In a Reading Slump With High Standards, Preferably Ancient Romance, Thank You 😊 书荒 眼光高 最好古言 谢谢😊

1. 251 夫 The Marquis's Bright and Tender Wife, Doted on Without Bounds 夫人明媚娇软，清冷侯爷宠妻无边 Xiao Tianyi小甜一Ancient Romance605k WordsCompleted After more than three years of marriage, Qiao Man finally realizes that she and her ice-cold husband are never going to be a loving couple. Since that’s the case, she won’t make herself miserable over it. Life is short, and she has her own parents and siblings to care for. There’s no need to disregard everything for a man. But to her surprise, the moment she stops paying attention to him, he comes scurrying after her all on his own. * Ning Qi is very pleased with the wife he married without ever 24kReads8.5Score1.9kShelves

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   The female lead is the daughter of a high-ranking official, the only girl in the family, and is extremely pampered. The male lead is the eldest son of a princess and a marquis, a young general! The atmosphere in both the male and female leads' families is very warm, with loving parents and no concubines!

2. 252 娇 After a Frail Beauty Marries to Bring Good Fortune, She Becomes the Regent's Princess Consort 娇软美人冲喜后，成了摄政王妃 Flowers and Fruit有花有果Ancient Romance539k WordsCompleted [Historical Romance + No Rebirth or Transmigration + Marriage Before Love + Sweet, Devoted Romance + Putting Scoundrels in Their Place + Having a Baby + Growing Heroine] Jiang Yuanyi is peerlessly beautiful, soft and charming, but unfortunately, she is a lowborn concubine-born daughter. Her father dislikes her, her stepmother despises her, and her legitimate older siblings bully her. Despite her betrothal, they force her to bring good fortune to the dying heir of the Duke of Jingguo by marrying 11.5kReads9.3Score1.2kShelves
3. 253 悔 I Broke Off Our Engagement When He Was Poor, but Now He's a Powerful Official Who Keeps Me as His Darling 悔婚穷书生他成权臣囚我做掌中娇 Yan Jingzhen盐景珍Ancient Romance873k WordsOngoing Historical fiction History seen through a young couple’s love and heartbreak The Xining and Yuanfeng Reforms of the Northern Song Dynasty, the fall of the Northern Song + the history of Zhejiang celadon (Yue kiln to Longquan kiln) 1. The New Policies among the people (the Song-Jiao war) 2. The Yun case in Dengzhou 3. Infighting among supporters of the New Policies (the Zhang Ruoji case in Xiuzhou) 4. The Chen Shiru case (the Yuanfeng reforms) 5. Su Shi’s poetry case at the Crow Terrace 6. Longqu 31Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Ancient Chinese Romance: Power Struggles and Reconciliation

4. 254 误 Lost in the Depths of Spring 误入春深 Wen Naixi温乃兮Ancient Romance148k WordsCompleted Prince Yu, Yu Huaiji, believed he had spent his life acting decisively, plotting every move, and leaving himself no weaknesses. He was sure he was invincible. But Heaven was about to show him that there was always someone greater! It sent him a delicate young lady from the Song family: Song Nao. She looked so fragile and soft that anyone could bully her, but in truth she was clever in her own way. After meeting him only twice, she had already found and firmly grasped his one fatal weakness. Yet 5.6kReads9.4Score609Shelves
5. 255 报 Report, Your Highness: The Princess Consort Has Run Away 1,001 Times 报告王爷，王妃出逃1001次 Yi Yu伊玉Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating, Ye Zhiyun was supposed to become the Crown Prince’s consort, but the God of War of Great Yue snatched her away right there and then! Rumor had it that the God of War was cruel and had no interest in women! Cruel? No interest in women? “Your Highness, the Princess Consort threw your military tally into the lake!” Without even looking up, the prince said, “Have them make a few more so she can have fun throwing them.” “Your Highness, the Princess Consort is going to burn down 2.4kReads9.1Score612Shelves

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   🌱🌱① The female lead was a devoted admirer of a scumbag for three years, and the whole capital knew she wouldn't marry anyone but him. However, the system told her she'd chosen the wrong target, so she turned to the male lead instead, unaware that this was a windfall for him… 🌱🌱② A marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. The female lead is charming but not manipulative. She marries the male lead to ward off bad luck, but he's in a vegetative state, leaving behind three adopted sons. On their wedding night, the female lead has to take matters into her own hands ☺️, unaware that the male lead, though unconscious, is conscious ✪ω✪ and sees her excessive demands, believing she loves him to the core… 🌱🌱③ The Regent and the Queen, super cool 🌱🌱④ Childhood sweethearts marry and have a child. After marriage, misunderstandings cause a strained relationship, and the female lead is cold towards the male lead and their child. Later, she suffers amnesia and her personality drastically changes… 🌱🌱⑤ A female-dominated novel where a college student, a typical office worker, transmigrates into the body of a great general's only daughter in a female-dominated world, and her harem keeps getting filled with more women.

