Palace Intrigue Where a Low-Ranking Concubine Rises Through the Ranks with Her Wits 选秀入宫，低位份靠头脑升级的宫斗文

1. 51 大 The Legend of Empress Zheng of Great Xia 大夏郑后传 Ali Has a Drink阿里喝一杯Ancient Romance696k WordsCompleted P.S. Palace intrigue + political scheming + doted on exclusively later on + a little angst + strong female lead (no transmigration, no rebirth) She wants only wealth and status, not a trace of true affection! Zheng Zhongyin’s great-grandfather was a regent of the Great Xia dynasty. But when she was ten, during a succession struggle, political enemies plotted against her family, nearly wiping them all out. They killed her mother, younger sister, and several other relatives, and her childhood swee —Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The female lead volunteers herself, and she levels up by defeating monsters along the way. She is loyal and righteous but also ruthless in her actions. The male lead is also very intelligent, so they can be described as a pair of strong individuals.

2. 52 玉 Yu Wujiao 玉无娇 Cherry Red樱桃红Ancient Romance443k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue + clear-headed heroine + high intelligence and emotional intelligence + not an only-one relationship + no System or portable space + a heroine who grows over time (not a wish-fulfillment story), not blinded by love. After her parents and younger sister are brutally killed, Jiang Yuxin, daughter of a convicted minister, realizes that becoming a favored consort is the only way to change things. At nineteen, the emperor is at an age when he falls easily. He falls for one woman afte 281Reads8.8Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The female lead is clear-headed and possesses both high emotional and intellectual intelligence. She's there to rise through the ranks in the palace intrigue, not for romance. The palace intrigue is captivating without sacrificing intelligence, and the plot transitions smoothly. This rating is a huge understatement.

3. 53 王 The King's Woman 王的女人 The Walking Lychee行走的荔枝Ancient Romance646k WordsCompleted A consort who doesn't want to monopolize the emperor's favor is no good consort at all! My goal is to charge down the path to winning all his affection and ruling the Six Palaces! At least three chapters a day. A jade pendant donation earns one extra chapter; a crown earns ten! 174Reads8.7Score—Shelves

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   I recommend this one. The female lead is very intelligent, shrewd, and resourceful. [Thumbs up][Sending hearts][Sending hearts]

4. 54 穿 I Transmigrated into the Imperial Harem Factory, So I'll Work Myself to the Bone! 穿越后宫大厂，卷死算了！ Jiang Jiangpisces姜姜piscesAncient Romance390k WordsCompleted Li Wei, a top-tier corporate drone in the modern world, worked so much overtime that she literally dropped dead in a sewer. When she opened her eyes again, she had become a low-ranking concubine in the harem of the Jing Dynasty! She thought she'd landed the easy-life package: "a state salary, servants at your beck and call, and early retirement." But then she discovered that the lowest-ranked concubines had to get up earlier than chickens, ate worse than pigs, worked harder than donkeys, and sti 25Reads6.6Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   This book's description of calligraphy is quite novel; it's more like workplace survival than palace intrigue.

5. 55 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

   Reader note

   These are all palace intrigue novels in my collection. I've finished reading them all, and I sometimes reread them. They all feature cunning and manipulative female protagonists. I especially love the last two; they basically monopolize the female lead's affections after that.

