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. 151 慢 Slow Transmigration: Consort De in Kangxi's Reign 慢穿康熙之德妃传 Why Has the Magic Stopped Working?魔法怎么失灵啦Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted A female college student who loves spicy hot pot and milk tea with 30% sugar suddenly transmigrates to the Qing Dynasty and becomes a future Consort De. A heroine who doesn’t love Kangxi, but loves her System more, and grows stronger over time. Later, when Kangxi proves unfaithful, she gets even by cheating on him too. “But he’s the emperor!” “So what if he’s the emperor? If you’re heartless, then I’m done with you!” 229Reads6.2Score—14d adds
2. 152 清 Qing Transmigration: Stay Calm, Princess Consort! The Fourth Prince Will Win You the Empress's Throne 清穿：福晋稳住！四爷给你挣后位 Willow Bank杨柳岸Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [An alternate Qing dynasty, unlike the historical one.] After transmigrating, Yun Qu swallowed nervously as she faced her complicated new circumstances. She had become the Fourth Prince's primary consort. What was she supposed to do? Could she ever go back? Once she learned that returning was impossible, Yun Qu accepted her fate. She decided to raise her son well and treat the Fourth Prince like her boss, serving him diligently. If he pointed east, she wouldn't go west. If he wanted to take a co 19.1kReads9.1Score1.5k14d adds
3. 153 我 My Mother Is Everyone's Dream Girl, and What a Coincidence, So Am I! 我娘她是万人迷，好巧我也是！ Tiaotiao窕窕呀Ancient Romance490k WordsCompleted (The mother is a black-hearted lotus and a beloved beauty; the daughter is a Mary Sue and a beloved beauty. Dual heroines. The mother’s love interests may not be virgins, while the daughter’s love interests are all virgins and hopeless romantics.) Gu Xi transmigrated and immediately saw her stunning mother coyly resisting the emperor’s advances. Good grief, was this the legendary melodramatic plot where the emperor abducts his minister’s wife? It wasn’t until later that Gu Xi learned her mother 3.7kReads8.7Score35714d adds
4. 154 深 A Concubine's Rise to Power in the Imperial Harem 深宫庶女上位记 Leng Chu冷初Ancient Romance416k WordsCompleted She was the illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official, and one day she entered the palace as a consort; The struggle was not confined to men. The battles between women were always the cruelest of all; These women were intelligent, beautiful, and well-born; For love, wealth, and power beyond compare, they fought each other to the death, even turning against their own sisters and leaving their youth and beauty amid the red walls and green-tiled roofs of the palace; 834Reads8.4Score10514d adds

   Reader note

   Pure palace intrigue novels are absolutely addictive! [Frustrated][frustrated][frustrated]

5. 155 皇 Has the Noble Consort Left Qirong Palace Today? 皇贵妃今天出栖容宫了吗？ Xiaoman Crisp小满酥Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [☆No transmigration, no rebirth, and no pristine couples] [☆The romance develops gradually] Everyone in the palace knew that the person they must never offend was neither the pampered and fiery Noble Consort Hui nor the peerlessly beautiful Consort Cen, but Noble Consort Zhe of Qirong Palace, Lady Fucha. A consort's guide to survival: If you want to get ahead, never provoke the lady of Qirong Palace. She was the emperor's first woman, his companion and confidante since their youth; the mother 15kReads9.3Score1.3k14d adds
6. 156 清 Qing Transmigration: Consort De Devotes Herself to Raising Her Son to Become Empress Dowager 清穿：德妃她一心养崽做太后 I'm the Cutest我最可爱Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Complete, come on in!] System + transmigrate + comedy Overnight, she transmigrates to the Qing Dynasty and becomes Uya Jinxin. That’s right, she’s the historical Consort De who took a terrible hand and turned it into a royal flush, only to turn that royal flush right back into a terrible hand. Jinxin wonders what she did to deserve transmigrating as Consort De. But since she’s Consort De now, she might as well change history! Who says I play favorites? Little Fourth, come here, let Mother pinch 1.8kReads8.6Score17514d adds

   Reader note

   This book tells the story of a woman who rises from palace maid to Consort De, to Empress, to Empress Dowager, and then you can read it...

