Looking for Real Palace-Intrigue Dramas, No Need for Mutual First-Timers 求真正的宫斗剧，不需要双洁

1. 401 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 2.4kReads8.9Score225Shelves

   Reader note

   The female lead is very clever. The Crown Princess tried to harm her, so she used her cunning to cripple her. She won the male lead's favor and not only had the Empress Dowager personally teach her palace intrigue, but the male lead also personally presented her with the Empress's position. She also had two twin babies!

2. 402 贵 The Noble Consort Is Alluring and Teasing: The Emperor Dotes on Her Every Day 贵妃茶又媚：皇帝日日娇宠轻哄 Song Guagua宋呱呱Ancient Romance695k WordsOngoing Gu Xian opened her eyes and discovered that she had not only transmigrated into a book, but had also become a minor character with the lowest rank in the emperor's harem in a palace-intrigue novel. Her legitimate half-sister kept setting traps for her in the palace, and the other concubines were all at odds with her too. Gu Xian's new life in the harem was a living hell. Fortunately, she had a golden finger, a spirit spring that could keep her alive. She figured surviving to a ripe old age in th 116Reads8.7Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   I've finished reading all the completed novels; they're all gems on my bookshelf (the last one is also very good).

3. 403 皇 The Empress Is Peerlessly Beautiful 皇后绝世倾城 Zhong Zhizhong钟之中Ancient Romance563k WordsCompleted [Empress + sweet romance + redemption + healing smiles + devoted, fatherly hero + skip if you mind these tropes] She is the Duke's legitimate daughter, breathtakingly beautiful and yearning for freedom. All she wants is to find one person to share her whole life with. He is the emperor of Dongsheng, renowned since his youth and ruthless in his methods. Wherever he goes, bones are left strewn across the land. To him, women are nothing but pieces on a chessboard. He ascended the throne at 6kReads8.9Score500Shelves
4. 404 嫁 After Marrying the Mad Crown Prince to Bring Him Good Fortune 嫁给疯批太子冲喜后 You Shi尤时Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The unfavored legitimate daughter of the Mu family is ordered by imperial decree to marry the crown prince, Zhou Jing, who is at death's door, to bring him good luck. Plenty of people wait to laugh at her, saying she might just end up bringing him luck by killing him in bed. When Zhou Jing opens his eyes, he finds himself with a fiancée. The young woman is clearly terrified of him, but still can't help swearing her loyalty. “Your Highness, I'll treat you very well.” “Your Highness, after you pas 33.4kReads9.4Score4.7kShelves
5. 405 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 1.3kReads8.7Score108Shelves

   Reader note

   A book you won't be able to put down once you start reading. The female lead is intelligent and ruthless, and the premise is fresh and exciting. Highly recommended!

6. 406 宫 The Palace Maid Schemed to Seduce Him, and the Mad Emperor Fell for Her and Seized Her by Force 宫女蓄意勾引，疯批帝王沦陷强夺 Orange-Brilliant Starlight橘灿星光Ancient Romance210k WordsOngoing [Palace intrigue, not a virginal couple / villainess / femme fatale / forced possession / doted on exclusively after the opening] [Scheming, theatrical maid vs. deranged emperor who falls deeper with every step] Yao Shu was born beautiful, and the empress chose her as a pawn to send to the emperor. The first time she met Xiao Xulan, she was too frightened to look him in the eye. But when he began to consider taking her to his bed, she broke free of his grasp and knelt down, declaring, “This serv 248Reads9.3Score—Shelves
7. 407 嫁 Marrying the Tyrant Male Lead to Become a Laid-Back Empress 嫁给暴君男主当咸鱼皇后 Dudu读读Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Dongli Hua has a little mishap and ends up in a novel for male readers, as an ugly woman with a birthmark on her face. But because of her good deeds, an imperial decree names her empress. The emperor ascended the throne at twenty, and is now thirty-two. He once had a beloved first empress who has since died; now he has two favored consorts, Shu and Li, as well as several powerful consorts with large families who have borne him princes and princesses. And soon, another large group of beauties wil 6kReads9.0Score504Shelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist transmigrated into a novel as an ordinary passerby, but ended up becoming the empress in the palace.