6. 56 重 Reborn Palace Maid: She Only Wants to Fight for the Emperor's Favor 重生宫女之她只想宫斗 Lady Yejiu夜九娘Ancient Romance444k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiaoyun spent years confined in the Cold Palace before finally being released. What she got in return was a useless husband and a wicked mother-in-law. This time, she decisively betrayed her mistress and climbed into someone else’s bed, successfully rising in status. And then she became the lowest-ranking palace maid… When Emperor Jingheng first saw Jiaoyun, he was merely captivated by her looks. “How can this palace maid have fairer skin than the Noble Consort?” Jiaoy 745Reads9.1Score101Shelves
7. 57 娘 The Empress Doesn't Fight for Favor, the Emperor Crowns Her Empress 娘娘不宫斗，帝王捧上后位 Breezy Giggles凉风嘻嘻Ancient Romance293k WordsCompleted [A Dark, Unhinged Emperor vs. A Wild and Alluring Consort: Not a Pure Romance, but Full of Devotion, Thrills, and Sweetness!] Jiang Shu transmigrates into the harem of a tyrant, becoming an obscure Noble Lady. She thinks she’ll just keep her head down in the palace until old age. But then, to survive, she throws herself into the tyrant’s arms. The emperor adores her beyond measure! He clears out his entire harem for her and puts her on the throne as empress. From then on, their life as emperor a 1.2kReads9.1Score134Shelves
8. 58 谋 Scheming for the Heir 谋嫡 Master Hua花爷Ancient Romance403k WordsCompleted From being a pawn sent by her elder half-sister to the Third Prince's residence to climbing over a mountain of blood and claiming the empress's throne, Lin Wanying did just one thing: she kept Zhao Xuan firmly by her side. 3.3kReads9.1Score626Shelves
9. 59 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.4kReads9.2Score950Shelves
10. 60 在 A Hundred Ways to Win the Emperor's Heart in the Harem 在后宫征服皇帝的一百个技巧 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ever since entering the palace, Yun Li has become a shameless schemer. Two-faced and insincere, she puts on an act every day. When dealing with the emperor’s favorite consort, she tears into her until she’s furious, then clutches her chest with a wounded look and says, “I’m so envious that His Majesty dotes on you.” When someone tries to frame her, she casually slaps them, then bursts into tears. “Why would you treat a kind person like me this way?” When speaking with the empress, she nods absen 12.2kReads9.5Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book is about a clear-headed person who gradually rises in rank; the second book involves rising in rank by having a son; the third book uses revenge, a true white moonlight (a genuine but false substitute), and a scheming yet innocent character to advance in rank. All three are good, but the first and third books require some thought.

11. 61 穿 The Transmigrator Was Killed by This Princess 穿越者被本宫反杀了 Tang Bu Tian唐不甜Ancient Romance583k WordsCompleted The breathtaking Princess Sheng'an married a little-known adviser, and everyone in the realm laughed that such a pearl had been hidden in the dust, accusing her of having no taste. Only when Qinglu's iron cavalry had crossed every inch of the land and brought the whole realm under its rule did people realize that Princess Sheng'an was a fox and her adviser a tiger. He had the talent to shape the world, yet willingly bowed his head and let the young lady run wild over him. After a lifetime of bei 322Reads9.0Score103Shelves
12. 62 皇 Has the Noble Consort Left Qirong Palace Today? 皇贵妃今天出栖容宫了吗？ Xiaoman Crisp小满酥Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [☆No transmigration, no rebirth, and no pristine couples] [☆The romance develops gradually] Everyone in the palace knew that the person they must never offend was neither the pampered and fiery Noble Consort Hui nor the peerlessly beautiful Consort Cen, but Noble Consort Zhe of Qirong Palace, Lady Fucha. A consort's guide to survival: If you want to get ahead, never provoke the lady of Qirong Palace. She was the emperor's first woman, his companion and confidante since their youth; the mother 15.3kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    ① The female protagonist unexpectedly travels through time, becoming a lowly palace maid in the TV series "Empresses in the Palace." She abandons personal feelings and dedicates herself to palace intrigue and raising her children, embarking on a path of struggle to rise from the lowest rank. Free from emotional entanglements, she is driven only by her ambition for power and her deep love for her children. Through cunning and strategy, she climbs step by step to the highest position.