7. 157 开 A Palace Maid from the Start, the Emperor’s Beloved 开局成宫女，皇帝的心头宠 I Love Orange Juice我爱喝橘子汁Ancient Romance122k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + satisfying revenge + romance] After entering the palace, she becomes the noble consort’s personal maid, the only person who can get close to her. In this imperial harem, countless eyes are fixed on her, and she can feel their greedy gazes. “Your Majesty, although I’m only a servant, I’m the person Her Highness trusts most. You...” “I want the truth.” In that moment, it was as if every sound in heaven and earth had faded away, leaving only his deep, resonant voice beside her ea 29Reads—Score—14d adds
8. 158 快 Quick Transmigration: She Wins the Hearts of Powerful Men by Bearing Their Children! 快穿：她靠生子成为大佬心尖宠！ A Big Old Monster一个大妖怪Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Quick transmigration + multiple pregnancies + punishing scumbags + palace and household intrigue + no fixed couple + satisfying revenge] She is a rabbit spirit who has cultivated for a thousand years. With too little fortune, she nearly loses her soul while ascending. Fortunately, an ancestral reincarnation artifact lets her complete missions in different worlds and gather fortune. World One: [Crown Prince with no heir for years x palace maid who hides her looks and only wants to leave the pala 15kReads9.3Score1.4k14d adds
9. 159 步 Step by Step to Glory 步步荣宠 Mu Ziyang木子阳Ancient Romance202k WordsCompleted Mingyue was sold as a child and became a maid in a marquis’s household. After the young master took an interest in her, she was sent to the palace and became a low-ranking palace maid. Step by step, she rose from palace maid to empress. 9kReads9.0Score79214d adds
10. 160 深 Palace Intrigue: The Story of Qing Zhi 深宫策·青栀传 Qing Zhi Wei Bai青栀未白Ancient Romance882k WordsCompleted Her eyes can see through sinister tricks and schemes, but she cannot fully see the changes in people's hearts. His hands hold the fate of all under heaven, yet all he wants is to hold on to the few who truly care for him. How far is it from being the daughter of a powerful official distrusted by the emperor to becoming a virtuous empress remembered throughout history? Once she enters the imperial palace, her past ties are severed. Half a lifetime of ups and downs conceals the green of the garden 1.9kReads9.2Score29514d adds

    Reader note

    Everyone who's seen it has liked it.

11. 161 诱 Luring the Lord into His Embrace 诱君宠 Queen Julian朱莉安女王Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [The animated series “Win Your Lord's Heart: My Troubled Prince” is now streaming. We hope you'll show it your support.] Shen Yu, a modern-day doctor, is murdered by her senior fellow and transmigrates into the body of the eldest daughter of the Shen family. The eldest Shen daughter is breathtakingly beautiful, but her fiancé sets her up and forces her to marry the brutal Prince of Qi. At first, Shen Yu ties her handkerchief around the prince's wrist. “This handkerchief is like me. As long as yo 12.7kReads9.4Score1.6k14d adds
12. 162 心 His Beloved Frowns, and the Heir Apparent Rushes to Comfort Her 心尖宠她一皱眉，世子夫君追着哄 Shi Yiyuan十一源Ancient Romance321k WordsCompleted [One-on-One Romance, Both Pure, Sweet Romance, Childhood Sweethearts] Print edition of Jin Shi Jin Yu signed, and the comic adaptation is now online. Yuan Rongjin was the daughter of a general, but when she was young, her stepmother framed her and sent her away from the capital! Everyone thought she would suffer terribly out in the world and live a miserable life. But no one expected that during the ten years she spent away from the capital, Yuan Rongjin never looked the least bit down and out. 29.4kReads9.1Score2.2k14d adds
13. 163 非 An Unconventional Palace Intrigue 非传统宫斗 Known in the Jianghu as the Thorny Rose江湖人称带刺玫瑰Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted Imperial selection from the start / Pure palace intrigue with a touch of household intrigue / Ensemble cast / Realistic style [Pure palace intrigue begins after chapter 20] Not the emperor’s sole favorite / Not a virgin couple / No romance pairing [The emperor is a scumbag with the power of life and death. The first few chapters establish his character and contain potentially uncomfortable scenes. If that bothers you, skip to chapter 20.] Everyone is caught up in palace intrigue. The consorts an 2kReads8.3Score22314d adds

    Reader note

    This book doesn't focus on romance; it's purely about palace intrigue with many villains who are mostly powerless to control their own destiny. Highly recommended!

