Female Disguise, Political Scheming, A Great Villain, No Romance 女扮男装 玩弄朝堂，大奸臣，无CP

1. 1 穿 Transmigrated as an Unlucky Villain, I’m Giving Up and Taking It Easy 穿成倒霉反派后，我直接摆烂了 Little Flower Eats Melon小花吃瓜Ancient Romance3.8M WordsOngoing Also known as: After the Villainess Gives Up, She Still Holds Power Over the Court [Content warnings: Ensemble cast! Ensemble cast! Ensemble cast! Goofy humor! Goofy humor! Goofy humor! Lots of unserious everyday moments, slow pacing] Cross-dressing as a man + a little political scheming + lighthearted comedy + ensemble cast + a touch of the supernatural The protagonist has a romance, but it doesn't take up much of the story. She is a true villain, the kind who is destined to fight the original 1.5kReads9.2Score16114d adds

   Reader note

   The female lead is incredibly intelligent, almost supernatural!

2. 2 穿 I Transmigrated as the Villainous Tycoon's Son, So I Joined Him in His Evil Ways 穿成反派大佬之子，我同流合污 A Prosperous Opening开市大吉Ancient Romance639k WordsCompleted [Complete] [No romance × woman disguised as a man × strong heroine × transmigrate into a book] [Pure antagonist's perspective × no unnecessary romantic entanglements × ruthless and merciless] [No situation where the male lead is stronger than the strong female lead] When Zheng Luoqi wakes up, she discovers that she has transmigrated into a romance novel as the daughter of its main villain. Step by step, Zheng Luoqi watches her father become a great corrupt official. Then the male and female lead 2.7kReads9.0Score28414d adds

   Reader note

   This book about a woman disguised as a man is simply the most satisfying book I've ever read; I don't even know how to describe it.

3. 3 她 She Held a Reunion Feast, and the Entire Court Showed Up? 她办个同窗宴，满朝文武都来了？ Little Su Mehmeh小素咩咩Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Group transmigration + ensemble cast + no System + imperial examinations + everyday academy life in the early story + political intrigue in the middle and later story] (Everyone is highly intelligent and career-driven; the heroine has no romance) An earthquake sent Zhu Lan and her entire class of top students into a book, where they became a notorious group of failures! How could they turn things around? Oh, apparently all they had to do was pass the highest-level imperial exam. What a relief! 10.4kReads9.1Score1.9k14d adds

   Reader note

   A female-centric story with ensemble cast, political intrigue, time travel, and all characters with high intelligence. (Author: Juejuezi)

4. 4 配 Worthy of a Place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple: I Disguised Myself as a Boy and Became a Treacherous Official 配享太庙，从女扮男装当奸臣开始 Jin Tuqiu金土秋Ancient Romance729k WordsOngoing [Court intrigue + no romance + backing a female emperor + woman disguised as a man + building a career + secret identity exposed] She transmigrated into a world where her father and brothers had died, and her clan was trying to seize the family estate. To protect the family fortune, Pei Shu disguised herself as a man, sought refuge with her maternal grandfather, and studied hard for the imperial examinations. After giving it everything she had for ten years, she finally passed... the lowest-leve 8.9kReads8.7Score1.7k14d adds

   Reader note

   That would definitely be this one! The writing is impeccable, the plot is brilliantly ingenious, the author also has some pro-feminist ideas, and there are many excellent female characters who consistently do things that benefit women. Overall, it's a lighthearted read with a research-based foundation (truly enjoyable, not mindless), and the author is very knowledgeable.

