Looking for a Smart, Rational Political Intrigue Novel 求正常的高智商权谋文

1. 151 拒 After Refusing to Redeem My Reputation, the Cultivation World Became Obsessed with Me 拒绝洗白后，修真界对我搞崇拜 Hua Mumu椛木木Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [A satisfying takedown of trash men + no misunderstandings or substitute-lover tropes + an incredibly cool heroine later on + a classic coming-of-age story + no System!] In her previous life, she was betrayed by a scumbag, treated unfairly by her master, and hated by her fellow disciples, who called her a fake, a hypocrite. In the end, she was thrown into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons and barely survived! Reborn into a new life, Su Lengyan decides to cut ties with everyone. She trains hard 17.5kReads9.3Score1.8kShelves
2. 152 南 Southern Song, Northern Center 南宋北中 Zhong Hong仲弘Historical1.1M WordsCompleted From the start, two strangers who accidentally ended up together transmigrate with their bare bottoms exposed, covering themselves with leaves before getting stung in their most sensitive spots by hairy caterpillars. No System, no golden finger. They mainly rely on what they've learned online to make their way in the world, and the story wins on plot alone. Humorous and funny, with an emphasis on realism. 1.5kReads8.5Score137Shelves

   Reader note

   No system, no cheat codes, they start out as two naked guys, even trying to cover themselves with leaves, only to get stung by stinging caterpillars 😄. They rely entirely on their wits and courage, and hard work to survive. Two male leads, two female leads, humorous and funny, with a winding plot, striving for realism.

3. 153 我 I’m Not a Mutant Beast 我不是异兽 Li Jingyu丽静雨Urban1.6M WordsOngoing Mystery and imagination + high-martial world + the supernatural... Monstrous Beasts: An elite minority in this world. They aren't human, but they have always lived among us, and they're hard to distinguish from ordinary people. The Heavenly Dao Bureau: An organization of Monstrous Beasts and the true rulers of the world. They rule with cruelty so subtle it goes unnoticed, and even prey on humans. A penniless nobody who doesn't know who he is receives a fortune from the Heavenly Dao Bureau. Overc 1.4kReads9.3Score118Shelves

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   I recommend this book; you can take a look.

4. 154 外 The Illegitimate Daughter 外室女 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance808k WordsCompleted Before she transmigrated, Shen Yi had lived through one hardship after another. Then she was reborn as a baby into a happy family. What could be more carefree? She never imagined it was all a lie. Her father’s love for her mother was fake, and so was the marriage contract he gave her. He had merely come to the Duke’s household to experience life, while Shen Yi, her brother, and her mother were just byproducts of that experience. That would have been bad enough, but her scumbag father also had a 7.8kReads9.3Score851Shelves
5. 155 沉 The Sinking Carp Startles the Cattails 沉鲤惊蒲 Seven Inkstones七砚书Mystery442k WordsOngoing He calculated that today was “a day to avoid people in red.” Chi Jingpu immediately pulled out his red undershirt. “You’ve been standing there in a red undershirt this whole time, and now you’re telling me to avoid people in red?” Scientific-minded constable × Feng Shui master × little princess lost in the human world Hilarious mystery romance, one-on-one pairing, both leads pure and devoted, incredibly sweet 335Reads—Score—Shelves
6. 156 王 The Prince Offered Himself to Her, and She Took Him Up on It 王爷以身相许，她要了 Seven Inkstones七砚书57k WordsCompleted The Prince Offered Himself to Her, and She Accepted 228Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 157 侯 My Lord, Your Dog Can't Come In! 侯爷，您的狗不能进！ Seven Inkstones七砚书Ancient Romance40k WordsCompleted My Lord, Your Dog Can't Come In! 229Reads—Score—Shelves
8. 158 锦 Splendid Colors of the Embroidered Robe 锦衣卿色 The Lazy Cat Who Plants Trees种树的懒猫Ancient Romance707k WordsOngoing A composed young female commander VS a cold-tongued Eastern Depot Vice Commissioner She is the first woman to become a Commander of the Embroidered Guard. Still young, she enters the imperial court and faces endless doubts. On her first day back in the capital after taking up her post, she crushes a rebellion jointly plotted by the capital’s secret police and the Embroidered Guard, leaving the entire court red-faced. But the clues that emerge from the case send a chill down her spine: Corrupt of 10Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   "Intelligent Schemes Online" features a female lead who is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and a male lead who is the commander of the Eastern Depot. Amidst the extreme power struggle between the guards and the depot, feelings secretly begin to blossom.

