Any Stories About Political Intrigue, Masterminds, and Biding One's Time? 有没有权谋、布局、隐忍之类的

1. 301 魔 The Demon Lord Descends to the Mortal Realm: From the Start, I Find the Empress's Embroidered Ball 魔尊下凡：开局捡到女帝绣球 Tai Moshen太末生Eastern Fantasy378k WordsOngoing [From the start, her kingdom is falling, and the embroidered ball she throws hits the Demon Venerable who fell from the sky!] What did Feng Qingyue do wrong? Her kingdom was doomed the moment she ascended the throne! Cornered by the leaders of two enemy nations, she threw an embroidered ball to choose between them, offering herself as a sacrifice. The instant the ball flew, a drunkard fell from the sky and caught it perfectly! The ministers cried, “Where did this good-for-nothing come from? Drag 34Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The Demon Lord descends to the mortal realm to seduce the Empress.

2. 302 火 The Fire Phoenix Returns to Court, Stunning the World with Her First Cry 火凤还朝，一鸣惊天 Old Boy in the Clouds云中的老童Ancient Romance148k WordsOngoing For thirty years, the Left and Right Chancellor's households stood against each other, their influence deeply rooted throughout the court. The emperor and the two chancellor's households formed a three-way balance of power. A carefully laid scheme, an imperial edict granting a marriage, and a top-secret report about the “Fire Phoenix's Return to Court” repeatedly pushed the Left Chancellor's household into a dead end. Yet with protagonist Helan Yu's schemes and the perfect cooperation of her fat 2Reads—Score—Shelves

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   It was a perilous and nerve-wracking experience.

3. 303 尘 Dust Mountain 尘埃山 Bystander Joe旁观路人甲Historical1.4M WordsCompleted This story follows ordinary people struggling to survive through the long, chaotic ninety years of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It portrays how a group of common folk make their way in life, far from the halls of power, with no special advantages or extraordinary encounters. Like specks of dust drifting through time, they endure the weight of the years, unnoticed and unheard. 392Reads8.4Score—Shelves

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   [Learned it][Already want it][Added to my bookshelf][I also highly recommend it][Currently working on a manuscript][A masterpiece by Sparrow Eater][Got it]

4. 304 盟 The Mengjin Crossing 盟津渡 Facing South from the Mountain朝山南Historical267k WordsCompleted Also known as The Awakening of the Ferry Boy. Wu Heyuan, a young man from a Yellow River ferry crossing, suffers the massacre of his entire family, and his younger sister goes missing. After delivering a letter to the Weishui Alliance for a mysterious stranger, he becomes Jiang Shang’s disciple and embarks on a path of political intrigue. When his sister is trained to become an enemy nation’s assassin, when his beloved tastes poison to save him from the brink of death, and when his master gives —Reads—Score—Shelves

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   I recommend this book. It's full of political intrigue, scheming, and forbearance, with a thrilling and suspenseful plot.

5. 305 海 Above the Begonia Branches 海棠枝上 Zhu Weiyu朱维玉Ancient Romance515k WordsCompleted A richly textured alternate-history novel with no transmigration and no golden fingers. There is little palace or household intrigue. Instead, it focuses on the choices and resilience of dozens of men and women as they face setbacks and hardship. The plot is well designed, the storyline flows smoothly, and the characters are vividly drawn. Patriotism, responsibility, courage, and strategy are all woven into the story. Conflict, war, and unification: at last, peace reigns throughout the land. To 60Reads8.0Score—Shelves

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   It's a pure ancient romance novel with a very compelling male lead who has been patiently plotting for ten years. The storyline is smooth, the writing is simple and elegant, the characters are well-developed, and the female lead is incredibly intelligent and charming!

6. 306 侠 The Elusive Shadow of the Wandering Hero 侠影迷离风满楼 Evening Dreams, Still Serene晚梦亦清欢Eastern Fantasy358k WordsCompleted Many untold stories circulate through this turbulent jianghu! A man searching for the past has a sword, a friend, and a confidante. Seeking the truth will ultimately plunge him into a fate from which there is no escape, but he firmly believes the answer lies somewhere in this jianghu… What breathtaking twists will this tangled web of love and hate bring him? One man, one horse, one jianghu; a longing, a dream. No one knows what waits at the end of the dream… Where does the past lie? What is just 21Reads8.6Score—Shelves

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   On the journey of life, you and I are together!

