Looking for Palace Intrigue Novels 求宫斗文，

1. 1 咸 The Laid-Back Consort: Rising Step by Step 咸鱼娘娘：步步高升 Melancholy Cantaloupe忧伤的哈密瓜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + palace and household intrigue + childbirth + doted on exclusively later] Jiang Wan transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking palace consort of an emperor with no children. To protect the people around her, she has no choice but to compete for a little favor. Who knew she’d end up giving the emperor a chubby baby boy! Emperor: “She’s the birth mother of my only son. Of course I have to protect her.” Who knew that all that protection would turn into affection? As Jiang Wan ris 19.1kReads8.9Score1.7kShelves

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   The clever female protagonist is not afraid of palace intrigue.

2. 2 出 The Night I Left the Palace, the Mad Emperor Took Me by Force 出宫当晚，被疯批帝王强取豪夺 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, delicate palace maid vs. cold, ruthless, obsessive emperor] [Palace intrigue, neither lead is chaste + powerful male lead, weak female lead, and he’s completely unhinged + possessive love + a long road to winning her back] Yue Ling was a vain little palace maid. Hoping to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth, she seduced the emperor and worked tirelessly to win his favor, but still met a tragic end. After being reborn, Yue Ling saw things clearly. Rather than tread on thin ice in the de 25.8kReads9.2Score1.9kShelves

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   The first book features a female protagonist who gradually guides the emperor to favor only one woman. The second book combines forceful acquisition with a reconciliation after a broken relationship.

3. 3 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 118kReads9.5Score11.2kShelves

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   As someone who doesn't usually enjoy palace intrigue novels, I finished both of these books; they were really good.

4. 4 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves
5. 5 开 The Emperor Forced Me to Marry from the Start, So His Lazy Palace Maid Lies Flat 开局被皇帝强娶咸鱼宫女躺平了 Jiu Bie九别Ancient Romance238k WordsOngoing [An ordinary-looking girl in the palace intrigue + scheming + favor + love triangle] On the fifth day after transmigrating into the palace maid Chun Zhan, Shen Que figured out three things: First, she was too ordinary-looking. Becoming a favored consort was basically out of the question. Second, the Empress was love-brained and wanted to kill anyone she laid eyes on. Third, the Emperor was using her as a pawn to spite the Empress Dowager. Once he was done with her, he could toss her aside. She o 6.3kReads—Score814Shelves

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   The story begins in stark contrast: while others are caught up in palace intrigue and vying for the emperor's favor, the female protagonist is only thinking about escaping the palace. However, she is forcibly taken into the emperor's harem and begins a life in the deep palace that is not her own.

6. 6 将 The General's Legitimate Daughter: The Hot-Tempered Consort Is Not to Be Trifled With 将门嫡女：暴脾气贵妃不好惹 Lu Yueerwu陆月二五Ancient Romance936k WordsCompleted [Devoted Love in the Later Story + Adorable Baby + Powerful Hero and Heroine + Beloved Legitimate Daughter] [Hopelessly Devoted Foolish Emperor + Clear-Headed, Self-Controlled, Clever Noble Consort] Once you enter the palace, it’s as deep as the sea. Yu Jinghe is the most clear-eyed woman in the world. Noble Consort Yue, the most stylish woman in the harem, wins the emperor’s favor all to herself with her fiery temper. Sharp-tongued and quick to throw a punch, she’s practically the harem’s gangs 3.3kReads9.2Score300Shelves

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   Yu Jinghe, a clear-headed man, enters the palace to protect his family's honor, fully aware of the emperor's ruthlessness, but unexpectedly finds himself deeply in love with him.

7. 7 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

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   This is amazing! The female protagonist is clear-headed, the plot is fast-paced, and she doesn't succumb to despair from beginning to end, ultimately killing the treacherous emperor. It tells a story of the injustices and helplessness faced by women in that era. It's hard to believe the author is male; I truly love it! 😍😍😍 The bonds between the female characters are very well done, and I feel so sorry for Sister Wan.

