Looking for Palace Intrigue Novels Where the Heroine Never Loves the Emperor 求女主从始至终都不爱皇帝的宫斗文

1. 1 宫 A Palace Maid’s Daily Struggles 宫女奋斗日常 Phantom Beneath the Moon月下幻影Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ling Huan has skin as smooth as ice and looks like a goddess, yet she has no interest in power and thinks only of leaving the palace. In the end, neither she nor her child meets a good end. Given another chance, her goal is to raise her child well and become Empress Dowager herself. A palace-intrigue story with a strong female lead. The heroine is ruthless and clever. A thoroughly satisfying read. 6kReads9.2Score853Shelves

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   The female protagonist is reborn and has never loved the emperor. She rose from a palace maid to the position of empress.

2. 2 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 21.8kReads9.3Score2.1kShelves

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   Hehe, where's our Tang Jie? The female lead doesn't love the emperor, but she's a good actress and pretends to like him all the time. No system, no cheat codes. Leaning towards comedy. The male lead suffers a lot. The female lead suffers physically, but most of it is a self-inflicted injury to gain the emperor's favor. Currently being serialized, the plot is okay, but it's already reached the point where the male lead suffers. Judging from the synopsis, the female lead won't fall in love with the male lead; it's a tragic ending.

3. 3 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves

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   Completed! Highly rated book!! [Already added to my wishlist] A wise man doesn't fall in love, and the imperial concubine doesn't want to take responsibility. I love it so much 😘 A chronicle of palace gossip. How did I end up as Empress through all this gossip? 😳 A joyous spring. A 1v1 story in a matriarchal world, I love my husband so much 🥰

4. 4 后 Tales of Palace Gossip 后宫八卦记事 Big Cigar大雪茄Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted Life in the palace can be a little dull, but the things that happen among the imperial consorts make Shi Tian positively giddy. First, may the harem keep welcoming new consorts. Second, may the consorts all end up at each other’s throats. Third, may I always have the best seat for the gossip! Unexpectedly, Shi Tian ends up following the gossip all the way to the end, and becomes empress herself. 201Reads8.5Score—Shelves
5. 5 今 The Joys of Spring 今春乐事浓 Lone Wild Goose on the Mountain山抹孤鸿Ancient Romance250k WordsCompleted Synopsis: Yang Lele, who has transmigrated into another body, is horrified to discover that she has become more than a decade younger. With soft, fair skin and the bloom of youth, she barely has time to adjust before one unexpected event after another strikes. Not only has she landed in ancient times, but she has also arrived in a world where men vastly outnumber women, making her a national treasure. She finds it all extremely hard to get used to. In this world of male supremacy, the brutal fiv 593Reads8.7Score—Shelves
6. 6 深 Schemes in the Inner Palace 深宫筳上谋 I Want to Win Your Heart意挽卿Ancient Romance276k WordsOngoing Slow burn + everyday life + no golden finger + ensemble cast, multiple female leads Only she knows how hard the climb from the bottom to the top was. The new emperor of the Da Qing dynasty ascended the throne. At eighteen, Xu Jingfei entered the palace as a fifth-rank consort and was assigned Guangyang Hall, the most remote part of Changle Palace. Her allowance was skimmed, and she never received her full monthly stipend. While the other consorts vied for favor, she crouched by the back window, 20Reads—Score100Shelves

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   The female protagonist in this book only wants to survive, and to live a long life; she just wants to live her own life well.

7. 7 成 On Our Wedding Night, the Obsessive Crown Prince Took Me to the Eastern Palace 成亲当晚，偏执太子夺我入东宫 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted The aloof, possessive Crown Prince × the dazzling beauty who loves money Everyone in the Eastern Palace knows that the Crown Princess was snatched away from someone else by the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince, as elegant as jade and as clear as moonlight, fell into the sea of love, there was no climbing back out. He Yue transmigrated to ancient times and became the owner of a rouge shop. She wasn’t rich or powerful, but her life was peaceful and carefree. Then one day, the woman she liv 35kReads9.0Score2.7kShelves

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   The male lead is the crown prince who is ambushed and injured, ending up among the common people. The female lead is a modern-day transmigrator who claims to be a widow and runs a cosmetics shop. She has no romantic feelings for the male lead; she only saves him because she suspects he has an extraordinary background and fears offending him. However, after returning to the capital, the male lead becomes obsessed with her and goes so far as to forcibly take her on her wedding day… (She opens her eyes to find herself carried back to the Eastern Palace by the obsessive crown prince.)

