Looking for Well-Written Political Intrigue Novels 想看权谋文，文笔好

1. 1 攀 Marrying Up 攀高枝 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] [Print edition published] Zhang Zhixu had everything from birth. A family with a century of prestige, enviable talent, and a career that kept rising step by step. But he found life terribly dull. Then, one day, an accident struck, and his soul entered a woman's body. A woman who couldn't read a single character, yet dreamed of marrying into a powerful family and becoming a phoenix. · Chen Baoxiang had traveled a thousand miles from the countryside to the capital, hoping 163.8kReads9.6Score22.8kShelves

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   I just finished reading this. I almost gave up on it after reading the first few chapters, but then there were so many twists and turns.

2. 2 岁 Years Pass, Stars and Frosts Gather 岁月稔星霜 Deep Dimples梨涡深深Ancient Romance492k WordsCompleted [Age gap, fictional setting, forbidden romance, long-laid plans, powerful minister x heroine who grows into her own] Content warning: The male lead is not chaste and is not a good person. Shi Hua lost both her parents when she was young. With no one to rely on, she could only turn to her elder sister, finding shelter under her brother-in-law Shen Xun's protection. Back then, Shen Xun was both a teacher and a friend to her. But Shen Xun's old flame ate away at him like poison, eventually breaking 5.7kReads8.9Score668Shelves

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   Don't be fooled by the rating! This book is truly exceptionally well-written, among the best I've ever read on Tomato Books! It's not just a simple story about a male and female protagonist; it expands to include the imperial court, the entire nation, and the rise and fall of dynasties. The female protagonist redeems everyone, and I predict the rating will reach around 9.5! (I'm quite selective about the books I read, as you can tell from my bookshelf.)

3. 3 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. 14.8kReads8.3Score931Shelves

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   Hidden in a niche genre, this fictional political intrigue story is written in a clean and concise style, without any unnecessary sentimentality. Every word serves to advance the game, making it engaging from beginning to end.

4. 4 寒 The Day the Frozen Coffin Knocks on the Capital’s Gates, the Reborn Female General Slaughters the Phoenix Clan and Her Kin 寒棺叩京日，重生女将屠凤灭族亲 Hua Yue Ming花月冥Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Historical intrigue + strong female lead + dark, unhinged characters + handsome men + reborn revenge + redemption] When the new emperor ascended the throne, my mother beat the grievance drum and accused me of murdering my siblings, stealing their achievements, and basking in imperial favor. The new emperor, who had once called me his brother, sentenced me to be sliced to death. My younger sister tore out my tongue, and my stepson severed the tendons in my hands and feet. But even those 3,312 cu 18.9kReads7.9Score3kShelves

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   The writing is decent, and it's thought-provoking enough to draw you in. It's comparable to male-oriented political intrigue novels.

5. 5 千 Record of a Thousand Lanterns 千灯录 A Chilly Breeze on Either Side侧侧轻寒Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Mystery solving + palace intrigue and household scheming + face-slapping and revenge + powerful families + court and kingdom] Fifteen prospective husbands are locked in a fight to the death in my family’s back courtyard, while all I want is to become a nun. Schemes and deceit, suspicion at every turn, bloodshed and tragedy piling up, a deadly battle in the back courtyard with no survivors allowed. [The high-born judge of the Court of Judicial Review, who loves wiping out entire households] x [T 22.7kReads9.6Score4.3kShelves

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   The plot moves at a rapid pace, starting with the death of the female lead's mother, leaving a major cliffhanger, and then people begin to die one after another.

6. 6 人 In Ancient Times, the Powerful Keep Taking What They Want 人在古代，权贵步步强夺 Xi Han习含Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted In her third year in the ancient world, the person who had sheltered Zhu Qingyu became embroiled in a legal case. Gu Zhao, heir to the Duke of Dingguo, offered his help. “Just this once,” he said. A fleeting night of passion was an ending for her, but only the beginning for him. Gu Zhao lived by the principles of self-restraint and keeping his heart in check. He was upright and proper in all things, except that he couldn’t suppress his endless greed, anger, and desire for a married woman. He 62.4kReads9.0Score9.6kShelves
7. 7 入 Entering the Imperial Harem 入春宫 Kun Yuan坤垣Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + villainess with a career-driven mind + fluffy mind-reading + men competing for her] Su Fuqu was the legitimate youngest daughter of the Grand Preceptor. She and the Crown Prince, Qin Zhaolin, grew up together and were deeply in love. But after she came of age, Qin Zhaolin abandoned her, chose her cousin as his wife, and asked Su Fuqu to become his concubine. She turned around and schemed her way into the emperor's bed, sowing discord between father and son and throwing the pal 64.6kReads8.9Score8kShelves
8. 8 反 The Reverse Transmigration Trope: A White Moonlight Arrives at the Prince's Manor 反反穿越套路：王府来了个白月光 Mo Yun Yao莫云谣Two Female Leads251k WordsCompleted Are people from ancient times always bound to lose to someone who transmigrates from the future? Not necessarily. And does that mean someone from the future is always as stupid as a pig, easily crushed by people from the past? Also not necessarily. Shen Yunxuan is the legitimate granddaughter of Grand Tutor Shen, a high-ranking official of the first rank. She grew up cherished and indulged, and was betrothed at a young age by imperial decree to Jing Chenming, the Prince of the Western Expedition 198Reads9.0Score—Shelves