6. 256 我 I Long to Break a Branch 我欲折枝 Feifei Is a Little Useless废废有点废Ancient Romance607k WordsCompleted The God of War, famed throughout the Kingdom of Zhou, had asked for a bride, and his intended was a girl who hadn't even come of age. Everyone thought a beautiful flower had been stuck in a pile of cow dung, and Wen You was the cow dung they meant. Wen You patted her chest. “At least I only have to be this cow dung for six months.” Wen You knew very well that this six-month marriage pact was her only chance to seek justice for her mother. It was payment for saving the woman he loved. But when th 98Reads8.8Score—Shelves
7. 257 穿 Trapped as an Abusive Wife, My Little Husband Tells Me to Behave 穿成家暴妻主，小夫郎说让我自重 Cha Xirao2茶夕娆2Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Female-Dominated World + Multiple Male Leads + Satisfying and Indulgent + All Male Leads Are Chaste] On her first night after transmigrating, Gu Qingyuan found her little husband curled up in a corner, holding a knife to his own neck to warn her to behave. “Touch me, and I’ll kill myself.” Gu Qingyuan: “Okay, okay, I won’t touch you. Happy now?” Then she turned around and went to the side husband’s courtyard. Later, as the handsome men around her grew in number, her little husband patted the be 11.7kReads8.3Score1.1kShelves
8. 258 授 Hand Him the Reins 授他以柄 Zhou Fuyao周扶妖Ancient Romance96k WordsCompleted With the city about to fall and the kingdom on the brink of ruin, Pei Qing wrote a letter asking that man for help. For seven whole days, there was no reply. But just when all hope seemed lost, he arrived. His peerlessly handsome face was full of disdain and contempt. Xiao Yuan walked into the imperial bedchamber with blood dripping from his blade and lazily called out, “Elder Brother.” Having earned merit by rushing to the emperor’s defense, he naturally expected a reward. “I have plenty of gol 24.9kReads9.5Score2.8kShelves
9. 259 重 Reborn, I’m Spoiled Rotten by the Possessive Prince 重生后我被偏执王爷宠坏了 A Handful of Snow一捧雪Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted In her previous life, Ninth Young Lady Shen hated Dingbei Prince Rong Zhan more than anyone. But only as she lay dying did she learn that Rong Zhan was also the one who avenged her and gave his life for her. Fortunately, she has been reborn with the leading-lady script in hand, eight doting older brothers above her and a band of followers at her side. Only that man remains cool and distant as the moon, unmoved by her. Ninth Young Lady Shen gallops over to him and clings to him, refusing to let g 509Reads9.0Score108Shelves
10. 260 涅 Reborn From the Ashes, I’ve Returned to Settle Every Score 涅槃重生归来有仇报仇有怨报怨 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance627k WordsCompleted “Reborn after returning from Nirvana, she settles every score and repays every grievance. A bond from a past life becomes a fate in this one.” Eight hundred years ago, she and he vowed to be husband and wife in their next life, promising to love each other for all eternity. Centuries passed, the world changed, and the past faded like smoke. Eight hundred years later, she was reborn, but fate had other plans. It was as if she'd been born into the wrong family. Her father showed her no affection, 3.3kReads8.6Score204Shelves

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    Losing his beloved from both his past and present lives, he turned white-haired overnight. "In this life, I clearly met her first, we clearly fell in love first, how could I have lost her?" Bai Jingxuan hated himself, pounding his head in frustration. Thinking of the loving moments they shared in both lives, the longing and pain of those two lifetimes intertwined, forming a river of grief. He was heartbroken, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe. Unable to suppress the overwhelming sorrow, he wept uncontrollably, his anguished sobs echoing through the courtyard. The once dignified and refined young master Bai, unable to bear the blow of losing his beloved, turned white-haired overnight. He trudged through the snow-covered courtyard towards the gate, his robes fluttering, his silver hair flying, the snow swirling around him, he seemed to merge with the icy landscape, indistinguishable from it all. He left the mansion and headed directly towards the Prince of An'nan's residence, An'nan silently following not far away.

11. 261 医 A Master of Medicine and Poison! The Love-Struck Woman Marries the Villain and Refuses to Give Up 医毒双绝！恋爱脑改嫁反派不认命 Honeysuckle Vine忍冬藤Ancient Romance396k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + adored by everyone + peerless medicine and poison skills + comeback and punishing scumbags + 1v1 sweet romance] After transmigrating into a book, Shen Nanqiao becomes the heroine of a melodramatic tragedy. In the book, the heroine is imprisoned and disfigured, framed and kidnapped, made to undergo a blood transfusion and an abortion, and has her entire family executed. After the male lead puts her through all that, she still ends up having his children. Shen Nanqiao: 2.2kReads9.2Score363Shelves
12. 262 重 Reborn and Taking Back My Ex? Have You Lost Your Mind? 重生还吃回头草，疯了吧？ Green Gardenia, Dream Glass青栀梦璃Ancient Romance243k WordsCompleted [Reborn + face-slapping + regret + chasing his wife to the crematorium + household intrigue + second male lead wins] Lin Baozhu spent her whole life serving her parents-in-law and caring for her husband. Even when her sister-in-law, sent back to her family after being divorced, glared at her with hostility, she still greeted her with a beaming smile! Yet even after she’d warmed the stone lions at the Yan family gates, she and her husband remained nothing more than courteous companions. She thoug 48Reads—Score—Shelves

