Palace and Household Intrigue Novels, Preferably Rated 9.5 or Higher, With a Tight, Fast-Paced Plot 求宫斗宅斗文，最好是9.5分以上剧情紧凑不拖沓的

1. 1 岁 Years in the Palace 岁岁宫阙 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance706k WordsCompleted Liu Yuetang was sent to a country estate by her legitimate mother the day she was born. When she came of age, her older half-sister gave up her chance to enter the palace because of a dream, stole her match, and spent the night with her betrothed. Liu Yuetang went along with it and decided to enter the palace to carve out a bright future for herself. Once inside, she kept a low profile, learned the arts of the bedchamber, and mastered the art of playing hard to get, pouting coquettishly, and put 10.7kReads8.9Score1.4kShelves

   Reader note

   The first three books are by the same author and are very good. All seven of these books feature strong female leads and have happy endings. They are all very good, and I highly recommend the first three, especially books 1 and 2. I finished reading them all. I was reading the first book a few days ago and it made me cry when I got to the end. It's super good. Books 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are all books I've read before and they are very good (I'm not trying to put anyone down, I just really like books 1 and 2).

2. 2 谁 Who Says Being a Concubine Means Fighting in the Household? The Prince Takes It All on His Shoulders 谁说做妾要宅斗，王爷他一肩挑了 Qian Jinlai千金来Ancient Romance811k WordsOngoing [Transmigrate into a book + doted on by one man + palace intrigue + sweet and soft on the outside, ruthless underneath + unconventional, ambitious heroine] Zhu Shande, once a ruthless overachiever, transmigrated into a low-ranking bedchamber attendant at the Third Prince's residence, with no title or status. She had been sent there by the prince's sworn enemy. After this disastrous start, she took one look at the attendants' meager monthly pay of two coins and five coppers. Zhu Shande put aside 729Reads9.2Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   1. The female lead has a refined taste for life, wisdom, and a good acting ability. There are no melodramatic plots, no grievances, misunderstandings, or death scenes. After reading this book, my standards for male leads in doting romance novels have increased! 2. The female lead transmigrates into a book and discovers that the women in the male lead's harem each have their own scripts. The reborn and transmigrated women are all fighting each other. Every character is very vivid. Be careful and develop your strength. Both books are 9.5 Or higher in my opinion!

3. 3 王 A Concubine’s Daily Struggle to Stay Alive in the Prince’s Manor 王府侍妾的苟命日常 Panda Little Moneybags熊猫小财迷Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Intense Household Intrigue + A Touch of Ensemble Cast + Plot-Driven + Everyone Has Eight Hundred Schemes] After transmigrating into the body of a concubine in the Prince of Jing's residence, Xie Run only wants to live in peace and, ideally, reach a hundred years old. At first, everything in the prince's residence is orderly. The prince shares his favor equally, the princess consort's position is secure, and the secondary consorts and concubines know their place. Who could have guessed that ever 22.7kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves
4. 4 傲 The Haughty Empress's Concubine Conquest 傲娇娘娘的宠妃攻略 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance437k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue + historical romance + not mutually chaste + marriage first, love later She is the general’s younger sister, with an excellent family background and beauty to match. After she transmigrates, she wakes up caught in the schemes and betrayals of the imperial palace. To protect herself, she resolves to become the emperor’s favorite consort. When they first meet, he tells her, “I will never like a woman like you in this life.” Gu Qingyan successfully presents herself as somewhat 1.6kReads8.9Score141Shelves
5. 5 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 79.6kReads9.5Score8.9kShelves

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this palace intrigue novel. It truly captures the satisfying feeling of "lying down and doing nothing." A must-read for fans of palace intrigue novels! The female protagonist is remarkably clear-headed. She transmigrates into the body of an empress with no family background, no children, and no favor from the emperor. Instead of following the usual path of palace intrigue and vying for favor, she chooses to lie low and do nothing, adopting an attitude of not fighting, not vying for anything, and not trying to persuade or cause trouble. However, she is not the kind of weak person who can be manipulated by others. She has high intelligence and emotional intelligence, and is clear-headed and insightful!

