Looking for an Angsty Historical-Style Novel, or Any Historical-Style Story Where the Leads Never End Up Together and It Becomes a Regret 求古风虐文或者古风文，最后没有在一起成为遗憾

1. 1 穿EN After Becoming the Villainess, I Clear My Name Every Day 穿成恶女后每天都在洗白 Gathering Vetch, Gathering Vetch采薇采薇Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Everyone’s Darling + Adorable Kids + Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy]: Transmigrating into a lovesick woman, Tang Zhuyun wakes up in the middle of a scene where she’s climbing into a man’s bed. She turns around and runs. Forget this bed, she’s not getting in! Who needs a man when her father is the top scholar, her brother is the top scholar, and even her son will be the top scholar? They’ll protect her, so she can do whatever she wants! As a master physician, she’ll focus on her career, save lives, and k 33.8kReads9.3Score4.7kShelves

   Reader note

   These books are all carefully selected recommendations with scores of 9 or higher. The writing is excellent, with refined word choice and sentence structure. They are not simplistic or amateurish; the authors demonstrate calm analysis and their plots are engaging and moving. Some are even humorous, bringing a smile to the reader's face.

2. 2 王 The Princess Consort Is Poor and Miserable, and Loves to Play the Pig to Eat the Tiger 王妃她又穷又苦，还喜欢扮猪吃虎 Knowing My Heart安知我意Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted Wen Yu, the chancellor's son famous throughout the capital, was a good-for-nothing who spent all day shirking his studies and loafing around. The night before, her father had just dragged her out of a brothel. The next day, she passed the imperial examinations and came first. Not a single person in the capital believed she could place first. They all marveled that she had such a good father! Even Wen Yu herself found it hard to believe. She couldn't help asking her father, “Did you bribe the exa 4.7kReads9.2Score482Shelves
3. 3 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
4. 4 最 The Royal Family Is Truly Heartless 最是皇室无情人 Xia Xiaoli夏小礼Ancient Romance50k WordsCompleted For generations, the Mu family had loyally served the country. In the end, their entire clan was sentenced to execution. The official presiding over the execution was her husband, the most brilliant and extraordinary of the Great Jing Kingdom's Third Princes. Then she awoke to the truth: The man she loved was a member of the royal family, the most heartless people in the world... 613Reads7.0Score119Shelves

   Reader note

   The first book's title speaks for itself, the second is a masterpiece, and the third is also good. I've read them all; the plots are engaging, the writing is good, and there's no awkwardness while reading. They should be okay. [Seriously, don't be fooled by the first book's low rating!]

5. 5 规 Rule Horror: You Want Me, Zhang San, to Follow the Rules? 规则怪谈：要求我张三遵守规则？ The Luo in Luo Xiu罗修的罗Mystery3.1M WordsCompleted [Horror + eerie + hilarious + satisfying + national fortune = a serious novel] The Supreme Rules descend, selecting multiple people at random from each country to become Ascenders and take part in the Ascension Exam! Those who perform well earn high scores and even extra rewards. They can improve their own abilities and bring unexpected ascension to their country. But fail the exam, and death may be waiting for you, along with endless torment. Even your country may be beset by supernatural event 6.9kReads9.0Score834Shelves

   Reader note

   What are you doing, haha? Oh dear, although it's not in the ancient style, it's really good. It's a collection of strange tales about rules; you can read it after you've gotten tired of other books. No dull moments, excellent reasoning, slightly scary (read it under the covers at night). The plot is superb! Highly recommended!