9. 159 大 Old Friends Amid the Mountains and Rivers of Great Zhou 大周之山河故人 Don't Steal the Fox's Milk Tea不准抢狐狸奶茶Historical128k WordsCompleted The internet’s number one power-struggle tragedy. In this life, Crown Prince Song Yu claws his way up from the bottom to the very peak of power, where he meets the only moonlight to shine into his abyss: Crown Princess Shen Lingyi. But as an emperor, he is destined to expand his borders, reform the bureaucracy, and make enemies of the entire scholar-official class. He gives her all his tenderness, while unleashing all his brutality, obsession, and loss of control upon her. She becomes the vessel 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Recommended by a 10-year veteran reader of high-quality historical fiction. This is my first book, written by myself. I used to write on Qidian (a Chinese online literature platform), but it was banned due to online literature censorship. I was too lazy to revise it, so I stopped writing for seven or eight years before starting again. Because I hadn't written for so many years, my writing skills were poor, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to handle it well, so I used AI to write it. I created the entire setting, main plot, and outline myself. The AI helped me write the first draft, and then I polished it. The male protagonist is a pure political machine. This book has a harem and some historical romance elements, but most of it is about political struggle. The male protagonist doesn't have any special abilities or know how to make gunpowder; he simply becomes a prince from an ordinary person, is taught by the emperor how to be a qualified emperor, and then uses his perspective and vision to reform, expand territory, and conquer other countries. The male protagonist has some romance in the early stages, but becomes purely a political machine in the middle stages.

10. 160 穿 Reborn as an Abandoned Consort, I Go Viral Raising My Child on Livestream 穿成弃妃后，我靠直播养崽爆红了 Bai Zihang白子杭Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted Shen Li transmigrates into the body of a cast-off concubine and starts a livestream with her adorable little one and a livestream System. She sets up a barbecue and scallion-pancake stall in a ruined temple, then turns her fortunes around with delicious food. Her sweet little one brings in the money, and livestream gifts can be exchanged for supplies. The cold-faced prince watches from the shadows, and even when his poison flares up, he is drawn in by the fragrant food. Her livestream goes viral —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Having just transmigrated into the body of a discarded concubine, she was forced to raise her child via livestream. Bound to a livestreaming system, her every move was watched by the entire capital! She abandoned her former life to cook, opened shops, and built a business empire; her son became the nation's darling. When the cold-faced prince regretted his actions and began his "wife-chasing" spree, she was already at the pinnacle of power. Shen Li raised an eyebrow: "Now, I love the world."

11. 161 爱 Love and Hate, All for Nothing 爱恨莫须有 End of the Ninth Month玖月尾Ancient Romance126k WordsOngoing [Love and Hate Intertwined] [Plot Twists] [Power Games Without a Golden Finger] [A Fresh Take on Transmigration] [Ensemble of Female Characters] [Male Lead Falls for Her on His Own] [Sweet and Satisfying] Jiang Ci'en wakes up to find herself reborn as the third daughter of the Minister of Rites, bound by a power-struggle System to an outrageous mission. But she soon realizes: Everyone in the imperial palace is treating her like a pawn. She won't sit around and wait for her fate! After rejecting —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Listen to me, everyone! This novel is simply divine! It has all the elements: time travel, palace intrigue, political maneuvering, and subverting tropes. Not only is the female lead career-oriented and not love-obsessed, but the male lead's self-conquest is incredibly captivating, and the plot twists are so numerous they'll make your jaw drop. You absolutely won't regret reading it!

12. 162 只 I Was Just Trying to Make an Honest Living, but the Entire Internet Thinks I'm a Big Shot 只是安稳谋生，却被全网当成大佬 Ham and Cauliflower火腿拌菜花Urban110k WordsCompleted One night shift. I saved an old man, who turned out to be an academician and insisted on kneeling to take me as his master. I picked out a vase, and it turned out to be worth three million. I say I’m just an ordinary person. The whole internet: “Stop pretending.” I ask them to leave me alone. The whole internet: “He’s freaking out.” Big shots from every walk of life crowd around my door, begging for advice, and the whole internet thinks I’m a big shot too. I just wanted to work a night s 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Everyone's guessing the male lead's identity! Neighbors deny the rumors, the boss tries to keep him, and internet celebrities block the door—the more they dig, the more unfathomable he seems!