14. 164 穿 Transmigration: Becoming the Most Powerful Woman in the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Harem 穿越：在清朝做后宫第一人 Song Xiaokui宋小葵Ancient Romance385k WordsCompleted [Qing-era transmigration, court intrigue, raising children, pure palace scheming] A word of warning!! [Not a sweet romance, not both characters’ first and only, no golden finger] Please don’t read if that bothers you. Jia Hui never thought she would transmigrate. She has the lowest rank, comes from a maid’s family, and has offended Consort De, the historical winner. How can she turn things around when she’s in hell mode from the start? She carefully advances step by step, becoming Kangxi’s favor 487Reads7.5Score11214d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue, a story of a palace maid rising through the ranks, with the female lead displaying clear-headedness; worth watching.

15. 165 清 The Clear-Eyed Concubine's Daughter Will Settle for Nothing Less Than Empress Dowager 清醒庶女要当就当太后 Xi Yi希屹Ancient Romance234k WordsCompleted Yu Zhining is merely a concubine-born daughter. The best marriage she could hope for would be a concubine in a powerful family or a wife in a humble one. But she doesn’t want to settle for an ordinary life. If she is to be anything, she will be the one seated high above everyone else. After more than a decade of swallowing her grievances, at last... the emperor has few surviving heirs, and her legitimate elder sister is ill. She is summoned to the palace to bear a child on her sister’s behalf. Y 115Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue!!!

16. 166 她 Four Years After Her Death, the Crown Prince Brought Back a Substitute 她死后第四年，太子带回一个替身 Morning Clouds Purple朝云紫Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted [The short drama is now available] [Palace intrigue, rebirth, adorable child] [The heroine has renounced love / the crown prince pursues her after losing her] When the crown prince falls from power and is imprisoned in You Tai, he contracts a plague and teeters on the brink of death. She stays by his side without ever abandoning him. After returning to the Eastern Palace, the crown prince marries her half-sister as his crown princess. As for her, he orders that the mother be killed and the child 1.2kReads8.7Score10814d adds

    Reader note

    This book is amazing! It's incredibly good. The female lead is intelligent and incredibly skilled, and the premise is fresh and engaging. Once you start reading, you can't put it down.

17. 167 祸 Turmoil in the Six Palaces: The Mad Demon Consort's Daily Meltdowns 祸乱六宫：疯批妖妃发癫日常 Bing Xiayun冰夏云Ancient Romance677k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + male lead has had other women, heroine is chaste + doted on exclusively later + heroine is sweet on the outside but dark within, wicked and a good actress, occasionally goes off the rails, happy ending] With skin as pure as ice and bones as fine as jade, her beauty could topple a city, stunning all who saw her… That year, she entered the palace by imperial decree to keep her pregnant elder sister company. She never expected to be trapped there for good, reduced to a fish on he 8.2kReads9.0Score85814d adds
18. 168 惹 Offending the Imperial Daughter 惹金枝 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Film and television rights have been sold. The physical book will be available for preorder on July 10 at 19:00.) Shi Buyu was born smiling. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, collapsing a row of outbuildings in the Shi family compound. Days of torrential rain brought devastating floods and countless victims. Rumors soon spread through the capital that she was a disaster star sent into the world. But she was as precocious as a demon, with a photographic memory, and learned bo 254.1kReads9.7Score29.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    💖💖The first book features a female lead who is a clear-headed drama queen, and a male lead who is a villainous version of an emperor!! Everyone's intelligence is on point!!

19. 169 重 Reborn, Bold and Alluring: Who Else Deserves the Throne but Me? 重生又飒又娇媚，后位舍我还其谁 Lazi Orange拉子橘子Ancient Romance117k WordsOngoing [Reborn + fictional palace intrigue + not a mutually exclusive first love + strong female lead power fantasy] *The heroine loves only herself, not the dog emperor. She's not entirely a good person either, and she will hurt others!!! As empress, she avoided conflict and shut out the world, just trying to get through each day. In the end, even the child in her womb was framed and killed by the concubines. Given another life, she swears she will never be a good-for-nothing again! With her memories 2Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is not a pure palace intrigue story with a clean slate; the female lead is incredibly clear-headed and doesn't love the emperor. She takes revenge on anyone who harms her, holding grudges and rising through the ranks very quickly—a truly satisfying read.

20. 170 穿 Transmigrating into Empresses in the Palace: The Fourth Prince Dotes on Me Without Restraint 穿越甄嬛之四郎放肆宠 A Thousand Dreams of Me千千我梦Female-Channel Fanfiction548k WordsCompleted Hua Ling was an utterly ordinary modern college student. Aside from her hectic, busy life, her greatest hobby was watching Empresses in the Palace. But after she was murdered, just as she was about to die, she received help from a wish-fulfillment System and the chance to enter Empresses in the Palace as Zhen Huan. Since she'd been given the chance to live again, and to enjoy a life of unmatched wealth and privilege, she might as well make the most of it! Watch as Hua Ling devotes herself to pla 299Reads8.5Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend this palace intrigue fantasy novel. A modern college student transmigrates into the world of Zhen Huan, filled with palace intrigue, rescuing Sister Mei, mercilessly tormenting An Xiaoniao, and exposing the hypocritical Empress.

