Pure Palace Intrigue, From Palace Maiden to Favorite Consort and Empress: A Highly Intelligent, Ruthless Female Lead Who Isn't a Doormat 纯宫斗，从秀女到宠妃皇后，有高智商不圣母，心狠

1. 51 九 Ninefold Brocade 九重锦 Evening Breeze Under the Moon月下晚风Ancient Romance715k WordsCompleted Household and palace intrigue, with the leads not both being each other's first. A fictional setting, with all ranks and titles made up. A heroine who grows over time and isn't blinded by love. After being suppressed for more than a decade, a concubine-born daughter has her fate rearranged overnight. Entering the prince's manor only fuels her ambition. Her birth father ignores her, allowing her stepmother to torment her and her mother for half their lives without ever offering them the slightest 35.1kReads9.3Score5.9k14d adds

   Reader note

   All three books are excellent, each with a tightly woven plot. The female protagonist is highly intelligent.

2. 52 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 12.5kReads9.1Score1.2k14d adds

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   ❣️❣️ [System + Raising a Child + Intense Competition] Because she was well-raised at home, becoming plump and beautiful, Qi Jiao was sold to the palace as a maid after the flood. Later, she became a maid in the Empress's palace. A few years later, she was promoted to the Eastern Palace as a concubine. Qi Jiao always adhered to the theory that it's better to live a miserable life than to die, and she could survive anywhere. Although she was a concubine, it was still a promotion. However, the Crown Prince seemed a bit difficult to serve. "Aren't you that chubby girl in the Empress Dowager's palace?" Qi Jiao, who had planned to make a good impression on the Crown Prince on their first meeting as a concubine, froze. Was this all the impression she had given him all these years? Shouldn't she be a lively and pretty little rabbit? Qi Jiao's life in the harem wasn't as terrible as she had imagined, nor was it a life-or-death struggle. Reaching the highest position, she realized that the hardest thing was still studying. But as she studied, she unexpectedly became second only to the Emperor, proving that studying truly changes one's destiny. The grown-up children wholeheartedly agreed, their eyes brimming with ambition: expanding territories, becoming rulers of prosperous eras, displaying extraordinary talent… They couldn't help it; their mother was just too ambitious, how could they fall behind? Qi Jiao pondered, could this system be inherited? The female lead was materialistic and vain, quite pretentious in front of the male lead. The Crown Prince felt guilty every day, always feeling he had wronged his little fox.

3. 53 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.3kReads9.2Score95314d adds

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   1. She thought that entering the palace would mean vying for favor and scheming like other concubines, her hands stained with blood. But she was wrong. Though the imperial family was supposed to be ruthless, he showered her with boundless affection, allowing her to retain the innocence she had when she first entered the palace. 2. In her previous life, the female protagonist endured a life of hardship and uncertainty, her body riddled with wounds from the bitterness of her existence. On her deathbed, she heard that the person responsible for her tragic fate had been released. Reborn, she vowed to be the most honored woman in the world, able to control her own destiny.

4. 54 笨 The Silly Beauty Is Sweet and Soft, and the Regent Is Smitten 笨蛋美人乖又软摄政王他沦陷了 Drunken Sugar醉糖Ancient Romance558k WordsCompleted Su Ningning is simple-minded and innocent. On her wedding day, she stumbles upon rebels slaughtering her family and crashes straight into the arms of Lou Shengxue, the regent who holds power over the entire court. Cold and bloodthirsty, he was about to take her life when he unexpectedly discovered that she carried a secret remedy for breaking curses. He had no choice but to keep her by his side. Everyone laughs at her as a useless, foolish princess consort, but only Lou Shengxue knows that this 474Reads—Score10014d adds

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   You think this is just mindless sweetness? No, it's a redemption story with elements of poison, family annihilation, and secret identities. Su Ningning is clumsy yet sincere, while Lou Shengxue is cold and ruthless yet deeply in love. A mutual fall in love, the more you read, the more addictive it becomes.

5. 55 宠 He Spoiled His Concubine and Neglected His Wife. Reborn, I Broke Off My Engagement to the Scumbag and Married the Prince 宠妾灭妻，重生我退婚渣男嫁王爷 Zhi Zhi之知Ancient Romance640k WordsCompleted The physical book is available on all major platforms. Formerly titled Riding the Phoenix. [Reborn + Powerful Female Lead and Male Lead + Nation and World + Political Schemes] Before the age of seventeen, Shen Yu was the legitimate daughter of a military family who could wield a blade and charge into battle. After seventeen, she became the frail wife of Jiang Manor's Vice Minister Jiang. Her father and brothers died in battle, and the entire Shen family was honored for their loyalty. Bearing 87.6kReads9.5Score12k14d adds

   Reader note

   They're all great reads, all featuring strong female protagonists and intense palace intrigue, with the female lead focused solely on her career.

