High-IQ Protagonists, Intricate Plots, No Harem, Dark and Scheming, Not Goody-Two-Shoes 高智商，一环扣一环，不种马，黑暗，腹黑，不圣母

1. 101 鬼 Genius Lawyer: I Persuaded Someone to Surrender, and They Sent Me a Banner? 鬼才律师：劝人自首还被送锦旗？ Zuo You Jiang Nan左柚姜楠Urban2.9M WordsOngoing The renowned lawyer Zhou Yun became the young lawyer Zhou Yun. Thanks to his godlike case-solving logic, netizens called him a legal genius. A married scumbag seduces a woman, then refuses to take responsibility when she gets pregnant. The police won't even do anything. What should she do? Have them turn themselves in for the joint crime of bigamy. The police will definitely take the case, and with a confession and a pregnancy, there's a good chance the charges will be dropped. A cook who has wo 132kReads9.3Score15.1kShelves

   Reader note

   🍃As everyone knows, Attorney Zhou is a genius with a unique way of thinking. He takes a systematic approach, which is incredibly satisfying. Every case is typical, explaining legal provisions in a simple and easy-to-understand way. He combines law with practical situations, using humor and sharp writing. He analyzes real-world problems thoroughly.

2. 102 中 After Winning a Hundred Million, I Became My Company's Savior 中奖一个亿后，我成了公司救世主 Making a Living as a Kept Man硬吃软饭Urban424k WordsCompleted [The rating just came out, but it'll slowly improve! No risk in getting on board!] Shen Yanshen casually bought two lottery tickets and won a hundred million. His miserable working life was over for good, and from then on he lived in a mansion and drove a Mercedes. His ex-girlfriend, who had once looked down on him for being poor, came back in tears, begging him to take her back. Shen Yanshen kicked her a hundred meters away. “Get as far away as you can. Can't you see I'm washing my wife's feet? 3kReads5.9Score113Shelves
3. 103 五 A Popular History of the Five Dynasties 五代史通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical344k WordsCompleted [A Classical, Accessible History of the Entire Era | A Beginner's Guide to History | A Complete Overview of the Ten Kingdoms] Can't get through dry official histories? This popularized retelling of the Five Dynasties uses a story-driven, episodic format to make this lesser-known period of turmoil easy to understand. Its sixty chapters cover the rise and fall of all five dynasties, Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou, while also tracing the history of the Ten Kingdoms' r 62Reads9.2Score—Shelves
4. 104 精 To a Lunatic, What’s a Ghost Anyway? 精神病面前，鬼东西算个球 Zoom Zoom Rabbit突突兔Urban1.7M WordsCompleted [Hilarious + mentally ill protagonist + invincible + System] A world where ghostly energy has returned. Chen Zhuo is a patient at Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital. The System fails to cure him. System: Let him do whatever he wants. I only provide technical support. Ghost Realm Bounty Board: Chen Zhuo, male, severe mental illness. Whoever takes his life will receive a billionfold increase in ghostly energy, several mansions, and endless luxuries. 4.6kReads9.3Score834Shelves
5. 105 前 A Popular History of the Former Han 前汉通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical563k WordsCompleted [Cai Dongfan's Historical Romance, The Complete Founding History of the Han Dynasty, The Qin-Han Rivalry, A Plain-Language History, Political Intrigue and War] This book is Cai Dongfan's A Popular History of the Former Han, a classic historical novel that recounts the dynasty's rise and fall from the chaos at the end of the Qin through the middle and late Western Han. Spanning one hundred chapters, it begins with Lü Buwei's extraordinary investment and Qin Shi Huang's unification of the realm, a 128Reads8.3Score—Shelves
6. 106 后 A Popular History of the Later Han 后汉通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical582k WordsCompleted [Historical Romance Grounded in the Official Record, The Complete History of the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms, An Easy Introduction to Official History] A Popular History of the Later Han is a classic historical novel in episodic form and a continuation of A Popular History of the Former Han. Across one hundred chapters, it follows the full historical arc from Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han and Emperor Guangwu's restoration, through the decline of the Eastern Han, to the division of the rea 105Reads8.6Score—Shelves
7. 107 被 Fooled by Overseas Netizens, I Turned Out to Be Making Gun Barrels 被境外网友忽悠，原来我在造枪管 Powerful Dopey Goose强大的呆头鹅Urban749k WordsCompleted After transmigrating to a parallel world, Jiang Yuan becomes an ordinary mechanical engineering student at Shanhe University. There really is a System, but all it gives Jiang Yuan is MAX-level mechanical manufacturing ability. For a college student, this ability is completely useless. Luckily, some helpful foreign internet users teach Jiang Yuan how to make things people like. After running his business for a year, Jiang Yuan gets a call from the Public Security Bureau. The police chief: “I 249Reads7.9Score106Shelves
8. 108 宋 A Popular History of the Song Dynasty 宋史通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical556k WordsCompleted [Classical historical fiction based on official history | A popular history of the Song dynasty | Cai Dongfan's Historical Romances of the Dynasties] Read one volume and discover the full rise and fall of the Song dynasty across 320 years. Told in a complete narrative spanning one hundred chapters, this popular history of the Song begins with Zhao Kuangyin's Chenqiao Mutiny and his ascension to the throne, then follows the founding of the Northern Song, the Alliance of Chanyuan, Wang Anshi's ref 21Reads8.3Score—Shelves
9. 109 家 My Father Is Emperor Wu of Han! 家父汉武帝！ The Wise Man's Mutt智者的土狗儿Historical1.9M WordsCompleted [Winner of the National Library writing contest] [Top-tier historical storytelling + no System + rebellion + political intrigue + a love-hate relationship between father and son] Reborn in the womb as Liu Ju, the eldest legitimate son of Emperor Wu of Han. His father is Liu Che, the most powerful carbon-based life form on Earth in the second century BCE! And his maternal family’s lineup is even more outrageous! His mother is Wei Zifu, his uncle is Wei Qing, his cousin is Huo Qubing, and his youn 86.4kReads9.2Score8.1kShelves

