I’ve Been Obsessed with Palace-Intrigue Stories Lately. Ladies, Hand Over Your Books! 本宫最近迷上宫斗文 各位娘娘把书都交出来吧

1. 101 皇 The Emperor's Cousin Says He Must Refuse 皇上表弟说他恕难从命 Coffee Chocolate咖啡朱古力Ancient Romance490k WordsCompleted [Completed] Younger man + sickly male lead + hapless cousins + a little palace intrigue + lighthearted Ye Su never imagined that because her fate was so strong, it would claim the lives of two fiancés, leaving her unmarried even at twenty-two. After her parents went to the palace to weep to her aunt, the Empress Dowager, it was decided that she would become a consort to her sickly cousin, the emperor. The reason was that a holy monk had declared Ye Su and the emperor’s destinies to be one strong 88.6kReads9.2Score10.9kShelves
2. 102 娇 The Delicate Little Cabbage Is Ravished by the Old Emperor 娇娇小白菜被老皇帝拱了 Meow Meow Monster Is Adorable喵喵怪可爱Ancient Romance380k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Sweet Romance + Alternate World + Fatherly Male Lead + Male Lead Is Not Chaste, Female Lead Is] A born workaholic transmigrated into the body of the prime minister’s legitimate daughter. At long last, all this incredible wealth had finally fallen into her lap. A doting prime minister father, a gentle mother, and a brother who adored his little sister. Power, money, and good looks were all hers. She longed for freedom and hoped to spend her life with one person, and one person a 14.9kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves
3. 103 娇 Endless Pampering: I Want You on Your Knees, Calling Me Empress Mother! 娇宠无度：本宫要你跪着喊母后！ Shallow Starry River浅末星河Ancient Romance260k WordsCompleted [Sweet and wicked troublemaking beauty × Scheming, indulgent emperor] [Age gap, male lead has a past while female lead is chaste, one step at a time he falls, powerful man bows to love, sweet and satisfying with a hint of scumminess, happy ending] In her previous life, she was the Eastern Palace’s most spoiled and headstrong consort, yet died on the eve of the Crown Prince’s coronation. As she lay dying, she heard the Crown Prince sneer, “You’re nothing but a brainless idiot. What makes you thin 1.2kReads6.7Score103Shelves
4. 104 咸 The Laid-Back Consort: Rising Step by Step 咸鱼娘娘：步步高升 Melancholy Cantaloupe忧伤的哈密瓜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + palace and household intrigue + childbirth + doted on exclusively later] Jiang Wan transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking palace consort of an emperor with no children. To protect the people around her, she has no choice but to compete for a little favor. Who knew she’d end up giving the emperor a chubby baby boy! Emperor: “She’s the birth mother of my only son. Of course I have to protect her.” Who knew that all that protection would turn into affection? As Jiang Wan ris 19.4kReads8.9Score1.8kShelves

   Reader note

   Both books are very good. I read the first one a long time ago. The second one is about a female protagonist who travels through time, but she doesn't respect the ancient system and doesn't forcibly change the system of the era. She also has a clear understanding of the male protagonist's identity.

5. 105 穿 I Became a Palace Maid Serving the Emperor, Then Accidentally Took the Empress's Throne 穿成御前宫女，一不小心登后位 White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance273k WordsOngoing [Just got a rating, it will go up later] Empress Mingde of Great Qi has always received positive reviews in the history books. She was kind and virtuous, and most of Emperor Yuanzhao's children were hers. As more and more primary sources came to light, people discovered that the empress was not only renowned for her virtue. Rather than supporting conspiracy theories, most of the evidence showed that she had helped advance an entire era. After a plane crash, Jin Luan became the palace maid who se 27.5kReads8.5Score3.7kShelves

   Reader note

   This is quite a good story. The female lead is childhood sweethearts with the emperor, but he ascended the throne at a young age and is gradually consolidating his power. So, while he appears indifferent to the female lead on the surface, he actually uses the best resources for her and she gives birth to a prince early on.

6. 106 可 Damn! Why Is the Crown Princess Surrounded by Suitors Everywhere? 可恶！怎么到处都是长公主的鱼！ What Did I Do Today今天我干嘛了Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Short drama of the same name] [The Princess's World of Flowers] Now streaming [Content warning: The female lead is not exclusive, but all the men are, so read with caution] [Schrodinger's playgirl × a whole lot of men] [Lighthearted, not a serious historical drama] [Original title]: Too Many Men Are Such a Hassle. Who Should I Spoil? Wen Yu transmigrates into the Great Sheng Dynasty as its beautiful, useless, brainless eldest princess. After learning that the original owner drowned by accident 49kReads9.5Score6.7kShelves

   Reader note

   The female lead is an incredibly good character, and she's a princess who is extremely doted on by the emperor.