8. 8 继 The Second Empress 继后 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The Noble Consort was favored, the Worthy Consort bore a son, the Bright Etiquette was the emperor’s white moonlight, and the Beautiful Consort was his cinnabar mole. Every other concubine had her own talents and charms. It was a whole garden in full bloom. So who was our protagonist? The unfavored empress, with no children and no powerful family backing. Great. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Never mind. On the first day Zhao Wumian transmigrated here, she decided to lie flat. Compete for t 81.1kReads9.5Score9.1kShelves

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   Good-looking, palace intrigue

9. 9 贵 The Noble Consort Is Cool and Aloof, and the Emperor Yearns for Her Night After Night 贵妃清冷，圣上夜夜相思 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance448k WordsCompleted Shen Qinghe was in the bloom of youth when she entered the palace, where she weathered its intrigues for more than a decade. She had hoped to leave with a reward one day, or perhaps spend her whole life peacefully as a palace official. But then an order came down, and one day she unexpectedly became an imperial consort. She watched these women fight day after day, never expecting to become entangled in their schemes herself. Shen Qinghe could only sigh. He was the emperor, and she was a palac 13.1kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
10. 10 将 A General's Daughter's Comeback: No More Coddling, It's Time to Rise 将门逆袭：不要娇宠要上位 Sweet Potato with Plum Powder甘梅地瓜Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted When her aunt was on her deathbed, she entrusted her child to Wanqing. Out of gratitude, Wanqing became the concubine of the general’s eldest son. The rules for concubines in the general’s household: be dutiful and proper, and have no children. The household had no need for children born to concubines. Yet Wanqing bore four sons and a daughter, then took her place as the eldest son’s principal wife. The Empress Dowager personally bestowed on her the title of First-Rank Lady of Virtue. Someone sc 41.2kReads9.5Score5.5kShelves
11. 11 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 56.9kReads9.5Score7.1kShelves
12. 12 拽 The Feisty Consort Climbs to Power Through Palace Intrigue, Everyone Else Back Off 拽妃宫斗上位，闲杂人等退退退 Pine Blossom Candy松花糖Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama is out now. Search for it on Fanqie to watch. [Palace Intrigue Power Fantasy + Not a Clean Romance + Being the Emperor’s Mother Is Better Than Being His Consort] Every woman in the harem hopes to win Emperor Jingrong’s favor, but Yuan Yuntang sees the emperor only as a tool for having children. Women in ancient times had to marry sooner or later anyway, so she might as well marry the most powerful man of all. After all, Emperor Jingrong has a great figure, a handsome face, and a 16.6kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves

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    It's really super beautiful.

13. 13 入 I Entered the Palace to Help My Sister Keep the Emperor’s Favor, but Became His Cherished Favorite 入宫替嫡姐固宠，却成皇上掌心宠 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she entered the palace and devoted herself to helping her legitimate elder sister keep the emperor’s favor. In the end, she died without a body to bury, abandoned by her family. Returning to the year of the imperial selection, Luo Shuran calculates her every move. Her breathtaking beauty is her only weapon. She sheds her youthful timidity and blossoms into a woman of captivating charm. One fleeting glimpse, like a fairy fallen from the heavens, catches the emperor’s eye. 6.1kReads9.3Score859Shelves

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    Pei Yuntang climbed to a high position and wielded power precisely so that he could look down on everyone and not have to care about anyone else's opinion. Luo Shuran perished in the fire, and she was like an ant, forgotten by everyone, watching her child being abused. After being reborn, she was no longer a member of the Luo family, and the honor and disgrace of the family were no longer her concern. All she wanted was her power.

14. 14 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Delicate, and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Falls for Her at First Sight 娘娘娇娇媚，冷戾帝王一见倾心 The Star Among the Stars in the Sky天上星星的星星Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and revenge, a slow-burn, slow-payoff story + stunning heroine + exceptionally clearheaded heroine with an unwavering goal] [The hero always favors the heroine + dotes on her exclusively in the middle + disbands his harem later] After Shen Qingtang’s aunt is schemed against and killed by Madam Shen, her goal becomes perfectly clear: she will enter the palace, become the most honored woman in the land, and make everyone who plotted against her aunt pay. She is also perfectly clea 4.9kReads9.1Score544Shelves
15. 15 太 The Empress Dowager's Retirement Life 太后的退休生活 Zhou Xinhan周信含Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + female lead is the mastermind behind the scenes + no romance + plot-driven + ensemble cast] After transmigrating to the Great Jing dynasty, Su Minqing entered the palace as the empress. She worked tirelessly at palace intrigue for over a decade and finally fought her way to becoming the Empress Dowager. The only catch was that there was another Empress Dowager in the palace besides her. As the emperor’s adoptive mother, she was named the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces. The 6.1kReads8.4Score357Shelves
16. 16 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

