Ancient Setting, Bad Ending, Utterly Heartbreaking 古代 be 超虐超虐

1. 101 长 A Long Farewell 长辞 Zhi Er织尔Ancient Romance102k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + tragic romance + both leads reborn] Another heartbreaking historical romance from Zhihu’s popular author Zhier, following An Ending at Dusk! Through a haze of consciousness, she relived her entire life, finally pausing on that sunny afternoon. He stood beneath a tree, his eyes covered with white cloth, smiling as he asked what she wanted. A young gentleman, handsome and refined as jade. One glance was enough to stay in her memory for years. If only she had known that meeting h 1.7kReads8.4Score213Shelves

   Reader note

   The first two books were good; the author's writing style is excellent. The first book: This is an unconventional palace intrigue novel. The author uses a lighthearted tone to vividly portray the lingering resentment of everyone involved. The female protagonist, Xiao Liu'er, once had feelings for the emperor, but only for three days…

2. 102 华 The Song of Hua Xu 华胥引 Tang Qi唐七Anime Fanfiction291k WordsCompleted If you could trade your life for a perfect illusion of the past, would you agree? Perhaps you would shake your head, but they said yes. In this story set amid a world in chaos, the Princess of Wei gives her life for her country, then returns from the dead with the help of a mermaid's pearl. When she plays the Huaxu Melody, she can bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bone, as well as enter dreams and memories. Trading life for a dream, she can only sigh at the joys and sorrows of a f 2.3kReads9.5Score817Shelves
3. 103 百 The Hundred Demon Manual 百妖谱 Shaluo Shuangshu裟椤双树Ancient Romance165k WordsCompleted A man, a monk, and a fox wander the world, laughing and arguing along the way. White demons, countless affairs, and every kind of human emotion: a world of strange wonders and the warmth and hardships of human life. 10.4kReads9.5Score2.2kShelves
4. 104 百 The Hundred Demons Manual (2) 百妖谱（2） Shaluo Shuangshu裟椤双树Ancient Romance191k WordsCompleted A man, a monk, and a fox, laughing and bickering as they roam the land. White demons, myriad affairs, and a hundred emotions: a strange and wondrous world, full of life’s warmth and hardship. 2.2kReads9.5Score589Shelves
5. 105 百 A Hundred Demons, Volume 3 百妖谱（3） Shaluo Shuangshu裟椤双树Ancient Romance218k WordsCompleted A man, a monk, and a fox roam the land, laughing and joking, cursing and teasing. White demons, a hundred happenings, a hundred emotions: a strange and wondrous world of human warmth and hardship. 2kReads9.5Score542Shelves
6. 106 百 The Hundred Demons Manual (4) 百妖谱（4） Shaluo Shuangshu裟椤双树Ancient Romance285k WordsCompleted A man, a monk, and a fox roam the world together, laughing and bickering along the way. White demons, a hundred affairs, a hundred emotions: a strange, fantastical world of human warmth and hardship. 3.6kReads9.5Score667Shelves
7. 107 嫁 After She Married, the Mad Emperor Seized Her by Force 嫁人后，被疯批皇帝强取豪夺了 A Penguin Who Has to Write Every Day每天都要码字的企鹅Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted [Coercive Possession + Later Revenge on the Scoundrels + Obsessive, Unhinged Hero + Groveling Chase + No Reconciliation + Second Male Lead Wins] Chu Huaiyu personally offered Lu Zhaoxue to the Crown Prince, using her as bait to frame Chu Siheng. After ascending the throne, Chu Huaiyu imprisoned Lu Zhaoxue deep in the palace, using his favor as a pair of shackles. Night after night, they were entangled in the palace. Biting her earlobe, Chu Huaiyu whispered, “Zhaoxue, do you hate me? Hate me if y 13kReads8.1Score609Shelves

   Reader note

   This book is incredibly good and incredibly heart-wrenching!