7. 107 却 Yet You Betrayed the Spring's Grace 却负春恩 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Print edition now available. Search for Ascending to the Clouds on any platform to buy] [Original titles: Ascending to the Clouds / Loathing the Vermilion Walls] [High-IQ Palace Intrigue + Pure-Hatred Heroine + No Disposable Characters] [No transmigration, no rebirth, no golden finger] [The blurb doesn’t do it justice. Please go read the story] How do you become an emperor’s favorite concubine? A prestigious family? A good education? A gentle, respectful, modest, and accommodating nature? Unfor 25.3kReads9.2Score3.1kShelves

   Reader note

   I really love this author's palace intrigue novels! They're so good and make me cry (purely set in ancient times, no time travel, no cheat codes, no systems, not romance). They're all strong female lead palace intrigue novels! The first one is about the female lead's revenge and dragon slaying, and she eventually becomes empress! It's great! So satisfying! In the second one, the female lead doesn't become empress, empress dowager, or empress. Instead, she leaves the palace with her former sisters and lives freely (๑ت๑). (The emperor is also the best one I've read in strong female lead palace intrigue novels; he's intelligent, unlike the typical palace intrigue characters. He's not a good father, but he's definitely a very, very good emperor.)

8. 108 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 2.1kReads8.3Score233Shelves

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   Highly recommend ①②④! These are top-tier examples of intrigue and strategy. I really love watching these intricate plots and espionage stories—what a bloody and ruthless palace intrigue! [Eating melon emoji][eating melon emoji]

9. 109 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 88.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves
10. 110 公 Princess Feisheng of the City That Never Sleeps 公主飞声不夜城 The Clumsy Bird Takes the Scenic Route笨鸟走花路Ancient Romance606k WordsCompleted After Princess Yufei’s life as a hostage ends, she goes to meet her father, only to discover that someone has taken her place! With her father under threat, she has no choice but to conceal her identity and investigate in secret as a musician. While keeping the impostor princess at bay, she also carries out her search for a missing person. The enemy kingdom’s conspiracy gradually comes to light, and her true identity is revealed to everyone. The neighboring kingdom’s prince, Yunchen, falls for h 49Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not about female rivalry or palace intrigue; it's about accumulating strength through the balance of power with allies, changing the heir of one's own country, and being funny in the early stages but tragic in the later stages.

11. 111 重 Reborn and Not to Be Messed With, the Whole Palace Must Call Me Ancestor 重生废后不好惹，满宫都得叫祖宗 Cyanide Murmurs氰呓语Ancient Romance144k WordsOngoing In the winter of Yongchang's nineteenth year, on a snowy night in the Cold Palace, Empress Jiang Zhao had three feet of white silk waiting for her. Only before her death did she learn the truth: the empress's throne she had won through ten years of scheming for her husband was a cage. Her sister, whom she had protected for ten years, smiled as she told her that the blood of all ninety-seven members of the Jiang family had been the first move Xiao Yu made after ascending the throne. When she open 340Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Hahahaha

12. 112 宫 Palace and Household Intrigue: Can My Daughter Become Empress? 宫斗宅斗：我的女儿可以当皇帝吗 Rise Early to Chase the Sunrise早起追朝阳Ancient Romance434k WordsOngoing (A native-born woman + a transmigrated woman + a woman who transmigrated into a book + a reborn woman) Why are all these weird people always trying to steal the emperor from me? Wait, what? Now someone’s trying to steal my child too? Ever since Guan Sifu was old enough to understand, she had worried that her family was struggling and was determined to make something of herself. During an outing to enjoy the spring, she happened to see the royal procession in all its splendor and vowed to have s 1.9kReads—Score131Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is good and worth reading.

13. 113 贵 The Consort's Alluring Charm 贵妃娘娘她妩媚动人 Ling Dou凌豆Ancient Romance168k WordsOngoing (Palace intrigue novel, the male lead is not virginal, but later becomes the sole favorite, a charming and scheming beauty) A dance performance on a flower boat transformed Chao Wu from the most beautiful courtesan in Lin'an into the emperor's bedmate. Having entered the palace for only three years, she rose from a sixth-rank beauty to a Noble Consort, enjoying the Emperor's favor and becoming the most favored concubine in the palace. Everyone only knew that she was a seductive vixen who bewitch 45.7kReads—Score6.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend this book. The female protagonist is intelligent and clever in palace intrigue, seizing the throne [kiss][heart emoji] It's truly a satisfying female-centric novel.

