Pure Palace Intrigue, with Cutthroat Scheming. The Female Lead Must Be Clever 纯纯宫斗文，斗得死去活来的那种。女主一定要聪明

1. 201 行 Late in the Day 行止晚 Zhi Er织尔Ancient Romance138k WordsCompleted [Devoted love + emperor and empress + tragic palace romance] 145,000 readers gave it top ratings, and countless readers cried their way through it! The year’s breakout historical romance, a heartache readers can’t forget. A clear-eyed, sweet empress VS a proud emperor whose love never wavers. Born into the imperial family, how can everything ever go as you wish? May we remain together forever, and may I keep you safe and at peace. A gentleman’s word is his bond. In a daze, I saw the moon rise. 25.7kReads9.6Score3.3k14d adds
2. 202 娘 One Tear from the Empress, and She Acts Her Way to the Emperor's Throne 娘娘一滴泪，演到帝王送凤位 Little Peeled Egg剥壳的小蛋蛋Ancient Romance589k WordsCompleted [Story complete; easy to get around] Shen Qingfu transmigrated into a rebirth novel. The reborn heroine, Chu Can, had grown up with the crown prince, Ning Xuanli, as his childhood sweetheart. Given a second chance at life, she wanted no love, only power and riches. To become the most special person in the crown prince’s heart, she played hard to get. She had schemes, but no feelings. Shen Qingfu was nothing more than the most insignificant cannon fodder in the rebirth novel. Shen Qingfu gave a s 303Reads9.1Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The female lead is an amazing actress; she's incredibly shrewd and calculating, yet she's not at all unlikeable. The male lead is also growing to like her more and more! [Kissing emoji]

3. 203 凤 The Phoenix Sings to the Ninth Heaven: Two Dragons Vie for the Phoenix 凤鸣九天：双龙争凰 Dai Yu代煜Ancient Romance267k WordsCompleted I am Shen Qinghuan, the youngest daughter of Shen Mingyuan, the prime minister of the dynasty. As for my family background, we’re among the most illustrious families in the capital. My father is the prime minister, an incorruptible official who grew up alongside His Majesty. My mother comes from a prominent family in Jiangnan and has a gentle disposition. She was also a gifted young woman in her day. My maternal grandfather was the former crown prince’s tutor, and his students are now found thr 10Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   This is a pure historical romance novel, neither time-travel nor reincarnation story. It features intense palace intrigue and both the male and female leads are intelligent and not driven by romance.

4. 204 华 Consort Hua Reborn: She Gives Up Love and Slays the Dragon at Once 华妃重生归来，放下情爱立刻屠龙 Three-Gold Darling三金大宝贝Female-Channel Fanfiction1.1M WordsOngoing (The pacing is fairly slow, and this isn’t a wish-fulfillment novel. The plot follows the TV adaptation gradually at first. Please be patient and keep reading, dear readers! The author is sensitive, so please don’t be mean if it’s not your cup of tea.) [The writing is serious at first, then turns lively and funny] Lighthearted and stress-relieving, so sit back and enjoy! Don’t pass by without giving it a try! Consort Hua is reborn and breaks free of her lovesick delusions, finally seeing Big Fa 23.7kReads9.2Score1.2k14d adds

   Reader note

   Humorous and witty with elements of palace intrigue

5. 205 为 Ten Years as a Consort 为妃十载 A Little Plum一枚小李子Ancient Romance224k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + ruthless, formidable female lead and unhinged villainess + no golden finger, no System] Dongfang Li has always been a femme fatale. “If someone hurts me once, I’ll make them pay a hundred or a thousand times over.” “If I were plain-looking, that would be one thing. But Heaven gave me a beauty unlike any other. Why shouldn’t I fight and seize what I want?” Dongfang Li is an unfavored daughter born to a concubine, so from the moment she enters the palace, she treads carefully, r 16Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Everyone's a villain, but their intellect prevails.