8. 108 绝 The Stunning, Fiesty Favorite Consort: The Tyrant Is Addicted to Spoiling Her 绝美宠妃太刁蛮，暴君自虐宠上瘾 Wenxin Ruoshui文心若水Ancient Romance747k WordsCompleted 708Reads8.9Score101Shelves

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   The beginning is funny, but the ending is heartbreaking; the male lead dies.

9. 109 朝 A Mistake Made Day After Day 朝朝误 Deep Sea Fish Chaser深海追鱼Ancient Romance324k WordsCompleted [No transmigration, no rebirth, no System. A pure historical romance + love between a man and woman + family and nation] On a stormy Mid-Autumn night, overlapping shadows cast by candles in a private residence shattered the lie of “one heart, one lifetime, one partner.” She ran mad through the rain with a sword in hand, while he cuddled his new lover on the bed. And the cousin who always said she only wanted enough to eat had already set her sights on becoming the Xie family matriarch. But who w 528Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Take a look at this.

10. 110 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

    A broken mirror can never be mended!

11. 111 山 A Letter from the Mountains and Rivers 山河锦书来 Bu Jie Fan You步解梵悠Ancient Romance250k WordsOngoing [Obsessive, unhinged emperor × cold, indifferent empress + taking by force + heart-wrenching tragic ending + coercive push and pull + love entangled with the fate of nations] Her name is Shen Miaoyan. From the legitimate daughter of a general to the Grand Princess of Dayu, from the Empress of Nanzhao to a prisoner in the depths of Beiqi’s palace. In this life, she had it all, and in the end, she was left with nothing. Her father was murdered by treacherous villains, his body never found; Her be 11Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I don't know if you'll like this story [currently in progress]

12. 112 病 Spring Returns to the Branches of a Sick Tree 病树枝头又逢春 Sweet Melon甜甜的瓜Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available] Sang Nian accidentally climbs into the world of cultivation and becomes the vicious supporting female character who meets a tragic end in the book. System: Your mission is to marry the male supporting character, Xie Chenzhou, abuse him, humiliate him, and then get killed by him. Sang Nian: OK (brandishes little whip) (hits herself) (collapses with a thud) System: (silence) (stares at the sky) System: Mission changed. Win him over, or go mine coal. Sang Nian: (smiles 188.6kReads9.5Score25.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The Legend of Xihe is the shortest of these four, and it made me cry from the very beginning, even though it doesn't have a high rating 🥺

13. 113 娘 My Wife Has Fallen for Me, with Murderous Intent! 娘子她动心了，是杀心！ Breeze for a Pillow, Clouds for a Blanket挽风枕云Ancient Romance264k WordsCompleted [Clever heiress + devoted heir + solving bizarre cases together + both die] In an accident, Su Jinqiu had her memories erased and became Lu Wantang, while the real Lu Wantang took her place as the prime minister's daughter. The two lookalikes thus switched lives. With her memories gone, Su Jinqiu returned to the capital as Lu Wantang. Over the next three months, she matched wits with the Lu family: her mother twisted the truth and insisted on ruining her reputation, her sister put on an affected 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    No one had a happy ending. The female lead died of poisoning, the male lead committed suicide for love, the second female lead died in battle, the second male lead died at the hands of his own father, the female lead's brother died on his way to deliver a letter, the female lead's sister was stabbed by her beloved along with her unborn child, the female lead's younger sister died together with her beloved, and the female lead's best friend's beloved died on the day he confessed his love. The ending was too tragic.

14. 114 东 The Eastern Palace’s Caged Sparrow: Changning’s Mistake 东宫囚雀：长宁误 Rika Under the Moon月下绘里香Ancient Romance395k WordsOngoing [Love and hate entwined | Discipline | Revenge | Political scheming] I am the fallen dynasty's princess, the most docile canary in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince killed my father, destroyed my homeland, and used rules to cage me into the most obedient plaything in his palm. He told me to learn political strategy, so I did. He told me to smile, so I smiled. After lying low for five years, I finally got the chance I'd been waiting for: the day he was trapped in a desperate situation. I broug 184Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Tragic romance novel, featuring the male and female protagonists locked in an extreme tug-of-war over family feuds and national hatred.