   Reader note

   This is my favorite political intrigue novel. It features a time-traveling story where the tyrannical Crown Prince Liu Ju clashes with the master strategist Emperor Wu of Han, ultimately restoring the glorious Han Dynasty.

10. 110 废 The Good-for-Nothing Princess Awakens: Her Time-Traveling Best Friend Helps Her Become Empress 废柴公主觉醒：跨时空闺蜜带称帝 Who Wants Peanuts谁要吃花生Ancient Romance793k WordsOngoing [Multiple Male Leads / Romantic Tension / Love Rivals / Political Intrigue / Growth] The princess incurs numerous romantic debts while pursuing her ambitions. The imperial physician, her secret guard, a mysterious merchant, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review... one after another, they all fall for her. [The Male Leads' Lines] Wen Yu (the aloof imperial physician): "It's not that I don't want to. I think of you every moment, cherish you every instant, savor the memories every day, and 22kReads8.2Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend a historical romance novel about political intrigue. It doesn't feature mindless overpowered characters; the scheming and power struggles between the characters are very engaging, with evenly matched opponents, and the loser often only losing by a single misstep.

11. 111 明 A Popular History of the Ming Dynasty 明史通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical511k WordsCompleted [Classical historical novel | An authentic historical epic about the founding of the Great Ming] A popular historical epic spanning all 276 years of the Ming dynasty’s rise and fall, complete in one hundred chapters. It begins with Zhu Yuanzhang becoming a monk in Haozhou and joining the Red Turban movement, then unfolds the grand struggle for supremacy among the warlords at the end of the Yuan dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang, Chen Youliang, and Zhang Shicheng vie for power, while classic battles such as 25Reads8.0Score—Shelves
12. 112 明 Detective Lu Yong 明侦探陆用 A Tiger Snatched Along the Way顺手牵虎Mystery1.3M WordsCompleted Lu Yong, 25 years old. Occupation: military police. Position: criminal investigator in the Military Commission's Security Department. On March 1, 2023, he entered the Kunlun Mountains while pursuing a major military spy accused of stealing secrets and murder, and vanished without a trace. The Great Ming Dynasty, 1699, the sixth year of the Mingwu reign. Lu Yong appeared in the Daqing Mountains of Taiping Prefecture, in what is now Dangtu County, Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province. At the time, all L 6.7kReads9.0Score954Shelves

    Reader note

    The story features high intelligence, and the darker aspects unfold gradually, with each element intricately linked. There's no overly sentimental or saintly element, and so far, no harem elements (haven't finished reading yet [facepalm]). The biggest impression is its meticulousness: unlike TV dramas or other novels, it immediately makes it clear that ancient times aren't something you can just decide to do. It doesn't make you think you'll be omnipotent after traveling back in time—that's impossible. Of course, the protagonist's halo is present, but it still gives the impression that other time-travel novels were a waste of time.