13. 163 悔 I Broke Off Our Engagement When He Was Poor, but Now He's a Powerful Official Who Keeps Me as His Darling 悔婚穷书生他成权臣囚我做掌中娇 Yan Jingzhen盐景珍Ancient Romance873k WordsOngoing Historical fiction History seen through a young couple’s love and heartbreak The Xining and Yuanfeng Reforms of the Northern Song Dynasty, the fall of the Northern Song + the history of Zhejiang celadon (Yue kiln to Longquan kiln) 1. The New Policies among the people (the Song-Jiao war) 2. The Yun case in Dengzhou 3. Infighting among supporters of the New Policies (the Zhang Ruoji case in Xiuzhou) 4. The Chen Shiru case (the Yuanfeng reforms) 5. Su Shi’s poetry case at the Crow Terrace 6. Longqu 31Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's probably a political intrigue novel disguised as a romance.

14. 164 靠 Mr. Reliable Opens Pandora's Box with His Own Hands 靠谱先生，亲手打开潘多拉魔盒 Liang Ziyuan梁子渊Sci-Fi & Apocalypse528k WordsCompleted [Poor or rich, we’ll plunder the West and make the Dragon Kingdom prosperous. Modern city + technology + strategic alliances = a powerful nation and military.] On April 1, 2024, a call came in to the Meritorious Honors Awards Committee. “Hello, this is the Meritorious Honors Awards Committee.” “Hello! If I can restore our national borders to their shape during the Republic of China era, like a begonia leaf in autumn, could I be nominated for the Republic Medal?” “Uh, sir... this... uh... hmm... 273Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is the story of a Chinese entrepreneur and scientist who, by entering the game himself, is leveraging global influence to achieve a "red miracle"—the recapture of lost territory and the monumental feat of creating the "Autumn Leaves and Begonias Map."

15. 165 女 The Female General Treads the Starry River 女将踏星河 Cold Night, Long Light寒夜长照Ancient Romance103k WordsOngoing [A passionate, loyal puppy of a man VS a cold-faced, iron-blooded woman general] [He pursues, she flees, but she can't escape] [Female disguise + undercover intrigue + he's utterly devoted] Qi Zhuyin is the youngest silver-spear general in Da'an. In three years, she has reclaimed thirteen cities, decisive and merciless, cold-faced and iron-blooded. To bring down an enemy kingdom, she fakes her death, changes her face, disguises herself as a man, and infiltrates Dajin, becoming the mysterious lea 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is an absolutely high-IQ political strategy book.

16. 166 荆 The Wind Rises in Jingdu, Awaiting the Coming Rain 荆都风来待雨临 Rain Falls on Jingdu雨落荆都Historical1.9M WordsOngoing Overnight, a young blacksmith from a shop in Shengang becomes the last surviving grandson of a powerful family of scholars, whose influence once reached the highest halls of government. A pigeon’s whistle marks the way home, and old books conceal a conspiracy. With a nameless sword in hand, carrying his grandfather’s hopes and his adoptive father’s instructions, he steps into the turbulent world of Jingdu. The Shanfu Academy, deep within the Imperial College, is no ordinary place of learning. It 105Reads8.7Score125Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a must-read! A true masterpiece of ancient Chinese political intrigue! A thrilling tale of court intrigue and the martial world!

17. 167 为 I Betrayed Them Early for the Conquest Game 为了攻略游戏所以提前跳反了 Big Bai Bai Bai大白白白Sci-Fi & Apocalypse512k WordsOngoing [Cyberpunk + Group Transmigration + Supernatural Powers + No Romance] Lin Qi received an invitation to beta-test the latest full-dive game, Cyberpunk 3003. But after entering the game, he discovered that it was a real world. Beneath the glittering neon lay an abyss of sin, where mechanical ascension coexisted with the remaking of flesh. Beneath the flood of technology lurked bizarre creatures, supernatural awakenings, the resurrection of ancient gods, and danger at every turn. With the main ques 63Reads9.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I haven't read many serious political intrigue novels, but I can recommend a few that feature intelligent characters with strategic thinking. The first one features a protagonist who truly embodies the meaning of an undercover agent, working as a double agent between a corporation and an organization in another world. Both sides believe the protagonist is one of them, but in reality, the protagonist is a player from the first world (the two worlds are also adversaries). However, the protagonist isn't entirely on the same page as the other players, and his special identity must be kept secret, even from his family, because his background seems to hold a secret… In short, I think this book should be renamed "I Isolated the Whole World." (The low rating is because relatively few people have read it.) The second one, which I haven't finished yet, is a dual-protagonist novel about a father and son navigating the political arena; this one could be considered a political intrigue novel. The third one, to be honest, seems to plagiarize Fei Lu's "I Hid the Whole World," but it's worth checking out; Fei Lu has already updated it to over a thousand chapters. The protagonist is a master of deception, starting with cheating on the college entrance exam, embarking on a path of wits and courage against the police and other criminal investigators. While on the run, he also solves a case along the way, maintaining high intelligence throughout with constant plot twists.