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   The first book, though labeled as having two female protagonists, isn't actually a yuri story. It's about a time-traveling woman and a local noblewoman becoming confidantes and scheming to conquer the world; the author has a truly imaginative mind. The second book, needless to say, is a classic. I absolutely love the author's writing style in the third book—humorous, lively, and vivid. The fourth book is a satisfying read, and the fifth book has no romantic pairing; the empress is so majestic! They're all very good.

9. 9 寒 A Cold Crow Nests in Your Heart 寒鸦栖君心 Wind and Sunset风夕阳Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Everyone envies the Prince of Beian for loving his wife beyond all measure, with a love as deep as the sea. No one knows he won this perfect life by risking everything. Yan Junjue clawed his way out of a mountain of corpses in the Cold Palace. He was bloodthirsty and ruthless, a possessive, obsessive madman whose jealousy was carved into his bones. Everyone in the world feared him. Only Cui Yunqi was a little warmth in his endless darkness. She was the proud and steadfast lord of Hanya City, dev 9.1kReads8.8Score907Shelves

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   Both are political intrigue novels, especially the second one, which involves overcoming obstacles to seize orders, with each intrigue linked to the next.

10. 10 谢 The Xie Family's Short-Lived Son Has Lived to a Hundred 谢家的短命鬼长命百岁了 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] The lid of a dead person's coffin won't lie flat because they had an unresolved longing in life. Given time, that longing turns into a demonic obsession, and unless it is resolved, their descendants will suffer. Yan Sanhe's job is to release the dead from their obsessions. One day, she gets hounded by Third Master Xie, who claims to have one. Yan Sanhe says she doesn't deal with the living. Third Master Xie replies, “Everyone says I won't live long. Just think of 125.4kReads9.6Score17kShelves
11. 11 蝉 Cicadas Sing as the Sun Sets in the West 蝉声且送阳西 Rain Falls, Bamboo Turns Cold雨落竹冷Eastern Fantasy2.6M WordsCompleted [Wuxia + swordsmanship + political intrigue + scheming protagonist + comedy + multiple leads] The world’s great currents form a chessboard, and all living beings are its pieces. One player commands the black pieces, another the white. One person has double pupils and looks down coldly on mortal life, overturning heaven and earth with a single gesture. Another is refined and graceful, laying schemes one after another, each linked to the next. Another, though only at the second rank, takes one ste 7.5kReads9.3Score759Shelves

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    With ruthless methods, yet unable to conceal a deep and tender heart. A word, a meal, a smile, soothing in a cold world. Clad in the bitter cold, protecting an undying thread of true affection. *The Misty Rain Pavilion* A thousand years ago, the gods brought calamity. Heaven did not protect humanity, only the Daoist sect held up the sky. A thousand years later, as the polar night and harsh winter approach, Confucian sages, in their twilight years, struggle to uphold the flickering flame of hope. A high-ranking official holds the black chess piece, seeking only that "all under heaven is the emperor's land; all within the realm are the king's subjects." A Daoist leader, with his crippled body, gives his old friend a final push. A thousand-year-old elder dissipates his cultivation to search for a way to save the world. The most unfathomable pavilion under heaven, the eight sects of Lingnan standing side by side. The Li family, richer than a nation, and a genius appearing only once in a millennium. A young monk cultivating Buddhism with a demonic body, and a virtuous and upright senior brother. There is the unfathomable, deep-seated Northern Heavenly Maiden; there is the Western Palace Master who has entered the Fifth Realm. Witness how this chosen one, wielding the Pearl of Wisdom, calculates flawlessly, reducing enemy ships to ashes with a mere flick of the wrist; and how he borrows the power of the old world to protect the present. *The Cicada's Song Sends Off Yangxi* The world's affairs are a chessboard, all beings are chess pieces, one plays black, the other white. Some possess double pupils, coldly observing the mortal realm, turning the world upside down with a wave of their hand. Some are gentle and refined, their calculations intricately linked. Some, with the bearing of a first-rank expert, enter the realm of martial arts in a single step, achieving enlightenment, igniting fireworks from dozens of meteors. Some are righteous in their swordsmanship, yet walk the path of a lone knight... Some weep bitterly, some laugh heartily. A young man with a wooden sword at his waist emerges from a secluded paradise, observing this mundane world, observing the martial arts world. Falling leaves suddenly herald autumn, the cicada's song sends off Yangxi. Hello, Xianxia! *Sword and Wine* In the East, there is a waiter, two swords at his waist, tempering his heart in the mortal world. In the West, there is a mad monk, carrying a paintbrush, filling the world with flowers. In the South, there is a Taoist priest, holding peach wood, using talismans to suppress mountains and seas. In the North, there is a demon, carving wood into a staff, its roar echoing through the heavens. And in the Central Plains, a scholar puts down his books, carries a sword, and hangs a wine jug, his steps sweeping across a thousand miles, his sword chilling the nine provinces! *The Carefree Prince* Court intrigue, open and hidden attacks, every step fraught with danger; Jianghu grudges, swordplay, every move deadly. A powerful minister who dared to defy a hundred imperial edicts for twenty years ultimately served as a stepping stone for another. A former crown prince blinded himself, exchanging the treasure of restoring his kingdom for a beauty, willing to betray the world rather than betray her. A peerless fairy of the Wutong tree, trapped in the palace for love for a hundred years, eating the sweetest pastries and drinking the strongest wine. A general who protected the nation, his two sons and three grandsons died on the battlefield, proving that the women of his family are stronger than men. Amidst the chaos of the Three Kingdoms, blood congeals into dust and the wind does not stir; amidst mountains of white bones, how many more demons and monsters have been added? Love and hate, passion and vengeance—what harm is there in roaming freely?

