Intricate Power Plays and Mind-Bending Schemes 权谋做局烧脑文

1. 101 欲 Ascend to the Ninth Heaven 欲上云霄九重天 Reading Ink, Listening to the Wind读墨听风Historical2.5M WordsOngoing A coral pendant engraved with a fire phoenix emblem draws Qi Ming, a destitute youth who lives on credit at a teahouse in Tianque City, into a shocking secret plot sweeping across four kingdoms. The moment the iron hooves of the Longxiang Army smash through the door, he still has no idea that the token his parents left him is the “key” that can overturn the world. The grand machinations governing the realm have barged into his life without warning. From a tide of Gu poison in a dungeon to a pack 571Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Check this out! It's a political intrigue novel set in an alternate Eastern history. It constructs a complete world view, with distinct characters, a tight and fast-paced plot, and a very delicate portrayal of human nature and the human heart.

2. 102 何 Who Will Walk Beside Me Through the Night? 何人伴我夜间行 Raindrops Falling on the Eaves水滴落在屋檐上Ancient Romance880k WordsOngoing [Courtly schemes + wits and courage + fictional late Qing setting] Would you call her a ruthless, calculating schemer, or a refined young lady, educated and well-mannered? The unforgettable steward Jiao swears brotherhood with twelve heroes and establishes a stronghold. Hardship breeds hardship, but a chance encounter with spring can transform a fish into a dragon. Why did “Ji Liuniang” cast aside the “Liu” in her name, and what carried her to success? A shrewd and far-sighted minister of the co 9Reads7.2Score—Shelves

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   An orphaned girl takes charge of her family in a chaotic world; her childhood sweetheart, a military general, travels a thousand miles to join her; they share a deep mutual affection.

3. 103 恒 The Constant Register of Parables 恒籍寓鉴 Xuanyuan Badao轩辕霸道Modern Romance1.2M WordsOngoing Synopsis of The Book of Constant Records: Tales to Awaken the Mind and Discern the Truth With “drawing wisdom from the classics to illuminate the questions of today” as its guiding principle, this book selects over a hundred classic fables and anecdotes from the various schools of philosophy, historical biographies and notes, and folk tradition. These include “The Frog at the Bottom of the Well” from Zhuangzi, “Making Up the Numbers” from Han Feizi, and “The Man from Qi Who Worried the Sky Would 8Reads—Score—Shelves