18. 168 官 Reborn: The Honest Confession of an Official 官路之重生坦白局 Never Said It不曾说Urban1.2M WordsCompleted An accident gave Zhang Hao a new lease on life, giving him the chance to rewrite the years of mediocrity and helplessness behind him. With the advantage of knowing what lies ahead, watch as Zhang Hao plans every move and secures victory from afar. A dragon may lie hidden in a pool, but when the winds and clouds gather, it will soar into the heavens. 12kReads9.3Score958Shelves
19. 169 魂 Awakening of the Soul: The Song of the Rift War 魂觉醒之裂合战歌 Treading on Flowers踏花郞Historical163k WordsCompleted On the eighth day of the ninth month, in the autumn of the late Tang, chrysanthemums bloom and all other flowers wither. The setting sun drips blood, smoke from the beacon fires blots out the sky, and horses trample the cracked earth amid utter chaos. Everywhere, blades flash and refugees roam... A down-and-out young man with nowhere else to turn seeks refuge with a fellow townsman, hoping to make something of himself. Instead, he stumbles straight into his enemies' den and nearly loses his life 211Reads9.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    No amount of political maneuvering can compare to his roar as he crawls out of a pile of corpses, fighting not for his own life, but for the lives of ordinary people… Despite the constant thrills and dangers, it's a captivating and exhilarating watch! 👍

20. 170 月 Dreams Beneath the Moon in Huazhou 月落梦华州 Wu Tinglan梧听澜Ancient Romance374k WordsOngoing Don’t worry about the rating. [Desert Romance + Powerful Leads Who Save Each Other + Ensemble Political Intrigue + Hilarious Love Triangle] After a sudden raid by bandits, Gong Langyue, a princess of the Xiao Kingdom, is taken captive in the desert. Everyone assumes this delicate young woman from the Southern Dynasty won’t survive the winter. But she not only survives, she thrives, and even turns a group of women stranded on the grasslands into her own team. She may not be skilled in combat, 171Reads8.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not mindless pampering, nor is it love at first sight. The male lead is an emperor, the chosen one, while the female lead pretends to be weak to survive. The tension between them is incredibly engaging.

21. 171 我 Me, the Greatest Master of Deception 我，最强骗术大师 Rampaging Bun暴走包子Urban557k WordsCompleted Nothing is too difficult for him. Especially when you realize you've been had: by then, you've already lost. That's what people always say whenever Su Zhe comes up. He has turned the art of deception into a true art form. Perhaps it would be more fitting to call it magic. "I believe in him completely. He's the only one who can give me hope." Everyone whose life has ever been touched by Su Zhe has always believed this. —Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 172 宁 Ning Jinge 宁烬歌 Calm as Ever冷静如斯Ancient Romance697k WordsOngoing [Female commander × top-tier spy and assassin | Two equally matched leads | Court intrigue and the martial world | Standing together in troubled times | Devoted 1v1 romance] The sweeping scale of a male-oriented story, with the emotional depth of a female-oriented one. Fast-paced and tightly plotted, with no filler or dragging. The political intrigue is logical, and long-laid clues are brought back into play. A serious world with lighthearted, hilarious everyday moments, and an incredibly sweet 379Reads8.5Score103Shelves

    Reader note

    "It was you... Who killed me..."... I've already read 130 chapters of this book, it's super good! 👍👍👍👍

23. 173 双 A Blood-Soaked Reckoning: Twin Sisters Return for Vengeance 【血色满门】双生姐妹踏血归来 Xiao Xiao Ran Zi萧萧然子Ancient Romance601k WordsOngoing An entire family of loyal officials is framed, and a century-old marquis’s estate is turned into a living hell. Twin sisters plunge from a cliff into the water, surviving against all odds. Once cherished young ladies who lived behind closed doors, they now tread a thorny path through the world. One struggles to survive on a sheer cliff, honing her edge; the other wanders in a foreign land, maneuvering at every turn. The court is rife with deceit and schemes, while the martial world flashes with 1.9kReads6.6Score209Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend "[Bloodstained Family] The Twin Sisters Return Amidst Bloodshed!" It perfectly matches your needs! The female protagonists are incredibly intelligent. Having suffered the horrific massacre of their entire families in their past lives, they are reborn knowing the adage "the tallest tree catches the most wind," and are adept at concealing their talents and avoiding confrontation. The twin sisters join forces, one patiently plotting, the other ruthlessly decisive, in a series of intricate political maneuvering involving a forced marriage. The writing is superb, and the atmosphere of ancient Chinese society is immersive. A high-quality political intrigue novel—readers looking for something to read, give it a shot!

