Ancient-Era Stories With a Brilliant Strategist, Political Intrigue, Mind Games, and Power-Building 古代，高智商+权谋+烧脑+创建势力

1. 401 父 Father and Son Fight for the Crown Prince’s Seat 父子夺嫡 Yang Laosan杨老三Historical3.3M WordsCompleted My father is the crown prince, and he lets my stepmother harm me. I won’t put up with them. I’ll just give them a piece of my mind. My father murdered his own father and usurped the throne. When he ordered me back to the capital, I broke away and established my own domain. So what? A powerful enemy took the opportunity to attack me, but I defeated him. Then I forced the enemy kingdom’s empress dowager to marry me and seized their princess. Then I told my father, “Abdicate and surrender. Hand ove 14.7kReads8.6Score1.8kShelves

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   The male protagonist transmigrates to ancient times and is ordered to go north. As the eldest son of the Crown Prince, he doesn't want to be emperor. The story features a hellish start, a struggle for power, high intelligence, political intrigue, mind-bending plot twists, and the protagonist is already a powerful figure.

2. 402 洛 Three Days in Luoyang 洛阳三日簿 Great Sage Duo Duo大圣铎铎Historical511k WordsCompleted If you open the account book titled The Luoyang Three-Day Ledger, every line of numbers represents a life. Three days before the Lantern Festival in the first year of the Zhengsheng era, Li Suan, a low-ranking clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, discovers a ledger that could turn the entire court of the Wu Zhou dynasty into a river of blood. The charcoal and ice gratuities are bribes; the sunken grain ships are murder. And the bloody fingerprints of twenty-seven ministers on the final page point t 630Reads—Score152Shelves

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   [Must-Read for Bookworms] I stayed up all night to finish this! This "Ancient Auditor" uses an abacus to overturn Wu Zetian's court in 72 hours! It's so addictive!!! "The Three-Day Book of Luoyang"—a masterpiece where a lowly ninth-rank official's abacus clicks and the Wu Zhou Dynasty hangs by a thread! 📖 The story begins with a dusty abacus: Li Suan, a lowly clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, an ordinary person who only knows how to use an abacus, accidentally discovers a "King of Hell's Account." On the surface, it's a list of gifts for charcoal and ice, but underneath lies a murder of a sunken canal ship, the bloody fingerprints of twenty-seven ministers, and a coup ignited at the Lantern Festival. Wu Zetian awaits the truth, Princess Taiping is setting up her chessboard, and Lai Junchen's pursuit is already at the door. And he only has 72 hours. With an abacus, he uses the gaps in the numbers to uncover the hand that overthrew the dynasty. 🔥 Why did this book keep me up all night? ❶ A groundbreaking new genre: "solving cases with an abacus"! Not time travel, no cheat codes—the protagonist breaks through the impasse with his professional auditing skills! Hidden within the clatter of abacus beads lies a deadly intent more lethal than swords. Smelling blood from the dry numbers—this intellectual battle is incredibly satisfying! ❷ A 72-hour countdown, the pace is breathtaking! The closer the Lantern Festival gets, the deeper the conspiracy. Wu Zetian, Princess Taiping, and Lai Junchen's forces are locked in a three-way struggle; every step is a gamble of life and death. Memorable scenes abound, the visuals are stunning—each chapter feels like a suspenseful short drama! ❸ The relatability of ordinary people is overwhelming! Li Suan is powerless and without influence, possessing only the instinct for survival and professional dedication. His fear, struggle, and desperate counterattack are relatable to every ordinary person facing pressure in reality. This narrative of "ordinary people influencing grand history" is truly moving! 📚 If you're tired of mindless time travel and formulaic palace intrigue and cultivation novels, come and read *The Three-Day Record of Luoyang*! The historical research is solid (the first year of the Zheng Sheng era and the records of Tan Jing and Bing Jing are all sourced), the suspense is thrilling and mind-bending, and the pacing is incredibly fast! 👉 I've already added it to my bookshelf, no more talk, just go for it!!!