6. 206 穿 The Book Transmigrator Tears into the Reborn Woman, Even Ripping Out Her Hair Ornaments 穿书女手撕重生女，头花都扯掉了 Camellias and Wine茶花与酒Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted (Don’t worry about the rating. New books have few readers at first, but it will rise.) [A transmigrated woman takes on a reborn woman] [Fictional ancient setting, no need to nitpick] Gu Qingli transmigrated into a satisfying revenge novel about a woman reborn. She wasn’t the heroine, but the wicked supporting character who had killed her, and the first person the heroine would take revenge on after being reborn. Gu Qingli herself had been born into a political family. She was gentle, quiet, an 13.1kReads8.9Score1k14d adds

   Reader note

   A reborn woman versus a transmigrated woman. Full of scheming and intrigue. The female protagonist is a noblewoman from a prestigious family; her transmigrated schemes and methods are exceptional. She has been playing a game of chess for many years since her transmigration, stealing all the resources from the reborn woman in order to eliminate her.

7. 207 综 Film and TV Crossover: Empresses in the Palace: The Gentle Poisonous Woman 综影视甄嬛传：温柔毒妇 Sweet Candy卿卿奶糖Female-Channel Fanfiction598k WordsOngoing Transmigration + System golden finger + palace and household intrigue + childbirth A fanfiction based on the TV drama Empresses in the Palace. 1. Zhen’s Mother (transmigrates to before she was married) (Completed) 2. An Lingrong (A Poisonous Woman Never Walks Alone) (Completed) 3. Nian Shilan (Kangxi’s Beloved Empress of a Hundred Years) (Completed) 4. Shen Meizhuang (No One Makes It Out Alive) 5. Ying Noble Lady (A Game That Could Get Your Entire Clan Executed) 6. Huanbi (Endless Green Lotus Le 2.6kReads8.6Score11614d adds

   Reader note

   🍃The female lead is Zhen Ai's mother. During the imperial concubine selection, she encounters Rou Ze dancing. The female lead immediately causes Rou Ze to sprain her ankle so she can dance in her place. Rou Ze is then betrothed, and the female lead manipulates the situation so that Yin Zhen discovers her true identity. Yin Zhen realizes he has mistaken her for someone else, but since it was Rou Ze's "scheme," and the wedding is imminent, he cannot change his mind and is furious. Later, he kills Rou Ze, feigns deep affection, and then, during the selection, asks the emperor to grant them another marriage.

8. 208 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—14d adds

   Reader note

   The female lead is beautiful, cunning, and incredibly talented; she only cares about power and isn't driven by romance. There's a ton of palace intrigue, but her rebirth scenes are minimal and negligible. The supporting actresses are all fleshed-out characters with distinct personalities, not mindless plot devices. Even the emperor is quite ruthless.

9. 209 玉 Yu Wujiao 玉无娇 Cherry Red樱桃红Ancient Romance443k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue + clear-headed heroine + high intelligence and emotional intelligence + not an only-one relationship + no System or portable space + a heroine who grows over time (not a wish-fulfillment story), not blinded by love. After her parents and younger sister are brutally killed, Jiang Yuxin, daughter of a convicted minister, realizes that becoming a favored consort is the only way to change things. At nineteen, the emperor is at an age when he falls easily. He falls for one woman afte 272Reads8.8Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   I recommend this palace intrigue novel that I'm currently reading. It's really good. The characters are calm, clear-headed, and have clear goals, but it's not a wish-fulfillment story. The plot is well-developed, and the female lead isn't powerful from the start; she grows stronger step by step.

10. 210 宫 A Palace Maid’s Rise: Fighting Her Way to the Top 宫女逆袭路，一路斗到底 Only Du Kang Remains唯有杜康Ancient Romance330k WordsCompleted [Harem Warfare (They fight to the death, until the world is turned upside down) / Not Both Leads' First Love / Devoted Love Later On / Not a Strong Female Lead] A servant is lowly, a servant is base. To escape her fate, Lihua wants to use every advantage she can to claw her way up. What better advantage could there be than the ruler of the realm? See how a little palace maid, battered by fate, carves out an extraordinary path in life. Lihua never imagined that a lowly palace maid like her could 9Reads5.6Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This one.