13. 113 清 A Popular History of the Qing Dynasty 清史通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical587k WordsCompleted [A Tale of the Qing Dynasty #Popular History #The Rise and Fall of the Ming and Qing Dynasties #Political Intrigue and Warfare #Legends of Emperors #History in Plain Language] This classic historical novel recounts the full 268-year rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty, from the origins of its ancestors in the Changbai Mountains to Xuantong's abdication and the dynasty's collapse. Told across one hundred chapters, it follows the story clearly and avoids obscure historical material. It begins with N 103Reads8.8Score—Shelves
14. 114 我 I Learn to Slay Ghosts on a Paranormal Forum 我在怪谈论坛学斩鬼 Young and Unaccomplished, Yet Never Insecure年少无为不自卑Mystery735k WordsCompleted [The printed edition of Strange Tales Forum is in production] [The short drama adaptation of Strange Tales Forum is in production] Gao Shen joined a strange tales forum by chance. The forum often posts eerie stories, describing every detail so vividly that they seem to have really happened. Users who reply seriously analyze the source of each incident and discuss how to deal with it. They even address each other as Heavenly Masters, Soul Tamer 50.1kReads8.7Score6.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is truly amazing! It's packed with foreshadowing and intricate plot twists. When I first started reading it, it was rated 8, and now it's at 9.1 And still rising. The number of readers has also increased from 150,000 to 250,000. Investing in it is definitely worth it!

15. 115 大 The Tang Crown Prince 大唐皇太子 Invincible Big Watermelon无敌大西瓜Historical1.3M WordsCompleted One day a crown prince, the next a commoner. Li Chengqian ultimately brought about his own downfall. Then one day, I suddenly became him. In this unfamiliar era, I had planned to settle down and live quietly. But someone wanted to wipe out every last trace of me. If that's how it is, then I'll have no choice but to risk everything. I'll stake my life to reclaim all that I've lost. 3kReads8.3Score197Shelves

    Reader note

    Only when you see the ending do you realize that everything is interconnected; this is true cunning.

16. 116 全 Watched by the Whole Internet: The Frail Junior Student Outwits a Top Criminal Investigator 全网围观，病弱学妹戏耍刑侦王牌 Still Feeling Cold依然觉得寒冷Mystery589k WordsCompleted Award-winning work in the Fifth Tomato Web Literature Competition Finals, Selected Mystery Case Award “I only ever kill people who deserve to die!” [High-Octane Dark Fantasy | Elite Mind Games | A Life-or-Death Battle Between Good and Evil | A Strong Heroine and an Even Stronger Heroine] [Shocking Twists | No Romance | Two Powerful, Unhinged Rivals Face Off] From the day Ling Zhi became a criminal police officer, he believed in only two things: evidence and procedural justice. Criminals were cri 83kReads9.5Score16.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is a high-IQ assassin, and the male lead is a detective who can't find any evidence. The female lead also frequently goes to the police station to provoke the detectives. She's been plotting all along, and there are many plot twists.

17. 117 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

    Reader note

    Then you absolutely must watch this; it's logically rigorous and demonstrates high intelligence.

18. 118 京 Spring Tide over Beijing and Macau 京澳春潮 Midsummer Rain仲夏雨Modern Romance400k WordsCompleted [Print edition preorders open August 7, 2026, at 7 p.m.] [Heiress vs. Men from All Walks of Life] Also known as Spring Tide in Jing'ao The first time Wen Ning saw Xie Zhiyu on Aodao, she knew he was a dangerous man. Even though he was merely sitting quietly in a dessert shop, eating a bowl of mung bean soup. The little shop was packed and noisy, yet no one dared share a table with him. A few meters around him, an island of solitude had been deliberately carved out. “Who is he?” “Xie Zhiyu. No on 179.3kReads9.6Score27.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Both the male and female leads are highly intelligent, and the early stages are a battle of wits between the two.

19. 119 宁 Ning Jinge 宁烬歌 Calm as Ever冷静如斯Ancient Romance697k WordsOngoing [Female commander × top-tier spy and assassin | Two equally matched leads | Court intrigue and the martial world | Standing together in troubled times | Devoted 1v1 romance] The sweeping scale of a male-oriented story, with the emotional depth of a female-oriented one. Fast-paced and tightly plotted, with no filler or dragging. The political intrigue is logical, and long-laid clues are brought back into play. A serious world with lighthearted, hilarious everyday moments, and an incredibly sweet 374Reads8.5Score103Shelves

    Reader note

    The political intrigue in this novel is absolutely brilliant! [Thumbs up][Thumbs up] Every seemingly random detail in the beginning could be foreshadowing; you'll never guess where the plot will go by the end. What defines high intelligence? What defines high quality? This book provides the answers.