8. 408 炮 The Cannon Fodder Female Lead Goes Berserk, Living Her Most Shameless Life 炮灰女配发疯，纵享缺德人生 Patient Number Five五号病患Ancient Romance722k WordsCompleted Su Wenyuan transmigrates and, from the start, is about to marry a blind, frail, deranged prince. According to the rumors, this mad prince has killed more than a dozen concubines and declared long ago that he would never let his new princess leave alive. On their wedding night, flames engulf Prince Chen's residence... Everyone assumes Prince Chen killed his wife and burned the evidence, but it turns out the princess started the fire and nearly burned him to death inside. By the next day, everyone 4.5kReads8.2Score477Shelves
9. 409 寒 The Order of the Cold Boat 寒舟令 Xiaoyao Shisanlang逍遥十三郎Ancient Romance342k WordsCompleted The day my entire family was executed, I became the sole survivor of the Shen family. Seven years later, I took on the identity of an orphan girl named Chen Zhou and infiltrated my enemy’s residence, the Shen estate, as a maid. They laughed at me for being as lowly as a weed. I laughed at them for being on the brink of death. I wielded medicine as a blade and turned the inner household into a game, throwing the illustrious Shen estate into chaos. Then the powerful official Xie Lin seized me by t 230Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   This book is good, very enjoyable.

10. 410 贵 The Noble Consort Is Sweet and Charming, So Why Run, Your Majesty? 贵妃又乖又媚，皇帝哥哥你别跑! Xin Shi昕事Ancient Romance572k WordsCompleted The palace gates lead into a world as deep as the sea, and Xiao Jiang will never give her heart away. Guided by her resolve to keep the child and discard the father, Jiang Zhiyao rises from a lowly Baolin to become the favored Consort who reigns supreme over the harem. They say the imperial family is the most heartless of all, but the very first time Chu Yunjing saw her, his heart, empty for years, began to beat again. He said, “Yao’er understands me. She’s sweet and sensible. What’s wrong with 238Reads6.6Score—Shelves
11. 411 穿 After Reincarnating as a Wretched Old Woman, I Just Want to Live a Laid-Back Life 穿成极品老妇之后只想当咸鱼 Every Inch Is Gold寸寸金Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted The old woman was a real piece of work. She drove her eldest daughter-in-law to her death, then doted on her second son, who passed the highest imperial exam and married the daughter of the prime minister. She even encouraged him to favor his concubine and neglect his wife. In the end, the prime minister had the whole family killed. The old woman suddenly came back reborn, only to be scared to death by what she had experienced in her previous life. Manxing, a promising 25-year-old woman, transmi 31.1kReads9.4Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    [Eating melons] ① The original body of the palace intrigue character did good deeds and was made empress. She was unwilling to consummate the marriage and wanted to be a lazy bum. Later, her secret was discovered, and she finally consummated the marriage. But I personally don't like the ending. [Eating melons] ② The female protagonist of the domestic intrigue character transmigrated into an old woman. Her sons were all eccentric. She reformed her sons to become rich and made a fortune. She also had a battle of wits with her second son. [Eating melons] ③ In the Ming Dynasty, the wet nurse Wan gave her advice. [Eating melons] ③ She transmigrated into the cousin of various emperors. After a series of entanglements, she died young in each world.

12. 412 穿 After She Transmigrates into a Book, the Noble Consort Is Forced to Raise the Villainous Tyrant 穿书后，贵妃被迫娇养反派暴君 A Little Meatball一个肉团Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Completed] Su Yijin, a veteran supporting actress, has transmigrated into a book once again. When she opens her eyes, she is breathtakingly beautiful and on the pampered darling route, backed by powerful connections. Her father is a general who guards the nation, her mother is the Junyang Commandery Princess, and her maternal grandfather is a prince of a different surname... With the heroine's script in hand, Su Yijin takes down the green tea and kicks the fake innocent aside, then throws herse 1.4kReads9.0Score279Shelves
13. 413 圣 The Emperor's Confession: I Fell for You at First Sight 圣上告白：朕对你一眼定情 Kaka Gets Stuck卡住的卡卡Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted She is the legitimate daughter of a concubine-born son of the Shen Duke's household. When her elder sister elopes, she is forced into the palace for the sake of her family's interests. She thinks she will have to tread carefully and make it through this life with caution. But she never expected the iron-blooded ruler everyone fears to cherish and dote on her like a priceless treasure. [An original fictional dynasty, with no transmigration and no rebirth! One man and one woman, both devoted only 2.2kReads8.3Score178Shelves
14. 414 绛 Lin Daiyu Reborn: Mastering the Fourth Prince's Harem 绛珠重生，玩转四爷后宫 Cat King Who Raises Pigs养猪的猫猫大王Female-Channel Fanfiction1.2M WordsOngoing [A cast-of-characters story about Daiyu reborn in the imperial harem. No golden finger, not a wish-fulfillment story, and it has its tragic moments. No one gets exclusive favor, and the plot is original. All you lovely readers are welcome to show your support and help keep the story going with love.] [This is a harem-intrigue novel, but I hope you sisters will find more in it than just harem intrigue.] [If you can't accept Daiyu being touched by Yinzhen, please steer clear. In a harem story, she 659Reads6.9Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Lin Daiyu dressed as An Lingrong