11. 211 庶 The Concubine's Daughter Rises to the Top: I'm Determined to Be a Master-Level Green Tea! 庶女上位，满级绿茶我当定了！ Falling Leaves Drifting Away落叶飘零是Ancient Romance333k WordsCompleted [Palace and Household Intrigue + Clever, Satisfying Revenge + Strong Female Lead + Not Love-Brained + Scheming Against the Entire Harem] A minor official’s illegitimate daughter, her birth mother dead early, a father who lives off women, and a younger sister. Great, great. A disastrous start. Wen Qian’s eyes go dark. Can’t I just lie flat? Then a turn of fortune comes. Threatened into entering the palace, she catches the young emperor’s eye that very night and is summoned to his bed. Judging by 3Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Purely strategic scheming, with no two tactics being the same; highly recommended.

12. 212 成 What on Earth Is This? Complete in Two Volumes (The Original Novel Behind the Hit Drama Starring Wang Churan and Cheng Lei) 成何体统：全二册（王楚然、丞磊主演热播影视剧原著） Qi Yingjun七英俊Anime Fanfiction314k WordsCompleted What is it like to transmigrate into a web novel and become the tyrant's bedmate? After a few simple calculations, Yu Wanyin reached a conclusion: she would have to find another way. In this story full of villains, if she wanted to carve out a path to survival, she had to become the biggest villain of all. First, help the tyrant take down Prince Duan, then take down the tyrant and become empress herself. But when she met the tyrant and carefully considered the strange sense of familiarity in his 40.3kReads9.7Score6.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a very good book. It's a political intrigue story, not particularly palace drama, but the female lead is incredibly intelligent. The whole book is also very enjoyable.

13. 213 我 I Lie Flat on My Good Looks 我靠美貌躺平了 A Journey Through Mountains and Seas山海一程Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both are devoted only to each other + sweet romance + marriage first, love later + mutual devotion] That day in the peach grove, it wasn’t the wind that stirred, but the heart… Song Zhaoyue was born into the body of an unfavored concubine-born daughter of a marquis’s household. Her stepmother forced her to marry a playboy who drank, gambled, and visited brothels, so she turned around and entered the palace selection instead! Who could have guessed she would be granted in marriage to Prince Yan, 35kReads9.1Score4.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    Following the 10 books I just recommended, these are all books I've read and highly recommend.

14. 214 娇 So Pure and Innocent as a White Lotus, How Could She Be Scheming to Seduce Him? 娇娇纯净似白莲，怎会心机引诱？ Melon Egg瓜蛋Ancient Romance536k WordsCompleted [A femme fatale schemes for power, leading the hero step by step into ruin.] Jiang Yueyao is ruthless and destined to become empress. She first meets the emperor at a palace banquet. She is the most favored concubine of a minister, and after a palace consort publicly humiliates her, she drops to her knees and pleads for mercy, looking heartbreakingly beautiful beneath the dazzling palace lanterns. She meets the emperor for the second time in the study at her residence. Frantically fleeing her hu 3.9kReads9.0Score42514d adds

    Reader note

    The first book I'm reading is pure palace intrigue, all about sex and no real feelings. The female lead is cunning and uses everything she can. It's the first one I've read. It's all fake innocent characters with dark secrets. I've reread the rest, picked the best ones, and I still want more. 🤭

15. 215 甄 Empresses in the Palace: Jingbai Is Reborn as a Charming Nun Who Wants to Be Summoned 甄嬛传静白重生之俏尼姑要侍寝 Spring Order at Shanglin上林春令Female-Channel Fanfiction455k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jingbai helped Guarjia Wenyuan frame Zhen Huan and Wen Shichu for having an affair. Her tongue was cut out, and she was beaten to death. After dying, Jingbai’s vengeful spirit refused to dissipate. She wandered the imperial harem, unable to control where she went, as if pushed along by an unseen hand. From the emperor’s accession to the throne and the selection of consorts, she witnessed the lives of every woman in the harem. Reborn, watch as Jingbai rises from a humble nun 58Reads7.5Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Jingbai is reborn and enters the palace as a concubine. She wins over the original native concubines, making them fight each other, while she herself becomes madly infatuated with the Emperor. The Emperor, who initially paid more attention to Zhen Huan, finds himself increasingly fond of Jingbai after sleeping with her so many times. The character development in the original drama has also been significantly altered. Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang are at odds; Xia Dongchun is pregnant again; Consort Li is poisoned by the Empress; and Xiao Yunzi's ghost act is sabotaged by the female lead, who has An Xiaoniao's maid pull off his wig. Prince Guo is caught between Zhen Huan and An Lingrong, but he truly loves the late Empress Chun Yuan. Jianqiu likes the Emperor and even drugges the Empress to sleep with Pang Ju, eavesdropping at the door. Nian Gengyao wants to marry Meng Jingxian, but the Emperor bestows a marriage between him and Sun Miaoqing instead—hahaha!