15. 115 勾 The Courtesan Consort: The Prince's Precious Snow 勾栏罪妃，她是王爷掌中雪 Xue LiL雪里LAncient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted ❗️❗️ [The Long Road to Winning Her Back] In this life, the one thing he never did was tell her, “I love you.” She was snow in the palm of his hand: the moment he had her, he lost her. 🔥 [The Memory-Devouring Twin Gu: One Swallows the Past, the Other Buries the Rest of Your Life] It all began with a conspiracy! He was the emperor’s younger brother, the only prince of the direct imperial line. He was deeply in love with the current empress, his sister-in-law. Overnight, she became the daughter of 232Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's so good! [Sparrow Eater's masterpiece] The female lead is tormented in the beginning, but her secret is revealed later.

16. 116 系 The System Forces Me to Save the Tyrant, but the History Books Say I'm Doomed to Die 系统逼我拯救暴君可史书说我必死 Mumu Doesn't Eat Lemons沐沐不吃柠檬Ancient Romance331k WordsCompleted Hot-tempered, scheming, sharp-tongued crown prince × soft, adorable, money-loving, lecherous transmigrated princess Transmigrate into a book #System #Tragedy #Palace Intrigue and Nobility #Redemption #The Beauty of a Bad Ending #Obsessive Tyrant #Fated Love #White Moonlight #When the Wall Falls, Everyone Pushes I was bound to the “Wise Ruler Development System.” My mission was to change the tyrant Mo Chenyuan for the better, prevent him from turning evil, and help him make his mark in history. T 15Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's so cruel!

17. 117 未 Late in the Hour of the Goat 未时晚 Qi Yingjia齐楹嘉Ancient Romance147k WordsCompleted “Both leads are pure” / “Tender and heartwarming” / “Rebirth” / “Heartbreaking romance” / “Palace intrigue” / “He chases her” / “Happy ending” This story has two pure leads! “Remember, no daughter of the Cui clan of Qinghe or the Lu clan of Fanyang can become empress!” But Brother Che, if that’s true, why did you marry me? And if you married me, why did you treat me that way? The Cui clan has always been loyal and righteous. Heaven and earth can bear witness. Shall I prove it with my life? If I 317Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This ancient romance novel with its angst is really good! It's completely different from other melodramatic stories. The female lead is brave, resourceful, and doesn't lose her mind. The angst isn't melodramatic; it's full of heartwarming moments. The romance is more about the male lead suffering. It's really good!

18. 118 被 After Being Forced to Win Over the Unhinged Demon Lord, I Turned the Whole Story Into a Happy Ending 被迫攻略疯批魔尊后，全书HE了 Not Sweet不甜啊Ancient Romance550k WordsCompleted Wen Ruan transmigrated into a cultivation novel as an insignificant cannon-fodder character. The moment the original character appeared, the villainous Demon Lord snapped her neck. Wen Ruan: No way. I have to run! System: No way. There’s a villainous Demon Lord here who needs you to win him over. Do your best to make him fall in love with you~ Wen Ruan: In your dreams. Mu Zhe: In your dreams. And yet On her 101st day undercover in the demon realm, she carried the gravely wounded, dying young Dem 13.2kReads9.4Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is incredibly logically sound. Although it's not a tragic ending, the later parts are even more painful. I remember crying for days after finishing it. The plot twists were completely unexpected, and every design was brilliantly written. When I read it, I gave it a super high rating of 9.8, and I don't want it to be overlooked. I highly recommend everyone to read it; it's absolutely amazing! 😢😢😢

19. 119 不 Never to See White Hair 不见白头 Tea Instead of Water茶代水Ancient Romance8k WordsCompleted Never to See Gray Hair 8Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Short stories, the kind that start well but end poorly.