6. 6 勾 Flirt with the Crown Prince, Become His Favorite Consort? A Piece of Cake 勾太子，宠妃？顺手的事儿 Snowy Dudu雪之嘟嘟Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance, sweet romance, sweet romance! We’ll say it three times because it’s important] She transmigrated? And became a favored concubine to the Crown Prince of the Jun Kingdom? After waking up one day, Mu Wantang finds herself inside a wish-fulfillment novel she had read recently, as the Crown Prince’s beloved concubine. Jun Chengyan, the Crown Prince of the Jun Kingdom and The Outcast, is breathtakingly handsome, elegant, and incomparably noble. The original owner was beautiful, but not 24.6kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves
7. 7 只 As Long as I Act Well, the Empress's Throne Is Mine 只要演技好，娘娘的凤位跑不了 A Bird's Wing一只鸟的翅膀Ancient Romance260k WordsCompleted Red bricks and green tiles, beauty all around. One shower of imperial favor, and from then on she advances step by step, finally ascending the throne to stand alongside the emperor. Her family is in decline? Her brother's career prospects are uncertain? Her sister's marriage prospects have come to nothing? See how Wen Ruo keeps true to herself in the harem, rises step by step, leads her family back to the top, helps her brother advance his career, and finds her sister a fine marriage! “This hare 2.4kReads9.0Score264Shelves

   Reader note

   The first three are palace intrigue novels, and the last one is a domestic intrigue novel; all are excellent and completed. Highly recommended!

8. 8 娇 So Pure and Innocent as a White Lotus, How Could She Be Scheming to Seduce Him? 娇娇纯净似白莲，怎会心机引诱？ Melon Egg瓜蛋Ancient Romance536k WordsCompleted [A femme fatale schemes for power, leading the hero step by step into ruin.] Jiang Yueyao is ruthless and destined to become empress. She first meets the emperor at a palace banquet. She is the most favored concubine of a minister, and after a palace consort publicly humiliates her, she drops to her knees and pleads for mercy, looking heartbreakingly beautiful beneath the dazzling palace lanterns. She meets the emperor for the second time in the study at her residence. Frantically fleeing her hu 3.9kReads9.0Score425Shelves
9. 9 斩 After Cutting Off My Romantic Delusions, I Became Invincible in the Harem 斩掉恋爱脑后我在后宫无敌了 Li Huan离欢Ancient Romance533k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue is the main focus; the heroine doesn't love the emperor] After becoming a palace candidate, Lin Yanzhi counts her advantages on her fingers. Beauty? None. At best, she's a modest, unassuming beauty. Family background? None. Her father is a seventh-rank county magistrate, and her mother is descended from a disgraced official. Money? Even less. Talent? Traditional characters are so hard to write! Besides, there's a genuinely talented woman in the palace who's skilled in poetry and 551Reads8.7Score103Shelves
10. 10 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 41.2kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves
11. 11 照 Dressed in Red: The Maid's Rise to Power 照红妆：通房丫鬟上位记 Sweet, Sweet Milk Candy奶糖甜甜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (New book updating) Haitang's rules for fighting in the inner household as a maidservant: First, be flexible. Second, don't let love cloud your judgment. Third, if a woman isn't ruthless, her position won't be secure. Haitang was breathtakingly beautiful but born into a lowly family. In her previous life, proud and unwilling to become a bedchamber maid, she was tortured to death by the principal wife. Reborn, she decided to live differently. Everyone thought she was reaching above her station ju 13.8kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves
12. 12 退 After Breaking Off the Engagement, the Foolish Princess Marries the Ninth Lord with Her Four Maids 退婚后，傻妃携四大丫鬟嫁九千岁 Clingy Little Tomato粘人小番茄Ancient Romance1.8M WordsOngoing [Palace Intrigue + Household Intrigue + Historical Romance + Princess Consort + Legitimate Daughter + Medical Skills + Two Powerful Leads + Cunning + Playing the Fool + Reborn + Fiercely Protective + Political Scheming] 99% of the comments are positive! Read with confidence! Su Qian, once the leader of a special forces unit in the apocalypse, died unexpectedly while carrying out a mission. With her portable medical space, she transmigrated to ancient times and into the residence of a great gener 23.3kReads8.1Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    The male and female leads team up: a pure battle of wits where misunderstandings are avoided, only tacit understandings of mutual exploitation prevail. The female lead's cheat ability is captivating: her medical space grants her modern-day superpowers, allowing her to heal and save lives while simultaneously committing murder and robbery. 🥺