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   During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, in Xinfeng Town, Jingzhao Prefecture, there lived a potter named Tao Zhong who possessed the family's traditional gray pottery skills. His father had always said, "Our pottery bowls must be fired solidly, so that rice won't spill and soup won't leak—that's the essence." Tao Zhong remembered this, spending his days by the kiln following the old recipe. The pottery bowls he fired were smooth and gleaming, but life became increasingly difficult. At that time, Xinfeng Town was bustling; the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing had just ended, and merchants were seeking out artisans to make novel items. A grain merchant approached Tao Zhong, saying he wanted to order a batch of patterned pottery urns, which would look nice and presentable when storing grain, and he was willing to pay an extra 20%. Tao Zhong shook his head: "The recipe my father passed down only fires plain urns. Decorative patterns are laborious and prone to cracking, so I won't make them." The grain merchant frowned and left, then immediately found a young potter from a neighboring village. The potter not only carved wheat ear patterns but also added a small lid to the urn's mouth, and the grain merchant immediately ordered two hundred. Tao Zhong watched the kiln fire in the neighboring village burn brightly every night, feeling anxious. He also heard that the nobles in Chang'an loved painted pottery teapots, which could sell for ten gold coins each—more than he earned firing bowls for half a month. He gritted his teeth, sold his family's stored grain, and scraped together money to buy cinnabar and malachite pigments. He then followed the trend and learned to make high-footed pottery teapots. But he hadn't figured out the properties of the pigments—cinnabar would turn black at high temperatures, and too much malachite would cause cracking. He also hadn't considered that the kiln temperature needed to be 20% lower than when firing gray pottery. The first batch of teapots either had patterns that were a blurry mess or were cracked, resembling a tear-stained face. The grain merchant couldn't be retained, and he lost all his capital. Tao Zhong squatted in front of the kiln, tears streaming down his face as he looked at the broken pottery shards. Someone advised him, "Go and find Old Hu in the east of the city. That old man has been making pottery all his life and also knows how to build houses. Maybe he can point you in the right direction." Tao Zhong, with half a bag of loose silver in his pocket, went to find him, his steps wet with dew. Old Hu's house was at the east end of Xinfeng Town. There was a small kiln in his yard, and next to it, an adobe house was under construction, with an old carpenter helping to nail the window frames. When Old Hu saw him, he didn't ask why, but first pointed to the newly built foundation: "Look at this foundation. I deliberately dug three feet down and filled it with broken pottery shards and rammed earth. For a house to stand, the foundation must be stable. It's like firing pottery; the clay must be kneaded thoroughly, otherwise it will definitely crack after firing—this is called 'air vent,' it's the root." Tao Zhong was stunned for a moment, remembering that when he followed the trend of making pottery teapots, he hadn't kneaded the clay for long enough, and quickly explained his difficulties. Old Hu led him to the kiln and picked up a freshly shaped clay piece: "What your father said about 'solid' is correct, but that doesn't mean you should stick to the old recipe. Just like when I built this house, the walls need to be thick to keep it warm, but the windows need to be left open, otherwise it will be stuffy in the summer and the moisture won't be able to escape in the winter, and the walls will become damp—you have to leave room for 'ventilation' in everything you do. That grain merchant wants patterns, you can just lightly carve a few lines on the plain urn, it won't take much work, and it won't lose the essence of solidity, why turn away the business?" As he spoke, the old potter showed him the window lattice: "Look at this wooden lattice. I left a gap of half a finger. If it were nailed shut tightly, the wind wouldn't get in, and the dampness in the room wouldn't dissipate; if the gap were too wide, it would let in drafts in winter. It's the same with making pottery teapots. If you want to earn money from the wealthy, you have to first thoroughly understand the properties of the pigments. Even if you fire ten or eight small teapots first to test the waters and figure out the temperature, then you can mass-produce them. How could you possibly ruin an entire kiln? I made that mistake when I was young. I saw others making money by making thin-walled pottery cups, so I rushed to finish them. As a result, the cups were so thin that they would break as soon as you picked them up. I lost money and gained a bad reputation—that's because I didn't define my own 'direction,' just staring at other people's paths and forgetting which path I could take." Tao Zhong finally realized his mistake. He stayed in the old potter's courtyard to do odd jobs, following along every day as he kneaded clay, shaped pottery, and watched the kiln fire. The old potter taught him, "We potters must first understand who we're making them for and what they're for. The wealthy want beautiful things, the common people want practical ones. Your family's craftsmanship is for the common people, so you should focus on making sure the common people's work is solid." Tao Zhong listened and began to refine his work based on the old pottery bowls: for farmers' bowls, he added a small notch to the rim for easy pouring of rice water; for women's basins, he carved shallow lines on the bottom to prevent slipping. He also learned to carve simple rice stalk patterns on pottery urns—effortless and pleasing to grain merchants. Once, the Imperial Stud from Chang'an came to Xinfeng Town to order pottery troughs for storing horse feed, requiring them to be sturdy yet lightweight. Other potters either made them too heavy or too thin, fearing cracking. Only Tao Zhong's troughs, made with clay mixed with fine sand, were lightweight and impact-resistant, and he even left a small drainage hole at the bottom for easy emptying of dirty water. The Imperial Stud was immediately satisfied and ordered fifty. The news spread, and townspeople and merchants from the surrounding area came to him to make pottery. Tao Zhong's kiln burned brightly again, even more bustling than before. Two years later, Old Hu's adobe house was completed. Tao Zhong came to help install the doors and windows. Seeing Old Hu adjusting the window gaps, he suddenly remembered his first visit. Old Hu smiled and said, "Is this house comfortable to live in? The foundation is solid, the windows are well-ventilated, it's not stuffy in summer, and not damp in winter." Tao Zhong nodded, stroking the freshly fired pottery bowl in his hand, and suddenly understood: people are like this house. They must first find their own "breathing space"—that is, the foundation for doing things—then determine their "direction"—know which path they should take, and not blindly follow the crowd. When doing things, they should leave some "breathing space" so as not to get stuck in dead ends. Only in this way can they stand firm and live a stable life. Later, when people in Xinfeng Town talked about Tao Zhong, they all said that his pottery was "pleasant to use and pleasing to the eye." Tao Zhong often told his apprentices, "When we make pottery, we are burning with conscience; when we are people, we are doing our duty. Only when the foundation is solid can we go far—this principle is the same as building a house."

4. 104 月 Dreams Beneath the Moon in Huazhou 月落梦华州 Wu Tinglan梧听澜Ancient Romance374k WordsOngoing Don’t worry about the rating. [Desert Romance + Powerful Leads Who Save Each Other + Ensemble Political Intrigue + Hilarious Love Triangle] After a sudden raid by bandits, Gong Langyue, a princess of the Xiao Kingdom, is taken captive in the desert. Everyone assumes this delicate young woman from the Southern Dynasty won’t survive the winter. But she not only survives, she thrives, and even turns a group of women stranded on the grasslands into her own team. She may not be skilled in combat, 201Reads8.2Score—Shelves

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   There are no mindless misunderstandings or melodramatic plots. It's a clash between grassland and Central Plains civilizations, with the male and female leads going through extremes. The male lead is arrogant and doesn't say nice things, but at the same time, he exposes his most vulnerable belly to her.

5. 105 裙 He Has Someone Else Kneeling at His Feet 裙下之臣他另有其人 Miss Lin Watches Movies观影林姑娘Ancient Romance231k WordsOngoing To uncover the truth behind her father and brother’s deaths in battle, she abandoned her life of finery and fine horses and spent five years plotting. She pointed her sword at his throat. “You were the only one I never doubted.” He smiled, running his fingers along the blade. “The road to kingship is paved with bones.” In that moment, she finally saw clearly: beyond the mist lay no truth, only the torture he had prepared for her with his own hands. The vast realm ran red as blood, but it could n 48Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Her father and brother were brutally murdered, her fiancé vanished, and the gentle protection of a prince became her downfall. Just as she fell in love, he married another for power. She abandoned love, using business as her weapon to enter the game, navigating the power struggles of the court and the martial world, where the truth is slowly revealed and fate seems inescapable.