12. 12 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 558Reads—Score—Shelves
13. 13 逍 The Carefree Prince 逍遥皇子 Old Ghost of Wenshan文山老鬼Historical1.3M WordsCompleted [A wholly fictional historical setting] Courtly power struggles, open and covert attacks, and deadly traps at every turn. The jianghu is rife with grudges, where flashing blades strike to kill. A powerful minister served as chief censor for twenty years, daring to reject a hundred imperial edicts, only to spend his life paving the way for someone else. A crown prince of the previous dynasty gouged out his own eyes and traded the treasure meant to restore his kingdom for a beauty, willing to betr 4.5kReads8.4Score206Shelves
14. 14 寒 A Humble Family’s Path to Officialdom, Part One 寒门仕途【一】 Yan Yunfei闫云飞Urban1.4M WordsCompleted New Book: The Humble Official’s Path [Realistic Period Drama] [Rise from Poverty] [Political Intrigue] [Ambitious Struggle] [Rural Cadres] [Urban Life] In the 1970s, in Xiaochenzhuang, southern Henan, a family of three siblings lives in poverty. They are supported by the state, their father died young, and their mute mother is forced to remarry, leaving them to fend for themselves. The sisters choose Chen Shouzheng to continue his studies, and he devotes himself to his books, eventually becoming 6.7kReads8.8Score670Shelves

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    Political intrigue novels!

15. 15 多 Surely You Laugh at My Passion 多情应笑我 Jiu Xiaoqi酒小七Ancient Romance216k WordsCompleted Lin Fang has been disguised as a boy since childhood, and she can't help feeling helpless about it. Her household registration says she's male, so what can she do? But the secret she has sworn to protect is discovered by a young boy she accidentally rescues! Lin Fang thought she'd picked up a deadweight, but once the boy, Yun Weiming, regains his identity, she feels as if she's sitting on a mountain of gold. “Who would've thought! I've picked up all kinds of things before, but you're the most va 70.3kReads9.7Score9.3kShelves
16. 16 剑 Sword and Wine 剑酒 Cup of Snow杯雪Eastern Fantasy1.9M WordsCompleted [Traditional fantasy + no System + one heroine + slow burn + passionate adventure] In the Eastern Lands, a tavern waiter wears twin sabers at his waist and tempers his heart in the mortal world. In the Western Regions, a devoted monk carries a paintbrush, bringing flowers to the world. In the Southern Mountains, a Daoist wields peachwood, using talismans to subdue mountains and seas. In the northern lands, a monster carves a wooden staff, its dragon's roar shaking the Nine Heavens. And in the Ce 13.2kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves
17. 17 明 Marry Me Beneath the Bright Moon 明月嫁卿卿 Rabbit Purple Moonrise兔紫月上Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Song Chuyu thought she and Kang Rui were deeply in love, and that no one could ever come between them. Yet that person had been living by their side all along, pampered under the title of “sister-in-law.” After being reborn, Song Chuyu didn’t spare Kang Rui a glance as he rode through the streets in triumph, and she certainly wouldn’t marry him again. * When Kang Rui woke up to find himself back in the impoverished days of his youth, he struggled to get used to the drafty windows after having li 85.4kReads9.3Score10.9kShelves
18. 18 穿 Transmigrated as a Treacherous Minister's Legitimate Daughter, She Plays the Part to Perfection 穿成奸臣嫡女，她本色出演 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance565k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + Career-focused early on + Sweet romance + One-on-one romance + Both leads are devoted to each other] [Two-faced, ruthless minister's daughter × Wild, formidable iron-faced general] The ruler of the business world transmigrates into a book overnight, becoming the daughter of the treacherous chancellor. She throws her weight around and commits every kind of evil, with the label “vicious supporting female character” practically branded onto her. She's madly pursuing the 86.4kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves

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    My top political intrigue novel!! I absolutely love the heroines in these two books! True heiresses of ancient times! Intelligent and ruthless! Neither a saintly saint nor a naive white lotus!

