An Unflinching Heroine Stronger Than the Male Lead: Cold, Detached, and Set in Ancient Times 女主超狠，比男主强。无情，无欲无求，古代的。

1. 1 侯 The Marquess's Wife Wants to Die of Old Age in Peace 侯府主母要寿终正寝 Winter Melon Eats Pears冬瓜吃梨Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted A history major pulls an all-nighter and dies suddenly, only to become Chen Yuhu, the matriarch of an ancient household, with no golden finger whatsoever. But you have to learn to be content. As a modern, clear-eyed college student, Chen Yuhu wants to tell the original matriarch: don't be such a lovesick fool. Treasure your life of immense wealth and status. She certainly does. She sends her biased mother-in-law away to cultivate in seclusion, keeps the obedient and pretty concubine around to pl 33.8kReads9.2Score3.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Absolutely amazing! I love it!

2. 2 妻 My Wife’s Crimes Are Heinous, and She Shows No Remorse 妻主罪恶滔天，死不悔改 Lucky Blue-and-White Porcelain幸运的青花瓷Ancient Romance597k WordsCompleted [Female-dominant world / strong heroine / a rotten woman reborn and remorseful / heroine stays wicked from beginning to end / devoted to her husband / not a brainless power fantasy / System / one-on-one romance / after the heroine is reborn, she has no other men; decide for yourselves whether the leads are virgins, I’m done labeling it / the male and female leads’ bodies are not swapped] Jiang Tang admits she has never been a good person. She’ll do anything to get what she wants, and beneath her 8.2kReads9.0Score658Shelves
3. 3 女 The Vicious Villainess in a Matriarchal World Raises Her Fish Online 女尊恶獠在线养鱼 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Matriarchal society + sweet romance + one-on-one + devoted to each other] [Calculating and ruthless princess × obedient, loyal guard] The capital's good-for-nothing Second Princess is beaten in the street by another woman for pursuing a man, then crashes into a stone lion. After recovering from her serious injuries, the Second Princess seems like a completely different person: kind to others, uninterested in competing, and always helping her sisters. It isn't until the day this powerful princes 14.8kReads9.5Score1.6kShelves
4. 4 长 The Grand Princess Returns to Court, Slays the Evil Empress, and Bathes the Palace in Blood 长公主归朝，剑斩妖后，血染朝堂 The Lazy Cat Young Master慵懒的猫公子Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Overpowered heroine + light ensemble cast + no romance + unshakably righteous, to a fault + unifies the realm] “The Eldest Princess has returned to court! Stand aside at once!” Yuchao, spring of the third year of the Gen era. Three years after the new emperor's ascension, war raged along the borders, drought struck the north, and plague ravaged the south. Empress Zhaozhao ruled from behind the curtain, promoting her cronies and framing loyal officials. The court was mired in corruption, and nei 2.7kReads8.4Score298Shelves
5. 5 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 86.5kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves

   Reader note

   It's really good! The strong female lead and her little mouse are so adorable. The female lead's family are villains, but their villainous style is very satisfying to watch. The family, friendship, and love relationships are all very memorable and touching. The pacing is excellent, not dragging at all, and the content is very engaging; I didn't want to skip a single chapter. The ending is, of course, perfectly satisfying, without too many regrets; everyone gets their happy ending.

6. 6 女 The Female General Returns to Dote on Her Frail Young Master 女将归来，娇养病弱公子 Xia Shiwan夏拾晚Ancient Romance387k WordsCompleted Female-led power fantasy, female strength, doting on her husband, a delicate younger husband, political intrigue and revenge A domineering, poker-faced, older female general who pampers her husband versus a sweet, seemingly innocent younger man with a loyal-dog streak and a mischievous side After five years of fighting through bloodshed, she rose from a lonely orphan to a marquess commanding a mighty army. She captured Prince Rui alive, took down a general with a single arrow, toppled the chance 4kReads8.5Score414Shelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist begins by wielding immense power. On the surface, she is a female marquis commanding an army of 500,000 in the imperial court; on the other hand, she is the direct descendant of the most powerful force in the martial arts world. Highly skilled in martial arts, she returns to the capital to investigate a five-year-old cold case, ruthlessly eliminating anyone in her path without hesitation or sympathy. She captures princes, executes corrupt generals, dethrones the emperor, and ultimately supports an empress to jointly rule the world.