24. 174 恶 The Wicked Sister Turns Over a New Leaf, Finds Treasure in the Mountains, and Fills Her Granary with Grain! 恶姐洗白，上山捡钱暴富粮满仓！ Nian Yangyan念洋嫣Ancient Romance663k WordsCompleted The animated series is now available, and the audiobook has been released. [Farm life, mountain foraging, mostly everyday life, growth-oriented System, no romance, satisfying power fantasy.] After Su Yun dies, she transmigrates to the Kingdom of Ling. The moment she opens her eyes, she’s become the village deadbeat who never pays his debts. The poor folk only came to ask for the money they were owed, but the original owner had cursed them out instead. Her father is dead, her mother is ill, 10.6kReads8.4Score412Shelves

    Reader note

    Bloodstained Door | Twin sisters return amidst bloodshed! A family is destroyed, a blood feud rages, and the two female protagonists join forces to seek revenge. Substitute marriage trickery, The grudges and feuds of the martial arts world are intertwined. Each chapter contains foreshadowing. The two sisters are reborn from the brink of death and plot their revenge against their enemies step by step. The story is fast-paced and full of high-energy moments. If you like historical romance novels with strong female protagonists seeking revenge, you must read this one!

25. 175 欲 Ascend to the Ninth Heaven 欲上云霄九重天 Reading Ink, Listening to the Wind读墨听风Historical2.5M WordsOngoing A coral pendant engraved with a fire phoenix emblem draws Qi Ming, a destitute youth who lives on credit at a teahouse in Tianque City, into a shocking secret plot sweeping across four kingdoms. The moment the iron hooves of the Longxiang Army smash through the door, he still has no idea that the token his parents left him is the “key” that can overturn the world. The grand machinations governing the realm have barged into his life without warning. From a tide of Gu poison in a dungeon to a pack 571Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It would be a real shame to miss this book. Set in an alternate Eastern history, it features political intrigue, palace intrigue, large-scale wars, and a grand narrative of the world. It's an epic historical epic. There are numerous characters, but each one is distinct and memorable; there are virtually no stereotypical figures. The depiction of human nature and the human heart is incredibly nuanced.

26. 176 江 Smoke of War Across a Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains 江山万里狼烟 The Sea Eagle Flies海鹰飞Historical2.0M WordsCompleted The Blood-Drinker Blade leaves its sheath, and flames of war engulf the land! At the end of the prosperous Tang dynasty, regional warlords carved up the realm, and the Central Plains were locked in a fierce struggle for supremacy. Watch me enlist in the army and rise from an unknown foot soldier to commander of Later Tang, armed with a spear in hand and a blade at my waist. From the surprise attack at Yindi Pass to the ambush at Yangchang Slope and the blood-soaked walls of Zezhou, I used the st 3.2kReads8.5Score309Shelves

    Reader note

    See for yourself...

27. 177 何 Who Will Walk Beside Me Through the Night? 何人伴我夜间行 Raindrops Falling on the Eaves水滴落在屋檐上Ancient Romance880k WordsOngoing [Courtly schemes + wits and courage + fictional late Qing setting] Would you call her a ruthless, calculating schemer, or a refined young lady, educated and well-mannered? The unforgettable steward Jiao swears brotherhood with twelve heroes and establishes a stronghold. Hardship breeds hardship, but a chance encounter with spring can transform a fish into a dragon. Why did “Ji Liuniang” cast aside the “Liu” in her name, and what carried her to success? A shrewd and far-sighted minister of the co 7Reads7.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A fictional setting set in the late Qing Dynasty! Court intrigue, noble conflicts, and youth martial arts competitions – the plot is fast-paced and engaging, packed with action and excitement!

28. 178 医 The Fragrance of Medicine Around Your Heart 医香绕君心 The Wine Beggar of Xishan Camp西山大营的酒丐Ancient Romance581k WordsCompleted Transmigration + Divine Doctor + Succession Struggle. Lin Wan, a modern doctor, transmigrates to the Tang dynasty during the Zhenguan era and becomes a renowned physician. From the streets to the imperial palace, from Jishi Hall to the Imperial Medical Academy, she gets caught up in the struggle over who will inherit the throne... 8Reads9.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Time travel, divine doctor, succession struggle, political intrigue—give me some encouragement, thank you so much!