20. 120 我 I’m a Thief. I Accidentally Broke Into a Murderer’s House and Got Chased for Eight Blocks 我是小偷，不小心偷进杀人犯家里去了，还被追了八条街 The World's Mightiest Little Fox宇宙无敌小狐狸7k WordsCompleted I’m a thief. I accidentally broke into a murderer’s house, and he chased me for eight blocks. 226Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly intelligent.

21. 121 重 Revisiting the Journey to the West: I Lead Three Rebellious Troublemakers in Rebellion Every Day 重走西游：姐拉三大反骨仔天天反 Little Doctor小医生Female-Channel Fanfiction1.3M WordsCompleted [Journey to the West fanfic + hilarious antics + punchline-packed + healing and redemption for each other + Heaven's three rebellious troublemakers + retracing the journey west] On my first start, Nezha stabbed the Destined One to death! On my next start, Erlang Shen's dog bit me to death! On my third start, I forgot the gold headband and got beaten to death by Sun Wukong! Tang An: “So I’ve been transmigrated as the new Destined One, and I have to go fetch the scriptures? And I have to get those 21.6kReads9.4Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    This is not a saintly book.

22. 122 伏 Ambush 伏杀 Mo Bai1莫白1Historical1.4M WordsCompleted [Original title: Ambush] Beneath the awe-inspiring might of Heaven, all living beings are mere ants. And yet he dares, with the strength of an insect, to turn the world upside down. For family, for friends, for the burning hatred in his heart, for the nightmares that haunt him year after year, for justice, and for fairness. This story is set in an imaginary world and has no connection to actual history. Everything in it is fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 14.8kReads8.3Score931Shelves

    Reader note

    The contradictions within the fictional dynasty are layered and complex, with old problems difficult to eradicate, making any attempt to make changes extremely difficult.

23. 123 重 Reborn in the Hehuan Sect, I Refine My Master into a Slave 重生合欢宗，师尊被我炼化成奴隶 Lone Smoke over the Long River长河孤烟Eastern Fantasy3.6M WordsOngoing [No System + no clichés + villain protagonist + multiple female leads + bizarre + ruthless and decisive, no saintly behavior] “Would you pick the Seven Fairies or the Seven Spider Demons?” “Only kids pick the fairies. Those who know, know.” “What if you really transmigrated to the Joyful Union Sect, where there are only female demons? They're fanatically devoted to the male body and worship you as a god?” “Wouldn't that be heaven on earth?” “Heh.” The young man smiled faintly. “I'm afraid it wou 86.8kReads9.4Score10.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The main character is ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself. The supporting characters are also all intelligent. It's worth watching!

24. 124 将 The Six Daughters of the General’s House 将门六姝 If You Won't Climb the Mountain, Save the Mountain不就山救山Ancient Romance922k WordsOngoing Great Zhou has its own Dugu Xin: Shen Jinghai [Ensemble Cast + Court Intrigue + Multiple Couples] Six daughters in one family, all married on the same day, each to the man of her dreams. Deep winter descends, and an imperial decree shatters the last of the peace in the General’s manor. Shen Jinghai, the General Who Guards the Nation, dies by suicide under a false accusation. His wife dies of exhaustion and grief, leaving behind only six helpless daughters. The emperor, remorseful on his deathbe 132kReads8.9Score18.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I'm currently reading the first two books; both are highly intellectual and concise. The succession struggle series is excellent, and the last one is full of twists and turns, with both sweet and heart-wrenching moments. Highly recommended!

25. 125 哎 Oh No! I’m One of the Seven Deadly Sins, and I Got MVP! 哎呀！我七原罪，得了MVP！ Captain of the Trapping Camp陷阵营营长Urban2.0M WordsCompleted [Dark comedy + hilarious + ruthless action + global setting + unconventional ideas + one heroine + near-invincible protagonist + power fantasy with a brain (or without one)] Horror games descend upon the world. Those chosen to participate must face challenges of inhuman difficulty. Though the games are full of torment, they also offer people a chance to gain supernatural powers. Life or death. A meteoric rise, or losing everything. But Lu Ce, who has been unable to feel pain since childhood, fee 142.6kReads9.3Score16.9kShelves

    Reader note

    🔥🔥I personally recommend the first two books. The author is very good at filling in plot holes, and the plot settings are basically flawless. The first book has many humorous moments, and the second book has many H-scenes [thinking]. The third book needs no introduction; it's a top-tier entry in the immortality novel genre. The fourth book has too much internal monologue from the protagonist at the beginning, which might seem like padding, but it gets better as the plot progresses. This one is for pure love fans. The fifth book has some Li Huowang influence at the beginning, but once you get past that part, the plot gets really exciting. 🔥