7. 7 杀 Kill Every Conqueror 杀死每一个攻略者 yyy Longan and Lotus Seed Soupyyy桂圆莲子羹Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted “If the chosen woman cannot be killed, then kill every otherworldly soul that takes over her body.” On the night Wei Shulan died, she saw the truth of the world. She had lived for twenty-eight years, from being the apple of the Prince of Jing’an’s eye to becoming the only female prince of the Mingyao Dynasty. She held power over the court, yet it turned out she was merely a villain in a storybook who should have been written out long ago. The story’s heroine was called Luo Daien, an seem 260Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist is the only queen of the dynasty, wielding immense power, and everyone depends on her.

8. 8 劲 Explosive! Every World’s Crazy Beauties Are at My Feet 劲爆！全位面都是疯批美人裙下臣 Lucky Carp Little Tianpeng锦鲤小天蓬Modern Romance2.7M WordsCompleted [No fixed couples + either one-on-one or multiple couples + deranged and corrupted + ruthlessly self-serving + no charity + cold-hearted and merciless + hedonistic carnivore + wild golden finger concepts + female-led power fantasy + invincible] Ming Sheng, a major villain who slaughtered her way through the apocalypse, accidentally bonds with the young prince of the Underworld and gains a doting “dad.” She embarks on a journey of food, drink, fun, and cultivation across myriad worlds, on her way 12kReads8.9Score1kShelves

   Reader note

   These books all feature incredibly ruthless female protagonists. They're all powerful, empowering female leads who are the strongest and most invincible, completely overwhelming everyone, including the male lead. They settle scores on the spot, never letting them linger, and they wipe out entire families without hesitation, not even sparing a dog. [Admiration][Admiration]

9. 9 快 Quick Transmigration: The Wicked Beauty Only Eats the Good Stuff! 快穿恶美人只吃好的！ Lucky Carp Little Tianpeng锦鲤小天蓬Fantastical Romance486k WordsOngoing [No fixed pairing + one-on-one or multiple pairings + shrewd self-interest + powerful female lead + breathtaking beauty + female-lead fan + gods and demons + hedonistic sensualist + invincible + love at first sight + sweet and satisfying + wildly imaginative golden finger] [All male leads are virgins and devoted only to the female lead.] Ming Sheng's rule for life is to always put herself first. She loves herself most, and no one gets to make her suffer or feel wronged. She wants supreme power a 7.7kReads6.7Score814Shelves
10. 10 爽 What a Thrill! The Supreme Darkened Deity Conquers Every World and Raises a Harem 爽！顶级黑化神明全位面封神养鱼 Lucky Carp Little Tianpeng锦鲤小天蓬Female-Channel Fanfiction734k WordsOngoing [Film and TV Crossover] [Male Leads Who Only Fall for the Heroine] [All Male Leads Are Virgins] [Peerlessly Beautiful Villainess] [Power Fantasy with a Strong Female Lead] [Love at First Sight] [Secret Identities] [Gods] [Pocket Dimension] [Quick Transmigration + No Fixed Pairing + Original Heroine + Doesn't Follow the Plot + Heroine Is a Sophisticated Egoist + Woman-Centered + Never Chases Men + Never Bails Anyone Out + Indulgent Hedonist + Invincible + Wild Golden Finger Powers] Mingsheng, a m 6.3kReads6.8Score501Shelves
11. 11 综 Crossover Transmigration: The Background Character Had a Blast 综穿：路人甲吃爽玩爽了 Jiaojiao Like the Moon姣姣似月Female-Channel Fanfiction388k WordsOngoing [Crossover with films and dramas + Spirit Spring Space + Strong Female Lead + Stunning Beauty + Power Fantasy + Original Female Lead + Absolutely Self-Serving + No Fixed CP + System + Secret Identities and Beloved by All + Gradually Becomes Invincible + Decisive and Ruthless + Cold-Hearted and Merciless + Quick Transmigration + Apocalypse + Supernatural Horror + Villain’s White Moonlight + All Male Leads Are Virgins] [Love at First Sight + Male Leads Who Are Lovesick Only for the Female Lead + O 13kReads—Score577Shelves
12. 12 神 The Cannon Fodder She Raised Conquered the World 神明她培养的炮灰们征服了全世界 Jiaojiao Like the Moon姣姣似月Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Obsessive, lovesick characters + beloved heroine with multiple secret identities + urban supernatural powers + metaphysics + entertainment industry + super sweet romance, face-slapping] After one of the fallen gods of the Six Realms transmigrates into a book, she becomes a breakout star, takes the world by storm, and opens up a path to immortal cultivation. She crushes the heroine favored by destiny, wreaks havoc on the original heroine’s harem, and helps her cannon-fodder family and friends so 2kReads9.3Score265Shelves
13. 13 神 The Divine Doctor Is Gorgeous and Badass 神医大佬美又飒 Jiaojiao Like the Moon姣姣似月Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance with Both Leads Devoted to Each Other, Putting Scumbags in Their Place] A versatile powerhouse from the stars suddenly finds herself in the body of a pitiful young woman. She is drowning in debt and has a disabled older brother. No problem. She kicks street thugs to the curb, heals her brother, and has medical skills that are out of this world. She becomes the queen of the entertainment industry and tops the global rich list. Powerhouses from every walk of life check in on her and 671Reads9.3Score100Shelves
14. 14 恶 The Villainess Awakens and Slaughters Her Way Through the World, Defying Heaven 恶人女主觉醒杀疯天下毁天道 It's Yangyang是羊羊呦Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted Content warning: The heroine is a madwoman who holds grudges and is ruthless. (The story is entirely fictional. Don’t take it seriously, and it doesn’t represent the author’s values.) Only after being reborn for the third time did Ye Sangning learn that she was merely an NPC in a game, doomed to die the same miserable death in every life. Her loving parents, devoted older brother, and infatuated fiancé were all targeted by the woman chosen by the System. After that woman appeared, everyone who h 13.7kReads9.1Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The first of these two books features a female protagonist who is reborn with her memories intact. It's a pure original work with a time-traveling woman and a system. The white lotus and green tea characters are all things the female protagonist has already mastered. She kills anyone who has offended her, and everyone has the most suitable way to die. She kills her father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Everything the female protagonist does has a reason. She is neither a saint nor does she have a lapse in intelligence.

