A Legitimate Daughter Raised by a Prestigious Local Clan: Household Intrigue, With a Smart Female Lead 女主本土世家培养出来的嫡女，宅斗，女主不傻白甜

1. 1 纨 The Playboy Won Me a Noble Title, and the Reborn Matriarch Went on a Killing Spree 纨绔为我夺诰命，重生主母杀疯了 Folded in the Mist折雾里Ancient Romance905k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication] [Clear-headed, independent true heiress x play-the-pig-to-eat-the-tiger fake wastrel] [Female-oriented fiction + heroine reborn + hero transmigrates + political intrigue] After more than ten years as the wife of the Ningyuan Marquis's heir, managing the household and dutifully serving her parents-in-law, Shen Tangning believed she had done nothing wrong. Not until the usually distant heir began an affair with her half sister, now married to his younger brother, and they 58.8kReads9.2Score7.8kShelves

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   Ahhh! Shen Tangning, a true heiress from a prestigious family, a genuine female-centric novel (even if she accidentally wandered into a male-centric novel, she'd still be amazing)! Not just a typical "strong female lead" story disguised as a romance! The novel leans towards political intrigue, which is very satisfying. Every character is vividly portrayed (both good and bad), and the romance between the male and female leads doesn't develop abruptly but gradually, without any abruptness. The male lead is a transmigrator, but he's reincarnated, and you can see signs of assimilation in his speech, but the scenes where he speaks modern language are hilarious. The female lead is reborn; she was already very capable in her previous life, and in this life, she's even more astute and strategic. Both characters are very intelligent, and many small details really touched my heart.

2. 2 宠EN Favoring a Concubine and Disgracing Your Wife? I Quit as the Marquisate's Matriarch! 宠妾灭妻？这侯门主母我不当了！ Li Wu礼午Ancient Romance598k WordsCompleted [Annual Top-Rated Novel Ranking] Voting has begun! Search for “Annual Top-Rated Novel Ranking” to vote for this book, A Return to the Boudoir. Thank you! [Traditional historical romance + inner-courtyard drama + reborn revenge and face-slapping + a prince pursues his wife] Lin Yunwan was the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Lin clan. When her Marquis household was on the verge of losing its title, she married Lu Zhengliu, the heir to the marquisate. On their wedding day, her husband coldly 54.8kReads9.3Score7.5kShelves

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   A legitimate daughter of a prominent family, the granddaughter of the Xie family, with an aunt who is the Empress, a maternal grandfather who is the Grand Tutor and Imperial Preceptor, and herself the legitimate daughter of a Minister! In her past life, she was schemed against by her father, aunt, and half-sister, and married the (a spoiled, dissolute son) of the second branch of the Marquis's mansion! 🍒 In this life, she'll make the best of a bad situation. She doesn't want to be the wife of the Marquis's heir; she'll just be a good wife to Chi Yan! 💐 She originally thought she could encourage him to be ambitious and achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations, but unexpectedly, he is skilled in both literature and martial arts, only hiding his talents to protect his family.

3. 3 穿 Reborn as a Marquis's Daughter, Still Beating Up the Fake Heiress 穿成侯府千金，今天也暴打假千金 Jiang Qiuqiu姜秋秋Ancient Romance579k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance + Transmigrate into a Book + Two Powerful Leads + Feel-Good] After transmigrating, Wei Anning, a martial arts heiress, made a contract with a System after dying in an accident. To help the System gather energy, she transmigrated into a book and became the real daughter of the Marquis's household, a disposable character who had been maliciously switched at birth. In the story, the fake daughter who had taken her place was gentle, refined, beautiful, and noble. Meanwhile, her real d 14.2kReads8.6Score829Shelves
4. 4 疯 Are You Crazy? Who Wants to Be a Virtuous Wife? 疯了吧！谁要当贤妻啊 Lionheart狮子心Ancient Romance302k WordsCompleted [Scheming, villainous-lotus heroine + love after marriage + household intrigue + both leads are each other's first and only] Lin Rongwan was a lowly concubine-born daughter. Her stepmother treated her poorly, and despite her beauty and excellent character, her low status kept her from finding a good match. Just before she was to be married off to a violent widower, the heir to the Duke of Cheng's title came to ask for her hand, even though she was only a concubine-born daughter. Cheng Wangzhi wa 1.5kReads8.2Score140Shelves

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   The female lead is an illegitimate daughter, unwanted by her stepmother. Although she is beautiful and kind, her stepmother targets her, intending to marry her off to a violent widower. By chance, the male lead comes to propose marriage, not out of love, but because he needs something from her. He has a childhood sweetheart, a woman he should be with, but her family is implicated in a crime, leading to her imprisonment in a brothel. After much trouble, the male lead brings her home. Since the female lead is from a humble family, he ensures that marrying her won't harm her beloved. The female lead uses her cunning to gradually win the male lead's heart. I feel the female lead is a reflection of reality in ancient times—striving to live a good life, what's wrong with a little scheming! (PS: The female lead is very clear-headed; it's an arranged marriage that blossoms into love.)