16. 216 后 The Imperial Harem: The Story of Consort Qin 后宫：勤妃传 Liang Yebai梁夜白Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Chen Wenxin is lazy and loves good food. After transmigrating into the Qing dynasty as a low-ranking palace maid, all she wants is to live a quiet, comfortable life doing nothing. But after one night serving the emperor, she discovers she is exactly his type! He even uncovers her secret laziness and gives her the title of Consort Qin! QAQ I feel like the emperor just hit me with a massive dose of sarcasm. I’m falling apart inside... Am I really going to have to embark on a life of bearing and ra 2.3kReads9.0Score27914d adds
17. 217 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 585Reads9.0Score10314d adds
18. 218 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 18.3kReads9.2Score2.2k14d adds
19. 219 剖 After Dying Horribly in Childbirth, I Remarried the Powerful Regent 剖腹惨死后，改嫁权倾朝野摄政王 Green Ink Song青墨歌Ancient Romance436k WordsCompleted The short drama “The Moon Comes Chasing” is complete. In her past life, she helped him ascend the throne, but after becoming emperor, he married her half-sister and made her Imperial Noble Consort. When her half-sister’s child needed a newborn’s heart blood as a medicinal ingredient, he ordered someone to cut the baby from her womb and take the blood from her newborn child! Only as she lay dying did she learn that the child’s father 7.2kReads9.3Score86014d adds

    Reader note

    I loved it! The story was wonderful, and the ending was perfect. I loved it!

20. 220 夺 The Struggle for the Throne 夺嫡 Desolate and Uninhabited荒芜人烟Ancient Romance916k WordsCompleted The path to the throne, the blood of one's own kin... You say winter is the coldest season... No. Nothing is colder than your heart... 340Reads8.8Score10514d adds

    Reader note

    This is truly a masterclass in political intrigue and scheming.

21. 221 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—14d adds

    Reader note

    Character traits:

22. 222 凤 Tale of the Phoenix Hairpin 凤头钗记 The Long Night Is Nearly Over寒夜将尽Ancient Romance175k WordsOngoing In her previous life, she was a princess, betrayed by her own kin and left to die in the far north! Reborn in a new life, she becomes a baby girl abandoned by a river. The imprint of a phoenix-head hairpin on her body is the only proof of her identity. From an abandoned girl of the streets to the legitimate daughter of a prince's household, she plots her every move and tears her enemies apart. In this life, everyone who wronged her will pay in blood! #HistoricalRebirth #HouseholdIntrigueAndPower 2Reads—Score—14d adds
23. 223 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 7.8kReads9.3Score89314d adds

    Reader note

    All palace intrigue novels

24. 224 逼 You Forced Me to Disfigure Myself? Then Watch Me Become Empress! 逼我毁容？母仪天下给你看！ Jiang Wu姜邬Ancient Romance244k WordsCompleted [Reborn for Revenge + Household and Palace Intrigue + The Men Aren’t Chaste, the Women Are + Instantly the Sole Favorite + Black-Hearted Heroine + Brain-Off Power Fantasy] In her previous life, Jiang Rou was the most beautiful courtesan at Yichun House. With her delicate, soft features and naturally seductive body, she drove every man wild. Yet she devoted herself entirely to helping Shangguan Duanru win favor. In the end, Shangguan Duanru slashed her face and threw her in with the beggars. Less 401Reads6.0Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    In this book, the female lead is incredibly intelligent; everything is under her control. Her "love rivals" are no threat at all, and she plays with the male lead like a dog.