26. 126 恶 Demon Game: I Can Command Unmatched Luck! 恶魔游戏，我能驾御无双运势！ Can Sleep Even Standing Up站着也能睡着Mystery2.2M WordsOngoing [Mind Games and Deception + No Dumbed-Down Characters + No Saintly Hero + Infinite Worlds + Horror Game + Mastermind of Fate] Su Yi, a mystery novelist, was chosen for a demonic game that stakes players' lives. From the start, he drew the unpopular class of Deceiver and was cursed with only sixty days left to live. Demonic Game: “Do you want supernatural power? Do you want astonishing wealth?” “Then win the Demonic Game and stay alive...” Su Yi: “I'll gamble sixty years of my lifespan for t 29.7kReads9.1Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    While watching this movie: Wow, it's so good! So mind-bending, one plot twist after another, it's impossible to keep up! [Facepalm] After watching it: Oh dear, I've become smarter too! [Facepalm] 1. I'm not exaggerating, the plot is incredibly imaginative, full of twists and turns, and incredibly engaging! 2. 3 Is also great, let the data speak for itself: over 200,000 readers and a 9.5 Rating! [Thumbs up] Come on, let's discuss it together! [Smile]

27. 127 赤 Red Sky: The Dynasty Cycle 赤霄：王朝周期律 It's Really a Dog真的是狗Historical342k WordsOngoing Note: This is an epic war story. Don’t see that the protagonists are two men and assume it’s the sort of “two male leads” story some female readers enjoy. It isn’t! There are two male protagonists named here only because there isn’t room to list more than a dozen. Each subsequent volume will have its own protagonist, and the complete story will feature more than a dozen protagonists. Each protagonist belongs to a different historical period. Faced with the crises of their time, whether struggles 127Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both books have very interesting topics, rigorous logic, and are intellectually stimulating. The first is a new book that attempts to deconstruct the dynastic cycle through the epic of military generals. The second, already completed, mainly explores the concepts of checks and balances and the liberal market economy.

28. 128 投EN Investment Rewards Made Me the Top-Ranked Empress 投资返利，我成女帝榜一 Ginseng Rooster人参公鸡Eastern Fantasy1.6M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into a martial arts world, Li Mo bound himself to an Investment System that let him see his targets' natural talents, destiny, and future. The better their destiny, the richer the rewards he received. Then he discovered that the aloof girl he'd grown up with had the highest-tier red destiny. She was destined to become an Empress who would rule the Nine Heavens and the Ten Lands. Lately, she seemed troubled about how to unblock her sealed meridians and reveal her talent ahead 20.9kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves
29. 129 血 Bloodstained Kyoto 血色京都 The Times Are Everlasting时代久久Ancient Romance814k WordsCompleted Li Nanle and Huo Yunxia were companions in the apocalypse who could trust each other with their lives. They survived together for ten years. Then one day, they transmigrated together, changing from peers into sisters eight years apart in age. Huo Yunxia had a cheerful disposition. After leaving the apocalypse, a world of daily bloodshed, and arriving in the feudal past, she had just one dream: to win a man's heart, have three or five children, and grow old together. Huo Yunxia got married and mo 14.1kReads8.8Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    No couple, no couple, no couple. All of them are without a romantic pairing. It's incredibly good, incredibly good, incredibly good. It's just too good, incredibly good. Trust me, you won't regret joining this fandom.

