Looking for Short Historical Angst Novels (The More Heartbreaking, the Better) ＃求短篇古风虐文（超虐的那种）

1. 101 捡 I Took in a Foolish Prince as My Live-In Son-in-Law 捡个傻王爷做赘婿 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫Ancient Romance35k WordsCompleted I Picked Up a Foolish Prince to Be My Live-In Son-in-Law 9Reads—Score—Shelves
2. 102 暗 Dark Night Emperor 暗夜帝君 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫53k WordsCompleted The Dark Night Emperor 8Reads—Score—Shelves
3. 103 穿 I Transmigrated Into My Own Fantasy Novel: I'm the Creator, What Do I Have to Fear? 穿进自己的玄幻小说：我是造物主我怕谁 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫74k WordsCompleted I Transmigrated Into My Own Xianxia Novel: I'm the Creator, Who Should I Fear? 2Reads—Score—Shelves
4. 104 他 He Is the Calamity I Can’t Escape 他是我躲不过的劫 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫Ancient Romance25k WordsCompleted He Is the Fate I Can’t Escape 2Reads—Score—Shelves
5. 105 冤 Foes Have a Way of Crossing Paths 冤家路宽 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫Ancient Romance23k WordsCompleted Fated to Be Rivals 1Reads—Score—Shelves
6. 106 视 Judge of the Vision 视界判官 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫46k WordsCompleted Judge of the Visual Realm —Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 107 终 In the End, She Married Someone Else 终嫁他人 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫10k WordsCompleted In the End, She Married Someone Else 81Reads—Score—Shelves
8. 108 最 The Last Page: It Hurts So Much! 最后一页：我好疼！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀9k WordsCompleted The Last Page: It Hurts So Much! 47Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   There are historical romance novels with angst.

9. 109 青 Little Fox of Qingqiu: A Millennium of Cultivation, Reduced to Ash in a Day! 青丘小狐：千年修行，一朝成灰！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀8k WordsCompleted The Little Fox of Qingqiu: A Thousand Years of Cultivation, Reduced to Ash in a Single Day! 90Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 110 笔 A Nation Ruined by the Author's Pen 笔下亡国 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Marriage & Romance10k WordsCompleted A Fallen Kingdom, Written Into Being 117Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 111 精 A Psychiatric Patient Wrote Me Ten Rules 精神病人给我写了十条规则 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀10k WordsCompleted A Psychiatric Patient Wrote Ten Rules for Me 4Reads—Score—Shelves
12. 112 碎 Broken Kisses! 碎吻！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀16k WordsCompleted Broken Kiss! 17Reads—Score—Shelves
13. 113 风 A Mute Love in Wind and Snow 风雪哑恋 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Modern Romance11k WordsCompleted A Mute Love Amid Wind and Snow 209Reads—Score—Shelves
14. 114 清 Old Stories of Qingxi 清溪旧事 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀7k WordsCompleted Old Stories of Qingxi 24Reads—Score—Shelves
15. 115 黄 The Yellow River's Mandarin Ducks 黄河鸳鸯 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀9k WordsCompleted The Yellow River’s Star-Crossed Lovers 12Reads—Score—Shelves
16. 116 他 The Night Before His College Entrance Exam, My Heart Stopped 他高考前夜，我心脏停了 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀10k WordsCompleted The Night Before His College Entrance Exam, My Heart Stopped 2.1kReads—Score—Shelves
17. 117 我 After I Died, All That Came Out Was a Lifetime of Sobs! 我死后，说出来的是一生的呜咽！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀9k WordsCompleted After I Died, All That Came Out Was a Lifetime of Sobs! 68Reads—Score—Shelves
18. 118 废 A Glimmer of Light in the Wasteland! 废土微光！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀11k WordsCompleted A Glimmer in the Wasteland! 57Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 119 他 By the Time He Returned, I Was Gone 他归来时，我已不在 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀7k WordsCompleted By the time he returned, I was already gone 21Reads—Score—Shelves
20. 120 雪 Snow Festival! 雪祭！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Ancient Romance7k WordsCompleted Snow Festival! 104Reads—Score—Shelves
21. 121 我 Ten Years After My Death, He Dug Up My Body in a Mass Grave 我死后十年，他在乱葬岗挖我尸体 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Ancient Romance7k WordsCompleted Ten years after I died, he dug up my body from the mass grave 708Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 122 他 By the Time He Kissed Me, I Was Already Cold 他吻我时，我已冰冷 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Ancient Romance9k WordsCompleted He kissed me when I was already cold. 221Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 123 雪 A Beauty Buried in Snow! 雪葬红颜！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Modern Romance10k WordsCompleted Snow Buries the Beauty! 173Reads—Score—Shelves
24. 124 两 Two Critical Condition Notices, One Boat Ticket, and an Elopement with No Tomorrow! 两张病危通知书，一张船票，和一场没有明天的私奔！ A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀9k WordsCompleted Two critical condition notices, one boat ticket, and an elopement with no tomorrow! 703Reads—Score—Shelves
25. 125 我 I’m His Third Substitute 我是他的第三个替身 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀9k WordsCompleted I’m His Third Replacement 112Reads—Score—Shelves
26. 126 他 He Traded Heart for Heart 他以心换心 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀7k WordsCompleted He Repays Heart with Heart 715Reads—Score—Shelves
27. 127 神 Divine-Grade 神品 A Single Spirit Shines Alone一灵独耀Eastern Fantasy691k WordsCompleted Three Law Secret Realms have appeared in the underground city of the East Sea, sparking a fierce scramble among countless factions. The reason is that the protagonist possesses the divine ability to make his words come true! He can complete alchemy and artifact crafting with just a thought. And since he also has an immortal artifact, he joins the competition for the secret realms! 398Reads—Score—Shelves
28. 128 月 A Moonlit Wish 月明愿 I'm Duoduo我是朵朵吖Ancient Romance108k WordsCompleted [Tragic historical romance with a bad ending, slow start and strong payoff] [Those who love each other may not end up together, and those who do may not truly love each other] [In this world, perhaps the hardest things to obtain are not money and power] [The hardest thing to find is a heart that never changes] Preface: A thousand years ago, the realm was divided in two. The Celestial Dynasty and the Southern Wu Dynasty each claimed half the territory. Fearing the military might of Southern Wu, 155Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You absolutely must read these ancient-style angst novels! [Crying][crying][crying]