5. 5 雪 Snow Falls on Youyan 雪落幽燕 Helian Chengcheng赫连澄澄Ancient Romance176k WordsCompleted Li Mei, courtesy name Shuyuan, is the legitimate daughter of Prince Yongping’s household. At seven, she was granted the title of County Lady Jing’an. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she nevertheless had an unreliable mother. Her mother was a fiery-tempered daughter of a military family, fiercely jealous by nature. In a fit of rage, she killed Su Su, Prince Yongping’s favorite concubine, and was stripped of her title, expelled from the household, and sent to live in seclusion on Mount Nan, 1.1kReads—Score102Shelves

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   The female protagonist is a legitimate daughter of a county princess, and she learned martial arts from her mother. Because her mother killed her father's concubine and was expelled from the family, the female protagonist was also out of favor, facing discrimination from her half-sister and the annulment of her fiancé. Due to the family's misfortune, the female protagonist fled to Youzhou with her mother, where she found love. The male protagonist is a kind-hearted general who came to Youzhou while pursuing a murderer and met the female protagonist by chance. Her former fiancé was kidnapped by bandits and sold into slavery in Youzhou while on his way to pay respects to their ancestors, and her half-sister was also kidnapped and sold into slavery in Youzhou during her exile. Coincidentally, the female protagonist's family needed slaves, so her former fiancé and half-sister became their slaves.

6. 6 主 The Matriarch Is Tired. After Being Reborn, She Makes You All Work Like Beasts 主母累了，重生后换你们做牛马 Yu Yu Xiao Yu羽羽小羽Ancient Romance886k WordsCompleted Wei Yingxuan obeys her father’s orders and takes her deceased elder sister’s place in an arranged marriage. Before the wedding, she asks Song Tuo, “My temperament is very different from my sister’s. Will you truly care for me?” He replies, “She is she, and you are you. The day she died, I left the past behind.” For the sake of that promise, she too leaves the “past” and her “old flame” behind, and resolutely marries into the Marquis’s household. Seven years later, her elder sister comes back fro 2.8kReads8.5Score311Shelves

   Reader note

   Look at this one, its traffic is so low that its rating can't go up. This one is really good, each of the female characters could have their own biography.

7. 7 窃 The Book of Stolen Lives 窃命书 Heavy Snow in May五月下大雪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of this book, A Book of Ashes and Joy, premieres at 12:15 a.m. on February 13. If you're interested, keep an eye out! [Regains control after being possessed | Not a wish-fulfillment story | Plot-driven | Light ensemble cast] Lin Ruochu, the legitimate daughter of a general's family, was possessed during her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. The transmigrated woman, sold off by a System, used every means to “win over” the young heir of a marquis's estate. She turned e 37.6kReads9.4Score5.7kShelves

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   The first book is about a reborn woman fighting against a transmigrated woman; the second book is about being possessed, also about fighting against a transmigrated woman.

8. 8 榜 Catch a Husband at the Results Board, and My Scheming Groom Is Irresistible 榜下捉婿，腹黑夫君太撩人 Optimistic Sunflower乐天派向日葵Ancient Romance347k WordsCompleted [Clear-eyed, wealthy beauty VS scheming, devoted top scholar] [Marriage First, Love Later; Sweet Romance] Zhao Wanqing, the legitimate daughter of Prince An of the Great Yue Dynasty, was frail as a child. At the abbot’s guidance at Xiangguo Temple, she learned that she needed to marry someone whose Four Pillars of Destiny were purely yang. Prince An loved his daughter dearly. He followed every lead until he found her destined match, then shamelessly begged the emperor to arrange the marriage, fi 6.5kReads9.1Score822Shelves

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   Super good!!! It's a story of a legitimate daughter's intrigue, full of palace intrigue, domestic power struggles, and face-slapping moments. Both of this author's books are excellent, without time travel or reincarnation elements. They have solid literary skills and are purely ancient romance novels!

9. 9 淡 The Aloof, Taciturn Emperor Gets Jealous Every Day 淡漠寡言的陛下每日都在吃醋 All Blessings Gather百福具臻Ancient Romance471k WordsCompleted (Devoted love + faithful 1v1 romance, with the Consort as his only woman before she later becomes empress + everyday life + a slow, steady romance + taking what he wants + the powerful man lowering his head) Peerlessly beautiful Consort Yin Hua Rong x a taciturn, aloof emperor Yin Hua Rong comes from one of the great noble families of the capital. Her beauty is unmatched throughout Great Xia, and she was betrothed to the crown prince as a child. With the prestigious status of future crown prince 48.5kReads8.0Score7.1kShelves
10. 10 入 I Enter the Palace and Rise to High Rank: As His Majesty's Cousin, What Have I to Fear? 入宫即高位，我是陛下表妹我怕谁 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance477k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue + faux cousins + push-and-pull romance + winning hearts + taming a man Spring, Year Ten of the Zhaoqi reign. Shen Jiayu was summoned to the palace and became one of the emperor’s consorts. On the surface, the imperial harem seemed calm and peaceful, but beneath it lay tangled interests and hidden currents. The consorts schemed and fought among themselves, while the newcomers trembled with fear, terrified that one careless mistake would cost them their lives. Only Shen Jiayu s 229.6kReads8.9Score38.6kShelves
11. 11 拨 Seeking Daylight Through the Snow 拨雪寻昼 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance291k WordsCompleted “You and I have loved each other since childhood, childhood sweethearts with nothing to hide from one another.”, Ouyang Yuqian, "The Peacock Flies Southeast" [Childhood sweetheart loses to the newcomer + love grows over time] [This story is entirely fictional. Please do not read too much into it. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.] Because their mothers had been close friends since their girlhood, and the Xie and Shen families were neighbors, Xie Chenxue and Shen Fu 691Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Ancient Chinese romance novel featuring a power struggle within a family, the eldest daughter of a prominent family with strong family values.