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    [Rebirth + Face-Slapping + Regretful Journey + Wife-Chasing Hell + Domestic Strife + Second Male Lead's Rise to Power] Lin Baozhu spent her life serving her in-laws and husband. Even when her divorced sister-in-law treated her coldly, she always smiled! She had even warmed the stone lions at the Yan family's gate, and her relationship with her husband remained one of mutual respect. She had always thought he was a calm and upright person, until she heard him embracing his half-sister, his voice trembling as he uttered sweet nothings. Only then did she realize that her entire life had been a joke. Reborn, she would stay far away from that cage! Since you despise my money-grubbing ways, then take your white moonlight and get lost! In this life, she would embrace her love of money and become the number one businesswoman in this great new era! Marquis Yong'an, Yan Jinning, was forced by his mother's pressure to marry the daughter of a wealthy merchant in his youth due to poverty. Later, he rose through the ranks, only to marry his beloved wife to make up for the regrets of his youth. He then discovered that his virtuous wife was actually extremely jealous. But why did he feel such deep regret after her death? Given a second chance, he would cherish their fate! A certain Huo, doting on his wife. General: Get lost! [Smile][Laugh][Kiss][Admiration]

13. 263 落 You Can't Bring Back a Runaway Bride 落跑娘子追不回 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance523k WordsCompleted I make my own fate, not heaven. She is no innocent little flower, no frail girl everyone can bully and trample on. If someone takes a swing at her or sets her up, she'll pay them back twice over. Su Wan, a merchant's daughter full of schemes, defies fate, plots her escape, and seeks refuge with one of the capital's most powerful families. Using their influence, she secures a good marriage prospect and gives her whole heart to her fiancé's family. But things don't go as planned. A spiteful woman 1.5kReads8.6Score101Shelves
14. 264 娇 The Beautiful Transmigrator Warmed the Heart of a Darkened Prince 娇美人她穿越后暖了黑化反派王爷 Meat-Loving Little Fairy吃肉的小仙女Ancient Romance458k WordsCompleted Su Qingyun worked herself to death by staying up all night. After transmigrating, she learns that she is the frail, sickly, lecherous good-for-nothing everyone in the capital gossips about. Her doting father even uses a life-saving favor to secure an imperial marriage decree for her. Her betrothed is the living King of Hell, feared by everyone in the capital for his coldness, ruthlessness, and decisiveness. At their first meeting, he nearly strangles her, but she gives as good as she gets, lungi 1.4kReads9.2Score162Shelves
15. 265 好 As Though I Have Powerful Backing 好似有靠山 Shu Guimei舒归妹Ancient Romance445k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance + healing + age gap + coming-of-age + a touch of possessive romance] After both her parents died, Gu Xixi had no choice but to rely on her only remaining relative, her maternal uncle. Though he was ruthless and calculating, he did take reasonably good care of her. But could someone explain why this uncle of hers was getting stranger and stranger? Who was it that tore away the facade of family affection, wanting more? Who fell without realizing it? And who walked into the gate 241Reads—Score107Shelves

    Reader note

    Raising a father figure in ancient Chinese romance novels is very good.