14. 114 暴 The Tyrant's Bed Shakes as the Cat's Purr Shatters the Chilling Blade Light 暴君枕塌，喵呼噜震碎刀光寒 Little Thirteen the Salted Fish咸鱼小十三Ancient Romance135k WordsOngoing [Female lead: Na Xue. Male lead: Xiao Jinqiong. Cat pampering a tyrant, sweet romance] Na Xue was a temple cat who had gained humanlike intelligence and wandered by mistake into the imperial palace. The tyrant caught her and kept her as his royal pet. All this kitty wanted was to earn enough rewards to take home some gold and jewels and repair her temple. But earning rewards in this palace was no easy feat. Who would have thought that the tyrant everyone feared outside the palace was, in private 8Reads7.0Score—Shelves

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    ① A cold and aloof dictatorial emperor who manipulates all living beings × An arrogant and ruthless evil concubine (all villains, the male lead indulges them, not a clean pair) ② The female lead is a cat, who may transform into human form later. A cat-loving VS a tyrant (sweet romance) ③ Both the male and female leads are reborn. In their previous life, the female lead poisoned the male lead and supported her son to become emperor, ruling from behind the curtain. In the previous life, the male lead's son paralyzed her. In this life, the female lead relinquishes power to her son and lives peacefully as the Empress Dowager. The male lead is reborn as someone similar to him. The male lead is extremely love-struck, and the female lead loves to paint nude paintings of her son and the male lead (super beautiful!!!) ④ A young couple with the strongest tacit understanding, not a clean pair, both are strong.

15. 115 惨 I Died Horribly in a Fire, Then Came Back to Destroy the Ungrateful Wolf 惨死火场，重生后我虐翻白眼狼 Rong Rong容容Ancient Romance202k WordsCompleted [Reborn + revenge on scumbags + the scumbag man is also reborn + an ex’s desperate pursuit + both are chaste] In her previous life, Su Wanzhou lived a miserable existence. Her husband grew distant, her mother-in-law made life difficult, and as an orphan, she had nowhere to turn. As she died in a fire, she finally learned that her seemingly noble and upright husband had been in love with his adopted sister all along. Reborn in a single day, she finds herself at the very moment she once traveled t 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Rebirth + Palace Intrigue with the Second Male Lead Rising to Power. I especially value the purity of both leads; in this novel, the emperor only has the female lead as his woman.

16. 116 原 The Ungrateful Brats My Original Self Raised: After Transmigrating into a Book, I’m Done with Them 原主养的白眼狼，穿书后她不管了 Patient Number Five五号病患Ancient Romance801k WordsCompleted [The Ungrateful Ones Are All Reborn, 1vN, Feel-Good Revenge, No Forgiveness] Chu Ningzhao had read countless novels, but this was the first time a book had made her so furious she wanted to die. In the story, the villainess with the same name was a complete sucker. From a young age, she devoted herself to supporting her little brother. She won over worthy ministers and trained military commanders until he finally took the throne. But when victory was theirs, everyone gave the credit to her young 6kReads7.9Score721Shelves

    Reader note

    The ungrateful children the original owner raised, she abandoned after transmigrating into the book. Chu Ningzhao transmigrated into the body of an unlucky princess with the same name in the book. She chose to ignore the ungrateful children the original owner had raised, watching them fend for themselves.

17. 117 做 I Had a Dream, So How Did I End Up Pregnant? 做做做了个梦，怎么就怀上了？ User Is Online用户已上线Ancient Romance557k WordsCompleted [Not a matriarchal-world story] [Lighthearted] [Probably little palace intrigue] [Pregnancy in a dream] [The late emperor is reborn as a scholar] Once you've raised your son, he always belongs to someone else's family. That's true in the modern world, and it's true in ancient times. For Zhang Wenjing, her son belongs to the state, damn it. He has nothing to do with her. Thinking back on the miserable life she had in her previous life, she worked harder than a d 225Reads8.4Score—Shelves
18. 118 国 The Imperial Academy’s Fallen Woman 国子监破鞋 Flying King1996飞大王1996Ancient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing 136,543 people have already missed this book because of its title... One-of-a-kind pure heroine + nobody is innocent + romance and desire + the fate of the nation. Beauty fades, and with it, love. Golden fingers are just something people say to fool the gullible. She is a soul from another world, sharp-eyed and streetwise. In this decaying dynasty, she aims to amass a fortune beyond imagination and avoid the humiliation China suffered over the past century. 19Reads9.2Score168Shelves

    Reader note

    Romantic love is only a part of the times and will not supersede the main theme of saving the country and making it strong.

