Looking for Harem-Intrigue Novels: No Love for the Emperor, Just Palace Scheming 求宫斗文，不爱皇帝，只宫斗

1. 1 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 3.6kReads9.3Score427Shelves

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   I won't say much else, but these two are really gorgeous, especially the second one, I absolutely love it.

2. 2 娘 The Consort Is Coy and Alluring, and Has Her Sights Set on the Throne 娘娘又茶又媚，一心只想上位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Alternate history + pure palace intrigue + clear-eyed heroine who doesn’t love the emperor] Su Qingyao looks like a delicate beauty, but she is more clear-headed than anyone. In the imperial harem, all she wants is power. Before the emperor, she is the picture of understanding. “Your Majesty is my only support.” “With Your Majesty by my side, I have nothing to fear.” But what she is really thinking is: Thank goodness she made plans long ago. The man before her is the least reliable person of al 168Reads7.2Score—Shelves
3. 3 人 In the Imperial Harem, My Goal Is to Become the Empress Dowager 人在后宫，目标太后 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance358k WordsCompleted # Palace intrigue is out of the question. I'll eat snacks, watch the drama, and have children, that's the plan # Cui Xuejian transmigrated into the past and became a low-ranking palace consort. Powerful figures towered over her, while a few insignificant nobodies clawed at her feet. With things like this, why bother with palace intrigue? Better to just give up and coast! Cui Xuejian believed that as long as she kept out of trouble, no monsters, demons, or other ghoulish creatures would come afte 1.7kReads9.2Score138Shelves

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   The female protagonist didn't fall in love with the emperor, and even wanted to assassinate him so that her son could ascend the throne.

4. 4 非 An Unconventional Palace Intrigue 非传统宫斗 Known in the Jianghu as the Thorny Rose江湖人称带刺玫瑰Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted Imperial selection from the start / Pure palace intrigue with a touch of household intrigue / Ensemble cast / Realistic style [Pure palace intrigue begins after chapter 20] Not the emperor’s sole favorite / Not a virgin couple / No romance pairing [The emperor is a scumbag with the power of life and death. The first few chapters establish his character and contain potentially uncomfortable scenes. If that bothers you, skip to chapter 20.] Everyone is caught up in palace intrigue. The consorts an 2kReads8.3Score227Shelves

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   This is a must-see! It's pure palace intrigue, very realistic, and everyone is very down-to-earth. It's an ensemble piece where everyone is caught up in palace drama!

5. 5 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

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   This one is pure palace intrigue! The emperor eventually falls in love with the female lead, but she never loves him until his death. After giving birth to a prince who inherits the throne, the female lead goes on her own travels.

6. 6 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 87.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

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   😎A female-centric, satisfying novel~High-IQ palace intrigue~Tight plot, intricately linked, full of deceit and treachery! Song Zhao, a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, rises from a lowly concubine to the Empress. Consort Chen is the one who loves Xiao Jingheng the most, but unfortunately, Xiao Jingheng doesn't understand her sharp tongue and soft heart. In the end, they only feel disappointment looking at each other. 🥺

7. 7 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

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   This is the original story. The female lead is extremely cunning and has no feelings for the emperor. She rises to power through palace intrigue and has a high rating. I recommend watching it; you definitely won't regret it. (Note: The female lead is quite scheming. If you don't like scheming, please avoid this story. This also applies to those who prefer virginity.)

8. 8 女 After the Supporting Ladies Are Reborn, the Empress Goes on a Killing Spree 女配扎堆重生后，娘娘她杀疯了 Yu Jiuzhao御九昭Ancient Romance235k WordsCompleted (This was my first book. Don't read it, it's not good.) Murong Zhao had always been the sort of woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her aims. Calling her ruthless would be putting it mildly. In her previous life, she misjudged people and was betrayed by her imperial brother when her kingdom fell. After many twists and turns, she ended up spending the rest of her life in the Laundry Bureau. In this life, huh, the villainess is reborn? You're telling me someone like me was the villainess? M 5Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The female protagonist only uses others, not loves them; she has no feelings for men, and her swordplay is divine. She loves nothing but power and the desire to win.