6. 106 女 The Female Bank President's Last Resort 女行长的穷途末路 Xu Ci珝慈Modern Romance102k WordsCompleted A teller's act of withholding checks toppled the first domino in the bank run at Yunhai City Commercial Bank. Though bank president Ma Yuquan fought desperately to contain the crisis, she ultimately could not counter the enormous fallout from the sudden disappearance of the bank's major shareholder and the head of its controlling rural bank. Ma Yuquan sensed the situation was full of hidden twists and turns, yet never revealed the secret of who she had been with during her brief disappearance, w 947Reads9.3Score122Shelves

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   I recommend the novel "The Bank Manager's Dead End," a workplace romance with sophisticated political intrigue. It tells the story of Ma Yuquan, a bank manager who, initially ambitious and determined to serve her country through finance, is gradually swayed and loses herself in the face of power and unscrupulous capital, ultimately leading to her downfall. The novel is fast-paced, well-written, and richly plotted, featuring elements such as best friend stealing her boyfriend, the protagonist secretly giving birth at an advanced age while single, and scheming a legal adoption.

7. 107 官 A Lucky Man in Officialdom, the Leader's Trusted Aide 官场幸运儿，领导身边的红人 Top Wage Slave头号打工仔Urban1.8M WordsOngoing This is a political intrigue novel set in local government. When the young Qin Feng is appointed in a crisis through his family's connections and parachuted into Nanping County, he is met not with welcoming applause, but with constant exclusion and covert obstruction from all sides. Every step he takes is like walking on the edge of a blade. As power, money, and personal ties weave together into a web, some choose to go along with the corruption, while others swim against the current. Faced with 53.3kReads8.9Score4.2kShelves

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   Highly recommended! A very engaging novel about officialdom, definitely worth reading. A great book!

8. 108 本 At Home in Another Land 本国他乡 Liu Liu Jiang六六江Urban364k WordsCompleted Success doesn't depend entirely on ability. Sometimes, luck plays a much bigger role. If today's successful people had to start their businesses all over again, most of them probably wouldn't dare. This book tells the story of a man with thoroughly mediocre intelligence who defeats one cunning schemer after another. It can't help but make you wonder: between the clever and the foolish, who really has the upper hand? 62Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Intrigue and power struggles, a mind-bending and captivating story.

9. 109 百 Good for Nothing 百无二用 Liu Liu Jiang六六江Urban138k WordsCompleted This book is entirely made up. It does not refer to any person or event. If it happens to offend anyone, that is purely coincidental! If a scholar is useless in every way, what would it mean to be useless in every other way? Is there any truth to the saying that kindness cannot command an army and righteousness cannot manage wealth? Is the scariest thing in the world a thug who knows martial arts? There’s another possibility: a top student in a leadership position. Chen Xu, a core R&D team membe 31Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 110 我 I Don't Have Superpowers 我没有超能力 Liu Liu Jiang六六江Urban226k WordsCompleted This book is entirely fictional. There is no such thing as changing feng shui with traditional Chinese painting. Please don’t take it seriously; just enjoy it for fun! Mr. Liujiang was an ordinary, penniless painter until he met his master, Zhou Mingqi, who taught him a method for adjusting people’s feng shui and improving their fortunes. After five years of poverty, and with his master’s permission, Mr. Liujiang was finally able to use this supernatural ability to get rich. How did Mr. Liujiang 52Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 111 楚 Chu Yunxing 楚云行 Peng Hu彭胡Historical1.8M WordsOngoing [No transmigration, no System, no formulaic tropes, no brainless decisions, no invincible protagonist, no wish-fulfillment. Read with caution if these bother you.] The history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms + wuxia + political intrigue + a young hero’s legend + the mysterious Tang Mo Dao + homeland and humanity + love and hate + the traditional chapter-and-verse format = an epic historical wuxia saga of sweeping grandeur 56Reads—Score—Shelves

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    This book meets the requirements: a rare historical martial arts novel set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It features political intrigue, regional power struggles, martial arts romances, everyday life, and military battles. The characters are vividly portrayed, the historical research is rigorous, it follows the traditional chapter-based format, and it's free of system-based plots, time travel, or mindless tropes. A worthwhile new book to read.

12. 112 萨 Sardo 萨尔多 A Chirping Bird一只啼鸟Eastern Fantasy236k WordsCompleted This book is not suitable for children! As the Sacred Snow Mountain teeters on the brink of collapse, a young boy from the Saldo tribe unexpectedly awakens the “Eye of the Ancestors,” guarded by his people for a thousand years, and inherits the cultivation legacy left behind by the Ice River Immortal. He leads the remnants of the Saldo tribe on a deadly migration, fighting hordes of demon beasts on the Crescent Grassland, standing up to the brutal Wolf-Herding Demon Clan, forging alliances with 169Reads8.6Score—Shelves

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    Good book recommendation! High IQ Look at Saldo

13. 113 草 A Commoner Holds the Imperial Seal, So Let Me Be Rude 草民执玺，庶我无礼 Bread Fu Lu Wa面包福禄娃Historical1.1M WordsOngoing [Alternate history + political intrigue + factional strife + succession struggle + war] No System, no invincibility, no treasures, no special bloodline, no golden finger… nothing at all! From the start, all He Yan can say is “Ah!” He’s the unlucky soul who transmigrates into a book as a lowly slave on the frontier. Mired in the dirt, he’s caught in a time of chaos, with a life as cheap as an ant’s. When even a bowl of porridge and a meal of rice are no longer guaranteed, should he accept his fat 143Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A masterpiece of historical intrigue! The best historical research novel since the time of Mao Shilang! No system or cheat codes, just pure strategy and intellect battles, a slave in a chaotic world grows into a giant who controls the power of an empire!