7. 307 我 I Debate the Classics with Great Scholars in the Embroidered Uniform Guard 我在锦衣卫跟大儒辩经 A Grain of Rice in the Vast Blue Sea沧海茫茫粒米身Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Yang Zhi, a top salesman and philosophy graduate student in his previous life, transmigrates to the end of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Through a twist of fate, he joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard, passes the imperial examination, enters the Hanlin Academy, and debates the classics with the great scholars at court! 5kReads8.8Score354Shelves

   Reader note

   The most realistic time-travel political intrigue novel set in the Ming Dynasty! Ingenious plot, authentic historical background, historically accurate character portrayals, and unpredictable twists and turns! You won't know the answer until the very end!

8. 308 龙 Dragon and Elephant 龙象 He Was Once a Boy他曾是少年Eastern Fantasy2.1M WordsCompleted Some playboys drink and carouse night after night, lost in drunken revelry, while generals die on the battlefield, their bones left to wither. Clashing blades and galloping horses, pleasures of the bedchamber: all are but human suffering. The imperial court and the martial world, full of deceit and intrigue, end with bodies buried in yellow earth. Buddhas mighty as dragons and lowly pawns crossing the river, none who set out ever return. 63Reads8.5Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   These are all! The first book, in the same style as "The Snow Sword". The second book, "The Rise of the Jurchens: Annihilation in Their Infancy," details the early stages of their rise. The third book feels like it has the flavor of Jin Yong and Gu Long novels. The fourth book replaces Confucian classics with science, enlightening the people.

9. 309 大 The Lords of Great Zhou 大周王侯 Big Apple大苹果Historical5.9M WordsCompleted Tread the thorny road, turn the course of fate and Kunlun, bask in flourishing beauty, and bring prosperity to all under heaven. 13Reads8.0Score—Shelves
10. 310 河 The Heyin Coup: Empress Dowager Ling's Sixteen-Year Thirst for Power 河阴之变一灵太后的十六年权欲 Yue Fan Who Loves Barroth喜欢土砂龙的月帆Historical112k WordsCompleted Hu of the Northern Wei, the Empress Dowager Ling, was born into the Hu clan of Anding. Because her aunt was a Buddhist nun, she was able to enter the palace as a child. At the time, the Northern Wei's harsh old rule dictated that a mother must die when her son became crown prince. She insisted on giving birth to Yuan Xu anyway, and won that gamble with death. On the night Emperor Xuanwu died suddenly, she evaded an assassination attempt by the Gao clan with the protection of Yu Zhong and Cui Gua 19Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Give me a book on political intrigue

11. 311 汉 The Son of Heaven of Han 汉天子 Six Paths六道Historical4.2M WordsCompleted At the end of the Western Han, Wang Mang usurps the throne and chaos engulfs the realm. A commoner draws his sword and strides into the turmoil. He devises strategies from afar and campaigns across ninety thousand li, his sword pointed at eight hundred feudal lords, daring them to defy him. He fights in every direction, sweeps away the warlords who have carved up the land, and brings the realm under control. He rules with benevolence and devotes himself to good governance, gathering every outsta 3.3kReads8.8Score386Shelves
12. 312 噬 Tears of the Gu 噬蛊泪 Jiang Chan, Who Loves Thai Lions喜欢泰狮的江蝉Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted After transmigrating, a brain surgeon saves a sickly, sweet-on-the-outside, dark-on-the-inside patient, only to get herself caught up in the mess too. The male lead is ill from the start, but he’s no pushover. The female lead soon cures him, and then he takes on the whole world. The Ci’en Clinic has been practicing medicine for generations. To inherit the family business and investigate the deaths of her father and brother, Lin Yun has long disguised herself as a man while treating patients. O 38Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Scheming and calculating all the way, she exudes elegance and pride. The female lead is extremely clear-headed and calm, while the male lead is seemingly sickly but actually cunning. All the supporting characters possess extraordinary intelligence, engaging in a battle of wits and courage. A fierce competition amidst a bloodbath, a tragic love story.