20. 120 红 The Lotus Fragrance Fades in Autumn 1 红藕香残玉簟秋1 Jenny the Brutal Hammer暴锤者珍妮Ancient Romance124k WordsCompleted [Addictive sweet-and-angsty historical romance + political intrigue + dramatic twists + an emperor’s love + past and present lives + mad, devoted hero] Yuan Jiu was born in the Heavenly Prison and has been plagued by nightmares since birth. In her dreams, there is always a dashing young man racing through a raging inferno. He gallops toward her, murderous intent surging from him, and a three-foot sword pierces her chest. She has died countless times in her dreams, yet she has never been able to 102Reads7.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Just looking at this name is heartbreaking 😢😢😢😢

21. 121 情 Deep in Love, Yet Unaware 情深且不知 Fusu扶苏Ancient Romance21k WordsCompleted [Tragic Romance] He was the man who killed my father, and I hated him with all my heart. In the end, I discovered I had hated the wrong person. The daughter of a bandit chief happened to save a scholar, and from then on, she gave him her heart. But her wedding night became the night her family was slaughtered. Her beloved, once the person closest to her, had become her father's killer! He was an emperor, cold and indifferent. He unexpectedly fell in love with her, yet could only push her further 69Reads7.8Score—Shelves
22. 122 西 Spring Grief in the Western Palace: Whose Heart Has Fate’s Splendor Left Cold? 西宫春怨：命途繁锦冷了谁人心 Fu Su, Wen Leng扶酥、问冷Ancient Romance74k WordsCompleted The sorrowful women who emerged from behind the beaded curtains wept for all they longed for but could never have, all they begged for but could never reach. Their tears smudged their makeup and aged their faces. Year after year, their silk brocades faded, until they hardened like cocoons and their hearts turned to ash… The palace walls were red, richer than the last glow of sunset. Deep courtyards could never lock away the breeze from a maiden’s round fan. Women carried so much sorrow. Beneath 36Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 123 姜 Jiang Wei: Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law Serve the Same Court 姜维：翁婿同朝 A Pearl in Hand明珠在手Female-Channel Fanfiction632k WordsCompleted Complete. An unofficial history of the Three Kingdoms!! The story of young general Jiang Wei's life, from his return to Shu to his death for his country: the Northern Expeditions and a love story. Jiang Wei and his wife Fei Zhao, daughter of Fei Yi and a county princess of Shu Han, embrace as they die for their country. Ten thousand bolts from the repeating crossbow pierce them, and she carries their unborn twins. The Sima clan means to separate them; when they cannot, they cut them apart. The h 76Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    All characters suffer tragic endings. In the chaotic Three Kingdoms period, everyone is caught in the crossfire; the sweeter the beginning, the more painful the end. This is true in over a dozen parallel worlds, where all beings suffer, desires are unfulfilled, and happiness is never possible. (Multiple perspectives in the side stories, even more heartbreaking moments) The second male lead, Zhuge Ke, is a mirror; his tragic life reflects the suffering of everyone. He secretly loves the "glass ceiling" (a character from a popular Chinese web novel). He appears thirty chapters late, missing out on opportunities by seven or eight years, loving painfully and humbly. In his final desperate act of madness, he dies, his clan is wiped out, and he suffers eternal damnation, his name repeatedly tarnished by many. Even after his death, more people continue to discover traces of his deep love. In over a dozen different side story "IF" scenarios, he still struggles to find happiness (he is tortured countless times in different ways).

