Looking for Palace Intrigue with a Heroine Who Doesn't Love the Hero and Has Her Wits About Her 求宫斗，女主不爱男主，脑子在线

1. 1 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

   Reader note

   Enough said, everyone. Our heroine traveled from modern times to ancient times, but she doesn't have any special abilities. She becomes a winner in life purely through her acting skills, never falls in love with the male lead, and is incredibly intelligent.

2. 2 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
3. 3 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

   Reader note

   The female protagonist transmigrates to ancient times and becomes the empress, disguising herself as weak, kind, and gentle. A skilled hunter often appears as prey, seemingly manipulated but actually ruthlessly controlling. The emperor, from beginning to end, never develops a single genuine feeling for the male protagonist. It's truly a very, very good watch.

4. 4 侧 The Side Consort Takes Charge of the Household, Then Rises to the Throne as Empress 侧妃潜邸掌中馈，一朝成凰登后位 Xiao Yan Wants to Get Rich小闫要暴富Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Not a Pure Couple, Not a Transmigration Story, Not Reborn, No Golden Finger] [Content warning: The heroine is caught in a whirlpool of conflict and is far from a good person. She knows how to read the situation and may even take the initiative to hurt others.] Given a choice, who would want to become a woman willing to do anything to achieve her goals? At a plum-blossom-viewing banquet in the snow, Hua Songyi tried to keep a low profile, but the host family chose her anyway and forced her to 5.7kReads8.5Score631Shelves

   Reader note

   The female lead is a player with both high IQ and EQ.

5. 5 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
6. 6 让 You Were Sent to Marry for Peace, Not to Conquer the World 让你和亲，没让你一统天下 Nan Guyan南孤雁Ancient Romance510k WordsCompleted Marry a seventy-year-old man? No problem. I’d even marry a pig if I had to. At last, Xia Lingyan, a princess sent away for a political marriage and imprisoned in the cold palace of the Great Xia for ten years, has the chance to leave the imperial palace. Now the young phoenix takes flight, and the hidden dragon plunges into the sea. Unexpectedly, when she arrives at the Nanzhao palace for the marriage alliance, the peerless martial artist is met with disdain. The old emperor thinks she’s too thi 20kReads9.0Score1.7kShelves

   Reader note

   The female leads are all very rational and not overly compassionate. The plots are also very engaging.

7. 7 七 The Cool, Aloof Female Officer of the 1970s Didn't Want Him, but He Cried with Red Eyes 七零清冷军官她不要了他却红了眼 Blackcurrants with a Tangy Dressing凉拌黑加仑Modern Romance804k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Sheng Ling used underhanded means to win Jiang Yanchuan over and successfully marry him. After the wedding, she tried constantly to fit in with the Jiang family, but they looked down on her because of Jiang Yanchuan's cold and indifferent attitude toward her. She became a useless housewife who depended on him, and even failed to have a child. Given another chance at life, she only wants to do what she wants. She stops chasing after Jiang Yanchuan and becomes more dazzling b 3.2kReads8.3Score253Shelves
8. 8 白 The White Moonlight Noble Consort’s Daily Life in the Harem 白月光贵妃的后宫日常 Yuanzi Eats Mulberries元子吃桑葚Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted (Cover used with permission) With an illustrious family background, breathtaking beauty, and the distinction of being the emperor’s moonlight, Jiang Hui should have found life as a Noble Consort effortlessly easy. Unfortunately, the sisters in all but name in the Eastern Palace, wave after wave of beautiful candidates from the provinces, and the supposed substitutes who resemble her in looks and bearing all tell her the same thing: no one can walk unscathed through the imperial harem. [Alternate 24.6kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this book! Both the male and female leads are intelligent, and neither of them falls in love with the other in the end. It's all about acting and scheming; everyone's a master of palace intrigue and has top-notch intelligence. I really, really recommend it!!!