6. 56 入 I Entered the Palace to Help My Sister Keep the Emperor’s Favor, but Became His Cherished Favorite 入宫替嫡姐固宠，却成皇上掌心宠 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she entered the palace and devoted herself to helping her legitimate elder sister keep the emperor’s favor. In the end, she died without a body to bury, abandoned by her family. Returning to the year of the imperial selection, Luo Shuran calculates her every move. Her breathtaking beauty is her only weapon. She sheds her youthful timidity and blossoms into a woman of captivating charm. One fleeting glimpse, like a fairy fallen from the heavens, catches the emperor’s eye. 6.1kReads9.3Score87814d adds

   Reader note

   They're all great, I recommend them.

7. 57 娇 So Pure and Innocent as a White Lotus, How Could She Be Scheming to Seduce Him? 娇娇纯净似白莲，怎会心机引诱？ Melon Egg瓜蛋Ancient Romance536k WordsCompleted [A femme fatale schemes for power, leading the hero step by step into ruin.] Jiang Yueyao is ruthless and destined to become empress. She first meets the emperor at a palace banquet. She is the most favored concubine of a minister, and after a palace consort publicly humiliates her, she drops to her knees and pleads for mercy, looking heartbreakingly beautiful beneath the dazzling palace lanterns. She meets the emperor for the second time in the study at her residence. Frantically fleeing her hu 3.9kReads9.0Score42514d adds
8. 58 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 120.1kReads9.5Score11.3k14d adds
9. 59 重 With My Reborn Son's High-Stakes Schemes, Becoming Empress Dowager Is No Dream 重生儿子手段高，晋升太后不是梦 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Fictional Imperial Harem Drama + No Romance + Giving Birth and Raising Kids + My Son Must Be Crown Prince + Ambitious + Clear-Eyed] Content warning: The romance isn’t mutually exclusive, she doesn’t love the male lead, and there are painful, heartbreaking parts. The male lead is a scumbag emperor. Song Yuyan was hooked on a palace-harem management game. She never expected to open her eyes and find she had transmigrated to ancient times. After keeping a low profile for three years, she entered t 3.6kReads9.3Score41814d adds

   Reader note

   Song Yuyan unexpectedly travels back to ancient times, embarking on a journey of vying for the emperor's favor in the imperial harem. With a clear goal in mind, she views the emperor merely as a tool for procreation. Undaunted by the challenges from other concubines, she is determined to use forceful methods to carve out a bloody path through the harem, seize the position of crown prince, and ascend to the pinnacle of power. The story is filled with intrigue and struggle, with a thrilling and suspenseful plot, showcasing a breathtaking world of the ancient imperial harem—a must-read.

10. 60 阎 The King of Hell's Agent Takes It Easy in the Cold Palace 阎王特工在冷宫摆烂 Offline Romance离线风月Ancient Romance273k WordsOngoing Palace intrigue + transmigration + lighthearted + strong heroine + secret identity + satisfying read + sweet romance Shen Yuan transmigrated into the body of a disgraced consort banished to the Cold Palace and thought: Could there be any better luck? A top agent in her previous life and an abandoned consort in the Cold Palace in this one, Shen Yuan thought this was the most comfortable assignment she'd had in either life. A private room with meals and lodging included, zero socializing, zero dut 818Reads—Score10614d adds

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue and power struggle novel. You might want to check it out.

11. 61 后 The Harem: Consort Hua Reborn 后宫之华妃重生 Shi Liu Sparkling Water石刘气泡水Female-Channel Fanfiction887k WordsCompleted Consort Hua, Nian Shilan, died with a heart full of resentment in her previous life. Unexpectedly, she was reborn. When she woke again, she knew that Consort Duan had not harmed her child. She still both hated and loved the emperor. She hated him for using her feelings and devotion to bring down the entire Nian family, but loved the man she had sincerely given her heart to when they were young. But if she hadn’t been so foolish in her previous life, how would she have made so many enemies? When 12kReads9.4Score1.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    They're all fantastic! Each one is quite intellectually stimulating; after reading these few, I couldn't read anything else. They're truly amazing, and every single one is intellectually stimulating. The first book is a time-travel story, the second is entirely set in ancient times, the third is also a time-travel story, and the fourth is fan fiction. All of them are incredibly good and highly recommended.