9. 9 穿 Transmigrate: The Wild Consort Spoils Her Husband Without Restraint 穿越之：狂妃宠夫无度 March Heiress三月千金Ancient Romance618k WordsCompleted She was the most formidable ace military doctor. During a mission, she and her enemy killed each other, and she never expected to transmigrate to the Nanhe Dynasty. He is the most favored prince in the Nanhe Dynasty, yet his own princess consort can’t stand him. Before she becomes the other her: “I don’t want to be your princess consort. He Chenyi, stay away from me. I hate you.” After she becomes the other her: “You there! You’re bullying my husband right in front of me. Did you ask for my perm 7.1kReads9.4Score1kShelves

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   This book is really good. Friends who see it should add it to their bookshelves and check it out. I finished reading it today and am looking forward to the author's new works. I periodically check the author's name for new books. I plan to reread this one.

10. 10 宜 Yi Xiu Is Reborn: Driving Her White Lotus Half-Sister Mad Ninety-Nine Times 宜修重生：逼疯白莲嫡姐九十九次 Fat Cat Eats Three Bowls at a Sitting肥猫一顿吃三碗Female-Channel Fanfiction626k WordsCompleted Villainous heroine ⭐ Cunning palace intrigue ⭐ No pampered romance! Empress Yixiu was reborn a year before her elder sister entered the household. The first thing she saw when she woke was Fourth Master tenderly holding her hand. He said, “Xiao Yi, once you give birth to a boy, the position of principal wife will be yours!” Yixiu sneered. Did he think she didn't know what would happen next? Now that she had a second chance at life, she would never hand over her position as principal wife or her 1.6kReads9.1Score130Shelves

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    📖All set against the backdrop of "Empresses in the Palace"🌰An Lingrong is reborn back to the day of the imperial concubine selection. She knows the emperor never loved her. In this life, she only wants her mother to live a good life and for herself to climb to the highest position.🌰Sister Cao is reborn, back to before the imperial concubine selection. In her previous life, the emperor and empress dowager poisoned her under the guise of ruthlessness. In this life, she first pretends to be virtuous and kind, slowly climbing to the rank of concubine, and finally letting the blood test reveal her true identity, thus obtaining the throne of empress dowager. Cat head takes you through the palace intrigue🐱

11. 11 知 An Lingrong Is Reborn Knowing How It All Ends 知道大结局的安陵容重生后 Gather Wood, Grow a Forest拾木成林Female-Channel Fanfiction195k WordsCompleted With the words, “Consort Li has passed away,” An Lingrong’s tragic, hopeless life as a puppet came to an end. But those who take their own lives cannot move on. She watched helplessly as Zhen Huan and Ye Lanyi joined forces to poison the Emperor, putting the Fourth Prince, a son born to a servant, on the throne. After a lifetime spent under other people’s control, how could she accept that? When she opened her eyes again, it was just after the selection of consorts. With the advantage of knowing 30Reads9.2Score—Shelves
12. 12 曹 Cao Qinmo Reborn: Slaughtering Her Way Through the Harem 曹琴默重生后杀穿后宫 Fat Cat Eats Three Bowls at a Sitting肥猫一顿吃三碗Female-Channel Fanfiction296k WordsCompleted [A Catmao Production]: Two wicked women team up + renounce love + high-IQ palace intrigue Cao Qinmo, a concubine who died in the struggle for power in the imperial harem, opened her eyes and found herself reborn. This time, she would find a good ally and protect her daughter! 81Reads9.4Score—Shelves
13. 13 安 An Lingrong Reborn: The Glorious Consort He 安陵容重生之和妃荣华 Pumpkin Doesn't Work Overtime南瓜不加班Female-Channel Fanfiction219k WordsOngoing (Content warning: Both leads are reborn. The male lead is the historical Yongzheng Emperor. No dragon slaying. Don’t read if you dislike this!!!) An Lingrong is reborn and discovers that she has become Suochuoluo Lingrong, the daughter of a concubine in the powerful Manchu Suochuoluo clan. Before long, an imperial decree from Kangxi betroths her to the current Prince Yong, Yinzhen. Now she enters the prince’s household with all the glory her status affords. Her birth mother, Lin Xiu, is a favore 22Reads6.2Score—Shelves
14. 14 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

    Reader note

    The female lead is always very rational and clear-headed, and she doesn't love the emperor.