29. 129 官 The Story of Guan Xi 官禧传 I'm Duoduo我是朵朵吖Ancient Romance131k WordsCompleted [Court intrigue + love and hate intertwined + sweet yet angsty romance] The long-awaited wedding she had looked forward to with all her heart turned out to be a trap set long ago by the man she loved. Overnight, her entire family was slaughtered. For Guan Xi, it was a devastating blow. The love that had seemed so pure was, it turned out, full of lies and deception. Sometimes I wonder if these words can truly tell the whole story of Guan Xi’s life. There is a quiet resilience about Guan Xi. She l 99Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 130 易 Yi Xun Is Hard to Find 易洵难寻 I'm Duoduo我是朵朵吖Ancient Romance99k WordsCompleted Love is like a mountain spring, its gentle current winding all the way to Jiangnan. [Though I know your heart is true, I cannot find you. I hope you will turn back again and ease this longing of mine.] Qi Wan, an illegitimate daughter of the Qi family in Jiangnan, has been overlooked since childhood. She has no interest in business and only wants to live out her life in peace and freedom. Then Yi Xun appears and changes everything. He teaches Qi Wan the ways of business and stays by her side day 44Reads—Score—Shelves
31. 131 权 The Game of Power 权栖戏 I'm Duoduo我是朵朵吖Ancient Romance126k WordsCompleted [Political Intrigue ✖️ Spycraft ✖️ Forced Love] [Scheming Against Each Other ✖️ Saving Each Other] The world is unpredictable, and fate can change in an instant. Yan Lepei, the daughter of Yancheng’s lord, is forced to conceal her identity and infiltrate the Quanqi Pavilion as a spy. Shao Quan, master of the Quanqi Hall, is calculating, powerful, and scornful of all things. Yet he cannot help falling in love with his own pawn. Shao Quan: “She is the most capable weapon in my hand, and the person 32Reads—Score—Shelves
32. 132 发 The Day I Found Out My Dad Was Cheating with Her Mom, I Finally Gave Up on Jiang Xu 发现我爸出轨她妈那天，我彻底不要江叙了 Writing Every Day岁岁码字13k WordsCompleted The day I found out my dad was cheating with her mom, I was done with Jiang Xu for good. —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's so heart-wrenching, you have to go watch it, it's great, great!