16. 266 前 You Doted on Me in My Past Life, So Why Make Me Your Concubine in This One? 前世宠我入骨今生纳我为妾？ Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance337k WordsCompleted Several hundred years later, she is reborn as a human. After more than a decade spent in a fog of madness, she returns to her own body with memories of her past life and searches among the masses for the lover she once cherished above all. But he wears a mask, consumed by a deep hatred and forced to bide his time as he seeks revenge. The lovers meet for the first time in this life, and one look spans a thousand years. She recognizes him, but he treats her as a pawn in a beauty trap. With the ene 1.1kReads—Score—Shelves
17. 267 反 If We're All Going to Die, We Might as Well Lie Flat and Enjoy Life! 反正都是死，不如躺平过日子！ Green Gardenia, Dream Glass青栀梦璃Ancient Romance225k WordsOngoing Jiang Wanwan has transmigrated five times! Once, she was a silver-haired nanny, youthful in spirit, vigorous, and elegant. Once, she was a pretty pageboy with red lips, white teeth, and delicate features. Another time, she was a peerlessly beautiful princess. And once, she was a well-proportioned, glossy-furred, universally adored cat. They all worked diligently, but without exception, they were hated by their targets and then killed... This time, she's become a fat girl. She feels even more des 16Reads—Score—Shelves
18. 268 被 The Man I Left Behind Rose to Power 被我抛弃的男人上位了 Green Gardenia, Dream Glass青栀梦璃Ancient Romance174k WordsCompleted I want a child. A child who shares my blood. But I don't want some ill-intentioned man dividing up my estate. After all, I want a child to protect my inheritance. So should I follow Menggu's example and enjoy one night of passion? Or use underhanded means to have a child and get rid of the father? Or turn the tables and make him leave me of his own accord? Whatever I do, I should go for it! Surely thousands of years of wisdom from the future can beat these old-fashioned people? 3Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 269 穿 A Transmigrated Farm Girl Dazzles the Court of the Great Jing Dynasty With Her English 穿越农女：我靠英语惊艳大靖朝堂 Notes on Observing the Mind观心札记Ancient Romance302k WordsCompleted A 22-year-old English whiz dies suddenly after staying up all night and wakes up as the timid eldest daughter of a rural family in the Great Jing dynasty, a girl who can be beaten and berated at will. Her parents favor the boys, her younger siblings leech off her, and everyone says she was born to be a stepping-stone for the family. With a new soul in her body, a clear-eyed modern scholar stands her ground. She refuses to be her family’s scapegoat! Just then, a foreign delegation arrives in the 450Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Tired of those ancient romance novels where the protagonist is born with an aura of invincibility and surrounded by powerful figures upon transmigration? Check out this different kind of transmigration novel, "Transmigrated Farm Girl: I Amazed the Imperial Court with My English." A modern English major working-class girl wakes up one day to find herself in the body of a poor farm girl in the Great Jing Dynasty. Her family is patriarchal; her younger sister is neglected, while her younger brother is pampered, and the original owner is constantly beaten and mistreated. Key point: No system, no prince falling in love at first sight to protect her! The female protagonist only has the English she's learned. Just then, a foreign delegation visits, plunging the court into a translation crisis. She seizes this only opportunity, but knowing a foreign language doesn't guarantee instant success. Rumors in the countryside, exclusion by civil officials, the emperor's suspicion, and traps set by colleagues—every step up requires a price. She'll encounter obstacles, setbacks, and moments of helplessness, but relying on her calm mind and professional skills, she gradually escapes the mire and rises to the top of the court. The focus is on her career; the romance is subtle. The female protagonist relies on herself, not on anyone's charity. If you prefer realistic coming-of-age stories that combine farming and court politics, don't miss this one.

20. 270 血 Bloodstained Silver Hairpin 血染银簪 Distantly Knowing the Wind's Tune遥知风曲Ancient Romance309k WordsOngoing [Twelve Years Slaughtering Chickens, Now I Take My Blade to Chunxiang House] [Slow-Burn Historical Mystery | No Golden Finger | Not Reborn | Does Not Transmigrate] [Happy Ending] [Ensemble Cast] Shen Wan was six when she lost her family. Her father was murdered, her mother vanished, and all they left her was a silver hairpin and three words: Chunxiang House. For twelve years, she slaughtered livestock and sharpened her blade. She carried the hairpin to the capital to investigate a bloody case 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is pretty good, it's just still being serialized, but it gets more and more exciting as you read on.

21. 271 双 A Love Beyond Death: My Husband Awakens and Spoils Me Every Night 双魂绝恋：夫君觉醒夜夜宠 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance47k WordsOngoing A tug-of-war of passion, sweet and bittersweet in equal measure. Fate played a cruel trick. She rode away in a grand red bridal sedan, dressed in a phoenix crown and red wedding robes, while he returned home in a black coffin, clad in white. Wedding music and funeral dirges mingled as two processions, one red and one white, passed each other in the snowy, frozen wasteland. He was a noble young master of the marquis's household, graceful as jade and gentle as a breeze. She was a beautiful young c 48Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 272 穿 I Transmigrated and Picked Up a Five-and-a-Half-Year-Old Husband 穿越捡来的相公五岁半 The Wind Goes Whoosh大风呼呼的Ancient Romance206k WordsCompleted Everyone in the capital knows that the influential Grand Secretary married the older sister who raised him from childhood to repay her kindness, becoming a thoroughly henpecked husband. They say Qin Zhao’s wife is jealous, never lets him take a concubine, and won’t let him go out drinking with courtesans. They say Qin Zhao has a miserable life at home, worse than death. Cao Xi spat out a melon seed shell. They don’t know what they’re talking about. That clingy little pest is practically attached 9.2kReads9.1Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    I don't know what kind of novels you like, but these are some of the better ones I've read.

23. 273 深 Partridges Fly Through the Deep Mountains 深山鹧鸪飞 Helian Chengcheng赫连澄澄Ancient Romance146k WordsCompleted "A peerless beauty dwells alone in a deep valley. She calls herself a daughter of a respectable family, now fallen among weeds and trees..." Inspired by Du Fu’s poem "The Beauty," this story portrays kindhearted people helping one another through a chaotic age and expresses the shared resolve to resist their enemies and defend their homeland. It tells how lovers ultimately find their way to each other, while also reflecting the tragic fates of young women in that era and the true nature of human 83Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a traditional Chinese romance novel set against the backdrop of the An Lushan Rebellion. The female protagonist is a lady from a prominent family, but her father arranges for her to marry a man from a humble background who has risen from humble beginnings to achieve success. Later, after her father and brother die in battle, she is abandoned and can no longer support her husband, ending up in a valley where she encounters a wounded general. To survive amidst the chaos of war, they forge their own path in the wilderness, relying on others and becoming entangled in the stories of others, tenaciously surviving. Several female supporting characters are not rivals for the female protagonist's affections, but they help each other during times of hardship.

