫 Beneath the Palace Walls, I Seduce Him to Steal Her Favor 宫墙之下，勾他夺宠 Strawberry Fondant草莓糖心Ancient Romance462k WordsCompleted Original Title: The Princess Becomes a Favored Consort, Bears a Little Crown Prince, and Seizes Her Sister’s Throne. [Reborn + System + palace intrigue + aloof beauty + stunning beauty + sweet romance] An aloof, noble, one-of-a-kind ruler x a delicate, alluring beauty with an innocent sensuality … Once, she was his nominally illegitimate princess (a lie), and the only stain on his life. He sent her to a foreign land to marry for peace. From atop the palace walls, she leapt, thinking she would b 22.3kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves
15. 65 皇 The Emperor's Cousin Says He Must Refuse 皇上表弟说他恕难从命 Coffee Chocolate咖啡朱古力Ancient Romance490k WordsCompleted [Completed] Younger man + sickly male lead + hapless cousins + a little palace intrigue + lighthearted Ye Su never imagined that because her fate was so strong, it would claim the lives of two fiancés, leaving her unmarried even at twenty-two. After her parents went to the palace to weep to her aunt, the Empress Dowager, it was decided that she would become a consort to her sickly cousin, the emperor. The reason was that a holy monk had declared Ye Su and the emperor’s destinies to be one strong 88.2kReads9.2Score10.8kShelves
16. 66 入 After Entering the Palace, the Obsessive Emperor Wouldn’t Let Me Leave 入宫后，偏执帝王不许我出宫 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance509k WordsCompleted [Not both virgins, not a strong heroine, a little angst early on, devoted love later] In the fourth year of the new emperor’s reign, Consort Duan died suddenly of an illness in the palace. At the time, Shen Jiafu was not yet fifteen. The Empress Dowager was from the Shen family. Half a year later, she summoned a Shen daughter to the palace to attend to her, claiming to be ill. Shen Jiafu traveled from Quzhou to the imperial capital. In public, she was gentle and well-behaved, like a charming flo 14.1kReads9.0Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Most of them entered the palace through a talent show.