14. 114 猎 Reborn Hunter: King of the Greater Khingan Range in 1976 猎户重生：1976大兴安岭猎王 King Haki Mi Nanbei哈基米大王南北Rural Life726k WordsOngoing Zhang Tieshan had gone three days without food when his uncle kicked him into the snow. The back of his head struck a rock, and blood spread across the ground. He had died once before. In his last life, he lived forty-three years and amounted to nothing. This time, his bloodline awakened. [Hunter King Bloodline, Tier One: Perception, activated] With his eyes closed, he could sense every living thing within a hundred meters, each one appearing in his mind like a star. He dug three frozen rabbits 19.1kReads7.4Score591Shelves

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    I dug up a very good book called "The House of Blood", an ancient strategy strategy, and fell in love immediately after reading a few chapters! The bond between twin sisters is too irritating, the family suffers, and the blood feud weighs on the shoulders of the two girls. The charming young lady who once lived in the boudoir was forced to struggle and grow up in the darkness. They are calm and tolerant, dealing with powerful ministers and traitors in a troubled world where people are unpredictable, and every step is like walking on thin ice. There are not only exciting court battles in the article, but also undercurrents in the world. The characters are three-dimensional and vivid, and the villain is not a tool. The road to revenge is never smooth. There are sacrifices, choices, and misunderstandings. However, the sisters are united and vow to seek justice for the souls of the family. If you like the heroine's revenge novel, don't miss it.

15. 115 我 I Only Wanted to Be a Lowly Soldier, but My Strength Wouldn’t Let Me 我只想当个小兵，奈何实力不允许 Fish Fruit Orange鱼果橙Ancient Romance224k WordsOngoing [Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Male Lead + Male Rivalry + Palace and Household Intrigue, but with Men + Political Scheming + Light Comedy + Underdog's Rise + Satisfying Revenge + No Female Lead + Multiple Couples + Ensemble Cast + Everyone Is Evil] In the chaotic era of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the North and South wage war without end. At court, great aristocratic families scheme against one another. Beyond the border, flames of war blaze, and human lives are worth no more than grass. Han Su —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The recommended novel features Han Su, who betrays six different regimes. Each time, he not only escapes unscathed but also gains even greater power. Those he betrays ultimately fail, while this "traitor" remains unshaken, perpetually wielding power and wealth.

16. 116 少 The Young Judge of Cases 少年青天断案录 Hermit of the Cave Peak洞顶山人Mystery567k WordsCompleted [Mystery and Crime Solving] [Court and Jianghu] [Political Scheming and Wits]… A bizarre, earth-shaking case shattered twenty-seven years of peace in the Great Yan Dynasty. In a single day, three prefects of Jingnan Circuit died under mysterious circumstances. Xu Xinghe, the nineteen-year-old Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was entrusted with the task in a moment of crisis and sent to investigate the southern frontier with the emperor’s sword. After enduring countless dangers and pain 2.4kReads—Score194Shelves

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    Suspenseful crime-solving, political intrigue, and the treacherous world of martial arts and the imperial court. Everyone is intelligent, no harem elements, no system. Layer upon layer of twists and turns, every step suspenseful!

17. 117 天 Supreme Destiny 天命最高 Sweet Dream Feather甜梦羽Historical180k WordsCompleted He was the “Qin dog” everyone in Handan hated, a hostage who trembled in his mother’s arms. Before the age of nine, he lived for one reason alone: to avoid being beaten to death by the people of Zhao. Then one day, his father died, and he became the King of Qin. The road back to Xianyang was strewn with thorns: his grandmother wanted to depose him, his younger brother wanted him dead, powerful ministers treated him like a puppet, and the queen dowager and her lover controlled the inner palace. H 10Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Who could have imagined that Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who conquered all before him, spent the first half of his life in misery? Returning to power, he faced enemies on all sides, forging his path to the throne through ruthless means. His heart was as hard as iron, unmoved by emotions, except for his deep affection for Epang, for whom he promised her the entire empire as his dowry. Just as he stabilized the court, a sudden crisis struck, forcing him to make a difficult choice between his empire and his lover.

18. 118 江 An Ordinary Man’s Path Through the Martial World 江湖凡人路 Disciple of Wang Mi王酩之徒Historical375k WordsOngoing This is my first long novel. The early chapters move slowly, but they follow an essential part of the characters’ emotional journeys. After much deliberation, I decided to keep them. Feel free to skip the prologue and start with Chapter One. I hope you’ll understand. On the execution ground, I, Timur, a gifted blacksmith, had become a condemned prisoner. The common folk cursed me for cutting corners and causing the deaths of soldiers on the frontier. My parents knelt below the platform, sobbi 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    🔥🔥Although the book is obscure, it's genuinely well-written, with excellent prose, a thrilling start, a high-energy guillotine scene, family constraints, and historical intrigue.

19. 119 宁 Ning Jinge 宁烬歌 Calm as Ever冷静如斯Ancient Romance699k WordsOngoing [Female commander × top-tier spy and assassin | Two equally matched leads | Court intrigue and the martial world | Standing together in troubled times | Devoted 1v1 romance] The sweeping scale of a male-oriented story, with the emotional depth of a female-oriented one. Fast-paced and tightly plotted, with no filler or dragging. The political intrigue is logical, and long-laid clues are brought back into play. A serious world with lighthearted, hilarious everyday moments, and an incredibly sweet 377Reads8.5Score103Shelves

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    After eight years of dormancy, the story finally erupts, and the love-hate relationship between the young marshal and the spy captivates the audience!