25. 225 贵 Long Live the Noble Consort 贵妃娘娘千岁千千岁 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance164k WordsCompleted The Nan family had offered one of their daughters to the royal family, only for her to be killed by the scheming women within the palace. To keep the emperor's favor, Nan Shiyun begins her journey into the palace to compete for his affection. [This story is set in a fictional world. Please don't take it too seriously.] 111Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A true palace intrigue story; the female lead is intelligent and has children; not a sweet romance.

26. 226 王 The King's Woman 王的女人 The Walking Lychee行走的荔枝Ancient Romance646k WordsCompleted A consort who doesn't want to monopolize the emperor's favor is no good consort at all! My goal is to charge down the path to winning all his affection and ruling the Six Palaces! At least three chapters a day. A jade pendant donation earns one extra chapter; a crown earns ten! 172Reads8.7Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is what it describes. Don't be fooled by the title, it's a really good palace intrigue novel! [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

27. 227 不 A Palace Maid Who Doesn't Want to Rise Through the Ranks Isn't a Good Maid 不想上位的宫女不是好宫女 Mint and Su Mu薄荷苏木Ancient Romance312k WordsCompleted Li Chuyan, daughter of the Assistant Prefect of the Capital, was set up by her elder half-sister, Li Heyue, and sent into the palace, where she became a lowly maid in the Imperial Kitchen. She died bitter and depressed, with no hope of ever leaving the palace. After transmigrating, Li Chuyan decides that if leaving the palace is out of reach, she will do everything she can to rise above everyone else within it. She drops her disguise and uses her beauty to tempt the emperor. After careful invest 59Reads6.5Score—14d adds
28. 228 做 She Was Given as a Gift 做为礼物的她 Mei Li's Pen Name Is Mei Li梅莉的笔名是梅莉Ancient Romance3.3M WordsOngoing She was nothing more than a gift from the empress to the emperor, yet she became the last woman standing in the imperial harem. A sweet romance! (A short biography of Imperial Noble Consort Lingyi, amid the harem battles of the Qianlong reign. An attempt to unravel the mystery behind the Empress’s hair-cutting.) For readers who have experienced being loved. Not for those who cannot accept that other people have love in their lives, or for those expecting to see a lovesick doormat and believing i 416Reads8.1Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Consort Ling, the ultimate victor in the harem, was both courageous and resourceful. The power struggle within the Qianlong Emperor's harem.

29. 229 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    🍭Palace intrigue and domestic drama, it's incredibly good, my darlings, go watch it!🍭

30. 230 嫡 The Legitimate Daughter's Cunning, and Her Way with Husbands 嫡女善谋，御夫有道 Optimistic Sunflower乐天派向日葵Ancient Romance421k WordsCompleted [Calculating Earl’s Legitimate Daughter vs. Cold and Ruthless Heir to the Duke] [Power Couple, Sweet Romance] Shen Yunshu, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Earl of Xiting, is the only legitimate heir of her generation. But her father, Lord Shen, favors a beautiful young concubine who has both a son and a daughter, while her domineering grandmother can’t stand her either. Always calm and unruffled, Shen Yunshu only wants to live a quiet life with her mother. Yet people keep trying to disrupt 9.5kReads9.2Score1.1k14d adds
31. 231 女 The Vicious Villainess in a Matriarchal World Raises Her Fish Online 女尊恶獠在线养鱼 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Matriarchal society + sweet romance + one-on-one + devoted to each other] [Calculating and ruthless princess × obedient, loyal guard] The capital's good-for-nothing Second Princess is beaten in the street by another woman for pursuing a man, then crashes into a stone lion. After recovering from her serious injuries, the Second Princess seems like a completely different person: kind to others, uninterested in competing, and always helping her sisters. It isn't until the day this powerful princes 15.2kReads9.5Score1.7k14d adds
32. 232 灼 A Brilliant and Graceful Life [Original Novel of the TV Series Starring Feng Shaofeng and Jing Tian] 灼灼风流【冯绍峰、景甜主演同名电视剧原著】 At Ease with the Universe随宇而安Ancient Romance419k WordsCompleted The original novel for the TV series Blossoms in Adversity, starring Jing Tian and Feng Shaofeng, premiering on Tencent Video on August 19. A tale of remarkable heroes and exhilarating wish fulfillment. A sharp-witted female official meets a devoted prince: from a chaotic first encounter to a lifetime together. Mu Zhuohua learned one thing from a young age: once a woman gets married, her life is as good as over. Studying and taking the imperial exams are a woman's only way forward. Staying unmar 9.1kReads9.6Score1.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    Not bad, not bad, not bad