21. 171 进 The Concubine’s Daughter Rises Through the Ranks After Entering the Palace 进宫后庶女一路高升 Ming Shiqi明十七Ancient Romance533k WordsCompleted After a car accident, Chen Zhirou unexpectedly transmigrates and becomes the beautiful, timid Seventh Miss of the Yong'an Marquis Household. Rather than let her father give her away as a concubine, Chen Zhirou chooses to risk everything by entering the palace. On the day of the selection, she is about to be rejected when she calls out to the emperor, earning herself the rank of Good Lady. But that is nowhere near enough. The harem is filled with three thousand beauties, each extraordinary in he 460Reads8.2Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    The Chosen Palace Intrigue Champion

22. 172 赶 Thrown Out of the Manor? A Year Later, I Return as a Consort 赶我出府？一年后封妃归来 Jingjing Yeye京京耶耶Ancient Romance352k WordsCompleted [Scheming seduction, a golden finger, sweet and satisfying romance, palace maid rises to power] (The rating has only just opened. Check the reviews for details; it’ll go up, q-q.) - On the day of her grandmother’s funeral, Shen Lingyang was framed for having an affair with another man. The marquis’s household couldn’t wait to drive her out. But how could a beautiful, frail young woman survive in the rough and tumble streets? After much thought, she realized there was perhaps only one person unde 4.2kReads8.3Score66414d adds
23. 173 纵 So What If You’re Reborn? 纵你重生又如何 Yao Yaoya妖幺芽Ancient Romance169k WordsCompleted [The main story is complete] [Two powerful leads + no point in being reborn as a concubine’s daughter + face-slapping and punishing scoundrels + the male lead has a secret crush] [A cool, composed beauty with overwhelming combat prowess vs. a mysterious, bewitching prince] [One-on-one romance + happy ending + single and chaste] Her mother was the most favored legitimate princess, her uncle was the reigning emperor, her maternal grandmother was empress dowager of the realm, and her older brother 2.3kReads8.9Score29614d adds
24. 174 帝 The Emperor’s Scheme 帝心谋 Brown Sugar Rice Balls红糖圆子Ancient Romance191k WordsCompleted (Not a pure couple; sweet romance and palace intrigue, with him devoted to her alone later on) Jiang Lingge is the illegitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue. Her mother died when she was young, and she grew up being bullied by her legal mother and elder sister. Born into such circumstances, Jiang Lingge learned how to hide her true self. She was always searching for a way out, a way to escape her legal mother. Her chance came soon enough. The emperor was selecting consorts, and the p 501Reads8.4Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    Recommended, it's great! (♥∀♥)

25. 175 为 Ten Years as a Consort 为妃十载 A Little Plum一枚小李子Ancient Romance224k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + ruthless, formidable female lead and unhinged villainess + no golden finger, no System] Dongfang Li has always been a femme fatale. “If someone hurts me once, I’ll make them pay a hundred or a thousand times over.” “If I were plain-looking, that would be one thing. But Heaven gave me a beauty unlike any other. Why shouldn’t I fight and seize what I want?” Dongfang Li is an unfavored daughter born to a concubine, so from the moment she enters the palace, she treads carefully, r 16Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Pure palace intrigue; the female lead is a cunning and beautiful woman, single-mindedly focused on her career.

26. 176 骗 A Marriage Scam? The Consort’s Alluring Beauty Steals the Emperor’s Heart and the Empress’s Throne 骗婚？云鬓酥腰娘娘诱帝夺后位 When Fuyao Rises当扶摇上Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted Mutual firsts, a tightly woven palace power struggle, and a sweet, delicate beauty who is doted on The young woman I’ve secretly loved for years is about to enter the palace as a selected consort. I’m so excited I downed three bowls of sweet rice wine dumplings. She’s a delicate beauty who needs protecting. After she’s made a consort, she starts acting up! Make her a Noble Consort and she lets her true nature loose; make her Empress... In her past life, Jiang Sheng was locked in a woodshed by he 746Reads7.4Score10114d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead enters the palace through a selection process and rises through the ranks to become empress. The emperor, who has secretly loved her for many years, is finally ready to shower her with affection after her arrival.