6. 6 规 Rule Horror: My Family Isn't Normal 规则怪谈：我的家人不正常 White Beard白胡子Mystery1.2M WordsCompleted [Horror + mystery + livestream + national fate + System] The supernatural returns, and rule-based horror games invade countries around the world. As one chosen by fate, Zhou Bai represents the Great Xia Kingdom in a horror game. The first scenario is a family of four. [You live with your wife and your parents. But remember, there are only three people in your home.] [You can trust your wife, unless she takes off her red hair clip.] [You and your wife have never had a child. If you hear a baby cr 46.1kReads9.4Score5.7kShelves
7. 7 怪 Strange Tales Livestream! 怪谈直播间！ Stone Giant Monster石头巨怪Mystery1.3M WordsCompleted Welcome to the Rules of the Strange. This is a battle of blood and fire, a test of wit and courage. The power of words cannot be resisted, and the eerie rules must not be broken. In a seemingly hopeless situation, find the one correct answer, break free of your constraints, and search for a way to survive. 173.8kReads9.7Score17.7kShelves
8. 8 归 The Phoenix’s Return 归凤行 Nine Leaves Ablaze九叶烬燃Two Male Leads521k WordsCompleted (Reborn secret identities + martial arts cultivation + quick transmigration across worlds + deep, painful romance) [Proud, reserved crown prince vs. sickly-sweet Demon Emperor who hides his true nature] In the demon realm's Qiwuguo, a fortune-teller predicted three hundred years ago that when Mount Buzhou fell and the pillar of heaven collapsed, the karmic flames would descend and the glaciers would melt, bringing the primeval world the worst flood in a century. When that time came, the sun woul —Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The female lead of Shangyu Que: Cold on the outside but warm on the inside, with a charmingly arrogant personality, a foodie, seemingly calm and collected but actually quite anxious inside, skilled in martial arts, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and wine. The male lead: Diligent, cunning, shrewd, pragmatic, a miser, enjoys lending money at high interest rates, a stay-at-home husband, skilled at scheming, forming cliques, a stay-at-home husband, a loving couple, the story of love and hate between Shangyu Jiuyuan and the ten lifetimes of separation and death, a journey of selfless dedication to the world and mutual redemption. Synopsis: A cold and arrogant goddess (Shangyu) X a cunning celestial war god (Zhan Jiuyuan). The Nine Provinces are in chaos, the heavens are driven out. Her white hair is broken, her longing is extinguished, staining the three thousand worlds, a clear mirror reflects the dust, autumn frost never returns. He sweeps across the vast land with a single sword, where has the splendor and song fallen? In the Xiaoxiang region, a yellow oriole skillfully unravels the plum blossom's knot. Alas, the person is gone, the romance is broken. Does the jade bamboo remember the beauty? The people are gone, the water flows on in vain. Since the battle with the Heavenly Evil God Xuan Ye, the ten divine artifacts once guarded by the ten gods have scattered throughout the six directions, posing a hidden threat to the world, gradually becoming known to all. These are the Pangu Banner, the Nine Songs Slip, the Tathagata Bell, the Sun and Moon Lamp, the Demon-Slaying Sword, the Hundred Barriers Gate, the Divine Rain Feather, the Prajna Qin, the Huanli Lamp, and the Qianyuan Cauldron. Searching for the artifacts, embarking on reincarnation, with Tianhuang and Shangyu in a fleeting moment. The two join hands to search for the ancient ten divine artifacts scattered across the nine provinces and eight wastelands, awakening memories, redeeming each other, and ultimately using the ten artifacts as an array, fearlessly sacrificing themselves to seal the Heavenly Pivot Box Evil God, saving all living beings. Jian Gang and Shangyu were originally the masters of the Divine Rain Pavilion. The Heavenly Emperor Guan Wu admired the master and sent his avatar Jun Yan to become a disciple of the Divine Rain Pavilion. Since the ancient battle with the Heavenly Demon, the ten divine artifacts once guarded by the ten gods have scattered throughout the six directions, posing a hidden threat to the world. In this battle, Shangyu was cursed by the Heavenly Evil God Xuan Ye, her love life severed, and her life was nearing its end. The Heavenly Emperor Guan Wu changed her fate, sparing no effort to help her be reborn and overcome the curse. Meanwhile, the male protagonist Zhan Jiuyuan appeared, seeking Shangyu's lost memories. Together, they searched for the Ten Ancient Divine Artifacts scattered throughout the Nine Provinces and Eight Desolations, uncovering ten unknown pasts of Shangyu's ten lifetimes. From their initial acquaintance to mutual redemption, they worked to save the world and thwart Emperor Guan Wu's plot to unify the Three Realms and destroy humanity. Ultimately, they found peace and happiness in the mortal realm, a story of lovers finally united. If you like this, please check out my work. If you can, please add it to your favorites. Thank you. Synopsis of "Return of the Phoenix": (Rebirth with a Disguise + Wuxia Cultivation + Transmigration + Heartbreaking Romance) [Arrogant and Reserved Crown Prince vs. Sickly and Deceptive Demon Emperor] In the demon realm of Qiwu Kingdom, three hundred years ago, a national advisor prophesied that Mount Buzhou would collapse, the pillars of heaven would crumble, karmic fire would descend upon the world, glaciers would melt, and the primordial world would face an epic flood unseen in a century. At that time, solar eclipses and starfall would occur, submerging the nine provinces. The Nine Rings Mountain of Qiwu Kingdom in the demon realm would serve as the last barrier protecting the peace of the three realms, shielding all living beings from the cataclysmic flood. To save his clan, Feng Yi devoured ancient texts, yet found nothing. Just as the raging flood threatened to engulf the Nine Rings Mountain, the last barrier protecting the peace of the three realms, his master told him that the cultivation world possessed four divine artifacts, the Jade Beard Brush, capable of writing the meaning of life and death and rewriting destiny. Thus, his master sacrificed himself, tearing open the void to transport Feng Yi to the cultivation world. From then on, Feng Yi concealed his identity, using the guise of the heir of Hengyang, and devoted himself to cultivation on Jade Beard Mountain. Because of his exceptional talent, he won the favor of the Jade Beard Sect Leader and the youngest daughter. Feng Yi, a disciple of Jade Beard, was the eldest disciple of the Jade Beard lineage and was ordered to participate in the annual martial arts tournament. There, he encountered the most powerful ancient clan in the cultivation world, the Xuanyuan Ancient Clan, the sealed demon Jue Tian and the dragon Long Ye beneath the Jue Tian Pool. A bloody journey of redemption begins here… If you like my work, please check it out. If you can add it to your favorites, thank you.