13. 63 带 Taking My Rental House to Ancient Times to Become an Imperial Consort 带着租房去古代当贵妃 Master Meow, the Showerhead Hole-Poker花洒扎孔喵师傅Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted (Palace intrigue + evolving pocket-space golden finger + satisfying power fantasy + quick kills + alternate universe) Xu Zhiyi, the ultimate wage slave, scrimped and saved until she had enough for a down payment. On the very day she bought her house, a flower vase fell from the sky and killed her. She raised her middle finger and cursed heaven for its injustice, only to realize she'd spoken too soon. When she opened her eyes again, she had become Xu Daya, a poor little girl from Xu Family Vil 769Reads7.3Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    On the very day Xu Zhiyi finally saved enough money to buy a house, she was killed by a vase falling from the sky. Xu Zhiyi cursed the heavens for being cruel! Then, things got even worse for her; she transmigrated into the body of Xu Daya in Xu Family Village, a fictional dynasty called Daliang. Xu Daya was miserable, often hungry and cold, and frequently beaten. Enraged, Xu Zhiyi sent her wicked family members to meet the original owner of the body. Fortunately, a kind family was willing to adopt her. Xu Zhiyi decided to keep a low profile, but how did she end up in the palace? That emperor, stay away from me!!!

14. 64 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... 10.1kReads9.1Score951Shelves

    Reader note

    [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

15. 65 清 Qing Dynasty: Raising Children in Fourth Prince's Household 清穿，我在四阿哥后院养孩子 A Lazy Fish Dreaming of a Comeback梦想翻身的闲鱼Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted After working endless overtime, a miserable IT wage slave suddenly dies and is taken by the System to a parallel world, where she finds herself in the body of a young woman newly betrothed to the Fourth Prince. Watch as she survives in the Fourth Prince’s household with the System’s help and gradually rises to a position of power. 4.4kReads8.8Score333Shelves
16. 66 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

    Reader note

    Super super super good-looking

17. 67 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

    Reader note

    The first book is one I've been following closely; it starts from the female lead's time in the Prince's mansion, and the chapters about the Prince's mansion are relatively longer. It's almost finished. The second book I read on another platform before, and then found on Tomato Book. The female lead also rises slowly from a low position. The first book involves soul transmigration, while the second doesn't. The second book has some very good descriptions of ancient details. Neither book is a "clean" (virginity) story; I generally don't like "clean" stories in ancient palace intrigue novels because I find them a bit unrealistic.

18. 68 谢 Empress of the Xie Family 谢家皇后 Song of the Yue People越人歌Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In her first year in the palace, she is a Talented Lady. In her fifth, she is a Jieyu. In her tenth, she wants to become empress. As empress, she can hold on to everything she treasures and keep it from being taken away. She can protect herself and her child, and she can... stay by his side. This is a road with only one direction: take a single step back, and all will be lost. The bright yellow ceremonial parasol moves forward, and the emperor's procession slowly enters the city gate. A yellow p 8.9kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves
19. 69 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

    Reader note

    The first book is super good, um, but towards the end it mainly focuses on the crown prince, since the concubines can't participate much in the court affairs. I recommend the second and third books, but I didn't really like them; they were just so-so.