19. 119 嫡 The Legitimate Daughter Becomes Empress, and I Rule the Harem 嫡女为后，后宫我说了算 Pikachu Loves Apples皮卡丘爱吃苹果Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [Young married couple, perfect teamwork, both incredibly capable] (Not an exclusive pairing, includes a harem, so proceed with caution if that bothers you. Alternate-history setting.) One is the niece of the emperor’s favorite consort; the other is the legitimate son of the empress, who has fallen out of favor. An imperial decree of marriage binds Lin Tingwan, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor’s household, to the Crown Prince, Li Yanlian. From then on, they share one fate, for better 5.7kReads8.8Score682Shelves
20. 120 葵 The Sunflower Princess’s Book of Delights 葵花郡主欢乐宝典 Smiling Eyes Amid Peach Blossoms桃花深处眉眼弯弯Ancient Romance1.5M WordsOngoing Xiao Kuihua has a name as common as they come for a noble young lady, but her parents are both highborn and utterly unreliable. They raised her into a “green melon,” someone who speaks without thinking and invites gossip, and whose hopeless conduct makes marriage difficult. Yet, by a twist of fate, she wins herself a young husband, and so begins her delightful life of stirring up the capital and teasing young dandies before marriage, then making mischief with her in-laws and battling her mother- 1.9kReads9.5Score300Shelves

    Reader note

    Is there anyone who hasn't read this book yet? It's the pinnacle of palace intrigue novels, with extremely high quality, and the protagonist isn't a saint but has real strength!

21. 121 重 Reborn: Face-Slapping the Scumbag Emperor 重生之打脸渣男皇帝 A Kid Who Loves French Fries爱吃薯条的崽Ancient Romance19k WordsCompleted Reborn to Slap the Scumbag Emperor 4Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is worth reading, although it's not very popular.

22. 122 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 7.5kReads9.0Score742Shelves

    Reader note

    Reborn as Empress

23. 123 朱 Zhu Yixiu Is Reborn in Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace and Slaughters Her Way Through the Harem 朱宜修重生如懿传，一手杀穿后宫 Su Xue粟雪Female-Channel Fanfiction516k WordsCompleted Zhu Yixiu is reborn into Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace. She abandons her slender brows, cares for her jade-like fingers, and transforms her appearance. She gains the eldest son as well as the legitimate son, and takes complete control of the harem, without a rival in sight. (1. My longtime readers know I like the character Yixiu, and that most of my spin-off stories feature original plots instead of following the source material. 2. I only watched the original Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace o 1.1kReads8.6Score113Shelves

    Reader note

    Zhu Yixiu from "The Legend of Zhen Huan" transmigrates into Qingying from "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"! Zhu Yixiu is intelligent, perceptive, cautious, skilled in acting, adept at using people, knowledgeable in pharmacology, capable, and resourceful. After transmigrating into Qingying's body, it's like a queen accidentally entering a bronze-level game—so easy! She sets traps everywhere and wins every time. It's so satisfying to watch! The child resembles both Zhu Yixiu's eldest prince and her son Honghui, which can be seen as filling a void in their hearts. Moreover, they share a common goal. With two queens joining forces, conquering the dragon and ascending to the throne will be a piece of cake! Looking forward to it!

24. 124 皇 The Empress Is a Max-Level Palace Intriguer, Crushing Everyone 皇后满级宫斗，嘎嘎乱杀 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + infidelity + fictional setting + a resourceful, money-loving, beauty-loving, life-loving empress ✖️ emperor] In her previous life, Hua Shu was a lowly palace maid. She schemed her way to the top of the political ladder, only to be condemned by everyone and branded a wicked woman who brought ruin to the nation. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the unfamiliar state of Chu, as an unloved empress who’s also being made a scapegoat. As if she’d put up with that! S 14.4kReads9.4Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    In her past life, she was a wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country. In this life, she uses her methods and strategies to gradually win over the emperor, becoming a wise and virtuous empress. [Already interested][Already interested][Already interested]

25. 125 陛 After the Emperor Is Reborn, the Empress Becomes the Apple of His Eye 陛下重生后，娘娘成了掌中娇 Muzi Yingbao木子颖宝Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted “Your Majesty, if there is another life, I hope never to have known you, and never to meet you again in any lifetime.” Yujing Chen detested her. Yet the last thing she did before dying was take the fatal sword strike for him. She said, “Your Majesty, could my life leave a vivid mark in your heart?” Perhaps Heaven believed his task was unfinished and granted him a new life. After being reborn... he discovered that she had once been bright and beautiful, too... [No System + No transmigration + Mal 6.5kReads8.4Score369Shelves

    Reader note

    Of these two, the first one isn't too much of a palace intrigue story, and the second one is entirely about palace intrigue.