9. 9 上 The Upper Jade Tower 上虞阙 Nine Leaves Ablaze九叶烬燃Ancient Romance306k WordsCompleted The aloof, proud Goddess of Shenlin, Shang Yu × the scheming God of War from the Heavenly Realm, Zhan Jiuyuan. Chaos engulfs the Nine Provinces, and the Heavenly Chariots emerge. Her white hair is cut short, her longing reduced to ashes; she scorches the bustling world of mortals, her clear mirror reflecting dust, while autumn frost never returns. He sweeps his sword across the vast earth, leaving every place of splendor and song in ruins. By the banks of Xiaoxiang, orioles deftly weave plum-blo 3Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 10 请EN Call Me the Ghost Messenger 请叫我鬼差大人 The Cat from the Xu Family徐二家的猫Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted After the Eternal Night, terror returned. Ten miles of desolate graves, eerie singing. An old man searching for his arms, a headless baby... They kept piecing their bodies back together, unleashing an even more terrifying aura. In the wasteland, even a severed hand could destroy heaven and earth. In this world of darkness and despair, a post office appeared and vanished from view... A mysterious young man, a postal carriage traveling through the void... One blood-red letter after another became 102.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Story Summary:

11. 11 和 I Was Dating the Empress Online, but the Heavenly Dao Exposed Me! 和女帝网恋的我惨被天道曝光！ Across the River隔江Eastern Fantasy147k WordsOngoing (Empress + One Female Lead + System + Invincible) Lu Xuan transmigrates into a fantasy world where everyone is in love. Here, every person, every demon beast, every ghost, and even pills and cultivation techniques are all dating. Anyone who isn't in love will be erased by the Heavenly Dao. Freshly transmigrated, Lu Xuan is a useless odd-job disciple with no status, no strength, and no money. All he has is a handsome face. Who would date him? Will he really be erased as soon as he transmigrates? 4Reads7.6Score—Shelves
12. 12 我 My Qingdao Girl 我的青岛姑娘 Super Big Tank Kobe超级大坦克科比Urban1.6M WordsCompleted [Celebrities] + [Female TV host] + [First love] + [Tenant] + [Older sister] + [Bad man] + [Super Big Tank Kobe] “I seriously can’t figure it out. With all these gorgeous women around, why do they have to like a guy like you?” My buddies are always asking me that. They all think I’m one of those men who believe women love a bad boy, but I’m really not a bad man! The truth is simple: we see women differently. They see a current starlet, the most beautiful woman in the entertainment industry. I see 33.2kReads9.4Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Recommended rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