24. 124 分 After Our Breakup, the Fox Demon’s Young Master Proposed to Me 分手后，狐妖少主向我求婚了 Jing Lan, No Extra Sugar景蓝不加甜Modern Romance133k WordsCompleted [A spoiled, conflicted actress × a cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside fox demon king] After knowing each other for more than two years, Bai Jingxuan proposed to her. Once her memories of her past life returned, she discovered that the person who had killed her a thousand years ago was none other than her childhood sweetheart and police officer ex-boyfriend, Tang Jie. Even more terrifying, her extremely yin constitution had been reincarnated with her. For the rest of her life, she would have 5Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male and female leads had a tragic ending in ancient times, but their story continues happily in modern times. 👍

25. 125 迎 After Taking a Second Wife, Lord Yin Regretted It 迎娶平妻后，尹大人后悔了 Young Master Dan公子丹Ancient Romance1.6M WordsOngoing (Pure historical romance tragedy + childhood sweethearts + the male lead chases his wife to the crematorium + the second male lead takes her place + the heroine is doted on by the second male lead later on) Yun Rao was a beautiful young woman, while Yin Hongjin was as handsome as a gentleman from a painting. Childhood sweethearts, they were the young married couple everyone in the capital envied. But after several years of marriage, Yun Rao still had not conceived. Her in-laws began to look down 19.1kReads8.4Score1.5kShelves
26. 126 五 After Five Years Apart, She Became Another Man's Wife 五年之约，她却成了别人的妻 Some Kaka某卡卡Historical20k WordsCompleted After five years apart, she became someone else's wife 76Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this one, it's a heartbreaking sad ending, my friend cried while reading it 🤦. It's written in the third person, focusing on the male lead at the beginning and the female lead at the end. The system categorized it as a male-oriented novel, but it's actually more female-oriented because the female lead's storyline is more prominent.

27. 127 良 A Worthy Minister Is Hard to Find 良臣难为 Drunk on Gold纸醉金靡Ancient Romance41k WordsCompleted [Historical Romance + Ensemble Cast + Tragic Love + Fateful Misunderstandings + Imperial Court and Nobility + Love of Country and Family + Tearjerker + Bad Ending] I am the empress of a nation. Everyone who sees me bows respectfully and greets me with, “May the Empress be well.” Because my surname is Shen. My father, Shen Nian, died on the battlefield, his body never found. My mother died by suicide after him. My eldest brother held Yumen Pass for forty-five days against a hundredfold enemy forc 385Reads9.4Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    The loyal bones of the entire family have been buried amidst the fleeting romance, leaving only her, clad in a phoenix robe, to endure the frost. The snow falling in the Golden Palace is not snow, but the undiminished blood of the Shen family, warmed for a century.

28. 128 落 Falling Blossoms Fill Chang'an 落花满长安 Jiahe Tiantian嘉禾田田Ancient Romance281k WordsOngoing [Women's redemption + female independence + strong female lead + political intrigue + marriage first, love later + domineering CEO + emperor's exclusive favor] Synopsis: Gu Jiangning, the only daughter of Jiangnan's richest man, Gu Shaoqing, is beautiful and brilliant. While trying to rescue Li Xiangjun, who is trapped in a brothel, she happens to meet Dou Bo'an, an official overseeing the Jiangnan textile industry. Her family then pushes her onto a so-called marriage alliance, all for her own g 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's really good! 😆😆 A carefree and unruly young master falls in love with a notorious "witch," and in the end, he competes with the prince for her hand in marriage. I recommend it to everyone!

29. 129 云 The Journey of Yun Xiu 云秀行 A Brief Taste, Then Gone浅尝辄逝Fantastical Romance50k WordsCompleted A demon falls from the sky + obsessive and calculating + takes her by force + passionate nights + clouds of colorful blossoms + tales of the Demon Kingdom The Journey of Yun Xiu He is an extraordinarily bewitching darkness, while she is a wisp of water mist, half-transparent and hazy. By a careless touch, she leaves her mark on him, revealing the man’s true nature, as stark as a white plum in winter: A tempting bloom. From then on, she sees the demon’s true form in all its splendor. Hua Xingyun —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Tale of Saiunkoku, Yun Xiuxing, Love Has No Myths - Similar Novel Recommendations!

