Can We Have Some Palace Intrigue Dramas That Aren't Set in the Qing Dynasty? 能不能不要清朝的宫斗剧啊

1. 1 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

   Time travel, reborn with wisdom, come on, let's fight! Whether it's Hua Zhi or Tang Bao, they time-traveled to ancient times, carving out a bloody path without affecting the ancient system.

2. 2 穿EN After Becoming the Villainess, I Clear My Name Every Day 穿成恶女后每天都在洗白 Gathering Vetch, Gathering Vetch采薇采薇Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Everyone’s Darling + Adorable Kids + Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy]: Transmigrating into a lovesick woman, Tang Zhuyun wakes up in the middle of a scene where she’s climbing into a man’s bed. She turns around and runs. Forget this bed, she’s not getting in! Who needs a man when her father is the top scholar, her brother is the top scholar, and even her son will be the top scholar? They’ll protect her, so she can do whatever she wants! As a master physician, she’ll focus on her career, save lives, and k 33.5kReads9.3Score4.7kShelves
3. 3 过 Too Irresistible 过分招惹 Green Tea绿茶茶Modern Romance204k WordsCompleted The night she entered the wrong room, he pinned her against the wall and kissed her hard. She struggled, but he gripped her wrists and growled, “I knew you first!” [Unhinged, sweet-faced beauty with a hidden dark side vs. roguishly handsome, doting husband, saving each other][Dark romance][Revenge][Satisfying read] 7Reads5.9Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Let's try it out, it'll be addictive!

4. 4 甜 The Sweetly Seductive Princess Has the Chaste Prince Falling for Her 甜诱王妃撩爆，禁欲王爷也要沦陷 Green Tea绿茶茶Ancient Romance269k WordsCompleted [Reborn + very sweet romance + pampering + flirting + lighthearted] In her previous life, Xu Qingcheng was manipulated into mistaking her enemy for her benefactor, and ultimately died far from home. Reborn on her wedding night, Xu Qingcheng knows she won’t mistake the wrong person this time. The lifesaving benefactor she has been searching for all along is actually her husband! Looking at the cold, distant man, she decides to go all in. She sways her waist, gives him a flirtatious glance, and pe 10.8kReads9.2Score880Shelves
5. 5 催 Urging the Empress to Have a Baby: The Female Lead Is an AI 催生皇后，当女主是个AI Go Eat a Giant Watermelon去你个大西瓜Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [AI Empress] [Ridiculous palace intrigue] [All about raising kids] “Empress Ai.” “I... am... here...” The woman's voice is stiff, each word spoken separately. An AI from the year 3026, seeking to prevent humanity from dying out, travels through a parallel timeline to... The year 1132, when human reproduction is at its peak, during the Great Ming Dynasty, known as the “Golden Age of the Great Ming.” She becomes Empress Ai of the Great Ming. The little AI's mission is simple: get people to have ch 412Reads9.1Score101Shelves

   Reader note

   These are two of my favorite books, but lately I've fallen even more in love with the second one—it's practically my absolute favorite!

6. 6 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 31.5kReads9.4Score3.7kShelves
7. 7 盼 Longing to Be a Widow 盼寡 Gathering Vetch, Gathering Vetch采薇采薇Ancient Romance581k WordsCompleted [Hilarious + adorable babies + ridiculous comedy] Princess Consort Mu, who's waiting to get promoted, get rich, and outlive her husband, asks the heavens in exasperation every day: When will the prince finally kick the bucket so I can rise to the top? Six years ago, at a palace banquet, Xie Jieyi was tricked into Mu Heng's bed and forced into marriage, only to be sent away on their wedding night. Six years later, Mu Heng is critically ill, and Xie Jieyi returns in triumph with their adorable twi 6.9kReads9.2Score991Shelves

   Reader note

   This isn't a Qing Dynasty drama; it's incredibly interesting, and the more you watch, the better it gets.