13. 13 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 13.3kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    🥩🥩🥩At the tender age of fifteen, she had already lived fifteen years in ancient times, blossoming from an infant into a peerless beauty. At ten, she accidentally discovered that the world she found herself in was the setting of a novel she had read in modern times. In the book, the male protagonist, Jun Zechen, and the female protagonist, Ling Yue, went from youthful affection to mutual loathing. Su Jingyao, however, was given to the Crown Prince as a concubine by the Emperor when their love was at its peak. Ultimately, failing to win the Crown Prince's favor, she died in despair in the Eastern Palace. The modern-day Su Jingyao didn't believe in love, only in herself. Whether in the modern world or ancient times, she harbored lofty ambitions, desiring to soar to great heights. Men belonged to her; power was also something she coveted.

14. 14 九 Ninefold Brocade 九重锦 Evening Breeze Under the Moon月下晚风Ancient Romance715k WordsCompleted Household and palace intrigue, with the leads not both being each other's first. A fictional setting, with all ranks and titles made up. A heroine who grows over time and isn't blinded by love. After being suppressed for more than a decade, a concubine-born daughter has her fate rearranged overnight. Entering the prince's manor only fuels her ambition. Her birth father ignores her, allowing her stepmother to torment her and her mother for half their lives without ever offering them the slightest 35.1kReads9.3Score5.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! (^ω^)👍🏻 A great palace intrigue novel, especially the first one. Finally, it's the time-traveling, reborn characters who can't defeat the local ones!

15. 15 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 120.1kReads9.5Score11.3kShelves
16. 16 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 56.6kReads9.5Score7kShelves
17. 17 诈 After Faking His Death, He Went Mad 诈死后，他疯了 Her Mountain她山Ancient Romance352k WordsCompleted The heroine was transmigrated into a book before birth + the hero is a native of the world + young love and marriage + rekindled romance + two hopeless romantics + always choosing each other To put her gravely ill father at ease, Jiang Wan married the man he had taken in. After her father passed away, the man said he would take her home. She never imagined he would take her straight to Prince Duan's residence in the capital. Only then did she learn he was Zhao Zhixing, the emperor's fifth son a 142.8kReads8.6Score12.8kShelves

    Reader note

    1. The female protagonist transmigrates into the body of the male protagonist's concubine. She doesn't vie for favor or take initiative, but eventually becomes the most favored concubine in the entire palace. (Completed) 2. The female protagonist transmigrates and becomes the male protagonist's concubine. The male protagonist is a prince, favored by his mother, and arrogant and domineering. The female protagonist thinks he's playing the villain, so she acts recklessly. Later… 3. The female protagonist transmigrates and becomes the owner of a rouge shop. One day, a woman living with her rescues a refined and noble man. She only wants to stay away, but the man's identity is unusual, and assassins frequently try to kill him. The female protagonist, caught in the crossfire, lives a miserable life. Two months later, the man finally leaves. The female protagonist, overjoyed, takes a huge sum of "emotional damages" and runs away. But in the end, she couldn't escape and was captured and brought back to the Eastern Palace... 4. The female lead is reborn into a book and becomes the male lead's childhood husband. After the original female lead appears, she decisively fakes her death. She seems to be clear-headed, but in reality, it's a two-way rush of love between two people (completed). 5. The plot is roughly similar to 1, but it's a different viewing experience.