12. 12 穿 Transmigrated as a Treacherous Minister's Legitimate Daughter, She Plays the Part to Perfection 穿成奸臣嫡女，她本色出演 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance565k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + Career-focused early on + Sweet romance + One-on-one romance + Both leads are devoted to each other] [Two-faced, ruthless minister's daughter × Wild, formidable iron-faced general] The ruler of the business world transmigrates into a book overnight, becoming the daughter of the treacherous chancellor. She throws her weight around and commits every kind of evil, with the label “vicious supporting female character” practically branded onto her. She's madly pursuing the 86.4kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves

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    These books are really good! I think they all have a writing style that's neither childish nor simplistic, and they don't feel superficial or shallow. The characters of the male and female leads are very well-developed! Some of them are types I wouldn't normally read, but I clicked on them by accident and ended up staying up all night reading them. ✨First book: A cunning and ambitious eldest daughter of a corrupt official's family & a loyal and somewhat naive general. Both are very straightforward, mutually attracted, and there are no misunderstandings—the romance is solid! 🥂Second book: A native female lead sees through her half-sister's rebirth and sees her as a clown—she doesn't care about her at all. After all, someone who only gained years of life but not brains isn't worth paying attention to! Ahhh, that's all—the feeling of a noble lady from a high-class family! 🥳 She thinks she has the upper hand, but in reality, she can't outmaneuver the well-trained and capable eldest daughter of a noble family! Both the male and female leads are incredibly intelligent! Go read them!

13. 13 国 The Happy Everyday Life of a Concubine's Wife in the Duke's Mansion 国公府庶媳的幸福日常 June's Private Plot六月的自留地Ancient Romance467k WordsCompleted [Now available in print] Ning Annuo was happily preparing to marry her fiance, the top scholar, when a bolt from the blue struck: he had been sleeping with someone else. She promptly broke off the engagement and married into the Duke’s residence instead. She outsmarted her mother-in-law, wisely guided her younger sister-in-law, won her husband’s devotion, and had a son and a daughter. Then she repaid everyone who had hurt her. She and her husband truly became a couple devoted to each other for l 5.6kReads8.9Score559Shelves

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    Ning Anuo was preparing to marry her fiancé, a top scholar, when a bolt from the blue struck: he had slept with someone else. She decisively broke off the engagement, instead marrying into the Duke's mansion. She cleverly outwitted her mother-in-law and raised her sister-in-law with wisdom, winning her husband's affection and gaining both a son and a daughter. She then avenged those who had hurt her, and finally achieved a lifelong commitment to her husband, living a sweet and happy life together.

14. 14 重 Reborn as the Most Beloved Person in the Capital 重生后，我成了京城第一团宠 Madam Zuiyue of Giant Island巨人岛的醉月夫人Ancient Romance175k WordsOngoing Shen Yunwan is reborn, returning to the moment she was born. In her previous life, she was the most esteemed legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's household, but her stepmother spoiled her, her half-sister schemed against her, and she ultimately died a miserable death in the Cold Palace. Her brother died in battle, her father was exiled, and her entire family was ruined. In this life, she is still sweet and lovable, but she is no longer a naive girl who lets others lead her around. From t 10Reads—Score120Shelves

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    Childhood sweethearts

15. 15 绝 The Stunning Outcast Tames Her Men, Captures Their Hearts, and Sparks a Rivalry 绝色万人嫌训狗，勾君心，引雄竞 Little Gingerbread Person姜饼人儿Ancient Romance283k WordsOngoing [Everyone's Least Favorite + Male Rivals Competing for Her + Taming Dogs + Forced Love + Calculated Moves] Song Qin has barely transmigrated into a book when she finds herself staring at a very large bed. Three powerful men, their faces flushed, beg her for an antidote. Only then does she realize she's become a flirtatious woman hated by everyone, and the original character is responsible for the three men being drugged. In the book, the original character is exiled for harassing high-rankin 96Reads—Score242Shelves

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    While others transmigrate into books and desperately try to gain favor, she transmigrates into a book that everyone dislikes, then simply pretends to be lazy and flirts back, making the powerful and arrogant people dance to her tune.