17. 67 那 So What? His Majesty Dotes on Me Alone 那又怎样，奈何陛下独宠我 Moon Over the High Terrace月上高台Ancient Romance569k WordsCompleted The rating will rise once it’s posted + [A cold, devoted emperor and a dazzling beauty, an alternate dynasty, doted on from the start, both wholeheartedly in love and choosing each other] Jiang Yuexin is reborn. In her previous life, she and her best friend had both transmigrated. Jiang Yuexin became a consort in the palace who had beauty but no brains, while her best friend became the eldest daughter of a general’s household. She was breathtakingly beautiful, while her friend had only the rep 39.5kReads9.0Score6.5kShelves
18. 68 勾 Seduce My Way to the Top: Your Majesty, I've Been Plotting This for a Long Time 勾引上位：陛下，我对你蓄谋已久 New Little Moon新小月Ancient Romance479k WordsCompleted [Transmigration into a book, villainess, revenge, palace intrigue, seducing her way to power] [They scheme against each other. She runs, he pursues, and she can never escape him] Blurb One Shen Jiaojiao transmigrated into a book and became the heroine of an ancient romance novel. Unfortunately, she was the former heroine. The original heroine, pitifully robbed of the male lead’s life-saving favor by the female supporting character. Heaven knows how miserable Shen Jiaojiao felt, transmigrati 16.8kReads8.5Score1.7kShelves
19. 69 病 The Mad Concubine Is Too Unhinged, and His Majesty Indulges Her Without Restraint 病娇贵妃太疯批，陛下宠溺无度 Guest from the Green Cliff in a Pillow枕中青崖客Ancient Romance681k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue | Scheming | Unhinged and possessive | Older man | Everyone protects her | Healing | Devoted to her in the second half] [Content warning] The male lead has a harem in the first half, but devotes himself to her alone in the second half. Readers who require a male lead with no past relationships should proceed with caution. This isn't a mindless wish-fulfillment story. If you like everything going smoothly, proceed with caution. Ling Qihe's birth mother transmigrated into a chaoti 24.6kReads9.2Score3.1kShelves
20. 70 改 Remarrying the Crown Prince’s Father Reborn 改嫁太子他爹【重生】 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance738k WordsCompleted [Rebirth + palace intrigue + marrying the crown prince's father] The incompetent crown prince feared the Shen family's power. He listened to slander, falsely accused her elder brother of treason, and slaughtered her entire family. When she opened her eyes again, she was seventeen, in the year before she was to marry the crown prince. To save the Shen family, she had to bring the crown prince down. But the crown prince was protected on every side, like a man locked inside an iron cage. Shen Hanyu 19.6kReads8.7Score3kShelves
21. 71 娇 The Delicate Little Cabbage Is Ravished by the Old Emperor 娇娇小白菜被老皇帝拱了 Meow Meow Monster Is Adorable喵喵怪可爱Ancient Romance380k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Sweet Romance + Alternate World + Fatherly Male Lead + Male Lead Is Not Chaste, Female Lead Is] A born workaholic transmigrated into the body of the prime minister’s legitimate daughter. At long last, all this incredible wealth had finally fallen into her lap. A doting prime minister father, a gentle mother, and a brother who adored his little sister. Power, money, and good looks were all hers. She longed for freedom and hoped to spend her life with one person, and one person a 15.1kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves
22. 72 娇 Endless Pampering: I Want You on Your Knees, Calling Me Empress Mother! 娇宠无度：本宫要你跪着喊母后！ Shallow Starry River浅末星河Ancient Romance260k WordsCompleted [Sweet and wicked troublemaking beauty × Scheming, indulgent emperor] [Age gap, male lead has a past while female lead is chaste, one step at a time he falls, powerful man bows to love, sweet and satisfying with a hint of scumminess, happy ending] In her previous life, she was the Eastern Palace’s most spoiled and headstrong consort, yet died on the eve of the Crown Prince’s coronation. As she lay dying, she heard the Crown Prince sneer, “You’re nothing but a brainless idiot. What makes you thin 1.1kReads6.7Score103Shelves
23. 73 并 Twin Blossoms, One Heart to Steal 并蒂双生夺君心 Bell Meow铃铛喵Ancient Romance357k WordsCompleted (Set entirely in ancient times, with palace intrigue. Not a one-on-one romance, and not a relationship where both leads are untouched. Please read with care!!!) The Yan Prince’s manor was home to a pair of twin sisters. The elder, Su Beixue, was plain and ugly, while the younger, Su Nanzhi, was breathtakingly beautiful. For generations, the Yan princes had guarded the border. Each was a formidable warrior, and the Su army struck such fear into other nations that none dared invade. In the thirtie 166Reads—Score—Shelves