13. 313 日 Japan's Warring States: The Ambitions of the Man Who Would Rule the World 日本战国：天下人的野望 Lan Bingche岚冰澈Historical278k WordsOngoing Reborn after death, he transmigrated to Japan’s Sengoku era, right at the time of the Incident at Honnoji. The Sixth Heaven’s Demon King, Oda Nobunaga, was destined to die. Japan, on the verge of unification, would once again fall into a patchwork of warring powers. As the saying goes, heroes are made by their times, and heroes also emerge from their times. Now, the times belong to me. The ambition to rewrite the history of Sengoku Japan and rise to the pinnacle of power as the ruler of the real 165Reads—Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    A top-tier political strategy layout without a systematic approach has arrived.

14. 314 宰 Ruling the Realm 宰执天下 cuslaaHistorical7.3M WordsCompleted The ruler governs as prime minister; the executor administers the state. Serving the monarch above and bringing peace to the common people below, with all ministers yielding the way and receiving honors above every official: this is the prime minister. Assisting in government, setting national policy, and countersigning imperial edicts, second only to the prime minister: this is the chief administrator. After an air disaster, He Fang leaped a thousand years into the past, returning to the Northe 518Reads9.0Score—Shelves
15. 315 诡 The Fog of a Bizarre Case 诡案迷雾 Bystander Joe旁观路人甲Historical684k WordsOngoing A historical mystery and political intrigue novel set in the fictionalized Wu Zhou period of the Tang dynasty, around the fifteenth year of Wu Zhou. It follows the protagonist and his companions as they enter government service and become entangled in a series of criminal cases, as well as the gripping struggle over the succession to the throne at the Luoyang court. This is my second novel. I hope you enjoy it, and I’ll do my best to tell a good story! 88Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Learned it][Already want to read it][Added to bookshelf][Masterpiece by Sparrow][Currently working on a manuscript][Thumbs up]

16. 316 谋 Scheming for a Beauty 谋红颜 Big and Little Orange Cats大小橘猫Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted A flood swept away Ru Yu's mother. Everyone said it was a natural disaster, but she alone knew for certain that someone had lowered the iron floodgate with a sneer as the waters surged in. To uncover the mystery behind it, she resolutely descended from Mount Kuocang. Making herself a pawn, she stepped into the treacherous game of power unfolding across the land. 37Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The political intrigue and the rise to power have ended.

17. 317 以 Fight Violence with Violence: From Tyrant to Emperor for the Ages 以暴制暴，从暴君杀成千古一帝 Red Moon Fish赤月鱼Historical364k WordsOngoing [Alternate History + No System + Emperor's Rise + Decisive and Ruthless + Multiple Heroines + Plenty of Heartbreak] Transmigrated to Great Qian, with a court full of treacherous officials, the Rong tribes invading from the south, and the empire on the brink of collapse. Facing this disastrous start, Qin Xuan says, “Don't panic. Just watch as I, Your Majesty, fight my way to peace across the land and everlasting prosperity!” 269Reads9.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The time-traveling male protagonist initially embodies the tyrant archetype, cruelly persecuting the entire families of treacherous officials! His brutality continues unabated as long as the treacherous officials are eliminated, driven by a "I'll listen to any slander" mentality, resulting in a court full of corrupt officials turning on each other! It's hilarious!

18. 318 千 One Slip After a Thousand Careful Thoughts 千虑一失 Old Dong from Yichang宜昌老董Mystery315k WordsCompleted [Criminal Investigation] [Mystery and Deduction] [No Supernatural Elements] A man commits a brazen crime in front of the police and jumps into a river during the manhunt, but the body they find in the water is not the culprit’s. Afterward, new victims appear one after another in an apartment elevator, at a hospital, and outside the Public Security Bureau, setting off a kidnapping crisis as well. Four people die in a single day. Is this a deliberate provocation, or is something else at play? Face 62Reads8.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The recently concluded crime thriller novel, *A Thousand Considerations, One Mistake*, is thrilling, mind-bending, full of foreshadowing and constant plot twists. A man commits a crime and jumps into the river, but the body recovered isn't his. In the following day, four more people die, and the serial murders unexpectedly connect to three cold cases from 25 years ago. The prime suspect turns out to be the male captain of the special investigation team's elementary school teacher and the policewoman's childhood savior.