19. 19 科 Imperial Exam Triumph: The Strongest Female Grand Secretary 科举逆袭：最强女首辅 Dressed in Splendor宝妆成Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted After finally becoming the first female heir in her family, she opens her eyes and finds herself back before the revolution. Her father is dead from the start, leaving her with a frail mother and three beautiful older sisters. She is the only son who can carry on the Cheng family line... Cheng Qing looks down at her slightly developed chest, wondering what on earth went wrong. Surrounded by scheming wolves, Cheng Qing, now with a new soul in her body, sets herself two small goals: First, keep pr 8.5kReads9.5Score1.3kShelves
20. 20 双 A Blood-Soaked Reckoning: Twin Sisters Return for Vengeance 【血色满门】双生姐妹踏血归来 Xiao Xiao Ran Zi萧萧然子Ancient Romance606k WordsOngoing An entire family of loyal officials is framed, and a century-old marquis’s estate is turned into a living hell. Twin sisters plunge from a cliff into the water, surviving against all odds. Once cherished young ladies who lived behind closed doors, they now tread a thorny path through the world. One struggles to survive on a sheer cliff, honing her edge; the other wanders in a foreign land, maneuvering at every turn. The court is rife with deceit and schemes, while the martial world flashes with 1.8kReads6.6Score189Shelves

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    I've unearthed a super-intense historical romance novel, *Bloodstained Family*! A family stained with blood, loved ones wrongly accused, twin sisters escape death and swear a blood oath to avenge their people. They disguise themselves, navigating the treacherous waters of power and intrigue, and maneuvering against cunning adversaries. In the turbulent court, where hearts are hard to discern, who are allies, and who is the true culprit lurking behind the scenes? United in their resolve, sisters use flesh and blood as weapons and wit as shields—this revenge drama grows ever more captivating!

21. 21 被 After the Female Lead Was Stolen, I Set Out to Save the Obsessive Villain 被抢女主后，拯救偏执反派大佬 Xu Lian序连Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [One-on-one sweet romance, marriage first and love later, the leads dote on each other, everyday romance, gentle and delicate beauty vs. a ruthless, possessive villainous tycoon] The Duke of Zhenguo’s entire household was fiercely loyal to the crown. With them gone, only Yan Yu, their sole daughter, remained. Raised by her maternal grandmother, she was betrothed to the Fifth Prince. After Yan Yu came of age, she was about to travel to the capital for her wedding. At that point, the eldest dau 18.8kReads8.9Score1.9kShelves
22. 22 云 Yun Xiang Yuyi's 21st Book 云想羽衣第21本书 Clouds Dream of Feathered Robes云想羽衣Urban1.0M WordsCompleted Beneath the cover of night lie countless secrets no one knows. A lonely night, a night of revelry: who rules the darkness? Demons dance beneath the night sky, and the human world is plunged into darkness. Then comes a conqueror, who pierces the black veil with his own strength and welcomes the light. Before his college entrance exams, Ye Xiaolong, a young man from a mountain village, is framed and sent to prison. Three years later, he receives the legacy of the Water God and takes on the mission 3.7kReads8.1Score350Shelves

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    If you're a fan of historical romance novels featuring power struggles and revenge, *Bloodstained Family* is definitely worth reading. A shocking miscarriage of justice turns a once-noble family into a bloodbath overnight. Twin sisters, having narrowly escaped death, vow revenge. They conceal their identities and each head to a different battlefield. The court is rife with intrigue, various factions vie for power, and conspiracies abound. One sister infiltrates a powerful family's political game, manipulating hearts and minds; the other commands a hidden force in the martial arts world, gathering evidence and waiting for her chance to strike. Calm and patient, they are full of cunning and resourcefulness, supporting each other in the darkness, declaring war on their powerful enemy with mortal bodies. There's no overwhelming, cheat-like satisfaction; every victory relies on meticulous planning and desperate courage. The intricate power struggles and vividly portrayed characters create a breathtaking atmosphere of revenge, a powerful and pent-up emotion that perfectly matches Shen Miao's experience of wit and revenge!