27. 177 宫 Schemes of the Palace, Strategies of the Emperor 宫谋帝王计 Clear Wind, Snowy Shadow清风雪影Ancient Romance257k WordsOngoing The year the begonias first bloomed, she took off her gold hairpin and asked only to be rejected and sent out of the palace. But after she declared before the throne that “a woman should be like a pine or cypress,” the emperor personally selected her to stay. On her first day in the palace, she saw through this place that devoured people. From then on, in this cage built of tenderness and lies, she used illness to survive and wit to win love, advancing carefully at every turn. Everyone laughed a 3Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    In a pure palace intrigue story, only those without ambition are truly invincible.

28. 178 开 A Palace Maid from the Start, Rising to Empress 开局宫女，稳坐后位 A Cluster of Flowers一丛花令Ancient Romance530k WordsOngoing [Female-led power fantasy + pure palace intrigue + not both virgins] Yun Luo was born into poverty and endured cold looks and humiliation from a young age. Then, after catching a glimpse of wealth, boundless ambition sprang up in her heart. Yun Luo was fortunate enough to have a face of breathtaking beauty, giving her the courage to set herself the goal of “better to be a rich man’s concubine than a poor man’s wife.” At first, she had her sights set only on the young lord of the Duke of Guo’s es 7Reads8.1Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I won't say more, just watch.

29. 179 娇 The Delicate Little Crybaby Makes the Mad Emperor See Red 娇气小哭包，勾得疯批帝王红了眼 One Dashing Stroke帅的一撇Ancient Romance395k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + fake uncle-niece relationship + coercive love + aloof beauty + surrender + sweet romance + play the pig to eat the tiger] The pampered girl in all of the capital who fears the emperor most is forced into his arms when he’s drunk, only to become the precious one he can’t bear to let anyone touch. The aloof beauty descends from her pedestal just to win a smile from the little crybaby. In Pei Ning’s eyes, Xiao Wang is a cat, and she’s just a mouse that could be crushed at any 8.6kReads—Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is super good, it's so sweet!

30. 180 深 A Palace Peril: The Consort Wants Power 深宫劫：娘娘要上位 Fan Kui璠葵Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue ensemble + alternate setting + no transmigration or rebirth] The imperial palace is a stage, and everyone is putting on a show. Perform well, and you earn favor. Mess up, and anyone can walk all over you. Now that she has stepped onto the stage, she intends to become the star everyone applauds! (Reader beware: the pacing is slow, so don't start if that bothers you. The male lead is a scummy emperor, while the female lead only cares about her career. She will make a move against 120Reads5.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    These are all completed novels featuring clear-headed female protagonists, pure palace intrigue, and a gradual climb to the top. They absolutely meet the requirements, and I've read them countless times! [Kissing emojis]

31. 181 幽 Chronicles of the Hidden Palace 幽宫记 Clever Little Fish聪明的小fishAncient Romance341k WordsOngoing As a well-bred young lady carefully raised by the Qi clan, she was told by her mother from a young age, “The Qi clan has no high ministers at court from the previous dynasty, only women in the imperial harem.” From then on, Qi Yuesheng knew she bore a burden that had nothing to do with so-called “romance,” but rather “the glory of the family.” [Rank] Empress (one), Imperial Noble Consort (one), Noble Consort (two), Consort (four), Concubine (six), Noble Lady, First Attendant, Answering Attendan 4Reads—Score114d adds

    Reader note

    It's good-looking, not mindless.

32. 182 与 Parting with Dreams 与梦离 An Acorn一粒橡果子Ancient Romance204k WordsCompleted [Harem Intrigue + Reborn + Political Scheming + Plot-Driven + Ensemble Cast + Serious Drama + Historical Romance] Prologue: Late at night, a sudden downpour began. The jade orchid by the bed gave off a captivating fragrance, as bewitching and hard to resist as the lovely woman in his arms. Urgent knocking sounded outside the bedchamber, accompanied by Eunuch Li's voice. “Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Consort Yao jumped into a well and took her own life!” “What!” The emperor's he 13Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It meets the questioner's requirements. Disadvantage: The name is off-key. Advantages: Reasonable palace intrigue, counterfeit cheat code.