16. 16 深 Partridges Fly Through the Deep Mountains 深山鹧鸪飞 Helian Chengcheng赫连澄澄Ancient Romance146k WordsCompleted "A peerless beauty dwells alone in a deep valley. She calls herself a daughter of a respectable family, now fallen among weeds and trees..." Inspired by Du Fu’s poem "The Beauty," this story portrays kindhearted people helping one another through a chaotic age and expresses the shared resolve to resist their enemies and defend their homeland. It tells how lovers ultimately find their way to each other, while also reflecting the tragic fates of young women in that era and the true nature of human 83Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Set against the backdrop of the An Lushan Rebellion, the female protagonist is a well-bred young lady who is forced by her father to marry a man from a humble background. Later, after her father and brother die in battle, she is abandoned and can no longer support her husband, ending up in a valley where she encounters a wounded general. To survive amidst the war, they forge their own path in the wilderness, relying on others and becoming entangled in the stories of others, tenaciously surviving. Several female supporting characters, not rivals for the protagonist's affections, help each other during times of hardship.

17. 17 夫 Madam, the Heir Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time 夫人，世子他蓄谋已久 Susu Qian Ci酥酥芊瓷Ancient Romance471k WordsCompleted [A devoted couple, sweet romance, childhood friends] (Complete! Originally titled The Lady, the Heir Apparent Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time) [Scheming, doting heir apparent VS beautiful, high-maintenance heir apparent’s wife] Lu Zhaozhao, the youngest legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yunyang’s household, is adored by her parents and protected by her older siblings. She has grown up in comfort, with everything going her way. At sixteen, Lu Zhaozhao is a peerless beauty, and the thre 27.3kReads9.2Score3kShelves
18. 18 白 The White Moonlight Noble Consort’s Daily Life in the Harem 白月光贵妃的后宫日常 Yuanzi Eats Mulberries元子吃桑葚Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted (Cover used with permission) With an illustrious family background, breathtaking beauty, and the distinction of being the emperor’s moonlight, Jiang Hui should have found life as a Noble Consort effortlessly easy. Unfortunately, the sisters in all but name in the Eastern Palace, wave after wave of beautiful candidates from the provinces, and the supposed substitutes who resemble her in looks and bearing all tell her the same thing: no one can walk unscathed through the imperial harem. [Alternate 24.6kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves

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    This is my absolute favorite. I love listening to audiobooks, but it's a pity there aren't any multi-character dialogue readings, otherwise I would listen to them every night. I think the palace intrigue is really well written; I only discover many of the schemes after reading the short reviews.

19. 19 岁 May Every Year Bring Peace and Lasting Serenity 岁岁安澜绵长 Zhu Aiqi朱艾奇Ancient Romance561k WordsOngoing A modern police detective was killed in a car accident while on a mission, only to transmigrate into the youngest daughter of the eldest branch of the loyal and brave Earl’s household. Her biological mother had also switched her at birth, making her the family’s adopted daughter. How will she survive in ancient times? This is my first time writing, so please be kind, everyone! I don’t know the platform’s rules either, and the first chapter turned out too long! 13.1kReads8.2Score1.3kShelves

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    This is a very good book.

20. 20 高 Raising a Noble Lady of the Great Houses 高门贵女养成记 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance347k WordsCompleted In a nutshell, this is the growth diary of Fang family’s noble daughter. Her father favors his concubine over his wife, and her aunt and illegitimate younger sister run wild. Fortunately, her clever and resourceful mother teaches Fang Yanxi well, and despite her surroundings, Fang Yanxi grows into a fine young lady of a prominent family. [This is a fictional setting for a trial project, so please don’t take it too seriously. A novice’s work, written for my own practice.] 416Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A noblewoman from a local aristocratic family, with some elements of a time-traveling supporting female character.

21. 21 倚 Leaning on the Perilous Pavilion 倚危庭 Smiling Eyes Amid Peach Blossoms桃花深处眉眼弯弯Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Just how hard is it to raise an outstanding young woman? That depends on who’s raising her. If an entire clan, or even a whole country, throws its support behind her, that’s another matter entirely. Ye Qingjiu is a woman with all sorts of jumbled memories and a knack for baffling people with her behavior. She thinks she’s clever, until she somehow gets married and finally realizes Li Tingye has been playing her all along... 6kReads9.4Score597Shelves

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    It's really good, every character is wonderful.

22. 22 高 High-born Matriarch’s Husband-Taming Manual 高门主母的驯夫手册 Chu Diandian初点点Ancient Romance547k WordsCompleted Cheng Zhao was granted in marriage to Zhou Yuanshen, the youngest duke in the realm. Zhou Yuanshen had a favored concubine with a powerful family backing her, and he was also entangled in an ambiguous relationship with his widowed sister-in-law. He despised the stiff, dull manner of noble-born ladies. And Cheng Zhao had received the most orthodox upbringing of all. Faced with the endless infighting in the Duke’s household, the concubine’s provocations, and her sister-in-law’s covert meddling, Ch 167.2kReads9.0Score25.4kShelves

    Reader note

    I've been reading this book recently, it's quite good, but it's still being serialized.