23. 23 快 Quick Transmigration: The Big Shot’s Guide to Reforming Scumbags 快穿：大佬的人渣洗白指南 A Big Old Monster一个大妖怪Ancient Romance2.1M WordsOngoing [Quick Transmigration + Feel-Good Story + Sweet Romance] After struggling to build a company and take it public, Xie Qiwen is on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of success when he dies in a car accident. Unable to accept his fate, he gets bound to a System. If he completes his missions, he can return to the time before his accident and live a long, healthy life, dying peacefully of old age. So he transmigrates into the scumbags of various little worlds, setting out to reform them and make ame 47.8kReads8.8Score3.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I've unearthed a super-intense historical romance novel, *Bloodstained Family*! Their entire family is stained with blood, their loved ones wrongly accused, and twin sisters, having escaped death, swear a blood oath to avenge their people. They disguise themselves, navigating the treacherous waters between the powerful and the intrigued, maneuvering against cunning adversaries. In the turbulent court, where hearts are hard to discern, who are their allies, and who is the true culprit lurking behind the scenes? United in their resolve, sisters use flesh and blood as weapons and wit as shields—this revenge drama grows ever more captivating as it unfolds!

24. 24 身 Body Swap: The God of War Prince Takes Over My Household Battles 身体互换：战神王爷替我宅斗 Clear Breeze Begonia清风海棠Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [1v1, Fun Romantic Comedy, HE, Wise and Cool-Headed Young Lady vs. Adorable God of War Prince, Both Chaste, Happy Ending] The people of the Jiang household notice that their young lady has been acting strangely lately. The young lady used to be quiet and gentle. Now she’s still quiet, but there’s a murderous aura about her. In the garden, her sweet-talking younger sister affectionately reaches to link arms with her. Ye Zhan dodges at once, her voice full of disdain. “If you want to talk, then ta 11.1kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves
25. 25 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 266.6kReads9.6Score31.2kShelves

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    I give this a 10/10.

26. 26 疯 She's Gone Mad! The Day She Transmigrated, the Sickly Young Lord Vowed to Give Himself to Her! 疯了!穿越当天，病娇世子爷他要以身相许! Han Mianmian韩绵绵Ancient Romance868k WordsCompleted Original title: After the Heir’s Consort Turns Dark, All the Gods Fall at Her Feet [Transmigration + two scheming minds locked in a battle of wits + obsession + political intrigue + bickering couple] Yun Jincheng transmigrates and, the moment she opens her eyes, strips the sickly heir of his clothes and stumbles upon a secret he has kept hidden for years. Rumor has it that the heir of the Prince of Zhennan, who has been frail for years and gasps for breath after just a few steps, isn’t sick at a 2kReads9.3Score529Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a political intrigue novel. The male and female leads are both intelligent and emotionally intelligent, evenly matched, and their relationship is a mix of love and hate, a journey of clear-headed escapism and moral decay. The storyline is excellent and not mindless.

27. 27 天 Fish of the World 天下游鱼 Happy Acorn开心橡果Eastern Fantasy7.5M WordsCompleted By the Canglan River, a young man wears a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, holding wine in one hand and a fishing rod in the other. His heart has no place in the world, yet he finds himself in the jianghu... I come from a place beyond knowing. I want to see this world, just as unknown to me... 90.7kReads9.0Score8.9kShelves

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    A political intrigue novel; the writing is excellent, and it's very thought-provoking.

28. 28 桃 Peach Blossoms Topple the River and Mountains 桃花折江山 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance712k WordsCompleted The TV drama Peach Blossoms Reflecting on the Mountains and Rivers, starring Liu Xueyi and Meng Ziyi. Zhao has a beauty named Taohua. Her fate is full of hardship, and she is married off to Wei far away. All she wants is to stay alive and climb her way up. Wei has a handsome chancellor who is ruthless and sharp-tongued, sweet on the surface but treacherous within. He cares nothing for anyone's life, so long as he gets what he wants. Taohua thinks everyone loves beautiful things. Surely he can't 395Reads9.0Score114Shelves
29. 29 烟EN Misty Rain Tower 烟雨楼 A Night of Misty Rain一夕烟雨Eastern Fantasy9.5M WordsOngoing [The print edition is now available nationwide at all major retailers] "Traditional xuanhuan" "No harem" In the land of Jiuzhou stands a tower called the Misty Rain Tower. Its master, Li Qingzhi, is hailed as a peerless prodigy, holding life and death in his hands beneath the cover of night. Yet what the world doesn’t know is that someone else stands behind the Misty Rain Tower, its true founder. Using the guise of a spoiled young master as cover, he manipulates the winds and clouds and plots ac 868.2kReads9.6Score68.1kShelves
30. 30 春 Spring Robes in Disarray: Only to Unravel the Chancellor's Desires 春衫乱：只为奸臣解风情 Fish in the South City南城有鱼Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + reborn to change fate + devoted husband + political intrigue and revenge. The heroine is gentle yet resilient, kind and perceptive. The hero is a noble, powerful minister, beautiful and tragic. Many foreshadowed clues and twists.] Lin Shu was a noble young lady from the capital, raised without ever having to lift a finger. When disaster struck the Lin family, Lin Shu became a government slave. She was put to washing and dyeing cloth in the Imperial Household Dep 12.1kReads9.4Score1.5kShelves
31. 31 错 After a Mistaken Marriage to the Heir, She Spends Every Day Showering Him with Sweets 错嫁世子后，她每天都在撒糖 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [Reborn + mutually devoted sweet romance + revenge and household intrigue] Jiang Rong was deceived her entire life, and only learned the truth when she was on the verge of death. Returned to ten years earlier, she found herself fleeing an arranged marriage to elope. Jiang Rong gave the scoundrel a thorough beating, then turned around and went back to the prince’s manor to marry. The husband she had run from was Xie Lingxi, heir to the Northern Prince. In her previous life, he had protected he 34.9kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is reborn. The male lead died saving her in his previous life. In this life, the female lead is very affectionate towards the male lead, who initially thinks she's "possessed by the Yellow Springs" and is acting strangely. The two are still quite sweet together, though the female lead is also cunning and manipulative, playing a game of wits where you know the truth but are powerless to stop it. The supporting characters are also very well-developed.