15. 15 都 Kill Them All. There's No Need to Act Normal 都杀了，做人没必要太正常 The Round-Headed, Round-Brained, Round-Bellied Tangerine圆头圆脑圆肚皮的橘子Ancient Romance339k WordsCompleted [Now being published; a motion comic is out. The heroine is invincible, no romance, no nation-building, plot-focused, with male characters who may die.] Guan Zhiwei is forced to transmigrate. Countless Systems bind themselves to her, promising to send her home once she completes their missions. They all turn out to be liars. Our unlucky heroine decides to take down this world. Starting with killing the male lead. As she takes out one romantic male lead after another, she leads her neighbors 57.7kReads9.6Score10kShelves
16. 16 半 Half Autumn Wind, Half Verse 半阙秋风半阙诗 User11112391用户11112391Ancient Romance271k WordsOngoing Transmigration, an alternate world, political intrigue... When Yun Shi first arrived in this world, she only wanted to watch from the sidelines. Later, she became part of the game and thought of using everything she had learned in her life to change the world. Even if one person's strength was tiny, she could still make a difference through her tireless efforts, even if only a little. She wanted to save her compatriots displaced by war, keep peaceful cities safe from its ravages, and ensure inno 329Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is incredibly ruthless, stronger than the male lead, surpassing him in every way, and she never falls in love with him...

17. 17 偷 After Overhearing the Mad Little Emperor's Thoughts, the Courtiers Went Berserk 偷听疯批小皇帝心声后群臣杀疯了 Feng Miao风淼Ancient Romance560k WordsCompleted [Court Officials Can Hear Her Thoughts + Dual Powers + No Romance] Lu Qing, a powerful wielder of two abilities in the apocalypse, transmigrated into a book. She became the deranged young emperor who loses her kingdom in a novel. The young emperor was cowardly and useless, gloomy and cruel, and even a woman disguised as a man! At court, ministers held the reins of power; beyond the borders, neighboring kingdoms watched like hungry wolves. Disasters struck one after another, and the people were l 7.7kReads9.2Score827Shelves

    Reader note

    Strong female lead, satisfying novel!