24. 74 宫 Palace Charms: The Concubine's Daughter, a Screen Queen, Snares a Mad Emperor 宫阙媚：庶女影后钓疯帝王 Little Circle and Me小圆和我Ancient Romance182k WordsOngoing Movie queen Su Yinshuang died suddenly and transmigrated into the body of an unloved concubine-born daughter of a marquis. Selected for the palace, she was given the low rank of Changzai. The rule for surviving the inner palace: never, ever fall in love with the emperor. She knew this better than anyone. In her previous life, she had acted out every kind of romance. In this life, she wanted only wealth and honor, and would never give away a shred of her true feelings. Gentle and obedient, with e 570Reads—Score106Shelves
25. 75 惹 Why Bother With Her? She's a Toxic Tease and the Emperor's Beloved 惹她干嘛，她茶又坏是皇上心尖宠 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance449k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + scheming black-lotus heroine + winning power through seduction + doted on exclusively from the middle onward] [Instinctive attraction + knowing one's own heart] Everyone said Song Shuangning was a gentle, innocent beauty, with shy eyes and a slender figure. But no one knew that beneath her delicate appearance hid a schemer whose plans never stopped turning. She framed consorts, slyly tripped up her rivals, and could toss out honeyed, affected words with ease. Xiao Yan had met 31.6kReads8.9Score4.7kShelves
26. 76 娇 The Pretty Palace Maid's Step-by-Step Rise to Empress 娇娇宫女，步步为后 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / not both partners’ first time / devoted love in the later story / not a strong heroine; the female lead cries easily and isn’t particularly clever, so don’t expect too much!] After three years in the palace, Yue Li has worked carefully and waited for a chance at promotion. Just before she is promoted, a palace maid sharing her room is sentenced to death for offending a consort. Thunder crashes and rain pours that night as blood spatters everywhere. Terrified, Yue Li cannot sle 24.5kReads9.3Score11.5kShelves
27. 77 名 Famed Throughout the Capital 名满京华 Mu Mu Mu Zhi木木木枳Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Rebirth + Revenge + Taking Down the Trash] Chu Muqing, the eldest daughter of the Yongning Marquis Household, was raised from childhood by her second uncle’s family in Hezhou. After returning to the capital, she believed her stepmother was kind, her younger half-sister was good-hearted, and all her relatives in the marquis household loved her. Who would have thought that one day she’d wake up and realize the loving mother and daughter, the harmonious family, were all an illusion? Meanwhile, tho 5.5kReads8.9Score609Shelves
28. 78 贵 The Alluring Imperial Consort Climbs to the Top by Winning the Emperor’s Favor 贵妃娘娘妩媚诱人，一路争宠上位 Cheng Shuang乘霜Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted [A drama-loving, cunning heroine who puts on a beautiful act × a hero who falls for all her tricks] The heroine is spoiled by his affection, and the hero keeps lowering his standards for her Shen Yue knew from childhood that she had to fight for whatever she wanted. Having watched her concubine mother bow and scrape around the household, she wanted to win a respectable place in the world for them both. As a concubine-born daughter, no high-ranking family would take her as a principal wife. If sh 2.8kReads8.8Score251Shelves
29. 79 特 A Special Forces Doctor in Ancient Times: I Saved a Prince, and Now I Can't Get Rid of Him 特种军医穿古代，救个王爷甩不掉 Luo Yanjun洛妍君Ancient Romance369k WordsCompleted Song Qiaoyi, a genius military doctor from the special forces, transmigrates to the fictional kingdom of Beisheng after an accident. As soon as she arrives in this unfamiliar world, her fiancé, Prince Chu, tries to harm her. Clever and decisive, Song Qiaoyi turns his scheme against him and promptly breaks off their engagement. Song Qiaoyi knows that to survive in this new world, she’ll have to rely on her own strength. She resolves to put her superb medical skills to use and draw on the mysteri 3.8kReads8.8Score458Shelves
30. 80 谁 What Kind of Concubine Bears Four Sons and a Daughter, Then Becomes a Noble Consort? 谁家通房生四儿一女，还当贵妃啊 Autumn Is Long秋很长Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + One-on-one romance + Many children + Sweet romance + Inner- and imperial-palace intrigue] In the fortieth year of the Xihe era, Lüqing became a concubine-in-waiting to Prince Jin. She knew full well that she had to earn Prince Jin's favor and give birth to a child as soon as possible if she wanted to secure her place in the prince's household. For eight years, she contended with the other women in the inner court, using every means at her disposal to 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    They're all pretty.