20. 120 盛 The Prosperous Era's Medical Detective 盛世谋医神探 Xiaoyao Lingzi逍遥凌子Ancient Romance423k WordsOngoing Tang Wei, a top modern forensic pathologist, unexpectedly transmigrates into the body of an ancient criminal's daughter who shares her name. The original Tang Wei's family was confiscated after her father became embroiled in an imperial examination cheating scandal. She was reduced to a government servant and took her own life in despair. When Tang Wei wakes up, she is immediately trapped in a desperate situation: her status as a government servant leaves her as lowly as dust, and the shadow of 3Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A highly recommended book! Witness the heroine's journey to success and write her own legendary life story! Highly recommended!

21. 121 长 The Legend of Shen He of Chang'an 长安禾火之沈禾传奇 Xiaoyao Lingzi逍遥凌子Historical17k WordsCompleted The Legend of Shen He of Chang'an 3Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 122 霓 The Brocade Gambit: A Record of Power Plays in the Tang Dynasty 霓裳弈：大唐权谋录 Xiaoyao Lingzi逍遥凌子Ancient Romance14k WordsCompleted Silk and Strategy: A Record of Tang Dynasty Power Plays 2Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 123 双 The Twin-Pupil Covenant: Throne of Thorns 双瞳盟约之荆棘王座 Xiaoyao Lingzi逍遥凌子37k WordsCompleted The Covenant of Twin Pupils: The Thorn Throne —Reads—Score—Shelves
24. 124 失 The Amnesiac Sword Immortal 失忆剑仙 Xiaoyao Lingzi逍遥凌子24k WordsCompleted The Amnesiac Sword Immortal 3Reads—Score—Shelves
25. 125 我 I Build My Fortune with Spatial Powers 我用空间做大做强 Qingge Wine卿歌酒Ancient Romance128k WordsOngoing Brave and resourceful, Hua Yanxi uses her wits to root out corrupt villains and teach trashy men and women a lesson. She builds her business with the help of her spirit spring space, opens medical clinics and restaurants serving gourmet food, befriends young heroes, and helps bridge the civilizations of different worlds… Friends who seem warm and close on the surface are secretly scheming, each with their own agenda. With only three parts truth and seven parts wariness and calculation, how can —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Hua Yanxi, the resourceful daughter of the Minister of Revenue, is no naive girl. She outwits and outmaneuvers treacherous officials, skillfully utilizing spatial resources to grow her fortune and achieve wealth. How does this master of space embody love, hate, anger, joy, sorrow, and everything in between? Reading this book is the perfect way to inspire yourself and develop your shrewdness! 😍

26. 126 皇 Ming Dynasty Natives Versus Transmigrators 皇明土著大战穿越众 Would You Dare Say Yes?叫你敢答应吗Historical3.7M WordsOngoing Current plot: A newcomer to officialdom enters the inner circle as a pawn, but refuses to settle for mediocrity and wants to break free of his constraints. By chance, he gets caught up in turmoil on the frontier, where three hundred battered soldiers rout thirty thousand northern invaders. Zheng Zhi, a household retainer of the Zhen Ding Guard under the Ming rear army's Governor's Office, dreams of himself sixty years in the future. From then on, the Ming Dynasty gains a peerless talent in both 170Reads8.2Score—Shelves

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    Intrigue and backstabbing.

27. 127 冒EN Impostor of the Langya Clan 冒姓琅琊 Eastern Zhou Young Master Nan东周公子南Historical1.6M WordsOngoing (Also known as “The Matter of Me Pretending to Be a Nobleman of the Southern Dynasties”) To transmigrate isn’t a dinner party. It’s a deadly game at every turn. The south is beautiful, yet lofty ambitions often fade away. Since ancient times, the Southern Dynasties have been weak, their heroes short-lived. No golden finger, no System, and no second chance at life. Everything starts from zero! Original owner’s memories: none! Identity: none! Supplies: none! When transmigration becomes reality, ho 497.6kReads9.7Score72.9kShelves

    Reader note

    ✨Who understands this? The revenge storyline of twin sisters in a historical drama is truly exhilarating! ✨I've recently been reading "[Bloodstained Family] Twin Sisters Return Amidst Bloodshed," and I'm completely captivated by these twin sisters! Their family's downfall forces them apart, yet they are tempered into the sharpest blades in the face of adversity. The drastically different survival trajectories of the older and younger sisters, along with the parallel narrative, make it impossible to put down. From pampered young ladies to returning amidst bloodshed, they support each other through power struggles and conspiracies. This mutual sisterly bond is both heart-wrenching and incredibly inspiring! Sisters who enjoy historical dramas with political intrigue and strong female protagonists seeking revenge, don't miss this promising book! Let's wait and see them stir up the world together!