8. 8 生 Have a Child! Get a Raise! Become Empress Dowager! 生子！加薪！当太后！ Wangshu and Xihe望舒共羲和Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + A Heroine Who Treats the Concubine Harem as a Career and Becomes Empress Dowager + Support-Only System + Lighthearted Daily Life] One day, Xunzhen transmigrates into the body of a concubine-in-waiting and is utterly apprehensive. The harem is a place where those with low status have no say over their lives, while those with high status become targets for everyone. So she can only set herself one goal: climb to the rank of consort and at least make it into midd 14.1kReads8.7Score875Shelves

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   This is a palace intrigue novel. The female protagonist transmigrates into the body of a prospective imperial concubine, treating the palace like a workplace and the emperor like her boss. She's very clear-headed and climbs the ranks step by step. She's neither idiotic nor brainless. It has palace intrigue as well as lighthearted daily life moments. In the end, the female protagonist becomes the Empress Dowager. Highly recommended! 💕💕💕

9. 9 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

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   The premise is a time-travel novel. The female lead consistently strives towards her goals, treating the male lead as her superior. Even without him, she considers the worst-case scenario to ensure her safety. She manages to capture the male lead's heart, ensuring his frequent favors, while also considering the bigger picture and allowing him to favor other concubines. She skillfully manipulates the male lead.

10. 10 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 118kReads9.5Score11.2kShelves
11. 11 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 56.9kReads9.5Score7.1kShelves

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    The female lead is a skilled actress and cunning strategist; the male lead is completely fooled. A very satisfying read! 👍👍

12. 12 演 I Played the Emperor My Whole Life, and After Being Reborn, He Still Wants the Crown Prince 演了皇上一辈子，重生他还要太子 One Little Sweet Fish一口小甜鱼Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Original title: Only After His Death Did He Learn That the Empress Did Not Want to Be Buried With Him [The heroine transmigrates, the hero is reborn] As he lay dying, Emperor Tianhe looked back on his eventful life. He had risen from humble beginnings to become the founding emperor, and the world praised his achievements. In his fading consciousness, he saw his virtuous empress, his beautiful consorts, and his weeping children. He felt that his life had been complete. But after he died, his soul 31.7kReads8.9Score2.3kShelves

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    I'll never like it in either of my two lifetimes.

13. 13 宫 A Palace Maid's Daily Life: My Parents Want Me to Be a Couch Potato 宫女日常：爹娘让我当咸鱼 Yu Tangluo玉糖萝Ancient Romance699k WordsCompleted Hang Jiayanxin was a bondservant of the Plain White Banner and a court-appointed royal service worker. She entered the palace at thirteen and would leave at twenty-five. For twelve years in the palace, she kept her parents' advice in mind: be a good-for-nothing fish, and hang on until it's time to leave. But the towering palace before her was like a massive vessel, bearing endless power and desire. Once she pushed open those heavy doors, she stepped onto a path from which there was no turning ba 5.4kReads9.1Score571Shelves

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    Both of these books feature female protagonists who don't love the emperor. They depict palace intrigue from the female protagonist's perspective, and one features a time traveler who lives an ordinary yet extraordinary life. Highly recommended!

14. 14 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1kShelves
15. 15 贵 The Delicate, Soft-Bodied Imperial Consort Turns Her Obsessive Emperor into a Devoted Puppy 贵妃身娇体软，偏执帝王变身忠犬 Tang Ling sally棠泠sallyAncient Romance385k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Unreasonable, Exclusive Devotion + Scheming Green-Tea Heroine + Obsessive, Love-Struck Hero] In the first year of Yongzhao, the new emperor ascended the throne and issued an edict summoning the former crown prince's betrothed concubine to serve in the palace. The world could not understand it, and the court historian condemned him, but Xiao Yu remained determined. * Yun Miao had seen the harshness of the world from a young age. All she wanted was wealth, status, and supreme po 2kReads8.8Score208Shelves

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    This is so good! The female lead initially pursues power and her family, but gradually falls in love with the male lead. It's incredibly good! After the male lead discovers he's been deceived by the female lead, he even imprisons her!