33. 233 综 A Film and TV Crossover: Grant Me Three Thousand Wishes 综影视之许我三千心愿 Pipi Q皮皮QFemale-Channel Fanfiction985k WordsOngoing A different possibility for various film and television worlds, making up for all the regrets of the original stories. No lovesick protagonists, no golden finger, logical storytelling, not canon, parallel worlds based on film and television dramas, intelligent protagonists, political scheming, palace intrigue, strong female leads, the Republic of China era, equally matched couples... 1. Aisin-Gioro Yongqi and Xilin-Jueluo Linlang 2. Lu Mengping and Qin Shuo 3. Xiao Zhenying and Lin Xie 1.9kReads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    World One and World Four 1-98, 199-274

34. 234 重 Reborn, Bold and Alluring: Who Else Deserves the Throne but Me? 重生又飒又娇媚，后位舍我还其谁 Lazi Orange拉子橘子Ancient Romance117k WordsOngoing [Reborn + fictional palace intrigue + not a mutually exclusive first love + strong female lead power fantasy] *The heroine loves only herself, not the dog emperor. She's not entirely a good person either, and she will hurt others!!! As empress, she avoided conflict and shut out the world, just trying to get through each day. In the end, even the child in her womb was framed and killed by the concubines. Given another life, she swears she will never be a good-for-nothing again! With her memories 2Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue, no exclusive favoritism or two virgins, the female lead is incredibly cunning, scheming against others every day, even plotting against the emperor. It's a great read!!

35. 235 冷 The Cold King's Stolen Consort: His Side Consort Is No One's Plaything 冷王盗妃，侧妃不承欢 Moonrise in the Clouds月出云Ancient Romance544k WordsCompleted They were betrothed for eight years, and she waited in vain for four. When he finally came, he was holding another peerlessly beautiful woman in his arms. In a single night, she went from principal consort to secondary consort. Deep within the marquis's estate, she endured the loneliness in silence. She neither fought for his favor nor accepted his affection. She had thought that if she helped him and stood by him through every hardship, they would soar together as a pair, and in the end she wou 232Reads8.9Score15614d adds

    Reader note

    The plot is exciting, yet also quite good.