23. 23 双 A Blood-Soaked Reckoning: Twin Sisters Return for Vengeance 【血色满门】双生姐妹踏血归来 Xiao Xiao Ran Zi萧萧然子Ancient Romance606k WordsOngoing An entire family of loyal officials is framed, and a century-old marquis’s estate is turned into a living hell. Twin sisters plunge from a cliff into the water, surviving against all odds. Once cherished young ladies who lived behind closed doors, they now tread a thorny path through the world. One struggles to survive on a sheer cliff, honing her edge; the other wanders in a foreign land, maneuvering at every turn. The court is rife with deceit and schemes, while the martial world flashes with 1.8kReads6.6Score189Shelves

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    🚨Masterpiece Alert! The animated series *Bloodstained Family* is coming soon! 🏯Political intrigue and ruthless schemes rage across the court, while (jianghu, the martial arts world) sever ties of gratitude and resentment. A tragic massacre involving an entire family unravels a series of bizarre cases and a heart-wrenching revenge. A 9.9-Rated masterpiece of political maneuvering and ruthless revenge, this is a must-read for anyone experiencing a reading slump! 🔥

24. 24 深 Jade Hidden in the Inner Chambers, Shining with Pearlescent Light 深闺藏玉映珠光 First-Rate Red Chamber一品红楼Ancient Romance516k WordsCompleted [The animated drama adaptation is now available under the title "Jade in the Deep Boudoir, Pearls in the Light". Go check it out if you're interested!] [Marriage Before Love + female lead is neither reborn nor transmigrated + supporting female character transmigrates] [Female lead seems sweet and naive but is actually cool and aloof + male lead seems indifferent but is actually cunning] Xiao Yunzhu was born into a marquis's household, where she should have been cherished and pampered, living a l 27.9kReads9.1Score3.6kShelves

    Reader note

    [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

25. 25 开 I Dug Out My Junior Sister's Immortal Bone From the Start, and Became a Great Villain? 开局挖师妹仙骨，我成了大反派？ Extreme Martial Arts Inn极武旅馆Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsOngoing [Villain]+ [System]+ [Chosen One]+ [Senior Brother]+ [Lighthearted]+ [Power Fantasy] [Ding! Host detected stealing the fated heroine’s immortal bone! The Fated Villain System has successfully bound itself to you!] Mo Tianxiao: “The fated great villain? Me?” Looking at the shining immortal bone in his hand and the beautiful woman lying on the bed, Mo Tianxiao was bewildered. He was a law-abiding citizen, so how had he become a villain? Mo Tianxiao: “Fine, a villain it is. With the System on my si 60.3kReads7.5Score4.4kShelves
26. 26 嫁 After Marrying a Treacherous Minister, I Was Spoiled Like an Ancestor 嫁个奸臣后，我被宠成了祖宗 Teasing the Moonlight撩拨月色Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted After being reborn, Meng Wu has no interest in romance. All she wants is to bring her enemies down. A husband? He just needs to be powerful, wealthy, and handsome! Pei Yan doesn't buy it. He thinks this girl is quite the character, and he's intrigued. You don't care about romance? That's fine. I do! Cornered against a wall and proposed to, Meng Wu stares at him in disbelief. Pei Yan smiles faintly. “Your standards for a husband are that he's rich, powerful, and handsome. Don't I meet every one o 4.8kReads9.2Score607Shelves

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    The most beautiful woman in the capital, her family destroyed—in her old age, she was violated by her adopted son and ultimately drugged and sent away by her adopted daughter-in-law… She had been married into the Song State Duke's mansion at sixteen, carrying his memorial tablet, and spent her entire life as a widow, ending in humiliation and misery! Reborn before the tragedy began, in this life, Meng Wu will protect her loving family and live a carefree and unrestrained life! [Shy]

27. 27 重 Only After Being Reborn Did I Learn I Was the Cool and Aloof Minister's White Moonlight 重生才知，我竟是清冷权臣白月光 October Orange十月橙Ancient Romance661k WordsCompleted [Revenge on scumbags + sweet romance + switched marriages + reborn heroine vs. transmigrated heroine + a seemingly aloof, secretly twisted beauty] In her previous life, Chu Mingyuan learned only as she lay dying that the younger sister who had secretly been sleeping with her husband was not born to her late mother. She was actually a concubine-born daughter who had been switched at birth by a concubine. Chu Mingyuan died with regrets. Thankfully, Heaven took pity on her, and after her death she 8.7kReads8.9Score901Shelves

    Reader note

    This book, I've read it twice already! It's absolutely fantastic! Both leads are strong, straightforward, and morally upright. The male lead is incredibly talented, henpecked, yet fiercely protective of his wife. The female lead is both intelligent and capable, and can even deliver a sharp retort. The plot is exhilarating, highly immersive, and vividly descriptive. Definitely worth reading!

28. 28 嫡 The Legitimate Daughter Takes Charge: May We Walk Together to Chang'an 嫡女掌家：与君共长安 An Old Friend of the Bald Monk癞头和尚的老友Ancient Romance118k WordsCompleted Shen Qingyan was the cherished legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's household, gifted in poetry and letters, with a brilliant future ahead of her. But in a single night, her world came crashing down. Her father treaded carefully at court, her mother was gravely ill, her elder brother was far away on the southern frontier, and their centuries-old family was hollow within and beset by wolves without. To ease her parents' burdens and keep their crumbling household afloat, fifteen-y 2Reads—Score—Shelves

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    She is the eldest daughter of the Shen family, who manages the inner quarters, and also the mastermind behind the political upheavals in the court; he is the heir apparent of Prince Jing, who wields considerable military power, and also her ally who will face life and death with her. Wisdom is revealed in the power struggles within the household, and strategic vision is displayed through political maneuvering.