5. 5 重 Reborn as a Man: Feng Qiansui Rules the Court 重生女扮男装：凤千岁权倾朝野 A Duo Guli阿朵古丽Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Completed. Villainess + woman disguising herself as a man + reborn + strong heroine + no romance The heroine is a true villain: greedy, ruthless, highly skilled in martial arts, and sharp-tongued! Scene One: Asking the Emperor for money Emperor: “I appoint you imperial inspector for the south. Investigate the affairs in Xuzhou thoroughly. If you find anyone committing crimes and undermining the state, and verify the evidence, punish them according to the law! I grant you this golden badge. Whoev 986Reads9.2Score13214d adds

   Reader note

   The female lead isn't a saint at all, and there's no romantic pairing. She's incredibly cunning and intelligent. She can use any resource at her disposal to achieve her desired outcome. Her mind is solely focused on power struggles, not romance. Sometimes, she'll sacrifice her subordinates for her own benefit. She's the type to manipulate powerful court officials. [Got it][Got it][Got it]

6. 6 大 Disguised as a Man in Great Qin, I Kidnap the First Emperor to Start a Rebellion 大秦女扮男装，掳走祖龙去起义 Yi Sir易SirAncient Romance449k WordsCompleted Lighthearted + everyone misreads the situation + officials gossiping + woman disguised as a man + the First Emperor is my best buddy The heroine is a miracle doctor. After spending a year as a slave, she turns against Qin Shi Huang and sets her heart on joining Liu Bang. Qin Shi Huang hides his identity. Impressed by the heroine's intelligence, he tries to win her over as a minister every time he conquers a kingdom. Scheming Ying Zheng, unhinged Liu Bang, yandere Lu Zhi The heroine is lively at 1.5kReads9.2Score25314d adds

   Reader note

   It looks so good!

7. 7 权 The Alluring Powerful Minister 权臣妖娆 Minced Meat and Fried Egg肉沫跑蛋Ancient Romance960k WordsCompleted Also known as The Female Top Scorer and The Female Imperial Tutor. He was a celebrated, charmingly elegant top scorer, showered with every favor under the heavens. Only after the Du family was destroyed and he hanged himself in prison did the world learn that “he” was a woman! After her father's death, the family's good name was ruined. Dozens of loyal servants starved to death. The beautiful women of the household were either made into servants or reduced to playthings for officials. Reborn, Du 3.3kReads9.1Score43514d adds

   Reader note

   Both parts are here!! No romance without a couple, the female lead is very compelling, she disguises herself as a man without being exposed, and she's flexible and resilient, even willing to rely on her enemy for the sake of the country. She's brave, resourceful, and impeccable. The supporting characters' unrequited love is very touching. Chinese people don't lie to Chinese people 💕 Everyone should watch it!!!

8. 8 山 Peace Across the Land 山河无恙 Minced Meat and Fried Egg肉沫跑蛋Ancient Romance511k WordsCompleted A companion volume to The Alluring Minister, also known as The Female Emperor’s Tutor. Political intrigue + a woman disguised as a man + battles of wits at court! He was a dashing, romantic top scorer in the imperial examinations, famous throughout the land! He was also a brilliant strategist who stepped up when the nation was in peril, planning far ahead. A master of both letters and arms, his genius astonished the world, and his elegance was unmatched. He left countless legends and stories beh 480Reads8.9Score10114d adds
9. 9 奸 The Treacherous Minister Has Caught His Majesty’s Eye Again Today 奸臣她今天又被陛下盯上了 Jin Qiubai锦秋白Ancient Romance423k WordsOngoing Li Fangxuan, the most ruthless person in the Great Zhou court, is cold-blooded and merciless, hoards wealth without restraint, and has no equal when it comes to cursing out the court. She has two lifelong ambitions: to wield power over the entire court, and to make sure no one ever discovers she’s a woman. Then one day, a wicked voice pops into her head, claiming to be the System. It immediately calls her “Master” and says it will help her reach the pinnacle of life. Li Fangxuan: So I’m the c 416Reads—Score10114d adds

   Reader note

   This fits the description quite well, but it features multiple male leads and multiple couples.