33. 133 团 My Little Cousin Tuanzi: The Heir Called Me Disgusting, Then Stood Beneath My Window All Night 团子表妹：世子骂我恶心，却在我窗下站了一夜 Writing Every Day岁岁码字14k WordsCompleted My Little Cousin: The Heir Called Me Disgusting, Yet Stood Beneath My Window All Night —Reads—Score—Shelves
34. 134 臣 I Was Meant to Be Empress 臣妾本为后 Writing Every Day岁岁码字11k WordsCompleted I Was Meant to Be Empress 4Reads—Score—Shelves
35. 135 我 I Finally Stopped Loving You, but the Prince Went Mad 我终于不再爱你了，但是王爷疯了 Jian Tong简瞳Ancient Romance7k WordsCompleted I Finally Stopped Loving You, but the Prince Went Mad 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    They were childhood sweethearts, but fate played a cruel trick on them, turning them into bitter enemies. Their broken relationship could never be mended, causing immense heartache and physical torment.

36. 136 皇 The Empress Leaped to Her Death, and the Mad Tyrant Wept Until His Eyes Were Red 皇后纵身一跃，疯批暴君哭红了眼 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance635k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, devoted couple + palace intrigue + regretful pursuit, clear-headed heroine, everyone's unattainable ideal] Meng Tang is a gracious, gentle empress who never competes for favor. Everyone thinks she is a true white lotus standing tall in the harem, and even the tyrant believes it. He takes a new concubine, and she smiles, congratulates him, and arranges for the newcomer to spend the night with him. He sends her restorative medicine, and she obediently takes it, knowing full we 22kReads9.3Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Empress Meng Tang, gentle and kind, was like a pure lotus in the imperial harem. When the tyrant took a concubine, she greeted her with a smile and even arranged for her to spend the night with him; when he sent her a contraceptive, she silently drank it. When the tyrant suffered a splitting headache, she even took her own heart's blood to soothe his pain. The tyrant was bewildered: "How could you be so kind?" She softly replied, "To relieve Your Majesty's worries is my blessing." However, the rebel army suddenly arrived, besieging the city. Meng Tang resolutely leaped from the city wall. Her figure fell gracefully, seemingly frail yet resolute, sacrificing herself for the city. In that instant, the city's people were moved by her virtue, the army's morale soared, and the rebellion was quelled. Only her beautiful name remained, to be praised by the world for eternity.

37. 137 渡 Guide Me into the Mortal World 渡我入凡尘 Always Croaking一直呱呱Ancient Romance282k WordsCompleted [Powerful, high-ranking hero ➕ possessive second male lead ➕ insecure, devoted third male lead ➕ one heroine and three men ➕ romantic rivalry ➕ political intrigue ➕ faked death ➕ bad ending] Little white lotus Lu Fan: “I won't let down those who love me. But I won't forgive those who hurt and used me, either. I bore the children you wanted, but none of you will raise them yourselves! Xiao Yanchen, the child you helped ascend the throne is mine and Zhou Yuheng's. Xia Xiuyuan, the child you appoin 66Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    He knew that Lu Fan's death was definitely because of Zhou Yuheng. Her brother had killed the man she loved, and Lu Fan couldn't forgive him. She also didn't want to stay in Da Xia. Her only option was death... Only death could bring her relief...

38. 138 烬 Ashen Bones, Passionate Embrace 烬骨合欢 Yu Yuan钰芫Ancient Romance150k WordsCompleted I still remember the years when we were children, laughing and talking without end, close as we played in the courtyard with its swings. We shared sour plums, and leaned together by the pine-framed window through many a spring. Now each of us has grown old in a different corner of the world, yet still searches for warmth on the page. Sometimes I turn to the verses on red leaves, and we look at each other, recalling old tearstains. The first ten years of Jiang Wanqing’s life were blissfully happy 198Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The once high and mighty princess, a golden branch and jade leaf, was treated like a commodity, picked and sold at will. She was humiliated and displayed to the public without anyone showing her any pity. She abandoned her dignity and integrity, and lived a life of ignominy, washing blood with blood.