12. 62 在 A Hundred Ways to Win the Emperor's Heart in the Harem 在后宫征服皇帝的一百个技巧 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ever since entering the palace, Yun Li has become a shameless schemer. Two-faced and insincere, she puts on an act every day. When dealing with the emperor’s favorite consort, she tears into her until she’s furious, then clutches her chest with a wounded look and says, “I’m so envious that His Majesty dotes on you.” When someone tries to frame her, she casually slaps them, then bursts into tears. “Why would you treat a kind person like me this way?” When speaking with the empress, she nods absen 12.3kReads9.5Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    [Time Travel + Sweet Romance + Palace Intrigue + Not a Clean Romance Novel] A top-tier palace intrigue novel, the female lead is remarkably sensible, her humor and outbursts are incredibly vivid. Although not a clean romance, the emperor still favors the female lead and is a good emperor; his death in the final chapter even brought me to tears. The novel's intricate plot is captivating; be careful, you might find yourself staying up all night, completely immersed in this harem intrigue!

13. 63 母 Mother of the Nation? No, I Want to Rule the World! 母仪天下？不，我要权倾天下！ Dreams, How Many?梦几何Ancient Romance986k WordsOngoing [Alternate-World Palace Intrigue + No Romance + Raising Children + Never Falls for the Emperor] Content warning: The male lead is not chaste. Palace intrigue runs throughout, and the emperor never favors just one consort. After a car accident, Chu Ningzhi was pulled into the alternate world of Great Zhou. She had to become Empress Dowager to survive. To stay alive, she entered the palace through the selection and gave birth to a child. She planned every move carefully and defeated all her enemie 179Reads8.8Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead regains her senses from the beginning, has never loved the emperor, and only wants to become the empress dowager. She has a system, but it rarely appears. She has twins (a boy and a girl) in her first pregnancy and is pregnant again. The male lead is impure (because it's purely a palace intrigue story). Readers who mind this should proceed with caution.

14. 64 靠EN Dominating the Harem by Bearing Children 靠生子称霸后宫 Wang Ziyun王梓芸Ancient Romance782k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Huameng's childhood sweetheart, the boy next door, betrayed her before their wedding. After watching him marry the daughter of a princess, she put on the bright red wedding dress she had spent two years embroidering and hanged herself. But her soul drifted through the world for twenty years after her death before she learned the truth: her childhood sweetheart had broken off their engagement after accidentally hearing that the childless emperor intended to adopt the princes 3.8kReads9.0Score49114d adds

    Reader note

    🎊🎊🎊Palace intrigue novel! Fans of *Story of Yanxi Palace*, come check this out! This is my first book, and I'd call it a substitute for a good one!! It's super good!! It has a bit of a feel-good vibe!! It's unbelievable! She's acting for the emperor every day, saying things like, "Your Majesty, I love you so much! I'm the only one who loves you!" The emperor believes her without a doubt, and she's practically turned into a lovesick fool!!

15. 65 谢 Empress of the Xie Family 谢家皇后 Song of the Yue People越人歌Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In her first year in the palace, she is a Talented Lady. In her fifth, she is a Jieyu. In her tenth, she wants to become empress. As empress, she can hold on to everything she treasures and keep it from being taken away. She can protect herself and her child, and she can... stay by his side. This is a road with only one direction: take a single step back, and all will be lost. The bright yellow ceremonial parasol moves forward, and the emperor's procession slowly enters the city gate. A yellow p 8.8kReads9.2Score1.1k14d adds
16. 66 继 The Second Empress 继后 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The Noble Consort was favored, the Worthy Consort bore a son, the Bright Etiquette was the emperor’s white moonlight, and the Beautiful Consort was his cinnabar mole. Every other concubine had her own talents and charms. It was a whole garden in full bloom. So who was our protagonist? The unfavored empress, with no children and no powerful family backing. Great. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Never mind. On the first day Zhao Wumian transmigrated here, she decided to lie flat. Compete for t 79.6kReads9.5Score8.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's been a long time since I finished reading a novel. [Sending hearts][Sending hearts][Sending hearts] Palace intrigue novel, top-quality.