16. 16 庄 Consort Zhuang Won’t Fight for Favor; She Just Wants to Raise Kids and Take It Easy! 庄妃不宫斗，只想养娃和咸鱼！ Qingqiu Lily青丘铃兰Ancient Romance847k WordsCompleted [No palace intrigue + no golden finger + the male lead might as well not exist] Su Yuanyuan transmigrated, and not only that, she transmigrated into the body of someone in the middle of giving birth. As she lamented her miserable fate, she still had to cooperate with the midwife and deliver the baby. Only after the baby arrived, bawling, did she finally manage to absorb the original owner's memories. She had transmigrated into the body of a consort in the harem of a kingdom called Canglan. She d 123Reads6.5Score—Shelves

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    The female lead doesn't compete for the emperor's favor; she only wants to live a peaceful life in the harem, raising her children and caring for her old age.

17. 17 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 68.4kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves

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    "Shen Wei, listen to my advice, don't become the prince's concubine." "I heard the prince has incredible stamina; no concubine can handle him." The voices around her were too loud. Shen Wei pressed her throbbing temples, still reeling from the car accident. Just yesterday, her painstakingly built company went public. After four years without a vacation, Shen Wei decided to take half a day off. Just as she crossed the street, a car came hurtling towards her, knocking her into the air. When Shen Wei opened her eyes again, she found herself in an unfamiliar ancient world. The original owner of this body was also named Shen Wei, born into poverty. To raise money for her seriously ill mother's medicine, Shen Wei sold herself into the Yan Prince's mansion as a maid. The original Shen Wei was exceptionally beautiful, and the princess consort had designs on her, wanting to promote Shen Wei and another beautiful maid, Zhang Yue, to become the Yan Prince's concubines. Inside the room, the pretty Zhang Yue, her face clouded with worry, complained to Shen Wei, "Why should I, a perfectly good girl, become a lowly concubine?" Being the Prince of Yan's concubine sounded like a promising future. But Zhang Yue had long heard that although the Prince of Yan was incomparably handsome, he was a heartless and ungrateful man. His interest in women lasted at most three months. After his initial favor, even the most beautiful woman would fall out of favor, her cinnabar mole turning into mosquito bites, her white moonlight turning into plain rice, spending her life in loneliness in the inner quarters. Moreover, the Prince of Yan was particularly strong in bed, and his concubines, delicate and frail, often fainted during his services, suffering terribly. "When we see the Princess later, we'll kowtow and beg her to take back her favor. I'd rather marry a stable boy than marry a prince and live a life of widowhood," Zhang Yue continued to ramble on, determined not to become a concubine. In the gaps between Zhang Yue's rambling, Shen Wei quickly analyzed her current situation. In ancient society, imperial power was supreme—her current status was that of a lowly maid, the lowest of the low in the Prince's household. If she's lucky, she'll marry a stable boy or gatekeeper, and her children will continue to be maids and servants. If she's unlucky, her master might order her to commit suicide, leaving her body to rot in the wilderness. As a 21st-century woman of ambition, Shen Wei has no intention of being a helpless nobody in ancient times. She'll be ambitious, she'll fight! If she can't be defeated by ambition, she'll be ambitious to the death! There are no free lunches, and the idea of being indifferent to fame and fortune is nonsense. Without competition, you'll have nothing. Fate is in your own hands, and your future is earned through your own efforts. In her past life, she was incredibly ambitious, turning a near-bankrupt company into a publicly listed one; in this life, she can still be ambitious, carving out a bright future for herself in ancient times. Almost without hesitation, Shen Wei made up her mind—she would become the Prince of Yan's concubine. She would climb the ladder step by step.

18. 18 非 An Unconventional Palace Intrigue 非传统宫斗 Known in the Jianghu as the Thorny Rose江湖人称带刺玫瑰Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted Imperial selection from the start / Pure palace intrigue with a touch of household intrigue / Ensemble cast / Realistic style [Pure palace intrigue begins after chapter 20] Not the emperor’s sole favorite / Not a virgin couple / No romance pairing [The emperor is a scumbag with the power of life and death. The first few chapters establish his character and contain potentially uncomfortable scenes. If that bothers you, skip to chapter 20.] Everyone is caught up in palace intrigue. The consorts an 2kReads8.3Score227Shelves

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    The entire group is embroiled in palace intrigue, but most are quite clear-headed, knowing that what they want is power and profit, not empty romance.

19. 19 华 Consort Hua Reincarnates as Gua Liu 华妃娘娘她魂穿瓜六了 The Master and the Master's Husband夫子和夫子夫Female-Channel Fanfiction606k WordsCompleted Consort Hua, Nian Shilan, was a woman loved by Emperor Yongzheng. The daughter of a powerful official, she lost her child while still young because the emperor feared her family's influence. For decades, the man she loved most had her drink the incense-scented medicine known as Joyful Harmony, damaging her health and leaving her barren for life. Even so, in the end, she was condemned as having grown too powerful, and in a single night, every member of the Nian family was killed. Her soul is rebo 61Reads5.3Score—Shelves

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    The palace intrigue-themed Consort Wenhua is reborn and of course doesn't love the emperor; everyone is highly intelligent.