26. 126 综 Film and TV Crossover: Starting Out as An Lingrong and Becoming a Top Grinder 综影视之从安陵容开始当卷王 Chubby White Cat白猫胖墩Female-Channel Fanfiction2.5M WordsOngoing Su Wanwan was a consummate workaholic. Just as she had achieved success, she unexpectedly died from overwork and gained a System that let her survive in TV dramas. What? She could go home once she completed her missions? Then she'd better get right to work! Mission worlds: An Lingrong in Empresses in the Palace, Wei Yanwan in Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, with the next world yet to be decided. This is a slow transmigration story, slow transmigration, slow transmigration! I'll say it three tim 28.8kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The first two books are about palace intrigue, especially the first one where the female protagonist knows how to handle men and is generally very rational. The last book is a crossover of TV dramas, but it's still quite good to read.

27. 127 宫 The Palace Maid Schemed to Seduce Him, and the Mad Emperor Fell for Her and Seized Her by Force 宫女蓄意勾引，疯批帝王沦陷强夺 Orange-Brilliant Starlight橘灿星光Ancient Romance210k WordsOngoing [Palace intrigue, not a virginal couple / villainess / femme fatale / forced possession / doted on exclusively after the opening] [Scheming, theatrical maid vs. deranged emperor who falls deeper with every step] Yao Shu was born beautiful, and the empress chose her as a pawn to send to the emperor. The first time she met Xiao Xulan, she was too frightened to look him in the eye. But when he began to consider taking her to his bed, she broke free of his grasp and knelt down, declaring, “This serv 248Reads9.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Super captivating palace intrigue novels! Not a double virgin story! Sweet and satisfying romance! She is the ultimate favorite! ① Spoiled yet charming concubine x Gentle yet seemingly innocent but actually cunning emperor! Exclusive favor from the start! ② Scheming and ruthless beauty x Emperor who gradually falls for her! Forced possession! Exclusive favor from the start! ③ Weak and helpless palace maid x Cold and obsessive emperor! Forced possession!

28. 128 出 The Night I Left the Palace, the Mad Emperor Took Me by Force 出宫当晚，被疯批帝王强取豪夺 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, delicate palace maid vs. cold, ruthless, obsessive emperor] [Palace intrigue, neither lead is chaste + powerful male lead, weak female lead, and he’s completely unhinged + possessive love + a long road to winning her back] Yue Ling was a vain little palace maid. Hoping to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth, she seduced the emperor and worked tirelessly to win his favor, but still met a tragic end. After being reborn, Yue Ling saw things clearly. Rather than tread on thin ice in the de 26kReads9.2Score1.9kShelves
29. 129 说 I Was Supposed to Be a Doormat, So Why Does the Emperor Remember Everything? 说好当受气包，怎么皇帝有记忆？ Late Branches at Dawn杳杳枝晚Ancient Romance256k WordsOngoing [Looks delicate and plays the victim, but is a fearsome flower × scheming emperor who retains his memories after reloading] (An antagonistic imperial couple, a reloading power fantasy, father-daughter affection, and a romance that grows sweeter by the day) Chu Mingzhao is the capital's most fearsome beauty. She can shatter a stone lion with one punch. But her unscrupulous father tricked her into entering the palace, where she was bound to a [System for Playing the Victim]. Little Four: Host, yo 29Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 130 帝 The Emperor Has No Heart, Yet His Cool and Elegant Noble Consort Has Her Ways 帝本无心，怎奈清冷贵妃手段高 My Cat Is Called Huabei我的猫叫花呗Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Cool, seductive fox beauty vs. a carefree, womanizing emperor] [The heroine is the true daughter, driven by revenge and ambition: a scheming beauty, sweet on the outside but ruthless within, and far from virtuous. This is an unconventional palace-intrigue story focused on winning hearts. The hero is not chaste. Later, he desperately tries to win her back. The overall tone is sweet, and the romance becomes one-on-one in the latter half.] Until the age of five, Changyu Jiao was the legitimate da 9.5kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    "My name is Jiao, originally Yu Mingzhen. My fate decreed that I would bring misfortune upon my family and relatives, thus I was imprisoned in a secluded courtyard, forced to cut off my leg to survive, wandering the chaotic world. I begged, learned opera, and hid under corpses in the snow to survive. At twelve, I was sold into servitude, and at twelve, I killed to survive. I saw nothing in everything, and in despair, I saved myself. My father was heartless, my mother unkind, and Heaven showed no mercy. Only I saved myself. I have wronged the Changyu family, for impersonating them and gaining my brother's protection. Today, they even threatened me with a knife, forcing Changyu Ye to commit a grave error. The crime of deceiving the emperor, the brutal killing of court officials, the private torture of concubines—all these I, Jiao, will bear alone! Now, my revenge is complete! How gratifying!"