33. 183 卿 Qing Chen's Scheme 卿宸谋 Southward, Where the Shepherd's Flute Plays南有牧笛笙Ancient Romance516k WordsCompleted [Not a virginal romance, not a wish-fulfillment story. Read with caution! A story that could loosely be called an ancient Cinderella tale] [Traditional Historical Palace Intrigue]+ [Rich Plot]+ [A Mix of Sweetness and Heartbreak]+ [Slow-Burning Happy Ending] Autumn, Year Seventeen of the Nanyan era. The late emperor passed away, and his eleventh son, Xiao Yuning, ascended the throne, ushering in the Minghe era. In the third year of Minghe, the court decreed that officials of the fourth rank and 1.1kReads8.9Score13214d adds

    Reader note

    Super good! The first two are similar to past lives and present lives, but I think the third one is the best! 😍

34. 184 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 265.2kReads9.6Score31k14d adds

    Reader note

    Each book is ruthless and full of cutthroat competition, and all have ratings above nine points. The last one is still being serialized, so those interested can follow along.

35. 185 本 I’m Not Much, I Just Have the Emperor’s Undivided Favor 本宫不才，独宠后宫而已 The Mole at the Corner of the Eye眼角的痣Ancient Romance323k WordsCompleted Historical romance + transmigration + sweet romance + devoted to each other Yi Muqing, a young woman born in the mid-to-late 1990s, transmigrates to the Great Sheng Dynasty, a place she has never even heard of, and becomes the least-favored Nalan Concubine. Unwilling to suffer in the imperial harem, she vows to become Emperor Qin Mochuan’s most beloved woman. On her quest to win his favor, she is manipulated and framed, and nearly loses her life several times. In the treacherous inner palace, sh 2Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It's so good!!! The female lead isn't a saint.

36. 186 春 Spring Banquet 春日宴 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance664k WordsCompleted She kept male favorites and toyed with powerful ministers! For eight years, the arrogant and tyrannical Princess Danyang, Li Huaiyu, wreaked havoc across the court and country. She died on the day the new emperor ascended the throne, bleeding from every orifice in a truly gruesome death. The officials celebrated and the people rejoiced: Evil gets what it deserves! Good riddance! Yet on the seventh day after her death, Princess Danyang returned to life in the body of the Bai family’s Fourth Mis 13.6kReads9.4Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    So good! So good! So good! So good! A high-IQ palace intrigue story, it's so satisfying to watch.

37. 187 娘 Will Her Majesty Become the Empress Dowager Today? 娘娘今天当上太后了嘛 Seasonal Persimmon时令柿子Ancient Romance519k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + heroine born into the womb + transmigrated supporting actress + reborn supporting actress + black lotus + everyone is smart] Shen Guiyi had planned to lie flat and enjoy a comfortable life, but every eligible young nobleman in the capital had a house full of wives and concubines. Since she couldn't escape the struggle, she decided to enter the palace as a candidate for the imperial harem. She would climb the ranks step by step. If she had to fight, she'd fight for the very bes 1.6kReads8.4Score20414d adds
38. 188 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Delicate, and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Falls for Her at First Sight 娘娘娇娇媚，冷戾帝王一见倾心 The Star Among the Stars in the Sky天上星星的星星Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and revenge, a slow-burn, slow-payoff story + stunning heroine + exceptionally clearheaded heroine with an unwavering goal] [The hero always favors the heroine + dotes on her exclusively in the middle + disbands his harem later] After Shen Qingtang’s aunt is schemed against and killed by Madam Shen, her goal becomes perfectly clear: she will enter the palace, become the most honored woman in the land, and make everyone who plotted against her aunt pay. She is also perfectly clea 5kReads9.1Score56414d adds
39. 189 安 An Lingrong Reborn: I Refuse to Become Sisters with Zhen Huan 安陵容重生：绝不和甄嬛做姐妹 Sesame Sauce Cold Noodles麻酱凉面Female-Channel Fanfiction810k WordsCompleted [Content warnings ⚠️] 1. This is not a wish-fulfillment story. 2. The heroine is a villainess. 3. She won't be killing people left and right, so if you're expecting a bloodbath, don't read this. 4. First person!!! A subjective perspective is not the same as objective reality. 5. Everyone is a villain!!! Don't read this if you want goodness, kindness, and romance. Traits retained: sensitive, suspicious, selfish, patient, and calculating. Traits toned down: cowardly, jealous, ruthless, gloomy, and 419Reads9.5Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    These books are so addictive, you can't put them down once you start reading! In the first three, the emperor dies [laughing]. In the fourth, after the emperor falls in love with the female lead, she dies and travels back to modern times. Unfaithful men never have a good ending [smirking].