15. 415 明 I Woke Up in the Ming Dynasty as the Hated Nursemaid Wan 明穿，我成了万人唾骂的万大奶妈 Watching the Sea观海Ancient Romance163k WordsCompleted Female-led story, political intrigue, harem power struggles I transmigrated to the Ming dynasty and became the historical Wan wet nurse. The history books say she was born bewitching, seduced the emperor, and made him marry a woman seventeen years older than himself. They say she bullied the empress and convinced the emperor to depose her. They even call her the palace’s chief abortionist, claiming she caused countless concubines to lose their unborn children. They say she tried to kill the crow 301Reads8.1Score—Shelves
16. 416 匠 Crafting a Phoenix: From Consort Jin to Empress Dowager 匠心谋凰：从瑾嫔到太后 Round and Round转转转圈圈Ancient Romance915k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue, alternate setting, a vast harem with many ranks, not a one-on-one favorite, most characters are clever and ruthless, a few are reckless fools, and the heroine stays clear-headed from beginning to end. A satisfying story with a touch of ensemble cast.] Tang Yuan is the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Works, sent into the palace by her father as a lucky charm to prove his loyalty. But that’s fine by her: Her ambitious and capable father earns her steady promotions in the e 1.3kReads8.0Score149Shelves

    Reader note

    These two books are okay

17. 417 炮 The Charming Villainess Captures the Sickly Tyrant’s Heart 炮灰女配迷人眼，病娇暴君红了脸 Little Wen Cub文崽仔Ancient Romance442k WordsCompleted [Easygoing slacker × obsessive tyrant, a romance that grows over time, sweet on the outside but dark within] [The leads are not closely related! The early chapters have some shortcomings, so please bear with them. If you really can't get into it, don't force yourself.] One day, she transmigrates and becomes the vicious cannon-fodder female lead. Zhao Qingning: Thanks for asking. I'm in a book, and scared out of my wits. To secure herself a happy ending, she sets her sights on the villainous tyra 7.1kReads9.2Score825Shelves
18. 418 和 On the Day of Her Divorce, the Tragic Heroine Turned Around and Married the Tyrant 和离当天，虐文女主转身嫁暴君 Mu Xiaoyue木小玥Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama is now online: [A laid-back, lie-flat, black-hearted legitimate daughter X a crazed, gloomy, pure-hearted tyrant] [The other man wins her over] [Original title: The Day We Divorced, the Tragic Novel's Heroine Turned Around and Married the Tyrant] At the royal autumn hunt, Song Yaozhi argues with the woman her husband brought back from the borderlands. Song Yaozhi scolds her, saying she's nothing but a concubine. Just then, her husband, Xiao Ziqian, kicks the door open and points 41.4kReads9.1Score4.5kShelves
19. 419 快 Quick Transmigration: The Emperor's Cousin Doesn't Want to Be a Disposable Character 快穿之皇帝的表妹不想做炮灰 Leaning on the Rail凭阑人Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted World One: During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, cousin of Liu Che, the future Emperor Wu of Han World Two: At the end of the Sui dynasty and beginning of the Tang, cousin of Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang World Three: During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song, cousin of Zhao Heng, Emperor Zhenzong of Song World Four: During the Chenghua era, cousin of Zhu Youcheng, Emperor Xiaozong of Ming World Five: During the Kangxi era, cousin of Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor Since ancient times, 1.3kReads5.5Score115Shelves
20. 420 和 After the Divorce, I Became the Emperor's Beloved White Moonlight 和离后，我成了皇帝心尖白月光 I Love Sugarcane我爱吃甘蔗Ancient Romance560k WordsCompleted [Reborn + Satisfying Payback + Devoted Couple + The Emperor Steals His Minister's Wife and Goes Mad with Love] In her previous life, everyone said Xu Wanning had married well. Her husband had won great military honors and earned the emperor's trust. Only she knew what her life was really like. Reborn, Xu Wanning wanted only to divorce him. But she knew the marriage had been arranged by the late emperor, and divorce would not be easy. In the end, Xu Wanning turned her gaze to the emperor. She mad 4.8kReads9.0Score498Shelves
21. 421 花 When the Flowers Fall, the Leaves Follow the Heart 花落离心叶相随 Xiaoxiao Fishing Song潇潇渔歌Ancient Romance359k WordsCompleted This story is very angsty and frustrating. The male lead is trash, the female lead is weak, and the plot is realistic, gloomy, and bland. Be aware that the male lead is the male lead only because he has more scenes and is more entangled with the female lead. It doesn’t mean the author likes him or that the female lead loves him all that much. The setting is fictional, drawing mostly on the Ming dynasty, with traces of the Song and Qing dynasties mixed in. It’s a hodgepodge. This is an ancient-er 3kReads9.2Score244Shelves
22. 422 你 You Lost Your Memory and Broke Off Our Engagement. Why Are You Losing It Now That I'm Remarrying? 你失忆与我退婚，我改嫁你疯什么 Little White Pile白色小乌堆Ancient Romance266k WordsCompleted [Both leads are each other’s first and only + A chaotic rivalry among the men + Regret and face-slapping] ① Everyone in Jiuzhou knows that Shen Sining and the Ninth Prince grew up together. They’re the perfect couple, envied by all. But on the eve of their wedding, the Ninth Prince loses his memory. He remembers everyone except Shen Sining, the woman he once treasured above all else. “This prince would never fall for a useless beauty like her.” “Lulu is the woman I love, the one I’ll cherish for 2.3kReads8.3Score166Shelves