31. 131 霸 Taking Her by Force! The Flirtatious Princess Is Out of Control 霸王硬上弓！钓系长公主撩疯了 Spring and Summer Together春夏两相Ancient Romance549k WordsOngoing [Flirtatious, alluring older woman VS calculating young wolf] [Married first, fall in love later + devoted love + one-on-one, both untouched + older woman/younger man romance] Nangong Qing, the eldest legitimate princess of Great Qi, was entrusted with the young emperor and the regency by the dying former emperor. All of the capital laughed at her for being twenty and still unmarried, calling her an old maid left on the shelf. When the young emperor took the reins of power, the ministers pressur 1.2kReads—Score122Shelves

    Reader note

    Rumors swirled in the capital, everyone mocking the elderly princess for trying to seize a young playboy, whispering that their marriage would inevitably be fraught with conflict. No one knew the male protagonist's true feelings; he had fallen for the princess from the first moment he saw her. His resistance to the marriage was merely a pretense; he silently enjoyed every moment the princess took the initiative to approach him. The female protagonist initially only saw the young man's striking good looks and planned to slowly tease him to pass the time. However, after several encounters, she unearthed a possessive and simmering wolf. The evenly matched tug-of-war in their love became increasingly captivating—a must-read!

32. 132 陛 His Majesty Says He Dislikes Seductive Women 陛下说他不喜媚色 Purple-Robed Evil Emperor紫裳邪皇Ancient Romance611k WordsCompleted [Both leads are each other's one and only + deliberate seduction] [Beautiful, clear-headed heroine + proud, abstinent emperor] The new emperor liked refined, elegant ladies and despised anything bewitching and shallow. Unfortunately, the Jiang family's Fifth Young Lady was alluringly beautiful. The Empress Dowager actually wanted a woman like her to seduce the emperor and secure advantages for the Jiang family. The new emperor despised the Jiang family most of all and had no wish to let a Jiang 35.2kReads8.6Score99.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These two are so good, I can't take it anymore! They're really good, I highly recommend watching them.

33. 133 黑 The Scheming Consort Is the Harem’s Favorite 黑心娘娘宠冠后宫 Leng Chu冷初Ancient Romance258k WordsOngoing [Female lead reborn + palace intrigue among everyone + she doesn’t love the emperor] Qin Yan is the legitimate daughter of a marquis’s family. Not only is she of noble birth, she is also breathtakingly beautiful, but her heart is too innocent, and she forgets how treacherous the imperial harem can be. She loves the emperor unwisely, believing that as long as she quietly stays by his side, they can grow old together. She trusts the wrong people, believing that if she treats them sincerely, the 9Reads6.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    All of them are super good! [Kissing emoji] The third book is about the male and female leads going their separate ways! It's so sweet! I really like the first book, which is about past and present lives (I don't usually like reading about past and present lives, but this is my first one). [Heart emoji]

34. 134 惹 Why Mess With Her? She's His Majesty's Beloved and His First Wife 惹她干嘛，她是陛下白月光兼发妻 Amidst Misty Rain on the Terrace楼台烟雨中Ancient Romance452k WordsCompleted [A calculating, possessive emperor × a sweet, gentle beauty | devoted to one another | mutual healing | growing-up romance | two hopeless romantics falling for each other~] Jiang Yingli has spent four years as Prince Su’s concubine. Xiao Chenglan, Prince Su, has little interest in women, and she is the only concubine in his household, so her life is peaceful and carefree. She thinks things will stay that way, but then Prince Su ascends the throne. Overnight, she rises from a lowly concubine of P 55.8kReads8.9Score6.5kShelves
35. 135 人 Life Simulator: I'm a Pro at Rising Through Palace Schemes 人生模拟器：宫斗升职我专业 I Eat Tomatoes Without Spitting Out the Skins吃西红柿不吐番茄皮Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + System + Golden Finger + A Story That's 30% Indulgence and 70% Playing It Safe] (Important, important, important!!! Content warning: The heroine is an ordinary person who grows over time. At first, she has some girlish romantic notions; she isn't highly intelligent from the start. Not a mutually exclusive first-love story, and the male lead doesn't dote on her alone. Don't read if these bother you.) From the start, she's in the hardest difficulty mode. After s 6.7kReads9.1Score644Shelves

    Reader note

    I found the first three books incredibly good. In the first one, the female lead knew what she wanted, didn't love the male lead, and eventually became empress herself. In the second book, the female lead had a high social status, was childhood sweethearts with the male lead, and was also very clear-headed. In the third book, the female lead transmigrated and was bound to a life simulator; she had to become a concubine before the age of 30, or she would die suddenly at 30.