36. 236 重 Reborn, I Become My Arch-Enemy's Living Widow Sister-in-Law 重生后，我成了死敌的活寡嫂子 Two Times Four Means Prosperity二四得发Ancient Romance517k WordsCompleted [Both leads are reborn + sister-in-law and brother-in-law + an aloof beauty brought down from her pedestal + emotional push and pull + winning her heart and her body + devoted couple] The Eastern Palace has no crown prince, and the princes are locked in a fierce struggle for the throne. Ning Miao and Yan Mobai are the top strategists of their generation, each serving a different master. They cross paths over a map of iron mines and kill each other. Only after her death does Ning Miao learn tha 39kReads9.4Score5.8k14d adds
37. 237 不 No Match for the Imperial Uncle’s Beauty 不及皇叔貌美 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance491k WordsCompleted The man she had loved for ten years was going to burn her alive so he could marry someone else! Just before she died, someone appeared from the sky and rescued her from the flames. “I’ll help you with anything you want,” Shen Guyuan said. “As long as you find true love in the end.” “I want revenge!” Chi Yu gritted her teeth. “I’ll make that pair of cheating bastards pay in blood!” But revenge was one thing. A woman this fierce still had no prospects for marriage. Shen Guyuan was worried, so he t 423Reads8.7Score10214d adds
38. 238 鹤 The Crane-Cloaked Robe Stirs Your Heart 鹤氅动君心 The Author Xu Che笔者徐徹Ancient Romance126k WordsCompleted [High-IQ harem intrigue + rise from humble beginnings + no romance-obsessed characters + ensemble power struggles + no transmigration, no rebirth, no golden finger] Amid the interwoven ice and fire of the imperial palace’s secret gardens, how can one win the emperor’s favor? How can one survive in this gilded cage? A distinguished family background? Beauty capable of toppling kingdoms? Or schemes and manipulation? Unfortunately, none of these are Wen Zhihao’s strengths. Instead, she comes from a 3Reads—Score—14d adds
39. 239 重 Only After Being Reborn Did I Learn I Was the Cool and Aloof Minister's White Moonlight 重生才知，我竟是清冷权臣白月光 October Orange十月橙Ancient Romance661k WordsCompleted [Revenge on scumbags + sweet romance + switched marriages + reborn heroine vs. transmigrated heroine + a seemingly aloof, secretly twisted beauty] In her previous life, Chu Mingyuan learned only as she lay dying that the younger sister who had secretly been sleeping with her husband was not born to her late mother. She was actually a concubine-born daughter who had been switched at birth by a concubine. Chu Mingyuan died with regrets. Thankfully, Heaven took pity on her, and after her death she 8.4kReads8.9Score85714d adds

    Reader note

    A super captivating historical romance novel with palace intrigue elements; highly recommended!

40. 240 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 4.1kReads9.2Score46714d adds

    Reader note

    Ji Wanqing transmigrates into the body of a minor concubine in the imperial harem, and falls in love with the emperor. The female lead, Ji Wanqing, is obedient, beautiful, intelligent, and witty; the male lead, the emperor, is love-struck but sensible. The two engage in a series of sweet and humorous interactions within the harem, making it impossible to put down!

41. 241 昭 Zhaohua Everlasting, Volume Five 昭华未央（第五卷） A Mi阿幂Historical307k WordsCompleted Lady-in-Waiting Xie Yuniang wins the emperor’s favor because she looks so much like the late A Hu. After a series of power struggles, Yuniang finally ascends to the empress’s throne. Emperor Qianyuan has no idea that the woman he loves is actually A Hu, daughter of the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. A Hu entered the palace to clear her father’s name and avenge the injustice done to the great general Shen Rulan, executed years ago for treason. Watch as this sharp-minded l 459Reads9.4Score—14d adds
42. 242 宫 Palace Tragedy: The Political Marriage Princess Steals His Favor and His Heart 宫殇：和亲公主夺宠又夺心 Snow Banquet Twelve雪宴十二Ancient Romance331k WordsOngoing [Palace Intrigue] [Alternate History] [Not Both Virgins] [No Saintly Heroine] [Fights Back Against Everyone] She is the Ninth Princess of Xiling, adored by all. But after Xiling suffers a crushing defeat, the Emperor of Dasheng names her as the bride sent to secure a marriage alliance. When she first enters the imperial palace of Dasheng, she thinks she must guard against suspicion and schemes for the emperor's favor. What she doesn't know is that the emperor has already quietly taken her to hea 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Even after the princess who came to marry into the country enters the palace, she still has to fight [thinking]. The female lead is probably not stupid and does things her own way. The emperor will get angry, but she will think about how to win him over and compromise [shy].

43. 243 孤 An Orphaned Girl Takes the Family Reins: Ruling the Realm from the Inner Chambers 孤女承家：从后宅定天下 Li Mingjiu李明玖Ancient Romance310k WordsCompleted [A score of 6.9 on May 25, 2026. A special milestone, and here's hoping it rises! A strong female lead, a cast where everyone shines, no one is reborn, and there is no System] Who says women are inferior to men? Why be confined to the inner courtyards and their rivalries? Women have a world of their own to conquer. Her father and brother returned victorious, only for their deaths to be announced. When their coffins came home, she became an orphan overnight. Everyone laughed at her for having no 16Reads6.9Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Is this book okay? If you like it, you can take a look. It will be finished by May Day.