20. 70 清 Qing Transmigration: The Sweet and Adorable Consort Is Doted on by the Fourth Prince 清穿好孕：福晋娇娇四爷甜宠我 Nan Nan Ru南南如Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Qing Dynasty transmigration + exclusive devotion + spiritual spring in a pocket dimension + adorable baby + strong heroine] Transmigrating into the Yongzheng Emperor’s household as an obscure bondservant concubine, Jiang Yan sees the distinctive shaved foreheads of the Qing Dynasty and wonders, Have I transmigrated? Fourth Master: “Jiang Yan, you’ve got some nerve!” Jiang Yan: “If I want to get pregnant, I have to be bold! Fourth Master, here I come!” Fourth Master: “Be good. Tomorrow, give me 4.8kReads8.5Score359Shelves
21. 71 清 Qing Transmigration: The Noble Consort Wins by Doing Nothing with Her Golden Touch 清穿：贵妃靠点金手躺赢了 I'm an Old Antique我是老古董Ancient Romance509k WordsCompleted [Qing dynasty transmigration, golden finger, palace intrigue, heroine stands alone] One morning, wealthy woman Song Ruche woke up transmigrated to the Qing dynasty as the only legitimate daughter of the Fucha family. She was born with a golden finger that could upgrade anything she touched, transforming it completely. Unfortunately, she could only use it once every three years. To use it more often, she had to raise her own status. So she decided to take a shortcut: In a feudal society, what fas 5.5kReads9.1Score394Shelves
22. 72 当 After Consort Hua Has a Son, I Am Determined to Become Empress Dowager 当华妃有子后，太后本宫当定了 Youyou Needs a Basin to Eat柚柚吃饭得用盆Female-Channel Fanfiction1.1M WordsCompleted (Empresses in the Palace + Hua Fei has a son + cozy everyday life + ultimate winner) A modern young man transmigrates as the son Hua Fei is about to lose. Watch him overcome the odds, turn the tide, and help Hua Fei come out on top in the end~ Highlights: Hua Fei: “Now that I have a son, no one else is allowed to have one. Lingzhi, take the infertility medicine to the prince!” Sweet moments: Honghui: “Mother, I want a silk tree flower!” Hua Fei: “How about a qilin child instead?” Yinzhen: “Nia 4.6kReads7.2Score308Shelves
23. 73 清 A Qing-Dynasty Transmigration in Dream of the Red Chamber: The Imperial Physician Is Daiyu's Own Sister 清穿红楼之医妃是黛玉亲姐 Death Is Liberation身死道陨是解脱Female-Channel Fanfiction520k WordsCompleted After transmigrating, she finds herself the biological older sister of Lin Daiyu, born to the same mother. Lin Qingyu is moved to tears: from the start, both her parents are frail, a flock of concubines are watching them like hawks, and she and her younger sister are both sickly. How is this family ever going to be all right? Luckily, the year Jia Min gives birth to Miss Lin, she awakens the Physician Consort System. As long as she binds herself to a prince and completes missions, she can exchan 1.4kReads8.8Score130Shelves
24. 74 清 Raising Kids as Consort De in the Qing Dynasty: Praise, Praise, Praise, and Little Red Flowers Too 清穿德妃养崽夸夸夸，还发小红花 Spring Hairpin簪春Ancient Romance893k WordsCompleted [An alternate-history Qing dynasty setting, OOC, with original elements: a slow-burn, cozy, child-rearing harem rom-com. Fu Fu only has room in her heart for her kids and herself. Boss Kang is just a tool, Si Si is kid number one, and the other kids all have their own career plans.] Ming Fu transmigrates as the mother of Emperor Yongzheng, opening her eyes to find herself in the middle of a difficult labor. Kangxi: “Save the baby.” Ming Fu flings the placenta right in his face. “Save your head!” 1.7kReads7.8Score151Shelves
25. 75 清 Qing Transmigration: The Fertility-Blessed Imperial Noble Consort 清穿之好孕皇贵妃 From Today On, I'll Be a Godly Tycoon从今天开始当神豪Ancient Romance970k WordsCompleted Complete [Fertility System + amateurish palace intrigue + heroine doesn't love Kangxi + raising children to rise to power] (The timeline in this story does not match official history, so please don't overthink it.) Modern office worker Mingmei wakes up as Noble Lady Wanyan, one of Kangxi's consorts. At the same time, she gets a System and learns that she will be raising all nine of Kangxi's sons. After transmigrating, Wanyan Mingmei says, “System, let me say thank you.” Also known as The Rise of 2.6kReads8.5Score179Shelves

    Reader note

    Both are good. In one of them, I remember the female lead accidentally taking a fake pregnancy pill, then having the imperial physician create a drug that could fake an abortion, allowing her to openly and legitimately lose the child and still gain the emperor's favor. Her real first child was one the emperor had been longing for for a long time.