30. 130 爱 Love Is No Myth 爱情没有神话 A Brief Taste, Then Gone浅尝辄逝Modern Romance121k WordsCompleted Contemporary Romance, Powerful Families, Domineering CEO, Reunited After Years Apart, Obsessive and Cunning, Urban Romance The novel Layer Upon Layer of Forest, All Dyed in Ink is also known as Love Is No Myth. At 28, Qiao Zilin is a single woman making her way through the surging currents of city life. Perceptive and self-possessed, she is used to keeping her feelings hidden behind a composed exterior. Childhood sweethearts for more than twenty years, she and Ji Zai'an went from youthful ties 169Reads—Score120Shelves
31. 131 若 If We Could Meet as We Did at First 若如初见 Yi Xuan顗軒Ancient Romance103k WordsCompleted [There is no such thing as love without reason. Every love is forged through countless trials and tribulations, bound together across lifetimes…] “How could I ever bear not to love you? We don't have nearly enough time together as it is. How could we possibly waste time not loving each other?” No encounter is ever a coincidence. It takes five hundred glances exchanged as you pass by in a previous life to earn a meeting in this one… If all of this is just a dream, I hope I can dream a little lo 29Reads8.1Score—Shelves

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    A female doctor transmigrates to ancient times and becomes a child bride, burdened with the mission of saving the male protagonist. She endures endless hardships in the household, brushes with death several times, and spends five years reviving the skeletal male protagonist. Beneath their sweet love lies an unavoidable crisis of separation.

32. 132 一 One Man, One Minister 一人臣 All of You, Get Out of My Sight都给朕退下Ancient Romance88k WordsCompleted In everyone’s eyes, Ji Ya was a brutal, debauched empress. To the great general Mo Lengzun, she was also a scheming, selfish, and sinister villain! But none of them knew she was terminally ill and had little time left... Everything she did was for the people of Donghao. Even as she died, everyone still hated her... 249Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Extremely heart-wrenching short story, so tear-jerking!

33. 133 被 Imprisoned in the Possessive Emperor's Palm, Spoiled Like a Treasure 被偏执皇帝囚在掌心宠 The Girl Who Mended the Sky女娃补天Ancient Romance477k WordsCompleted [Completed] [Obsessive, unhinged emperor x frail, scheming princess] [Bad ending, tragic romance] “The heroine has always loved her childhood sweetheart + the hero takes her by force and compels her to love him + the second male lead protects and saves the heroine throughout.” Six years ago, at a palace banquet in the Great Wei dynasty, Yi An and Zuo Qiu Li both met Helan Lan, the Ningguo Princess and the most beautiful and revered woman in Great Wei. They fell in love with her at first sight. A 75Reads8.5Score—Shelves
34. 134 三 Three Bowls of Heart’s Blood for One Divorce Agreement 三碗心头血，换一纸和离书 All of You, Get Out of My Sight都给朕退下Ancient Romance227k WordsCompleted After the new emperor ascended the throne, the Prince Regent went away to guard the frontier. Two years later, he finally returned to the capital. Along with his impressive military achievements, he brought back a woman as delicate and frail as a sickly beauty. She had the face of a hibiscus blossom and was irresistibly charming, yet every gesture carried a fragile, sickly air. Simply standing there was enough to stir people’s tenderness and make them want to cradle her in their hands and cheris 4.4kReads8.7Score483Shelves
35. 135 春 Spring Banquet 春日宴 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance664k WordsCompleted She kept male favorites and toyed with powerful ministers! For eight years, the arrogant and tyrannical Princess Danyang, Li Huaiyu, wreaked havoc across the court and country. She died on the day the new emperor ascended the throne, bleeding from every orifice in a truly gruesome death. The officials celebrated and the people rejoiced: Evil gets what it deserves! Good riddance! Yet on the seventh day after her death, Princess Danyang returned to life in the body of the Bai family’s Fourth Mis 13.6kReads9.4Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    I would call these ten books the pinnacle of Tomato's writing; there are no other favorite ancient-style novels like them. They have both tragic and happy endings—I love them so much!