8. 8 心 His Beloved Frowns, and the Heir Apparent Rushes to Comfort Her 心尖宠她一皱眉，世子夫君追着哄 Shi Yiyuan十一源Ancient Romance321k WordsCompleted [One-on-One Romance, Both Pure, Sweet Romance, Childhood Sweethearts] Print edition of Jin Shi Jin Yu signed, and the comic adaptation is now online. Yuan Rongjin was the daughter of a general, but when she was young, her stepmother framed her and sent her away from the capital! Everyone thought she would suffer terribly out in the world and live a miserable life. But no one expected that during the ten years she spent away from the capital, Yuan Rongjin never looked the least bit down and out. 29.4kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves

   Reader note

   It's not set in the Qing Dynasty, but it's a sweet romance novel about palace intrigue and domestic power struggles.

9. 9 穿 I Became the Emperor’s Farmgirl Wife, and Now I’m the Favorite of the Six Palaces! 穿成皇帝农家发妻，我宠冠六宫！ The Lady Returns伊人归Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted She transmigrates into a peasant woman and discovers she is Wang Baozan. After five years of waiting in a humble cave, she becomes empress overnight! The underage consorts are far too competitive, while her newly successful emperor husband says one thing and does another. The ministers bow in reverence, the four seas sing her praises, and a peasant-woman craze sweeps through the capital… 769Reads9.0Score101Shelves

   Reader note

   None of them are set in the Qing Dynasty. Books 1 and 4 are 1v1 stories, while the others are pure palace intrigue. My favorites are the second and third books, and I'm sure everyone has read *Palace Wall Willow*. 🥺🥺