28. 128 无 The Fearless Know No Boundaries 无畏者行无疆界 Vigorous Distant Mountain元气远山Urban563k WordsCompleted This book is a companion to "The Officialdom and Human Nature". It begins with the romance between college students Qiao Songyang and Su Nian, blending the schemes and cunning of the political and business worlds: anything goes, profit comes first, and the ruthless and calculating stop at nothing. It completes the story left unfinished in the first book. 14Reads—Score—Shelves

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    This book closely follows reality, with vivid and relatable character portrayals, tightly interwoven conflicts, and excellent descriptions of the characters' language and mindsets. It contains numerous life lessons, from which the reader can benefit greatly. The protagonist, though born into poverty, possesses lofty ambitions and calmly overcomes setbacks in his career; those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with temporary gains or losses. You might also consider reading "Towards Glory."

29. 129 官 Officialdom and Human Nature 官场与人性 Vigorous Distant Mountain元气远山Urban470k WordsCompleted The Woman Who Studied the Art of War: Born in the countryside to an ordinary family, the heroine starts out as a hotel lobby manager. By studying the art of war in depth and making full use of her intelligence and abilities, she fights bravely and ultimately transforms her life in spectacular fashion. Along the way, she displays extraordinary courage and perseverance, taking readers on an inspiring, legendary journey from obscurity to success. 115Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 130 走 Toward Glory 走向辉煌 Vigorous Distant Mountain元气远山Urban558k WordsCompleted Born into a poor family, Ma Zhiyuan enters government after graduating from college and faces danger at every turn. With an indomitable will and a deep understanding of life, he carves a path through the political arena, presses forward at work, finds love in his personal life, and ultimately turns his life around, achieving a brilliant career. 77Reads—Score—Shelves
31. 131 天 A Catastrophic Start: I’m Forced to Marry a Lame, Mad King 天崩开局，我被迫嫁给瘸腿癫王 Who Says Immortality Must Be Lonely?谁说长生需寂寞Ancient Romance806k WordsOngoing [One-on-one, both with no past relationships: the woman transmigrates into a book, pretending to be a vixen but really just a laid-back slacker; the man is reborn, pretending to be a madman but secretly a true romantic. They spar and fall in love, flirt to the extreme, enjoy endless sweet indulgence, and clash over court politics.] No bitter drama, just sweet, over-the-top romance. Their clashes are mostly battles of wits. Su Xu accidentally transmigrates into a book and becomes a cannon-fodder —Reads—Score131Shelves

    Reader note

    A reborn evil king returns with memories of his past life, intending to rewrite the tragedy, but is completely overwhelmed by the "laid-back quotes" of the transmigrated woman. Her statement, "Your ambition is too great for me to contain," immediately puts the cunning tycoon's revenge plan on hold. In a world of political intrigue where everyone is shrewd, this pair of lovable goofballs manage to turn their lives into a comedy!

32. 132 荆 The Wind Rises in Jingdu, Awaiting the Coming Rain 荆都风来待雨临 Rain Falls on Jingdu雨落荆都Historical1.9M WordsOngoing Overnight, a young blacksmith from a shop in Shengang becomes the last surviving grandson of a powerful family of scholars, whose influence once reached the highest halls of government. A pigeon’s whistle marks the way home, and old books conceal a conspiracy. With a nameless sword in hand, carrying his grandfather’s hopes and his adoptive father’s instructions, he steps into the turbulent world of Jingdu. The Shanfu Academy, deep within the Imperial College, is no ordinary place of learning. It 105Reads8.7Score125Shelves

    Reader note

    A story of ancient Chinese political intrigue, court politics, and the struggle for supremacy!

33. 133 刘 Liu Bowen: Tides of Fortune in the Imperial Court 刘伯温之宦海沉浮 Gurgling Spring泉之淙淙Historical565k WordsCompleted Liu Bowen: Rising and Falling in the Sea of Officialdom abandons the magical realism commonly used in earlier works about Liu Bowen. Its main approach is realism, with touches of romanticism. Following the ups and downs of Liu Bowen’s official career, and set against the peasant uprisings led by Fang Guozhen, Xu Shouhui, Wu Chengqi, and others, it offers a many-sided portrait of the vibrant world of the late Yuan dynasty. It depicts both the contests of wits and political maneuvering among strat 167Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A political intrigue novel, mind-bending.

34. 134 影 Shadows over the Hall of Loyalty 影落忠义楼 Yang Ximo阳夕陌Martial Arts557k WordsCompleted [Shadow Guard’s Rise + Court Intrigue and the Martial World + Stunning Beauties] He is the sharpest shadow guard in Prince Night Falcon’s hands. With his Feihong Sword, he has spilled countless drops of blood and never once failed. During a mission, he meets Mu Yao, a tender moonlight in a turbulent age, and then catches the fiery starlight in Shen Siyue’s eyes, a beacon of hope in utter despair. Little does he know that from the moment they met, Tong Xinling, an attendant of the Ruyi Tower, has 84Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Chapter 223 [The Master of Ruyi Pavilion Appears] Chapter 224 [Hidden Power Struggle in the Imperial Court] I'm not exaggerating when I say this book. If you calmly read just twenty chapters, you'll be completely engrossed, unable to tear yourself away, as if you've personally stepped into that world of swords and shadows, becoming a part of the martial arts world. This book features a young shadow guard as the protagonist, wielding a flying sword that has drunk countless lives without ever missing its mark. It intertwines the swordplay of the martial world with the undercurrents of the imperial court, featuring a tight plot, crisp fights, tense confrontations on the brink of life and death, and delicate, moving moments of romance!