36. 136 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves
37. 137 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 87.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves
38. 138 不 Before Daybreak 不终朝 Leisurely Rain闲雨Ancient Romance218k WordsCompleted [Two Generals + Love of Country and Home + Long-Suffering Romance + Mystery and Investigation + Mutual Pining + Commander Couple] [A decisive, resilient, loyal and strategic female general vs. the steady, patient and far-sighted commander of the Yinchi Army] Shen Xun and Xie Jin are sworn enemies, bitter rivals whose relationship is common knowledge. They rose to fame in their youth and spent ten years at war, yet in the end, they could not escape becoming pawns. A single imperial decree marryin 2.1kReads9.5Score331Shelves
39. 139 夫 Madam, the Heir Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time 夫人，世子他蓄谋已久 Susu Qian Ci酥酥芊瓷Ancient Romance471k WordsCompleted [A devoted couple, sweet romance, childhood friends] (Complete! Originally titled The Lady, the Heir Apparent Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time) [Scheming, doting heir apparent VS beautiful, high-maintenance heir apparent’s wife] Lu Zhaozhao, the youngest legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yunyang’s household, is adored by her parents and protected by her older siblings. She has grown up in comfort, with everything going her way. At sixteen, Lu Zhaozhao is a peerless beauty, and the thre 27.3kReads9.2Score3kShelves
40. 140 河 Peace and Prosperity in a Flourishing Age 河清海晏时和岁丰 A Will to Live Forever长生有意Ancient Romance189k WordsOngoing Changning was never destined to know peace. War will not let this age find peace, either. I will be the hero of this age and forge a new world. I will play a game of strategy, using the lives of everyone on the board to pave a road to a golden age. I am leaving. I will resign from the palace and go. Xiao Mingyan: I am the princess of Great Xiao. Since I have enjoyed the offerings of the people, I must shoulder a great responsibility. I am on the board, but I will not let others manipulate me. I 114Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A true ensemble piece is one where everyone is a protagonist.

41. 141 念 Remembering Awu 念阿妩 Icelandic Lop Rabbit冰岛垂耳兔Ancient Romance15k WordsCompleted Remembering Awu 5Reads—Score—Shelves
42. 142 唯 Love Is the Hardest Trial to Survive 唯情难渡 Si An姒桉Ancient Romance23k WordsCompleted She had a dream. A woman in red with her face veiled carried a lantern through the endless snow, leading her to a strange world. When she woke, she had somehow arrived six years in the future. She could hardly believe she had married that refined young man, as precious as jade, and become his empress. Being empress was rather miserable, but for the sake of having a handsome husband, she was willing to find joy in the hardship. As the gaps in her memory slowly filled in, she felt more and more s —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead lost everything, but in the end, she remained beautiful alone.

43. 143 琉 A Beauty's Head Above the Liuli Pool 琉璃池上佳人头 Ze Mu则慕Ancient Romance172k WordsCompleted When Liu Chenyuan was spoiled and pampered as a child, she never imagined that hardship still lay ahead. The man she loved turned out to be so weak and useless that he handed her over to someone else. He gave her to an old emperor, and before anything much could happen, the old emperor kicked the bucket. Just like that, Liu Chenyuan was inexplicably ordered to be buried alive with him. At the brink of life and death, Zhao Shuxian appeared. With a smile at the corner of his mouth, he waved his ha 162Reads7.9Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    [Ten Thousand Mu of Book Fields * One Mu of Selections] 💦Ancient Romance BE🔥Which one isn't heartbreaking? Come find me!💔Completed! 📚They're all so tear-jerking! I almost gave up when I saw the words "Zhi'er" 😢