40. 190 娘 The Palace Singer Rises to Power, Her Son Her Ticket to Glory as She Slaughters Her Way Through 娘娘歌姬上位，母凭子贵嘎嘎乱杀 Black Raven玄鸦Ancient Romance193k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and household drama only + not both inexperienced + no golden finger + raising kids] Wei Xinyi woke up in the body of a slave girl who sang for a living. Princess Changping presented her to the emperor as a gift to curry favor with him. At first, everyone looked down on her. There was the empress, noble by birth and domineering by nature; Consort Ning, gentle on the surface but a backstabber underneath; and Attendant Xiangzhao, who seemed uninterested in competing but was actual 607Reads—Score11414d adds

    Reader note

    They're all pretty.

41. 191 蔻 The Vermilion Gate 蔻朱门 The Long Night Hides Forever长夜永隐Ancient Romance630k WordsCompleted Synopsis: As the saying goes, the palace gates are deep as the sea, and life, death, fortune, and misfortune are all in Heaven's hands. Today, she is an ordinary sparrow of a girl. Next year, a phoenix crown will rest upon her brow. Shen Zhaozhao was merely a daughter of the third branch of the Anle Marquis's household. Aside from her striking looks, she had no reputation for talent, virtue, or an engaging personality. She was only sent to the palace selection as a filler, there to serve as 21.6kReads8.8Score2.8k14d adds
42. 192 恶 The Wicked Supporting Lady Is Doomed to Live as a Widow? Brother-in-Law, I’m Scared 恶毒女配守活寡？夫兄，人家好怕 Ye Buhong叶不鸿Ancient Romance558k WordsCompleted [Elder Brother Steals Younger Brother’s Wife + Deliberate Seduction] (Black-hearted scheming villainess ✖️ abstinent, cold-hearted junior tutor) In her previous life, Pei Jingxu remained a widow for three years for her husband, Rong Xuanzhou, who had died in battle. But then he returned to the capital with Bai Shutong, the widow of his comrade-in-arms, and her two children. The Rong family elders said nothing, only urging Pei to be virtuous and magnanimous. The widow was peerlessly beautiful. No 109.1kReads9.3Score18.7k14d adds
43. 193 我 I Won the Harem With My Beauty 我凭美貌在后宫躺赢了 Ningning Lingqi柠柠零七零Ancient Romance782k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + System + slice-of-life harem intrigue + satisfying revenge + ruthless heroine + lovestruck male lead + not pure + devoted love later] Content warnings at the end! Gu Lingwen dies unexpectedly and meets a clumsy beginner System. The two are stranded in a cruel feudal era, trembling with fear. They can return to the modern world only by completing the final assigned mission… There are only two ways to finish the mission: start a rebellion or fight for power in the harem. Underach 3.7kReads8.5Score24414d adds
44. 194 娇 The Sweet Little Promise Who Rose Through the Ranks by Bearing Children 娇娇小答应靠生子一路晋升 Purple Cat紫色猫Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + System golden finger + multiple births + silly beauty + laid-back palace intrigue + doted on exclusively later + not a pure romance] Guys, how is this fair? Other women fight for favor with their family background, beauty, and talents... Qing Luo does it by getting pregnant. She spends her days having babies, raising them, and doting on them, gradually earning the emperor's exclusive favor. With her children by her side, she climbs to the top of life... 10kReads9.1Score93914d adds

    Reader note

    These are all pure palace intrigue novels. The male lead falls in love first, the female lead pretends to love him, but even after the male lead realizes she doesn't love him, he doesn't get angry and continues to dote on her. In the end, the female lead is moved by the series of things the male lead does and is willing to open her heart to the emperor she loves. Love arises unexpectedly and deepens profoundly. [Sending heart]

45. 195 重 Reborn Palace Maid: She Only Wants to Fight for the Emperor's Favor 重生宫女之她只想宫斗 Lady Yejiu夜九娘Ancient Romance444k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiaoyun spent years confined in the Cold Palace before finally being released. What she got in return was a useless husband and a wicked mother-in-law. This time, she decisively betrayed her mistress and climbed into someone else’s bed, successfully rising in status. And then she became the lowest-ranking palace maid… When Emperor Jingheng first saw Jiaoyun, he was merely captivated by her looks. “How can this palace maid have fairer skin than the Noble Consort?” Jiaoy 710Reads9.1Score10214d adds

    Reader note

    Don't let the short chapters fool you, it's really good! I stayed up for two nights to finish it, highly recommended!