24. 274 重 Reborn: Never Let Love Go 重生之不负相思 Green Gardenia, Dream Glass青栀梦璃Ancient Romance118k WordsCompleted The heroine's story: As the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an's household, Lin Yuenian spent five years wasting away in the inner quarters of the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, until a cup of poisoned wine ended her life. Why did the man who once courted her beneath the moon and flowers now ignore her completely? Given another chance at life, Yuenian only wanted to stay far away from him and never see him again! The hero's story: The dreamlike goddess who once returned his affectio 6Reads—Score—Shelves
25. 275 禾 Autumn Passes Over Jing Mountain 禾过璟山秋 Apricot At Ease杏闲闲Ancient Romance242k WordsOngoing [Modern siblings transmigrate together + two equally matched political players + nation-building + imaginative historical romance + devoted couples with happy endings] After a car accident, modern siblings Rui He and Rui Zheng both transmigrate into a political intrigue novel, only to find themselves bound to a doomed, unfinished story set in a chaotic age. In the original, Emperor Murong Jing is isolated and outmatched, hemmed in by powerful aristocratic families and ministers, as well as the a 92Reads—Score538Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! It balances career and romance, and even has some funny moments.

26. 276 带 I Married the Sickly Chief Minister with a Farming System, and He Flirts with Me Every Day 带种田系统嫁病娇首辅，日日被撩 Jiang Qiuqiu姜秋秋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Farming + putting scumbags in their place + strong heroine + sweet romance + devoted couple] Lu Zhaozhao, head of a family of merchants, accidentally gets bound to a farming System that brings her into a lucky-charm farming novel called The Imperial Consort of the Peasant Household. There, she becomes a cannon-fodder supporting female character who dies as soon as she appears. When she opens her eyes, she has to choose between two newlywed husbands. She faces a greedy, vicious mother-in-law, th 39.2kReads9.3Score3.7kShelves
27. 277 和 I Lost My Memory on the Eve of Our Divorce 和离前夜，我失忆了 Chen Xianyu陈羡瑜Ancient Romance641k WordsCompleted Marriage Before Love Shen Guiti is a domineering, pampered princess, while Duan Zhuo is a cold-blooded and vicious commander of the Imperial Guards. The two can’t stand the sight of each other. Then Shen Guiti loses her memory, and everything changes… 5.3kReads8.5Score356Shelves

    Reader note

    An arranged marriage that blossoms into love. The female lead suffers from amnesia and becomes dependent on the male lead, who initially thinks she's mistaken him for someone else and that he's been cheated on. Then their sweet romance begins, as they resolve their inner conflicts and their feelings for each other deepen. The writing is smooth and engaging.

28. 278 白 White Moon, Brahma Star: An Obsession That Won't Fade 白月梵星：情瘾难消 Like a Fish in Water如余得水Female-Channel Fanfiction406k WordsOngoing OOC warning ⚠️ This work has been changed to a collection of stories based on film and television dramas. More stories will follow. One-on-one romance is the best, and with every stroke of the pen, I write toward a happy ending. If you like the sound of it, feel free to jump in. ① Bai Yue Fan Xing, pairing: Chong Zhao (completed) ② A Journey to Love, pairing: Li Tongguang (ongoing) 2.7kReads—Score245Shelves
29. 279 穿 After Transmigrating to a Year of Famine, I Became the Worst Mother-in-Law 穿到荒年后，我成了极品恶婆婆 Morning Clouds Purple朝云紫Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted [Farming + feel-good wish fulfillment + System + adorable kids + no male lead] Cheng Wanqun woke up in the body of a 33-year-old farmer's wife in ancient Dahuang Village. Her four sons were kneeling by the bed, calling her Mother, and her daughter-in-law had another grandchild on the way. After being single her entire life for 33 years, she'd suddenly become a mother-in-law and grandmother. Raising four sons was already hard enough, but then disaster struck: locust plagues, droughts, snowstorms. 67.1kReads9.4Score7.6kShelves
30. 280 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

    This is a series of ancient Chinese novels that I really enjoy. They're political intrigue stories, and the female lead is shrewd and calculating. They reject naive and overly sweet characters; this is arguably the pinnacle of ancient Chinese romance novels.