19. 319 刘 Liu Yu: Finding My Way at 35 刘裕：35岁不迷茫 Sun Lang Zichu孙郎子楚Historical141k WordsCompleted The toughest emperor in Chinese history: Liu Yu. He founded his dynasty through a hundred battles, rising from an impoverished gambler to become an emperor. He shattered the rigid class system of the Jin Dynasty and founded the Song, where men of humble birth could rise and take charge. Liu Yu's story has war, political intrigue, beautiful women, and great ambition, but no made-up history. Xie Lingyun, Tao Yuanming, Pei Songzhi, Wang Zhen'e, Tan Daoji, Liu Muzhi, Shen Yue, and many others appear 243Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Yes, Liu Yu's rise to power is a classic example of political maneuvering. The characters' analysis of situations, choices, and psychological states are based on my real-life experience navigating the officialdom for over a decade.

20. 320 神 The Medical Hero of Shennongjia: Yin Chengzhu 神农架之医侠尹成竹 Between the Mountains方寸山间Eastern Fantasy770k WordsCompleted Born in Shennongjia, famed as “Central China's Most Beautiful Mountain and River,” the protagonist, Yin Chengzhu, came into the world amid the Buddha's light at Yanzi Gorge, the mysterious emergence of spiritual energy at the Shennong Altar, the protection of the iron-hardened fir's divine roots, and the clear, reflective waters of Dajiu Lake. Bright and clever from childhood, he had an extraordinary bearing. His father, Yin Sinong, and his mother, from the Shan family, were heirs to a family of 23Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    That's exactly right!

21. 321 前 The Former Dynasty's Tyrant: He Took the Throne by Living Off Women 前朝暴君，他靠吃软饭登基 Southern Bright Molten Abyss南明熔渊Historical604k WordsCompleted [Tyrant's Revenge] [Son-in-Law's Rise] [Political Schemes and Rivalry for Power] [Household Strife - Battlefield - Court] I, Situ Jun, was a ruthless tyrant who unified the realm, only to be betrayed by my own kin and burned alive. When I opened my eyes again, I had become Murong Jin, a good-for-nothing son-in-law whom everyone in the Yongning Marquis's household of Great Zhou could bully. Impotent? Useless? Even the maids dared spit at me. My spoiled wife forced me to write a divorce letter 4Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The resilient son-in-law's soul is that of the founding emperor of a previous dynasty. Revenge, power struggles, and manipulation of human nature are all part of his story.

22. 322 萨 Sardo 萨尔多 A Chirping Bird一只啼鸟Eastern Fantasy236k WordsCompleted This book is not suitable for children! As the Sacred Snow Mountain teeters on the brink of collapse, a young boy from the Saldo tribe unexpectedly awakens the “Eye of the Ancestors,” guarded by his people for a thousand years, and inherits the cultivation legacy left behind by the Ice River Immortal. He leads the remnants of the Saldo tribe on a deadly migration, fighting hordes of demon beasts on the Crescent Grassland, standing up to the brutal Wolf-Herding Demon Clan, forging alliances with 169Reads8.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Push it one more time!

23. 323 快 Quick, Let Duke Zhou Eat Some Meat 快让周公吃肉 Back to Yunnan归云南Historical1.3M WordsOngoing I transmigrated one day and became the famous Duke of Zhou, Ji Dan. Everyone praises me, saying, “The Duke of Zhou spits out his food to welcome worthy men, and all under Heaven turn to him.” But who knew I wasn’t practicing humility, I really just can’t stomach meat! The shadows of the blood sacrifices at Zhaoge haunt me. Just one bite of meat and I’m back in that slaughterhouse in my dreams. Within, scheming ministers watch like tigers; without, the rebellion of the Three Guards bears down. Th 68Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Why don't you take a look at this and give it a try?

24. 324 大 A Stick in the Tang Dynasty 大唐一根棍 My Name Is Wang Dabao我叫王大宝Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Comedy + Suspense + Brainy Wish Fulfillment + Historically Grounded Tang Dynasty] A farm boy with a serious lack of virtue gradually grows into the Tang dynasty's number-one troublemaker (no, wait, strike that). He grows into a pillar that holds up the sky, a beam that spans the sea. If I'm having a good time and you're not, I'll beat you until you are. If I can't reform you, I'll cremate you. I crush foreign kingdoms, dissect the aristocratic clans, discipline princes, and slap emperors I can' 3kReads8.7Score235Shelves

    Reader note

    Tomato's only novel set in the late Tang Dynasty, during the reigns of Emperor Wenzong, Emperor Wuzong, and Emperor Xuanzong. It has no system, a lighthearted and humorous writing style, is entertaining, features realistic warfare, bizarre court intrigue, and is intellectually stimulating. It is now complete.