29. 29 累 I'm Exhausted! To Fool Him, I Pretend to Be Sweet and Innocent Every Day 累死！为了骗他，本宫日日装娇纯 Deer in the Deep Forest深林的鹿Ancient Romance455k WordsCompleted “If you want to win, you have to learn how to lose first.” Meng Xianxiang lost a life, and learned to struggle, to seize what she wanted, to scheme and plan, and to claw her way up. Looking back on her previous life, she had lived in a stable, eaten pig slop, served tea and emptied chamber pots, enduring abuse and humiliation at every turn. Each memory was a stab to the heart. Given another chance, she wants status and power, and a world where no one dares bully her again. Behind the palace’s re 3.5kReads9.2Score302Shelves

    Reader note

    All three books transition from domestic power struggles to palace intrigue. In the first book, the female protagonist is solely focused on herself, with men merely tools for her to rise to power. The writing is excellent, and the plot isn't simply about evil; each character is complex, with no absolutely good or bad, only shared interests. The second and third books are similar, both depicting the female protagonist's rise to power.

30. 30 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 2.4kReads8.9Score309Shelves
31. 31 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The Jiang and Song families had been on good terms for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian even before she was born. Confined to the inner quarters of the household, all her learning was geared towards becoming a wife in the Jiang family. Yet, she waited until Jiang Xingjian returned to the capital with his beloved. No noble family would divorce a woman, so Song Wan abandoned everything and left the Marquis's mansion, only to be entangled by a rebellious and unruly man. What makes you think a time-traveling woman can defeat a woman supported by her entire clan?

32. 32 富 The Wealthy Little Maid 富贵小丫鬟 Huaqing Xue花青雪Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted She wakes up to find she has transmigrated into a little maid at the Duke of Tang's mansion. In the wealthy and comfortable manor, Yun Shu begins a leisurely life, growing up sheltered by riches and splendor. She sets out to earn more money and buy lots of farmland, all so she can become a little landowner someday and enjoy a happy, comfortable life. But that dull-witted general just doesn't know when to give up. Once he gets his hands on something he wants, he refuses to let go, and now he won' 4.6kReads9.0Score686Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all very beautiful.

33. 33 主 The Mistress's Daily Life 主母日常 Zhou Dabai周大白Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [An Aristocratic Lady Tears Apart a Transmigrator + Reborn + An Idyllic, Leisurely Life as the Mistress of an Ancient Estate] Lu Lingjun and her legitimate younger sister, Lu Hanyi, were both reborn. In their previous lives, Lu Lingjun married the second son of a sixth-rank civil official, while her younger sister married the heir to a marquis’s estate. Everyone said her sister had made the better match. But who could have guessed that Lu Lingjun’s husband would become the prime minister and sec 23.5kReads9.0Score3.2kShelves
34. 34 太 The Empress Dowager's Retirement Life 太后的退休生活 Zhou Xinhan周信含Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + female lead is the mastermind behind the scenes + no romance + plot-driven + ensemble cast] After transmigrating to the Great Jing dynasty, Su Minqing entered the palace as the empress. She worked tirelessly at palace intrigue for over a decade and finally fought her way to becoming the Empress Dowager. The only catch was that there was another Empress Dowager in the palace besides her. As the emperor’s adoptive mother, she was named the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces. The 6.1kReads8.4Score357Shelves
35. 35 高 The Road to Glory for a Noble Lady 高门贵女的荣华之路 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance324k WordsCompleted As the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping's household, Lin Chuyue married the Fourth Imperial Grandson, Zhou Xiao, as his principal wife at sixteen. At nineteen, she became a princess consort, and at twenty-six, she rose to become the most powerful woman in the Great An Dynasty: the empress. Who hasn't exclaimed that Lin Chuyue was born under a lucky star? Yet the hardships she endured are too painful to speak of. Zhou Xiao's childhood sweetheart of a cousin, a concubine reborn, and a ma 4.9kReads8.8Score310Shelves
36. 36 出 Born Humble? Made Noble Consort Three Months After Entering the Palace 出身低微？入宫三月封贵妃 Immortal Osmanthus Pudding人仙桂花酪Ancient Romance209k WordsCompleted [A stunningly beautiful heroine + ruthless revenge + palace intrigue + both leads' first love, don't ask me how it works, the emperor has his ways] Ten years ago, the Tang clan was framed by villains and sentenced to execution, their blood flowing for miles. No one knew that beneath the mountain of corpses, the youngest daughter of the Tang family was still alive. Ten years later, Tang Wanhua changed her name to Ning Sitang and entered the imperial harem on the strength of her unparalleled beaut 638Reads8.9Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    The eldest daughter of a prestigious family, skilled in both literature and martial arts, possessing both martial arts prowess and cunning, makes for an incredibly captivating palace intrigue experience.