26. 76 一 The Idle Consort with a Whole Litter of Babies Is Forced to Get Competitive 一胎多宝的咸鱼娘娘，被迫卷起了 Xing Chenzi星尘子Ancient Romance518k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + pocket space + exclusive devotion + adorable baby + light palace intrigue + both leads are faithful (don't ask how the emperor qualifies, I have my ways)] After unexpectedly transmigrating to an unknown dynasty, Su Qianqian says there's no need to panic. If conditions allow, she'd even like to post something on her “Moments” first. But the situation isn't looking too good. According to the original owner's memories, She's just a low-ranking concubine who has only recently enter 3.6kReads8.9Score397Shelves
27. 77 清 Qing Transmigration: The Side Consort Has an Assist System 清穿：侧福晋有助攻系统 Waiting for the Night in the Snow雪上等夜人Ancient Romance494k WordsCompleted A word of caution: This is a novel, not history, so don't scrutinize it. The names and anything else that differs from history are all invented for the story. If that's not your thing, read at your own risk. [Alternate Qing Dynasty + Assist System + Everyday Leveling Up + Raising Children] Song Shurou transmigrates and becomes a Song Concubine in the early years of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. Song Concubine has a breakout? System: Don't worry, Shurou. Just say one sentence to Yongzheng, and w 14.5kReads9.3Score974Shelves
28. 78 清 Qing Dynasty and Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu's Sister's Fortunate Pregnancy 清穿红楼：黛玉她姐好孕日常 Ruo Hongru若鸿如Female-Channel Fanfiction1.3M WordsCompleted Qing dynasty transmigration + Dream of the Red Chamber + Beauty System + Childbirth and child-rearing + Saving Lin Daiyu Lin Dadai transmigrates one day and becomes Lin Daiyu's biological older sister, Lin Dai Rou. But why is Lin Daiyu's older sister the Fourth Master's concubine? Are Jia Min and Lin Daiyu both in poor health? Beauty System: Complete missions to earn Dragon Qi points, and you'll receive spiritual milk to save your mother and younger sister. Sagging skin after childbirth? Beauty 7.3kReads8.7Score807Shelves
29. 79 清 Consort Hui of the Qing Dynasty: After Bearing the Fourth Prince, I Became the Emperor's Favorite 清穿惠妃：生下四阿哥后独宠了 Hui Ning橞宁Ancient Romance464k WordsCompleted Wu Jingwan has been dreaming about Yinzhi every day lately. One day, after dreaming that Yinzhi was imprisoned, she transmigrates into the body of Consort Hui, one of Emperor Kangxi’s consorts. Well, she isn’t Consort Hui yet. She’s only Noble Consort Hui. Whenever Wu Jingwan wakes in the middle of the night and thinks of Yinzhi’s fate, her heart aches. How could the dashing, beloved eldest prince have ended up like that? Now that she’s here, she won’t let that tragedy happen again. She thought 9.2kReads9.2Score883Shelves
30. 80 清 The Qing Transmigration Crown Princess: I Have a Lucky Envelope Group 清穿太子妃：我有一个红包群 SnowballS雪球SAncient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Not a historically accurate Qing dynasty transmigration story; includes original settings and will change the ending.] [Male lead is not a virgin; he has concubines. Clear-eyed, theatrical heroine + arrogant male lead. He loves her, but she doesn’t love him.] [Wish fulfillment, no angst for the heroine, novice writing style. Read with caution if that bothers you.] Shi Shuyao was framed by her reborn cousin and became the Crown Prince’s consort. As someone who had transmigrated, she knew the Cr 12kReads9.0Score918Shelves
31. 81 清 Qing Transmigration: The Imperial Noble Consort’s Life of Luxury 清穿：皇贵妃娘娘的顶配人生 Jianghuai Never Returns at Night江淮不夜归Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted (The heroine is clear-headed, not saintly, and never meddles in the consorts’ harem rivalries. At first, she focuses on raising her child; later, she pushes the Nine Dragons to strengthen the country.) [The Fourth Prince had a happy childhood, grew up a bit lazy, and of course managed to turn things around in the end~] Yu Wan transmigrates and becomes the historical Yongzheng Emperor’s adoptive mother, Empress Xiaoyiren of the Tongjia clan. Yu Wan is practically moved to tears with joy: Her fath 10.7kReads7.8Score1kShelves
32. 82 纯 The Pure-Hearted Supporting Actress Has a Beauty and Baby-Making System 纯情女配她有变美生子系统 Is Ning Meng Cute?宁檬萌不萌Female-Channel Fanfiction1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, transmigrate into TV dramas, break up canon couples, more children, more blessings] This is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. It contains no official history. 1. Empresses in the Palace: Yixiu ✔ (Parts 1 and 2 are beginner stories and aren't very good or especially satisfying. Feel free to skip them.) 2. Empresses in the Palace: An Lingrong ✔ (I'd recommend starting with Part 3.) 3. Empresses in the Palace: Guarjia Wen 12.4kReads8.1Score511Shelves
33. 83 快 Winning at Life Through Quick Transmigration and a Fertile Constitution 快穿靠着易孕体质躺赢人生 The Fluffed-Up Cat炸毛的猫咪Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted (Quick transmigration + fertility blessing + multiple pregnancies and children + cannon-fodder comeback + punishing scum) What?! The male lead is struggling to have children? The System tells her to have more children so the male lead can feel happy, earning her more points. But why is she always the most miserable cannon-fodder female supporting character? Fine! Fine! For the points, she can only fight her way back and work hard to win over the male lead! World One: [Childless Crown Prince x S 13.3kReads8.8Score1.1kShelves
34. 84 拥 With a Pocket Dimension, the Fourth Fujin Defies Fate 拥有空间后四福晋逆天改命了 Xiao Xiyao肖羲芺Ancient Romance1.5M WordsOngoing After Fang Na unexpectedly gained a spiritual spring dimension, she transmigrated into the Qing dynasty as Wuyunna, the wife of the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen. The little moments of daily life between Wuyunna and Yinzhen changed the historical ending in which the Fourth Prince’s only son died young and his relationship with Yinzhen, though seemingly respectful, was actually ice-cold. They didn’t quite achieve a lifelong union between just the two of them, but they did stay devoted to each other. (Wa 6.2kReads8.2Score457Shelves
35. 85 穿 The Daily Life of a Laid-Back Concubine After Transmigrating 穿越之闲鱼妾室的日常 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance480k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + household and palace intrigue + no golden finger + devoted love later on] Zhang Xinian transmigrated into the body of a concubine in Prince Jing’s household. Above her was the princess consort, backed by powerful connections and ruthless in her methods. Beside her was a brainless side consort with overwhelming fighting prowess. Below her, a reborn woman and a transmigrated woman were locked in fierce competition. Zhang Xinian trembled with fear. She had no golden finger and did 105.4kReads9.4Score12.3kShelves
36. 86 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