25. 325 全 Darkness Survival for All: I Can Grind Proficiency 全民黑暗求生：我能刷熟练度 It's Gale是疾风啊Sports692k WordsCompleted Rule One: Daytime in the dark world lasts only six hours, while nighttime lasts eighteen! Rule Two: Monsters only appear at night! Rule Three: Newcomers have a three-day protection period. During this time, you are completely safe inside your wooden hut! Rule Four: After three days, if you haven’t upgraded your hut, monsters will hunt you down! Rule Five: Chests are hidden in the forest. Open one, and you’ll find something unexpected! Looking at the survival rules before him, Ye Liuyun realized 7.9kReads7.0Score405Shelves

    Reader note

    No abuse of the protagonist, no suppression of strength, the protagonist's intelligence is always on point.

26. 326 雪 Xue Wutong 雪梧桐 Xun Bai荀柏710k WordsCompleted [Republican-era ensemble cast + love of country + two powerful leads + older man/younger woman + sweet romance + pursuit of love + powerful man bows his head + heartbreaking angst + bad ending] In the Republican era, Nanjing was home to two renowned romantics. I do not believe in Buddha, but I would kneel at every temple in Nanjing if only Heaven would give me back my wife. Zhou Qingshi, courtesy name Changyu, was the eldest son and eldest grandson of the Zhou family, and ninth in birth order. 374Reads8.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    To everyone's surprise, the villain was actually an undercover agent.

27. 327 官 Official Killer 官杀 Model Huiyin模特徽因Urban648k WordsCompleted The collapse of his marriage, the depths of lost love, and the ugliness of human nature push Wei Donglin to the brink of a breakdown time and again, leaving him wanting to kill! Under pressure from powerful forces, Wei Donglin has considered turning to the dark side. But the righteous path through this world is fraught with hardship. Once you step into the vat of corruption, there is no escaping the bloodshed of officialdom and the underworld... Gather the world’s righteous strength, reveal a he 23Reads9.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Completely according to your idea...

28. 328 对 Sorry, We Don't Talk About Love After Dark 对不起，夜深不说爱 Model Huiyin模特徽因Urban1.6M WordsCompleted I didn’t care that people said I’d married up by latching onto a goddess, and I didn’t care that they called me a poor country boy who’d married into wealth. But when my wife’s best friend’s husband came looking for me, I realized I’d been naive. My wife, it turned out, really knew how to “enjoy” life… 12.1kReads8.7Score1.1kShelves
29. 329 墨 The Ink Moon Halberd: Love and Revenge in the Western Regions 墨月戟：西域情仇 White Rice Dumpling白水粽Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [No AI, entirely written by hand; court intrigue and an ensemble cast, with a traditional plot-driven narrative] [Subtle emotions, sweeping warfare, vivid characters] Beyond Yumen Pass lie the great desert and the Tianshan Mountains. With half Han heritage and half Hu blood, he was born amid the flames of a chaotic age, as the Han and the Xiongnu fought over the Western Regions. In a dreamlike lifetime, he saved the Cheshi princess and uncovered the fated bond between them as husband and wife in 158Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    How could small kingdoms along the Silk Road, without political maneuvering and the support of the mighty Han Dynasty, possibly resist the brutal Xiongnu? [Completed]