29. 179 国 A Fallen Kingdom, a Peach Blossom Misstep 国破山河•桃花错 Raindrops Falling on the Eaves水滴落在屋檐上Modern Romance22k WordsCompleted A Fallen Kingdom, a Shattered Landscape, and a Peach Blossom Mistake 8Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 180 三 Three Years of Marriage, One Letter of Divorce Ends It All in the Capital 三年婚姻，一纸休书断京华 Raindrops Falling on the Eaves水滴落在屋檐上Ancient Romance8k WordsCompleted Three Years of Marriage, One Divorce Decree Shatters the Capital 464Reads—Score103Shelves
31. 181 帝 The Art of Imperial Politics: The Jiajing Era 帝王心术：嘉靖时代 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Historical227k WordsCompleted This novel offers a profound look at Jiajing’s transformation from an energetic reformer into an emperor obsessed with Daoism. Daoist priests such as Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen used mysticism to manipulate his inner world; Yan Song and his son won favor with Daoist prayers and monopolized power for twenty years; Xu Jie bided his time before finally bringing down the treacherous ministers; and Hai Rui risked his life to submit a memorial condemning the ills of the age. Together, these vivid ch 1.2kReads6.9Score109Shelves

    Reader note

    The pinnacle of political intrigue...

32. 182 钢 Steel and Sunflower 钢与葵 Ripples of a Dream梦的涟漪Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsOngoing This is a serious, dark-toned epic fantasy set on an imaginary continent. It features multiple protagonists, intricately interwoven plotlines, and a profound world. Its many elements include historical realism, political intrigue, steampunk, Cthulhu, mystery, and character growth. It is a slow burn, but never drags. Welcome to a world that belongs to no heroes. Here, pure light does not triumph over darkness. Instead, faith and fate clash in a bloody struggle. Supernatural powers are not blessin 271Reads9.2Score239Shelves

    Reader note

    A high-IQ fantasy novel, the novel has reached a very high level in terms of writing style, character portrayal and the depth of thought.

33. 183 轻 Where Does the Light Boat Go? 轻舟何岸 Plain Colors, Chilly素彩寒Ancient Romance271k WordsCompleted Are the four princes of Rui Kingdom really going to marry four common women from Chan Kingdom? Could it be because every woman in Chan Kingdom is beautiful and fertile? She has the talent to be a chancellor in a matriarchal kingdom, yet marries the “intellectually disabled” prince of a patriarchal kingdom, entering the marriage as a spy under the pretense of a political union. He is a prince with exceptional intelligence who hides his true self. But even after he regains his true self, is that r 16Reads—Score—Shelves
34. 184 唐 An Lushan, Rebel Minister of the Tang Dynasty 唐朝叛臣安禄山 Shu Yao Jiu舒窈纠Historical842k WordsCompleted He was an obscure Hu tribesman from Yingzhou, born into lowly circumstances and tossed about by the chaos of the age from childhood. With patience, ruthless resolve, and fluency in six languages, he clawed his way up from the bottom, surviving as a trader at the frontier markets. Amid the blood and steel of the northern borderlands, he fought his way onto the road to power. People saw only his belly hanging down past his knees and his affable, foolish air, how he fawned over everyone he met and 1.8kReads8.8Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    "An Lushan, the Traitor of the Tang Dynasty" is written with exquisite detail and penetrating insight, vividly depicting An Lushan's life of triumph and reversal of fortune in different environments.

35. 185 恶 The Villainess Is Reborn: The All-Powerful Princess Awakens 恶毒女配重生：权倾公主她觉醒了 Miaomiao Qinghe渺渺清和Ancient Romance126k WordsOngoing A Reborn Pretend Princess Seizes Power, While a War God Prince Secretly Protects Her Two formidable leads, with serious palace intrigue! In her previous life, Xiao Huafeng was the emperor's only legitimate younger sister in name. She devoted herself to advancing the Zheng family's cause and plotting to seize the realm, dutifully serving Empress Dowager Zheng and protecting her cousin from the Zheng family, which only incurred the emperor's displeasure. Su Lulu, a woman who had transmigrated, app —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A political intrigue novel, without much explicit romance! The female lead is a reborn princess, and the male lead is a war god prince. The female lead has strong moral principles! She has multiple identities! She's intelligent! The story revolves around strategic maneuvering and vying for the throne! It has a grand scope!

36. 186 太 The Empress Dowager Is Reborn: The Ninth Lord’s Beloved Miracle Healer 太后重生：九爷的神医白月光 Beautiful Yaoyao美美的夭夭Ancient Romance233k WordsOngoing Before Empress Dowager Mu Qingyi died, what she couldn’t let go of most was not the empire, but the young man, Ji Chuanyan, who had once promised her “peace and prosperity year after year.” During a lunar eclipse, she opened her eyes and returned to the day she turned fifteen. The young man was still there in the front hall. He took her hand, passion burning in his eyes, yet said in a low voice, “You must enter the palace.” In her previous life, she did right by the empire, but let him down. In 182Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Very good.