18. 18 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    It's so incredibly good, so incredibly good! The later episodes feature the emperor's exclusive favor; he absolutely adores her.

19. 19 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
20. 20 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

    Reader note

    These are all my most treasured palace intrigue novels.

21. 21 谁 What Kind of Concubine Bears Four Sons and a Daughter, Then Becomes a Noble Consort? 谁家通房生四儿一女，还当贵妃啊 Autumn Is Long秋很长Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + One-on-one romance + Many children + Sweet romance + Inner- and imperial-palace intrigue] In the fortieth year of the Xihe era, Lüqing became a concubine-in-waiting to Prince Jin. She knew full well that she had to earn Prince Jin's favor and give birth to a child as soon as possible if she wanted to secure her place in the prince's household. For eight years, she contended with the other women in the inner court, using every means at her disposal to 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves
22. 22 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 69kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves
23. 23 穿 After I Transmigrated, I Became the Frail Moonlight of the Entire Imperial Harem 穿越后我成了全后宫的病弱白月光 Si Qian and Porridge司千和粥Ancient Romance379k WordsCompleted Rising star Wan Lai'er transmigrates overnight and becomes Wan Jiaojiao, a palace lady who died just after entering the imperial palace of the Great Jin dynasty. With her “bounce back from the brink, refill the mana bar” skill, Wan Jiaojiao isn't afraid of a thing. As long as she's still breathing, she can't die. What?! The horse beside the Empress Dowager has bolted? Wan Jiaojiao says, “Leave it to me!” The Empress Dowager declares, “Jiaojiao saved my life. I want to see who in the harem dares 2.7kReads9.3Score403Shelves
24. 24 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 34.7kReads9.0Score2.7kShelves
25. 25 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 265.2kReads9.6Score31kShelves

    Reader note

    This series was devoured by a discerning bookworm, read through bit by bit. You can buy it without hesitation; it's a series you won't be able to stop reading once you start. All volumes are complete, so you can enjoy them all at once!

26. 26 穿 The Daily Life of a Laid-Back Concubine After Transmigrating 穿越之闲鱼妾室的日常 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance480k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + household and palace intrigue + no golden finger + devoted love later on] Zhang Xinian transmigrated into the body of a concubine in Prince Jing’s household. Above her was the princess consort, backed by powerful connections and ruthless in her methods. Beside her was a brainless side consort with overwhelming fighting prowess. Below her, a reborn woman and a transmigrated woman were locked in fierce competition. Zhang Xinian trembled with fear. She had no golden finger and did 104.7kReads9.4Score12.2kShelves
27. 27 谢 The Xie Family's Short-Lived Son Has Lived to a Hundred 谢家的短命鬼长命百岁了 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] The lid of a dead person's coffin won't lie flat because they had an unresolved longing in life. Given time, that longing turns into a demonic obsession, and unless it is resolved, their descendants will suffer. Yan Sanhe's job is to release the dead from their obsessions. One day, she gets hounded by Third Master Xie, who claims to have one. Yan Sanhe says she doesn't deal with the living. Third Master Xie replies, “Everyone says I won't live long. Just think of 125.4kReads9.6Score17kShelves
28. 28 技 The Concubine with Maxed-Out Skills Is Turning Herself into an Empress? 技能拉满的侍妾，卷成皇后了？ White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted Empress Wenzhao was a famously bewitching consort and the most talented empress. The way she has been judged and defined throughout her life has changed many times, but that has never diminished her status or the value of studying her. [System + Raising Kids + Relentless Competition] Thanks to being well fed at home, Qi Jiao was plump and rosy-cheeked. After a flood, she was sold into the palace as a maid, and when she got a little older, she was assigned to the empress’s palace. A few years lat 12.5kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
29. 29 绝 The Peerless Princesses: Past and Present 绝代双妃之前世今生 Jiuyou Xiandi九瑶仙蒂Ancient Romance579k WordsOngoing [Two transmigrated souls + two strong heroines + satisfying revenge + ensemble cast + face-slapping + sweet romance] After transmigrating into another body, Situ Yue becomes the ugly, foolish legitimate daughter of a general's household. There she meets Murong Xin, another transmigrator, and the two become sworn sisters. The sickly Second Prince, the rakish and carefree Third Prince, and the Supreme Martial Emperor Yan... All kinds of characters make their entrances, while the threads of fate qu 52Reads9.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A historical romance novel featuring palace intrigue, two female leads, time travel, multiple couples, and sweet romance. It's a system-free story with a delicate writing style and high-quality prose. Many details are meticulously depicted. As a ten-year veteran reader, I highly recommend this novel!