30. 130 十 When an Eighteen-Year-Old Grandmother Joined the Household, the Capital Was Turned Upside Down 十八岁祖母入府后，京都翻了天 Robes White as Snow麻衣如雪Ancient Romance2.4M WordsOngoing At eighteen, palace master of ceremonies Ye Nanshu was sent out of the palace because of her stepmother’s schemes. She was about to be married off to a fifty-year-old man to bring him good luck. On the empress’s advice, she took the initiative to ask to marry the benefactor who had saved her life eight years ago, becoming the stepmother of the capital’s most notorious playboy. Her stepson had angered his childhood sweetheart into divorcing him, and now he was stuck in a story where he had to b 27.4kReads8.8Score1.6kShelves
31. 131 关 The Guanshan Pact 关山契 It's Really a Dog真的是狗Historical488k WordsCompleted On the western frontier, yellow sands bury the dead, and honor is as fragile as paper. The young Zhao Tianhao was merely a merchant’s son from Ping Wharf. With a heart full of sincerity, he kept his contracts, protected his family business, and brought peace to his neighbors. Yet the crushing might of the war-torn age destroyed his household, driving him to abandon trade and take up arms. He entered the death camp, managed military rations, trained a corps of death-defying soldiers, and defended 5.3kReads9.3Score599Shelves
32. 132 开EN From the Start, Immortal for Eternity, Laying Low Until the End of Time 开局长生万古，苟到天荒地老 Purple Spirit Wind and Snow紫灵风雪Eastern Fantasy6.1M WordsCompleted [Published in print] [Not a wish-fulfillment story + tranquil daily life + lighthearted humor + no female lead + no tragedy + survival expert] Enter with caution. A longevity story told from the perspective of an immortal, spanning several great eras of cultivation. It begins in an ordinary mountain village, moves into a small domain, and then enters the vast world of cultivation, passing through the eras of flourishing development, golden prosperity, the collapse of the rules, the great dark up 538.9kReads9.7Score71.1kShelves
33. 133 傻 The Foolish Girl Returns 傻女归来 The Coldest Days Are Coming小寒将至Ancient Romance800k WordsCompleted [Strong female lead]+ [No CP]+ [Revenge]+ [Political intrigue]+ [Decisive and ruthless]+ [Multiple secret identities]+ [Strong allies] Suffering can wear down a person’s resolve and break their backbone, but it can also awaken their potential and forge a new beginning. When Lian Hui was five, a sudden illness took both her parents. A high fever left her intellectually disabled, and her own relatives drove her out of the family home. Alone with a dog, she struggled to survive in the wilderness ne 12.7kReads9.2Score1.6kShelves
34. 134 系 The Claiming the Throne Series: Historical Romance Collection 《夺嫡》系列古言套装 Moonset月落Ancient Romance2.8M WordsCompleted [Sweet Historical Romance + Mutual Devotion + Palace Intrigue] Popular author Yueluo's trilogy of sweet romances: lighthearted and hilarious, with sweetness turned up to the max! "The Fight for the Throne": A feisty young lady who always gets even × the scheming, lovesick Ninth Prince. A laugh-out-loud, sugar-sweet battle for the throne! "Joy with You": A venomous, calculating king × a clever and decisive queen. A perfect match who will conquer the world together! "A Fine Day Bestowed upon You": 60.6kReads9.6Score6.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I'm currently reading the first two books; both are highly intellectual and concise. The succession struggle series is all excellent, and the last one is full of twists and turns, with both sweet and heart-wrenching moments. Highly recommended!

35. 135 夭 Good Grief! The Madam Is Helping the Grand Secretary Take Another Concubine Again 夭寿！夫人又帮首辅大人纳妾了 Ning Muxi宁慕溪Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Now adapted into a comic drama. Hongguo Drama title: The Cannon Fodder Wife of the Chief Minister [Transmigrate Into a Book] [Chief Minister] [Cannon Fodder] [Love After Marriage] Yun Wei accidentally transmigrates into the male-oriented harem power fantasy she has been reading lately, becoming the "wife" in the male lead's rise to power, fortune, and his wife's death. This "wife" is arrogant and domineering. She looks down on the male lead and humiliates him at every turn, thoroughly offending 48.7kReads9.0Score9.3kShelves
36. 136 你 Is Your Professor That Fierce Too? 你家教授也凶巴巴的？ Deep Red ouo深红ouoUrban1.4M WordsOngoing [Single heroine] + [Professor] + [Everyday romance] + [Max-level powerhouse] + [Absolutely refuses to work] “Mommy, why does Dad play games all day? One day he’s fishing, the next he’s walking the cat, or else he’s drinking tea and wandering around. How does our family still have so much money?” “Because your dad is an evil capitalist who produces nothing and exploits the workers. If this were the old days, you’d have to throw rotten eggs at him, or watch him swing from a streetlamp after school 22.4kReads9.5Score1.5kShelves
37. 137 快 Quick Transmigration: This Time, I Refuse to Be a Jerk! 快穿：这一世，拒绝当渣男！ Quieted Down 1102安静了1102Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (Quick transmigration / no fixed couple / fictional setting / pocket dimension / scumbag redemption) 1. An honest man in ancient times 2. An Eighties simp 3. A victim of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law war 4. A dutiful son 5. A gambling addict 6. A golden phoenix who flies out of the mountains 7. An educated youth sent to the countryside 8. A younger sister living with her parents … 2.8kReads7.0Score140Shelves

    Reader note

    Completed and fast-paced | Scumbag's revenge × Mutual healing in a quick transmigration story. Reincarnation for redemption, deep affection year after year. No ongoing serialization, complete and finished, with redemption and growth running parallel. Delicate writing and immersive atmosphere, a must-read for anyone looking for something to read!