30. 330 我 I Am the King 我为王 Model Huiyin模特徽因Urban1.1M WordsCompleted Betrayed by everyone, I was wounded by those closest to me! I cut off a finger to survive, then lay low for six years before emerging again. Through the grudges and warmth of the martial world, I’ve seen it all. I am the king! 1.7kReads8.4Score122Shelves
31. 331 影 Shadows over the Hall of Loyalty 影落忠义楼 Yang Ximo阳夕陌Martial Arts557k WordsCompleted [Shadow Guard’s Rise + Court Intrigue and the Martial World + Stunning Beauties] He is the sharpest shadow guard in Prince Night Falcon’s hands. With his Feihong Sword, he has spilled countless drops of blood and never once failed. During a mission, he meets Mu Yao, a tender moonlight in a turbulent age, and then catches the fiery starlight in Shen Siyue’s eyes, a beacon of hope in utter despair. Little does he know that from the moment they met, Tong Xinling, an attendant of the Ruyi Tower, has 69Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Chapter 223 [The Master of Ruyi Pavilion Appears] Chapter 224 [The Hidden Game of Imperial Power] I'm not exaggerating when I say this book. If you calmly read just twenty chapters, you'll be completely engrossed, unable to tear yourself away, as if you've personally stepped into that world of swords and shadows, becoming a member of the martial arts world. The book features a young shadow guard as the protagonist, wielding a flying sword that has drunk countless lives without ever missing. It intertwines the swordplay of the martial arts world with the undercurrents of the imperial court, with a tight plot, crisp fights, tense confrontations on the brink of life and death, and delicate, moving moments of romance.

32. 332 键 Yang Tinghe on the Keyboard 键盘上的杨廷和 Little Bao Is So Nice小宝很奈斯Historical481k WordsCompleted [Yang Tinghe | Male-Centered Lead | Historical Epic | Romance and Marriage | Political Intrigue] Yang Tinghe, grand secretary of the Ming dynasty, recounts his romantic and political adventures in modern language, with a playful take on his own life. [Matchmaking Trip to Yunnan] Help Mu Cong put down the Xundian rebellion and bring the region under direct administration. [Wedding Night] My concubine climbed into my bed... [The Truth About Grain Transport] Men and women alike are beheaded. [The 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A first-person perspective masterpiece written by a 985 literature PhD, reaching the pinnacle of writing skill! [Thumbs up] A truly excellent work!

33. 333 裙 He Has Someone Else Kneeling at His Feet 裙下之臣他另有其人 Miss Lin Watches Movies观影林姑娘Ancient Romance231k WordsOngoing To uncover the truth behind her father and brother’s deaths in battle, she abandoned her life of finery and fine horses and spent five years plotting. She pointed her sword at his throat. “You were the only one I never doubted.” He smiled, running his fingers along the blade. “The road to kingship is paved with bones.” In that moment, she finally saw clearly: beyond the mist lay no truth, only the torture he had prepared for her with his own hands. The vast realm ran red as blood, but it could n 48Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The tragic deaths of her father and brother, her fiancé's escape, and the prince's secret protection all became bait to entice her. The moment he married another woman for power, she entered the game as a businesswoman, stirring up the court and the martial world. At the end of the truth, she faced an inescapable fate of being slowly sliced ​​to death.

34. 334 雪 After the Snowy Night Coup, I Became the Leader of Humanity 雪夜逼宫后，我成了人族共主 Mo Xingyue莫星越Historical604k WordsCompleted The loyal die first, the brave follow, and the wise and sincere all become bones in an age of chaos. Once every idealist has fallen, all that remains is the ultimate contest between hypocrites and true villains. In the fourteenth year of Yonglu, in Longyou of the Great Jing. A clear-eyed soul from the modern era awakens in the body of a dying youth as a bowl of blood sacrifice is raised to his lips. He finds himself in a world of despair: the loyal die betrayed, the idealists sink beneath the ri 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is all about political intrigue, strategic planning, and patience.

35. 335 安 Peaceful and Unending 安乐永逸 A Tree Makes Shade一木成荫Ancient Romance531k WordsOngoing She had been given a rare second chance at life and planned to spend it carefree, like a wandering cloud or wild crane among the mountains and rivers. But fate had other plans: her adoptive father was imprisoned while seeking vengeance for her family's murder and his own country's humiliation. To save him, she had to disguise herself as a man and enter the imperial court, where she was forced to work for the cold-faced royal prince, Luo Yunyi. She never expected to find herself working for a hea 138Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A descendant of the previous dynasty versus a cunning prince; one is exceptionally handsome and elegant, the other ruthless and decisive; one cherishes his life and only desires a carefree life, the other is as cold as ice and only seeks one person. A high-stakes battle of wits, eliminating internal strife and quelling external threats—a very exciting and engaging historical romance novel about political intrigue.