30. 30 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. 5.9kReads9.2Score846Shelves
31. 31 桃 Ride Out to Battle, Peach Blossoms in My Wake 桃花马上请长缨 June六月Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of June's novel, Power and Favor 3: Power and Favor in the Capital, is now available on Hongguo App. She cared for her in-laws and used her dowry to support the General's household, only for him to use his hard-won military achievements to ask for the female general's hand as his equal wife. Zhan Beiwang mocked her. “Song Xixie, do you know that your fine clothes, rich food, and glittering jewels all come from General Yi Fang and me fighting bloody battles to hold back 15kReads9.5Score5.5kShelves
32. 32 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 14.7kReads9.4Score1.2kShelves
33. 33 山 Beauty and Strategy in a Land of Rivers and Mountains 山河美人谋 Moonset月落Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Proud young lady who always gets even vs. frail, scheming Ninth Prince] Her fiancé was a total jerk, and he was planning to kill her to keep her quiet. Ye Jiao decided to strike first and find a scapegoat while she was at it. She thought the scapegoat would be a transparent, sickly “living corpse,” but rumors were misleading. He was clearly a two-faced, deeply cunning Ninth Prince. After Ye Jiao used the Ninth Prince’s name to punish her scumbag fiancé, Li Ce, the real Ninth Prince: “Miss, I be 18.3kReads9.5Score2.6kShelves
34. 34 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 47.7kReads9.5Score6.1kShelves
35. 35 穿EN After Becoming the Villainess, I Clear My Name Every Day 穿成恶女后每天都在洗白 Gathering Vetch, Gathering Vetch采薇采薇Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Everyone’s Darling + Adorable Kids + Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy]: Transmigrating into a lovesick woman, Tang Zhuyun wakes up in the middle of a scene where she’s climbing into a man’s bed. She turns around and runs. Forget this bed, she’s not getting in! Who needs a man when her father is the top scholar, her brother is the top scholar, and even her son will be the top scholar? They’ll protect her, so she can do whatever she wants! As a master physician, she’ll focus on her career, save lives, and k 33.5kReads9.3Score4.7kShelves
36. 36 攀 Ascending to the Dragon's Heights 攀龍 Kaji Yellow Peach咔叽黄桃Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted A flirtatious widow with a child ✖️ a reserved warlord who becomes the founding emperor [Complete] Lou Mizhi was born a woman who never learned to accept her lot in life. If she wanted something, she took it by her own merit, even if she had to snatch it away. Her first husband was short-lived and ill-fated, and his family wanted to burn her and her child to ashes? Bah! As if I’d let you! She hid her savings and took her child away from her late husband’s family. With no one to protect them in t 40.6kReads9.4Score5.8kShelves

    Reader note

    It's a palace intrigue and domestic power struggle story, but it's interwoven with political intrigue, with a significant focus on the latter. The female lead has an ex-husband and children, and her journey from concubine to empress and finally to emperor is quite complex.