44. 244 昭 Zhaohua Everlasting, Volume Four 昭华未央（第四卷） A Mi阿幂Ancient Romance304k WordsCompleted Lady-in-Waiting Xie Yuniang wins the emperor’s favor because she looks so much like the late A Hu. After a series of power struggles, Yuniang finally ascends to the empress’s throne. Emperor Qianyuan has no idea that the woman he loves is actually A Hu, daughter of the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. A Hu entered the palace to clear her father’s name and avenge the injustice done to the great general Shen Rulan, executed years ago for treason. Watch as this sharp-minded l 386Reads9.4Score—14d adds
45. 245 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 5kReads9.3Score53214d adds

    Reader note

    🍀 Palace intrigue novels that meet the requirements are top-tier!✅ You can stay up all night to finish reading them!✅ Let's all read them together!

46. 246 昭 Zhaohua Everlasting, Volume Three 昭华未央（第三卷） A Mi阿幂Ancient Romance270k WordsCompleted Lady-in-Waiting Xie Yuniang wins the emperor’s favor because she looks so much like the late A Hu. After a series of power struggles, Yuniang finally ascends to the empress’s throne. Emperor Qianyuan has no idea that the woman he loves is actually A Hu, daughter of the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. A Hu entered the palace to clear her father’s name and avenge the injustice done to the great general Shen Rulan, executed years ago for treason. Watch as this sharp-minded l 549Reads9.5Score—14d adds
47. 247 侧 The Side Consort Flicked Her Fingers and Seized the Empress's Throne 侧妃弹指一挥，一举拿下凤位 A Bird's Wing一只鸟的翅膀Ancient Romance256k WordsOngoing Bearing the hopes of her family, Xie Zhi resolutely enters the palace selection and joins Prince Qin's household as a secondary consort. With the prince's childhood sweetheart as his princess consort, the renowned Wang as another secondary consort, and a host of concubines all vying to rise in rank, watch how Xie Zhi seizes the initiative and makes her moves one step at a time. From Prince Qin's household to the palace's deepest halls, she survives amid conspiracies, fights for power among a sea 6Reads6.9Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The female protagonists in these books are all experts in palace intrigue.

48. 248 昭 Zhaohua Everlasting, Volume Two 昭华未央（第二卷） A Mi阿幂Ancient Romance261k WordsCompleted Cairen Xie Yuniang wins the emperor’s favor because she looks so much like the late Ahu. After a series of struggles, Yuniang finally takes the empress’s throne. What Emperor Qianyuan doesn’t know is that the woman he loves, Yuniang, is actually Ahu, daughter of the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. Ahu entered the palace to clear the name of her father, the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. See how this native schemer stirs up the dynasty, and how she 490Reads9.4Score—14d adds
49. 249 娇 The Clever Palace Maid and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Who Can't Resist Her 娇娇宫女手段高，冷戾帝王不经撩 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Reborn / palace intrigue, not both virgins / delicate heroine / hero is a bit of a jerk early on, loses his mind midway, and dotes on her alone in the end] Yuan Qing was just a low-ranking palace maid. But she was born alluring and beautiful. In her previous life, the Empress Dowager gave her to Prince Jing as a concubine. Who could have guessed she would become the princess consort's thorn in the side, and that a bowl of poisoned soup would end her life? Reborn, Yuan Qing set her sights on the 5.8kReads9.2Score57014d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue novel!

50. 250 昭 Zhaohua Everlasting, Volume One 昭华未央（第一卷） A Mi阿幂Ancient Romance289k WordsCompleted Cairen Xie Yuniang wins the emperor’s favor because she looks so much like the late Ahu. After a series of struggles, Yuniang finally takes the empress’s throne. What Emperor Qianyuan doesn’t know is that the woman he loves, Yuniang, is actually Ahu, daughter of the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. Ahu entered the palace to clear the name of her father, the great general Shen Rulan, who was executed for treason. See how this native schemer stirs up the dynasty, and how she 1.7kReads9.2Score21214d adds

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