3. 403 大 Ming Dynasty Tyrant: I’ll Extend the Dynasty’s Reign by 300 Years 大明暴君，我为大明续运三百年 Kunwu昆吾Historical6.1M WordsCompleted [Political intrigue]+ [Passionate]+ [Struggle for supremacy]+ [Ruthless]+ [No System] “Zhu Youjian, go in peace. Everything you had will be inherited by me, Ye Xuan. From this day on, I am the sixteenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen. I swear here: Those you, Zhu Youjian, could not kill, I, Chongzhen, will kill. What you, Zhu Youjian, could not accomplish, I, Chongzhen, will accomplish. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are rebelling? Then it depends on whether I give them the chance! The J 100.2kReads9.2Score12.2kShelves
4. 404 龙 The Dragon Rules Liangzhou 龙驭凉州 Guardian of the Eternal Night永夜守护Historical221k WordsCompleted Folks, let’s really dig into the tangled history of the three powers that held sway over Liangzhou, Ganzhou, and Shazhou in the northwest during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period: the Tanguts, the Six Valleys, and the Guiyi Army. This area was the choke point of the Silk Road. Whoever controlled Liangzhou, Ganzhou, and Shazhou held the lifeline of the northwest, so these three powers fought fiercely while also dealing with the central Chinese court and the surrounding big players. It wa 35Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Legend has it that a close relative of Shen Lie was assassinated by officials of Liangzhou Prefecture within Liangzhou City. Enraged, Shen Lie ordered all men in Liangzhou taller than a cartwheel to be exiled to the Baitinghai Desert to cultivate Cynomorium songaricum, never to return to Liangzhou. Over time, Liangzhou became a city inhabited only by women and children, and the locals called it the "Kingdom of Women of Western Liang." During the Ming Dynasty, the novelist Wu Cheng'en, while gathering material and researching historical records, came across this unique history and was instantly inspired. In writing *Journey to the West*, which tells the story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples' pilgrimage to the West, he specifically included the classic chapter on the Kingdom of Women of Western Liang, transforming this Liangzhou story into a fantastical and moving backdrop for his novel, allowing this long-forgotten history to be passed down through the ages in a unique way. [Shy][shy][making faces][making faces][making faces][making faces]

5. 405 刚 I Just Became the Top Scholar, and the System Is Forcing Me to Marry the Mad Princess 刚成状元，系统逼我娶疯批长公主 The One and Only Sugar Daddy举世无双的金主Historical268k WordsOngoing As the descendant of a disgraced minister, Lu Jianwei is forced to bind himself to the "Shift the Blame" System at the Qionglin Banquet. Its very first mission is to publicly ask for the hand of Xiao Duanhong, the Regent Princess, notorious for her brutality and bloodstained hands. Armed with the System's "Words Become Law, Calling a Deer a Horse" sophistry, he not only survives the prison where danger lurks at every turn, but repeatedly escapes disaster, turning certain death into a ladder to p 5Reads—Score—Shelves

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   With the "Calling a Deer a Horse" system in hand, you can control all kinds of crazy princesses and yandere beauties.

6. 406 华 Huaxia, Volume One: Tales of the Central Plains 华之夏第一卷中原往事 The Pei Annals裴氏春秋Historical405k WordsCompleted A novel in the same vein as A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones). A novel in the same vein as A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones). A novel in the same vein as A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones). —Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Hua Zhi Xia Alternate History Novel

7. 407 清 Elegy of Pure Bones 清骨辞 Ai Qian艾仟Ancient Romance588k WordsCompleted [Mystery and crime-solving + woman disguising herself as a man + political intrigue and rising from the ashes + Gourmet] She transmigrates into a new world, only to have all her gear stolen from the start. All she has left is a willow-leaf scalpel. Zhao Qingxun raises an eyebrow, unruffled: “With my skills, the world is mine!” That is, until the blood moon appears over Mo Chi and nine skeletons are discovered at the bottom of the pond. The entire city falls silent. The powerful turn a blind eye, 24Reads—Score108Shelves

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   The male protagonist, a hidden dragon in the abyss, has been scheming since childhood, protecting what he cherishes; she, a transmigrator, initially intended to retire peacefully and escape the court's turmoil. However, her strength cannot be concealed, her brilliance cannot be hidden, and she is forced into the game! You grant me power, allowing me to roam freely; I will join hands with you to destroy this corrupt empire. In the vortex of power struggles, without troops, death is certain! We will build an iron-fisted force, controlling life and death; ultimately, this world will be ruled by us!

8. 408 九 Nine Princes Vie for the Throne: Your Highness, Prepare to Die 九龙夺嫡，请皇兄赴死 Seventh Uncle of Nanming南溟七叔Historical613k WordsCompleted In the eleventh year of the Tianqing era, Zhao Yin Qian, the ninth prince of Zhao, returned home after spending ten years as a hostage in Wei. All he wanted was to live carefree as a prince. But several of his elder brothers had murder on their minds and kept pressing him at every turn. He would endure it no longer. If they could fight for the position of Crown Prince, so could he. Zhao Yin Qian raised his sword to the heavens and roared, “By imperial decree, I come to suppress the traitors. Eld 141Reads5.9Score—Shelves

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   A mind-bending political intrigue story with a captivating plot.

9. 409 布 The Commoner Chancellor, Xia Ren 布衣宰相虾仁 Floating Life Returns to the Void浮生归墟Historical920k WordsOngoing After a sudden car accident, Xia Ren, a double PhD in history and literature, transmigrated as a dying seven-year-old peasant child in the Great Jing Dynasty, a realm never recorded in history. His family had nothing, but that couldn't diminish the knowledge and experience he had accumulated over two lifetimes. His memories of poring over ancient texts in his previous life remained crystal clear. The classics, historical records, institutions, and lessons of dynastic rise and decline were all at 324Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 410 千 Qian Jinhuan 千锦欢 Yun Lingge云翎歌Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Completed · [A highly intelligent amnesiac fake princess x a cold, scheming prince] [Not a mindless power fantasy] [Both devoted to each other + classic historical romance + no transmigration, rebirth, or System + political intrigue + doting romance + reunion after a long separation + devotion to country and family + exclusive devotion + the one who got away + happy ending] For twenty years, the second prince of Nantang, Chu Jinyuan, has kept his guard up and trusted no one, until Hua Qianmei ar 472Reads8.1Score—Shelves

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    Low rating but incredibly good! Pure ancient Chinese romance with political intrigue, all characters are highly intelligent, the male and female leads are both scholarly and martial, constantly outwitting and scheming against each other while secretly in love.