13. 13 世 The Person Who Loves Me Most in the World 世界上最爱我的人 Super Big Tank Kobe超级大坦克科比Urban2.0M WordsCompleted The purest kind of love is this: you rejected me, and I’ll never resent you for it, but I won’t come near you again. If you ever need my help, I’ll still give everything I have to help you... 61.4kReads9.3Score7.4kShelves
14. 14 我 My Irresistible Girlfriend 我的极品女友 Super Big Tank Kobe超级大坦克科比Urban1.6M WordsCompleted After suffering through several heartbreaks, he lived a miserable, dejected life. By chance, he found a briefcase and discovered that its owner was a beautiful woman. The two met at a coffee shop, then grew close when the rain brought them together. After several chance encounters, perhaps fate really had brought them together, and love was about to bloom. A poor loser fights his way back in love, as a tangled romance is about to unfold. 37.8kReads9.5Score4.2kShelves
15. 15 我 My 26-Year-Old Female Tenant 我的26岁女房客 Super Big Tank Kobe超级大坦克科比Urban2.1M WordsCompleted After a wild night at a bar, a beautiful woman pinned him with a paternity claim, and the down-and-out young man suddenly became a father. As if things weren't bad enough, the owner of his rented home changed, and he was about to be kicked out. But his new landlady was beautiful! Should he ask to share the place? She coolly gave him a single word: “Get out!” A romantic entanglement sparked by a housing problem. 120kReads9.7Score13.9kShelves
16. 16 世 Midsummer at the End of the World 世界尽头的盛夏 Xiao He Comes from the Moon小何来自月亮Urban84k WordsCompleted People are all drawn to pain. You can see it in how we lick mouth ulcers, press on bruises, and replay certain moments over and over. Some people drift apart as they go through life, even when they matter deeply. But luckily... 1Reads—Score—Shelves
17. 17 请 My Lord, Grant Me a Lovesick Gu 请君赐我相思蛊 Gu Shisan顾十三Ancient Romance56k WordsCompleted When they were young, Jun Wuye and Yun Ji both believed in love. She once vowed to live and die with him, but love could never overcome schemes and deceit. One misunderstanding, and they were parted for life. Her family was destroyed, her brother was brutally killed, her child miscarried, and both her legs were crippled. “Jun Wuye, did you ever love me at all?” On the city wall, dressed in a wedding gown red as blood, she spoke in a voice full of grief. He slashed her wedding gown with his sword 88Reads6.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The author has written quite a few angst-filled stories; you can check them out if you like.

18. 18 白 Ode to White Hair 白头赋 Little Paper Boat纸船儿Ancient Romance41k WordsCompleted In a daze, she seemed to see that young man again, standing in the spring sunshine as he asked her: “Do you have feelings for me?” 123Reads5.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a bit short, but it's pretty good at being angsty.

19. 19 傲 You Won't Escape Me, You Proud Ferocious Beast! 傲娇凶兽休想逃！ Illusory Reality虚妄的真实Ancient Romance128k WordsCompleted While being hunted, Feng Yan stumbles into the Feng family's forbidden grounds, where she unexpectedly encounters a handsome man whom the family has imprisoned and kept sealed away for generations! Who would have thought such a gorgeous man was actually a ferocious beast? While he was unconscious, Feng Yan bound them with a life-and-death curse. This is the key to my Feng family's prosperity for decades to come. No matter how you look at it, he should fetch ten thousand gold! But life is full of —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    So heartbreaking! The male lead dies after they finally get married!

20. 20 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

    Ancient Chinese romance, the main characters get a happy ending [facepalm] You're really not afraid of heartbreak!

21. 21 宦 The Palace Consort Returns 宦妃还朝 Duck Saintess鸭圣婆Ancient Romance4.8M WordsCompleted Wave after wave of bizarre plots, step after step of poisonous schemes. She was a ruthless queen who stood alone, swearing to change the ruler and put a new name on the throne. He was an utterly bewitching, calculating eunuch, carrying a world-shaking secret as he helped her turn the world upside down. She asked, “Yu Xuanji, would you dare give me the world I want?” He replied, “Su Feise, if you dare covet it, then I dare make it yours.” Two powerful allies joining forces, accomplices in crime. 1kReads8.8Score560Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead died in the end, and couldn't be saved.

22. 22 通EN The Netherworld Scholar Immortal 通幽小儒仙 You Zi Yin油子吟Eastern Fantasy2.0M WordsCompleted “Where is this?” “Perhaps... the River of Forgetfulness...” “Who are you?” “Wuchang...” “I've never heard of anyone called Wuchang in this world.” “From now on... that's who I'll be!” The soul crosses the River of Forgetfulness, while its thoughts remain on the other shore. What is gained from all beings must be returned to all beings. When Su Mo woke up, he was no longer in his former life. He went to the capital to sit the imperial examinations, but accidentally stumbled into an immortal schem 63.7kReads9.4Score6.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Ancient Chinese style, there's no such thing as a scene without angst; the low rating is because it's too angsty.

Other lists with After Becoming the Villainess, I Clear My Name Every Day