    Reader note

    It's another "white moonlight" novel; he lost his memory, forgot the female lead, and when he remembered, she had become someone else's crown princess.

23. 423 知 Story of Minglan: Sheng Hong’s Maternal Aunt, the True Matriarch 知否：盛宏的亲姨母，真老祖宗唉 Ink-Stained Bronze Traces墨染铜迹Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted A female-led story centered on the heroine. Sheng Hong’s biological concubine mother is Jiang Wanrou, a gentle, frail woman. The Jiang family had fallen on hard times, and to save their only son, the parents heartlessly sold off both daughters. Jiang Wanrou became a lowly concubine in a wealthy household, while Jiang Wanying was sold into the palace for a few extra taels to help her son regain his health. From the moment she was born, Jiang Wanying knew who she was: a reincarnated soul, and also 28Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The family sold the female protagonist into the palace's laundry department for her brother's sake; it's a true palace intrigue story with a captivating plot.

24. 424 乾 The Legend of Consort Ling in Qianlong's Harem 乾隆后宫之令妃传 A Suo阿琐Female-Channel Fanfiction1.9M WordsCompleted He inherits a splendid empire and commands a harem of countless beauties, yet he knows that every smiling face is only there to keep up appearances. “Your Highness, His Majesty's shoes don't seem to fit.” One honest remark no one else dared to make changes the course of a beauty's life. Her father says no one in the palace can be trusted, yet Empress Fucha treats her with complete sincerity. In the eyes of the world, she betrays her mistress and seduces the emperor. But they don't know that pity 655Reads8.9Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    They're all incredibly addictive.

25. 425 世 The Heir Despised Her, So the Reborn Heiress Married the Regent Instead 世子嫌弃，嫡女重生后转嫁摄政王 Boating in Misty Rain烟雨泛舟Ancient Romance614k WordsCompleted Yun Nian always thought she was her parents’ favorite, until her cousin moved in. She watched as her parents fussed over the girl and picked the crabapple blossoms Yun Nian loved most for her; her brother scolded Yun Nian on her behalf; her childhood friend and secret guard praised her; and even her fiancé fell for her. Yun Nian cried and fought to win back their affection, but all she got in return was scolding, confinement, and the desperate agony of being tortured to death. Given another life 9Reads5.8Score—Shelves
26. 426 蛇 The Viperous Favorite Consort: Scheming Her Way to Rule as Empress Dowager 蛇蝎宠妃心机深，垂帘听政做太后 It's Xinxin是欣欣呦Ancient Romance497k WordsCompleted [Content warning! The female lead is a wholly evil villain, cruel and scheming, and will stop at nothing to climb to the top.] “[Don't randomly bring up women competing against women. This is a palace-intrigue story!! The harem is a workplace, and the imperial consorts are all rivals!]” Bu Xingruo was the most favored consort in the palace. In her previous life, she let the Emperor's favor go to her head, throwing her weight around and acting arrogantly in the harem. Lost in the Emperor's fleeti 712Reads8.6Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    I like the crazy, wicked, and yandere character archetypes, and the non-pure/virgin characters; these are much better than the clichéd palace intrigue dramas! There's no weak, innocent "white lotus" type. Just watch it, it's hilarious!

27. 427 娇 The Sweet Little Promise Who Rose Through the Ranks by Bearing Children 娇娇小答应靠生子一路晋升 Purple Cat紫色猫Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + System golden finger + multiple births + silly beauty + laid-back palace intrigue + doted on exclusively later + not a pure romance] Guys, how is this fair? Other women fight for favor with their family background, beauty, and talents... Qing Luo does it by getting pregnant. She spends her days having babies, raising them, and doting on them, gradually earning the emperor's exclusive favor. With her children by her side, she climbs to the top of life... 10.3kReads9.1Score960Shelves

    Reader note

    [Transmigration + System/Golden Finger + Multiple Pregnancy + Clumsy Beauty + Lazy Palace Intrigue + Later Exclusive Favor + Not a Clean Romance] Fellow family members, who understands this? Others rely on family background, beauty, or talent in palace intrigue... Qingluo relies on her own strength, giving birth to, raising, and even absorbing children, gradually climbing the path to exclusive favor and reaching the pinnacle of life through her offspring...