11. 411 医 The Physician Who Served the Dragon 医后从龙 Cui Xian, Who Loves Stir-Fried Eggplant Strips爱吃炒茄丝的崔宪Ancient Romance243k WordsOngoing [Medicine at Its Core, Political Intrigue as Its Backbone] The calm surface of the lake suddenly twisted, plunging me into its depths. When I opened my eyes again, I had become the frail legitimate daughter of a founding marshal. At a palace banquet, I met the crown prince, and his face was exactly like my boyfriend's! Yet his eyes held only the aloofness of royalty. “This prince has never met Miss Shen.” Only when a plague swept through the imperial capital did I save the entire city with penic —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Good book reviewer recommends this! [I highly recommend it too!][I highly recommend it too!][I highly recommend it too!] This is definitely the best ancient political intrigue novel recently! The character settings are so appealing, the plot is absolutely not mindless or silly, the intelligence is always on point, and there are no bad parts, so you can read it with peace of mind.

12. 412 两 A Journey Through Rain and Snow Between the Two Capitals 两京雨雪行 Han Shuangjian韩霜剑Eastern Fantasy552k WordsOngoing A tale of wits and courage, exposing conspiracies and traps, and using clever strategies to break through one challenge after another. The story follows young Wu Feng, who travels alone north at his master’s command to pay a visit to the Iron Flute Hero. He punishes Mongol officers, outwits the Ghost Claw Sect, teaches treacherous villains a lesson, makes a killing selling to Mongol nobles, and wreaks havoc at the execution ground! Hunted at every turn by the Northern Garrison and the Ghost Claw 9Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A high-stakes battle of wits between ancient Mongol and Han Chinese protagonists and antagonists.

13. 413 和 The Princess Sent Away for a Political Marriage Returns as an Assassin 和亲公主，归来已是杀手身 White Lantern in the Night Rain夜雨白灯Ancient Romance217k WordsOngoing [Matched opponents + intense push and pull + healing] She was once the most honored woman in the imperial palace, and she gave her heart to the young man in white. But she never imagined that he would personally cast her into an abyss where no light could reach. Branded with the name of a wanton woman, she was sent beyond the frontier to marry, vanished along the way, and became an abandoned wife among the Uyghurs, a laughingstock to the world. Seven years later, she returned, carrying the wi 123Reads—Score—Shelves
14. 414 穿 Transmigrated to a World in Chaos, She Refuses to Be a Beauty 穿越乱世，她才不要做佳人 Xiaoxiao Fish Resting潇潇鱼歇Ancient Romance310k WordsCompleted [Plot-driven + political intrigue + light ensemble cast + female protagonist + light romance] Xu Wan transmigrates into a book set in a chaotic era, only to become an anonymous passerby. The System hunts her down because she carries software that has nothing to do with the book. She thinks that escaping the original plot will let her lie flat for good, but after witnessing the bloodshed and chaos of the era with her own eyes, she steps back into the world. • This time, her forceful interventi 12Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A story of power struggles and intrigue in ancient times, a tale of a black-hearted person's rise to power in a

15. 415 大 Great Tang: Li Shimin Begs Me to Start a Rebellion 大唐：李世民求我造反 Joy Throughout the Land天下乐Historical3.1M WordsCompleted Li Ke transmigrates to the Zhenguan era of the Tang dynasty. He plans to use his skills as a motivational speaker to brainwash a loyal crew and keep his head down as an unremarkable prince. But eight years after transmigrating, he discovers that he brought along an entire national strategic reserve warehouse. So Li Ke throws caution to the wind. If he’s going to be a prince, he might as well be one who fears nothing and lives as freely as he pleases! First, he starts a newspaper to build his rep 157.2kReads9.5Score16.9kShelves

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    He transmigrated to the Tang Dynasty, intending only to live a low-key life, but unexpectedly unlocked a strategic warehouse. Watch how he navigates the Tang Dynasty, rejects the throne, and lives a carefree life!

16. 416 征 Conquering the Wilderness, Defeating Japan, Winning the Empress: I Am Invincible 征蛮荒打倭国征女帝我已无敌天下 A Pot of Tea, Please来一壶小茶水儿Historical1.6M WordsCompleted “Grandson, if you were going to drug someone, why pick the daughter of that old Prime Minister Lin? I mean, no matter how desperate you were, you couldn't do it in the imperial palace, could you? Still, you've got a bit of your grandpa's old flair!” “Uh, Grandpa, you did it in the palace back then too...” “Not quite as spectacularly as you, though!” Ning Fan, a mercenary who had just taken a bullet meant for a teammate on the battlefield, opened his eyes to find himself in the body of one of 2.1kReads8.7Score212Shelves

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    You won't be disappointed.