10. 10 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 7.1kReads9.1Score693Shelves
11. 11 宫 A Palace Maid’s Daily Struggles 宫女奋斗日常 Phantom Beneath the Moon月下幻影Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ling Huan has skin as smooth as ice and looks like a goddess, yet she has no interest in power and thinks only of leaving the palace. In the end, neither she nor her child meets a good end. Given another chance, her goal is to raise her child well and become Empress Dowager herself. A palace-intrigue story with a strong female lead. The heroine is ruthless and clever. A thoroughly satisfying read. 5.9kReads9.2Score846Shelves
12. 12 报 Your Majesty, the Tyrant Can Read Minds 报告娘娘，暴君他有读心术 Three Two Five三二五Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted After she touched the tyrant’s skull, which had been polished into a wine bowl, she unexpectedly transmigrated into the empress who died the most gruesome death in history. Every day, she plotted to kill the tyrant and become empress in her own right, unaware that he could read minds. When the tyrant fell gravely ill, she wept and begged Heaven to let her trade her own years of life for his safety. The tyrant was deeply moved, until he suddenly heard her thoughts: [If he’s so sick, hurry up and 6kReads9.3Score994Shelves
13. 13 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 12.3kReads9.5Score1.4kShelves
14. 14 宋 Empress of the Song Family: The Legend of Yuyao 宋家皇后——钰瑶传 Ling Songs by the River江上菱歌Ancient Romance486k WordsCompleted The leads are not each other’s first partners!!! The heroine is neither a naive innocent nor a particularly kind person!!! The emperor hero is a jerk!! Set in an alternate history!! This is not a feel-good story!!! She transmigrates straight into the role of empress. If she rises in rank, she becomes the empress dowager; if she fails, she is deposed and banished to the cold palace. That is the reality of the inner palace: failure leaves almost no chance to recover. A twenty-first-century fashion 585Reads9.0Score103Shelves
15. 15 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1kShelves
16. 16 带 Using a Phone in the Palace Intrigue 带着手机去宫斗 Mo Guiyiyi墨归一一Ancient Romance338k WordsCompleted “Your Majesty, Consort Liu says she’ll trade ten bolts of silk for two hours playing Honor of Kings.” “Noble Lady Zhang wants to borrow your device to watch Korean dramas, offering a hundred taels of gold.” “Consort Ling has refused to attend the emperor for days. She insists on falling in love with a fictional character...” With a mobile phone, do harem women still need to compete for the emperor’s favor? Take a phone into the harem battles, and you’ll win all the ladies over in no time. 78Reads8.1Score—Shelves
17. 17 进 I Entered the Palace as a Maid, but Bore the Crown Prince Twins 进宫当宫女，却给太子生下龙凤胎 Everything Goes Well万事皆宜Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ji Nianzhen entered the palace as a maid and was always perfectly obedient. She planned to keep her head down until she was allowed to leave the palace, but then she unexpectedly became the Crown Prince's concubine. To her surprise, luck kept coming her way, and she rose in rank while raising a child! But is being obedient really enough to survive in the palace? Even in this deep palace, she never forgot who she was. She kept her hands clean as she protected herself and her child. A kind heart a 1.6kReads8.6Score186Shelves
18. 18 开 From the Start in the Song Dynasty, the Emperor Discovers the Noble Consort Has a System 开局大宋，官家发现贵妃有系统 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance496k WordsCompleted Xue Dongyu transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking concubine in Emperor Renzong of Song's harem. The palace is blooming with flowers, but Xue Dongyu, saddled with a malfunctioning System, trembles alongside it until the old ghost Zhao Zhen arrives because of a System error. With one king and two useless sidekicks, Xue Dongyu lays the System's existence bare to the emperor. The emperor then takes it upon himself to help her achieve the title of most favored woman in the harem... P.S. The Sys 2.8kReads8.8Score249Shelves
19. 19 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 6.2kReads9.0Score527Shelves
20. 20 宫 Joy in the Palace: The Noble Consort Can Read Minds 宫中有喜：贵妃她有读心术 Qin Chu秦楚Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Gu Mianmian has a fiery temper and is not to be trifled with. She meets strength with strength, and after transmigrating into the imperial harem, she has mind-reading powers and no trouble fighting her way up. Only as he lay dying did Emperor Rong Xuan realize how ridiculous his life had been. The empress dowager, who had always shown him loving concern, could not wait for him to die so her own son could take his place. She had even personally fed him poison when he was little. And the women in 926Reads9.0Score103Shelves
21. 21 签 Sign-In System: I Don’t Want Palace Intrigue, I Want to Retire 签到系统：不想宫斗想养老 Ju Qiuci橘秋辞Ancient Romance243k WordsCompleted No romance. Short story, not a traditional power fantasy, and pure palace intrigue with no love story. Huaixi was an overworked office drone who never expected to die suddenly and transmigrate into the body of a consort who had been married into the palace in someone else’s place. Fortunately, she had a System to help her. Otherwise, she feared she wouldn’t have survived the first chapter. 77Reads6.5Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These are definitely worth checking out! 😏😏😏😏😏 (I'm the type who doesn't like reading spoilers, I wonder if there are any other brothers and sisters like me~ Feel free to jump into these books!) [Full]