36. 336 官 The Official Road: Great Wisdom 官道：大智慧 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban451k WordsOngoing [Authentic Political Drama + Inspirational + Political Intrigue + Business Warfare + A Sense of Justice] After spending so many years in government, Liang Guofeng has long since learned the philosophy of officialdom: A single transfer order sends Liang Guofeng to work in the southern province. He hoped to make a difference, but instead found himself constantly caught in traps and suppressed! A new place, a new environment, and a new job bring all kinds of trials. Every step is perilous, but ever 2kReads6.2Score195Shelves

    Reader note

    That was fantastic, absolutely brilliant.

37. 337 官 The Pinnacle Showdown on the Official Path 官道之巅峰对决 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban245k WordsOngoing [Inspirational + Political Intrigue + Workplace + Feel-Good Story] Lu Tianming comes from a working-class family. In the 1990s, just as his parents lose their jobs, Lu Tianming graduates from college. Lu Tianming is assigned to work at the municipal government. He thinks his career is finally getting started, but unexpectedly, municipal leaders transfer him to the Logistics Section of the Municipal Bureau of Commerce... If the leaders say you're capable, then you are. If they say you're not, the 518Reads—Score127Shelves
38. 338 风 Hong Xiuquan, the Charismatic Heavenly King 风流天王洪秀全 Yu Songhan郁松寒Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Hong Xiuquan, an impoverished scholar in the late Qing, was quite the extraordinary man. He struck out on a new path, launched the Jintian Uprising, rose from humble beginnings, captured Nanjing, founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, dominated eighteen provinces, and ruled for fourteen years over half the realm. He was insatiably greedy, consorting with courtesans and surrounding himself with beautiful women. He gathered beauties from across the land, keeping 2,300 women in his harem to serve hi 11.4kReads8.6Score869Shelves

    Reader note

    Respectful of history, unique perspective, captivating story, and exquisite writing!

39. 339 成 What on Earth Is This? Complete in Two Volumes (The Original Novel Behind the Hit Drama Starring Wang Churan and Cheng Lei) 成何体统：全二册（王楚然、丞磊主演热播影视剧原著） Qi Yingjun七英俊Anime Fanfiction314k WordsCompleted What is it like to transmigrate into a web novel and become the tyrant's bedmate? After a few simple calculations, Yu Wanyin reached a conclusion: she would have to find another way. In this story full of villains, if she wanted to carve out a path to survival, she had to become the biggest villain of all. First, help the tyrant take down Prince Duan, then take down the tyrant and become empress herself. But when she met the tyrant and carefully considered the strange sense of familiarity in his 40.3kReads9.7Score6.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly rated ancient romance novel with a great plot

40. 340 楚 Chu Yunxing 楚云行 Peng Hu彭胡Historical1.8M WordsOngoing [No transmigration, no System, no formulaic tropes, no brainless decisions, no invincible protagonist, no wish-fulfillment. Read with caution if these bother you.] The history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms + wuxia + political intrigue + a young hero’s legend + the mysterious Tang Mo Dao + homeland and humanity + love and hate + the traditional chapter-and-verse format = an epic historical wuxia saga of sweeping grandeur 54Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Check this out, it's perfect! A rare historical martial arts novel set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, it features intrigue, power struggles, romance, daily life, military battles, vividly portrayed characters, rigorous historical research, traditional chapter-style writing, and is free of system-based time travel or mindless plot twists. A must-read new book!

