Any Good Political Scheming Novels? Palace Intrigue That Takes Brains Is Fine Too! 有没有好看的权谋文啊！用脑子的宫斗也成

1. 1 南 South Branches Toward Dusk, The Regent Has Been Plotting This for Ages 南枝向晚，摄政王他蓄谋已久 Doudou from Zhongyue Province中月省的逗逗Ancient Romance726k WordsCompleted [Just received a rating] Complete ◎ [Revenge after being reborn + mastery of medicine and poison + powerful leads who cherish each other + everyone’s a schemer + palace intrigue and political machinations] Important: No stupid villains. Everyone has eight hundred tricks up their sleeve, and the battle of wits is at its peak! In her previous life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s family, was blind to the truth. She used a forbidden technique to save a scumbag man, dr 23kReads8.8Score2.6k14d adds

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   A female-centric power struggle novel, everyone is cunning and scheming, a top-tier battle of wits ◔.̮◔✧. Completed, Rebirth and Revenge + Healing and Poisoning Mastery + Two Strong Couples Mutual Pampering + Everyone is Cunning + Palace Intrigue and Power Struggle] Highlight: No villains with low intelligence, everyone is cunning and scheming, a peak battle of wits! In her past life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, was blinded and used forbidden techniques to save her scumbag husband, exhausting her life force. In return, she found him secretly having an affair with her scheming cousin, causing her entire Shen family to perish! Reborn, she holds silver needles, returning to the day she used poison to prolong her husband's life. Facing her husband's expectation and her cousin's feigned tears, Shen Nanzhi coldly withdrew her needles: "I won't cure the poison. Since my cousin is so deeply in love, why don't you bleed her flesh?" In this life, she tears off the disguise, possessing unparalleled healing and poisoning skills, able to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded! Xiao Duo, the Regent of Dayuan, a powerful and invincible ruler, was suffering from a rare poison. Shen Nanzhi threw down the antidote, her voice cold and arrogant: "Your Majesty, I will save your life. Lend me your blade to slaughter all the demons and monsters, how about it?" The world believed that the Duke's daughter was merely a delicate canary in the palm of the living devil's hand. Only when powerful officials took center stage, and deadly schemes unfolded one after another, did everyone realize with horror—the seemingly fragile Shen Nanzhi was actually a master strategist, a female Zhuge Liang who controlled the world with flawless tactics! She entrusted her life to him back-to-back, slaying gods and demons alike, manipulating the entire court with ease! When the bloody path was cleaved through, the world was at peace. The ruthless regent, who struck fear into the hearts of all under heaven, shed his menacing aura and held her tightly in his arms, his voice low and hoarse with madness: "Zhizhi, the realm is settled. This vast and beautiful land is my dowry; when will you finally give me a title?!" —A ruthless and decisive medical and poison queen × A crazed regent who bows down to her; together, they join forces to slaughter all demons and monsters!

2. 2 凤 The Phoenix Rules the World: Husbands, Kneel and Hear My Decree 凤临天下：夫君们跪下听旨 Qingxiang Zimo青葙子墨Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted In the middle years of the Dayin dynasty, imperial authority has waned, border troubles are mounting, and the court and the martial world are tangled together. Shen Jinghong, eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household, grew up training alongside her father, Shen Zhan, a great general who commands a powerful army. She is versed in military strategy and skilled in medicine and poison, and secretly controls the martial world intelligence network known as the Netherworld Pavilion. —Reads—Score—14d adds

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   (Multiple Male Lead Bonds) "This empire, I will claim; this revenge, I will avenge; as for you—" Shen Jinghong returns reborn, her eyes filled with only coldness and sharpness, unexpectedly stirring the hearts of several chosen ones. The gentle and reserved Third Prince, Xiao Jingyuan, becomes involved in power struggles for her sake, willingly becoming a pawn; the unruly grassland wolf king, Helian Zhao, falls for her in the enemy camp, offering a sacrifice to the heavens to propose marriage; the mysterious and unpredictable Lord of the Netherworld Pavilion, Lu Junxie, protects her with his life, bound by a bond of life and death; the skillful and compassionate Imperial Physician, Yan Zhixuan, helps her break through the predicament with his medical expertise, silently protecting her. From mutual testing to mutual entrustment, she is the linchpin of power, and the object of everyone's affections. Intrigue and deep affection...