32. 32 蓦 The Phoenix Turns Back 蓦回鸾 Sea Green Takes the Swan海青拿天鹅Ancient Romance786k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Sun Wei was determined to marry well so she could escape her predicament and strike back at her clan's humiliation. Through various means, she married Sima Jun, Prince of Yuzhang. When chaos engulfed the realm, Sun Wei didn't realize that Sima Jun had feelings for her until the city fell and she was killed. In this life, a woman suddenly appeared before Sima Jun, Prince of Yuzhang, claiming to be his father's second wife. She could read fortunes and seemed to know everythin 4.9kReads9.0Score643Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend these books! I especially love "The Golden Branch" and the recent "The Return of the Phoenix" is also great!

33. 33 裙 The Empress and Her Powerful Consorts: Beautiful and Daring 裙下权臣，女帝她又美又飒 Jiu Qi玖柒Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Reborn + political intrigue + one-on-one romance + empress] In her previous life, she was forced to give up her armor. Amid the treacherous and ever-shifting court, she chose to leave politics behind and live a peaceful life with the one she loved. But the result was that her younger brother lost the throne, and her entire family was slaughtered. Reborn, she swears to rise to the pinnacle of power, protect her family, and kill her enemies with her own hands! Her first step is to win over Shen Y 126Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Shen Yan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "If governance is based on personal connections, then where are the people's personal connections? Who will uphold fairness? Is the law only for commoners and the lowly?" "Sir, is the problem with the people? Is the problem with the law? Or is the problem with the country?" Liu Hong's anger gradually subsided, finally turning to desolation. After a long silence, he said in a sorrowful tone, "Shen Yan, the path you are taking is a dead end with no way out. You are fighting against powerful clans and aristocratic families alone; in the end, no one will tolerate you!" Shen Yan gave a bitter smile, his voice bleak, "If I do nothing, the first person to reject me will be myself!"

34. 34 太 The Crown Prince's Sweetheart 太子殿下的糖心小娇妻 How Do You Know If the Fish Is Happy子非鱼焉知鱼之Ancient Romance588k WordsCompleted He is the dignified, jade-like Crown Prince. She is a free-spirited daughter of a military family. They were childhood sweethearts, and their love was mutual, but he insists on breaking off their arranged engagement and pushing her far away, because as the heir to the throne, he fears he cannot give her a lifetime with only him. Give up? As if. She wants her Crown Prince brother, and she wants a lifetime with only him. If she can’t stand the rules of the “three palaces and six courtyards,” then 109Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! The plot and writing are both excellent!

35. 35 惹 Offending the Imperial Daughter 惹金枝 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Film and television rights have been sold. The physical book will be available for preorder on July 10 at 19:00.) Shi Buyu was born smiling. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, collapsing a row of outbuildings in the Shi family compound. Days of torrential rain brought devastating floods and countless victims. Rumors soon spread through the capital that she was a disaster star sent into the world. But she was as precocious as a demon, with a photographic memory, and learned bo 257.8kReads9.7Score30.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The emotional descriptions and character portrayals are very delicate. The female protagonist is sent back to her homeland by her master to save the country. She has eleven senior brothers who all dote on her. They are scheming and plotting to help the male protagonist ascend the throne. The funniest part is that several older characters ask, "Is he on the right path?" They all doubt that the male protagonist is on the right path. The writing is also very good.