22. 22 清 The Imperial Noble Consort’s Laid-Back Life in the Qing Dynasty 清穿皇贵妃的咸鱼日常 An Eraser一块橡皮擦Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Su Yin unexpectedly arrives in the Qing Dynasty and, by a twist of fate, ends up in the Fourth Prince’s residence. Knowing roughly how history is supposed to unfold, she chooses to keep a low profile to save her own skin. Who would have thought that one day, the Fourth Prince would overhear her secretly badmouthing him? The prince declares, “Very well. You’ve got my attention!” Su Yin denies it three times over: “It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it, don’t make things up.” 3kReads9.0Score262Shelves
23. 23 大 A Blessed Heir for the Ming Dynasty: The Empress Begs Every Day to Be Deposed 大明好孕：皇后娘娘她日日求被废 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted They are not mutually exclusive, and this book covers quite a lot of Ming dynasty history. Some details may not be accurate, so please bear with me. Thank you. Jing Shu transmigrated as Hu Shanxiang, the most useless empress in the Great Ming dynasty, and nearly fell apart. Sun was Zhu Zhanji’s childhood sweetheart. Jing Shu was at best a lucky charm her family had offered to the imperial household. How could she possibly compete with Sun? So, knowing how history would unfold, Jing Shu simply g 4.4kReads9.1Score290Shelves
24. 24 重 With My Reborn Son's High-Stakes Schemes, Becoming Empress Dowager Is No Dream 重生儿子手段高，晋升太后不是梦 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Fictional Imperial Harem Drama + No Romance + Giving Birth and Raising Kids + My Son Must Be Crown Prince + Ambitious + Clear-Eyed] Content warning: The romance isn’t mutually exclusive, she doesn’t love the male lead, and there are painful, heartbreaking parts. The male lead is a scumbag emperor. Song Yuyan was hooked on a palace-harem management game. She never expected to open her eyes and find she had transmigrated to ancient times. After keeping a low profile for three years, she entered t 3.6kReads9.3Score418Shelves
25. 25 听 Rumor Has It the Noble Consort Alone Enjoys the Emperor's Favor in the Deep Palace 听说贵妃在深宫独得圣上恩宠 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance568k WordsCompleted When they were young and love stirred in his heart, he took her in. Once he held power, he had no choice but to hide her away. In the lonely inner palace, she waited quietly, day after day and year after year. For power and status, he feared nothing. He overcame every obstacle and held her close. Behind layer upon layer of palace gates and red walls, a dream within a dream awakened the lovers from their reverie. 8.5kReads9.0Score555Shelves
26. 26 娇 The Crown Prince's Beloved Consort: His Darling Is Sweet and Adorable 娇宠贵妃：太子的心尖宠又娇又媚 Watermelon Tangyuan西瓜汤圆Ancient Romance783k WordsOngoing (Palace intrigue. Heads-up: The heroine isn’t the emperor’s sole favorite early on, but becomes his only favorite later.) Su Yu never imagined she’d transmigrate into a book and become one of the Crown Prince’s concubines. And not just any concubine: she has the lowest rank of all. In front, favored higher-ranking consorts are constantly causing trouble. Behind her, the seemingly kind but secretly ruthless Crown Princess plots against her. The conditions for survival are truly brutal. Su Yu thin 78Reads8.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue, even without two pure souls, is still palace intrigue.

27. 27 穿 I Became a Disgraced Consort, But That Night the Emperor Chose Me 穿成失宠贵妃，当晚就被翻绿头牌 Cherry Yo樱桃哟Ancient Romance584k WordsCompleted [Devoted couple + sweet romance] Just after inheriting her family fortune and preparing to enjoy life, Shen Yan somehow transmigrated into the body of a consort who was about to fall out of favor and die unjustly. Cursing her luck, Shen Yan quickly took up the System and launched a full-scale campaign to win the emperor's favor. The consort, usually arrogant and domineering, transformed into a considerate, bashful yet haughty beauty, all sweet and delicate. When her captivating catlike eyes fel 324Reads7.9Score—Shelves
28. 28 卿 My Beloved, Through Every Dawn and Dusk 卿是朝朝暮暮 Sugar-Roasted Little Deer糖炒小鹿Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted Shen Yunshu studied archaeology and had been working for just two years. She loved history, and her favorite dynasty was the Rong Dynasty. A few days ago, she had read an unofficial history of the Rong Dynasty's royal family. Little did she expect that after falling asleep, she would wake up in the Rong Dynasty, sent there by the heavens, as Shen Yunshu, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family of Prince Zhenbei's residence. She had transmigrated to her favorite dynasty and become a descendant 24.2kReads9.5Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist transmigrates, it's not a palace intrigue story, it's very sweet, the writing is excellent, and it's a good read. 🥰

29. 29 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 47.7kReads9.5Score6.1kShelves

    Reader note

    This is amazing! It's my absolute favorite palace intrigue novel. The female lead climbs up the ranks from a low position, and the male lead falls for her first. **Warning:** It's not a virgin story, but I personally prefer palace intrigue novels with non-virgin characters. If this bothers you, please stop reading! ✋🏻

30. 30 大 Empress Daqi: The Complete Collection 大奇皇后（全集） A Suo阿琐Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted The story follows a concubine-born daughter of the Chancellor, given to the Emperor as a gift. In a single night, she becomes Empress and wins the Emperor’s heart, leading him to empty the harem for her. 3.1kReads9.2Score457Shelves

    Reader note

    Neither book is set in the Qing Dynasty, and there's no time travel or reincarnation involved. The female lead in the first book starts as a concubine, while in the second, she begins as an empress. The male lead is not a virgin. Both leads are intelligent, the plot is clear, and it's not a mindless filler story.