3. 3 灯 When the Lanterns Fade, the Calamity Ends 灯明劫尽 Rui Xuan睿暄Ancient Romance859k WordsOngoing [Two strong leads, brilliant strategists, devoted only to each other, revenge, dual identities, dual personalities, an alternate world not based on any historical dynasty, plenty of witty flirting] She is the eldest princess, rumored to be cherished by all, yet she witnessed her mother spend her life being manipulated by the man she loved. Gentle and composed on the surface, she excels at reading people and understands human nature. To stir up the court, she will stop at nothing. She will destro 2kReads9.3Score26914d adds

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   Ancient Chinese political intrigue, two strong individuals, and thoughtful individuals.

4. 4 独 The Lone Phoenix 独凰 A Lifetime of Xu Xuyi许栩一生Historical220k WordsOngoing [Sole Protagonist + Political Intrigue] Within the imperial family, there have never been brothers, only prisoners and hunters. Crown Prince Chu Lianguang has only just entered the Eastern Palace. On the surface, the princes serve together and get along like brothers. In secret, the Third Prince schemes with deep cunning, while the Fifth Prince commands troops and acts with impunity. Other princes are watching from the sidelines, closing in step by step, all with their sights set on the Eastern 8Reads—Score—14d adds

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   [Historical Fiction + Palace Intrigue] Tomato's original historical fiction novel! The Eastern Palace is the center of the vortex. Crown Prince Chu Lianguang outwardly "pays homage to the emperor" but secretly maneuvers between the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince—this grand drama of raising treacherous officials in the Eastern Palace reaches its climax right from the start!

5. 5 太 The Crown Prince’s One and Only: The Bewitching Consort Captures His Heart and Claims Her Place 太子独宠，尤物娘娘缚心上位 YQ Lazy Little CatYQ小懒猫Ancient Romance749k WordsOngoing [Unhinged, Ruthless Heroine + Cold, Scheming, Obsessive Crown Prince + Palace Intrigue] [Before the heroine entered the palace, the hero already had wives and concubines, but the emperor had forced them on him for political reasons. He only went through the motions with them, and their relationships were in name only.] [Readers who mind this should proceed with caution] She was the legitimate daughter of the Luo family, breathtakingly beautiful. But when her father demoted her mother to a concub 2.4kReads—Score18814d adds

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   A pure palace intrigue thriller. The female protagonist was disliked by her father from a young age and bullied by her stepmother and stepsisters. She's good at feigning weakness but is actually quite skilled. She enters the Eastern Palace through the imperial concubine selection, scheming step by step, testing the waters with the Crown Prince, and eventually winning his exclusive favor. The author's writing is excellent, making it a very enjoyable read. I stayed up all night to follow the updates!

6. 6 太 The Crown Prince Is a Treasure Trove, but She Flirts and Runs 太子浑身是宝，但她撩完就跑 Nine Strokes, Then a Horizontal Line九笔横才Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Clever revenge + ensemble court drama + male lead fakes his death and reveals his identity, then goes mad + heroine is his one true love] [Power couple comedy | Strategic mind games | All the right ingredients | Fictional setting] Axiang, a huntress, bought herself a live-in husband. He was handsome, with a fine figure and a noble, radiant air, like an immortal crane descended from the heavens, or a jade-faced gentleman from a storybook. But he had no idea how to show affection. When she offer 1.6kReads9.2Score19814d adds

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   This book features a female lead with unparalleled strategic brilliance, practically a brain teaser. It's packed with tropes, the villains aren't stupid, and the female supporting characters don't compete for power. It's a career-driven female lead x a romance-obsessed male lead. The plot is delicious and the power struggles are captivating.