9. 9 快 Quick Transmigration: I Was Reborn as a Villain and Somehow Bound to a Childbearing System 快穿：穿成反派后竟绑定生子系统 Cat's Eye Stone猫睛石Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Quick transmigration + breathtaking beauty + no fixed CP + multiple worlds + childbirth System + semi-immersive master of deception + wish fulfillment] After being bedridden for eight years, Zhu Baishao still died one autumn. But the instant she died, she transmigrated. Not only did she become a villainous cannon-fodder character, she also got bound to a childbirth System. By completing missions in each world, she can earn points and use the System’s shop to buy anything she can imagine, whethe 26.2kReads9.3Score2kShelves

   Reader note

   1. This is a quick transmigration/pregnancy novel. The female lead is rational and intelligent, a seductive beauty with a flirtatious nature. (P. S.: I couldn't resist either.) There's also a 1v2 romance (making the most of the three of them is more important than anything else). If you mind that, you can skip the parts I read. 2. The female lead is always intelligent, there are love triangles, she's a player, and she constantly torments the male supporting characters. Although, I still really like the older sister, sob sob. It's basically a no-romance novel.

10. 10 快 Quick Transmigration: Host, Please Behave 快穿：宿主请自重 Mist Rises into the Deep Woods雾起入深林Modern Romance625k WordsCompleted [No fixed CP + flirtatious + scheming + drama queen + System] (=_=) A warning: scum alert. If you don’t like that, please don’t open this... At first, Le Wu wanted to go back. But after flirting her way through one task after another, she decided being a task-taker wasn’t so bad. Her horizons had been too narrow before. With the System bound to her, the myriad realms were as vast as a sea of stars~ (￣▽￣~)~ Volume One: The powerful man is cold and ruthless… Volume Two: The young master of a reclu 1.4kReads9.3Score206Shelves
11. 11 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

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue novel that's so addictive you won't be able to get out once you start reading! It's incredibly good, with a female lead who's so clear-headed she's almost cold-blooded—I just love it!

12. 12 原 The First Wife Left the Child and Walked Away, Now the God of War Is Desperate to Win Her Back 原配去父留子，战神追妻火葬场了 Shi Yidian拾一典Ancient Romance337k WordsCompleted [Historical romance + marriage first, love later + the husband must win back his wife] (Reader advisory: The new book has a low rating for now, but it will rise. The heroine is the same woman as the original wife. The leads divorce, and the hero dies regretfully in the end.) In her previous life, Shen Yunqing and her husband's beloved were both tied to a sheer cliff. Their enemy forced him to choose: save his beloved, or save her, his cannon-fodder wife. He could save only one. Her cold, battle- 12kReads8.5Score851Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is reborn, and the male lead goes through a "wife-chasing-through-the-cremation" process; it's quite good.

13. 13 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

    Reader note

    The first book involves palace intrigue and court politics, but the female protagonist has a very close relationship with her child, like family. The second book is based on the historical figure of Longkodo's wife. The third book features a female protagonist who is reborn and only wants to protect her family; she has no emotional connection with the emperor.

14. 14 退 After Breaking Off My Engagement, Kangxi Made Me His Favorite Consort 退婚后，我被康熙独宠后宫 Midnight Stars深夜星辰Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [A flirtatious beauty who loves to play games versus a seemingly proper, devoted emperor who falls into her trap] He YinYin, a star who rose from humble beginnings, died and transmigrated into the body of Hesheli, the Qing Dynasty wife of Longkodo, who was turned into a human pincushion. Fortunately, she had only just gotten engaged. To escape her tragic fate, she calmly thought things through and laid out the following plan. Step one: take Longkodo’s credit for saving the emperor... Step two: g 10.6kReads9.3Score993Shelves
15. 15 清 Qing Transmigration: The Poisonous Beauty's Path to the Top 清穿：毒美人的晋级路 Midnight Stars深夜星辰Ancient Romance573k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Su Jianjian was a lowly Han Chinese maid in the Qing palace. Her entire family was killed for no reason. In this life, Su Jianjian has returned as a Golden Core Grandmaster... And of course, she intends to repay every grudge and avenge every wrong! She'll also use Kangxi to forge her heartless Dao foundation, comprehend the Dao, and ascend to immortality. At first, the consorts thought: “She's just a Han woman. She's no threat.” Not long after: “...That lowborn Han wom 1.2kReads8.2Score100Shelves
16. 16 穿 Transmigrated as Hoifa-Nara: I Slack Off and Still Get Promoted at Every Turn 穿成辉发那拉，摆烂升职一路开挂 Qi Shaojun柒少君Ancient Romance372k WordsOngoing Transmigrate + intelligent inner-court and palace intrigue + carefree farming and dog-raising + face-slapping and crushing scum + no romance-brained heroine + carefully plotting her way to cheat-level success and rise to empress (The early plot is a little slow to warm up, but it gets exciting later, so feel free to skip ahead. Palace intrigue is the main focus, with a romantic storyline involving Emperor Qianlong woven in. The heroine isn't blinded by love and has a clear goal: climbing the ran 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a Qing Dynasty time-travel novel featuring a female protagonist who doesn't love the male protagonist. It tells the story of Consort Hui, a member of the Nara clan, who rises from a concubine to the empress during the Qianlong era! The domestic intrigue follows how the concubine uncovers the mastermind behind the harem's power struggles, while the palace intrigue shows how Consort Xian, initially appearing weak in the Qing court, rises through the ranks to become empress. The beginning is a bit slow, but the later chapters are exciting, though you can skip ahead. The female protagonist is not love-struck; she is clear-headed, intelligent, and not a saint.