15. 15 宫 A Heart Caged Behind Palace Walls: Consort Yuan Is Promoted Again 宫墙锁心宠，元妃娘娘又晋位了 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted No one is completely devoted to one person in the early part of the story, so don’t read if that’s a dealbreaker. The emperor is a scoundrel at first, but utterly doting later. More sweet than angsty. [Palace intrigue and rising to power + many children + absolute favor + climbing to the top one step at a time] Su Zhitang, the daughter of a general, enters the palace as a beauty after the selection. Her father is already a second-rank official, so she only wants to heed her mother’s advice, keep 607Reads9.0Score101Shelves

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

16. 16 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 291Reads8.9Score—Shelves
17. 17 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! 137Reads8.4Score—Shelves
18. 18 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

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    Warning: The female lead gave the emperor a beauty pill, keeps a grudge notebook, dislikes her own children, and considers them parasites.

19. 19 娘 The Empress Doesn't Want Palace Intrigue, but the Emperor Keeps Stirring Things Up 娘娘不想宫斗，奈何皇上带节奏 Geng Jiujiu耿啾啾Ancient Romance652k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, Palace Intrigue, Political Scheming, Not Both Pure, Absurd Comedy, Devoted Love Later On] Shen Jinruo transmigrated into the body of a low-ranking concubine who had no favor from the emperor. Having lost her freedom, she’d planned to keep her head down and quietly build up her strength. But she soon discovered that in this harem, even if you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will find you. To survive, Shen Jinruo worked hard to adapt and officially joined the harem’s struggl 2.2kReads8.9Score222Shelves

    Reader note

    A time-traveling palace intrigue story, featuring a non-pure female protagonist who is sane and a wise investment.

20. 20 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 7.7kReads9.0Score763Shelves
21. 21 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves
22. 22 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves
23. 23 清 The Tale of Empress Tong Jia of the Qing Palace 清宫之佟佳皇后传 Yan Xiwan言西晚Ancient Romance278k WordsOngoing Also known as The Empress’s Professionalism: A Half-Day “Elder Sister, are you getting married?” “No, that’s called entering the palace.” Tongjia Qingyue was a woman who served as empress for just one day. She was known as the shortest-lived empress in Qing history: Empress Xiaoyiren. She was the niece of Empress Dowager Cihe, mother of Emperor Kangxi, the daughter of Imperial Uncle Tong Guowei, and Kangxi’s own cousin. She was Kangxi’s third empress, as well as his last. He never appointed anot 500Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Kangxi's Harem

24. 24 深 A Palace Peril: The Consort Wants Power 深宫劫：娘娘要上位 Fan Kui璠葵Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue ensemble + alternate setting + no transmigration or rebirth] The imperial palace is a stage, and everyone is putting on a show. Perform well, and you earn favor. Mess up, and anyone can walk all over you. Now that she has stepped onto the stage, she intends to become the star everyone applauds! (Reader beware: the pacing is slow, so don't start if that bothers you. The male lead is a scummy emperor, while the female lead only cares about her career. She will make a move against 122Reads5.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonists in these books are all clear-headed; they see favor as merely a means to climb the social ladder, and their deep affection is always betrayed. Only when they hold power can they live recklessly. In the first book, she eventually becomes an empress; in the second and third, she becomes an empress dowager.