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    The third book is the one I finished reading. It's really well-written and original. The male lead is the emperor, destined not to belong to the female lead alone, so the female lead is very clear-headed and always loves herself the most, but she's also incredibly good at acting. However, later, the male lead dismisses the harem for the female lead's sake. The female lead is a modern person who transmigrated to the past, so she has many advanced ideas about governance. She has a strong sense of justice and a concern for the world, and the male lead is also wise and appreciates ambitious people. So when the female lead speaks of universal harmony and many of her strategic plans, the male lead doesn't feel threatened, but rather feels that it can benefit the people. In addition, the palace intrigue between the female lead and the other concubines is really well written, with each plot twist making it hard to guess who the culprit is. I didn't finish the first two books, but they were quite similar, so I didn't continue reading them.

17. 17 重 Reborn: I Flirted the Gloomy Regent into a Daze 重生后，阴鸷摄政王被我撩晕了 Heart Yearning for Gardenias心向往栀Ancient Romance556k WordsCompleted "Print edition available for preorder October 24 at 7 p.m.!" "Black Lotus Beauty of a Princess & the Grim, Ruthless Regent" [Two Powerful Leads + Sweet Romance + Devoted Couple + Putting Scumbags in Their Place] Zhixian was the sharpest blade at the side of the Third Prince of Nanzhao, eliminating every obstacle in his bid for the throne. But on the day he was named crown prince, she met her end. "Zhixian, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for knowing too much." Xuan Yuan Heng wiped t 32.9kReads9.3Score3.3kShelves
18. 18 陛 The Emperor's Only Favorite: The Empress Keeps Accidentally Revealing Her Secret Identity 陛下独宠：皇后娘娘疯狂掉马甲 Jiujiu and the Cat玖玖与猫Ancient Romance843k WordsCompleted *Sweet Romance + Devoted Husband + Legitimate Daughter + Secret Identities + Powerful Couple* The only legitimate daughter of the Duke of the Southern Kingdom's household, Nan Huaishen grew up adored and indulged by everyone. Her grandfather is a first-rank duke, her father a first-rank general, and her maternal grandfather the chancellor. She also has three doting older brothers. With a background envied by every noblewoman in the capital, she is also exceptionally beautiful and talented. Then, 2.7kReads9.0Score289Shelves
19. 19 人 Life Is a Play, and the Empress Is All About Her Acting Skills 人生如戏，娘娘她纯拼演技 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + witty banter + sweet, delicate beauty + calculated mind games] The leads are not each other’s only partners. If that bothers you, don’t read. Be prepared for suspicion in the early chapters, followed by affection later. The pacing is slow, so proceed with caution if you prefer fast-paced wish-fulfillment stories. As a double award-winning actress and a seasoned star of palace intrigue dramas, how could Shi Yan possibly lose her nerve after transmigrating into the imperial hare 5kReads9.3Score532Shelves

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    I highly recommend the first book; it's incredibly, incredibly, incredibly (I can't stress this enough) good!!! The first book is absolutely amazing! The only downside is that it's not fully updated yet, which is a shame. The second book is also very good, and the third book is very enjoyable.

20. 20 锦 Prince Jin Has Trouble Fathering Heirs? His Delicate Beauty Bears Two Babies in One Night 锦王子嗣艰难？娇柔美人一夜两崽 Today Is Another Day I Want to Get Rich今天也是想发财的一天Ancient Romance772k WordsCompleted [Household and palace intrigue + devoted love later on + the most beautiful heroine + a scheming flirt] Sheng Wendi is a delicate beauty with a face like a celestial maiden. Though she has transmigrated, she can’t remember a single poem or song. Her legitimate elder sister, who transmigrated into a book and knows the plot inside out, steals everything from her. The sister marries the son of a civil official, while Sheng Wendi is sent to marry Prince Jin as a concubine. The prince’s manor is full 6.3kReads8.5Score559Shelves

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    Both books feature a female protagonist who is clear-headed and only reveals her true feelings later in the story after the emotions have developed. The writing is logically sound and without flaws; both are enjoyable reads.