31. 281 暗 The Dark River’s Rising Star: Where the Other Shore Blooms 暗河新星之彼岸花开 Like a Fish in Water如余得水Female-Channel Fanfiction460k WordsCompleted Fan fiction with an original female lead, paired with Su Changhe. OOC warning! ⚠️ Su Huayue was just an ordinary college student, but she was so unlucky that she got struck by lightning while crossing the street! Then she was unexpectedly bound to System 007. To make matters worse, she was dumped into a dangerous, high-martial-arts world! She cried out in terror, “It’s starting without so much as a word? I’m just an ordinary person! Do you even care if I live or die?” “Don’t panic. There’s a sur 4.4kReads—Score289Shelves
32. 282 女 Matriarchy: My Handsome Husband Is Sweet and Well-Behaved 女尊：夫郎貌美又乖巧 Spicy Hot Strips火辣的辣条Ancient Romance208k WordsCompleted (Completed) After transmigrating to a matriarchal world, she becomes a poor, arrogant drunkard? The money her relatives gave her to marry a husband has already been squandered. If she can’t find a husband, she’ll have to pay a fine and take a beating... With six copper coins in hand, Lin Shu heads into town to buy a husband and start a life together... Then luck strikes: buy one, get one free? Her husband is obedient and sensible, and a quick worker, yet every day he worries that this penniless 5.8kReads9.0Score618Shelves
33. 283 权 Power and Favor in the Capital 权宠京华 June六月Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of the novel of the same name, The Glory of Power in the Capital: The Glory of Power 3: The Glory of Power in the Capital, is now open for reservations on the Hongguo app. It premieres on April 30. Everyone says Yuwen Xiao, heir to Prince Su, is a cold-faced military commander with ruthless methods, and that he was born under a lonely star, destined never to find love. Everyone in the prince's residence was left dumbfounded. Wasn't he supposed to have no romantic ent 9.4kReads9.3Score1.1kShelves
34. 284 迫 Make Her Submit 迫她臣服 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance197k WordsOngoing [One-on-one, happy ending + both leads’ first love + intense push and pull, love and hate + proud and uninhibited eldest princess x dark, rabid new emperor] She was the eldest princess of Dayan. She took a fancy to the newly crowned top scholar for his looks and physique, and dragged him into wild nights day after day. Before long, she was pregnant. The princess grew tired of him and dumped the top scholar without a second thought. But then the kingdom fell, and the man she had cast aside became 85Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I declare that all of Huang Dandan's novels are incredibly good, you know? You absolutely must read them, they're amazing! Especially the first and third books. Amazing, amazing, amazing!!! [Drooling][drooling][drooling]

35. 285 胖 The Overweight Heiress's Comeback 胖千金的逆袭 Slow and Steady Goes Far事缓则远Ancient Romance123k WordsCompleted Cheng Nian was 28 when she finally learned to swim, only to drown. But that wasn't even the most dramatic part. The real shock was that her soul transmigrated straight into the body of a 160-jin chubby heiress in ancient times. Was it a blessing or a curse? As a modern woman with a higher education, how could she accept living as a big fat woman? Watch her turn the tables in that era, win her crush's favor, and thrive... 1.4kReads—Score290Shelves

    Reader note

    Romance novels featuring a protagonist's revenge and triumph.

36. 286 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 18.5kReads8.9Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend *The Wrongly Appointed Scholar*! The female lead is a "test-taker" who took 42 exams for someone else, while the male lead is a ruthless official in the cabinet who despises cheating, and also her childhood sweetheart. After being caught cheating, they marry first and then fall in love, starting their "quarrelsome couple" mode. The female lead becomes the top female scholar through her own talent, and the male lead's contrasting charm is incredibly cute. It's light on political intrigue and free of melodrama, sweet to the core—just a pair of bickering lovers. 🥰😳 *Cheng Yan* is also truly amazing! The female lead is the orphan of the Duke of Zhenguo's family, gentle and resilient. The male lead is a tyrannical Prince of Qin, but actually deeply affectionate and forbearing. After being "married off" to the male lead, the female lead is drawn into the vortex of court intrigue. The two gradually develop feelings for each other while testing each other, from forceful acquisition to a desperate pursuit of her love—the plot is fast-paced and emotionally intense. 💕💕

37. 287 闻 The Sound of Spring 闻春声 Evergreen and Everwhite长青长白Ancient Romance161k WordsCompleted [Taciturn, stammering country hunk VS vivacious, fiery widow. Farming romance, one-on-one, both leads’ first relationship] [She makes the first move, and the unyielding tree finally blossoms. A period farming romance] At the matchmaker's urging, young Yao Chunniang took her dowry and married into the Zhang family in Lishui Village. Who could have guessed that on their wedding night, her sickly husband would close his eyes and die? Before Yao Chunniang could even process what had happened, she ha 29.5kReads9.6Score3.5kShelves
38. 288 通 The Maid Who Spells Ruin 通房祸水 Salt Pork盐巴猪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance + Two Strong Leads + Feel-Good Story + Farming] His perspective: Everyone says the Young Lord Jun’s maid is deeply devoted to him and never leaves his side, even following him into exile. Only Jun Cheng knows that in public, she’s always fussing over him, calling him “Young Master” and acting sweet and caring. In private, she steals his food, pinches him, and hits him, while he has to swallow his anger and play along. That’s because he’s been reborn, and he’s genuinely curious abo 5.5kReads9.2Score593Shelves

    Reader note

    [Stunned][Shocked][Shocked] A transmigrated fairy meets a reborn old man—truly the pinnacle of ancient romance novels! The female lead was previously a prostitute, forced to drink various drugs from a young age, resulting in her having breast milk before even giving birth, thus becoming the male lead's wet nurse. In public, she's a maidservant, but in private, she steals the male lead's food, pinches him, and hits him. The male lead, however, has to swallow his anger and play along. Just when the maidservant is about to run away and abandon him, an unexpected event occurs…