37. 187 人 Rising Through the Ranks of Officialdom! 人在官场：步步攀升！ Brothers of the Heavenly Emperor天帝兄弟Urban1.4M WordsCompleted Lin Feng was too honest, so his career never advanced. His wife, Zhang Meina, left him for money. Faced with a woman's betrayal and the indifference of friends and family, Lin Feng finally saw the harsh realities of society for what they were. Then, unexpectedly, a major opportunity came his way: Secretary Huang transferred him to Xincheng County to serve as the county Party committee secretary. 625Reads8.8Score181Shelves

    Reader note

    I studied it carefully! Absolutely a classic.

38. 188 穿 I Transmigrated to the Tyrannical Qin: Chen Sheng Led Me in Rebellion 穿越暴秦：陈胜带我起义 Gu Tianshu穀天黍Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Are kings and nobles born to their station? The protagonist transmigrates into the brutal Qin dynasty and rises in rebellion alongside Chen Sheng, in an age ruled by harsh officials. Facing divisions between sworn brothers and the relentless turning wheels of history, he plots and schemes to save the brothers who stood together when their oath was first made. Where will he lead them from here...? 327Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Intelligent and quick-witted, yet not mindless despite lacking a system, they engage in power struggles and intrigue.

39. 189 大 A Literary Youth in the Han Dynasty 大汉文艺青年 Last Night I Saw Your Post昨夜见君帖Historical1.6M WordsOngoing [History] [Alternate World] [Transmigration] [Witty and Humorous] [Multiple Heroines] Fan Li, a rogue who runs a bar, undergoes Transmigration into ancient times. One poem stuns the literary world, and one song brings listeners to tears. From his initial, desperate flight to making his first splash at a grand literary gathering; from showing off his divine prowess at Chongli Terrace to fighting bloody battles in a lone northern fortress, the rascal laughs and curses his way through it all. In t 5.1kReads7.8Score379Shelves

    Reader note

    It's great! The main character is definitely intelligent! So addictive! 👍👍👍

40. 190 问 Ask Me How I Can 问君何能 Astonishing888叹为观止888Historical550k WordsCompleted [Golden finger + intense mind games + court intrigue + sweet romance and satisfying payback + plenty of twists] A young man is beaten by a thug and unexpectedly gains the ability to read minds through heavenly ears. A beggar turns his fortunes around and rises to become a prince of the court. Power struggles and battles for the throne unfold one after another. Everyone is a pawn, yet everyone is caught up in the game. Who has the greater foresight and cunning? The princess by his side, the prime 34Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A masterpiece of political intrigue, set in a chaotic post-Tang Dynasty world where everyone is a player and everyone is caught in the game, only to have their entire family wiped out right from the start!

41. 191 荒 A Dream of Flowers on the Wasteland 荒原百花梦 Flower Child Redheart花童红心Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted The space-time universe, the Ark of Heaven, the Interstellar Alliance, the illusory realm: what kind of existence is the world we live in? From the ancient age of gods and demons, through the classical age of wandering heroes, to the modern age of technology, and finally the future age of artificial intelligence, the history of intelligent civilization seems to be a cycle... Will artificial life ever develop independent consciousness, gain a soul and intelligence, and ultimately replace intellig 23Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A high-IQ strategy novel with sound values, beautiful writing, a captivating and intricate plot, and rich and exciting content.

42. 192 从 From Frontier Army Officer to Conquering the World 从边军校尉开始征战天下 Seven Blades七刃Historical1.4M WordsOngoing Modern-day office drone Qin Chuan transmigrates to the Great Zhou Dynasty, only to find himself from the start a low-ranking officer at Tianxiong Pass! With barbarian cavalry pounding at the border from without and court intrigue framing him from within, he has no System or golden finger, only a modern mindset and a ruthless, iron-blooded streak. Others say a border officer is a pawn with nowhere to go, but he is determined to make his move, break through the frontier, purge treacherous official 2.2kReads6.7Score138Shelves

    Reader note

    Alternate history, no system, no cheat codes, just power struggles and intrigue!