21. 21 演 I Played the Emperor My Whole Life, and After Being Reborn, He Still Wants the Crown Prince 演了皇上一辈子，重生他还要太子 One Little Sweet Fish一口小甜鱼Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Original title: Only After His Death Did He Learn That the Empress Did Not Want to Be Buried With Him [The heroine transmigrates, the hero is reborn] As he lay dying, Emperor Tianhe looked back on his eventful life. He had risen from humble beginnings to become the founding emperor, and the world praised his achievements. In his fading consciousness, he saw his virtuous empress, his beautiful consorts, and his weeping children. He felt that his life had been complete. But after he died, his soul 31.7kReads8.9Score2.3kShelves

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    My true love 😳😳

22. 22 都 Since I've Transmigrated into the Qing Dynasty, Why Not Boldly Choose Kangxi? 都清穿了，不妨大胆点选康熙啊！ Midnight Stars深夜星辰Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted On the first day Shi Nanxi transmigrates into the Qing Dynasty, she learns that her elder legitimate sister, Shi Rongyue, is also a transmigrator. Shi Rongyue wants to escape her future as the Crown Princess, so she approaches Nanxi and offers to let her marry the Crown Prince while she marries the Fourth Prince. Anyone who transmigrates into the Qing Dynasty knows the history. The Crown Prince’s later years are miserable. Though the Fourth Prince eventually wins, he is only thirteen now and wil 18.3kReads9.2Score2.2kShelves
23. 23 清 Qing Transmigration: The Noble Consort Takes Down Consort De and Becomes Empress Dowager 清穿：贵妃娘娘她灭了德妃成太后 My Feelings for You卿我意Ancient Romance873k WordsCompleted [Child-rearing (not self-sacrificing; willing to go after her mother, but never schemes against children) + Harem intrigue] After transmigrating into the Qing Dynasty as Noble Consort Tongjia during the reign of Kangxi, Ruirui's first thought was to go find that poor child... Ruirui didn't like the Qing Dynasty. But if she had to choose one person in all of Great Qing, it would be the Fourth Prince, later the Yongzheng Emperor. Not because she liked him, but because she felt for him. She felt fo 14.6kReads9.4Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    They're all great, you can jump in without worry. The female leads are all very calm and rational.

24. 24 她 Four Years After Her Death, the Crown Prince Brought Back a Substitute 她死后第四年，太子带回一个替身 Morning Clouds Purple朝云紫Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted [The short drama is now available] [Palace intrigue, rebirth, adorable child] [The heroine has renounced love / the crown prince pursues her after losing her] When the crown prince falls from power and is imprisoned in You Tai, he contracts a plague and teeters on the brink of death. She stays by his side without ever abandoning him. After returning to the Eastern Palace, the crown prince marries her half-sister as his crown princess. As for her, he orders that the mother be killed and the child 1.2kReads8.7Score108Shelves

    Reader note

    A very good book. The female lead is smart and acts like a madwoman. The theme is fresh and original. Highly recommended.