17. 417 G GB: Is the Shadow Guard Too Submissive? The Lady Takes the Lead GB：暗卫太卑微？小姐亲自折腰 It's Xiao Shang是肖尚Ancient Romance1.0M WordsOngoing [Female Top, Male Bottom, No Switching or Reversal, Plot-Driven Angst, Growing Female Lead] [Scheming, Dominant Young Lady x Humble Puppy-Like Shadow Guard] [Not Just a Two-Person Story, Slightly Female-Centric] [Bittersweet Romance, Childbirth, The Author Has Decided Who Gives Birth] The state of Qiao is bound by rigid Confucian morals, with civil officials holding the reins of power. Beneath the surface, turmoil has long been brewing. Zhi He’s original wish was simple: for the Zhi family to li 2.1kReads8.1Score285Shelves

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    If you enjoy historical romance novels with their intrigue and power struggles, this one is worth checking out. The era was heavily entrenched in hierarchical constraints, and the female protagonist knew that showing affection to her bodyguard would become ammunition for attacks against her and her family. Many of her feelings had to be kept hidden, conveyed through other means. The male protagonist, adhering strictly to his master-servant relationship, desperately suppressed his inner turmoil. Despite their mutual affection, they maintained a clear master-servant distance in public, creating a captivating atmosphere of restraint.

18. 418 世 Never More Than Three Times 世不过三 Yu Duoyou余多柚Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Strong female lead + reborn + three lifetimes + little poison doctor + no golden finger + political intrigue + satisfying read + sweet romance + reverse raising + romance + ensemble cast + scheming + a little angst] Xia Shi has been reborn three times, and each life has been more exciting than the last! Now in her third life, she’s an invincible little poison master. Who would dare let her suffer even the slightest grievance? In her first life, she lived for herself and married a foolish empero 2.3kReads9.5Score451Shelves

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    This book features a female protagonist with an exceptionally high IQ who orchestrates events across the land. It's not your average palace intrigue or domestic drama; it's also quite funny, making it a light and easy read.

19. 419 读 After Reading His Mind, the Mad Tyrant Decides to Turn Over a New Leaf 读心后，疯批暴君决定洗白 Picking Flowers in the Wind风中折花Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration into a book + woman disguised as a man + mind reading + wish fulfillment + two powerful leads + both leads are devoted to each other] Song Yunchu transmigrates into the tragic villainous chancellor from a melodramatic novel, who dies horribly. According to the original story, she will first be dismissed from office and imprisoned by the villainous emperor, then shot through the heart with a rain of arrows by the male lead, Prince Yi, whom she loves. After weighing her options, So 29.6kReads9.3Score4.2kShelves

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    The female lead is a resourceful and highly skilled martial artist, a Song Dynasty prime minister disguised as a woman. The only drawback is that it's still being serialized.

20. 420 边 The Border City Crossbowman 边城游弩手 Traveling Fox旅行的狐狸Historical1.3M WordsOngoing (Note: A traditional alternate-history novel, with no System and no wish-fulfillment.) A war to conquer a nation, fought by nobodies rising to prominence. A struggle for power full of ingenious schemes. The empire falls apart, and the chaos of war rises once more. A corrupt and twisted Confucian regime, powerful clans seizing land, warlords entrenched in their own territories, and barbarians watching hungrily from the sidelines. Clashing ideologies, rigid class divisions, a turbulent political l 682Reads8.9Score—Shelves

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    Let me recommend my book: a fantasy novel with elements of political intrigue and war, but without a system.

21. 421 医 The Physician Princess Strikes Back: The Prince's Good-for-Nothing Darling 医妃逆袭：王爷的废柴宠妃 One Leaf Knows Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter一叶知春夏秋冬Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted "The prince is dead. The princess consort will be buried with him!" At the moment the coffin lid closed, I opened my eyes. Not only did I tear up the imperial edict ordering my sacrifice, I also managed to bring the prince back to life after he had stopped breathing. Before long, the whole capital knew that the Chen Prince's residence had an ancestor who could snatch people from the King of Hell... From then on, the abandoned courtyard became a pharmacy, account books exposed corrupt officials, 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A transaction that began with self-interest blossomed unexpectedly amidst the intrigue and power struggles within the Prince's mansion.

22. 422 重 Reborn as the Seventh Prince, Conquering the Six Kingdoms 重生七皇子横扫六国 Seventh Uncle of Nanming南溟七叔Historical398k WordsCompleted Ye Qiu, a top student in weapons engineering, transmigrates into the chaotic Wu Dynasty and becomes its Seventh Prince, Wu Zetian. The realm is fractured among seven kingdoms, all of them at war with one another year after year, leaving the people to suffer terribly. Called upon in a crisis, Wu Zetian is sent to defend Jialing Pass against the enemy. He then travels through the various kingdoms, sometimes championing justice, sometimes ruling with an emperor’s authority. Once in power, Wu Zetian 104Reads7.6Score—Shelves

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    A power struggle among the seven kingdoms!