44. 144 朕 My Setting Is That I Love Her 朕的设定是爱她 Zhi Er织尔Ancient Romance71k WordsCompleted [System transmigration into a book + mutual healing + winning over a lovesick obsessive] A new historical romance from Zhier, author of one of Zhihu’s three great tragic novels, Late Departure. The main story is lighthearted and funny, but the extras will break your heart. She is his nightmare, and also his cure! He is written to love her, so no matter what she does, he will never blame her. “Yan Yu, I truly and sincerely love you. Don’t forget me, I beg you.” “Don’t be afraid. Your elder sister 398Reads8.6Score113Shelves
45. 145 城 I Gave Myself to the Enemy Prince the Day the City Fell 城破那日，我委身敌国太子 Hardworking Spicy Strips奋斗的辣条12k WordsCompleted The Day the City Fell, I Gave Myself to the Enemy Prince 354Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    When you write about regret, it can't be all regret. It has to be about approaching hope, yet seeing that hope shatter, walking in darkness and seeing light, only to have that light vanish in an instant. It brought me to tears. 😢

46. 146 挨 Just Stay by Her Side 挨着她就好 Ming Han明菡Historical8k WordsCompleted Just Stay by Her Side 19Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Abuse, that's the only word!

47. 147 朱 Cinnabar Etched into My Bones 《朱砂烙骨》 Rain Guest of Startling Beauty惊鸿雨客Ancient Romance14k WordsCompleted Cinnabar Branded on the Bone 62Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's worth watching!

48. 148 槛 Respectfully Submitted by an Outsider: Three Lives, Three Worlds 槛外人敬上：三生三世 Xu Xu Ru Yu徐徐如雨Ancient Romance157k WordsCompleted I wrote this book for my wife. Once, she told me that if I died before her, she wouldn’t be able to bear it. That led us to talk about reincarnation. Is there really another life? Can people who love each other meet again? Later, while reading Dream of the Red Chamber, I decided to write this book. My wife is a lot like Miaoyu in the novel: strong-willed, distant, and in poor health. She asked me why she wasn’t more like Daiyu. I said that plenty of people love Daiyu, but I’m your very own “Zhan 15Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    They were childhood sweethearts, their chance encounter at the nunnery sealing their fate. One was a refined young lady, the other a young merchant's apprentice. A youthful, naive promise of "never forget" led to a lifetime of regret, and centuries of love and hate across three lifetimes...

49. 149 七 Her Seven Brothers Died in Battle, and the Legitimate Daughter Returned Darkened 七个哥哥战死沙场，嫡女黑化归来 Wild Donkey Tribe野驴部落Ancient Romance1.1M WordsOngoing [Historical romance, court intrigue, palace and household scheming, reborn, joining forces, legitimate daughter, revenge, two formidable leads, transmigrate into a book, seven older brothers, no saintly heroine, miracle doctor, adored by all, comeback, punishing scoundrels, imperial uncle, devoted husband, devoted couple] The comment section is 99% positive! Read with confidence! “Shen Nanqiao, being chosen to marry into the Eastern Palace is a blessing for your Duke of Zhenguo household!” Rebor 4.1kReads7.2Score804Shelves

    Reader note

    Turned into a human pig on her wedding day, her entire family killed in battle and exterminated? A top-tier modern female assassin is reborn with a script, tearing up the Crown Prince's marriage certificate in front of everyone at her wedding! Ding! An omniscient and omnipotent God's perspective and max-level divine medical and poison skills are ready! To protect her seven powerful brothers in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, she decides to use her past life's memories and assassin's instincts to start a grand cycle of "intercepting villains' resources, assassinating hostile forces, and binding herself to the Ninth Prince to build her career"—a cycle of ruthless revenge. 😄

50. 150 月 Ashes of the Moon Palace 月宫烬 Rainbow Lili彩虹里里Ancient Romance14k WordsCompleted The Moon Palace Burns 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Please take a look at my novel, it's a tragic ending called "The Palace of Ashes." I don't know why I can't find it anymore. Could you all please take a look? I'm really humbly seeking your advice.

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