25. 25 九 Ninefold Brocade 九重锦 Evening Breeze Under the Moon月下晚风Ancient Romance715k WordsCompleted Household and palace intrigue, with the leads not both being each other's first. A fictional setting, with all ranks and titles made up. A heroine who grows over time and isn't blinded by love. After being suppressed for more than a decade, a concubine-born daughter has her fate rearranged overnight. Entering the prince's manor only fuels her ambition. Her birth father ignores her, allowing her stepmother to torment her and her mother for half their lives without ever offering them the slightest 33.5kReads9.3Score5.8kShelves
26. 26 慌 Panic! After Giving Up, the Little Slacker Is Forced to Take the Throne 慌！摆烂后，小咸鱼她被迫登基了 Sleepy Cat猫沉沉Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted My mother, who always insisted on having her way, and Consort Zhang next door became pregnant at the same time. Consort Zhang gave birth to a big baby boy, so I became a “big baby boy” too. I spent eighteen years as a prince while pretending to be a boy. To keep my secret identity from being exposed, I usually kept a low profile. My brothers put on a “Nine Dragons Contesting for the Throne” to fight over succession, so I gave up and decided to coast through life. Who knew that when my father die 8.9kReads9.2Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Very good story synopsis: Story synopsis: Story synopsis:

27. 27 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

    Reader note

    The first book was unbelievably good; it was neither too angsty nor too bland, it was simply indescribable. The second book was also a palace intrigue novel, and the female lead's personality was quite memorable; it was a time-travel story. The third book was simply unforgettable; if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have known such a good book existed. These three books are not virgins! The first and second are completed novels. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

28. 28 卫 Wei Yanwan Returns to Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Ruyi, Step Aside 卫嬿婉回到如懿传，如懿请靠边站 The Master and the Master's Husband夫子和夫子夫Female-Channel Fanfiction562k WordsCompleted A gambling-addicted younger brother, a mother who drains her dry, a childhood sweetheart with no ambition, and her, bullied by the protagonists. Reborn on the day Wei Yanwan sends Yao Huang a peony. Jinzhong, wait for me to use the Emperor’s silver to support you. Warning: This story reflects only this novel’s point of view. 205Reads6.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Wei Yanwan loved her power-hungry gambling brother, her bloodsucking mother, her unambitious childhood sweetheart, and herself, who was bullied by the main characters. On the day she gave the peonies to her after her rebirth, Jinzhong said, "I'll use the Emperor's money to support you."

29. 29 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. 6kReads9.2Score853Shelves

    Reader note

    These stories are all very good, except for 4, 5, 9, Part II, 15, and 16, which are all completed.