37. 37 娘 The Empress Doesn't Want Palace Intrigue, but the Emperor Keeps Stirring Things Up 娘娘不想宫斗，奈何皇上带节奏 Geng Jiujiu耿啾啾Ancient Romance652k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, Palace Intrigue, Political Scheming, Not Both Pure, Absurd Comedy, Devoted Love Later On] Shen Jinruo transmigrated into the body of a low-ranking concubine who had no favor from the emperor. Having lost her freedom, she’d planned to keep her head down and quietly build up her strength. But she soon discovered that in this harem, even if you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will find you. To survive, Shen Jinruo worked hard to adapt and officially joined the harem’s struggl 2.2kReads8.9Score220Shelves

    Reader note

    If you like palace intrigue and domestic power struggle novels, come on in! This is a must-read series, so many books to keep you entertained. Read them one by one at your own pace [smirk]. They're all so quiet once you start reading! Add them to your bookshelf and enjoy them slowly [eating melon emoji][eating melon emoji]

38. 38 陵 Lingrong Reborn: The Rules of Surviving in the Harem 陵容重生之：后宫生存法则 Big Mai Mai大麦麦呢Female-Channel Fanfiction688k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Rebirth + Golden Finger + Mostly an Ensemble Harem Cast + TV Adaptation Fanfiction] After An Lingrong died, her spirit wandered for three years. When the emperor died, she was reborn at the moment of her birth. Little An Lingrong uses her golden finger to save her grandfather and change the fate of the entire An family. But as the wheels of fate turn, she still cannot escape her destiny of entering the palace. So be it. Let us see what happens in this life. How Noble Lady An t 7.9kReads8.9Score954Shelves

    Reader note

    A different An Lingrong, no longer insecure or calculating, but with a strong sense of family background, social standing, and sisters.

39. 39 开 From the Start, I Tore Apart My Treacherous Sister. The Fourth Miss Is Done Pretending 开局手撕渣姐，四小姐她不装了 The Pen Name That Doesn’t Need Zhouzhou不用周周的笔名Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted Lin Suisui is the illegitimate daughter of a duke’s household. In her previous life, she finally clawed her way up to the position of Noble Consort, only to get killed by someone? She didn’t even know how she died. Can you imagine anything more frustrating? Now that she’s living again, of course she’s going to find out exactly what happened. From the start, she tears into her treacherous stepsister... She lays traps at every turn, first saving her family, then the crown prince... After entering 44.3kReads8.1Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I would call this book the pinnacle of palace intrigue and domestic drama; the ending is crisp and clean, and the story doesn't drag on.

40. 40 娘 The Empress Doesn't Fight for Favor, the Emperor Crowns Her Empress 娘娘不宫斗，帝王捧上后位 Breezy Giggles凉风嘻嘻Ancient Romance293k WordsCompleted [A Dark, Unhinged Emperor vs. A Wild and Alluring Consort: Not a Pure Romance, but Full of Devotion, Thrills, and Sweetness!] Jiang Shu transmigrates into the harem of a tyrant, becoming an obscure Noble Lady. She thinks she’ll just keep her head down in the palace until old age. But then, to survive, she throws herself into the tyrant’s arms. The emperor adores her beyond measure! He clears out his entire harem for her and puts her on the throne as empress. From then on, their life as emperor a 1.3kReads9.1Score136Shelves
41. 41 宫 Spring in the Imperial Palace 宫闱春 Dare to Draw a Mulberry Bow敢挽桑弓Ancient Romance246k WordsCompleted [Female Lead in Palace Intrigue + Male Lead in Political Schemes + High-IQ Cast + Beautiful, Unhinged Characters + Ensemble Cast] An alternate-world story. The female lead is highly intelligent, clear-headed, and no lovesick fool. From the moment she enters the palace, Jiang Wanqing knows she will spend her whole life within these walls. She never forgets one thing: she wants to become empress. She also knows that the current emperor, Zhou Qijing, cares only about royal power and dominion. So sh 669Reads8.7Score112Shelves
42. 42 御 The Imperial Physician’s Shocking Secret Diagnosis: I Foiled a Major Rebellion 御医惊天秘诊：我反手平定谋反大案 Rainbow Little Tiger彩虹小老虎Ancient Romance23k WordsCompleted The Imperial Physician's Astonishing Secret Diagnosis: I Turned Around and Foiled a Major Rebellion 19Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A dramatic power struggle at Swan Palace! The royal physician accidentally uncovers a royal secret, leading to three deadly assassination attempts. The princess is framed and imprisoned, her daughter risks her life to rescue her, and the general of the northern frontier secretly plots a rebellion. The plot twists and turns, keeping the entire series suspenseful and engaging. The power struggles are gripping and will have your palms sweating. [Shocking]