18. 18 末 A Doomsday Woman’s Soul Takes Over a Fake Heir, and the Prince Wants to Be Her Lover 末世女魂穿假嫡子王爷想断袖 This Fish Can't Swim这只鱼不会游Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Has a pocket dimension, no misunderstandings, sweet romance later on, torn between loyalty to family and country. Readers who see only black and white, proceed with caution. This is a fully hand-written novel.] In the fifth year of the apocalypse, Bai Yuqing had just finished stockpiling supplies when a sudden, extreme cold killed her in her apartment. She transmigrates into Bai Yiqing, the legitimate son of the emperor's favorite minister. And he's a fake legitimate son with no manhood! Since 1.1kReads8.9Score136Shelves
19. 19 明 I Could Easily Rely on My Martial Skills, but My Wife Insists on Using Her Brain 明明可以靠武力，娘子非要靠脑子 Kimchi Jar泡菜坛子Ancient Romance634k WordsCompleted [Modern woman in ancient times + transmigration with her body + love after marriage + sweet and satisfying] [A male lead who never stops rescuing his wife + a mindless heroine who kills at the slightest provocation] Jiu Yue, the greatest assassin of the twenty-second century, is blown off a cliff while carrying out a mission. With a splat, she lands in the backward Great Qi Dynasty. The wicked step-grandmother finds Ji Yiqing a wild girl she picked up and makes her his bride, hoping the marriage 36.4kReads9.4Score4.5kShelves
20. 20 救 Redemption? No! The Unhinged Heroine Only Wants Credit for Helping the Dragon Throne 救赎？不！疯批女主只要从龙功 Yu Jiudeng虞九灯Ancient Romance707k WordsCompleted Features a narrated audiobook version. [Female Disguise + Career-Focused Heroine + Reborn Romance-Focused Male Lead + Ancient-to-Ancient] The Calamity Emperor tells the story of a young man whose legs are broken, taking him from limitless glory to a life of abuse at everyone’s hands. Through endless hardship, he murders his father and younger brother and unifies a land torn apart by chaos in a tale of revenge. The story was nothing new, but Wen Muci loved it. She loved the proud, bright, gentle 7.2kReads9.3Score988Shelves
21. 21 贬 Demote the Wife to a Concubine? The Reborn Legitimate Daughter Wipes Out His Entire Family 贬妻为妾？重生嫡女嘎了他全家 Nanhuang南凰Ancient Romance308k WordsCompleted [Strong female and male leads + both leads' first and only love + satisfying reborn story + nation and family] She was a renowned female war god, formidable in battle and unmatched in strategy. After being reborn in the body of the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's household in the Great Yong, whose honor had been besmirched, her supposedly gentle and refined fiancé came to break off their engagement and demote her to a concubine. Every one of her relatives regarded her as a disgrace 28.9kReads9.3Score3.4kShelves
22. 22 快 Quick Transmigration: Everyone Knows I'm a Good Person 快穿：所有人都知道我是好人 Sweet Peach Peach Peach甜桃桃桃Modern Romance4.1M WordsOngoing Across three thousand small worlds, there are countless wicked women. Shu Jiao’s task is to make things right for the people whose lives were ruined by all kinds of wicked women. From then on... [World One: I’m a spendthrift? The nation will support me.] She’s kind, generous, patriotic, and beautiful. So what if she likes spending a little money? Let her have it! [World Two: The marquis’s daughter who lies all the time.] Lies? What lies? She’s so gentle and kind. How could she possibly lie? [Wor 130.2kReads9.4Score5.8kShelves

    Reader note

    This novel, "A Noble Lady from a Prestigious Family in a Male-Oriented Novel," fits the bill. The female lead is a true heiress from a prestigious family, incredibly ruthless! [Laughing][laughing][laughing] Her fiancé returns victorious with a boy, and the female lead, together with the time-traveling woman, takes down the male lead! [Laughing][laughing][laughing]

23. 23 金 The Golden Palace Locks Away the Spring Breeze 金阙锁春风 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance757k WordsCompleted Her entire family perished, she was left dependent on others, the dynasty fell, and she married and divorced. In just eighteen years, Yu Zheng has endured things most people never face in a lifetime. A noblewoman of the former dynasty, all she wants now is to stay alive. She plans to enter the palace as a maid, then use her literacy to earn a post as a court official and support herself. She never imagined that the new emperor would send her to the Fourth Prince’s residence as a gesture of goodw 21.6kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
24. 24 鬓 Hairpins and Beauty 鬓花颜 Peach Who Doesn't Slack Off桃子不摸鱼Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main story complete] [Maid + sisters in the inner palace + ensemble-focused story] [The heroine is a native of this world, with no transmigration, rebirth, or hidden identity] After her mother dies of illness, Meng Shu’s father takes a new wife almost at once. She endures years under her stepmother’s hand, but in the end, she cannot escape being sold. A trafficker’s rope drags her away from her homeland and casts her into the fabulously wealthy Tang household. Her exceptiona 35.4kReads9.2Score4.5kShelves
25. 25 将 The Bride-to-Be 将嫁 Echoes Linger for Three Days绕梁三日Ancient Romance287k WordsCompleted Three years ago, to pacify the western frontier, he married the daughter of the Governor-General of Yongzhou as his empress. But during his lifetime, he met Huo Shiying, the one and only woman of her kind, and the sole female general in the Great Yan dynasty. She doesn't know, and no one else does either, that he has followed her life for twenty whole years. When he was six, he first heard his mother and eldest sister mention her name, and wondered how a two-year-old girl could have been taken t 25kReads9.6Score3.3kShelves
26. 26 日 Drunk on the Road Home at Dusk 日暮醉归途 Mu Qiqi暮萋萋Ancient Romance2.2M WordsCompleted The cool, intelligent beauty Shui Qiaoyou, a general of the former dynasty, and the pure-hearted, reserved prince Chu Moli, a prince of the current dynasty Historical romance, no transmigration, no palace intrigue, no household drama, one-on-one romance, strong female lead. Shui Qiaoyou felt as though she’d merely fallen asleep. When she opened her eyes again, a hundred years had passed. Her homeland, family, and friends were like smoke, long since vanished into the river of time. Fate had left 13.8kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Two books by the same author that are both excellent are rare gems.