35. 135 局 The Bureau's Twin Years: A Record of Strange Herb Mysteries in the Martial World 局编双年：奇草谜案江湖录 Forge a Sword from Scales and Cleave the Universe逆鳞作剑斩乾坤Mystery436k WordsOngoing (Not a power fantasy + no System + plot-driven + crime-solving and deduction + mind-bending twists) (The author spent a full year crafting all the murder cases. They’re sure to be gripping and mind-bending, so enjoy!) One year ago, on a dark night, I was a lowly cleaner working in the City Lord’s Hall when I was dragged into a murder targeting the three great families. Everyone said I was the killer! One year later, by day, I’d turned my fortunes around and become deputy director of the Security 19Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A suspenseful mystery with a madcap plot. The author has poured half a year of painstaking effort into creating a perfect frame-up murder case. It's absolutely thrilling and mind-bending, leaving you guessing the killer's methods and the truth behind it all!

36. 136 从 From Frontier Army Officer to Conquering the World 从边军校尉开始征战天下 Seven Blades七刃Historical1.4M WordsOngoing Modern-day office drone Qin Chuan transmigrates to the Great Zhou Dynasty, only to find himself from the start a low-ranking officer at Tianxiong Pass! With barbarian cavalry pounding at the border from without and court intrigue framing him from within, he has no System or golden finger, only a modern mindset and a ruthless, iron-blooded streak. Others say a border officer is a pawn with nowhere to go, but he is determined to make his move, break through the frontier, purge treacherous official 2.2kReads6.7Score137Shelves

    Reader note

    This book features detailed psychological descriptions of the characters!

37. 137 左 Zuo Zongtang: The Late Qing Dynasty's Last Hawk 左宗棠：晚清最后的鹰派 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical271k WordsCompleted At its heart, this book is about a practical-minded reformer amid the upheavals of the late Qing dynasty. Spanning the years from 1812 to 1885, it vividly portrays the extraordinary life of Zuo Zongtang, from a poor scholar in Xiangyin to a high-ranking provincial official. The book recounts his early studies of statecraft and his years of obscurity after failing the metropolitan examination three times. It also details his military career: raising the Chu Army to suppress the Taiping Rebellion 15.8kReads8.6Score876Shelves

    Reader note

    A captivating historical novel filled with political intrigue; extremely exciting.

38. 138 和 Heshen: Master of Power 和珅：权力的玩家 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical631k WordsCompleted As a miniature reflection of the power structure during the Qianlong era, Heshen's life was forever entangled in the shadow of absolute imperial authority and the deep-rooted ills of the bureaucracy. From a penniless orphan living under another's roof in Lvrou Hutong to rising to the center of power through his gift for languages and financial acumen, his ascent was shaped by both the banner system and the emperor's political machinations. He was once a capable official who cleaned up the Minist 5.6kReads8.7Score420Shelves
39. 139 皇 Hong Taiji: The Founding Emperor of the Qing Dynasty 皇太极：清朝开国皇帝 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical332k WordsCompleted Emperor Hong Taiji: Founder of the Qing Dynasty follows the extraordinary life of Hong Taiji, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty. From the birth of the eldest son in Hetu Ala in 1592 to Hong Taiji's death in Shengjing in 1643, the book vividly portrays his transformation from a young beile to Emperor Taizong of the Great Qing. He fought alongside his father as a youth and first distinguished himself at the Battle of Sarhu. After succeeding to the throne, he abolished old practices, establi 4.6kReads7.9Score117Shelves
40. 140 雍 The Yongzheng Dynasty: A Storm of Reform in the Forbidden City 雍正王朝：紫禁城里的改革风暴 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical295k WordsCompleted Late one night at the Garden of Tranquil Spring, Kangxi died. Longkodo announced the decree, the Eighth Prince's faction stirred in the shadows, and Yinsi's brother Yinti confronted him in fury. The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, ascended the throne as the Yongzheng Emperor amid rumors that he had altered the edict and usurped the throne, facing the corrupt bureaucracy and empty treasury Kangxi had left behind. During his thirteen years on the throne, he was a lonely reformer: battling the Eighth Princ 3.3kReads7.5Score100Shelves
41. 141 少 The Young Emperor: Shunzhi 少年天子：顺治皇帝 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical311k WordsCompleted This novel vividly recounts the short life of Fulin, the first emperor after the Qing entered the Pass. He ascends the throne at six, a puppet ruler under Dorgon’s regency, quietly gathering strength to rule in his own right amid the power struggles between Shengjing and the Forbidden City. After taking power at fourteen, he promotes a policy of “governing the Han with Han,” appoints Han officials, revises the laws, and attempts to “spread the tax burden across the population.” Yet conservative 4kReads7.8Score100Shelves
42. 142 永 Emperor Yongle: The Iron-Blooded Throne and a Grand Vision of Prosperity 永乐大帝：铁血王座与盛世宏图 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical210k WordsCompleted As we turn the pages of Ming dynasty history, the Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, is undoubtedly one of its most controversial and legendary rulers. A prince of the imperial family, he raised an army to quell the rebellion and seized the throne amid the flames of war. After ascending the throne, he devoted himself to governing and ushered in the “Yongle Golden Age,” yet his iron-fisted methods and centralized rule also left their mark on history. Spanning the years from 1360 onward, this book is divided 1.1kReads7.8Score—Shelves
43. 143 李 Li Hongzhang: The Plasterer of the Qing Empire 李鸿章：大清帝国的裱糊匠 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical626k WordsCompleted This is a sweeping historical portrait of Li Hongzhang's life, built around the metaphor of “learning to steer on a broken ship.” Beginning with a newborn's cries in the Li family home in Luzhou in 1823 and ending with his lonely final days at Xianliang Temple in 1901, the book follows the course of time to recreate the turbulent life of this high-ranking official of the late Qing. He was an ambitious scholar pursuing success in the imperial examinations, who honed his character under Zeng Guofa 3.6kReads7.9Score220Shelves
44. 144 嘉 Emperor Jiaqing: Turmoil in an Era of Preserving the Status Quo 嘉庆皇帝：守成时代的风雨飘摇 Good Fortune and Happiness Beijing吉祥如意北京Historical460k WordsCompleted At a pivotal moment when the Qing dynasty was turning from prosperity to decline, one emperor remained shrouded in the mists of history. He inherited the fading glory of the “Qianlong Golden Age,” yet faced a dynasty riddled with hidden problems. He was determined to reform and root out corruption, but struggled to overcome the deep-seated rigidity of the system. He was the last “guardian of the dynasty’s legacy” in Chinese history, and a firsthand witness to the first signs of crisis on the eve 2.3kReads7.4Score116Shelves
45. 145 赘 The Scholar Son-in-Law 赘婿书生 The Mountains and Seas Are Heartless山海无情Eastern Fantasy168k WordsOngoing Lu He transmigrated to ancient times and only wanted to pass the scholar's exam, lie flat, and live like a carefree nobody. But then an unexpected "act of gratitude" came his way: two hundred mounted soldiers abducted him to the capital to become the "orphan of a fallen hero." It turned out his father had saved the Duke of Protecting the Nation's life at the cost of his own? Staring at a restroom more luxurious than his old home and servants whose salaries could buy several villages, Lu He was d —Reads—Score744Shelves