17. 17 东 The Eastern Palace's Pampered Concubine: The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife, and She Sets Her Sights on the Empress's Throne 东宫娇妾：太子宠妾灭妻目标后位 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Not a pure pairing, not a pure pairing [The prince’s concubine is not a pure pairing at first + she enters the palace soon after, and becomes his sole favorite after the palace struggles] [The heroine is clear-headed and career-minded, working her way up to the empress’s position] Since I’ve been granted the title of Worthy Lady, my goal should be the empress’s throne. The Crown Prince has been married for two years, but the Crown Princess has yet to bear him a child. The Empress personally choo 2.3kReads8.9Score197Shelves
18. 18 穿 After I Transmigrated, I Conquered the Emperor with My Martial Prowess! 穿越后，我靠武力值征服了皇帝！ Fu Yiling傅衣凌Ancient Romance407k WordsCompleted [Born with Superhuman Strength | Sweet Romance | Hilarious | No Angst | Happy Ending] Shen Shuyao was born incredibly strong. She’d been a lazy nobody in the modern world, until she went to help a friend move and was accidentally crushed to death by falling furniture. That was a pretty unfair way to die, but things got even worse: she caught the reincarnation trend and her soul transmigrated. The original owner was an empress who didn’t want to be one, so she killed herself in the bridal sedan o 1.8kReads9.1Score210Shelves
19. 19 贵 The Imperial Consort Is Ravishingly Beautiful, but All She Wants Is Power and Wealth 贵妃千娇百媚，只求权势富贵 Fujiwara Tofu藤原豆腐Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [A mad, obsessive emperor with jealousy to spare x a consort who has renounced love and walled off her heart] [One-on-one romance + both reborn + devoted to each other in body and heart, in both lives] One-line summary: A story about an emperor who lost the love of his life, and how he slowly teaches the woman he loves to understand love, jealousy, anger, and longing. As the eldest son born to the empress, Qi Junyi was born to privilege. He seized power in his youth, was named crown princ 10.9kReads8.1Score673Shelves
20. 20 朕 The Emperor Hasn't Even Drawn His Last Breath, and the Noble Consort Is Already Holding His Son and Ruling from Behind the Curtain 朕还没咽气贵妃已抱儿子垂帘听政 Ning Fengliu宁风流Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Rebirth + palace intrigue + rise from the cold palace + a beauty with a dangerous allure + favored exclusively in the later story + kingdom and country + ruling from behind the curtain] On the day of the Crown Prince's wedding in her previous life, Xiao Duo raised an army in rebellion, seized the throne, and forcibly brought the Crown Princess into his harem. After the Crown Prince died, Xu Yuning wanted to remain a widow for his sake. How could she give herself to her brother-in-law? She refus 1.1kReads8.0Score111Shelves
21. 21 先 Love After Marriage: The Crown Princess Keeps Pretending to Be Good Again and Again 先婚后爱，太子妃又又又又在装乖 I Want to Be a Rich Lady我想当富婆Ancient Romance278k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance] Song Yao, who was born into this world, got married to Nangong Yi, the notoriously violent crown prince. After their wedding, they acted like a proper couple, treating each other with courtesy and respect. Gradually, Song Yao discovered that the crown prince was nothing like the violent man of the rumors. He was gentle, considerate, and easy to get along with. So she let her true nature out and started doing as she pleased. - At first, when facing the crown prince: Song Yao: gent 21.7kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
22. 22 凤 Phoenix and Luan in the Palace of Tranquility 凤鸾坤宁 Fu Xiangjun傅香君Ancient Romance886k WordsCompleted [Empress + not a mutually exclusive romance + pure palace intrigue + intelligent characters + bearing a son to seize the throne] Zhao Zhenshu, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wei’s household, married the legitimate second son of the Prince of Jin’s household. She had only wanted to be the principal wife in the inner quarters. But when the Crown Prince rebelled, the emperor simply replaced him. The legitimate second son of the Prince of Jin’s household was suddenly transformed into the lof 2.1kReads6.9Score179Shelves