20. 20 苟 Once We’re Rich, We’ll Take Care of Our Sisters 苟富贵，养姐妹 Changdao Tea and Foam长岛茶与沫Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Ridiculous comedy] [No romance] [Food fiction] [Everyday money-making] (Synopsis: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Empress Shen has harmed the imperial heir, a crime beyond forgiveness. She is to be confined to the Cold Palace and reflect on her actions. So decreed!” Xu Yao: … Shen Ning: ???? Kid, got a lot of questions, huh? The commotion caught Shen Ning’s attention. She turned around and eyed Pei Xingchuan, dressed head to toe in black. “An assassin??” Pei Xingchuan: “…” Woul 5.1kReads9.4Score532Shelves

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    Story summary: All I want is to get rich and cook delicious food, it's hilarious 🤭 No romantic pairing.

21. 21 在 A Hundred Ways to Win the Emperor's Heart in the Harem 在后宫征服皇帝的一百个技巧 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ever since entering the palace, Yun Li has become a shameless schemer. Two-faced and insincere, she puts on an act every day. When dealing with the emperor’s favorite consort, she tears into her until she’s furious, then clutches her chest with a wounded look and says, “I’m so envious that His Majesty dotes on you.” When someone tries to frame her, she casually slaps them, then bursts into tears. “Why would you treat a kind person like me this way?” When speaking with the empress, she nods absen 12.2kReads9.5Score1.4kShelves

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    The female lead is incredibly clear-headed from beginning to end, knowing exactly what she wants. The author's writing is also delicate, the plot is well-structured, and there are no overly melodramatic elements. It's super, super good! I guarantee you'll be satisfied! 🥰

22. 22 重 Reborn, the Noble Consort Only Wants to Be the Villain 重生后贵妃她只想当反派 Love Sleeping In爱睡懒觉Ancient Romance351k WordsCompleted [Mutual devotion + sweet romance + no angst] After being reborn, Ye Jiujiu takes her brash, don’t-mess-with-me attitude to the extreme: She kicks the meticulously dressed Consort Li into the water; She slips laxatives into the tea of the coquettish Consort Yun; She wreaks havoc at the flower-viewing banquet the Empress painstakingly prepared; The consorts all rush to the emperor to complain: The cool, dignified emperor says, “I established this harem solely to give the Noble Consort something to 3.5kReads9.1Score349Shelves

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    Completed. It's a palace intrigue and domestic power struggle story. It might not be what you're looking for, but it's incredibly good.

23. 23 病 The Possessive Tyrant Is Cold by Day but Wants Kisses at Night 病娇暴君他白天冷冰冰晚上要亲亲 Song of the Ages千秋岁引Ancient Romance562k WordsCompleted [Possessive love + strong heroine + everyone's darling + devoted couple + secret identities + reborn + a mutually devoted, powerful couple in a satisfying 1v1 romance] In her previous life, she was deceived and manipulated into calling off her wedding, then died in a terrible fire. Only the violent emperor rushed into the flames to protect her, his eyes bloodshot. He avenged her, held her old clothes, and followed her in death. After being reborn, she kicks aside the scumbag man and the vile wom 1.9kReads9.1Score267Shelves
24. 24 拽 The Feisty Consort Climbs to Power Through Palace Intrigue, Everyone Else Back Off 拽妃宫斗上位，闲杂人等退退退 Pine Blossom Candy松花糖Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama is out now. Search for it on Fanqie to watch. [Palace Intrigue Power Fantasy + Not a Clean Romance + Being the Emperor’s Mother Is Better Than Being His Consort] Every woman in the harem hopes to win Emperor Jingrong’s favor, but Yuan Yuntang sees the emperor only as a tool for having children. Women in ancient times had to marry sooner or later anyway, so she might as well marry the most powerful man of all. After all, Emperor Jingrong has a great figure, a handsome face, and a 16.6kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves

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    Everyone wants Emperor Jingrong's favor, but Yuan Yuntang only sees him as a tool for bearing children! Find an ugly husband, then have an ugly child? [Petrified][Petrified][Petrified] No, no, no! Emperor Jingrong is handsome, has a great physique, and is generous! Who cares who he likes, or who his ideal woman is? Her goal is to give birth to the next emperor! To become Empress Dowager! To retire in peace.