43. 193 天 Turbulent Waves Rise at the Heavenly Gate 天阙起惊澜 Dreaming of the Divine Stream梦入神溪Eastern Fantasy573k WordsCompleted Fate surges like a river of stars. Some drift with the current and become dust; others fight against it and turn into blades. The rise and fall of a dynasty over eight hundred years was already ordained when the first drop of blood seeped into the earth’s veins. When court intrigue rips the sky apart, the bones of heroes and tyrants alike will become the foundation of a new world. 18Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Traditional fantasy, court infighting

44. 194 禾 Autumn Passes Over Jing Mountain 禾过璟山秋 Apricot At Ease杏闲闲Ancient Romance242k WordsOngoing [Modern siblings transmigrate together + two equally matched political players + nation-building + imaginative historical romance + devoted couples with happy endings] After a car accident, modern siblings Rui He and Rui Zheng both transmigrate into a political intrigue novel, only to find themselves bound to a doomed, unfinished story set in a chaotic age. In the original, Emperor Murong Jing is isolated and outmatched, hemmed in by powerful aristocratic families and ministers, as well as the a 92Reads—Score538Shelves

    Reader note

    There is a romantic pairing, but the female lead is very intelligent and avoids any major pitfalls.

45. 195 尘 Dust Mountain 尘埃山 Bystander Joe旁观路人甲Historical1.4M WordsCompleted This story follows ordinary people struggling to survive through the long, chaotic ninety years of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It portrays how a group of common folk make their way in life, far from the halls of power, with no special advantages or extraordinary encounters. Like specks of dust drifting through time, they endure the weight of the years, unnoticed and unheard. 365Reads8.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Learned it][Already want it][Added to my bookshelf][I also highly recommend it][Currently working on a manuscript][Sparrow's masterpiece][Attention]!

46. 196 攀 Climbing the Ranks of Power 攀登官峰 Wen Hai Shi Bei文海十贝Modern Romance132k WordsCompleted Xu Lu never imagined that an ordinary woman could climb the ranks in small but steady steps simply by being beautiful, and even help her husband get promoted along the way. She enjoys all kinds of privileges and takes in the boundless vistas from the summit of officialdom... 39Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Here it comes! Here it comes!

47. 197 天 The Dragon and Phoenix of Destiny 天命龙凤 Let's Eat Hot Pot吃火锅呀Ancient Romance475k WordsCompleted [Serious drama + ensemble cast + court and martial world + love of country and family + female lead with a golden finger] The author is terrible at writing blurbs, sorry! If you enjoy this kind of story, feel free to give it a try. To save her life, Lu Wan does everything she can to send Yao Qian to the northern frontier. Sixteen years later, Emperor Li Yunshan summons the Third Prince, Li Tian, who has lived in the northern frontier, back to the capital. Rumors spread throughout the city that H 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Self-recommendation, with a focus on national and familial sentiments.

48. 198 猎 So What If I'm a Hunter's Daughter? I'm Not Becoming a Princess Consort 猎户的女儿又怎样，王妃还不当了 Rou Rou Isn't Gentle柔柔不温柔Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted Bai Muyao is a modern surgeon from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Since traditional Chinese medicine lagged behind Western medicine, her grandfather had her study Western medicine so she could combine the two: use Western medicine when traditional methods failed, and traditional medicine when Western treatments could not restore a patient’s health. With her mastery of both traditions and her exceptional medical skills, she once failed to save a car-crash victim. The fami 3kReads7.5Score320Shelves
49. 199 我 I Hunt Down Transmigrators in Ancient China 我在古代抓捕穿越者 Evergreen Greens长青菜菜Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted The protagonist, Long Chen, transmigrates into an ancient world. But it turns out that world is full of transmigrators. They belong to many different factions. Long Chen, himself a transmigrator, receives a mission: eliminate every other transmigrator. … 3.3kReads—Score149Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend reading this book.

50. 200 公 The Princess Becomes a Servant, and the Mad Regent Locks Her Up with Bloodshot Eyes 公主为婢，疯批摄政王红眼囚她 Wenxin Ruoshui文心若水Ancient Romance784k WordsCompleted [Mutual Firsts] [Power Struggles] [Taking by Force] [Rivalry for Love] [Love and Hate] [Resilient, Cool Beauty and Unhinged Prince Regent] She was the princess of Nanzhao, but through a twist of fate, she ended up living among ordinary people. Eight years ago, Xiao Nanyan, the regent of Tianqi, happened to pass through Nanzhao. He rescued her and brought her back to his residence, where he raised her as a deathsworn guard. With beauty that could topple kingdoms, she was still only a servant, and 3.1kReads9.2Score322Shelves

    Reader note

    All three of these books are excellent at depicting political intrigue; they're my favorite genres. The first and third are by the same author. In the second book, the protagonist starts as a minor official, gradually rises through the ranks of power through intrigue, uses multiple identities, and eventually becomes the emperor.

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