31. 81 帝 The Emperor and Empress Joined Forces and Purged the Court 帝后联手后，肃清了朝纲 Piggy Piggy Piggy Yao猪猪猪猪瑶Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Empress from the start! They love each other for a lifetime, and when the empress passes away, the emperor dies for love! They don't ask to be born together, only to die together! Marriage first, love later + not both virgins + not exclusively doting + completely fictional setting What? The emperor has made a concubine's daughter empress? The powerful ministers are so furious their beards are practically standing on end. Su He, the woman struck by this incredible stroke of fortune, is relieved i 1.9kReads9.0Score187Shelves

    Reader note

    1. From concubine to being buried with the emperor and empress, she earned a lifetime of sweet favor in eight years. A story of a concubine's rise to empress + imperial favor + many children and blessings. 2. From courtesan to the head of the inner palace, reborn, she will enter the palace as the most honored woman. 3. From concubine's daughter to empress? A marriage of convenience that blossoms into love; they write their own story of "not seeking to live together, but seeking to die together."

32. 82 盛 Spoiled in a Golden Age 盛世娇宠 Feng Qingling风轻灵Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Her promising fiancé is set up by her cousin, so she casts him aside. The heir of a marquis's family wants to take her as a concubine, but she refuses! To protect the people she cares about and trample those who wronged her underfoot, she becomes the emperor's woman. See how she wins the emperor's heart, protects her children, battles the Empress Dowager above and the imperial consorts below, and rises higher with every step. 2.4kReads9.0Score250Shelves

    Reader note

    1. Her future fiancé was betrayed by her cousin, and she abandoned him. A noble heir wanted to take her as a concubine, but she refused! To protect those she cared about, and to crush those who wronged her, she became the emperor's woman. Watch as she wins the emperor's heart, protects her children, battles the empress dowager, and fights the concubines, rising through the ranks to great heights. 2. Ning Yurou, forced into the palace, did not aspire to be the emperor's favorite. Her only wish was to become a high-ranking concubine, managing the four households, and then be granted permission to leave the palace. Unfortunately, caught in the inescapable power struggles of the harem, she became involved in the succession crisis and, with the fall of her powerful empress dowager, became a thorn in the new emperor's side.

33. 83 帝 The Emperor’s Scheme 帝心谋 Brown Sugar Rice Balls红糖圆子Ancient Romance191k WordsCompleted (Not a pure couple; sweet romance and palace intrigue, with him devoted to her alone later on) Jiang Lingge is the illegitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue. Her mother died when she was young, and she grew up being bullied by her legal mother and elder sister. Born into such circumstances, Jiang Lingge learned how to hide her true self. She was always searching for a way out, a way to escape her legal mother. Her chance came soon enough. The emperor was selecting consorts, and the p 527Reads8.4Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    She rose through the ranks from a mere palace maid to win the emperor's heart.

34. 84 粗 A Lowly Palace Maid's Rise to Power 粗使宫女升职记 Coconut Seal Candy椰子海豹糖Ancient Romance982k WordsOngoing [A new writer and a new novel. The rating has just appeared, so it’s quite low. My family is struggling, and writing isn’t easy. I hope you’ll be patient with me. I’m deeply grateful to you all.] [This story features a large ensemble] [No rivalry between women, no love-brained heroines, and no adoration of men] [Women supporting women] [An unconventional palace drama] [A heroine who grows] Please note! The emperor in this story is extremely [human] (bolded for emphasis!), and lacks basic moral 585Reads8.8Score112Shelves

    Reader note

    No time travel, no reincarnation—don't be fooled by the title! The low rating is due to few reviews. It's a good story that doesn't glorify feudal society, doesn't feature female rivalry or romantic love, and doesn't celebrate female feudalism! The female lead is not a romantic, the emperor is a humanoid creature [facepalm], a palace maid rises to power, she's intelligent, a growing female protagonist, there's female mutual support, it's logical, not mindless or love-obsessed, leans towards slice-of-life palace intrigue, and has an ensemble cast. The writing is also quite good. I wrote this myself; it hasn't been released yet and has no traffic, so I can only promote it myself. Life is tough, writing is difficult, so please support and understand! The title of my humble work is rather common, but it's definitely not a melodramatic story. I'll update twice a day; please take a look, thank you!