17. 67 拽 The Feisty Consort Climbs to Power Through Palace Intrigue, Everyone Else Back Off 拽妃宫斗上位，闲杂人等退退退 Pine Blossom Candy松花糖Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama is out now. Search for it on Fanqie to watch. [Palace Intrigue Power Fantasy + Not a Clean Romance + Being the Emperor’s Mother Is Better Than Being His Consort] Every woman in the harem hopes to win Emperor Jingrong’s favor, but Yuan Yuntang sees the emperor only as a tool for having children. Women in ancient times had to marry sooner or later anyway, so she might as well marry the most powerful man of all. After all, Emperor Jingrong has a great figure, a handsome face, and a 16.4kReads9.1Score1.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    Beautiful family members

18. 68 娘 Her Grace Is Cool and Gentle, and Everyone Loves Her 娘娘她清冷温柔惹人爱 Yue Xiao悦肖Ancient Romance404k WordsCompleted A pure palace-intrigue story, in classical style. No transmigration, no rebirth. The fate of a noblewoman has never been hers to decide. She is Yun Wan, the Chancellor's only legitimate daughter. Her destiny was set from birth: everything she learned was solely to prepare her to enter the palace. Would she willingly enter the palace and fade into obscurity, becoming a pawn the emperor could use to keep the Yun family in check? Or would she carefully maneuver her way into becoming the favorite co 1.4kReads8.4Score11814d adds

    Reader note

    It's really great to not be bullied.

19. 69 入 Pregnant with Twins After Entering the Palace, She Is Promoted to Imperial Consort 入宫后怀双胎，她被抬位做贵妃 The Star Bridge Slowly星桥缓缓Ancient Romance655k WordsCompleted When her elder sister, the legitimate daughter who had entered the palace as a consort, fell out of favor, Jiang Qingwan was chosen by her stepmother to enter the palace and help her sister regain the emperor's favor. She was beautiful and timid, but who could have guessed that the emperor would end up doting on her to no end... 1.2kReads8.6Score10514d adds

    Reader note

    It's really great, especially the third book.

20. 70 入 After Entering the Palace, She Becomes His Majesty’s One True Love 入宫后她是陛下的白月光 Yu Jiuzhao御九昭Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted [Pure Palace Intrigue] [No Saintly Heroine] [The Heroine Schemes Against the Entire Harem] [Political Machinations] [Clear-Headed Careerist] Originally titled "The Empress's Daily Life of Palace Intrigue," retitled "A Consort's Guide to Palace Intrigue" * Shen Yiwan, the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family, became pregnant after entering the palace and was made Virtuous Consort. Somehow, she let her good sense fly out the window and made the decision she would regret most in her life. She s 748Reads8.6Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead is very charismatic, kind yet sharp-witted, clear-headed and cautious. From the selection process to becoming Empress Dowager, she's undeniably career-driven. The romance is also very engaging; I absolutely adore the second male lead, and the male lead is incredibly cunning—the back-and-forth between these intelligent people is captivating.

21. 71 藏 After Hiding a Beauty in the Palace, His Majesty Has Ulterior Motives 藏娇入宫后，陛下他图谋不轨 Leisurely Peach Blossoms桃花闲闲Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted (Main story complete) [A clear-headed cousin who seems prim and obedient but hides her true abilities vs. an emperor who appears noble and righteous but is actually scheming, obsessive, and domineering] [Mutual devotion + healing + personal growth] Shen Minghe was once the freest bird in Jiangnan, and later the most obedient young lady in the Changping Marquis’s household. She never wanted to provoke anyone. All she wanted was a peaceful life. But the Prince of Yu repeatedly threatened her mot 20.8kReads8.8Score2.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is amazing! The female lead always has her own plans, and even after becoming empress, she knows what she wants and isn't blinded by love.

22. 72 天 Good Heavens! Consort Zhao Has Kicked His Majesty Out of Her Bedchamber Again 天！昭妃娘娘又把陛下赶出了寝宫 The Boundless Sea大海无边无际Ancient Romance246k WordsCompleted [Sweet harem romance, little palace intrigue, don't read if these tropes bother you] She bought a painting out of curiosity, only to fall asleep and find herself reborn all over again. Starting as a tiny baby, she experiences life in ancient times, and her once-cold heart is warmed by her family. She wants to protect them, too, so she decides to warm that person's heart as well... 1.6kReads8.6Score22414d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue, very good. I've forgotten which heroines didn't love the emperor, but anyway, they're all incredibly good. I'd curse you if you didn't watch it! [Licking screen][licking screen][licking screen]