    I searched my entire bookshelf and was shocked to find that I didn't have a single traditional palace intrigue novel that started with the imperial concubine selection process. However, after careful selection, I found these few that I had finished reading and enjoyed. You can check out the summaries first, and then read them if you're interested. They're basically all about low-ranking/unfavored individuals who then use their intelligence to rise to power.

37. 87 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
38. 88 娇 The Spoiled Consort's Road to Glory 娇气包娘娘的荣华路 Qingxi Hexi清兮禾兮Ancient Romance385k WordsCompleted Sweet romance! Undivided love! She’s doted on to the max! [The heroine is cunning, a little black lotus hidden beneath a rabbit’s skin] [The hero has a harem and isn’t chaste, but once he meets the heroine, he devotes himself to her alone in a one-on-one romance] The third young lady of the Sheng’an Marquis’s household, born to his secondary wife, was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Sweet and clever, she knew how to win favor. Her grandmother and father favored her, and even her legitimate 13.4kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    🍌🍌🍌Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she lives with a clarity of mind that surpasses anyone else's. From the moment she learned that she had been chosen by Xiao Jingheng to enter the palace as a concubine, her goal was crystal clear: "I'm going to the palace to become the Empress, otherwise what am I supposed to do? Cook for others?" So, upon entering the palace, she used her beauty and wisdom to meticulously plan her moves, winning the Emperor's heart and manipulating the six palaces at will. After all, in this harem, no woman is immune to competition and strife for the sake of her family and her own favor. Therefore, what she needed to do was strike first.