35. 85 谢 Empress of the Xie Family 谢家皇后 Song of the Yue People越人歌Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In her first year in the palace, she is a Talented Lady. In her fifth, she is a Jieyu. In her tenth, she wants to become empress. As empress, she can hold on to everything she treasures and keep it from being taken away. She can protect herself and her child, and she can... stay by his side. This is a road with only one direction: take a single step back, and all will be lost. The bright yellow ceremonial parasol moves forward, and the emperor's procession slowly enters the city gate. A yellow p 8.9kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    🍀In her first year in the palace, she was a concubine. In her fifth year, she was a high-ranking concubine. In her tenth year, she wanted to become Empress. Because as Empress, she could hold onto everything she cherished and not have it taken away, she could protect herself, protect her child, and... Be with him. This was a path that could only be walked forward; one step back meant utter ruin. The bright yellow parasol moved forward, and the Emperor's entourage slowly entered the city gate. The yellow parasol that blotted out the sun, the sun and moon fans, the purple flags... At that moment, the sunlight dazzled her eyes. Empress Xie's imperial carriage trod the imperial road, moving forward to greet them.

36. 86 知 Knowing the Subtle Truth 知情微 An'an Tianya鞍安天涯Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted “The pawn strikes back X I enter the game in the name of a pawn, and I insist on playing against you.” [Replacement * no rebirth * no transmigration * high-stakes palace intrigue * everyone is wicked] What secrets lie buried in the past? What is the truth beneath the treacherous struggles of the imperial harem? One winter, Luo Zhiwei was separated from her family. The twelve-year-old Prince Cheng found her and brought her home. She couldn't remember who she was, where she came from, or where 74Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A young woman chosen for the imperial concubine selection, burdened with the crime of deceiving the emperor. The female lead is a homeless girl found by the second male lead, raised to be the male lead's ideal woman, and sent to the palace as a concubine, thus beginning a palace intrigue story. The female lead is very clear-headed and single-mindedly focused on climbing the ranks. The male lead's character is also well-developed; he is an ambitious and suspicious emperor. The supporting characters are also well-developed, fresh, and very engaging!

37. 87 谍 The Spy Phoenix: Always One Step Ahead 谍凰，防不胜防 Old Qinggan老青柑Ancient Romance378k WordsOngoing She was once the most dangerous intelligence chief in the modern world. In a single moment, she transmigrates and becomes the daughter of a tenant farmer, invisible to everyone in an ancient dynasty. An adult’s wisdom is trapped in a frail young body. The chaotic world is a web, yet she quietly becomes the one weaving it. From rural fields to the turbulent imperial court, no one knows that behind those clear eyes she is spinning an intelligence network vast enough to overturn the world. In a wor 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's good, I recommend it.

38. 88 九 The Nine-Phoenix Hairpin 九凤钗 Apples Don't Like Meatballs苹果不爱吃丸子Ancient Romance778k WordsCompleted Song Zhu was once a lost royal treasure hidden in the forest, but fate sent her by a twist of circumstance into the palace of her enemies. On one side were the hatred and grievances between their countries; on the other, she found herself slowly sinking deeper and deeper into Mo Jingyuan’s love. Mo Jingyuan drank the plum blossom wine Song Zhu had brewed with her own hands. Dark red blood welled from the corner of his lips. “Azhu, let the grudges of the previous generation end with us. Give bir 52Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Song Zhu was originally a royal jewel lost in the forest, but fate led her by a twist of fate into the palace of her enemy. Torn between national and personal hatred, and the gradual descent into love with Mo Jingyuan, she found herself sinking deeper and deeper. Mo Jingyuan drank the plum blossom wine brewed by Song Zhu herself, dark red blood welling from the corner of his lips. "Ah Zhu," he said, "let's settle the grudges of the previous generation here. Give birth to the child, and I will hand over my empire to him." (Super good read)

39. 89 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1kShelves

    Reader note

    If you're tired of the same old palace intrigue novels and want to experience a unique and excellent historical romance, then "The Willow Tree by the Palace Wall" is definitely the perfect choice for you. Here, you will witness the most sincere friendships, the most helpless loves, the most cruel fates, and the most moving portraits of women within the deep palace.