25. 25 继 The Second Empress 继后 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The Noble Consort was favored, the Worthy Consort bore a son, the Bright Etiquette was the emperor’s white moonlight, and the Beautiful Consort was his cinnabar mole. Every other concubine had her own talents and charms. It was a whole garden in full bloom. So who was our protagonist? The unfavored empress, with no children and no powerful family backing. Great. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Never mind. On the first day Zhao Wumian transmigrated here, she decided to lie flat. Compete for t 81.1kReads9.5Score9.1kShelves

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    The female lead is a transmigrator who arrives as a high-ranking official with a very clear understanding of the world. She calmly and meticulously wins over the emperor's heart step by step. The later stories involving the princes are also well-written, and the epilogues are comprehensive.

26. 26 好 The Fertile Imperial Consort: The Emperor’s One and Only Favorite 好孕贵妃：独得圣宠 The Fish Who Loves Tea爱喝茶的鱼Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Noble Consort Jingmin: the highest rank many women in the imperial harem could dream of attaining. But what if it was a posthumous title? Who would want that? Given another chance, Wanran had no desire to become empress. She only wanted everyone who had harmed her in her previous life to receive their due punishment, and for her children to live in peace, never again to suffer through those dark days. As for the emperor, she would never again give him her whole heart. 2.4kReads9.2Score221Shelves

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    Recommended rating: Story Summary:

27. 27 重 With My Reborn Son's High-Stakes Schemes, Becoming Empress Dowager Is No Dream 重生儿子手段高，晋升太后不是梦 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Fictional Imperial Harem Drama + No Romance + Giving Birth and Raising Kids + My Son Must Be Crown Prince + Ambitious + Clear-Eyed] Content warning: The romance isn’t mutually exclusive, she doesn’t love the male lead, and there are painful, heartbreaking parts. The male lead is a scumbag emperor. Song Yuyan was hooked on a palace-harem management game. She never expected to open her eyes and find she had transmigrated to ancient times. After keeping a low profile for three years, she entered t 3.6kReads9.3Score427Shelves

    Reader note

    This is great! 🤭

28. 28 都 I'm Already a Concubine, So How Could I Not Go Mad? 都做妾了，哪有不疯的？ Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance762k WordsCompleted #She miscarries from the start. What's wrong with going a little crazy?# #The heroine isn't a good person, the hero isn't a good person, and nobody's a good person# Yuan Xiangxue transmigrates. Other heroines either become mothers without the pain or get an overpowered golden finger. She's the unlucky one who miscarries from the start... Then she takes a look at her new identity: she's become the concubine of Liang Yujing, the ninth prince of the Great Liang Dynasty. She was a perfectly good per 5.3kReads8.6Score499Shelves

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    Pure palace intrigue, the female lead is clear-headed and very rational, the characters are interesting, the plot doesn't feel simplistic, and the ending is fantastic. Highly recommended! 🧐🧐🧐

29. 29 你 You Act, I Act, and the Empress Leads the Grand Performance 你演我，我演你，皇后带头唱大戏 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance253k WordsCompleted #Clear-eyed heroine + realistic palace intrigue# In the third year of Kangning, a palace candidate named Jiang Lingyao is pushed into Yingyue Lake and drowns. By a twist of fate, Jiang Lingyao gets a second life in the dead woman's body. The good news: Jiang Lingyao has ghosts all over the palace acting as her spies, so none of the harem's schemes can escape her notice. The bad news: Though she manages to claim the empress's throne in one fell swoop, her paternal aunt, the empress dowager, loath 56Reads8.1Score—Shelves
30. 30 清 Qing-Dynasty Time Travel: The Drama Queen Consort’s Epic Blunder 清穿雍正：戏精娘娘翻车实录 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Qing Dynasty Setting + System + Childbearing + Mind-Reading] Cui Xueman, a top finance student in the 21st century, transmigrates one day and opens her eyes to a huge character for “funeral offerings” in the mourning hall. Fainting from shock… That's perfectly normal, isn't it? When she wakes up again, she receives the good-or-bad news: she's transmigrated, and to the Kangxi era, no less. But the long-awaited standard issue for transmigrators, a golden finger or System, is nowhere to be seen! F 1.5kReads9.1Score117Shelves
31. 31 人 In the Imperial Harem, My Goal Is to Become the Empress Dowager 人在后宫，目标太后 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance358k WordsCompleted # Palace intrigue is out of the question. I'll eat snacks, watch the drama, and have children, that's the plan # Cui Xuejian transmigrated into the past and became a low-ranking palace consort. Powerful figures towered over her, while a few insignificant nobodies clawed at her feet. With things like this, why bother with palace intrigue? Better to just give up and coast! Cui Xuejian believed that as long as she kept out of trouble, no monsters, demons, or other ghoulish creatures would come afte 1.7kReads9.2Score138Shelves
32. 32 为 Ten Years as a Consort 为妃十载 A Little Plum一枚小李子Ancient Romance224k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + ruthless, formidable female lead and unhinged villainess + no golden finger, no System] Dongfang Li has always been a femme fatale. “If someone hurts me once, I’ll make them pay a hundred or a thousand times over.” “If I were plain-looking, that would be one thing. But Heaven gave me a beauty unlike any other. Why shouldn’t I fight and seize what I want?” Dongfang Li is an unfavored daughter born to a concubine, so from the moment she enters the palace, she treads carefully, r 16Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is a cunning and beautiful woman, single-mindedly focused on her career, and wreaks havoc in the palace.