30. 30 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 1.6kReads8.6Score177Shelves
31. 31 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
32. 32 朕 The Emperor Finds His Consort Alluring; I Find His Majesty a Jerk 朕见贵妃多妩媚，妾见皇上甚是渣 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance458k WordsCompleted [No transmigration or rebirth] [Pure palace intrigue] [The heroine never falls in love] Jinyue, the legitimate eldest daughter of a general's household, is chosen in a selection for the imperial harem. The Empress appoints her as a spy and marries her off to the Crown Prince as a secondary consort. The moment she enters the Eastern Palace, she understands that she and Zhongli Jin are bound only by mutual interest. There can never be the slightest affection between them. After sixteen years in th 2.5kReads9.0Score239Shelves
33. 33 将 The General's Legitimate Daughter: The Hot-Tempered Consort Is Not to Be Trifled With 将门嫡女：暴脾气贵妃不好惹 Lu Yueerwu陆月二五Ancient Romance936k WordsCompleted [Devoted Love in the Later Story + Adorable Baby + Powerful Hero and Heroine + Beloved Legitimate Daughter] [Hopelessly Devoted Foolish Emperor + Clear-Headed, Self-Controlled, Clever Noble Consort] Once you enter the palace, it’s as deep as the sea. Yu Jinghe is the most clear-eyed woman in the world. Noble Consort Yue, the most stylish woman in the harem, wins the emperor’s favor all to herself with her fiery temper. Sharp-tongued and quick to throw a punch, she’s practically the harem’s gangs 3.3kReads9.2Score300Shelves
34. 34 娘 The Empress Is So Charming, the Emperor Holds Her in the Palm of His Hand 娘娘多娇，帝王捧在掌心宠 Fox's Dream狐狸梦Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [The leads are not faithful to each other at the beginning, so read with caution] [Palace intrigue at first, favoritism in the middle, exclusive devotion in the later part] [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + a stunningly beautiful, charming consort x a workaholic, devoted emperor] Qu Wanning was a die-hard fan of palace-intrigue novels. Just because she left the author a comment asking them to continue the story, she transmigrated into a new book whose blurb she had just finished reading! She ge 2.7kReads8.8Score311Shelves
35. 35 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 4.1kReads9.2Score447Shelves
36. 36 靠EN Dominating the Harem by Bearing Children 靠生子称霸后宫 Wang Ziyun王梓芸Ancient Romance782k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Huameng's childhood sweetheart, the boy next door, betrayed her before their wedding. After watching him marry the daughter of a princess, she put on the bright red wedding dress she had spent two years embroidering and hanged herself. But her soul drifted through the world for twenty years after her death before she learned the truth: her childhood sweetheart had broken off their engagement after accidentally hearing that the childless emperor intended to adopt the princes 3.7kReads9.0Score471Shelves
37. 37 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
38. 38 从 From Palace Maiden to Empress Dowager: The Beloved Consort Rules the Realm 从秀女到太后：娇娇娘娘母仪天下 Holding the Wedding Candle秉花烛Ancient Romance693k WordsOngoing Jiang Wanzhen was merely the daughter of a minor sixth-rank official, forced by circumstance to enter the imperial harem. Luckily, the emperor was young and handsome, so he wasn't too hard to stomach. The women in the harem were all cunning schemers, but Jiang Wanzhen fought her way through every obstacle, tore down paper tigers, and took on the fake sweethearts. She nursed her best friend, had children, and before she knew it, she had risen from an insignificant low-ranking consort to the most 100Reads8.5Score—Shelves
39. 39 替 After Entering the Palace in Her Sister's Place, the Young Mistress Rises Through the Ranks 替姐入宫后，小主她一路高升 Zhizhi Rice Loves Zhizhi吱吱米喜欢吱吱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Strong Male Lead and Strong Female Lead + Favored Consort + Palace Intrigue + Adorable Baby + Sole Devotion + Childbirth] (The early story leans toward palace intrigue, with the heroine putting on an act and scheming against the hero. Later, their feelings erupt, and he devotes himself to her alone.) After transmigrating, she becomes an illegitimate daughter of the Su family. Her birth mother died young, her father shows her no affection, and her stepmother is cruel. A complete nobody at home, 2.9kReads9.0Score332Shelves
40. 40 妾 Your Delicate Concubine 妾身娇贵 You Zhi Yu尤知遇Ancient Romance598k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later + Political Intrigue + Feel-Good Revenge] Zhuang Wan always believed she would marry Prince Qin, the most talented man in the capital. They would be perfectly matched, and she would bear him children and build a happy life with him. But in a single night, the man she wanted to marry destroyed her family. After saving her, he gave her away to someone as a concubine. Huo Shixuan, son of Yangzhou’s richest man, was a troublemaker, a spoiled wastrel gone bad, and a hopele 2.1kReads9.1Score276Shelves

    Reader note

    The story is engaging and not too long, so it's worth recommending.

41. 41 清 The Noble Consort Rong’s Daily Life Raising Children in the Qing Court 清穿荣妃娘娘养娃日常 Silver Candles in Autumn Light银烛秋光Ancient Romance560k WordsOngoing (Qing dynasty transmigration + System + raising children + palace intrigue) Other people’s leveling-up strategy is to start with a bowl and scavenge everything else. She starts with nothing but herself, and has to give birth to everything else. Yunchu’s first assignment after transferring to the Qing Dynasty Transmigration Department is to have babies and raise children. 432Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This story is all about palace intrigue, not love for the emperor.