36. 136 被 Forced to Become a Consort, She Is Doted on by the Emperor Every Day 被逼为妃后，她被皇上日日娇宠 Bing Yi冰怡Ancient Romance513k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue, satisfying revenge, the emperor’s exclusive devotion in the later arcs, not a chaste romance Song Wanyue was stunningly beautiful. After accidentally discovering the truth behind her mother’s death, her own sister threw her down a dry well, where she died with her eyes open. Reborn, she swears to win favor in the harem, monopolize the emperor’s affections, and avenge her mother! She uses her supernatural ability to empty the Minister’s residence, then relies on money to estab 234Reads6.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist is reborn. To seek revenge and survive, she takes over the emperor under the guidance of the deposed empress, becomes pregnant with twins, and embarks on a palace intrigue... The female protagonist remains lucid throughout, the male protagonist is a bit of a jerk, but the second male lead is quite nice...

37. 137 小 The Little Palace Maid's Thoughts Were Read 小宫女被读心了 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the palace as a maid, Qin Jianjian works diligently, flatters those above her, and deceives those below her. In the end, she becomes the top-ranked maid serving the Empress Dowager. She has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of her profession. Money she’s openly entitled to, along with money she shouldn’t have, keeps flowing into Qin Jianjian’s pockets. Delighted, she just has to wait until she’s old enough to leave the palace and retire early. Who could have guessed the 15.3kReads9.4Score1.2kShelves
38. 138 鬓 Hairpins and Beauty 鬓花颜 Peach Who Doesn't Slack Off桃子不摸鱼Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main story complete] [Maid + sisters in the inner palace + ensemble-focused story] [The heroine is a native of this world, with no transmigration, rebirth, or hidden identity] After her mother dies of illness, Meng Shu’s father takes a new wife almost at once. She endures years under her stepmother’s hand, but in the end, she cannot escape being sold. A trafficker’s rope drags her away from her homeland and casts her into the fabulously wealthy Tang household. Her exceptiona 35.4kReads9.2Score4.5kShelves
39. 139 后 Tales of Palace Gossip 后宫八卦记事 Big Cigar大雪茄Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted Life in the palace can be a little dull, but the things that happen among the imperial consorts make Shi Tian positively giddy. First, may the harem keep welcoming new consorts. Second, may the consorts all end up at each other’s throats. Third, may I always have the best seat for the gossip! Unexpectedly, Shi Tian ends up following the gossip all the way to the end, and becomes empress herself. 199Reads8.5Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These are my treasured collections, considered proper palace intrigue novels.

40. 140 清 Qing Transmigration: Stay Calm, Princess Consort! The Fourth Prince Will Win You the Empress's Throne 清穿：福晋稳住！四爷给你挣后位 Willow Bank杨柳岸Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [An alternate Qing dynasty, unlike the historical one.] After transmigrating, Yun Qu swallowed nervously as she faced her complicated new circumstances. She had become the Fourth Prince's primary consort. What was she supposed to do? Could she ever go back? Once she learned that returning was impossible, Yun Qu accepted her fate. She decided to raise her son well and treat the Fourth Prince like her boss, serving him diligently. If he pointed east, she wouldn't go west. If he wanted to take a co 18.8kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    1. Princess's marriage to a foreign ruler 2. The emperor's exclusive favor 3. The absolute female lead

41. 141 只 As Long as I Act Well, the Empress's Throne Is Mine 只要演技好，娘娘的凤位跑不了 A Bird's Wing一只鸟的翅膀Ancient Romance260k WordsCompleted Red bricks and green tiles, beauty all around. One shower of imperial favor, and from then on she advances step by step, finally ascending the throne to stand alongside the emperor. Her family is in decline? Her brother's career prospects are uncertain? Her sister's marriage prospects have come to nothing? See how Wen Ruo keeps true to herself in the harem, rises step by step, leads her family back to the top, helps her brother advance his career, and finds her sister a fine marriage! “This hare 3kReads9.0Score327Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book I followed from beginning to end; it was very good.