    Reader note

    A different kind of palace drama, I love the Empress's character; she's intelligent and capable.

23. 23 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

    Reader note

    Babies, you won't regret investing in this! 🥳🥳 ① No romantic pairing, men? Even dogs wouldn't love them. The harem sisters are like one big family [shy][shy], sweet and soft girls, our good friends, super good-looking [admiration][admiration], I haven't been able to bear deleting it, it's my absolute favorite 💓💓, I've read it so many times, I really love it, and the author's writing is super good, there are some poems quoted, I love it! [Kiss][kiss] ② The female lead is clear-headed [inquiring][inquiring], doesn't love the monarch, and has a palace intrigue script in hand [learned][learned], if I were in it, I wouldn't survive three chapters. My brain wouldn't be able to process it at all, can someone share some with me [crying][crying][crying]. Don't look at the low rating, it's really a hidden gem. The female lead is smart and clear-headed, she only loves herself, power, children, and status [cool][cool], it's really super exciting! ③ Although there is a romantic pairing [shy][shy], the female lead is very clear-headed, not love-struck! She always knew what she wanted [I understand][I understand], and was willing to give anything for it. The character is incredibly vivid; I recommend everyone check it out [thumbs up][thumbs up]

24. 24 后 A Cheat-Code Life in the Imperial Harem 后宫开挂人生 The Silent Instant Noodles沉默的方便面Ancient Romance584k WordsCompleted In the novel, she is the Empress Dowager’s niece and the emperor’s highest-ranking Consort Shu, with a noble status and boundless favor. Yet in the end, she cannot escape the fate of a minor cannon-fodder character, and dies with hatred in her heart! Qian Qing from another world takes her place and carefully plots every step, winning the emperor’s love and matching wits with the novel’s heroine. She wants to see whether a mere illegitimate daughter of a marquis’s household can still rise to the 1.8kReads7.6Score110Shelves
25. 25 累 I'm Exhausted! To Fool Him, I Pretend to Be Sweet and Innocent Every Day 累死！为了骗他，本宫日日装娇纯 Deer in the Deep Forest深林的鹿Ancient Romance455k WordsCompleted “If you want to win, you have to learn how to lose first.” Meng Xianxiang lost a life, and learned to struggle, to seize what she wanted, to scheme and plan, and to claw her way up. Looking back on her previous life, she had lived in a stable, eaten pig slop, served tea and emptied chamber pots, enduring abuse and humiliation at every turn. Each memory was a stab to the heart. Given another chance, she wants status and power, and a world where no one dares bully her again. Behind the palace’s re 3.5kReads9.2Score302Shelves
26. 26 娇 A Scheming Childhood Friend Charms the Coldhearted Emperor into Surrender 娇媚心机青梅诱，薄情帝王沦陷深 Fu Yuan福媛Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Pure palace intrigue + the leads are not each other’s first + no saintly heroine] P.S. The heroine is a villainess who takes the initiative. A bewitching, scheming beauty × a cool, heartless emperor An imperial decree made Chu Miaowei the crown prince’s secondary consort. With the little affection her childhood friend, Crown Prince Xiao Jinghuai, had for her, she could have lived a smooth and happy life. But she had no interest in love. She only wanted power. How could the position of secondary 648Reads5.5Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is clear-headed and not a saint; she has indifferent feelings for the male lead and is very good at acting. The male lead always believes that the female lead loves him very much.

27. 27 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

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book. The female lead doesn't love the male lead at all; she has a wonderful, unrequited love for someone else, but unfortunately, he died young… Also, the crown prince is too clever, so clever that I really dislike him. However, aside from the ending, the plot resolves all the plot holes, and it's a very good read. I suggest you give it a try.