23. 423 家 My Father Is Emperor Yang of Sui! From the Start, I Slay Yuwen Huaji 家父隋炀帝！开局斩杀宇文化及 Loves Fish2021爱吃鱼2021Historical299k WordsCompleted Tags: Transmigration and comeback | Power struggle at the end of the Sui dynasty | Political intrigue and survival | Passionate growth | Building in troubled times | A young ruler and his ministers Synopsis: Yang Gao, a 996 office worker, dies suddenly from overwork and transmigrates into the body of Yang Gao, the twelve-year-old Prince of Zhao and youngest son of Emperor Yang of Sui. With Yuwen Huaji's murderous blade poised to take the emperor's life in a month, he refuses to be slaughtered wi 26Reads—Score—Shelves

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    🌹🌹🌹Fellow readers, does anyone understand "My Father is Emperor Yang of Sui"?! I've transmigrated into the body of twelve-year-old Prince Zhao, Yang Gao, with only a month left before being beheaded by Yuwen Huaji! A hellish start, unarmed, and my father, Yang Guang, still indulging in a life of debauchery. Don't panic! My genius, born from a 996 workaholic past life, has possessed me! I'll use trickery to fool my father, bribe eunuchs to become my intelligence chief, and even persuade a general to betray his father to protect his son… using a fake family letter to tear away the veil of pretense of a prosperous era! This series of actions not only extends my life but also elevates me from the ashes! Watch as the protagonist carves a bloody path to defy fate in the deadlock of the fourteenth year of the Daye era!

24. 424 五 Five Years of Waiting Came to Nothing: My Husband Brings His New Love to Demand a Divorce 五年痴等成空，夫君带女逼我和离 Cang Yuesheng仓月生Ancient Romance604k WordsCompleted [Both Chaste] [Romance with His Older Brother's Wife] [Male-Male Story] [The Male Lead is repeatedly seen completely naked but stays faithful. Later, what looks like infidelity is actually a guard in disguise; the male lead remains devoted to the female lead throughout.] [Dear readers, we're very sorry! When you reach Chapter 139, please skip straight to Chapter 146. Chapters 140 to 145 are inconsistent and can be ignored.] On their wedding night, unrest broke out at the border, and her husband 5.9kReads9.3Score457Shelves

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    High-IQ political intrigue

25. 425 天 Supreme Destiny 天命最高 Sweet Dream Feather甜梦羽Historical180k WordsCompleted He was the “Qin dog” everyone in Handan hated, a hostage who trembled in his mother’s arms. Before the age of nine, he lived for one reason alone: to avoid being beaten to death by the people of Zhao. Then one day, his father died, and he became the King of Qin. The road back to Xianyang was strewn with thorns: his grandmother wanted to depose him, his younger brother wanted him dead, powerful ministers treated him like a puppet, and the queen dowager and her lover controlled the inner palace. H 9Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Everyone knows that Qin Shi Huang was ruthless and ruthless in conquering the world, but few know that he suffered countless humiliations in Handan from a young age. After returning to Qin, he was caught in the machinations of his grandmother, brother, and powerful ministers, ultimately seizing the Qin throne through sheer cruelty and bloodshed. His heart had long been frozen, but he was moved by the tenderness of A Fang, promising her the land as his dowry. However, with the empire newly established, cruel fate cruelly shattered the only tenderness in his life...

26. 426 多 Surely You Laugh at My Passion 多情应笑我 Jiu Xiaoqi酒小七Ancient Romance216k WordsCompleted Lin Fang has been disguised as a boy since childhood, and she can't help feeling helpless about it. Her household registration says she's male, so what can she do? But the secret she has sworn to protect is discovered by a young boy she accidentally rescues! Lin Fang thought she'd picked up a deadweight, but once the boy, Yun Weiming, regains his identity, she feels as if she's sitting on a mountain of gold. “Who would've thought! I've picked up all kinds of things before, but you're the most va 70.3kReads9.7Score9.3kShelves
27. 427 权 Power Over the Court: The Final Chapter 权倾朝野：终章 Zhao Mushen Loves to Eat爱吃的赵牧神Historical226k WordsOngoing This is the complete full-length second installment in the Power Over the Court series, not a short-story ending. New readers can jump straight in with no prior reading required! At the poetry gathering, Xie Junlin takes up his brush and stuns the crowd, leaving scholars across the land in awe; His strokes shake the four seas, his arguments win over the finest minds, and even the greatest scholars pale before him. He has the vision to wield power over all under heaven, and the charm to recline 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Highly recommend this book! It's a masterpiece of ancient Chinese political intrigue! The protagonist, Xie Junlin, rises from obscurity to become a powerful figure, meticulously planning every step of the way. While outwitting powerful officials in the court, he also builds a salt and wine trading network and intelligence stations, creating his own empire! The high-IQ battles are chilling, and the political intrigue feels incredibly grounded!