42. 142 深 A Concubine's Rise to Power in the Imperial Harem 深宫庶女上位记 Leng Chu冷初Ancient Romance416k WordsCompleted She was the illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official, and one day she entered the palace as a consort; The struggle was not confined to men. The battles between women were always the cruelest of all; These women were intelligent, beautiful, and well-born; For love, wealth, and power beyond compare, they fought each other to the death, even turning against their own sisters and leaving their youth and beauty amid the red walls and green-tiled roofs of the palace; 778Reads8.4Score105Shelves
43. 143 高 The Road to Glory for a Noble Lady 高门贵女的荣华之路 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance324k WordsCompleted As the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping's household, Lin Chuyue married the Fourth Imperial Grandson, Zhou Xiao, as his principal wife at sixteen. At nineteen, she became a princess consort, and at twenty-six, she rose to become the most powerful woman in the Great An Dynasty: the empress. Who hasn't exclaimed that Lin Chuyue was born under a lucky star? Yet the hardships she endured are too painful to speak of. Zhou Xiao's childhood sweetheart of a cousin, a concubine reborn, and a ma 4.9kReads8.8Score312Shelves
44. 144 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 95Reads8.5Score—Shelves
45. 145 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 306Reads9.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These are some of my favorite palace intrigue novels. ① I'm currently following one; it's a novel where the female lead is the only one who is favored from the start, she's clear-headed, and the male lead dotes on her immensely, ensuring she doesn't suffer any injustice [Sparrow Eater's masterpiece].

46. 146 技 The Concubine with Maxed-Out Skills Is Turning Herself into an Empress? 技能拉满的侍妾，卷成皇后了？ White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted Empress Wenzhao was a famously bewitching consort and the most talented empress. The way she has been judged and defined throughout her life has changed many times, but that has never diminished her status or the value of studying her. [System + Raising Kids + Relentless Competition] Thanks to being well fed at home, Qi Jiao was plump and rosy-cheeked. After a flood, she was sold into the palace as a maid, and when she got a little older, she was assigned to the empress’s palace. A few years lat 12.4kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
47. 147 带 Days in a Palace Drama with a System 带着系统在宫斗剧里的日子 Love Purple Rice Yogurt爱吃紫米酸奶Female-Channel Fanfiction1.1M WordsCompleted With a reincarnation System from the underworld, Shu Ning has no choice but to fight to survive through each mission. P.S. Everyone has their own writing style. This story is based on TV dramas, and the author’s writing may not suit everyone’s tastes. I hope every reader finds a story they love! This is the everyday life of a wage worker in a palace-intrigue novel. Primarily set in Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace and Empresses in the Palace... (It’s a slow transmigration story.) 3.1kReads8.5Score130Shelves
48. 148 只 As Long as You Can Act, You’re Bound to Become a Consort 只要演技好，贵妃之位没得跑 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted Lin Qingyan was the daughter of a marquis. Her father was the Marquis of Ding'an, a prominent figure at court, yet she had none of the fine clothes and luxurious comforts that should have come with her birth. She was merely an unloved concubine-born daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an’s household. A father who ignored the people and affairs of the inner quarters and cared only for his own pleasure; a ruthless legal wife who treated her concubine-born daughters harshly; and a half-sister who wante 1.6kReads8.6Score187Shelves
49. 149 综 A Comprehensive Qing Dynasty Journey: Splendid Elegance 综清穿：锦绣风华 Drunk in the Flower Fields花田醉Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted (Alternate Qing Dynasty setting + Space + System + Slow Travel Through Worlds + Strong Female Lead + Feel-Good Story) Her golden finger is seriously overpowered. She can torment anyone she likes, but never the heroine. There may not be a love interest in every world. (A quick heads-up: this is a Qing Dynasty crossover story. The heroine will transmigrate into all kinds of roles. If that's not your thing, feel free to leave. There's no need to tell the author you're dropping the story, or to stic 13.1kReads9.2Score749Shelves
50. 150 皇 The Empress Leaped to Her Death, and the Mad Tyrant Wept Until His Eyes Were Red 皇后纵身一跃，疯批暴君哭红了眼 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance635k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, devoted couple + palace intrigue + regretful pursuit, clear-headed heroine, everyone's unattainable ideal] Meng Tang is a gracious, gentle empress who never competes for favor. Everyone thinks she is a true white lotus standing tall in the harem, and even the tyrant believes it. He takes a new concubine, and she smiles, congratulates him, and arranges for the newcomer to spend the night with him. He sends her restorative medicine, and she obediently takes it, knowing full we 22kReads9.3Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Go check them out, every single one is incredibly good!

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