31. 31 中 The Central Palace 中宫 A Suo阿琐Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted “You are a gift from Qiu Zhenyu to the throne, offered in exchange for his head. Did your father not tell you that you must obey me?” With a light flick of the jade-handled fan in his hand, Xiang Ye removed the empress’s phoenix robe. “Grandmother said the daughters of the Qiu family don’t need to obey.” Min’er looked up at the king who had come drenched in blood, not the slightest bit afraid. On their wedding night, the emperor slept in another woman’s arms. Yet his neglect, humiliation, and bu 2.7kReads8.8Score366Shelves
32. 32 穿 The Transmigrated Concubine: Flirting with Handsome Men in Ancient Times 穿越弃妃之我在古代撩美男 Laughing Through the Fruitful Martial World笑傲水果江湖Ancient Romance339k WordsCompleted The good news: Su Li transmigrated. The bad news: I became an abandoned consort in the cold palace of ancient times... What? You want to watch me wage serious palace intrigues? No, no, no, no, no... There are countless handsome men in this world. Who needs that old emperor? As a modern college student, I'm carefree and wild, and my only hobby is flirting with handsome men! Watch me take ancient times by storm, with every gorgeous man eating out of my hand... He is refined and elegant, with ext 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is truly excellent. The female protagonist, a time-traveling heroine, has no special abilities; she relies entirely on her own courage to venture into ancient times and embark on a journey to find love. This book breaks the curse that every time-traveling woman has to marry a prince, a high-ranking official, or an emperor. It's not a formulaic novel and is definitely worth reading. It's a fictional story, not set in the Qing Dynasty. Those who enjoy 1vN relationships should check this out.

33. 33 萧 Empress Xiao: Win the Emperor and Bear Him a Son 萧氏皇后：拿下皇上生皇子 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance516k WordsCompleted More children, more blessings. [The fiercest rise to power through palace intrigue + Winning the emperor's heart + Having all the children in the imperial palace + Having children nonstop] Every child who survives in the end is the heroine's. After breaking all ties with Prince Ling, she enters the palace. Two years go by, and she avoids the emperor's favor, wanting only to live out her life in peace. She never expected the empress's banner to sway in her direction and choose her. Xiao Wan'er kn 286Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! Absolutely amazing!

34. 34 锦 The Tale of Consort Jin: Put Down Your Blade, Your Majesty, I Can Still Kill 锦妃传：皇上刀放下，本宫还能杀 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance359k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she trusted the empress and helped her eliminate her enemies, only to be cast aside once she was no longer useful. In this life, she’ll hold on to the emperor and topple the empress. Consort? Noble Consort? If she’s going to be anything, she’ll be empress. Your Majesty, here I come! 139Reads8.4Score—Shelves
35. 35 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

    Reader note

    Highly recommend this book, it's really good! Rating: 5 stars

36. 36 系 The System Sends Me to Fight for Favor in the Palace 系统让我去宫斗 Drinking Winter饮冬Ancient Romance466k WordsCompleted The imperial harem of Great Qi is rife with undercurrents. Shi Yao, a woman from a minor family, enters the palace and rises swiftly, hoping to complete the System’s mission: win the Emperor’s heart. But somehow, every Emperor seems unable to hold onto the throne, and the mission target keeps changing… Shi Yao grits her teeth and steels herself. Fine, then. She’ll rule the world as a woman, and let the hens crow at dawn! 108Reads8.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    They're all fictional palace intrigue stories, right? The first one had some unexpected twists later on, and the second one was quite exciting.