28. 428 小 Listening to Spring Rain All Night in a Small Tower 小楼一夜听春雨 Bright Moon Tilts明月倾Ancient Romance876k WordsCompleted A critically acclaimed historical romance ensemble that topped the annual charts! A calculating, lovesick beauty versus a dark, scheming top scholar! A historical take on Pride and Prejudice: life in the inner household isn't all scheming and rivalry, but also deep sisterly affection. The clever and capable Second Madam Lou takes the greatest pride in her life in having three beautiful daughters. To marry her three marriageable girls into “good” families, she travels a great distance to the capi 35.1kReads9.6Score5.7kShelves
29. 429 笔 The Sixteen Kingdoms in Turmoil: A Heavenly King’s Hegemony 笔下乱世十六国之天王霸业 Black Ocean on the Cliff崖上黑洋Historical397k WordsCompleted A classical Chinese historical novel. They are lord and subject, yet also kindred spirits. Amid the chaos, they support each other and entrust their lives to one another. From ruling their own territory to taking control of Guanzhong, from carefree young noblemen to pillars of the court, they tread side by side through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, rising together to the summit of power. One becomes a wise ruler who brings peace to the land; the other, a worthy minister who serves th 9Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Since the southward migration of the imperial family and gentry, the Jin dynasty had been content with its precarious existence in a corner of the country and had long lost any desire for a northern expedition. The powerful officials at court prioritized maintaining the delicate balance between the imperial family and the aristocratic clans, fearing that a northern expedition would disrupt this balance, and thus openly obstructed or secretly hindered it. Huan Wen, of course, was fully aware of this.

30. 430 我 I Only Want to Be a Military Doctor, So Why Are You Making Me Empress? 我只想当军医，你们让我当女皇？ I'm Starving我超饿Ancient Romance965k WordsCompleted [Feel-good revenge + transmigration + System + medicine + nation-building + conquering a chaotic age + empress + cheat powers] Medical student Liu Yi transmigrates into a war-torn age. The world is in chaos, the imperial court has fallen, and ordinary people can barely survive. But she brought along her all-purpose doctor System. System: “I can give you medical equipment.” System: “I can give you medical books.” System: “I can give you an entire modern hospital.” System: “Your goal is to becom 6.1kReads9.5Score859Shelves
31. 431 桃 Ride Out to Battle, Peach Blossoms in My Wake 桃花马上请长缨 June六月Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of June's novel, Power and Favor 3: Power and Favor in the Capital, is now available on Hongguo App. She cared for her in-laws and used her dowry to support the General's household, only for him to use his hard-won military achievements to ask for the female general's hand as his equal wife. Zhan Beiwang mocked her. “Song Xixie, do you know that your fine clothes, rich food, and glittering jewels all come from General Yi Fang and me fighting bloody battles to hold back 15kReads9.5Score5.5kShelves
32. 432 两 Breaking the Deadlock Across Two Lifetimes: I Storm the Imperial Stronghold in Ancient Times 两世破局：我在古代捅皇家老巢 Unconcerned with Mountains and Rivers不争山水Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Comedic transmigration, smart protagonists, equally matched and devoted leads, political intrigue and murder investigations] Forensic pathologist Xia Nanfeng opens her eyes to find a corpse lying beside her! Wait! Why am I poor and crippled? Did I transmigrate? In the blink of an eye, she gets herself into serious trouble and nearly kills the head of the Seventh Palace Bureau. He is cold and suspicious, closing in on her step by step. “Tell me! Who are you really?” “...” She’s just as baffled 338Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist transmigrates to ancient times, is lame and poor, and encounters the severely injured male protagonist. The two are inexplicably hunted down and become embroiled in a power struggle. From the beginning of a cataclysmic event to the control of the world.

33. 433 天 The Dragon and Phoenix of Destiny 天命龙凤 Let's Eat Hot Pot吃火锅呀Ancient Romance475k WordsCompleted [Serious drama + ensemble cast + court and martial world + love of country and family + female lead with a golden finger] The author is terrible at writing blurbs, sorry! If you enjoy this kind of story, feel free to give it a try. To save her life, Lu Wan does everything she can to send Yao Qian to the northern frontier. Sixteen years later, Emperor Li Yunshan summons the Third Prince, Li Tian, who has lived in the northern frontier, back to the capital. Rumors spread throughout the city that H 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Self-recommendation: A political intrigue-themed coming-of-age novel. The male protagonist grew up on the frontier with his general uncle, while the female protagonist lived in the mountains, learning martial arts from a reclusive master. Both were abandoned, but they meet on their journey back home and are ultimately forced to fight against the villains.

34. 434 我 I Slay Immortals for the Root of All Evil 我为万恶之源斩仙 Clear Autumn Wutong Leaves清秋梧叶Eastern Fantasy407k WordsOngoing “I sent people to slaughter your family,” she said, without a drop of blood on her. Ji Lang thought he could lie flat after transmigrating, but on his very first day, he was met with the massacre of his entire family. His fiancée, Xue Youlan, slaughtered the Ji family, then her own family. Eyes bloodshot, Ji Lang roared at her, demanding a reason. Xue Youlan forced him to go to the Demon-Sealing Hall, promising to tell him when she returned. Inside the hall, two female immortals who had been sea 36Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A highly intelligent cultivator in a fantasy world marries a princess of the Asura clan and two sources of utter evil from the abyss, yet he still aspires to be the master of the world. The Asura princess, eight thousand eight hundred years old, smiles at him after killing someone in the grand hall. The two sources of utter evil from the abyss have waited for him for ten thousand years. He rises from a menial servant to the head of the household, from the workshop to the imperial mausoleum, building his harem while conquering the world. He desires both beauty and power. He walks this path with more steadfastness than anyone else, enjoying the company of beauties while wielding absolute power.