43. 43 卿 Qingqing, May You Be at Peace 卿卿其安 Gu Mingyu顾铭钰Ancient Romance251k WordsOngoing Everyone in the capital knew that the Xie family's legitimate daughter, Xie Zhaoyue, was ruthless. She pushed her half-sister into a pond with her own hands and watched coldly as she sank. Later, she went far away to Wu Commandery. After years of planning, she finally married into the Eastern Palace, just as she had hoped. She thought the game was already won. But what awaited her was the execution of the entire Xie family. Her mother left her only one message: "As long as you are here, the Xie 109Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not a lighthearted, sweet story; the overall tone is somber, with many political intrigue elements. The female lead navigates various factions through her experience and forbearance. The mother-daughter partnership is a major highlight; neither side is solely responsible for the other's safety, and the two support each other, making the plot increasingly tense as it progresses.

44. 44 原 I Thought the Imperial Palace Was a Prison, but the Emperor Held Me by the Waist and Spoiled Me 原以深宫似海，却被帝王锁腰娇宠 Ningning Zi柠柠梓Ancient Romance506k WordsCompleted [Pure historical romance + Empress + Devoted couple and sweet romance + Male lead has planned this for a long time + Not a serious palace-intrigue story] Lu Zhiyuan is the cherished youngest daughter of the Duke of Dingguo’s household. She is exquisitely beautiful, with an accomplished elder brother who supports the family’s prestige and a second elder sister skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting who brings the family honor. She has no need to contribute anything to the family, and 12.6kReads8.9Score1.2kShelves
45. 45 团 Everyone's Favorite: Why Does Everyone Fall in Love at First Sight? 团宠万人迷，怎么个个都一见钟情 Maple Leaf Red Peach枫叶红桃Ancient Romance426k WordsOngoing [Reborn in another world|Historical intrigue|Mutual push and pull|Two powerful leads who dote on each other|Everyone’s favorite|Ensemble cast] Reborn into a new life, Qiao Xi left behind the ordinary existence she had known and stepped into the turbulent court of the Great Sheng dynasty. She traveled between the capital and Liangzhou, getting drawn into one political power struggle after another. She was perceptive and sensible, always measured, and never let emotion cloud her judgment in import 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Rebirth in Another World | Ancient Chinese Political Intrigue | Two-Way Pull | Two Strong Individuals with Favoritism | Popular and Beloved | Ensemble Cast] Reborn, Qiao Xi escapes her ordinary life and enters the turbulent court of the Great Sheng Dynasty. She travels between the capital and Liangzhou, becoming embroiled in layers of power struggles. Intelligent and insightful, she is always measured and never acts impulsively. She sees through the wickedness of the court, yet remains sincere and gentle, unwilling to follow the crowd or engage in scheming. This rare purity makes several exceptionally handsome young men willingly fall for her! Crown Prince Li Linwan, a shrewd and calculating ruler, is destined to rule the world. He is usually calm and composed, but he frequently loses control when facing Qiao Xi. Outwardly arrogant and aloof, prone to tantrums and mood swings, he secretly protects her in everything he does, showing favoritism and even breaking rules for her sake. The top scholar, Wen Baichuan, gentle and refined, sincere and passionate, is Qiao Xi's most tender source of strength amidst the chaos. They fall in love at first sight, their affections running deep. He not only patiently teaches her to play the flute and pledges his love to her, ensuring her future is secure, but also has the devoted protection of the young general from Liangzhou, silently supporting her and building a safe haven for her in this turbulent world. The world envies Qiao Xi's privileged life, favored by countless powerful figures, living a carefree and unrestrained existence. But no one knows that it's not just good fortune that makes her successful; it's Lin Wan's restraint and self-control that makes her so, and it's Wen Baichuan's selfless devotion and willingness to come to her side. Power struggles and worldly affairs are all illusions, all worldly splendor is fleeting; only Qiao Xi remains their sole obsession and tenderness in this life. A chance encounter in another world, a mutual journey, everyone's deep affection, the favoritism of thousands, reserved only for her. 😄