37. 37 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
38. 38 春 Spring Banquet 春日宴 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance664k WordsCompleted She kept male favorites and toyed with powerful ministers! For eight years, the arrogant and tyrannical Princess Danyang, Li Huaiyu, wreaked havoc across the court and country. She died on the day the new emperor ascended the throne, bleeding from every orifice in a truly gruesome death. The officials celebrated and the people rejoiced: Evil gets what it deserves! Good riddance! Yet on the seventh day after her death, Princess Danyang returned to life in the body of the Bai family’s Fourth Mis 13.6kReads9.4Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    👍👍👍These are the most enjoyable and memorable romance novels I've ever read. They're the kind of books that kept me up all night reading even at my age.

39. 39 京 The Little Restaurant in the Capital 京城小饭馆 Mie Mie Sang咩咩桑Ancient Romance469k WordsCompleted Tender green bamboo shoots, fresh crucian carp sashimi, and Xindu mugwort Glossy green oil, fragrant scallions, refreshing wine, and slender, jade-white hands A little eatery has opened on East Street in the capital, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. And the owner is a girl of only fifteen or sixteen? Everyone who hears about it shakes their head and calls it foolishness. Isn't she just throwing her money away? The proprietress, Gu Nianxi, insists she doesn't care about makin 1kReads8.1Score147Shelves
40. 40 纨 The Spoiled Couple’s Mutual Admiration 纨绔夫妻互捧日常 Aconite on the Snow雪上一枝蒿Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted Su Yu'an is forced to marry Jiang Qiyun, the eldest son of the Marquis of Rongyang and the leader of Kyoto's four notorious young lords. Everyone in Kyoto waits for the two of them to make fools of themselves, but instead, they see a couple constantly praising each other. Jiang Qiyun: My wife is clever and brilliant. She brings good fortune to her husband and keeps our home safe! Su Yu'an: My husband is as handsome as a jade tree, shielding me from wind and rain! Kyoto's nobles: Are you talking 17.8kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves
41. 41 清 In the Qing Dynasty, Everyone’s Fighting Over the Princes, So I’ll Choose Kangxi 清穿，都在抢阿哥，那我选康熙 Xue Da雪大Ancient Romance390k WordsCompleted A master diviner transmigrates into the Qing Dynasty and becomes a plain, talentless concubine-born daughter whom neither her father nor her mother cares for. She enters the palace selection, and no one sees her as a rival. But when the selection ends and the imperial edict arrives, everyone is stunned: how did that little concubine-born girl end up with the highest rank among all the candidates? 9.1kReads8.6Score652Shelves

    Reader note

    These books are all quite good.