25. 25 娘 The Empress Is So Delicate, the Emperor Falls for Her Every Day 娘娘一身娇骨，惹的皇上日日沦陷 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance236k WordsCompleted [Scheming concubine-born beauty + sinister crown prince + multiple pregnancies and palace intrigue + no one with a soft spot for wicked women or murderous heroines] Liu Yunyan had the face of a seductress, but the lowly status of a concubine-born daughter. Yet even in the palace, a girl of low birth could still rise to become empress. So what if she was a concubine? Raised by her legitimate mother to be delicate and alluring, she turned her charms into a weapon to control the Crown Prince. Reven 301Reads8.4Score—Shelves
26. 26 太 The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife: The Empress's Daily Life After Bearing Twins 太子宠妾灭妻，娘娘双胎上位日常 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance554k WordsCompleted [There are a few typos, so please skip this if that bothers you.] A deranged, ruthless heroine and an obsessive Crown Prince, with exclusive devotion later on, clear-headed palace intrigue, and multiple births. Jiang Shiruo is stunningly beautiful, but only a concubine’s daughter. Still, even a concubine’s daughter deserves to live. Jiang Shiruo has no interest in the other princes. She only wants to enter the Eastern Palace, because that’s the only way she can reach the highest position. After 7.7kReads8.9Score676Shelves
27. 27 灭 After the Crown Princess Conceives Twins, the Crown Prince Favors His Beloved Concubine and Makes Her Empress 灭太子妃怀双胎，太子宠娇妾封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance. Not a virginal couple! + Clear-headed heroine gradually grows stronger in palace intrigue + Twins + Winning the Crown Prince’s heart, aiming for the empress’s throne] An Ruyan clutched her book of Thirty-Six Stratagems and set out to win over the tyrannical Crown Prince!!! An Ruyan was rescued by Prince Yan when she was robbed while visiting a temple. She had long been in love with him, but an unexpected incident made her see what a scumbag he was. Determined to 2.3kReads8.9Score235Shelves
28. 28 尤 The Alluring Consort Climbs to the Phoenix Throne and Captures the Emperor's Heart at First Sight 尤物娘娘爬凤位，让皇上一见钟情 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance228k WordsCompleted [Devoted love + the emperor falls at first sight + palace intrigue and rising to power through favoritism + heroine’s acting skills + strong, clever heroine] Wen Shuyao loved only herself. Only losers loved men. Now that she had been granted the title of Attendant and ordered into the palace, she would make use of the emperor’s love at first sight. The emperor was merely a stepping stone for Wen Shuyao. It wouldn’t be hard to act like someone deeply in love with him. Wen Shuyao was the legitimat 5.1kReads9.0Score609Shelves
29. 29 东 The Eastern Palace's Pampered Concubine: The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife, and She Sets Her Sights on the Empress's Throne 东宫娇妾：太子宠妾灭妻目标后位 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Not a pure pairing, not a pure pairing [The prince’s concubine is not a pure pairing at first + she enters the palace soon after, and becomes his sole favorite after the palace struggles] [The heroine is clear-headed and career-minded, working her way up to the empress’s position] Since I’ve been granted the title of Worthy Lady, my goal should be the empress’s throne. The Crown Prince has been married for two years, but the Crown Princess has yet to bear him a child. The Empress personally choo 2.3kReads8.9Score197Shelves
30. 30 贵 The Noble Consort Rejects Love, Yet the Emperor Dotes on Her and Decrees Her Empress 贵妃不入爱河，皇上盛宠下旨封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [The leads aren't both chaste at first + he pampers her devotedly later + the emperor secretly helps her navigate palace intrigue + the heroine has no interest in loving the emperor and focuses on climbing the ranks.] Alternate-era setting [The emperor personally raises his future empress, then claims her in the night] The Yun family has a legitimate daughter, a peerless beauty hidden away in the general's manor. The prime minister's son came to propose, but didn't even get to see her. “I don't 1.5kReads9.1Score201Shelves
31. 31 宫 A Heart Caged Behind Palace Walls: Consort Yuan Is Promoted Again 宫墙锁心宠，元妃娘娘又晋位了 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted No one is completely devoted to one person in the early part of the story, so don’t read if that’s a dealbreaker. The emperor is a scoundrel at first, but utterly doting later. More sweet than angsty. [Palace intrigue and rising to power + many children + absolute favor + climbing to the top one step at a time] Su Zhitang, the daughter of a general, enters the palace as a beauty after the selection. Her father is already a second-rank official, so she only wants to heed her mother’s advice, keep 607Reads9.0Score101Shelves

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    Highly recommended! Absolutely amazing! Highly recommended! Absolutely amazing! Highly recommended! Absolutely amazing!