35. 435 雁 Cold Bones of Yanmen 雁门寒骨 Gu Heqiusheng of the Garrison Town军镇的古河秋生Historical43k WordsCompleted Bones Chilled by the Cold at Yanmen —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    After running a few steps, a man in black rushed out from the side, slashing with his sword. Shen Jingyan dodged to the side and slashed at the man's arm with a backhand strike. The man groaned, but didn't retreat. With his other hand, he drew a short knife and stabbed at Shen Jingyan's stomach. Shen Jingyan didn't have time to dodge. A hand reached out from the side and grabbed the short knife. It was Lu Chen. The blade cut into his palm, blood dripping from between his fingers. He gritted his teeth, didn't let go, and kicked the man in the chest. The man fell to the ground, killed by Shen Jingyan's single blow. "Uncle—" "Don't worry about me." Lu Chen released his grip, revealing a deep cut in his palm that showed the bone. He wrapped a strip of cloth around his hand twice, biting the cloth and tying a knot. "Go and guard Xiao Song."

36. 436 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

    These books all meet the requirements; you won't regret getting into them.

37. 437 身 After My Identity Was Exposed, the Emperor Swore Brotherhood with Me 身份曝光后，皇帝拉我拜把子 Jiu Zhi Tang久之糖Historical2.1M WordsCompleted Also known as A Young Man in Blue Jiang Feng transmigrated into a wealthy family, only to find that the Turks were invading from the north as soon as he arrived! He fought the enemy for three hundred miles, then returned victorious in secret, living under an assumed name as a rich young master. What?! His fiancée wants to break off their engagement? Never look down on a poor young man! Jiang Feng said, “Forget it. I lost one flower, but gained a whole garden. Lovely.” Jiang Feng only wanted to b 1.3kReads7.7Score131Shelves

    Reader note

    Genre: All historical, high-IQ

38. 438 这 This Ming Dynasty Colonizes the World 这个大明殖民全世界 Wandering Little Snake流浪的小蛇Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Original title: The Late Yuan Dynasty: I Knocked Over Zhu Chongba’s Bowl [Chen Shan] [History] [Late Yuan Dynasty] [Struggle for Supremacy] [War] [Chen Youliang] [Zhu Yuanzhang] [Liu Bowen] [Zhang Dingbian] “Dad! Don’t stand so high up, or you’ll get hit by an arrow!” The history streamer Chen Shan finds his soul in the body of Chen Youliang’s crown prince. The moment his father dies at Lake Poyang, he makes a run for it, then turns around and takes the throne, renaming Chen Han as the Great Min 867Reads6.6Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    This is just the beginning, a bit short, let's keep it going for now, it's too impatient to keep up with the updates.

39. 439 与 Joy with You 与君欢 Moonset月落Ancient Romance657k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] A young king and queen join hands to bring peace to the realm, brimming with ambition! A sinister, calculating ruler versus a clever, decisive queen: evenly matched, they win the world together! Jiang He, daughter of an envoy from Qi, was forced to enter the palace as a servant after her mother died and her father disappeared. Then, just before the marriage alliance, the princess of Qi died a tragic death, leaving 27kReads9.5Score3.5kShelves
40. 440 我 My Father Is the Emperor Who Begs at the Gate 我老爹是叫门皇帝 Bald Li San光头李三Historical2.2M WordsCompleted In the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, my father, Zhu Qizhen, personally led an expedition beyond the borders, hoping to spread the might of the Great Ming far and wide. He never expected it to be like sending meat buns to a dog: he went out and never came back, becoming the Emperor Who Knocked at the Gates. Once he was no longer useful, they sent him back to the capital and confined him in the Southern Palace. Now Father is knocking at the gates again. Zhu Jianshen, who had been countin 55.7kReads8.8Score4kShelves
41. 441 幺 The Youngest Daughter, Changle 幺女长乐 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Miss Zhu Si’s rough fighting skills have always made her the laughingstock of the capital’s noble families. In everyone else’s eyes, that’s the sort of work meant for household guards. Zhu Changle, who considers herself invincible, isn’t ashamed of it. She’s proud. Not everyone can protect their own home, but she can! And then some! She’d even turn the whole capital upside down to protect it! Don’t believe her? Try her! 18.6kReads9.5Score3kShelves
42. 442 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 93kReads9.6Score12.4kShelves
43. 443 羲 The Chronicle of Xihe 羲和志 Sailing Through the Galaxy in a Dream梦入星河行舟Historical251k WordsOngoing I usher in the Industrial Age in 200 BC!!! During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han, the Xiongnu threaten the northern frontier, watching like tigers ready to pounce... The feudal lords within the passes are also stirring restlessly... The author has tried to base this story on historical records. Readers, please point out anything that may be inaccurate! The book is divided into four parts: Beacon Fires and Smoke, A Long Song of Han Towers, The Nine Provinces and Four Seas, and All Und 8Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    An incredibly hardcore historical novel! Researched to the fullest! Strongly morally upright! Inspired by revolutionary ideas! No system! No harem! Intense military action! Political intrigue and strategic battles! Romantic entanglements! Debates on human nature! A super engaging historical novel! Slow pacing in the beginning, with plenty of footnotes!