33. 33 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.4kReads9.2Score950Shelves
34. 34 皇 The Prince's Dearest: The Eldest Daughter Has Been Reborn 皇叔的心肝：嫡长女她重生了 A Wedding Dress Like Snow嫁衣如雪Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted In her previous life, Meng Qingyao was betrayed by her scumbag father, who caused the deaths of her loved ones. Her stepsister took advantage of her, and she died full of resentment. In her final moments, he helped her take revenge. He was the one who cut off her enemies' heads... Reborn, she's no longer the legitimate daughter of a military family who lets others bully her. She'll make everyone repay her twice over for what they took from her in her previous life, and repay what she owes in thi 2.4kReads9.2Score423Shelves

    Reader note

    Reborn female protagonist, not obsessed with love.

35. 35 疯 She’s Gone Mad! The Deposed Empress Raises a Child in the Cold Palace and Plots a Rebellion 疯了！废后她冷宫养崽要造反 When Clouds Warm, Flowers Bloom云暖花开Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted Blurb: [A devoted one-to-one romance] + [raising children] + [medical skills] + [powerful leads] In her previous life, she loved too deeply and died in the Cold Palace. After transmigrating through several lifetimes, she is reborn. The moment she wakes... “Your Highness, it's a pair of twins, a boy and a girl! At last, you have a chance to rise above your station. This old servant will go tell His Majesty right away!” Leave the Cold Palace? Ning Yizhen's eyes turn icy. She's a brilliant all-roun 8.1kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book. The empress, born with a rebellious nature, is banished to the cold palace, but unexpectedly gives birth to the emperor's son. From then on, she gradually gains the emperor's favor and begins to "train" him. It's high-energy, thrilling, and captivating from beginning to end.

36. 36 凰 The Phoenix Empress Returns 凰后归来 Ye Lian Ning夜恋凝Ancient Romance838k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Xiao Xiwei died at the hands of her husband and younger stepsister. Only just before her death did she learn that her life had been a falsehood, painstakingly fabricated by someone else. Reborn through fire, she proceeds cautiously at every turn, learns to read people’s hearts, and sees through their schemes. Together with the Seventh Prince, who has pursued her from her past life, she builds a splendid life. 19Reads9.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These four books are a must!!! [1] The ending really brought tears to my eyes. [2] Not naive or indecisive, but very rational and intelligent. [3] Fortunately, I was lucky enough to have a benefactor to help me. [4] Later it started to resemble a cultivation novel.

37. 37 春 Radiant Spring 春光艳 Not Yet Cool未凉Ancient Romance988k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Ye Baozhu had the worst luck imaginable. She married a scumbag who was a beast in human skin, and when she died, she made sure to take him down with her. At last, she had her revenge! So what was this business about being reborn? Perhaps Heaven had brought her back this time to repay her debts and return the kindness she had received? 1.6kReads8.7Score164Shelves
38. 38 重 Reborn to Scheme for a Flourishing Era 重生之盛世妃谋 Clouds Gather, Thirsting for Rain积云渴雨Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted To preserve her family's honor, she is sent into the palace to help her aunt, the favored consort, win the emperor's favor and seize power, and to put her own cousin on the throne. Who could have guessed that he would turn around and marry her cousin as his empress? After exhausting every scheme, she ends up losing her closest kin to a tragic death. Then, amid a great fire, she returns to the days before she entered the palace. Lou Huayu gazes at the enemies from her past life, lowers her head, 333Reads8.3Score109Shelves
39. 39 带 After I Transmigrated with Supplies, the Celibate General Proposed to Me 带着物资穿越后，禁欲将军提亲了 Green Bamboo Qing绿竹清Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [This novel is complete] [Hilarious, strong heroine, satisfying revenge + pocket dimension appears after chapter 100] A female agent has a steamy dream while fleeing, and when she opens her eyes, she’s somehow arrived in ancient times. From the start, she’s in the middle of a full-scale war, like she’s on a movie set. Want to learn about modern firearms? After defeating the enemy and earning military honors, she wins the favor of the Crown Prince and the Prince Regent. As soon as she returns to 3kReads9.2Score441Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist has a unique and imaginative mind. She is very opinionated and stands out from other women of that era.