    Reader note

    If you're looking for something to read, give this a try ❤️ It's considered pretty good on Tomato Books. It's a historical fiction story about political intrigue where every move counts! It's satisfying, but not the mindless kind of satisfying; this one is intellectually stimulating, and the writing style is interesting and easy to read.

46. 146 锦 Wealth and Power: The Concubine's Merchant's Scheme 锦绣钱权：庶女商谋录 Little Hejian小禾尖Ancient Romance721k WordsCompleted From five taels in her private stash to wielding control over the empire’s finances, she relied on the simplest principle: Everything in the world can be calculated. Human greed, tangled interests, the rise and fall of dynasties: it is all just a ledger waiting to be tallied. 69Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Using calculation as her blade and wealth as her path, the illegitimate daughter navigates each step with meticulous planning, wielding immense power and wealth in a world where political intrigue and business warfare coexist seamlessly.

47. 147 王 The King’s Way: Who Can Stand Against Me? 王之道谁与争锋 I Am Wild吾狂尔Historical260k WordsOngoing He is Zhao De, the empire's fourth prince, raised in luxury and wanting for nothing. Yet, by imperial decree, he assumes a false identity, abandons the dignity of his princely rank, and joins the army on the battlefield. Starting as an unknown soldier at the very bottom, he fights bloody battles on the frontier and narrowly escapes death time and again. Together with brothers-in-arms who share his life and death, he rises step by step amid the smoke and chaos of war. In the mortal world, he 1Reads—Score—Shelves
48. 148 岚 Godfather of Lancheng: Starting Out Hauling Cargo at the Docks 岚城教父：从码头杠包开始 Don't Feed Me Candy If You Don't Like It不爱吃糖别喂我Urban368k WordsOngoing [Underworld power plays + passion + no System + battles of wits + multiple heroines + unconventional twists] P.S. This is neither a mindless power fantasy nor a story about an invincible protagonist!!! Jiang Liechen arrives in Lanzhou and becomes the new leader of a gang. On day one, he punishes the wicked and beats a traitor to death. On day two, he wins over the gang leader’s wife and takes control of the gang. On day three, he purges both the underworld and the authorities, leaving his enemie —Reads9.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The allure of gray power is vividly portrayed in this book. The protagonist is not a perfect hero, but a lone wolf walking in the darkness, cleansing the world in his own way.

49. 149 亿 A Billion Schemes 亿万权谋 Autumn of Harvest丰收之秋Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted She was a girl whose life had once been destroyed by the powerful. Now she is reborn in the global capital markets. Returning as a hunter, she uses financial maneuvering, technological weapons, and psychological warfare to precisely target the masterminds behind her downfall and tear open the most secret, darkest corners of the world of capital. But as she closes in on the truth, she discovers that this game of power is far more unfathomable than she ever imagined... Genius-level intelligence + 17Reads7.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The most hidden corners of the capital market... Are always piercing and incisive...

50. 150 昨 Yesterday Flowed into the City 昨日流入城 Thorny Bougainvillea有刺三角梅Urban3.0M WordsCompleted [Officialdom] + [Workplace] + [Business World] + [Family] A scholar, two business magnates, three boxing champions, four great families, the Gao family's five tigers, the Twelve Beauties of Jiangling, and 108 concubines... A man who had lost all hope and decided to lie flat is thrust into officialdom overnight, only to become the talk of the whole city as he indulges in wine, women, wealth, and power... Where does his path ultimately lead? Will there be an ending? 293Reads9.2Score366Shelves

    Reader note

    It's pretty good... Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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