38. 138 我 I Want to Save Someone, but She Lived a Thousand Years Ago 我想救个人，可她活在一千年前 Li Getuir李个腿儿Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsCompleted [Xianxia] [Convergence of Time and Space] [Not a power fantasy] [No System] [Plot-focused] “Are you a disciple of the Sword Sect?” “I'm the Sect Master.” “Then you should still have a long time to live, right?” “Why do you ask?” “Put down your sword first. I need to tell you something.” “Go ahead.” “Do you know that the place I'm standing in is the ruins of the Sword Sect?” “...” “This may sound strange, but what I mean is that your Sword Sect was destroyed a thousand years ago. Your past, your 7.4kReads8.8Score790Shelves
39. 139 骇EN Dread Night: Getting Rich in a Horror Game 骇夜：我在恐怖游戏里暴富 A-One Is Not A-Two阿一不是阿二Mystery714k WordsOngoing (The rating just came out and will rise later. Infinite flow + mild horror + original instances + no female lead) A tower stands in the eternal night, with a group of players trapped inside. They have to keep taking part in bizarre games to earn the food and supplies they need to survive. A killer in red embroidered shoes, a child with no eyes, a haunted mountain where an entire expedition team died... One deadly trap after another, with death around every corner. Players: “We're going to die, w 2.8MReads9.5Score588.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Infinite flow + high intelligence + no romantic pairing. Just as the author said, he was given three chances in this story. To be honest, this is the highest-IQ protagonist I've seen in a long time, not relying on protagonist halo, but purely on intelligence. The character development was solid from the very beginning. It's very well written, making one wonder if the author has another account.

40. 140 念 Thinking of You as Before 念卿如故 Yun Mofengxi云墨凤兮Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating, an heir to a family of physicians becomes the lowliest illegitimate daughter in the household. Her father doesn’t care about her, her older sister bullies her, and a scumbag blocks her way. When forced into marriage, Jiang Nianqing acts decisively. She drugs the “poor scholar,” leaves him money for the night, and escapes her living hell to enjoy her freedom. Four years later, the reigning Prince Jing tosses a hairpin missing a piece of agate in front of her. The man stares 1.1kReads9.1Score122Shelves

    Reader note

    She transmigrated to another world and became smart and capable. She met a sensible and decisive man, and together they turned the world upside down!

41. 141 闪 Shining with Stars 闪耀含星 Le Xinle乐心乐Modern Romance424k WordsCompleted Reborn + space + special abilities + mutually devoted romance + stone gambling Hacker, beautiful pharmacist, military-family heiress vs. the mightiest soldier king For thirty-five years, her parents kept her under their thumb. They arranged for her to donate bone marrow to her cousin, causing her to miss the high school entrance exam. She became their favorite target for bullying. Every chore in the house, big or small, was dumped on her, and whenever anyone was in a bad mood, beatings and insul 3.4kReads8.3Score389Shelves

    Reader note

    [Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

42. 142 纨 The Debauched General's Courtiers Fill the Imperial Court 纨绔将军之裙下之臣遍布朝野 Wandering the World, Splashing Ink云游泼墨Ancient Romance391k WordsOngoing [Woman Disguised as a Man + Military Intrigue + Angsty Romance with Multiple Male Leads + Family and Country] The one thing she should never have done in her life was let Situ Yumo get a second look at her on the streets of the capital. That one glance saw through the hole behind her ear and uncovered the secret she had kept for three years. But he didn't expose her. He swung down from his horse, lashed his whip to chase away the rats at her feet, and said with a smile, "Interesting." Back th 5Reads—Score—Shelves

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    For five years, she disguised herself as a man and guarded the border, undetected by anyone in the court. Until, at a palace banquet, the princess publicly revealed her true identity: "Baili Xuance, you are a woman." The entire hall erupted in uproar, but she removed her helmet, her long hair flowing freely: "I am a woman. I guarded the three northern passes, and I repelled 50,000 enemy troops. Anyone who disagrees, step forward." From that day on, a one-armed general, a lovelorn emperor, and a nameless swordsman willingly became her devoted followers. But her heart belonged only to one person.