23. 73 弃 The Reckless Abandoned Daughter: The Poisonous Consort Strikes Hard 弃女轻狂：毒妃狠嚣张 Seven Sunflowers七葵Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted A 21st-century all-around agent transmigrates and nearly falls victim to her own mother’s murderous hand. They call her a good-for-nothing who can’t cultivate, worse than a beggar? Bai Huang gives a cold laugh. With a rare treasure in hand, all five of her elemental talents are unleashed. Even the War God has to step aside if he wants to take her as a disciple. She adopts adorable spirit pets, and all beasts bow to her as a crowd of underlings eagerly awaits her favor. A master of both medicine 18.6kReads9.5Score3.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is excellent; the female lead is incredibly clear-headed. She transmigrates and becomes Empress, instantly reaching the top tier of status. It's the most intense palace intrigue book ever! The second book is also about palace intrigue; the female lead is intelligent, beautiful, and cunning, with a good family background. She gradually wins over the Emperor, and is also incredibly clear-headed. Highly recommended! The third book isn't by Tomato, but it's still super good. The Empress is always unambitious, but the female lead is extremely clear-headed, rising step by step from Consort to Imperial Concubine, gradually winning over the Emperor. Super good!

24. 74 令 Empress Lingyi: Yanwan, Give Me Back the Fortune You Stole 令懿皇后嬿婉：夺走的气运还给我 Jing Ning婧柠Female-Channel Fanfiction707k WordsCompleted [Story of Yanxi Palace fanfiction + lots of Ying Zhong pairing + sweet, satisfying happy ending + angst for Ruyi] Formerly titled: Empress Lingyi Yanwan: Give Me Back the Fortune You Stole No rivalry between women. No Ruyi-syndrome, and there are also warm sisterly moments, but revenge will be served without mercy. Reborn, Wei Yanwan thrived, avoiding every mistake that had once given her away. Together with Jinzong, who had also been reborn, she tore away Ruyi's hypocritical mask and reclaimed 8.3kReads9.6Score1k14d adds

    Reader note

    It feels like I'm reading a political intrigue and strategy novel, not a palace intrigue one [laughing and crying emoji]. The Empress is truly [thumbs up emoji].

25. 75 秀 Incredible! Reborn, I Start My Performance by Helping Big Ru 秀麻了！重生从接济大如开始表演 The God of Wealth's Girlfriend财神的女友Female-Channel Fanfiction395k WordsCompleted Wei Yingwan is reborn and vows to fight her way through the harem. She casts aside her dignity and seals away her heart, becoming servile and obsequious, all to defy fate. At times she revels in success; at others, she is consumed by fear. In truth, she is utterly exhausted. A demon, a monster. Does she regret it? No. For her entire life, Wei Yingwan is willing to be shattered to pieces without fear, letting the winds blow from every direction. What is wrong with changing your fate against heave 1.9kReads8.7Score19914d adds

    Reader note

    Wei Yanwan has been reborn. In this life, she will truly bring warmth to the harem, rid herself of the "Imperial Disease," witness Da Ru's eccentric daily life, and rise all the way to the position of Empress Dowager. It's super exciting! [Kissing emoji] [adoring emoji]

26. 76 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.2kReads9.6Score5.9k14d adds
27. 77 穿 Transmigrate into Empresses in the Palace: Noble Lady Fucha 穿越甄嬛传之富察贵人 Zhao Qingxian赵清娴Female-Channel Fanfiction354k WordsCompleted (Traditional palace intrigue + not universally adored + no going crazy + against the original heroine + Empress Boss + a paragon of virtue) It's still Shangguan Xian'er, director of the System Management Bureau, still taking on missions. This time, her mission is as Noble Lady Fucha in Empresses in the Palace. Noble Lady Fucha, whose given name is Fucha Yixin, insulted Zhen Huan and was later frightened into madness by Zhen Huan and Cao Qinmo working together. She died in her bedchamber not long 83Reads8.4Score10314d adds
28. 78 宫 A Palace Maid’s Daily Struggles 宫女奋斗日常 Phantom Beneath the Moon月下幻影Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ling Huan has skin as smooth as ice and looks like a goddess, yet she has no interest in power and thinks only of leaving the palace. In the end, neither she nor her child meets a good end. Given another chance, her goal is to raise her child well and become Empress Dowager herself. A palace-intrigue story with a strong female lead. The heroine is ruthless and clever. A thoroughly satisfying read. 5.9kReads9.2Score84614d adds

    Reader note

    You can tell what kind of story it is just from the name; it's pure palace intrigue, no fluff whatsoever.