27. 27 明 Moonlight on Ice and Snow 明月照冰雪 Mu Qiqi暮萋萋Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted A crazy, formidable woman. General Shen Guizhou VS a prince who only wants romance. Prince Chen Muyi Shen Guizhou was once the young general of the Shen Army, which commanded 300,000 troops in the northern frontier. As her reputation grew, her family feared the emperor would discover that she was a woman disguised as a man and bring disaster upon her. After weighing their options, they sacrificed her. For the sake of peace in the north and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Shen Army, 5kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves
28. 28 爆 Hilarious Mind Reading: The Prince Eats Gossip Until He Throws Up 爆笑读心术，王爷吃瓜吃到吐 Young Master Lan公子兰Ancient Romance452k WordsCompleted Short drama adaptation: The Hilarious Mind-Reading Art: The Prince Laughs at Gossip Until He Chokes Manhua adaptation: The Princess's Inner Thoughts Are Full of Gossip, and the Prince Is Hooked; The Princess's Inner Thoughts Can't Be Hidden [Historical fantasy + mind-reading + gossip System + silly comedy + System space + sweet romance + feel-good revenge + transmigration to an alternate world + palace and household intrigue + devoted and powerful couple + marriage before love + healing a posses 23.7kReads9.1Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    Strong female lead, ancient romance, hilarious! ① Hilarious time travel, mind reading + gossip-loving prince laughs until his stomach hurts ② Hilarious time travel, female lead swaps bodies with demon lord, silly and funny ③ Hilarious goddess doctor transmigrates into a coffin to be buried with the war god prince ④ Strong female lead, refreshing novel with space, revenge against scumbags and career building, super satisfying ⑤ Hilarious mind reading, tyrant with two personalities, jealousy between each other, sweet and funny.

29. 29 救 Help! The Demon Lord and I Switched Bodies, and Now He's Carrying My Baby 救命！与魔尊互换后他怀了我的崽 Young Master Lan公子兰Ancient Romance525k WordsCompleted [Hilarious transmigration + System space + body swap + sweet romance + yandere + two powerful, devoted leads + everyone’s favorite + ensemble cast + multiple couples] Ye Pianpian accidentally transmigrates into a cultivation world and becomes the most miserable villainess in the Longevity Sect. The System tells her she has to win over the Demon Lord to survive, but she swaps bodies with him the moment she transmigrates. She breezes through the entrance test, becoming a genius girl who draws ever 828Reads7.4Score101Shelves
30. 30 陪 On the Night of My Burial, I Brought the God of War Prince Back from the Dead 陪葬夜，我让战神王爷起死回生 Young Master Lan公子兰Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Short drama adaptation: "A Doctor’s Graceful Colors" Animated adaptation: "A Doctor’s Graceful Colors: The Prince’s Beloved" [Hilarious + Transmigration + Sweet romance + Obsessive love + Devoted pairing + Imperial physician heroine + Palace and household intrigue + Inspirational] I was a military doctor with a PhD when I transmigrated, only to find myself about to be buried alive as a sacrifice for the dead God of War, the Prince? I grabbed the burial offerings and ran, planning to live in luxu 20.6kReads9.3Score2.4kShelves
31. 31 做 Be a Concubine? You're Not Worthy! I'll Find a Better Match, and You'll Beg Me to Stay 做妾？你也配？另谋高嫁你下跪 Young Master Lan公子兰Ancient Romance565k WordsCompleted This book is now available as a full-cast audio drama, and it’s hilarious! Give it a listen! [Hilarious Transmigration + Medical Space + Sweet, Satisfying Romance + Power Struggles + Palace and Household Intrigue + Mutual Devotion and Strength] A genius in medicine and poison transmigrates to ancient times with a medical space. She wakes up in a coffin, only to have a bewitching man try to steal it? Her ex-husband favors his concubine, abuses his wife, and shamelessly claims her dowry? Her fathe 5.6kReads8.9Score556Shelves
32. 32 有 With the Tyrant’s Mind-Reading Ability, I’m Slaying My Way Through the Imperial Palace 有了暴君读心术，我在皇宫杀疯了 Young Master Lan公子兰Ancient Romance384k WordsCompleted [Hilarious Transmigration + Historical Romance + Mind Reading + Pocket Space with a Spirit Spring + Healing a Yandere + Palace Intrigue and Power Struggles + Sweet, Devoted Romance + Medical Skills] Modern miracle doctor Ye Li dies suddenly and transmigrates, becoming the neglected consort of a deranged tyrant. The tyrant is a madman, a complete lunatic, and every night he goes on a killing spree. The original heroine is blinded by love and gullibly trusts Prince Jin's vows. She helps him kill t 272Reads6.5Score—Shelves
33. 33 青 The Green Satchel Returns 青囊归 The Absurd Zhang Somebody荒诞的张某某Ancient Romance327k WordsCompleted Wenren Nuan had died once. She died in the inferno at Tinglan Court, after her betrothed's letter breaking off their engagement, and through all the years when everyone thought she had “gone mad.” The one who shielded her from the flames in the end was a servant she had never once spared a proper glance. When she woke again, she was fifteen. The reeds by the cold pond were still white, the wind was still bitter, and the boy was still so thin that his spine showed through. This time, she was n 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Ice Queen is very powerful.