28. 428 抢 Stealing Another Man's Wife Is Wrong, But It Sure Feels Right 抢别人媳妇不礼貌，但是，真香 The Phone's Owner是机主本人Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted Ju Yue was so beautiful that her fiancé worried people would say he was marrying her for her looks. So, on their wedding day, he deliberately left her waiting outside the marquis’s residence to show that he didn’t care about beauty. Even worse, he led his virtuous and demure cousin inside first to perform the wedding rites. Could Ju Yue put up with that? Absolutely not! She made a scene on the spot and demanded to break off the engagement. The young tyrant Lou Buqi happened to be passing by. He 6.1kReads8.5Score517Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead (a powerful prince) snatches the female lead who happens to be passing by, marries her, and dotes on her immensely. [Note][Note]

29. 429 从 From Palace Maid to Imperial Consort: Her Majesty Is on a Killing Spree 从宫女到贵妃，娘娘她杀疯了 Yu Yidao俞一刀Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted It’s bad enough that she’s transmigrated into a palace laundry maid. Who knew a eunuch would take a fancy to her, too? Jiang Zhiyi decides that lying low in the palace is out of the question. She’ll just have to climb the ladder to success. When a eunuch lusts after her, she sends him to his grave. When the concubines vie for favor, she’ll stop at nothing. Jiang Zhiyi knows the imperial harem is a cutthroat workplace where only the capable survive. The palace is full of deceit and intrigue, 6.1kReads8.8Score610Shelves

    Reader note

    Truly pure palace intrigue! [Thumbs up]

30. 430 帝 The Emperor's Beloved, Suddenly No Longer a Fool 帝王的白月光，突然不傻了 Susi素思Ancient Romance200k WordsOngoing As the woman who stood by a down-and-out prince all the way from the cold palace to the highest throne, Song Qingqian should have been looking forward to a life of wealth and power. Unfortunately, she’s a fool. Other than keeping him company along the way, it seems she hasn’t been much help at all? The emperor’s most trusted ministers, who overthrew the tyrant Emperor Li, came from the empress’s family. The one who led troops into the palace to help the emperor ascend the throne was Consort Shu’ —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Without time travel, the pace isn't too fast.

31. 431 大 The Ming Emperor's Beloved Consort, Wan Zhen'er 大明宠妃万贞儿 Mad Twenty-Four Snake疯廿四蛇Ancient Romance745k WordsCompleted 7.7kReads9.4Score700Shelves

    Reader note

    The first two books: So far, these are the most satisfying palace intrigue novels on the platform. They're fast-paced, intricate, the female lead is intelligent, and the characters are quite vivid (not just formulaic). *Empress Xie*: A classic. Surprisingly, it's also available on Tomato (a Chinese web novel platform). The pace is slower, the writing is more gentle, and it's not the kind of dramatic, life-or-death struggle. *Wan Zhen'er*: A fictional novel based on historical facts. It's a pleasant surprise, quite readable, but constrained by history. Many events unfold according to the flow of history; there are no cheat codes, and no way to change the predetermined course of events. It's not a mindless, enjoyable read.

32. 432 恶 The Villainous Consort: A Concubine-Born Daughter Rises to Power 恶毒娘娘庶女上位 Creamy Turkey Noodles奶油火鸡面Ancient Romance93k WordsOngoing [Content warning: fictional setting, purely villainous heroine, clear-headed and not ruled by romance, pure palace intrigue, and the heroine will never fall in love with the emperor] When Zhou Queyi was eight, she saw with her own eyes as the First Madam beat her father's concubine to death. Her father did nothing. When the emperor held a selection, her elder legitimate sister entered the palace, while Zhou Queyi was to be married off as a merchant's concubine. If she had to be a concubine, then —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is a bad person! The kind with no moral compass! Any fans of palace intrigue novels out there who can give me their opinions? [Kissing emoji]