28. 28 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.5kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book had me laughing so hard! It was the first time I'd ever seen such a cautious female lead, avoiding so many dangers. The second book's female lead was so cunning and manipulative, she really knew how to win people over!

29. 29 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
30. 30 我 After I Was Reborn, the Heir Apparent Pursued Me to the Bitter End 我重生后，世子追妻火葬场了 Ten Thousand Measures of Moonlight in the Mortal World万斛人间月Ancient Romance485k WordsCompleted [Win Her Back at All Costs + Rebirth + Raising a Child] Shen Shuyi and Song Hengyue had been married for five years. They were not exactly a loving couple, but they did treat each other with respect. But when his childhood friend, the woman he cherished most, was surrounded by enemy troops, he abandoned Shuyi, who was carrying their second child. In her fury, she went into premature labor and suffered a difficult delivery. After being reborn, Shen Shuyi looked at her eldest son, who could alread 16.2kReads8.5Score873Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is reborn, and the male lead goes through a grueling pursuit to win her back—it's a great story!

31. 31 娇 The Spoiled Consort's Road to Glory 娇气包娘娘的荣华路 Qingxi Hexi清兮禾兮Ancient Romance385k WordsCompleted Sweet romance! Undivided love! She’s doted on to the max! [The heroine is cunning, a little black lotus hidden beneath a rabbit’s skin] [The hero has a harem and isn’t chaste, but once he meets the heroine, he devotes himself to her alone in a one-on-one romance] The third young lady of the Sheng’an Marquis’s household, born to his secondary wife, was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Sweet and clever, she knew how to win favor. Her grandmother and father favored her, and even her legitimate 13.4kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    In this book, the female lead initially doesn't love the male lead, only seeking wealth and status, and engaging in various schemes. She only falls in love with him at the very end.

32. 32 宫 Palace Intrigue Begins Before the Selection 宫斗从选秀前开始 A Cluster of Flowers一丛花令Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, she endured a life of hardship and instability. From the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an to a government courtesan available to any man, she finally escaped a life of being passed from one man to another, only to jump from the tiger’s jaws into the wolf’s den. She walked on eggshells at every step until she finally became the real power behind the prefect’s household. But the misery of her first half of life had already left her body broken beyond repair. Only o 7.7kReads9.0Score763Shelves

    Reader note

    Traditional palace intrigue, you'll understand after just one viewing.

33. 33 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
34. 34 宠 The Imperial Consort Has a Few Screws Loose 宠妃她脑子有病 One Duck at Ease一鸭悠Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted (Audiobook version now available) [Transmigrate into a book + not a mutually exclusive first-love relationship + heroine adored by everyone + redemption + devoted love from the middle to later stages] Just as Ji Yuehuan's life was about to reach its peak, she suddenly died. After death, she transmigrated into a book. Unfortunately, she became a cannon-fodder character who was destined to die two years later according to the original plot. What? You think she can rely on knowing the story in adva 3.2kReads8.9Score339Shelves

    Reader note

    I watched palace intrigue a long time ago.

35. 35 为 The Professional Ethics of a Concubine 为妾的职业操守 Lin Wanzi林丸子Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main Story Complete] Ye Qingzhi, an overworked office drone, transmigrates into the body of a concubine in the Jiangyang Marquis’s household. Since she’s here, she might as well go crazy. Being a concubine is just changing workplaces. She doesn’t need to get emotionally involved. She can simply treat herself like a tool. Ye Qingzhi’s career goal: convince both the marquis and the principal wife to take responsibility for her and protect her. Ye Qingzhi’s workplace motto: Life is short. We’re al 31.6kReads9.4Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    ❤️❤️The female protagonists are all clear-headed, resourceful, and decisive. ❤️❤️The first book is like an ancient version of "Workplace Survival Guide," where the female protagonist treats being a concubine as a job and the male protagonist as her boss, going to work when she needs to and slacking off when she needs to. ❤️❤️The second book features a female protagonist with a PhD in psychology, focused on leveling up and building her career; the plot is exciting and full of twists and turns.