29. 79 嫡 The Legitimate Elder Sister Steals the Favor? Then She Can Die! Consort Lan Fears Nothing! 嫡姐夺宠？找死！兰嫔她无所惧！ Ya'er Loves Hot Pot芽儿爱吃火锅Ancient Romance340k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + golden finger + no romance + career-driven heroine] In her previous life, Xu Qingqiu was forced to take the place of the legitimate daughter and enter the palace. With no connections to rely on, she ultimately died a miserable death in the harem. When she opens her eyes, she is back before the imperial selection. She knows that entering the palace is like stepping into a bottomless sea, and every step must be taken with the utmost care. She wants wealth and glory, a lofty stat 17Reads7.4Score—14d adds
30. 80 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 69kReads9.4Score8.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    Very exciting and entertaining. The protagonist is self-centered, prioritizing power and wealth, striving to climb the social ladder. Later, as Empress Dowager, her true nature is revealed – she doesn't love the Emperor. From servant to Empress, watch how she rises to power. 2. A scheming woman with a Buddhist heart and a powerful minister, deliberately seducing and tempting him. Watch how she takes revenge, stealing her brother's wife. 3. A cunning green tea woman, vying for power and profit, skilled at disguise. From a lowly concubine to a noble consort, watch how she rises to power and wins the Emperor's heart!

31. 81 这 This Noble Consort Doesn't Do Overtime 这个贵妃不太卷 Butterflies Dance into Tragedy蝶舞成殇Ancient Romance535k WordsCompleted Qin Yan was sent to the Eastern Palace by imperial decree and became Shen Jingchuan’s secondary consort. Everyone in the palace was an expert at scheming. To survive, they all relied on familiar tactics like acting coy and warning the servants. Two years later, Shen Jingchuan ascended the throne and bestowed on Qin Yan the rank of Consort, second grade, with the title Rong. At Jingyang Palace, Qin Yan reclined on a chaise longue, her brows slightly furrowed as she complained, “Your Majesty is fa 890Reads6.4Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue, the female lead is intelligent but not a saint. ① A story about a daughter of a military family who rises from a concubine of the crown prince to a noble consort and then to empress, involving palace intrigue with the empress dowager. ② A story about a daughter of a noble family who enters the palace and experiences a journey from being favored to being loved exclusively, and finally to true love.

32. 82 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend these three books, but I especially love "Zhao Hua Luan"—it's full of plot twists and turns, I really enjoy it.

33. 83 锦 The Tale of Consort Jin: Put Down Your Blade, Your Majesty, I Can Still Kill 锦妃传：皇上刀放下，本宫还能杀 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance359k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she trusted the empress and helped her eliminate her enemies, only to be cast aside once she was no longer useful. In this life, she’ll hold on to the emperor and topple the empress. Consort? Noble Consort? If she’s going to be anything, she’ll be empress. Your Majesty, here I come! 139Reads8.4Score—14d adds
34. 84 禁 The Forbidden Court's Beloved 禁庭娇 Mo Mo Bu Ting莫莫不停Ancient Romance730k WordsCompleted Shen Tingnian was bad at everything. She just happened to be a little pretty. As the Crown Prince’s Jieyu, she gave everyone the same cold, world-weary look, saying only that the days were long in the Moon Palace, and that neither I nor the impermanence of the mortal world mattered; As the Crown Prince’s Jieyu, she brazenly and recklessly indulged herself with the Crown Prince during the late emperor’s mourning period, sparking endless conflict and bloodshed; As Noble Consort Xi, she opposed eve 29Reads8.7Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    These are super good palace intrigue novels, and they're all completed! I really love them! [Kissing emojis]

35. 85 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 47.7kReads9.5Score6.1k14d adds
36. 86 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    [Currently rushing to finish][Currently rushing to finish] I don't know how to describe it. You could say the female lead is tragic, but everything she gets is the best she can hope for. This is a novel that leaves you with a lingering aftertaste. Every character is complex and compelling; there are tear-jerking moments and hilarious scenes. Go read it!

37. 87 后 The Harem's Number One White Moonlight: Winning Her Way to the Heavens 后宫第一白月光，步步为赢登云天 Yu Jiuzhao御九昭Ancient Romance376k WordsCompleted [Pure palace intrigue + ruthless female lead with great acting skills + clear-headed career-minded heroine + fighting for fame and power + high IQ] ※ The Empress was gravely ill. The consorts in every palace were mobilizing their forces, pulling out every trick, and harboring great ambitions. Mu Mingyue, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke’s mansion, was also ordered to enter the palace and help her own sister secure the position of Empress... But who would willingly serve as a stepping s 768Reads—Score12414d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead wins step by step, manipulating people's hearts; she's both a dodder vine and a strangling vine, possessing superb acting skills, flexible and adaptable, and neither love-struck nor spoiled. Pure palace intrigue, featuring concubines, imperial consorts, and the empress.