39. 139 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 50.6kReads9.7Score7.4kShelves

    Reader note

    There's bound to be one that suits you! [Please follow][Please follow][Please follow] 📖A collection of 20 individual stories, depicting heart-wrenching entanglements that ultimately end in heartbreak. Two people who clearly love each other drift further and further apart. [Crying][crying][crying] 📖Stories where only one person remains are even more suffocating. One wrong step leads to another, resulting in total defeat. Watching the person you love most marry someone else. [Bump][bump][bump]

40. 140 他 He Turned Me into a Blind Woman 他把我变成了盲女 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫26k WordsCompleted He Turned Me into a Blind Woman 979Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient Chinese romance novels with angst and twists, the kind where knives fly everywhere—I can't handle that! [Facepalm]

41. 141 出 The Day After I Returned from a Business Trip, My Mom Killed Herself 出差回来第二天，我妈自杀了 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫21k WordsCompleted The Day After I Got Back from a Business Trip, My Mom Took Her Own Life 35Reads—Score—Shelves
42. 142 他 He Got Together with His "Buddy," So I Chose to Walk Away 他跟“哥们”好上了，我选择退出 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫9k WordsCompleted He Got Together with His "Buddy," So I Chose to Walk Away 41Reads—Score—Shelves
43. 143 飞 The Canary That Flew Away 飞走的金丝雀 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫18k WordsCompleted The Canary That Flew Away 135Reads—Score—Shelves
44. 144 第 The Seventh Artifact 第七件藏品 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫20k WordsCompleted The Seventh Artifact 18Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    High-quality, angst-inducing novels are coming! The first one will pierce your heart; it might cause angina. Enter at your own risk.

45. 145 魂 Lost in a Trance 魂不守舍 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫Mystery19k WordsCompleted Distraught 26Reads—Score—Shelves
46. 146 不 I Don't Want Your Love, Just Your Life 不要你的爱，只要你的命 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫16k WordsCompleted I Don’t Want Your Love, Just Your Life 47Reads—Score—Shelves
47. 147 我 My Son Is a Vampire 我的儿子是吸血鬼 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫10k WordsCompleted My Son Is a Vampire 3Reads—Score—Shelves
48. 148 遗 Behind the Will 遗嘱背后 Eighteen Is My Cat十八是我的猫18k WordsCompleted What Lies Behind the Will 9Reads—Score—Shelves
49. 149 第 The Nineteenth Birthday Gift 第十九件生辰礼 Spring Sleep Knows No Late春眠不觉晚9k WordsCompleted The Nineteenth Birthday Gift 11Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A microcosm of a group, with a twist. No one died, yet a heavy feeling lingers in my heart—perhaps this is what it means to be slowly scalded… "The nineteenth birthday gift is to wish you all your dreams come true." "Since you have achieved your wish, then so have I."

50. 150 朱 Cinnabar Etched into My Bones 《朱砂烙骨》 Rain Guest of Startling Beauty惊鸿雨客Ancient Romance14k WordsCompleted Cinnabar Branded on the Bone 62Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    💔 To save my beloved and sisters, I was forced to marry my enemy, only to be hated to the core by them. I was reborn as the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister of the Great Yan Dynasty, a child prodigy at seven, the most talented woman in the Great Yan at fourteen, and the richest woman in the land at sixteen. Yet, at eighteen, the year I was to marry the Crown Prince, I was caught in a conspiracy and forced to marry the Crown Prince's elder brother. The world condemned me for my vanity and betrayal of my childhood sweetheart; even my best sister saw me as an enemy. But no one knew—on the day of my wedding, I saved everyone's lives! 📖 "Cinnabar Brand" How does a reborn empress become the most heartbroken player in a game of chess? She poured everything into raising an army of 300,000 in the Northern Frontier, only to have it ultimately betray her! "I never betrayed anyone; I simply bore the entire truth alone."

Other lists with I Took in a Foolish Prince as My Live-In Son-in-Law