40. 90 重 With My Reborn Son's High-Stakes Schemes, Becoming Empress Dowager Is No Dream 重生儿子手段高，晋升太后不是梦 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Fictional Imperial Harem Drama + No Romance + Giving Birth and Raising Kids + My Son Must Be Crown Prince + Ambitious + Clear-Eyed] Content warning: The romance isn’t mutually exclusive, she doesn’t love the male lead, and there are painful, heartbreaking parts. The male lead is a scumbag emperor. Song Yuyan was hooked on a palace-harem management game. She never expected to open her eyes and find she had transmigrated to ancient times. After keeping a low profile for three years, she entered t 3.6kReads9.3Score427Shelves
41. 91 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves
42. 92 撕 Tear Apart the Harem! Win Favor! She's a Lunatic, Who Dares Cross Her? 撕后宫！得恩宠！她是疯批谁敢惹 Cats Are Extra Sweet猫猫特别甜Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue Only + Concubine-born Daughter + Reborn + Revenge + Everyone Is Evil + Wish-Fulfillment] [The story begins before the heroine enters the palace] [The emperor favors no one at first, and the heroine doesn’t fall in love] Jiang Shiying had died once. She died in childbirth, after her own elder sister had her killed to keep the baby. Reborn, she had made up her mind: she would enter the palace and get revenge, but she wouldn’t suffer! Not her stepmother or her elder sister, not eve 7.4kReads9.3Score950Shelves
43. 93 替 After Entering the Palace in Her Sister's Place, the Young Mistress Rises Through the Ranks 替姐入宫后，小主她一路高升 Zhizhi Rice Loves Zhizhi吱吱米喜欢吱吱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Strong Male Lead and Strong Female Lead + Favored Consort + Palace Intrigue + Adorable Baby + Sole Devotion + Childbirth] (The early story leans toward palace intrigue, with the heroine putting on an act and scheming against the hero. Later, their feelings erupt, and he devotes himself to her alone.) After transmigrating, she becomes an illegitimate daughter of the Su family. Her birth mother died young, her father shows her no affection, and her stepmother is cruel. A complete nobody at home, 2.9kReads9.0Score332Shelves
44. 94 启 Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager Is No Delicate Maiden 启禀陛下，太后娘娘才不是小女子 I'm Not a Homeroom Teacher我不是班主任Ancient Romance461k WordsOngoing [Scheming Emperor x Lie-Flat Empress Dowager] [Stepmother Romance] [Chaste Male Lead] [Historical Palace Intrigue] [The Law of Falling for It] [Two Strong Leads] Shen Lingzhang woke up to find herself inhabiting the body of a wicked empress dowager who wielded power over the entire court. She thought she could retire early and lie flat, but then discovered that her stepson, Yan Ji, only pretended to pay his respects morning and night. In secret, he was always looking for a way to kill her. To 746Reads8.1Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a slice-of-life novel set in the imperial court. There's no melodramatic power struggles between the concubines. The female protagonist steps in to quell the conflicts among the concubines, acting with clarity and understanding. She's completely different from the original owner of the body who was obsessed with power, making for a very compelling character contrast.

45. 95 重 Reborn as the Emperor’s Favorite Concubine 重生之宠妃当道 A Little Longevity Peach一只小寿桃Ancient Romance498k WordsOngoing [Childhood sweethearts + Chen Jiao reborn + Wei Zifu transmigrates + political intrigue] [Yes, the Chen Jiao you've been waiting for: the Han dynasty's ultimate rich beauty. Faithful to historical sources, no frustrating misunderstandings, satisfying and sweet.] In the first year of Houyuan, amid the shifting political currents at court, Chen Jiao is reborn with the help of a mysterious old Taoist! Her peerless beauty is unchanged in the bronze mirror, and her past life flashes through her mind 18.2kReads9.2Score25.1kShelves

    Reader note

    A rewritten version of the infamous "keeping a mistress in a golden house" scene! Gillian Chung's rebirth avoids the pitfalls, the plot is tight and fast-paced, super stress-relieving.