34. 34 巅 The Pinnacle of Imperial Power 巅峰皇权 Yin Yang Jing Hong阴阳惊鸿Ancient Romance693k WordsOngoing [Historical GB + both devoted to each other + Villain heroine + heroine disguises herself as a man early on + court and martial world + vying for the throne] Early: A double-personality, unhinged eunuch × a reborn, sweet-on-the-outside, dark-on-the-inside wicked man Later: An all-powerful ruler of the world × a spoiled, lovesick male consort Sima Ying, the crown prince of the previous dynasty. Her mother was killed at her birth, and her father treated her like a puppet. By ten, she had mastered 633Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient Chinese romance novel (GB), female protagonist has a dual personality (aloof and beautiful/wicked and eccentric). Both are cold-blooded and selfish. At the beginning, she is a scourge to the country and a tyrant who amasses wealth. On the surface, she is weak and powerless, but in reality, she is a top martial arts master who controls two major martial arts forces, one righteous and one evil. Her true identity is the former crown prince. Later, she ascends the throne and becomes the ruler of the world.

35. 35 刺 The Assassin Big Sister Is Back, and the Capital Is in for a Shake-Up 刺客姐姐回来了，京城要变天 Lotus Seeds and Longan莲子桂圆Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted [Strong female lead + satisfying revenge + political intrigue + wuxia style + humor + very little romance + memorable male supporting characters] From the moment she was born, Lü Shangen, the second branch’s young lady in the Hanlin Academy residence, was regarded by her grandmother as an ill omen. When she was just over a year old, she was sent far away. The servants responsible for raising her were greedy to the core. They pocketed the money meant for her upkeep, let their own daughter take Lü 7.8kReads8.9Score913Shelves

    Reader note

    Give this book a try. It's not highly rated, but it's a light read with a strong emphasis on the assassin genre. The female lead is intelligent and skilled in combat. It's a fast-paced, action-packed story, half court and half martial arts world. There's no time travel, no rebirth, no cheat codes, and no simplistic plot points. The story is tight and engaging, everyone is intelligent, and it's humorous and witty. It gets better with each chapter; you won't want to skip any chapters and will want to read until the very end.

36. 36 姑 Miss, Does a Little Cultivator Know How to Cultivate Immortality? Call Me Senior 姑娘？小修士懂修仙吗，叫我前辈 Coffee Chocolate咖啡朱古力Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Mortal cultivation + immortal cultivation + power progression + unrequited love turns mutual] Wei Yuan lived alone for eighteen years before learning that the world had another side: a wondrous, dazzling realm no ordinary person had ever seen. Without hesitation, he set off toward the unknown. Liang Wangshu was a prodigy even in the cultivation world, where talent was everywhere. She devoted herself entirely to the Dao, seeking only to ascend. In an illusion, she and Wei Yuan had once been husb 9.6kReads9.0Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Intelligent, with a strong will to follow the Dao, the female lead is a powerful and independent woman, super good-looking, and the male lead is also great.