33. 433 原 I Thought the Imperial Palace Was a Prison, but the Emperor Held Me by the Waist and Spoiled Me 原以深宫似海，却被帝王锁腰娇宠 Ningning Zi柠柠梓Ancient Romance506k WordsCompleted [Pure historical romance + Empress + Devoted couple and sweet romance + Male lead has planned this for a long time + Not a serious palace-intrigue story] Lu Zhiyuan is the cherished youngest daughter of the Duke of Dingguo’s household. She is exquisitely beautiful, with an accomplished elder brother who supports the family’s prestige and a second elder sister skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting who brings the family honor. She has no need to contribute anything to the family, and 12.7kReads8.9Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I absolutely loved the first palace intrigue novel. The female lead wasn't just blinded by romance; the entire cast was embroiled in palace intrigue, and in the end, she united the harem to send the emperor to his death. Later, she became empress and promoted gender equality, elevating the theme significantly. The novel was full of foreshadowing, unexpected plot twists, and many heartbreakingly unfulfilled couples. Every character was vividly portrayed. It truly is the best palace intrigue novel I've ever read.

34. 434 祸 Turmoil in the Six Palaces: The Mad Demon Consort's Daily Meltdowns 祸乱六宫：疯批妖妃发癫日常 Bing Xiayun冰夏云Ancient Romance677k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + male lead has had other women, heroine is chaste + doted on exclusively later + heroine is sweet on the outside but dark within, wicked and a good actress, occasionally goes off the rails, happy ending] With skin as pure as ice and bones as fine as jade, her beauty could topple a city, stunning all who saw her… That year, she entered the palace by imperial decree to keep her pregnant elder sister company. She never expected to be trapped there for good, reduced to a fish on he 8.7kReads9.0Score922Shelves

    Reader note

    [Feeling wronged] The kind-hearted fall into hell, only to rise again from the flames of hell. Those who hurt me are killed, those who betray me are killed, those who abandon me are killed. But I still have him. In my past life, he imprisoned me, yet died because of me. In this life, I'll use his power to accompany him for a while.

35. 435 如 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Graceful as the Moon 如懿传：亭亭似月 Ye Shiwei叶诗薇Female-Channel Fanfiction658k WordsCompleted [Completed] In the palace, the consorts’ foremost task is to win the emperor’s favor. No matter their rank or how low their methods, all that matters is achieving their goal. Yanwan was once a maid in the Fourth Imperial Storehouse. Innocent and lively, with captivating beauty, all she wanted was to marry her childhood sweetheart, Ling Yunche. But her flower-like face made others wary of her, and she suffered three years of humiliation without anyone offering a helping hand. So she took matters 1.9kReads9.4Score186Shelves

    Reader note

    A clear-headed female lead, serious about palace intrigue.

36. 436 宜 Yixiu Reborn: Disbanding the Abortion Squad 宜修重生，解散打胎小队 Su Xue粟雪Female-Channel Fanfiction1.0M WordsCompleted Honghui’s death... Yinzhen’s cold heart... My own cruelty... Now that I’ve been given another life, maybe everything will turn out better. (I personally think Yixiu suffered so much. I want to give her a happy ending.) 5.9kReads9.0Score445Shelves
37. 437 娘 The Empress Is Determined to Rise to the Top 娘娘她立志登高位 The Moon Has Set in the West月已西Ancient Romance679k WordsCompleted Scheming beauty x stern, cold emperor (soul transmigration + palace intrigue + not mutually devoted + eventually his one and only) In the third year of Zhaowu, Wen Zhuohua abandoned the path laid out for her and entered the palace as a palace-selection candidate. She loves wealth, splendor, power, and status. All under heaven belongs to the sovereign, and nothing in this world is more exalted than imperial authority. Once in the palace, she treads carefully in the harem and puts on an act for th 15.3kReads9.0Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Not a clean break story! It features a later focus on exclusive love! Both the male and female leads are cunning, sensitive, cautious, and incredibly intelligent—a true battle of wits! The female lead is a master of disguise, lying without batting an eye, subtly flirting, and maintaining a natural balance in her interactions. She gradually tests his limits, slowly increasing her importance until she firmly takes control. The male lead gradually falls for her, becoming possessive, jealous, conflicted, and eager to please. Even knowing she might not be entirely innocent, he still succumbs, creating a captivating and suspenseful experience! The writing is also superb!

38. 438 母 Mother of the Nation? No, I Want to Rule the World! 母仪天下？不，我要权倾天下！ Dreams, How Many?梦几何Ancient Romance986k WordsOngoing [Alternate-World Palace Intrigue + No Romance + Raising Children + Never Falls for the Emperor] Content warning: The male lead is not chaste. Palace intrigue runs throughout, and the emperor never favors just one consort. After a car accident, Chu Ningzhi was pulled into the alternate world of Great Zhou. She had to become Empress Dowager to survive. To stay alive, she entered the palace through the selection and gave birth to a child. She planned every move carefully and defeated all her enemie 175Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A drama with no romantic pairing and pure palace intrigue, where the power struggles don't just revolve around the female lead but extend to all the characters, with each episode involving more than one or two concubines. It's very entertaining.