36. 36 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
37. 37 清 Consort De in the Qing Dynasty: One Small Goal, Become Empress Dowager 清穿德妃：定个小目标，先当太后 The White Coat Has Given Up白大褂它摆烂了Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Not a devoted-couple story, not exclusive pampering, not a childbearing plot, no golden finger, not a wish-fulfillment story. Don’t read if you dislike that. There are no golden fingers whatsoever. The heroine transmigrates, she is not reborn! The story breaks up historical Emperor Yongzheng’s official pairing, but Empress Xiaojingxian will get a happy ending. The author is still growing, so if you don’t like the early chapters, you can skip ahead. Readers say the later writing is better.] (The 2.1kReads9.2Score203Shelves

    Reader note

    I'm recommending this myself, but the current rating isn't high. It's not a system/space cheat/golden finger story, not a double-clean romance with exclusive love and childbirth trope, and it's not a wish-fulfillment story. If you don't like that, you can avoid it. It's a slow-burn type of story; the protagonist doesn't fall in love with the emperor yet, but there might be more focus on the struggle for the throne later on.

38. 38 甄 Empresses in the Palace: Lingrong Is Reborn and Becomes the Empress Dowager 甄嬛传之陵容重生做太后 Su Xue粟雪Female-Channel Fanfiction1.1M WordsCompleted Her dream of becoming a beloved imperial consort shattered, An Lingrong returned to the age of sixteen, before the selection of palace women. No longer weighed down by an illusory father-daughter bond. No longer blinded by the false favor of the imperial harem. In the end, she would forge her own path to becoming Empress Dowager. 6.4kReads9.0Score564Shelves

    Reader note

    This, this is really beautiful.

39. 39 朕 My Empress Weighs Ninety Jin, and Eighty-Five Jin of That Is Rebellion 朕的皇后九十斤，有八十五斤反骨 Li Xiaoju鲤小橘Ancient Romance552k WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted to each other + contrasting personalities + self-serving heroine + satisfying and sweet + mutual pampering] Lin Xiaoxiao, an overworked corporate drone, transmigrates into the body of a wicked empress. The emperor has ignored her for four years, despises her, and sees her as the greatest shame of his life! The crown prince hates her as his mother and plans to whip her corpse once he grows up and turns evil! The empress dowager is deeply calculating, treating her like a lo 786Reads8.9Score112Shelves

    Reader note

    An incredibly satisfying and enjoyable read.

40. 40 小 The Little Palace Maid's Thoughts Were Read 小宫女被读心了 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the palace as a maid, Qin Jianjian works diligently, flatters those above her, and deceives those below her. In the end, she becomes the top-ranked maid serving the Empress Dowager. She has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of her profession. Money she’s openly entitled to, along with money she shouldn’t have, keeps flowing into Qin Jianjian’s pockets. Delighted, she just has to wait until she’s old enough to leave the palace and retire early. Who could have guessed the 15kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Super good historical romance novel! (˵¯͒¯͒˵)

41. 41 开 From the Start, My Daughter's a Girl, and He Wants Both Her and Me 开局暴露女儿身，我人我心他都要 Madam Chu楚太太Ancient Romance844k WordsCompleted [Completed | Both Chaste | One-on-One | Schizophrenic Male Lead] Adapted Short Drama: The Two-Faced Tyrant and His Pretty Eunuch Yu Zao transmigrates into a book and becomes a little eunuch who sweeps the Hall of Mental Cultivation. On New Year’s Eve, the low-ranking palace servants like her get to clock off early for once. Yu Zao is enjoying a comfortable bath when the tyrant, drugged with an aphrodisiac, barges in… And just like that, her long-hidden little secret is exposed. Yu Zao start 2kReads8.6Score255Shelves
42. 42 权 The Powerful Minister's Little Spoiled Concubine Is Doted on to No End 权臣家的小作妾被宠上了天 The House Star Is a Star房星本是星Ancient Romance408k WordsCompleted [Also known as: A Heavenly Emperor’s Consort Gets Laid Off and Starts Over] She woke up to find herself another man’s concubine. The good news: he was the emperor. The bad news: the emperor was bankrupt, and she, a peony raised in a golden basin, was about to be handed over to a new owner. Meng Fu, about to be given away: ∑ (°口°๑)! What are you waiting for? Run! Meng Fu, having escaped one danger only to fall into another: ( ╯-_-)╯┴, ┴… Just destroy the world already. - As the fifth son of 5.2kReads9.0Score564Shelves
43. 43 甄 Empresses in the Palace: A Virtuous Empress Slaughters Her Way Through the Court and Harem! 甄嬛传：一代贤后杀穿前朝后宫！ Lamenting the Gentle Rain惜萧萧素雨Female-Channel Fanfiction381k WordsCompleted Ulanara Yixiu, who has endured a lifetime of humiliation, is reborn before Rouze enters the household. This time, she loves no one. She will focus only on her children and her power, and watch as Chun Yuan loses her beauty and the emperor’s affection. But she never expected that once she stopped loving him, that scumbag would start coming after her instead. This is not a wish-fulfillment story! This is not a wish-fulfillment story! This is absolutely not a wish-fulfillment story!!! 2.9kReads8.1Score278Shelves