37. 37 摄 Your Highness the Regent, Is Your Assassin Missing a Few Marbles? 摄政王殿下，你家杀手缺根筋！ Little Iron Leftover小铁剩Ancient Romance559k WordsCompleted After Jiu Yue died, the System told her that once she completed her mission, she could return to the real world with a reward of ten billion. Jiu Yue, who had been grumbling about her identity as an assassin, smiled sweetly. “Who says transmigrating is a bad thing? This is amazing!” However, a time-space delay kept the System from transmigrating with her, and it hadn't had time to explain the mission in full. But Jiu Yue didn't think that mattered. She was an assassin, after all. How hard could 38.2kReads9.4Score4.9kShelves

    Reader note

    1️⃣ The female lead is a bit slow on the uptake at the beginning, but her fighting skills are unparalleled. The male lead orders her to kill a dog, and she actually does it. 🤭 On their wedding night, the female lead is fearless in the face of death. The male lead laughs at her, saying that a wine cup is easier to wield than a knife. 2️⃣ The female lead is a natural-born killer, like a blank sheet of paper. She kills her own old palace master and becomes the new one. What goes around comes around; the female lead takes her own antidote and runs away, only to be caught by the male lead. Dasheng Kingdom, Dizang Palace. "Little... Little Seventeen, you've grown up. You dare to kill your master! Your master hasn't taught you in vain!" Feng Louyu's face shows manic praise!

38. 38 妄 Daring to Break Off a Charming Branch 妄折一枝妩 Ashes Mixed with Toilet Paper烟灰拌卷筒纸Ancient Romance513k WordsCompleted [Strong heroine] [No making the hero even stronger than the heroine] [Heroine serves as the hero's bodyguard] [Historical setting] [Female physician] [A top-tier powerhouse from her very first appearance] [The heroine has unmatched combat skills] [Both leads are faithful in body and heart; the author knows exactly what that means, so keep reading.] [Older woman-younger man romance] She was imprisoned in the Earth Store Palace for ten years. It was hell. To survive, she killed without mercy. At t 14.3kReads9.2Score1.6kShelves
39. 39 做 Abandoned as a Concubine, She Turns Around and Takes Command of a Hundred Thousand Troops 做小妾被弃，她转身手握十万大军 Taishi Ying太史婴Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [A beauty bent on rebellion, a menace who wreaks havoc vs. an ethereal beauty who leaves everyone in the dust, the undisputed champion of male rivalry; her aloof, clear-headed brother-in-law falls into passion; her ex, who hates her with a passion, becomes the third party for love; one-on-one ending] Su Wantang is breathtakingly beautiful, yet born a lowly concubine’s daughter. To climb the social ladder, she acts as a surrogate for her elder half-sister, the heir’s wife, and dumps her fiancé af 32.3kReads9.1Score5.1kShelves
40. 40 寂 The Lonely Spring in an Empty Courtyard Comes Late 寂寞空庭春欲晚 Fei Wo Si Cun匪我思存Ancient Romance172k WordsCompleted A duet of flute and reed instruments brings about a tangled romance in a golden age. In the spring of the eighteenth year of the Kangxi reign, the emperor traveled to Baoding for a hunting expedition. That night, Nalan Rongruo, a palace guard who had accompanied the emperor, heard him play “Moonrise” on an iron reed. From a spot far from the camp, someone played along on a flute. Nalan recognized the flutist as Linlang, his cousin, who had been taken into the palace. He could not help showing hi 1.3kReads9.3Score226Shelves
41. 41 宠 He Spoiled His Concubine and Neglected His Wife. Reborn, I Broke Off My Engagement to the Scumbag and Married the Prince 宠妾灭妻，重生我退婚渣男嫁王爷 Zhi Zhi之知Ancient Romance640k WordsCompleted The physical book is available on all major platforms. Formerly titled Riding the Phoenix. [Reborn + Powerful Female Lead and Male Lead + Nation and World + Political Schemes] Before the age of seventeen, Shen Yu was the legitimate daughter of a military family who could wield a blade and charge into battle. After seventeen, she became the frail wife of Jiang Manor's Vice Minister Jiang. Her father and brothers died in battle, and the entire Shen family was honored for their loyalty. Bearing 90.8kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves
42. 42 与 Joy with You 与君欢 Moonset月落Ancient Romance657k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] A young king and queen join hands to bring peace to the realm, brimming with ambition! A sinister, calculating ruler versus a clever, decisive queen: evenly matched, they win the world together! Jiang He, daughter of an envoy from Qi, was forced to enter the palace as a servant after her mother died and her father disappeared. Then, just before the marriage alliance, the princess of Qi died a tragic death, leaving 27kReads9.5Score3.5kShelves
43. 43 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 88.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead diligently served as a tool in the Empress Dowager's hands in order to escape the palace. The male lead stumbled upon her and intervened, thus beginning their ill-fated relationship. The female lead's attempts to escape were thwarted by the male lead each time. The two reached an agreement by using their child as leverage and compromising on their own. The female lead was cunning and resourceful in her pursuit of status; she was not the first, nor would she be the last. Love could sustain her indefinitely, making her spoiled and pampered.