10. 10 奸 The Treacherous Minister 奸臣 Lan Jia Sanshao蓝家三少Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted Zhao Wuyou was the son of a treacherous minister, and everyone at court had to respectfully call him “Little Chancellor.” Father and son controlled the court and toyed with political power, so plenty of people wanted him dead. Mu Baili was the eunuch in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the governor of the Eastern Depot. He seemed respectful, mild-mannered, and kind to everyone, but in truth he was a wolf who devoured people without leaving a bone. What a shame that such a ruthless ma 4.4kReads9.1Score52314d adds

    Reader note

    Some of these stories feature romantic pairings (CPs) that don't detract from their enjoyment. The first book has a CP where the female lead disguises herself as a man to serve her brother in court. The second book features a ruthless female lead with a CP where the male lead is a madman; their relationship is both adversarial and friendly. The third book, while not exactly about manipulating the court, features a patriotic and compassionate female lead. The fourth book features a woman who disguises herself as a man to avenge her family, manipulating the court and becoming a powerful minister. The fourth book is by the same author as the second, but the roles seem to be reversed; the female lead disguises herself as a man to join the Eastern Depot, while the male lead is a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. (Don't read if you dislike this genre.)

11. 11 奸 The Treacherous Minister Seizes Power, and the Entire Court Falls Apart 奸臣上位，满朝文武都崩溃 What Kind of Heart Is Cold寒什么心Ancient Romance151k WordsOngoing [Woman Disguised as a Man] [Sickly] [No Romance] [Cold Outside, Unhinged Inside] [Battle Royale] [Villains Locked Away] She gazes at herself in the mirror and gives a scornful laugh. So this is what the infamous traitor whom everyone in the capital wants dead looks like. She is violent, ruthless, cold-blooded, arrogant, and wicked to the core. She forces respectable men into marriage and harasses the academy's teachers. The officials all think she is obsessed with money and women, and that she u —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    They're all pretty.

12. 12 岂 Who Says We Have No Clothes? We’ll Share Our Robes 岂曰无衣？与子同裳 A Red Leaf for You赠君以红叶Ancient Romance193k WordsOngoing (Pure historical romance, no transmigration, rebirth, or golden finger + ensemble cast + female disguised as a man + political intrigue + a cast full of villains) The year Yuan Yu was born was a turbulent one. The emperor trusted occultists and let treacherous officials manipulate him, plunging the capital into bloodshed. Her father, the prince, took his own life, and her elder brother was sacrificed to Heaven. Her mother, Empress Zhao, risked everything and pulled off a switch at birth, rewriti 4Reads—Score—14d adds
13. 13 手 With a Traitor System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man and Win Big 手握奸臣系统，女扮男装我赢麻了 Weng Huahua翁花花Ancient Romance379k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue and power struggles, gender-bender [multiple secret identities, woman disguised as a man, pretending to be weak while hiding her strength, villain protagonist] She starts out keeping her head down, then rises to power. A tale of scheming and betrayal in the world of officialdom! When Shan Xuexing wakes up, she discovers that she’s not only disguised as a man, but also a treacherous minister hated by everyone. The good news: she transmigrated with a System. The bad news: it’s a tr 150Reads8.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    No ambiguity, no melodrama, and the truth is only revealed at the end. Aside from being a little short, it has no flaws; it's entirely female-centric!

14. 14 本 I'm a Fake Official, Yet I've Won the Crown Prince's Heart 本官是假货，却哄得太子倾心了 Wen Lang文朤Ancient Romance298k WordsOngoing [Transmigration and nation-building | Woman disguised as a man | Court intrigue | Farming and famine relief | Feel-good rise to power] Li Yanhe takes over another person's identity and becomes magistrate of Pingwu County. Disaster is everywhere, refugees are on the move, and the treasury is empty... At the grand court assembly, officials from every prefecture report disasters, leaving the entire court at its wit's end. One report from the Commissioner of Administration sends shock waves through 5.4kReads6.5Score56014d adds

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