38. 88 凤 Phoenix and Luan in the Palace of Tranquility 凤鸾坤宁 Fu Xiangjun傅香君Ancient Romance886k WordsCompleted [Empress + not a mutually exclusive romance + pure palace intrigue + intelligent characters + bearing a son to seize the throne] Zhao Zhenshu, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wei’s household, married the legitimate second son of the Prince of Jin’s household. She had only wanted to be the principal wife in the inner quarters. But when the Crown Prince rebelled, the emperor simply replaced him. The legitimate second son of the Prince of Jin’s household was suddenly transformed into the lof 2kReads6.9Score16414d adds
39. 89 东 The Eastern Palace's Pampered Concubine: The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife, and She Sets Her Sights on the Empress's Throne 东宫娇妾：太子宠妾灭妻目标后位 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Not a pure pairing, not a pure pairing [The prince’s concubine is not a pure pairing at first + she enters the palace soon after, and becomes his sole favorite after the palace struggles] [The heroine is clear-headed and career-minded, working her way up to the empress’s position] Since I’ve been granted the title of Worthy Lady, my goal should be the empress’s throne. The Crown Prince has been married for two years, but the Crown Princess has yet to bear him a child. The Empress personally choo 2.2kReads8.9Score18314d adds
40. 90 娘 The Consort Is Coy and Alluring, and Has Her Sights Set on the Throne 娘娘又茶又媚，一心只想上位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Alternate history + pure palace intrigue + clear-eyed heroine who doesn’t love the emperor] Su Qingyao looks like a delicate beauty, but she is more clear-headed than anyone. In the imperial harem, all she wants is power. Before the emperor, she is the picture of understanding. “Your Majesty is my only support.” “With Your Majesty by my side, I have nothing to fear.” But what she is really thinking is: Thank goodness she made plans long ago. The man before her is the least reliable person of al 164Reads7.2Score—14d adds
41. 91 穿 I Transmigrated into a Villainess, So I Helped the Big Shot Rise Again 穿成恶毒女配，我陪大佬东山再起 Wu Yan五颜Modern Romance2.3M WordsCompleted Transmigrate into a book + marriage first, love later + adorable child + satisfying revenge + sweet romance + going off the rails + no-brainer fun + devoted couple Xu Yi transmigrates into a book as a vicious supporting character who is eight months pregnant. The original character cares only about money. To attach herself to a powerful man, she schemes to get pregnant by him. But when she learns he has gone bankrupt in her eighth month of pregnancy, she unhesitatingly aborts the baby, dumps h 3.6kReads7.5Score1.2k14d adds
42. 92 娘 The Empress Is Otherworldly and Alluring: The Emperor's Exclusive Favorite 娘娘又仙又撩：陛下椒房独宠 Clouds Rise to the Ninth Heaven云出九霄Ancient Romance519k WordsCompleted [Not a first-love-only pairing; the heroine is no saint; the emperor favors her exclusively in the middle and later stages; fluffy, brainless sweet romance; silly and lighthearted, read with caution] Everyone says that a highborn legitimate daughter who enters the palace is doomed to a bad end, but Pei Jinyan refuses to believe it. Besides, she was once the emperor’s favorite consort in her previous life. She simply ruined a winning hand through her own arrogance and capriciousness. She gave bir 7.5kReads9.2Score86714d adds
43. 93 绿 The Green Tea Legitimate Daughter Takes the Harem by Storm 绿茶嫡女卷翻后宫 A Speck of Dust某颗尘土Ancient Romance386k WordsCompleted Su Yunqing was once the neglected legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household. But she came out on top in the imperial selection and became the only woman bestowed with a title: Lady Rong. There is no true love in the imperial family. A woman is favored in the harem for profit or beauty, nothing more. Su Yunqing intends to use the emperor and become the most powerful woman in the Great Xi Dynasty. The harem has women who think they can share a hundred years of true love with th 69Reads8.8Score—14d adds
44. 94 陛 Your Majesty, Don't Love Me So Much! I Win the Harem's Favor Through Good Fortune in Childbearing 陛下别太爱！我靠好孕独宠后宫 Hua Xiaoci花小辞Ancient Romance2.2M WordsCompleted [The short drama adapted from this novel, Your Majesty, Don't Love Me Too Much! I'll Win the Harem's Favor with My Fertility, is now available.] [The animated drama adapted from this novel, Darling, Enter My Heart, is now available.] [The leads are not faithful to each other. He becomes devoted to her later + The heroine is stunningly beautiful and clear-eyed, and aims to become an empress + Fertility and childbirth + Multiple babies in one pregnancy + Intelligent palace intrigue + Political man 8.2kReads8.8Score74714d adds