46. 196 综 Film and TV Worlds: The Powerful Host Just Wants to Snack 综影视之大佬宿主只想吃瓜 Watermelon Is Not a Carrot西瓜不是胡萝卜Female-Channel Fanfiction1.2M WordsOngoing An He returns from his tribulation, but before she can catch her breath, the Father God kicks her into three thousand worlds. An He: There’s something I don’t know if I should say. Father God: Then don’t say it. Don’t say it. 7951: Host, catch me! The heroine is a god. She has a System, a personal space, and divine artifacts. She’s easygoing and does as she pleases, only getting involved in things she cares about. There isn’t necessarily a CP in every world. (P.S. There’s a fixed CP after the A 14.3kReads8.0Score53314d adds

    Reader note

    The author's writing style is fluent and natural, seemingly leading the reader into a realistic yet complex world. The book vividly portrays various types of female protagonists, each with their own unique characteristics and distinct personalities. Their interactions with the main character add considerable depth to the story. This is a novel well worth reading.

47. 197 皇 I Became Invincible After the Emperor Heard My Thoughts 皇帝听见心声后，我无敌了 Well-Behaved Swallow乖巧的燕子Ancient Romance521k WordsCompleted Xiao Nanyan accidentally transmigrates to the Great Qian Dynasty. In an unfamiliar dynasty and a perilous imperial harem, this low-ranking concubine faces a crisis from the moment she arrives: being summoned to the emperor's bed, given an abortifacient, and beaten to death. Fortunately, the emperor can hear her thoughts, and she manages to escape disaster. Xiao Nanyan has no interest in fighting for power. With the emperor's protection, she had hoped to live out her days peacefully in the harem. 6kReads7.2Score38314d adds
48. 198 错 After a Mistaken Marriage to the Heir, She Spends Every Day Showering Him with Sweets 错嫁世子后，她每天都在撒糖 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [Reborn + mutually devoted sweet romance + revenge and household intrigue] Jiang Rong was deceived her entire life, and only learned the truth when she was on the verge of death. Returned to ten years earlier, she found herself fleeing an arranged marriage to elope. Jiang Rong gave the scoundrel a thorough beating, then turned around and went back to the prince’s manor to marry. The husband she had run from was Xie Lingxi, heir to the Northern Prince. In her previous life, he had protected he 34.7kReads9.5Score4.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    In her past life, Jiang Rong only realized on her deathbed that she had lived a life of lies. Reborn ten years earlier, she beat up her scumbag fiancé while running away from her arranged marriage, returned to the royal palace, and married Xie Lingxi, her savior from her past life. She vowed revenge and to repay his kindness, displaying extraordinary wisdom. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up]

49. 199 穿 Transmigrated to Ancient Times to Get By in the Imperial Harem 穿到古代混后宫 The Pen Name That Doesn’t Need Zhouzhou不用周周的笔名Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Modern-day Huang Ye transmigrates into the ancient Great Xia Dynasty as the pampered darling of the Minister's household, where a daughter is born only once every ten generations. To repay her loving family, she starts learning martial arts at a nunnery while still a little girl. She wants to master everything: inner strength, hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, medicine, and poisons. Only by learning real skills can she better protect her family. At last, she grows up, only to be told she must 1.9kReads7.6Score17514d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue is a life-or-death struggle. In that cannibalistic harem, you need brains to survive. The female protagonist is not only intelligent but also an excellent cook. This book is truly a great read.

50. 200 从 From Palace Maiden to Empress Dowager: The Beloved Consort Rules the Realm 从秀女到太后：娇娇娘娘母仪天下 Holding the Wedding Candle秉花烛Ancient Romance693k WordsOngoing Jiang Wanzhen was merely the daughter of a minor sixth-rank official, forced by circumstance to enter the imperial harem. Luckily, the emperor was young and handsome, so he wasn't too hard to stomach. The women in the harem were all cunning schemers, but Jiang Wanzhen fought her way through every obstacle, tore down paper tigers, and took on the fake sweethearts. She nursed her best friend, had children, and before she knew it, she had risen from an insignificant low-ranking consort to the most 101Reads8.5Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The first three books probably better suit your requirements, as they're pretty much what you described, so I won't go into details. The fourth book is about someone who rose from obscurity, which might not be your cup of tea, but it's still incredibly good! The fifth book isn't exactly about exclusive favor, but the power struggles among the concubines are really exciting to watch. The sixth and seventh books also fit your preferences. The last book also features someone who entered the palace through the imperial selection process, but only gained favor after several years.

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