41. 341 小 Listening to Spring Rain All Night in a Small Tower 小楼一夜听春雨 Bright Moon Tilts明月倾Ancient Romance876k WordsCompleted A critically acclaimed historical romance ensemble that topped the annual charts! A calculating, lovesick beauty versus a dark, scheming top scholar! A historical take on Pride and Prejudice: life in the inner household isn't all scheming and rivalry, but also deep sisterly affection. The clever and capable Second Madam Lou takes the greatest pride in her life in having three beautiful daughters. To marry her three marriageable girls into “good” families, she travels a great distance to the capi 35.1kReads9.6Score5.7kShelves
42. 342 绿 Green Shoots on the Branch 绿上枝头 Light Peach Blossoms轻薄桃花Ancient Romance221k WordsCompleted [Signed for print] [Brave, steadfast transmigrated heroine VS cool, clearheaded young noble] [Transmigration + rebirth + prominent family + household intrigue + feel-good + career building + strong heroine + light comedy] Jiang Lübao, daughter of a censor, was unexpectedly kidnapped and had her reputation ruined. The marriage that had already been arranged for her was called off, too. For a young woman from a prominent family, this was a devastating blow. But she burst out laughing. No one knew 86.2kReads9.6Score9.6kShelves
43. 343 局 The Bureau's Twin Years: A Record of Strange Herb Mysteries in the Martial World 局编双年：奇草谜案江湖录 Forge a Sword from Scales and Cleave the Universe逆鳞作剑斩乾坤Mystery436k WordsOngoing (Not a power fantasy + no System + plot-driven + crime-solving and deduction + mind-bending twists) (The author spent a full year crafting all the murder cases. They’re sure to be gripping and mind-bending, so enjoy!) One year ago, on a dark night, I was a lowly cleaner working in the City Lord’s Hall when I was dragged into a murder targeting the three great families. Everyone said I was the killer! One year later, by day, I’d turned my fortunes around and become deputy director of the Security 19Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A new suspenseful mystery novel, a story of power struggles in the martial arts world. The author has poured half a year of painstaking effort into creating a perfect frame-up murder case. It is absolutely exciting and mind-bending, leaving you unable to guess the murderer's methods and the truth behind it!

44. 344 多 Surely You Laugh at My Passion 多情应笑我 Jiu Xiaoqi酒小七Ancient Romance216k WordsCompleted Lin Fang has been disguised as a boy since childhood, and she can't help feeling helpless about it. Her household registration says she's male, so what can she do? But the secret she has sworn to protect is discovered by a young boy she accidentally rescues! Lin Fang thought she'd picked up a deadweight, but once the boy, Yun Weiming, regains his identity, she feels as if she's sitting on a mountain of gold. “Who would've thought! I've picked up all kinds of things before, but you're the most va 70.3kReads9.7Score9.3kShelves
45. 345 闻 The Sound of Spring 闻春声 Evergreen and Everwhite长青长白Ancient Romance161k WordsCompleted [Taciturn, stammering country hunk VS vivacious, fiery widow. Farming romance, one-on-one, both leads’ first relationship] [She makes the first move, and the unyielding tree finally blossoms. A period farming romance] At the matchmaker's urging, young Yao Chunniang took her dowry and married into the Zhang family in Lishui Village. Who could have guessed that on their wedding night, her sickly husband would close his eyes and die? Before Yao Chunniang could even process what had happened, she ha 29.5kReads9.6Score3.5kShelves
46. 346 重 Reborn: A Rising Star in Officialdom 重生：官场新贵 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban182k WordsCompleted Being an official is a skill! It takes emotional intelligence, intellect, and, above all, ability. Do big things in a small position; make a small position count; make a hollow post useful; make a real post look inconsequential. Whether or not you understand, Guo Yunfeng does. Having grasped the philosophy of officialdom, he wins at every step on his path after being reborn. 22Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These are truly excellent books; I highly recommend reading them carefully.

47. 347 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
48. 348 轻 Where Does the Light Boat Go? 轻舟何岸 Plain Colors, Chilly素彩寒Ancient Romance271k WordsCompleted Are the four princes of Rui Kingdom really going to marry four common women from Chan Kingdom? Could it be because every woman in Chan Kingdom is beautiful and fertile? She has the talent to be a chancellor in a matriarchal kingdom, yet marries the “intellectually disabled” prince of a patriarchal kingdom, entering the marriage as a spy under the pretense of a political union. He is a prince with exceptional intelligence who hides his true self. But even after he regains his true self, is that r 16Reads—Score—Shelves
49. 349 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 266.6kReads9.6Score31.2kShelves
50. 350 官 Notes From the Political Arena: Book Two 官场笔记第二部 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban228k WordsCompleted The story of an ordinary man's struggles, devoted wholeheartedly to serving the people. 1. This is a realistic political novel with tightly reasoned storytelling, written in a realist style. 2. It begins with an ordinary employee in the Provincial Personnel Department and follows his steady progress, one step at a time. 3. It features political infighting, economic development, romance, and power plays in the business world. 4. It offers a distinctive take on economic development, personnel sele 180Reads—Score—Shelves

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