32. 32 皇 The Emperor Fell for Her at First Sight: The Bewitching Consort Becomes Empress After Bearing Many Heirs 皇上一见钟情，尤物娘娘多胎封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance251k WordsCompleted [The emperor falls in love at first sight + the emperor begs the heroine to manage the harem + heroine with stellar acting skills + strong, intelligent heroine + lots of children] Whoever harms me, I’ll make them pay! Hua Yunchu loves only herself. The right way to deal with a man is to use up every last bit of his value. But the emperor wants to make Hua Yunchu a Noble Lady, while the empress’s throne sits empty. And he wants me to manage the harem, too? What is going on? I’d planned to coast o 2.6kReads9.1Score290Shelves
33. 33 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.5kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves

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    - *Who Understands? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules* (also known as *The Phoenix Hairpin*): This is an ancient Chinese palace intrigue novel featuring a large cast of characters. The female protagonist is intelligent and resilient, clear-headed, and knows what she wants. She remains rational even in the face of the emperor's favor, using herself as a tool to gain power and protect herself and her family. - *Why Isn't the Imperial Concubine Dead Yet?*: This is a fictional historical novel about palace intrigue and power struggles. The female protagonist is the daughter of a princess, pampered and raised, and a prominent figure in the capital. Although she and the male lead were childhood sweethearts, she understood from the moment she married him that men's love was unreliable. So she carefully maneuvered in the palace, using her own abilities to give birth to a son and a daughter, and protected them as they grew up safely. The entire story focuses on palace intrigue, with little emphasis on romance. "Kneeling with a cold face as the mistress is not as good as ascending the throne as the emperor": This is a palace intrigue novel where none of the characters are driven by romance; everyone is fighting for power. The author uses a lot of detail to describe the background of each supporting character, and basically no female character is purely evil. They all have their own stories, and there is no obvious romance.

34. 34 白 The White Moonlight Noble Consort’s Daily Life in the Harem 白月光贵妃的后宫日常 Yuanzi Eats Mulberries元子吃桑葚Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted (Cover used with permission) With an illustrious family background, breathtaking beauty, and the distinction of being the emperor’s moonlight, Jiang Hui should have found life as a Noble Consort effortlessly easy. Unfortunately, the sisters in all but name in the Eastern Palace, wave after wave of beautiful candidates from the provinces, and the supposed substitutes who resemble her in looks and bearing all tell her the same thing: no one can walk unscathed through the imperial harem. [Alternate 24.6kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves
35. 35 跪 Better to Ascend the Throne Than Kneel, Cold-Faced, as the Mistress of the House 跪着冷脸做主母不如登基当皇帝 Three Whimpers嘤三声Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue in the first half + sharing power in government in the second half + female heir to the throne + a cast of lunatics + no romance + System clashes + ruthless heroine + heroine enters the palace with her child and marries again + a grab bag of elements] On the day she entered the palace, a voice appeared in Xie Xuzhen’s mind. It called itself the Comeback Palace Intrigue System, and said it had come to help Xie Xuzhen, who was about to enter the palace, reach the pinnacle of life. 1.9kReads9.1Score267Shelves
36. 36 就 Now This Is Palace Intrigue! Thirty Heroines Topple the Harem 就这个宫斗爽！30个大女主掀翻后宫 Read a Little Editorial Team读点编辑部Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Palace and Household Intrigue + Anthology Stories + Strong Female Leads + Feel-Good Revenge + Face-Slapping] She waited three years for the general to return from war, only for her husband to come home with a pregnant woman and announce he was taking her as a second wife?! Dream on! I’m the daughter of the richest man in the land. From now on, I’m getting a divorce and building my own career! She was the exalted crown princess, yet on the very day she gave birth, the crown prince and her mother 330Reads8.5Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    On the day of her difficult childbirth, the Crown Prince said he wanted to take her younger sister into the palace as a concubine, and she readily agreed, saying, "Sister, you've walked right into my trap!" A palace intrigue drama with a strong female lead, neither naive nor overly virtuous, absolutely captivating!