46. 46 反 The Villain's Dad Is Reborn 反派他爹重生了 Top of the Ox-and-Horse World牛马届天花板Female-Channel Fanfiction8k WordsCompleted The Villain’s Father Has Been Reborn —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Beautiful! Beautiful!

47. 47 回 After Returning from the Dead, the Powerful Blocked My Bedside: Your Highness, Don’t Do This 回魂后权贵强堵床角：殿下别这样 Dearest Meow卿卿我喵Ancient Romance144k WordsOngoing [Forced Possession + 1Vn + Unhinged + 1v1 Ending + The Wife-Chasing Crematorium + The Native Fights Back Against Body Snatchers] The female lead is not a virgin! You’ll be well fed! The male leads are devoted to her in body and soul in every sense, but they’re crazy and doglike. You can consider all the men virgins. The heroine is weak, and this isn’t a wish-fulfillment story. If you know, you know. Come on in if you like this kind of story. When Shen Yu woke up, he discovered that his stunning 11Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a historical romance novel full of hidden mysteries. The protagonist has lost his memory and lives in a quiet courtyard. His recurring dreams contain unknown clues, and foreshadowing is left everywhere beneath the surface of ordinary daily life. The content is of outstanding quality and highly recommended.

48. 48 并 Twin Blossoms 并蒂双生姐妹花 Xu Yang, Who Loves Sorghum Liquor爱吃高粱酒的虚泱Ancient Romance15k WordsCompleted Twin sisters, blossoms on a single stem 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Recommended book. Like twin flowers in bloom, one bright, one dark; the elder sister dies tragically, the younger sister enters the game, willing to overthrow the court. From the very beginning, someone has been lurking in the shadows in this game of chess.

49. 49 重 Reborn in the Dragon Bed, the Beloved Consort Cries in the Emperor's Arms 重生在龙塌，宠妃抱着陛下哭 Staggering Along蹒跚行Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [A spoiled, sweetly obedient favorite consort VS a gentle, jade-like emperor who's sweet on the outside and ruthless within (they are not each other's first, but he dotes on her exclusively from the beginning to the end)] Jiang Shuyi's life as a favorite consort went smoothly for fifteen years. The emperor was gentle and benevolent, doting on her without restraint, and not a single woman in the harem dared challenge her. But she was blind to her own sister's treachery. In the end, her closest 101.2kReads9.2Score11.2kShelves
50. 50 娇 The Sweet, Beloved Consort Who Bewitches Hearts 娇娇宠妃惑人心 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Not a pure couple; he dotes on her exclusively later on; a little palace intrigue; the heroine is a master flirt; story complete] She transmigrated from the modern world. Quirky and clever, she was also a brilliant actress. Emperor Shengwu could govern with effortless command, bring peace and stability to the realm, and win battles from a thousand miles away, striking fear across the four seas. He was an emperor who held all power in his hands and ruled over all beneath the heavens. Yun Mengq 56.6kReads9.3Score6.9kShelves

Other lists with Years in the Palace