44. 444 别 Don't Be Weak, Don't Provoke Her: An Angry Palace Maid Can Restore a Fallen Kingdom 别太弱，别招惹，宫女发怒能复国 Ethereal Fairy霓裳妖妖Ancient Romance748k WordsCompleted [Unusual premise + assassin’s rise + strong heroine + political intrigue + cold and heartless + mildly yandere + cool-headed lunatic + male lead rises from the nth place] * Su Mian was just a palace maid serving a princess. On the day the Southern Yan Kingdom fell, she watched everyone die before her without a flicker of emotion. The princess gave her an even more perilous mission. Until it was done, she had to stay alive. But in a world thrown into chaos, she was sold as a slave and forced to e 25.6kReads9.5Score4.1kShelves

    Reader note

    With a single phrase, she became a treasure of Southern Yan, experiencing the pain of national subjugation. The entire palace sacrificed themselves to save her life; she was everyone's hope. As a palace maid, sold into a secluded valley, she plotted repeatedly, even maneuvering against her enemies. Of the four kingdoms under heaven, I finally became empress, choosing "An" as the name of my dynasty, a testament to my original aspirations.

45. 445 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 50.6kReads9.7Score7.4kShelves
46. 446 佛 Buddha and Demon Are My System, and the Emperor Is My Big Brother 佛魔是我系统，皇帝是我老哥 Buddha, Who Loves Orchids喜欢兰花草的释迦牟尼Eastern Fantasy604k WordsCompleted [Slaughter-driven cultivation + all characters are villains + scheming male lead + unhinged female lead + plot-focused] Before the beginning of time, Buddha and the Demon King made a wager, setting the wheels of fate in motion in an entirely new world. Spiritual energy began to emerge in what had once been an ordinary world, and all kinds of spirit beasts came into being. Many years later, mortals comprehended the mysteries of spiritual energy and began cultivating immortality. When the stronge 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead is cunning and ruthless, the female lead is crazy and reckless, a dynastic struggle for supremacy, four chapters daily.

47. 447 被 After Being Driven from the Prince's Manor, I Became the Strongest Imperial Guard 被赶出王府后，我成了最强锦衣卫 Golden Scales in the Pond池中金鳞Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsOngoing 71.6kReads8.6Score5.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend a few new books; they're really good. The authors have excellent writing styles, the plots are tight, and it's a story of wits and power struggles among all the characters. Every scene is full of intrigue and traps, and the endings are full of unexpected twists and turns—it's addictive! [Eating popcorn emoji]

48. 448 与 With Jin Chang’an (Based on the Screen Adaptation Starring Song Yi and Cheng Lei) 与晋长安（宋轶、丞磊主演影视原著） Jiu Lu Feixiang九鹭非香Ancient Romance155k WordsCompleted The hit drama starring Song Yi and Cheng Lei is now airing! A beloved historical romance by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang! Female general vs. puppy-like boy. The child she casually picked up turns out to have two sides? A cold little gentleman by day, a loyal black knight by night. Is he a puppy turning into a wolf, and which side is the real him? A tale of love and hate between a female general and the heir of an enemy state! Li Shuang, the adopted daughter of a great general, guards the borders of the Grea 5.9kReads9.6Score957Shelves
49. 449 本 I Return to the Palace with Mind-Reading Powers 本宫带着读心术，杀回宫了 Snowflakes in the Twelfth Month腊月雪花Ancient Romance119k WordsCompleted [Historical romance + mind reading + political intrigue + palace intrigue + devoted couple + revenge + a touch of angst] Cool, self-possessed heroine + gentle, scheming emperor I was once the foremost young lady in the capital. Arrogant and overbearing, I thought myself above everyone. My grandfather was the emperor’s tutor, with countless students, and my mother was a renowned official celebrated throughout the land. But after my mother died unexpectedly, I lost everything I had… My stepmother’ —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book features two strong protagonists, mind reading, revenge, and political intrigue.

50. 450 开 I Was Laid Out on a Plank from the Start! Now I’m on a Killing Spree in Shangjing 开局躺板板！我在上京杀疯了 Boundless Daoist无界道人Historical431k WordsOngoing [Political intrigue + a battle of wits among the whole cast + fast-paced plot + a touch of ensemble drama] Two and a half years ago, I transmigrated into Great Qi as the heir of the Prince of Saibei. Now I’ve been forced to stage a little “playing dead.” Jiang Yucheng: “Didn’t see that coming, did you? I’m not dead! I faked it!” But who could have guessed that this spectacular resurrection in Youzhou was actually a trap the Qi Emperor had laid for me long ago? The Qi Emperor: “Didn’t see that co 22Reads—Score—Shelves

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