39. 439 娘 The Empress Is Beautiful and Alluring, and She’s on Track to Win the Palace Politics Crown 娘娘又美又撩，一路稳拿宫斗冠军 Night of the Bright Moon明月之夜Ancient Romance141k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + Not both chaste + Devoted love later on] Jiang Yueli, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Anyuan, enters the palace to win favor and preserve her family’s glory. Starting as a low-ranking Talent, she advances step by step until she reigns supreme among the imperial consorts... 84Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 440 被 The Erased Supporting Actress Strikes Back 被抹杀的女配决定反击 Mu Xiaoyue木小玥Ancient Romance382k WordsOngoing [Ambitious Female Lead] [Reborn to Slay All Who Wronged Me] Only after dying a horrible death in her previous life did Ji Mingtang learn that she was nothing more than the villainess in a book. Her sole purpose was to make the beloved heroine look gentle and kind. Reborn into a life where she knows what fate has in store, Ji Mingtang decides to... Learn from her past life, nip every threat in the bud, and reduce anyone who opposes her to dust. Who would have guessed that the men who once fawned 70Reads8.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These palace intrigue novels are all incredibly good. The first one features a female protagonist who is reborn and gradually takes down those who bullied her in her past life; her interactions with the male lead are also super fun. The second one has a female protagonist with a system, but she completely ignores its instructions. Whoever the system tells her to please, she does the opposite, embodying rebellion, haha!

41. 441 娘 The Empress Is Sweet and Alluring, Winning Favor and Rising to Power 娘娘娇软妩媚，一路争宠上位 Bell Meow铃铛喵Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (A pure palace-intrigue story, not a one-on-one romance, and not a mutually faithful pairing. Proceed with caution!) Bai Ruotang is the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Right Chancellor’s household. At fifteen, just after coming of age, she is sent into the palace to bear a child for her legitimate elder sister and help her secure the emperor’s favor. Unwilling to be reduced to someone else’s pawn, from the moment she steps through the palace gates, she decides she will carve out 10.4kReads8.9Score1kShelves
42. 442 朕 My Empress Weighs Ninety Jin, and Eighty-Five Jin of That Is Rebellion 朕的皇后九十斤，有八十五斤反骨 Li Xiaoju鲤小橘Ancient Romance552k WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted to each other + contrasting personalities + self-serving heroine + satisfying and sweet + mutual pampering] Lin Xiaoxiao, an overworked corporate drone, transmigrates into the body of a wicked empress. The emperor has ignored her for four years, despises her, and sees her as the greatest shame of his life! The crown prince hates her as his mother and plans to whip her corpse once he grows up and turns evil! The empress dowager is deeply calculating, treating her like a lo 815Reads8.9Score104Shelves
43. 443 渣 You Scoundrel, Just Sit Back and Watch? I’ll Put on the Perfect Show 渣君看戏？看我演得应有尽有 Cats Love Meat猫猫爱吃肉Ancient Romance115k WordsOngoing [A stunning beauty who's a master actress and a sharp-tongued queen versus a scummy emperor who regrets his ways and talks himself into falling for her] (Enters the palace in Chapter 13) (Palace intrigue + reborn + not mutually chaste + no exclusive favor) In her previous life, her cousin used dark magic to steal her fortune. She did every wicked thing imaginable, yet always managed to escape disaster. Reborn, Chi Zhaoying is determined to stop her from getting her way. She foils her cousin's sc —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The emperor loves watching drama and enjoys inciting his concubines to fight amongst themselves, but the female lead is beautiful, intelligent, and has superb acting skills, haha! There's a short rebirth scene at the beginning, and it gets even better after she enters the palace. The pacing is fast and not padded at all! The female lead not only doesn't love the emperor, but she was also a widow before entering the palace, and she uses her wits to manipulate him, making the emperor completely smitten, haha!

44. 444 为 The Professional Ethics of a Concubine 为妾的职业操守 Lin Wanzi林丸子Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main Story Complete] Ye Qingzhi, an overworked office drone, transmigrates into the body of a concubine in the Jiangyang Marquis’s household. Since she’s here, she might as well go crazy. Being a concubine is just changing workplaces. She doesn’t need to get emotionally involved. She can simply treat herself like a tool. Ye Qingzhi’s career goal: convince both the marquis and the principal wife to take responsibility for her and protect her. Ye Qingzhi’s workplace motto: Life is short. We’re al 31.9kReads9.4Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    The palace intrigue is quite intense, and the female lead is truly ambitious.