7. 7 薄 The Coldhearted Empress: Her Royal Husbands Marry Her, but Don’t Love Her 薄情女帝，皇夫们只娶不爱 Meng Ai Yuqi梦爱宇琦Ancient Romance604k WordsCompleted [Strong female emperor]+ [Ancient-style political intrigue]+ [Palace intrigue with twists]+ [An entire cast of unhinged beauties]+ [Male leads are virgins] She is Xiao Jingli, the female emperor of Great Zhao, with the realm in her hands and the power of life and death at her command. Her harem is a chessboard. The three thousand beautiful men are not the emperor's prisoners, but living pieces on her political game board. The refined and gentle young nobleman; The proud, untamed son of a militar 1.2kReads9.3Score11714d adds

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   On the surface, they vie for favor, but in reality, they fight for power. A series of schemes involving poison and love potions unfold, and a group of mad beauties secretly battle the empress.

8. 8 与 Playing Chess with You: The Phoenix's Power 与君奕：凰权 Jiang Tanluoyue江潭落月Ancient Romance369k WordsCompleted (The rating has only just opened and will rise later) “Political intrigue + evenly matched leads + marriage before love + traditional war for supremacy in a chaotic age + ensemble cast + powerful female lead + nation and family” In these chaotic times, even a monarch can hardly hope for a lifetime of peace. Crowned heir to the throne at six, named crown prince at eight, and enthroned at twelve, Yan Xi was the “future savior of the Yan Kingdom” foretold by an astrologer, blessed with the Purple 227Reads8.0Score—14d adds

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   A pure ancient romance novel featuring two powerful characters vying for supremacy in a chaotic world, where everyone is incredibly intelligent.

9. 9 墨 The Ink Moon Halberd: Love and Revenge in the Western Regions 墨月戟：西域情仇 White Rice Dumpling白水粽Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [No AI, entirely written by hand; court intrigue and an ensemble cast, with a traditional plot-driven narrative] [Subtle emotions, sweeping warfare, vivid characters] Beyond Yumen Pass lie the great desert and the Tianshan Mountains. With half Han heritage and half Hu blood, he was born amid the flames of a chaotic age, as the Han and the Xiongnu fought over the Western Regions. In a dreamlike lifetime, he saved the Cheshi princess and uncovered the fated bond between them as husband and wife in 155Reads—Score—14d adds

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   Political intrigue runs throughout the entire story, but it also includes romance and war elements...

10. 10 恶 The Villainess Runs Wild in a Misogynistic Kingdom 恶女在厌女国杀疯了 This Mountain Is No Mountain此山非山Ancient Romance333k WordsCompleted [Rise to power + revenge + political intrigue + rival suitors + ancient fantasy + awakening to her gender] A mind-bending transmigration story that starts with a bang and only gets wilder. The heroine is the strongest, bar none, and gives as good as she gets! An elite lawyer transmigrates to a woman-hating kingdom. This is the story of her journey from a desperate fugitive to a noble, a chancellor, and finally an emperor! “What? My own brother insulted my wet nurse?” Xu Shisan retaliates with a 205Reads8.3Score—14d adds

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    A powerful woman's scheme to seize power!

11. 11 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. 55Reads—Score514d adds

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    Using calculation as her blade and wealth as her path, the illegitimate daughter navigates step by step, wielding immense power and wealth, engaging in both political intrigue and business warfare.

12. 12 吾 My Three Wishes 吾有三愿 Mechanical Wang机械汪Ancient Romance787k WordsOngoing [Mad Queen x Reclusive Power Behind the Throne] [Past and Present Lives] [Sweetness and Angst] [Fated Redemption] [Alternate World] (This story focuses on [Two Powerful Leads Growing Together] and [Profound Devotion]. Sweetness and angst intertwine. This is not a mindless power fantasy, so read with care if that's not your thing!) In their previous life, in the modern world, the two parted forever on a snowy night! He sat in a wheelchair dusted with snow, and his three wishes ended in regret as 59Reads7.7Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Political intrigue, martial arts world, palace intrigue! From the imperial harem to the martial arts world, then to the imperial court, and finally settling on the common people, the plot is captivating! The story is full of twists and turns, and everyone is incredibly intelligent—truly a rare gem of classical Chinese literature! Highly recommended.

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