39. 89 谁 Whose Favored Concubine Doesn't Get Herself Killed? 谁家宠妾不作死啊 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Pei Shiyuan had always thought that, as a concubine-born daughter, she thrived at her family home because she knew a little tea ceremony and all she had to do was flatter her father, the head of the household. She had been quite pleased with herself about it, right up until she entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The Eighth Prince’s mother, the Noble Consort, was so favored that the Empress had no room to stand. His maternal family wielded so much power that the court officials could barely b 77.9kReads9.5Score8kShelves
40. 90 东 The Eastern Palace's Beauty: This Favorite Consort Is Mine! 东宫姝色：这宠妃我当定了！ Sheng Qian笙浅Ancient Romance520k WordsCompleted [The heroine is doted on from the very beginning. The story focuses on sweet romance, not scheming palace intrigue. The hero adores the heroine and is even a little lovesick. If that's not your thing, please move along, and don't leave a bad review over it. The heroine rises from a junior consort to a favored consort, Crown Princess, and Empress. The hero is a crown prince at first and becomes emperor later.] Su Niannian has landed in a male-lead-centric novel! Her new identity is Su Ling, the 30.2kReads9.4Score2.9kShelves
41. 91 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
42. 92 农 A Peasant Girl's Survival Guide to the Harem 农女后宫生存手札 Under the Southeast Bridge东南桥下Ancient Romance623k WordsCompleted (Just started ranking, so the numbers will rise) [Transmigration to ancient times x System x do-nothing heroine x halfheartedly lying flat x progression fantasy] Chen Wei, a college student, transmigrates into Chen Fenglian, a palace maiden born to a poor family of ordinary farmers with no money or influence. After entering the palace, she must survive and find a way to advance under the pressure of high-ranking noblewomen. In the end, unable to lie flat completely yet unwilling to work herself 3.2kReads8.4Score288Shelves

    Reader note

    She truly rose through the ranks from humble beginnings as a peasant girl.

43. 93 后 A Harem Cultivator’s Chronicle: From Lady-in-Waiting to Empress 后宫修仙记：从采女到女帝 Yu Fahua玉法华Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Lowly Palace Lady to Divine Dynasty Empress | Ancient Bloodline Heir + Palace Intrigue and Immortal Path] [The heroine puts herself first, but the story includes childbirth. If that's not for you, please don't read.] Yu Ying is the last, distant descendant of the Yu clan, one of the eight ancient surnames. Her bloodline is faint and her talents mediocre, leaving her with no chance of pursuing immortality. To seize even the slimmest opportunity at eternal life, she resolutely enters the imperia 571Reads8.7Score105Shelves
44. 94 风 Willows in the Wind 风中柳 Yu Ling雨泠Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Ruthless heroine➕female-lead power fantasy➕light ensemble-style palace intrigue➕face-slapping and scum-bashing➕primarily focused on building her career] (Female lead is a virgin; male lead is not) Jiang Fu, the Jiang family’s fifteen-year-old illegitimate daughter, was lovely and graceful. Unfortunately, her stepmother was cruel and her father was heartless. As an illegitimate daughter, she had no say even in the marriage that mattered most to a woman. Her family could manipulate her as they p 2.1kReads8.8Score293Shelves

    Reader note

    Selected for the palace, the heroine, with her intelligent lover to whom she pinned her hopes, dared not disobey her mother's orders and could only reluctantly make her a concubine. Her cruel and unkind stepmother even planned to send her to an old man older than her father as a concubine. How could she accept this? Jiang Fu sneered: "Since I'm going to be a concubine anyway, why don't I be the emperor's concubine!" In the third year of Renping, through Jiang Fu's meticulous scheming, she finally became a selected concubine from the local area. From a lowly concubine's daughter to ascending to the highest throne of power in the harem, no one knew how difficult her path had been.

45. 95 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

    Reader note

    Needless to say, these three books feature truly amazing female protagonists who are clear-headed and intelligent. Everyone in them is incredibly capable, and there's no forced brainwashing. You simply can't stop reading them once you start.

46. 96 她 She Just Wants to Take It Easy, So Why Does Everyone Keep Pushing Her to Work Harder? 她想当咸鱼，怎么总有人逼她卷啊 Schrodinger's Cat Food Can桑代克的猫咪罐头Ancient Romance255k WordsCompleted Obsessive love + sweet romance + healing + happy ending Huo Miantang only knew that she had transmigrated into a book. She planned to keep her head down, do nothing, and lie low until the story ended. Then her father gave her a mission: return to the capital and ask the Crown Prince for military funds. The Crown Prince? He was the gloomy powerhouse in the original story. Who was she to dare question His Highness? Still, for the soldiers stationed in Xirong to get their pay and return home, she h 39Reads7.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I was left wanting more after reading it. The author's writing style is very smooth. I hope there will be a side story about the female lead and the crown prince's lazy life after marriage!