42. 42 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
43. 43 皇 The Emperor Fell for Her at First Sight: The Bewitching Consort Becomes Empress After Bearing Many Heirs 皇上一见钟情，尤物娘娘多胎封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance251k WordsCompleted [The emperor falls in love at first sight + the emperor begs the heroine to manage the harem + heroine with stellar acting skills + strong, intelligent heroine + lots of children] Whoever harms me, I’ll make them pay! Hua Yunchu loves only herself. The right way to deal with a man is to use up every last bit of his value. But the emperor wants to make Hua Yunchu a Noble Lady, while the empress’s throne sits empty. And he wants me to manage the harem, too? What is going on? I’d planned to coast o 2.6kReads9.1Score290Shelves
44. 44 灭 After the Crown Princess Conceives Twins, the Crown Prince Favors His Beloved Concubine and Makes Her Empress 灭太子妃怀双胎，太子宠娇妾封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance. Not a virginal couple! + Clear-headed heroine gradually grows stronger in palace intrigue + Twins + Winning the Crown Prince’s heart, aiming for the empress’s throne] An Ruyan clutched her book of Thirty-Six Stratagems and set out to win over the tyrannical Crown Prince!!! An Ruyan was rescued by Prince Yan when she was robbed while visiting a temple. She had long been in love with him, but an unexpected incident made her see what a scumbag he was. Determined to 2.3kReads8.9Score235Shelves
45. 45 尤 The Alluring Consort Climbs to the Phoenix Throne and Captures the Emperor's Heart at First Sight 尤物娘娘爬凤位，让皇上一见钟情 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance228k WordsCompleted [Devoted love + the emperor falls at first sight + palace intrigue and rising to power through favoritism + heroine’s acting skills + strong, clever heroine] Wen Shuyao loved only herself. Only losers loved men. Now that she had been granted the title of Attendant and ordered into the palace, she would make use of the emperor’s love at first sight. The emperor was merely a stepping stone for Wen Shuyao. It wouldn’t be hard to act like someone deeply in love with him. Wen Shuyao was the legitimat 5.1kReads9.0Score609Shelves
46. 46 东 The Eastern Palace's Pampered Concubine: The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife, and She Sets Her Sights on the Empress's Throne 东宫娇妾：太子宠妾灭妻目标后位 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Not a pure pairing, not a pure pairing [The prince’s concubine is not a pure pairing at first + she enters the palace soon after, and becomes his sole favorite after the palace struggles] [The heroine is clear-headed and career-minded, working her way up to the empress’s position] Since I’ve been granted the title of Worthy Lady, my goal should be the empress’s throne. The Crown Prince has been married for two years, but the Crown Princess has yet to bear him a child. The Empress personally choo 2.3kReads8.9Score197Shelves
47. 47 贵 The Noble Consort Rejects Love, Yet the Emperor Dotes on Her and Decrees Her Empress 贵妃不入爱河，皇上盛宠下旨封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [The leads aren't both chaste at first + he pampers her devotedly later + the emperor secretly helps her navigate palace intrigue + the heroine has no interest in loving the emperor and focuses on climbing the ranks.] Alternate-era setting [The emperor personally raises his future empress, then claims her in the night] The Yun family has a legitimate daughter, a peerless beauty hidden away in the general's manor. The prime minister's son came to propose, but didn't even get to see her. “I don't 1.5kReads9.1Score201Shelves
48. 48 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

    Reader note

    Very good. Character traits: The female leads are all very clear-headed, but it seems they fall in love with the male lead later on. They're probably not both virgins/clean characters. It's been too long since I've read this, so I've forgotten the plot.

49. 49 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
50. 50 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 118kReads9.5Score11.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Gaga doesn't love the emperor, she focuses on palace intrigue. Recommended by a six-year veteran reader, every female protagonist is intelligent, and I've read all of these books from cover to cover!

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