40. 40 摊 The Truth Is Out! The Girl the Liu Family Took In Is a Lucky Charm 摊牌了！老刘家捡的女娃是锦鲤 Cunli Beixiang村里北徍Ancient Romance521k WordsCompleted The Liu family had been plagued by bad luck, but ever since they brought home an abandoned little girl, their good days began! First, their old hen, which had never laid an egg, went “cluck, cluck, cluck” and laid seven or eight in a row! Then Liu the Eldest could see clearly again, and his eyes lit 310Reads8.9Score—Shelves
41. 41 嘬 Here, Boy, Boy, Boy! Come Here, You Dog Emperor! 嘬嘬嘬，狗皇帝！快过来！ Lie Flat Xiao Bai躺平的小白Ancient Romance285k WordsOngoing Refreshing, straightforward, and funny, with no melodrama, no self-righteous do-gooders, and no romance-addled heroines. Emperor: “My beloved consort, you worked hard last night. How about I excuse you from paying your respects today?” Noble Consort: “I didn’t work hard, Your Majesty. Are you testing me? I’m not very bright and don’t understand all these roundabout hints. Am I supposed to go or not? Just give me a straight answer!” Consort A: “The Noble Consort is young and lovely, so of course —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Not a 1v1 story, but a hilarious slice-of-life comedy, refreshing and not cheesy, straightforward and unpretentious, rejecting the typical Mary Sue/love-obsessed protagonist! The female lead doesn't dwell on love or expect forever; she believes in enjoying life to the fullest and living for the moment!

42. 42 粗 A Lowly Palace Maid's Rise to Power 粗使宫女升职记 Coconut Seal Candy椰子海豹糖Ancient Romance982k WordsOngoing [A new writer and a new novel. The rating has just appeared, so it’s quite low. My family is struggling, and writing isn’t easy. I hope you’ll be patient with me. I’m deeply grateful to you all.] [This story features a large ensemble] [No rivalry between women, no love-brained heroines, and no adoration of men] [Women supporting women] [An unconventional palace drama] [A heroine who grows] Please note! The emperor in this story is extremely [human] (bolded for emphasis!), and lacks basic moral 585Reads8.8Score112Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead doesn't love the emperor at all. She's intelligent, a character who grows and develops, and doesn't become naive or love-struck. It's a slice-of-life palace intrigue story, not glorifying feudal society, but rather featuring an ensemble cast and female characters helping each other. There's no female rivalry or romantic interest. I wrote this myself; it's new and has no traffic, so I can only promote it myself. Life is tough, and writing is hard, so please be supportive and understanding! The title is a bit cheesy, but it's definitely not a melodramatic story. It's logical, not idiotic, and I'll update twice a day. My writing is guaranteed to be good, so please give it a try. Thank you!

43. 43 妾 The Concubine’s Code of Conduct 妾室职业守则 Su Yun苏芸Ancient Romance638k WordsCompleted Ke Rong is a dedicated, third-rate actress who transmigrates and becomes a concubine in a prince’s household. The handsome, dashing prince provides her with food and lodging, occasionally shares her bed, and even pays her a monthly salary for doing nothing. She cannot quit this job and leave, and it would be hard to find another one if she did... Ke Rong decides that she must do her job as a “concubine” conscientiously and diligently, lest she get fired and lose the chance to live a leisurely, 716Reads8.3Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend three palace intrigue novels. The first one is about someone who leaves and then returns to the palace; it's very good. The latter two are also highly rated palace intrigue novels, and they are very exciting.