46. 96 穿 Transmigrated to Ancient Times to Get By in the Imperial Harem 穿到古代混后宫 The Pen Name That Doesn’t Need Zhouzhou不用周周的笔名Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Modern-day Huang Ye transmigrates into the ancient Great Xia Dynasty as the pampered darling of the Minister's household, where a daughter is born only once every ten generations. To repay her loving family, she starts learning martial arts at a nunnery while still a little girl. She wants to master everything: inner strength, hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, medicine, and poisons. Only by learning real skills can she better protect her family. At last, she grows up, only to be told she must 1.9kReads7.6Score179Shelves

    Reader note

    If you enjoy reading completed palace intrigue and food-themed novels, this is a must-read.

47. 97 不 No Eavesdropping on the Emperor 不许偷听朕说话 Yin Zaishui尹在水Ancient Romance925k WordsCompleted An Jiu transmigrated into the body of a young palace maid who wanted to climb into the emperor’s bed. The moment she opened her eyes, the tyrant ran his sword straight through the maid who had tried to seduce him. The next day, the tyrant killed a senior maid who served one of the consorts. On the third day, a maid who tasted the emperor’s food died from poison. Being a palace maid was a high-risk job. An Jiu decided to work hard, save up, cherish her life, and stay away from the tyrant. But the 78.3kReads9.4Score12.8kShelves
48. 98 娇 The Bewitching Consort Rises to Power, Face-Slapping the Scheming, Cold Emperor 娇媚娘娘狂上位，打脸勾心清冷帝 Treading Spring Afar踏春遥Ancient Romance403k WordsOngoing [Palace intrigue, transmigration, a clear-eyed heroine who uses schemes and acting skills to rise to the top, palace intrigue in the early stages, then becoming the emperor's only favorite, happy ending] [A glamorous star with a thousand-layered bag of tricks and countless ways to seduce; a slow-to-warm, aloof emperor gradually gets proven wrong, and an old flame turns him into a lovesick fool] Everyone in the palace knew that Emperor Zhaoming, with his immortal bearing and few desires, treated 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A bookworm of ten years says you absolutely have to check this out! It's incredibly good! A concubine's daughter rises to power through a series of dramatic events! The female lead's acting is superb, and she's incredibly charming! The aloof emperor gradually falls for her, transforming into a love-struck fool! Not angsty at all! [Face-slapping and revenge against scumbags + scheming emperor + palace intrigue and rise to power + exclusive favor in the later stages]

49. 99 重 She Was Reborn and Stole My Match, So I Married into the Harem and Went on a Rampage 重生抢我姻缘，我嫁到后宫杀疯了 Xue'er雪儿Ancient Romance651k WordsCompleted Ye Wanchen and her legitimate older sister were both reborn. In her previous life, her older sister entered the palace as a consort, only to die deep in the palace after plotting to harm the emperor’s child. Ye Wanchen married an unfavored prince. She carefully plotted at every turn to put him on the throne, only to be stabbed by the person dearest to her and die within the palace walls. Now that they had another chance at life, her older sister wanted to switch marriages and take over her fate? 324Reads7.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    An extremely captivating palace intrigue novel, still available on my bookshelf!!!

50. 100 妾 The Stunning and Clear-Headed Concubine, and the Crown Prince Slowly Falls for Her 妾室绝美又清醒，太子逐步沦陷 A Little Comet一只小彗星Ancient Romance506k WordsCompleted [Main story complete] (The rating just came out, so it’s a little low. New readers, don’t let that scare you off. Feel free to check out the reviews or give the book a try. Thanks!) Transmigrate into a book + reborn in another world + palace intrigue first, harem intrigue later + stunning, clear-headed heroine + not a pure couple This is Shen Yan’s second time transmigrating into a book. The first time, she became a palace maid who was destined to end up as a disposable character according to th 662Reads7.5Score105Shelves

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