36. 36 何 Why Not Sail Together 何不同舟渡 Xian Yuke羡鱼珂Ancient Romance483k WordsCompleted "The print edition under the same title is available to buy online" [No golden finger, no transmigration, no rebirth. A pure historical romance about family and country, with high-IQ espionage and political intrigue] [A double agent undercover + a petty thief who grows: a lone wolf plays a game of raising a rabbit, gives her fangs, then insists they run away together] In a chaotic age, she is a thief worth less than a blade of grass, willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive. She steals ten 142kReads9.7Score108kShelves

    Reader note

    Trust me, this is a political intrigue novel, no time travel, no reincarnation, no cheat codes, no formulaic plot devices—it's a breath of fresh air in the genre. The backdrop is love amidst national righteousness, the quality is incredibly high, the values ​​are impeccable [learned something new], and the plot is concise and to the point. Every character is vividly portrayed, the protagonist is intelligent, there's a romance (a little angsty), even the supporting characters have their own sense of duty, unlike the generic "passersby," and the storyline is relatively complete. The ending isn't disappointing either; it's unexpected yet logical, truly worth reading!

37. 37 重 Reborn, I Become My Arch-Enemy's Living Widow Sister-in-Law 重生后，我成了死敌的活寡嫂子 Two Times Four Means Prosperity二四得发Ancient Romance517k WordsCompleted [Both leads are reborn + sister-in-law and brother-in-law + an aloof beauty brought down from her pedestal + emotional push and pull + winning her heart and her body + devoted couple] The Eastern Palace has no crown prince, and the princes are locked in a fierce struggle for the throne. Ning Miao and Yan Mobai are the top strategists of their generation, each serving a different master. They cross paths over a map of iron mines and kill each other. Only after her death does Ning Miao learn tha 39.2kReads9.4Score5.8kShelves
38. 38 逢 The Lantern-Bearing Chronicles 逢灯纪 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance982k WordsCompleted (Signed for publication, with screen adaptation rights sold) You're the daughter of a marquis. You want to take your mother's dowry and remains with you? Done. I'll take the dowry and remains, and bring you your mother's divorce papers as well as your own severance papers cutting ties with your family. You were declared dead and became an invisible person behind your brothers. You want to live like a normal person again? Done. I'll restore your name and identity, and make sure you receive the en 87kReads9.3Score12.7kShelves
39. 39 晋 The Jin Upheaval 晋乱 Swallow in the Clouds云中燕Historical750k WordsCompleted As the echoes of the Three Kingdoms fade, the Western Jin Dynasty takes the stage of history. It should have been a ray of hope after years of chaos, but it soon sank into a mire of its own making. After Sima Yan became emperor, he enfeoffed the princes, planting the seeds of future calamity. At court, powerful clans vied for dominance, while greed and deceit ran rampant. The aristocracy lived in extravagant luxury and indulged without restraint. The Rebellion of the Eight Princes burned like a 81Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    "The Jin Rebellion" is a historically rigorous work that delves into political intrigue and is well worth reading.

40. 40 归 Return of the Phoenix 归凰 Sweet Tangerine Feifei蜜橘飞飞Ancient Romance720k WordsOngoing [Mad Beauty's Rebellion, an Empress's Rise, One Woman and Many Men] If you fall, get back up where you fell. Her parents were murdered? Avenge them! The throne was taken? Seize it back! Her consort causes trouble? Tear out his tendons and skin him alive! Li Hua never believed in fate. She would rather be the one moving the pieces than a pawn in someone else's hands. So what if she lost for a time? As long as she was alive, she had the means to fight heaven and humanity. She was determined to bec 1Reads6.5Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! This historical romance novel is full of political intrigue. The female protagonist is cunning and uses the world as her chessboard. To vindicate her mother, she schemes to regain power. Her journey is fraught with difficulty. As the deposed crown princess, she must feign madness to deceive the new emperor and survive. She is extremely cautious, as one wrong step could lead to utter ruin. Every step is calculated, but each turn could have a twist. The villains are also intelligent, making for a nerve-wracking read, leaving you wondering whether the heroine or the antagonist will ultimately prevail.

41. 41 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

    1. It's really good, a different kind of strong female lead. 2. It's still in the early stages of development, but it's worth watching.

42. 42 岁 May Every Year Bring Peace and Lasting Serenity 岁岁安澜绵长 Zhu Aiqi朱艾奇Ancient Romance561k WordsOngoing A modern police detective was killed in a car accident while on a mission, only to transmigrate into the youngest daughter of the eldest branch of the loyal and brave Earl’s household. Her biological mother had also switched her at birth, making her the family’s adopted daughter. How will she survive in ancient times? This is my first time writing, so please be kind, everyone! I don’t know the platform’s rules either, and the first chapter turned out too long! 13.1kReads8.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This is a purely ancient Chinese romance novel about domestic intrigue, with a touch of political maneuvering.

43. 43 重 Reborn with a Bewitching Allure, I Claim the Seat of Power 重生后娇骨魅心，坐高位 My Peaceful Self我之安然Ancient Romance324k WordsOngoing In her previous life, she gave him everything she had. She even had her father use his influence to help him secure a position of honor. In the end, he repaid her by having her entire family arrested and their home confiscated, leaving her to die a tragic death. Reborn, she would never again let herself become a laughingstock. She swore to make her enemies pay for their crimes in blood. She trained hard, studied military strategy, and mastered the art of scheming and manipulating people. She wou 4Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this political intrigue novel! The female lead did nothing wrong in her past life! It's not one of those stories where she hurts the male lead and is reborn. I think it's very good; I've read countless rebirth novels, and this one ranks among the top in my heart!