37. 37 嫁 After Marrying the Gloomy Powerful Minister's Younger Brother 嫁给阴郁权臣弟弟后 Startled Magpie惊鹊儿Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [The print edition is now available under the title Why Not Ride the Wind Together] Xu Yunjia and Pei Youqing grew up together. After they married, she managed the household and cared for his parents, doing everything a wife could be expected to do. She never imagined that one day a woman would arrive at her door with Pei Youqing’s child. Only then did Yunjia realize that she had been living a joke all these years. She returned to the time before she married Pei Youqing. Xu Yunjia no longer want 13kReads9.0Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    I am a noblewoman, why should I compete with you?!

38. 38 重 Reborn and Remarried: The Scumbag Cries His Eyes Out 重生改嫁：渣男痛哭流涕了 Peach Blossom Lamb桃花小羊Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The husband’s groveling redemption + reborn + punishing scumbags + face-slapping + second male lead takes the crown + both leads are each other’s first and only love + ensemble cast + everyone’s favorite] Everyone envied Cui Yaoning’s life at first. She was the legitimate daughter of the Qinghe Cui clan, spoiled and willful from childhood. Then she married Pei Yu, the top scholar from another prestigious family, and he doted on her to no end. Pei Yu had grown up with her, and they were deepl 35.4kReads8.3Score4.9kShelves

    Reader note

    I recently started reading a book about a legitimate daughter raised in a prestigious family; she possesses an inherent pride and integrity.

39. 39 进 I Came to the Capital to Find My Family, and My Brother’s Archrival Spoiled Me Rotten 进京寻亲，被哥哥死对头宠翻天 A Magnolia Blossom一朵辛夷花Ancient Romance380k WordsCompleted [Pure historical setting + one-on-one romance, both leads are each other’s only partners + lighthearted and sweet + direct communication, no misunderstandings + no transmigration or rebirth] [Airheaded, gentle heroine versus arrogant, ruthless minister] Jiang Yihuan’s older brother was an official in the capital, while she dug wild greens in the countryside and often went hungry. One day, her brother’s sworn enemy, Wei Zhao, captured her. “Your brother has been exiled. From now on, you’re coming 12.4kReads9.0Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    At first, I also thought the female lead needed the male lead's protection, but as I watched further, I realized her ability to say whatever she wanted to everyone, like a child using naive language to express her intentions. She didn't seem like she was playing dumb; in fact, she never hid anything, but she just gave off the impression of being completely without guile. It was quite a good watch.

40. 40 重 Reborn: The Serene Life of a Concubine's Daughter 重生之庶女悠然 Rui Zhe瑞者Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In the fifteenth year of the Yan Feng era, Qiu Yiming, prefect of Lingnan, died in office. After the funeral, Lady Qiu, née Su, set out for the capital with her three daughters, one born to his principal wife and two to concubines, to seek refuge with her maternal family, the Earl of Zhongyi. As their carriage passed the Peony Tower, Qiu Fu leaned against the window, resting her chin in her hand, and smiled sweetly. Zheng Xiu, Duke of Rong, caught a fleeting glimpse of her in the crowd and nearl 2.6kReads9.0Score290Shelves

    Reader note

    After reading so many stories of family feuds and sibling rivalry, this is a much better read. Although they share a different mother, the sisters live in harmony. Perhaps it's because their stepmother isn't bad that they all find good husbands. There are no brutal scenes; it's a very good book and worth reading.

41. 41 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 266.6kReads9.6Score31.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The first one is about a male protagonist who travels from a war-torn era to the past, while the female protagonist is reborn. It's a very good story, and the male protagonist is really great.

42. 42 古 The Leisurely Life of a Noblewoman in Ancient Times 古代闺秀的悠闲生活 The Plainspoken Baili Che简单明了的百里澈Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted Savor the unhurried passing of time and enjoy a carefree life. I envy your graceful beauty, reflected in the blue heavens and the jade moon. Su Huayue learned everything from her mother from a young age, treating being a daughter of the Su family as a job. As the legitimate daughter of her father's second wife, all she had to do was live freely under the protection of her mother and elder brother. Her only pleasure was watching her two elder half-sisters compete for their father's and grandmothe 11.5kReads8.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    No reincarnation, no time travel, I absolutely love the female lead's mother, she left her father and kept her son. The female lead's life is fulfilling but also has its regrets. From a nominal county princess to an old royal consort. (The female lead's grandmother was also a county princess.) It feels like there's a slight ensemble cast.

43. 43 绾 Winding the Wind into Splendor 绾风华 Light Ink Wash水墨浅浅Ancient Romance344k WordsCompleted Cui Wanwan died, killed by a woman from another world. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back at twelve years old, three years before the transmigrated woman arrived. Cui Wanwan, the second young lady of the Cui family, had been born a favorite of heaven, the apple of her family’s eye. With her family’s favor and prestige, she was destined to become a prince’s consort and enjoy a life of wealth and glory. She had thought her life would be carefree, but an odd woman who claimed to 3.3kReads8.9Score348Shelves

    Reader note

    After being reborn, the female protagonist knows that three years later, the woman with the system will steal everything from her and leave her to die a miserable death in the wilderness. 🍉 This time, she eliminates all hidden dangers in advance and personally cultivates her own power. 🍓 When Wei Qingyu finally transmigrates, full of confidence to steal her life, 🔫 she finds that her fiancé is indifferent to her, her brother treats her coldly, and even the public opinion in the capital is firmly in Cui Wanwan's hands. 🔫 Wei Qingyu panics: "System, what's going on? Shouldn't she be a vicious female supporting character who can be manipulated by everyone?" 🍉 The system alarm suddenly sounds: [Warning! The target is extremely dangerous! It is recommended to escape immediately!] 🍓 Cui Wanwan chuckles lightly, sword in hand: "Run? This is just the beginning."