45. 445 娘 The Empress’s Peerless Beauty: The Cold Emperor’s Beloved Wife 娘娘绝色：冷情帝王的娇娇皇后 Sheng Qian笙浅Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + palace and household intrigue + alternate history + exclusive devotion + childhood sweethearts + long-planned love + secret admiration] As the legitimate daughter of a duke’s mansion and the future crown princess, Li Yunshu has been doted on by everyone since birth. Everyone in the capital knows that no one can match Li Yunshu’s radiant beauty, and that her spoiled temperament is just as singular. Then, one day, the Crown Prince dies. The duke’s mansion, whi 12.5kReads9.0Score1.2kShelves
46. 446 入 After Entering the Palace, the Obsessive Emperor Wouldn’t Let Me Leave 入宫后，偏执帝王不许我出宫 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance509k WordsCompleted [Not both virgins, not a strong heroine, a little angst early on, devoted love later] In the fourth year of the new emperor’s reign, Consort Duan died suddenly of an illness in the palace. At the time, Shen Jiafu was not yet fifteen. The Empress Dowager was from the Shen family. Half a year later, she summoned a Shen daughter to the palace to attend to her, claiming to be ill. Shen Jiafu traveled from Quzhou to the imperial capital. In public, she was gentle and well-behaved, like a charming flo 14.1kReads9.0Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    All very beautiful

47. 447 好 A Blessed Wife with a Baby on the Way: Lord Commander, Be Good 好孕福妻：指挥使大人乖乖宠我 Sunshine Scent太阳味儿Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Marriage first, love later + devoted husband pursues his wife + dual purity + happy ending In her previous life, Luo Ran was killed by her husband and her cousin, who conspired against her. After years of dutifully keeping the household, all she got in the end was her father's title being manipulated away, and a tragic death for both father and daughter. Reborn six years 20.5kReads9.2Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    ① A true palace intrigue story ✘ Rebirth novel ✘ Unplanned pregnancy ✘ Arranged marriage followed by love. The plot is exciting and engaging; a very intellectually stimulating read. ② Palace intrigue and domestic power struggles ✘ Classical style. The author's writing is excellent, with each plot point intricately linked, making it very compelling to read on.

48. 448 贵 After the Noble Consort Checked Out, the Coldhearted Emperor Begged Her to Come Back 贵妃娘娘摆烂后，冷厉君王低头哄 Returning South南归Ancient Romance272k WordsCompleted [Both leads are virgins + sweet, doting romance] Jing Zhao transmigrated into a book as the villainous cannon-fodder supporting character, Consort Zhao. In the book, Consort Zhao was arrogant, overbearing, and jealous, yet supposedly adored by the emperor. [Not really.] She knew she was nothing more than a shield. Once the emperor's beloved, the heroine, entered the palace, he would kick Jing Zhao aside. In the end, she'd die horribly after being driven by jealousy to frame the heroine! To save 4.1kReads8.8Score329Shelves

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue, a thrilling read!!!

49. 449 粗 A Lowly Palace Maid's Rise to Power 粗使宫女升职记 Coconut Seal Candy椰子海豹糖Ancient Romance982k WordsOngoing [A new writer and a new novel. The rating has just appeared, so it’s quite low. My family is struggling, and writing isn’t easy. I hope you’ll be patient with me. I’m deeply grateful to you all.] [This story features a large ensemble] [No rivalry between women, no love-brained heroines, and no adoration of men] [Women supporting women] [An unconventional palace drama] [A heroine who grows] Please note! The emperor in this story is extremely [human] (bolded for emphasis!), and lacks basic moral 542Reads8.8Score112Shelves

    Reader note

    Let me recommend my humble work. It just started out with a low rating, and the title is a bit cheesy, but it's definitely not a mindless, melodramatic story. There's no system, no rebirth, and no cheat codes. The writing style and updates are guaranteed. The female lead isn't a saint; she has her own preferences, personality flaws, and is learning and improving—she's just an ordinary person. This story leans towards an ensemble cast, with logic and no simplistic plots. It's not about romance or revolving around men; each character has their own thoughts and logic. I sincerely hope you, my readers, will take a look.

50. 450 谢 The Xie Family's Short-Lived Son Has Lived to a Hundred 谢家的短命鬼长命百岁了 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] The lid of a dead person's coffin won't lie flat because they had an unresolved longing in life. Given time, that longing turns into a demonic obsession, and unless it is resolved, their descendants will suffer. Yan Sanhe's job is to release the dead from their obsessions. One day, she gets hounded by Third Master Xie, who claims to have one. Yan Sanhe says she doesn't deal with the living. Third Master Xie replies, “Everyone says I won't live long. Just think of 127.1kReads9.6Score17.2kShelves

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