44. 44 掌 Paulownia in the Palm 掌中疏桐 Xin Moran心陌然Ancient Romance900k WordsOngoing The main story is complete. Originally titled A Paulownia in the Palm, the first chapters are free, but the price will go up later! [Mutual Devotion] [Fictional Setting] [Forced Possession] [Beautiful Wife] [Powerful Minister] [Adorable Baby] [Pregnant and on the Run] [Ancient-Era Court Intrigue] [Secret Marriage] Luo Shutong, the most proper young noblewoman in the capital, woke one morning to find Ye Chuan, the all-powerful chief minister, lying beside her. Trembling, she pulled out all the mo 10.6kReads8.0Score495Shelves

    Reader note

    The Canary: The female lead has a fiancé, becomes pregnant unexpectedly with the male lead, who is a powerful minister, and has an adorable child.

45. 45 重 Reborn: The Phoenix’s Mistake 重生之凤凰错 Dimpled Smile梨涡浅浅漾Ancient Romance682k WordsOngoing Dual rebirth + soul transmigration + political intrigue In her previous life, she was the false phoenix princess who starved to death in a prison cell. Reborn with the advantage of knowing what was to come, she was certain the Crown Prince of Wei was the murderer. With a trump card after trump card, she plotted flawlessly. But she never realized the true killing game was hidden in her older sister's gentle smile. Twin phoenix princesses were seen as an omen of disaster. She took the calamity upo 304Reads9.4Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    A political intrigue novel that I really enjoy

46. 46 绝 A Sliver of Hope in Desperate Straits 绝境方寸 Peaceful Blessing Anfo平安福AnfoSci-Fi & Apocalypse507k WordsOngoing Adult content! Not suitable for younger readers! [Not a power fantasy] [Dark and oppressive] [Realistic drama] [Serious literature] [A woman's growth] [Modern political scene] [No male lead] [Flight from famine] [Patriotism] [Political intrigue] [Career in government] [Anti-corruption] When natural disasters strike, the country urgently launches the "Westward Migration Plan," and the entire nation embarks on a long journey to flee their homes. Guided by a prophetic dream, the female lead stockpi 266Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Can modern political intrigue work? A novel where the female protagonist enters politics, set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop.

47. 47 凤 The Phoenix's Mistake: The Abandoned Bride in a Substitute Marriage 凤凰错：替嫁弃妃 A Cai阿彩Ancient Romance4.0M WordsCompleted [New book: The Imperial Physician Consort] Just how much is a woman’s beauty worth? She was personally chosen by the late emperor to be empress, yet when half her face was disfigured, an imperial edict demoted her from empress to consort. One edict, two marriages: her peerlessly beautiful younger sister entered the palace in her place, while she was sent far away to marry the young prince who had been granted a royal title, the Snow Prince, a cold and ruthless man wielding power over the court.. 1kReads8.5Score119Shelves
48. 48 宁 Ning Yan: When Women Rule the Roost 宁兖，牝鸡司晨 Books Bring True Wealth有书真富贵Historical168k 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 189Reads—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."

49. 49 日 The Sun and Moon Beneath One Sky: Princess Taiping 日月当空：太平公主 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Historical587k WordsCompleted Princess Taiping was one of the most controversial and legendary female political figures in Chinese history, a thorny yet dazzling rose in the splendor of the High Tang. The most beloved daughter of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and Empress Wu Zetian, she married Xue Shao at sixteen in a wedding procession stretching ten miles, hoping for a peaceful life. But she was implicated in Xue Yi's treason case and watched her husband starve to death in prison, shattering her dreams. She put away her innocence 12Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Princess Taiping, Wu Zetian's most beloved daughter, unexpectedly lived a very difficult life. Her husband was ordered to commit suicide by her mother, Wu Zetian, and Princess Taiping herself died a tragic death—forced to commit suicide by her nephew Li Longji, whom she had personally supported. It seems that no one in this world has an easy life. [Crying][crying][crying] Based on history, it is worth reading!

50. 50 青 The Green Mountains Beckon 青山引 Xiao Fanni's Penpoint Home小凡泥的笔尖家Ancient Romance276k WordsOngoing The year the entire Duke of Zhenguo's household was executed, Shen Wanqing was only ten. She concealed her identity and fled to Jiangnan, honing her military strategy through the fragments her grandfather left behind. At sixteen, under the assumed name "Master Qingshan," she wrote a treatise that stirred the northern frontier, yet never claimed credit for it. An imperial edict arranging her marriage made her the wife of Xiao Lin, commander of the northern frontier army. He believed she was a spy 7.8kReads—Score654Shelves

    Reader note

    A fascinating tale of political intrigue!

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