45. 95 照 Dressed in Red: The Maid's Rise to Power 照红妆：通房丫鬟上位记 Sweet, Sweet Milk Candy奶糖甜甜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (New book updating) Haitang's rules for fighting in the inner household as a maidservant: First, be flexible. Second, don't let love cloud your judgment. Third, if a woman isn't ruthless, her position won't be secure. Haitang was breathtakingly beautiful but born into a lowly family. In her previous life, proud and unwilling to become a bedchamber maid, she was tortured to death by the principal wife. Reborn, she decided to live differently. Everyone thought she was reaching above her station ju 13.8kReads9.3Score1.9k14d adds
46. 96 贵 The Noble Consort Rejects Romance: While Others Fight for Favor, I Seize Power 贵妃不入爱河，别人争宠我夺权 Ran Qiqi冉七柒Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Female-Lead Wish Fulfillment + Unfeeling Persona + Ruthless Revenge and Face-Slapping] Years later, the history books would describe Ming Tang as a master strategist with an iron fist, the ultimate winner of the harem struggles and the vast empire. Only Ming Tang knew she had never wanted to be that winner in the first place. From a young girl to the ruler of the realm, all she had wanted at first was to avenge her elder sister. The harem was full of danger. On one side was Consort Jin, who had 7.3kReads9.4Score86914d adds
47. 97 太 The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife: The Empress's Daily Life After Bearing Twins 太子宠妾灭妻，娘娘双胎上位日常 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance554k WordsCompleted [There are a few typos, so please skip this if that bothers you.] A deranged, ruthless heroine and an obsessive Crown Prince, with exclusive devotion later on, clear-headed palace intrigue, and multiple births. Jiang Shiruo is stunningly beautiful, but only a concubine’s daughter. Still, even a concubine’s daughter deserves to live. Jiang Shiruo has no interest in the other princes. She only wants to enter the Eastern Palace, because that’s the only way she can reach the highest position. After 7.7kReads8.9Score66314d adds
48. 98 蛇 The Viperous Favorite Consort: Scheming Her Way to Rule as Empress Dowager 蛇蝎宠妃心机深，垂帘听政做太后 It's Xinxin是欣欣呦Ancient Romance497k WordsCompleted [Content warning! The female lead is a wholly evil villain, cruel and scheming, and will stop at nothing to climb to the top.] “[Don't randomly bring up women competing against women. This is a palace-intrigue story!! The harem is a workplace, and the imperial consorts are all rivals!]” Bu Xingruo was the most favored consort in the palace. In her previous life, she let the Emperor's favor go to her head, throwing her weight around and acting arrogantly in the harem. Lost in the Emperor's fleeti 658Reads8.6Score10014d adds
49. 99 娘 An Empress’s Daily Harem Battles 娘娘日常宫斗忙 Big Blade and Er Lu大刀和二噜Ancient Romance369k WordsCompleted Not a one-man-one-woman romance, and he won't be devoted to just one woman. Read with caution. (Satisfying revenge + steady rise through the ranks + settling every score) From Concubine Xu to High Consort Xu, Xu Chenbi takes every step with care: becoming pregnant, giving birth, and rising in rank. After ascending to the empress's throne, will she become a shield for the emperor's beloved? Sorry, you two enjoy your romance. My goal is to become the empress dowager! 180Reads6.4Score—14d adds
50. 100 灭 After the Crown Princess Conceives Twins, the Crown Prince Favors His Beloved Concubine and Makes Her Empress 灭太子妃怀双胎，太子宠娇妾封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance. Not a virginal couple! + Clear-headed heroine gradually grows stronger in palace intrigue + Twins + Winning the Crown Prince’s heart, aiming for the empress’s throne] An Ruyan clutched her book of Thirty-Six Stratagems and set out to win over the tyrannical Crown Prince!!! An Ruyan was rescued by Prince Yan when she was robbed while visiting a temple. She had long been in love with him, but an unexpected incident made her see what a scumbag he was. Determined to 2.3kReads8.9Score23514d adds

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