42. 42 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
43. 43 出 Don’t Be Afraid If Your Mother Died at Birth, Your Auntie Is Here 出生逝母不要怕，你的小姨妈来啦 Stir-Fried Long Beans with Pork长豆角炒肉Ancient Romance695k WordsOngoing [The rating is low because it was just posted. It'll go up later.] [Qing-era setting + System] Ning Yuhua opens her eyes to discover that she has become Hesheli Yuhua, the younger cousin of Empress Hesheli, Kangxi's beloved who died young. By this time, Empress Hesheli has passed away, and Yuhua is about to enter the palace carrying the hopes and glory of the Hesheli clan. She knows her place and her task: to protect and support Yinreng as he grows up. Since she can't leave, all she can do is st 676Reads8.1Score113Shelves
44. 44 成 I Became the Mother of His Child, and the Obsessive Kangxi Pulled Me In for a Kiss 成为孩儿他娘，被病态康熙拦腰吻 Wangshu Wangshu望舒望舒Ancient Romance273k WordsCompleted [Qing dynasty transmigration + yandere + reborn + childbirth + System + raising children + sweet romance] A woman from the apocalypse accidentally ends up in the Qing dynasty, becoming the mother of the historical Seventh Prince, who was lame. She wants nothing more than to live peacefully in the palace, raise her little one, and get a glimpse of Kangxi, the famous emperor of the Qing dynasty. A smooth-talking, scheming man × a sweet, charming Qing-era transmigrator After one night serving the e 2.7kReads5.9Score143Shelves
45. 45 清 Qing Transmigration: What! The Damn System Forces Her to Flirt With Men Every Day 清穿：惊！狗系统天天逼她撩汉 Yiya Who Doesn't Like Pork Fat不爱吃猪肥膘的伊亚Ancient Romance645k WordsCompleted The main story and all the extras are complete. Everyday romance, everyday career, and everyday married life. An alternate universe that follows some historical events and character details. The heroine is young at the beginning, and the hero’s status puts them in different social classes, so they have little contact at first. There’s plenty of palace intrigue. If that bothers you, this may not be for you. The pacing is slow, so consider yourself warned. Yinzhen never knew he could be raised in 168Reads6.6Score—Shelves
46. 46 清 A Qing Dynasty Crown Princess: Here I Come, Thesis! 清穿太子妃：论文，我来了！ Huan Ziyuan幻紫菀Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted The full novel is complete. For what happens next, see the short story on the author’s profile. It has chapter numbers you can pick up from~ [Alternate Qing Setting + Spirit Spring Pocket Dimension + Devoted Couple] P.S. Don’t compare this to real history! The novel differs from history in many ways! Don’t overanalyze it! The heroine gradually adjusts to life in the Qing dynasty rather than accepting it all at once. She’ll have some rough patches along the way, and some parts may be uncomfortabl 2.2kReads8.6Score158Shelves
47. 47 宫 Palace Intrigue Begins Before the Selection 宫斗从选秀前开始 A Cluster of Flowers一丛花令Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, she endured a life of hardship and instability. From the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an to a government courtesan available to any man, she finally escaped a life of being passed from one man to another, only to jump from the tiger’s jaws into the wolf’s den. She walked on eggshells at every step until she finally became the real power behind the prefect’s household. But the misery of her first half of life had already left her body broken beyond repair. Only o 7.8kReads9.0Score784Shelves

    Reader note

    It's all about palace intrigue, very entertaining.

48. 48 我 I’m Sweet and Well-Behaved, So Why Am I the Harem’s Only Favorite? 我又乖又美，独宠后宫怎么了？ Yi Jiu Lu宜久录Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance + Harem + No Angst] A lively, stunning beauty + a devastatingly handsome, love-struck good emperor. (He’s love-struck but knows right from wrong) (No cutthroat palace intrigue) (Not a devoted couple) (Fast-paced) (Heroine’s halo) Ji Wanqing transmigrates into the harem of the Emperor of Yan and becomes a low-ranking concubine. The moment she arrives, the arrogant Consort slaps her. The Consort is bad enough, and the Empress is no better, using her to stoke the Consort’s anger. Wit 4.1kReads9.2Score467Shelves
49. 49 宠 The Beloved Consort's Rise to Power 宠妃升职记 Qing Ling卿绫Ancient Romance399k WordsCompleted When faced with the selection, An Ruyi is merely a low-ranking daughter of a noble family. To avoid the marriage arranged by her legitimate mother, she has to choose between becoming another man's concubine and becoming the emperor's. Without hesitation, she chooses the latter. Backed by a golden finger in the form of a pocket dimension, she originally only wants to retire in the imperial palace. But even the harem is unsafe, and everyone can bully her. The emperor's favor only puts her in the s 2.8kReads8.9Score201Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not set in the Qing Dynasty. The female protagonist is a time traveler with a cheat ability: she has a spatial dimension with a well that allows her to cleanse her body and bones. She chooses to become the emperor's concubine over someone else's.

50. 50 宠 The Spoiled Concubine's Daily Death Wish 宠妾作死日常 Fine Dust Beneath the Moon月下微尘Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted You have to die once to realize what you’ve missed, especially in a back courtyard full of endless intrigue! Before the selection, Wanyan Wanxi was the apple of her family’s eye. After she was chosen and entered the imperial household, she remembered her mother’s teachings: respect the principal consort and tread carefully in everything. She never sought the limelight. But who could have guessed that this very respect and sense of propriety would lead to her downfall? Returning to the beginnin 3.6kReads8.8Score267Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all palace intrigue novels, not set in the Qing Dynasty. Feel free to check them out if you're interested.

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