37. 37 暴 The Tyrant Tormented Me? I'll Turn Around, Seduce the Powerful Eunuch, and Seize His Empire 暴君虐我？转身勾搭权宦夺他江山 Green Mountain Has Its Say青山有辞Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted For eight years in the palace, Xiangjun fought to get ahead and tried to please everyone, yet the palace’s noble masters still ground her down, used her, humiliated her, and cast her aside... Those nobles basked in all the wealth of the realm atop heaps of corpses and bones, yet mocked her for trying her hardest and not knowing her place. In the end, the child Xiangjun risked her life to bear called her enemy “Mother,” while Xiangjun was cut open alive so the baby could be taken from her. She di 115.2kReads9.6Score16.6kShelves

    Reader note

    For a while, I was really into palace intrigue novels. These are some of the ones I found enjoyable—they cover all genres: serious palace intrigue, the emperor's exclusive favor, the emperor's white moonlight, and even killing the emperor to become emperor himself. The first one was a 1v1 story; the male lead was a real eunuch and also the emperor's younger brother. The female lead seduced him step by step, willing to do anything for him, and in the end, she succeeded in her scheme and became emperor herself. They were all super good! [Attention][Attention][Attention]

38. 38 掌 The Darling in the Palm 掌上娇娇 Zhi Yun支云Ancient Romance907k WordsCompleted [Print edition preorder opens July 17] [Film and TV rights sold] [Reader's guide: sweet romance, devoted couple, feel-good wish fulfillment, with clever schemes and political intrigue, many clues and details, and a large cast of well-developed characters. The heroine never gets the short end of the stick; anything that doesn't make sense will be explained later] Prince Xuan, He Junting. In the novel Devoted to the Imperial Consort, the author wrote of how he slaughtered the entire Northern Di co 84.3kReads9.5Score9.6kShelves
39. 39 宫 A Palace Maid's Daily Life: My Parents Want Me to Be a Couch Potato 宫女日常：爹娘让我当咸鱼 Yu Tangluo玉糖萝Ancient Romance699k WordsCompleted Hang Jiayanxin was a bondservant of the Plain White Banner and a court-appointed royal service worker. She entered the palace at thirteen and would leave at twenty-five. For twelve years in the palace, she kept her parents' advice in mind: be a good-for-nothing fish, and hang on until it's time to leave. But the towering palace before her was like a massive vessel, bearing endless power and desire. Once she pushed open those heavy doors, she stepped onto a path from which there was no turning ba 5.4kReads9.1Score571Shelves
40. 40 攀 Marrying Up 攀高枝 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] [Print edition published] Zhang Zhixu had everything from birth. A family with a century of prestige, enviable talent, and a career that kept rising step by step. But he found life terribly dull. Then, one day, an accident struck, and his soul entered a woman's body. A woman who couldn't read a single character, yet dreamed of marrying into a powerful family and becoming a phoenix. · Chen Baoxiang had traveled a thousand miles from the countryside to the capital, hoping 162.8kReads9.6Score22.7kShelves
41. 41 王 A Concubine’s Daily Struggle to Stay Alive in the Prince’s Manor 王府侍妾的苟命日常 Panda Little Moneybags熊猫小财迷Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Intense Household Intrigue + A Touch of Ensemble Cast + Plot-Driven + Everyone Has Eight Hundred Schemes] After transmigrating into the body of a concubine in the Prince of Jing's residence, Xie Run only wants to live in peace and, ideally, reach a hundred years old. At first, everything in the prince's residence is orderly. The prince shares his favor equally, the princess consort's position is secure, and the secondary consorts and concubines know their place. Who could have guessed that ever 23kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves
42. 42 重 Reborn as the Emperor's Moonlight 重生后成了皇帝的白月光 I See the Green Mountains我见青山Ancient Romance200k WordsCompleted Her lover struck her down in cold blood, leading to her brutal death in her previous life. Reborn as a beauty, she initially plans to infiltrate her enemy’s harem, disrupt his household, and meddle in his court. But just as her revenge is getting started, she discovers she’s targeted the wrong person? Can someone explain how she became the dog emperor’s one true love? She was supposed to be playing a revenge-driven black-lotus heroine, so how did this turn into the tsundere ex-husband’s daily pu 230Reads8.9Score—Shelves