39. 289 我 My Childhood Friend Is a Royal Consort. What Can the Princess Do About Me? 我的竹马是驸马，公主奈我何？ Bridge of the Islet屿之桥Ancient Romance465k WordsOngoing [Pure historical romance | Reunited after years apart | Devoted, sweet romance with mutual fidelity | Ensemble coming-of-age] After their entire village was massacred, six young friends were scattered to the ends of the earth. Years later, Yun Sheng, now going by Qin Sheng, had made a life for herself in the capital. Xiao Hechen, the childhood friend she had never stopped thinking about, returned to the capital too, but fate had other plans. For the sake of his scheme, he had no choice but to m 188Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A pure ancient Chinese romance! The emotions are delicately portrayed! The foreshadowing and details are cleverly resolved, and the plot twists are brilliant!

40. 290 夺 Stealing My Brother's Wife 夺兄妻 Cold Blows of Cinnamon Fragrance Under the Lemon Moon柠月桂冷吹香雪Ancient Romance388k WordsCompleted A gentle, refined young lady of a distinguished family × a powerful official who seems noble and impeccable but is actually a deranged schemer Cui Fu was born into the prestigious Qinghe Cui clan. A refined and gentle noblewoman, she had been childhood friends with the eldest son of the Xie family since they were young. But fate had other plans. In the second year of their marriage, the eldest son of the Xie family was ambushed by bandits in the mountains and killed by their blades. Having lo 4.7kReads8.2Score550Shelves

    Reader note

    🌸🌸🌸A few books, the writing is pretty good, and they're the kind of books where the protagonist is forced into a relationship! I really like them!

41. 291 冲 I Married to Bring Good Luck, Then My Husband Returned from the Dead 冲喜嫁人后，战死的亡夫回来了 Little Hétang小禾棠Ancient Romance479k WordsCompleted Jin Ning transmigrated to ancient times and charmed a general into becoming her boyfriend. Later, she discovered that he was far too possessive and thought about bedroom antics every day. Luckily, he was devoted and faithful, so she put up with it! Unfortunately, her general boyfriend died on the frontier, and she was forced to marry his late friend to bring him good fortune. Her sickly husband was gentle and considerate, and she gradually fell for him. At the Qingming Festival the following y 105.2kReads8.9Score12.6kShelves
42. 292 嫡 The Firstborn Daughter: Bringing My Boss Back to Ancient Times 嫡女风华：带着老板回古代 Mu Xi Fanyin沐溪梵音Ancient Romance1.1M WordsOngoing [Legitimate Daughter] [Transmigration] [Career] [Power Couple] [Smart Leads] [Sharp-Tongued Leads] [Sweet Romance] [Ensemble Cast] Cui Siyu, the Marquis's legitimate daughter, is pushed into the water by her vicious stepsister right from the start. When she wakes again, her soul has been replaced: Si Yu, a modern wage worker, has transmigrated to another world and will live out Cui Siyu's brilliance as a noble daughter. The Crown Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty, Lan Jingxiao, is cruelly poisone 145Reads8.6Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    He has sound values, avoids melodramatic plots, is intelligent and articulate, and is meticulous.

43. 293 入 Into the Seductive Tent 入娇帐 Cloud Mountain Crow云山鸦Ancient Romance546k WordsCompleted (Original title: Stealing a Friend's Wife) Tao Heyi willingly married her frail husband to bring him good fortune. She had loved him since childhood, and knew that if he weren't so weak, his talent and temperament would have made him far too good a match for her. After their wedding, she carefully nursed him, hoping he would regain his health. In their second year of marriage, a guest came to their home. Her husband happily introduced him: “This is my former classmate, Zhao Jiyun.” Heyi glanced 13.3kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves
44. 294 我 My Husband Is Too Frail to Care for Himself 我的夫君柔弱不能自理 Diligent but Silent勤不语Ancient Romance590k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication] I saved the whole capital by slacking off! I conquered the world through sheer bluster! Excerpt 1: “Your Highness, the Consort has been completely taken in by the Princess Consort. His Majesty wants us to pay compensation.” Jiang Chonghua: “Tell Father that if he has the nerve, he can talk to the Princess Consort himself.” “Your Highness, His Majesty wouldn’t dare. He says he’s afraid he’ll get dragged into it too.” Excerpt 2: “Your Highness, our two nations are at war, 23kReads9.2Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    🌹🌹This is so good! The writing style is humorous! I saved the entire capital by being lazy, and I conquered the world by being a con artist! Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter, the female lead keeps tricking people! She's so ruthless! My stomach hurts from laughing!!

45. 295 报 Report, Your Majesty: The Empress Has Left the Palace Again and Again 报告陛下：皇后又又又出宫了 A Cat's Catnip小猫的猫薄荷Ancient Romance60k WordsOngoing [Childhood Friends] [Helping Each Other Succeed] [Sweet Romance] [Ensemble Cast] There is a secret everyone in the palace knows: never mess with the empress. Other empresses are refined and elegant, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Cheng Qingyan, on the other hand, climbs walls and roams the streets, throwing punches whenever she sees injustice. Every few days, she leaves some spoiled young master black and blue. One day, the chief eunuch came charging into the imperial study. 26Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient Chinese romance, with delicate writing, vivid characters, and a novel plot.