    Reader note

    👀👀👀👀👀👀

44. 44 大 Great Tang: Burning Paper for Myself from the Start 大唐：开局给自己烧纸 Being Fat Isn't a Problem胖不是问题Historical449k WordsCompleted After transmigrating to the Tang dynasty, he inherited the Li family’s fine traditions and lived up to the name Li Chengqian. The System had only just arrived, and its Host freeloaded off it for a whole year. But old ginger is spicier. Since the Host was so stingy, the System decided to target the people around him instead. All the Host could do was shed tears of regret. Even people who collected cardboard were driving BMWs. 1.4kReads7.2Score102Shelves
45. 45 令 Empress Lingyi: Yanwan, Give Me Back the Fortune You Stole 令懿皇后嬿婉：夺走的气运还给我 Jing Ning婧柠Female-Channel Fanfiction707k WordsCompleted [Story of Yanxi Palace fanfiction + lots of Ying Zhong pairing + sweet, satisfying happy ending + angst for Ruyi] Formerly titled: Empress Lingyi Yanwan: Give Me Back the Fortune You Stole No rivalry between women. No Ruyi-syndrome, and there are also warm sisterly moments, but revenge will be served without mercy. Reborn, Wei Yanwan thrived, avoiding every mistake that had once given her away. Together with Jinzong, who had also been reborn, she tore away Ruyi's hypocritical mask and reclaimed 8.4kReads9.6Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    In Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, Wei Yanwan and Jinzhong are both focused on their careers, isn't that satisfying? [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace fanfiction + high Jinzhong/Wei Yanwan CP content + sweet and satisfying HE + a lot of angst] Formerly known as: Empress Lingyi Wan: Give me back the luck that was stolen. No female competition, get rid of Yi syndrome. There is also a warm sisterhood, but she will not hesitate to take revenge.

46. 46 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

    Reader note

    A powerful and entertaining ensemble drama set in a palace intrigue world. Everyone's vying for power, with little romance; it's all about self-interest, very realistic, and includes some suggestive scenes.

47. 47 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

    Reader note

    I was really enjoying the first book, but I stopped reading the second one after a while, and I don't know why. Anyway, both books were probably okay...

48. 48 风 Willows in the Wind 风中柳 Yu Ling雨泠Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Ruthless heroine➕female-lead power fantasy➕light ensemble-style palace intrigue➕face-slapping and scum-bashing➕primarily focused on building her career] (Female lead is a virgin; male lead is not) Jiang Fu, the Jiang family’s fifteen-year-old illegitimate daughter, was lovely and graceful. Unfortunately, her stepmother was cruel and her father was heartless. As an illegitimate daughter, she had no say even in the marriage that mattered most to a woman. Her family could manipulate her as they p 2.1kReads8.8Score293Shelves
49. 49 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 87.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Both are palace intrigue novels, and the female protagonists are very clear-headed and intelligent. They don't love the male protagonist and know that there is no love in the palace.

50. 50 皇 Your Majesty, I Think Your Palace Maid Is Cursing You Again 皇上，你家宫女好像又在骂你 Six Yuan六元钱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The irresistible appeal of what you once rejected + powerful men bowing their heads + a double-standard male lead + raising her before a story of power and statecraft + romantic push and pull + he truly doesn’t love her at first, but gives his all once he does] Su Nanchu is unruly. Shen Jingzhi has always known that. But life in the palace is dull, and he doesn’t mind having a little plaything who can kick and scream. She becomes his daily amusement: reading memorials, practicing calligraphy, a 11.3kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book: [A suspicious emperor vs. A cunning and courageous palace maid] The second book: [The ex-wife's fierce rivalry vs. The later-stage male lead's fierce competition for love]

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