44. 44 将 The General's Legitimate Daughter: The Hot-Tempered Consort Is Not to Be Trifled With 将门嫡女：暴脾气贵妃不好惹 Lu Yueerwu陆月二五Ancient Romance936k WordsCompleted [Devoted Love in the Later Story + Adorable Baby + Powerful Hero and Heroine + Beloved Legitimate Daughter] [Hopelessly Devoted Foolish Emperor + Clear-Headed, Self-Controlled, Clever Noble Consort] Once you enter the palace, it’s as deep as the sea. Yu Jinghe is the most clear-eyed woman in the world. Noble Consort Yue, the most stylish woman in the harem, wins the emperor’s favor all to herself with her fiery temper. Sharp-tongued and quick to throw a punch, she’s practically the harem’s gangs 3.3kReads9.2Score300Shelves

    Reader note

    You absolutely have to watch this!!!

45. 45 继 The Empress Dowager Starts Taking Them Out 继后开始刀人 Meng Ri Wan梦日万Ancient Romance491k WordsCompleted The empress consort wants no part in the fight for favor. She just wants to kill people. Wei Xiangwan entered the palace with three things to do. First, uncover the truth behind her father's mysterious disappearance. Second, avenge her best friend, who died unjustly. Third, give birth to the crown prince. As for the emperor's affection, it was the least important thing of all. In the resplendent harem, where false affection bloomed everywhere, some people still yearned for true love. Qi Zhao fel 6.7kReads8.8Score696Shelves

    Reader note

    Clear objectives, sophisticated methods, thorough preparation, and exceptionally high intelligence.

46. 46 当 After the Puppy-Like Heir Learned to Dote on His Wife 当奶狗世子学会宠妻后 Yue Gou月苟Ancient Romance456k WordsCompleted The clingy young heir × the cold-faced but soft-hearted eldest princess The eldest princess has come of age to choose a husband. Everyone in the Kingdom of Qing debates who could possibly win the heart of this unattainable beauty. No one expects their own princess to be whisked away by a spoiled young heir just returned from Yanbei. The ministers shake their heads, convinced the princess and the young heir are a poor match: he is young, mischievous, and doesn’t know how to cherish anyone. They f 7.7kReads9.3Score800Shelves

    Reader note

    It's alright, I'd recommend it.

47. 47 昭 Glory Everlasting 昭华未央 A Mi阿幂Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted Caiyu Xie Yuniang wins the emperor’s favor because she bears an uncanny resemblance to the late Ahu. After a series of struggles, Yuniang finally ascends to the empress’s throne. But Emperor Qianyuan does not know that his beloved Yuniang is actually Ahu, the daughter of General Shen Rulan, who was executed on charges of treason. Ahu entered the palace to clear her father’s name and overturn the unjust conviction that led to his death. Watch as this calculating woman born and raised in her own w 21Reads9.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Loved for only a few days

48. 48 皇 Stop Right There, Imperial Uncle! The Princess Consort Wants You to Give In 皇叔站住，王妃劝您从了她 Where Herbs Grow百草生Ancient Romance478k WordsCompleted [Devoted Husband + Silly, Brainless Sweet Romance + Face-Slapping, Scum-Avenging Feel-Good Story] A female military officer and war hero from the 21st century transmigrates into a new body and sets out to fight back and take revenge! She abandons her former sweet style, becoming bold and striking, and adopts a big-brother persona! To save her older sister, she leads a group of underlings straight to the prince’s door to ask for his help. As it happens, the prince is a lovesick yandere who has be 12Reads7.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These three books should all be

49. 49 报 Your Majesty, the Tyrant Can Read Minds 报告娘娘，暴君他有读心术 Three Two Five三二五Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted After she touched the tyrant’s skull, which had been polished into a wine bowl, she unexpectedly transmigrated into the empress who died the most gruesome death in history. Every day, she plotted to kill the tyrant and become empress in her own right, unaware that he could read minds. When the tyrant fell gravely ill, she wept and begged Heaven to let her trade her own years of life for his safety. The tyrant was deeply moved, until he suddenly heard her thoughts: [If he’s so sick, hurry up and 6kReads9.3Score996Shelves
50. 50 逸 The Cold Princess Consort of Prince Yi 逸王的冷妃 Smoky Trees by the Cold River寒江烟树Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The powerful Yulong Kingdom's noble and handsome Prince Yi, Ye Qiansheng, is determined to reclaim the throne that belongs to him. He forms a marriage alliance with Leng Ruohan, the long-lost legitimate daughter of the cold Grand Tutor Leng, to whom he is already betrothed. Leng Ruohan is the aloof leader of Suye Palace, the martial world's foremost criminal organization. As the two spend time together, the haughty prince finds himself indulging her in every way... 779Reads8.5Score100Shelves

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