44. 44 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 87.8kReads9.3Score12.8kShelves
45. 45 谈 Explosives Under the Negotiation Table: The Young Lady Storms the Imperial Court 谈判桌下埋火药，大小姐入朝杀疯 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The heroine’s creed: Power and money are what let a woman live freely and boldly!] [Strong heroine + satisfying story + vying for the finest men in the realm] Jiang Yu thought she’d be content with a modestly comfortable life. But when she turned eighteen, one ridiculous twist after another came her way. First, the husband she had supported with her own money for years passed the imperial exams at the top of his class, then demanded a divorce so he could marry a noblewoman. Then the Duke’s mans 37.9kReads9.2Score5.5kShelves

    Reader note

    It's really good-looking.

46. 46 谁 Whose Favored Concubine Doesn't Get Herself Killed? 谁家宠妾不作死啊 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Pei Shiyuan had always thought that, as a concubine-born daughter, she thrived at her family home because she knew a little tea ceremony and all she had to do was flatter her father, the head of the household. She had been quite pleased with herself about it, right up until she entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The Eighth Prince’s mother, the Noble Consort, was so favored that the Empress had no room to stand. His maternal family wielded so much power that the court officials could barely b 78.9kReads9.5Score8kShelves
47. 47 快 Quick Transmigration: The Host Is the Big Boss of the Big Bosses 快穿：宿主她是大佬界的扛把子 Mu Shiqi暮十七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [No romance] [Strong female lead] [Quick Transmigration] System: Dear Host, could you please try to focus just a little while doing your missions? Ming Li glanced at the System. “I’ll consider it.” System: ... The System cried itself unconscious in the space. Weren’t Hosts supposed to get along lovingly with their Systems? Weren’t they all supposed to complete their missions with enthusiasm? Watching its Host dominate every plane, the System felt like the world had no love left in it. Then, one 9.9kReads9.0Score810Shelves

    Reader note

    Faced with the villain's pleas for mercy, the female lead says, "I'll consider it." She teaches him a lesson entirely with her martial arts skills; ruthless and devoid of desire, only pure enjoyment!

48. 48 太 Crown Princess, You’ve Been Faking Your Love for Two Lifetimes! 太子妃，她骗宠了两辈子！ Encounter遇见Ancient Romance360k WordsCompleted [A villainess takes the legal wife's place + faithful to each other + stopping at nothing to achieve her goals + ensemble cast of powerful women + both reborn] Merchants prize profit and are skilled at scheming. As for me, Qian Yueshu, I'm among the very best at it all. In my previous life, I was a concubine, yet I schemed to make the Crown Prince lose his virginity to me. I entered his household five years before the Crown Princess. After that, I fought and clawed my way forward, bearing his 4.6kReads7.2Score226Shelves
49. 49 趁 While Her Husband Is Still Green, the Young Wife Turns on the Charm 趁夫君青涩，娘子她花式开撩 Encounter遇见Ancient Romance662k WordsCompleted [Both leads are each other’s first and only love + married first, fall in love later + all kinds of flirting + knows how to keep her husband in line + says the sweetest things while striking with the sharpest knife] In her previous life, after marrying into the Duke of Zhenguo’s household, she was exhausted every day. She had to get up at three in the morning to serve her mother-in-law, constantly find ways to please her sister-in-law, and put up with her several sisters-in-law hitting her up fo 9.8kReads8.5Score828Shelves
50. 50 主 The Matriarch Found the Book of Life and Death and Asked, Chin in Hand: Who Dies First? 主母捡来生死簿，托腮问：谁先死 A 1cm, 1kg Skinny Person1cm1kg的瘦子Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Completed + strong female lead + no CP + takes down scumbags + never lets a grudge go unanswered] Luoyiyi, mistress of the Marquis of Pingyuan’s household, died. Then she came back to life. But the one who returned wasn’t her. It was a fearsome woman who had transmigrated from the apocalypse. A mere maid tries to kill her? She turns around and takes her out with one slash! An old nanny tries to kill her? No discussion needed, she takes her out too! Anyone who wants her dead is getting taken out 2.5kReads8.5Score381Shelves

    Reader note

    Having just transmigrated and nearly killed, Luo Yiyi was furious. Whoever tried to kill her, she'd kill them! The Black and White Impermanence came to collect the corpse, but accidentally dropped the Book of Life and Death. Luo Yiyi picked it up, a wicked smile on her face.

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