44. 44 重 After Being Reborn, My Elder Sister Wants to Trade Marriages with Me, and I Couldn't Be Happier 重生后嫡姐要和我换亲，求之不得 Proud Cotton傲娇棉棉Ancient Romance366k WordsCompleted [Twins + both reborn + swapped marriages + revenge on scumbags + mutual devotion + satisfying read + happy ending] A plot-driven story with plenty of substance and sound logic. Not mindless wish fulfillment! The heroine starts out at a disadvantage. If she draws too much attention, her enemies may see through her and the story could be over, so she has to plan carefully and seize the initiative step by step. The satisfying payback only really kicks in later. The hero, Xiao Ci: an innocent, sweet 685Reads8.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Attention][Attention] The female lead initially pretends to be naive, but is actually incredibly cunning. Later, she reveals her true colors. The male lead starts as an innocent, adorable puppy, blushing at the slightest touch. After marriage, he transforms into a cunning and ruthless Shiba Inu; he's incredibly skilled. In her previous life, Yun Shu was schemed against by her husband and elder sister, becoming a scapegoat and indirectly causing the death of the loyal and valiant General Xiao Ci. Reborn, she returns to the day before her elder sister ran away from her arranged marriage. Unexpectedly, her equally reborn elder sister proposes a swap marriage! Yun Shu feigns grievance, but inwardly rejoices: This time, it's your turn to deal with those wolves and tigers! She marries Xiao Ci as she wishes, embarking on a thrilling journey of revenge!

45. 45 幺 The Youngest Daughter, Changle 幺女长乐 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Miss Zhu Si’s rough fighting skills have always made her the laughingstock of the capital’s noble families. In everyone else’s eyes, that’s the sort of work meant for household guards. Zhu Changle, who considers herself invincible, isn’t ashamed of it. She’s proud. Not everyone can protect their own home, but she can! And then some! She’d even turn the whole capital upside down to protect it! Don’t believe her? Try her! 18.7kReads9.5Score3.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all. The first three are by Kong Da Da, so the quality is guaranteed to be top-notch. The last two are also very good. Highly recommended!!!

46. 46 贵 The Alluring Imperial Consort Climbs to the Top by Winning the Emperor’s Favor 贵妃娘娘妩媚诱人，一路争宠上位 Cheng Shuang乘霜Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted [A drama-loving, cunning heroine who puts on a beautiful act × a hero who falls for all her tricks] The heroine is spoiled by his affection, and the hero keeps lowering his standards for her Shen Yue knew from childhood that she had to fight for whatever she wanted. Having watched her concubine mother bow and scrape around the household, she wanted to win a respectable place in the world for them both. As a concubine-born daughter, no high-ranking family would take her as a principal wife. If sh 2.8kReads8.8Score251Shelves

    Reader note

    These three books are really good! [Shy]

47. 47 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 7.6kReads9.2Score871Shelves
48. 48 白 The Palace Intrigue of the White-Moonlight Heroine 白月光女主的宫斗日常 Yang Qinghuan杨清欢Ancient Romance389k WordsOngoing [Palace intrigue + household intrigue + political schemes + conspiracy theories + having children + a groveling chase after his wife later on] The female lead is strong and cunning, absolutely no saintly white lotus. Her family background is formidable. Her maternal family is the Xie clan of Chaoyang, the greatest of the four great families. Her father is the Lin'an Marquis, famed for his military exploits. The moment she enters the Eastern Palace, she becomes the Crown Princess. The Crown Princ 14Reads8.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Not a saintly figure or a naive girl; the female lead in the first book is incredibly intelligent, decisive when necessary, and doesn't hesitate. The political intrigue is captivating, and her palace drama skills are impressive!

49. 49 娘 The Empress’s Peerless Beauty: The Cold Emperor’s Beloved Wife 娘娘绝色：冷情帝王的娇娇皇后 Sheng Qian笙浅Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + palace and household intrigue + alternate history + exclusive devotion + childhood sweethearts + long-planned love + secret admiration] As the legitimate daughter of a duke’s mansion and the future crown princess, Li Yunshu has been doted on by everyone since birth. Everyone in the capital knows that no one can match Li Yunshu’s radiant beauty, and that her spoiled temperament is just as singular. Then, one day, the Crown Prince dies. The duke’s mansion, whi 12.5kReads9.0Score1.3kShelves
50. 50 贵 The Noblewoman with No Scruples 贵女无良 Slender Pear Blossom梨花瘦Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Li Jingyi has never believed in waiting ten years to get revenge. To her, a gentleman takes revenge from morning to night. You tricked me, bullied me, and killed me. I’ll take you hostage, escape, and divorce you! And in another place, there was someone else whose plans matched hers perfectly! 2kReads8.8Score235Shelves

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