46. 296 枝 Heng on the Branches 枝上蘅 Zhongshu Jun jun中书君junAncient Romance357k WordsCompleted Content warning: First his soul travels into the ending, then his body follows. The System imposes mandatory quests and punishments, reducing stamina. [Flirtatious Princess × Aloof Imperial Preceptor] [Both virgins · Happy ending · His affection has always been reserved for her alone] Shen Heng transmigrated into the body of a sickly princess and panicked. The System told her that if she wanted to survive, she had to win over the most dangerous man in the book: Xunzhuo, the Imperial Preceptor of 101.7kReads9.5Score17.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Wonderful! [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

47. 297 庶 The Concubine’s Daughter Spills Her Inner Thoughts While Gossiping, and the Entire Court Secretly Dotes on the Heir’s Wife 庶女吃瓜漏心声，全朝偷宠世子妃 Ting Bao汀煲Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted 43.8kReads8.9Score6.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book features a cold and aloof imperial advisor and a witty princess. The author's writing is truly solid, and the female lead is very intelligent. Each character is distinct and well-developed. The second book is about a female protagonist who transmigrates to the imperial court and observes the drama unfolding. The male lead appears a little later, and the female lead is incredibly cute. The third book is an absolute must-read! The female lead seeks revenge, and those she wants to kill are eliminated by the second chapter of her story – it's incredibly satisfying! The writing is also excellent, and the male lead's every appearance is meaningful.

48. 298 农 The Farmer’s Daughter Refuses to Marry, and Her Future Powerful Official Loses Control in Public 农女拒嫁，未来权臣当众失控 The Eight of August八月的八Ancient Romance232k WordsCompleted [Romance first, career second] Since the heavens have given her a chance to start over, Xie Qinglian wastes no time. She decides not to give Shen Xingzhou any chance to grow up: she'll drown him in the river, push him off a mountain, or poison him with a poisonous fruit! [Shen Xingzhou: a mad beauty] When he discovers that Zhenzhen, the woman he loves, is actually Xie Qinglian and that she wants to kill him, he decides that if they cannot be husband and wife in life, then they can be a pair of g 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    No cheat codes, come see me! Help! [Crying][crying][crying][crying] [Romance is the main focus, career is secondary] Someone come and see me, save me!! Since heaven has given her a second chance, Xie Qinglian decisively decides not to give Shen Xingzhou a chance to grow up, drowning him in the river, pushing him off a mountain to his death, and poisoning him with a poisonous fruit! [Shen Xingzhou: A Mad Beauty] When he discovers that his beloved Zhenzhen (Xie Qinglian) actually harbors murderous intentions towards him, he decides that since they cannot be husband and wife in life, they will be a ghost couple! If Zhenzhen wants to drown him, he will drag her to the underworld with him. If Zhenzhen wants to push him off a mountain, he will hold her and perish together. If Zhenzhen wants to poison him, he will eat the poisonous fruit with her. [The female lead is the most important thing in the world] [Extreme tug-of-war] [Mad Beauty] [Wife-chasing crematorium] [Political intrigue] [Both are clean] [Alternate universe]

49. 299 母 Becoming Empress of the Realm by Pretending to Be the Chancellor's Widowed Sister-in-Law 母仪天下，从冒充丞相寡嫂开始 Luo Chunshui洛春水Ancient Romance630k WordsCompleted [Revenge + Face-Slapping the Scum + Lighthearted + Sweet Romance] When you’re out in the world, you can choose your own identity. To infiltrate high society and avenge the massacre of her sister’s family, Feng Qingsui decides to pose as the distant cousin of a prestigious household. But just as she’s about to seek their help, the household she picked is raided by the Imperial Guards. She tries another family. Raided. Then another. Raided again. At her wit’s end, she knocks on the door of the “Pr 24.2kReads9.4Score4.1kShelves
50. 300 诈 After Faking His Death, He Went Mad 诈死后，他疯了 Her Mountain她山Ancient Romance352k WordsCompleted The heroine was transmigrated into a book before birth + the hero is a native of the world + young love and marriage + rekindled romance + two hopeless romantics + always choosing each other To put her gravely ill father at ease, Jiang Wan married the man he had taken in. After her father passed away, the man said he would take her home. She never imagined he would take her straight to Prince Duan's residence in the capital. Only then did she learn he was Zhao Zhixing, the emperor's fifth son a 141.4kReads8.6Score13.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The powerful Prince Zhao Zhixing discovers that his princess, Jiang Wan, has faked her death and escaped, driving him to the brink of madness. He smiles as he strokes her coffin, murmuring, "It's good that she's alive." He orders golden chains to be forged to imprison her in his bedchamber, but then changes his mind and insists on forging them himself. When his subordinates try to dissuade him, he whispers gently, "She had her reasons, but I'm determined to break her wings." — A possessiveness, a mixture of love and hate, grows wildly before the empty coffin.

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