47. 97 庶 My Half-Sister Wants to Enter the Palace? I'll Become a Noble Consort Instead 庶妹要选秀？我反手进宫当贵妃 Hanging Pearl珠悬Ancient Romance154k WordsOngoing [Reborn] [Household Intrigue in the First Half] [Palace Intrigue] [A Touch of Ensemble Female Cast] What should a reborn, cannon-fodder legitimate daughter do in a household full of schemes? Lian Yingxing sighed. She had never expected that after dying young in her previous life and making a wish on her deathbed, she would really get to live another life. But why was it nothing like she'd imagined? Poisoned by her stepmother, then pushed by her stepsister and killed in a fall? Lian Yingxing decl 3Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is quite cute! I'm going to use this novel I'm currently following to overcome any reading slumps! The female lead is a fairly clear-headed character, and it's a rebirth story (but it's an ancient person transmigrating into an ancient person). What I really like is that, in a harem novel, the female lead has her own agenda—using the emperor as a tool for revenge. The interactions between the female lead and the emperor are also quite interesting; you can tell the author put a lot of effort into writing their little interactions. (Even the design aspects are well-written.) Currently, the novel has 60,000 words. The first ten or so chapters are about domestic intrigue. The author is a beginner; initially, the writing was smooth, but she liked to write about various characters and plots. Later, the palace intrigue section suddenly improved, showing she put a lot of effort into writing this. I rarely follow novels with short word counts, but she updates so frequently—a minimum of 4,000 words a day, sometimes reaching 6,000. I heard the author had conjunctivitis and tenosynovitis while writing, and her recent updates are still around 4,000 words, without any word cuts.

48. 98 娘 The Consort Is Pregnant, and the Emperor's Lineage Is Saved 娘娘有孕，皇帝香火续上了 Bai Linran百林然Ancient Romance1.7M WordsOngoing Stunning Heroine + Mutual First Love + System-Assisted Childbearing + Satisfying Palace Intrigue + Quick Transmigration + No Fixed Couple Meng Wenyao dies in her sleep and unexpectedly obtains a childbearing System. By completing childbirth missions, she can extend her lifespan. World One: The Emperor Who Cannot Perform (Mutual First Love) During the struggle for the throne, the emperor injures himself with icy water to protect his life. When he sees women throwing themselves at him like hung 683Reads8.8Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Entering the palace to vie for the emperor's favor inevitably involves having children, so almost all characters end up having children. The first book has a touch of humor. 🔥🔥

49. 99 谁 What Kind of Concubine Bears Four Sons and a Daughter, Then Becomes a Noble Consort? 谁家通房生四儿一女，还当贵妃啊 Autumn Is Long秋很长Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + One-on-one romance + Many children + Sweet romance + Inner- and imperial-palace intrigue] In the fortieth year of the Xihe era, Lüqing became a concubine-in-waiting to Prince Jin. She knew full well that she had to earn Prince Jin's favor and give birth to a child as soon as possible if she wanted to secure her place in the prince's household. For eight years, she contended with the other women in the inner court, using every means at her disposal to 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves
50. 100 步 Scheming for the Emperor's Heart at Every Turn! Her Majesty Climbs to the Top 步步谋帝王心！娘娘一路扶摇直上 Ming Family Charcoal Fire明家炭火Ancient Romance315k WordsCompleted (Not a pure romance with only one partner, palace intrigue, favored from the middle onward, and doted on exclusively in the ending) Wen Jing Tan went from a heaven-blessed darling to a confiscated palace slave, and had long since had enough of being beaten and cursed at. One day, she was framed and, by a twist of fate, sent to the emperor's side. From then on, she swore to become The Outcast, second only to one and above all others. She wanted His Majesty's favor, and her family to flourish! The 673Reads8.2Score107Shelves

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