43. 143 嫁 After Marrying a Disabled Man, I Became the Chief Minister's Wife 嫁给残废后我成了首辅夫人 Tomato-Stewed Chestnuts番茄炖栗子Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Chu Ruoyan, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Chu’s household, is engaged to a man whose entire family has fallen in battle. Her fiancé survived, but was left disabled. Everyone assumes the engagement is doomed, but the Chu family’s daughter marries as planned, saying only two words: “I’ll marry him.” * No one knows that Chu Ruoyan had a nightmare. In the dream, she breaks off her engagement to Yan Zheng. Three years later, she meets the heir of the Marquis of Pingjing, only for rebels to l 21.7kReads9.1Score3.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend these two books. The stories are tightly woven, with each plot unfolding in turn. Both authors are strong, and you won't be able to put them down once you start reading. You definitely won't regret getting hooked.

44. 144 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

    The female lead's personality is so likable; she's very rational and clear-headed. She transmigrates to ancient times and becomes the owner of a rouge shop, living a very comfortable life. Suddenly, one day, the woman living with her saves a man, and the female lead wants to stay as far away from them as possible. The plot is really interesting!

45. 145 疯 The Crazy Girl’s Rugged Husband Isn’t Human 疯批丫头的糙汉老公非人类 Le Xinle乐心乐Modern Romance903k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + spatial powers + poison doctor + both leads are sexually inexperienced + unhinged romance] Beauty-loving enchantress VS a lovesick, nonhuman roughneck. She was a celebrated genius in the world of finance. An heir to the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Doctor. A big shot who ruled the dark web hacking scene. Who could have guessed that on the carefully chosen day she planned to lose her virginity, she’d accidentally transmigrate to 1975? She became a dark, fat, pitifully ugly girl 2.2kReads8.5Score217Shelves
46. 146 谁 Who Will Sit with Me and Rule the World? 谁与我对坐山河 Wandering the World, Splashing Ink云游泼墨Ancient Romance405k WordsOngoing Twelve years ago, three hundred members of the Zhongli clan were executed to the last after being accused of treason. The whole capital believed not one of them had survived. No one remembered that a little girl had crawled out of the burning ruins. And no one knew that twelve years later, she would bind her chest, tie up her hair, assume the name Zhongli Zhishi, and return to court as a seventh-rank civil official. She was almost too good a person. Gentle and timid, she would only lower her hea 3Reads—Score—Shelves
47. 147 误 Lost in the Exquisite Bedchamber 误入玲珑帐 A Cat, A Dog, and a Glass of Wine一猫一狗一杯酒Ancient Romance678k WordsCompleted The print edition is available on major platforms. [Pure historical romance + devoted couple + strong female lead + marriage before love + political intrigue + household rivalry] [Long-suffering princess of a fallen kingdom] X [scheming, rough-hewn prince] [Original title: The Enigma of Linglong] “A historical-romance version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith: outwardly united, secretly plotting against each other.” To seize power, Linglong spent sixteen years disguised as a young master named Ling, studyin 8.7kReads9.3Score1.2kShelves
48. 148 娱 The Great Exposé of Showbiz Scandals 娱乐黑料大起底 Shrimpish虾里虾气Urban562k WordsOngoing [No rebirth] [No copying songs] [No cheating] [No wish fulfillment] [Entertainment PR + workplace intrigue] An entertainment-industry story unlike the rest. With my left hand, I expose scandals; with my right, I handle PR. I'm both sides of every argument, controlling everything and making a fortune. A dark, realistic style, with human nature driving the story. This is a vivid, heartfelt tale rooted in reality. (Summary of the supporting characters: I once chased Wen while following Youyou, An'a —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These few books are all outrageous, each one more absurd than the last.

49. 149 重 Reborn in the Glory of a Golden Age 重生之盛世年华 Le Xinle乐心乐Modern Romance417k WordsOngoing (Rebirth + space + possessiveness + devoted couple + family life + slow-burn romance) She won the lottery for the first time, but one sentence from her own mother made her die of anger. When she opened her eyes again, she discovered she had been reborn at eighteen, in the college entrance exam hall, holding the exam papers her mother had forced her to fill out for four years. If you were reborn at eighteen, what would you do? Would you seize the opportunity and use your memories to become a self 1.1kReads—Score110Shelves
50. 150 红 A Red-Blooded Official's Rise to Power 红色军转官场逆袭 The Zhu Clan's Spring and Autumn朱氏春秋Urban1.4M WordsOngoing Lin Ning was born into a privileged family, but turned down their support to leave the military as the special forces soldier “Mountain Hawk,” determined to start from the bottom and build his career from scratch. He places first in the provincial civil service exam, only to have someone take his spot and be sent to the logistics department. He quietly bides his time in the face of injustice, takes over public complaints and petitions, and uses the role as the start of his comeback. When he is 11.3kReads7.3Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    High IQ political intrigue novels

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