43. 43 宫 A Rhapsody of Palace Flowers 宫花赋 Six-Eared Yuanyuan六耳圆圆Ancient Romance681k WordsCompleted [A no-nonsense, trope-defying palace-intrigue drama + no love for the emperor + ensemble of women] Everyone has their own ambitions. I have no interest in fighting other women over a man. She was little Qing Luo, a girl who valued her life above all else. Abandoned by her parents as a child, she had wandered through hardship until she entered the Forbidden City, where she met the beautiful, gracious Yue Ren and the clever, perceptive Lü Zhu. At last, her wandering heart found a home. The three s 30.1kReads9.6Score4kShelves
44. 44 人 Life Simulator: I'm a Pro at Rising Through Palace Schemes 人生模拟器：宫斗升职我专业 I Eat Tomatoes Without Spitting Out the Skins吃西红柿不吐番茄皮Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + System + Golden Finger + A Story That's 30% Indulgence and 70% Playing It Safe] (Important, important, important!!! Content warning: The heroine is an ordinary person who grows over time. At first, she has some girlish romantic notions; she isn't highly intelligent from the start. Not a mutually exclusive first-love story, and the male lead doesn't dote on her alone. Don't read if these bother you.) From the start, she's in the hardest difficulty mode. After s 6.9kReads9.1Score666Shelves
45. 45 误 Accidentally Capturing the Emperor’s Heart: The Lucky Little Consort Lies Low Her Way to Empress 误入帝心，福运小答应靠摆烂封后 Gray and Black灰啊黑Ancient Romance310k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / born into a new life in the womb / not an exclusive relationship / lighthearted daily life / doted on by the emperor after the heroine arrives / alternate world] Xia Luzhu is the lowest-ranking consort in the imperial harem. In her three years in the palace, she has never once seen the emperor. Apart from mandatory greetings, she hardly ever leaves her quarters. Palace intrigue? Assassination plots? Miscarriages? None of it has anything to do with her. Xia Luzhu's greatest dai 1.5kReads8.9Score152Shelves
46. 46 九 The Nine-Phoenix Hairpin 九凤钗 Apples Don't Like Meatballs苹果不爱吃丸子Ancient Romance778k WordsCompleted Song Zhu was once a lost royal treasure hidden in the forest, but fate sent her by a twist of circumstance into the palace of her enemies. On one side were the hatred and grievances between their countries; on the other, she found herself slowly sinking deeper and deeper into Mo Jingyuan’s love. Mo Jingyuan drank the plum blossom wine Song Zhu had brewed with her own hands. Dark red blood welled from the corner of his lips. “Azhu, let the grudges of the previous generation end with us. Give bir 52Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Song Zhu was originally a royal jewel lost in the forest, but fate led her by chance into the palace of her enemy. Torn between national and personal hatred, and the gradual descent into love with Mo Jingyuan, she found herself sinking deeper and deeper. Mo Jingyuan drank the plum blossom wine brewed by Song Zhu herself, dark red blood welling from his lips. "Ah Zhu, let the grudges of the previous generation be settled between us. Give birth to the child, and I will hand over my empire to him." (Super good!)

47. 47 惜 Cherishing Flowers 惜花芷 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [The original novel behind the TV adaptation starring Hu Yitian and Zhang Jingyi] After keeping her talents hidden for fifteen years, Hua Zhi thought she could spend her life as a proper aristocratic young lady, living in peace. But when the Hua family’s fortunes collapse, she has no choice but to reveal her sharp edge and hold the storm-tossed household together. Being out in public becomes the norm, and so does galloping through the streets. When all else fails, she even carries a coffin on he 18.6kReads9.6Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This is an extremely high-scoring historical romance novel with palace intrigue elements, featuring a noble heiress, an emperor and empress, an arrogant princess, and intelligent and witty protagonists. The writing is delicate, the characters are vividly portrayed, and it's a novel worth reading two or even three times! Five stars! ★★★★★

48. 48 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

    Reader note

    This is an extremely high-scoring historical romance novel with palace intrigue elements, featuring a noble lady, an emperor and empress, an arrogant princess, and intelligent and witty protagonists. The writing is delicate, the characters are vividly portrayed, and it's a work worth reading two or even three times! Five stars! ★★★★★

49. 49 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
50. 50 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

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