Any Proper Palace-Intrigue Historical Stories? 😭 The Kind Where Everyone's Scheming Eight Steps Ahead 纯正的宫斗的古文有没有😭就是那种八百个心眼的

1. 151 穿 Reborn as a Pregnant Villainous Princess, I Just Want to Stay Alive 穿成了揣崽的恶毒公主，只想苟命 Yaoyao Sunshine瑶瑶sunshineAncient Romance441k WordsCompleted [The score is new, so it may be low] [Transmigrate into a book + pregnant + survival first + sweet romance + the aloof beauty brought down from her pedestal + happy ending] [Xiao Qinghuan, who only wants to survive and turn the tables + Qi Luo, who despises her at first but later can't help falling for her] Xiao Qinghuan, the legitimate princess of the Great Liang, forces herself on the poor top scholar Qi Luo for a night of passion. She gets pregnant as she hoped and marries him, causing troubl 4.6kReads7.2Score88014d adds

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   There are no heart-wrenching scenes, and the overall tone is light and gentle. After the female protagonist transmigrates, she has a peaceful mindset and just wants to live a stable life. She occasionally uses small tricks to disrupt plot points, but she never hurts anyone. There are no vicious schemes or backroom deals in the inner court; the conflicts are concentrated on the royal power struggles. There are many scenes of her daily life, such as taking care of her pregnancy, browsing the storeroom, and chatting with her family. It's a very relaxing read before bed.

2. 152 癫EN What the Heck! Everyone Around Me Is Completely Nuts! 癫！孤身边全是神经病！ Wen Yuan Party文元党Ancient Romance764k WordsCompleted Born a crown prince, Qi Yuanzuo was convinced that he was the only normal person in the imperial family. Little did he know what the Crown Prince looked like to outsiders: At seven, he shot a tiger and won nine hundred kilometers of territory in the Qilian Mountains. At thirteen, he cut through the great clans of Jiangnan and personally orchestrated the Case of the Ninety-Seven Mourning Robes, stepping over piles of corpses to claim the throne. At fifteen, he gambled on the Qilian Mountains once 53.5kReads9.5Score6.9k14d adds
3. 153 宫 The Palace Maid Is Alluring and Wily, and Coaxes the Emperor into Making Her Empress 宫女茶又媚，哄着帝王送凤位 Shui Shengyu水生玉Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Just started receiving ratings, so they’ll gradually go up. Your support is welcome!] [Beautiful, calculating palace maid x devoted, possessive emperor] [Reborn + 1v1, both devoted to each other, happy ending + powerful man bows his head, heroine knows how to keep him in line] Lin Chan was the least noticeable concubine-born daughter in the General’s residence. When her legitimate elder sister entered the palace as a consort, Lin Chan could only go with her as a maid. She endured one humiliatio 2.4kReads8.9Score31514d adds
4. 154 东 The Eastern Palace’s Caged Sparrow: Changning’s Mistake 东宫囚雀：长宁误 Rika Under the Moon月下绘里香Ancient Romance395k WordsOngoing [Love and hate entwined | Discipline | Revenge | Political scheming] I am the fallen dynasty's princess, the most docile canary in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince killed my father, destroyed my homeland, and used rules to cage me into the most obedient plaything in his palm. He told me to learn political strategy, so I did. He told me to smile, so I smiled. After lying low for five years, I finally got the chance I'd been waiting for: the day he was trapped in a desperate situation. I broug 180Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Palace intrigue, political maneuvering, revenge

5. 155 别 Don't Rush, I'm Waiting 别急，我在等 Shangguan Xuan'er上官轩儿Modern Romance118k WordsCompleted Whether you are a career woman or a housewife, you must treat yourself like a queen. When you are humiliated or defeated, learn to fight back when all seems lost. When you find yourself in a difficult situation, don't panic. Wait. Wait for your opponent to finish their act. Wait until you have all the evidence. Wait until everyone has taken their side. Then tear down the stage with your own hands. 56Reads—Score—14d adds

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   For ten years, the Empress served as a substitute for the Emperor's unrequited love, eliminating his rivals. Only when the Emperor returned to the palace did she discover that the Emperor himself had forced her to swallow an abortifacient to carry his unborn child to term—and the Regent knelt before her, offering her a knife: "Kill him, or kill me." —18

6. 156 与 Joy with You 与君欢 Moonset月落Ancient Romance657k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] A young king and queen join hands to bring peace to the realm, brimming with ambition! A sinister, calculating ruler versus a clever, decisive queen: evenly matched, they win the world together! Jiang He, daughter of an envoy from Qi, was forced to enter the palace as a servant after her mother died and her father disappeared. Then, just before the marriage alliance, the princess of Qi died a tragic death, leaving 26.3kReads9.5Score3.4k14d adds
7. 157 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 2.8kReads8.8Score24514d adds
8. 158 哥 After Her Brother Was Reborn and Turned Dark, the Adored Little Princess Melted His Heart! 哥哥重生黑化后，被团宠小公主萌翻了！ Baili Sha百里砂Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Everyone's favorite + adorable baby + daily life and family bonds at the heart of it + healing + supporting characters reborn + a real three-and-a-half-year-old] Zhu Zhu is widely considered the luckiest child in all the capital when it comes to being born into a good family. Her father wields immense political power, her mother is richer than the whole realm, her uncle is a brave and skilled warrior, and her many older cousins treasure her like a jewel. Even the emperor treats her like his own 40.6kReads9.5Score8k14d adds
9. 159 被 After Being Kidnapped, I Kidnap the Western Regions' Young Lord and Bring Him Back to the Central Plains 被拐后，我反拐西域少主回中原 Thousand Threads of Intrigue千丝戏Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Young lord of the Western Regions × Princess of Sheng'an] Ye Zhaoyu was born into the imperial family. She figured she'd surely been dealt the pampered darling's script in life, so she wisely decided to coast. But she never expected to take a wrong turn and be kidnapped to the Western Regions. By a stroke of bad luck, she was sent to the bed of a deranged young lord known as a demon's lair and a living Shura. She immediately switched into survival-and-escape mode, determined to flee back to the 9.2kReads9.5Score1.5k14d adds
10. 160 贵 The Noble Consort Is Cool and Aloof, and the Emperor Yearns for Her Night After Night 贵妃清冷，圣上夜夜相思 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance448k WordsCompleted Shen Qinghe was in the bloom of youth when she entered the palace, where she weathered its intrigues for more than a decade. She had hoped to leave with a reward one day, or perhaps spend her whole life peacefully as a palace official. But then an order came down, and one day she unexpectedly became an imperial consort. She watched these women fight day after day, never expecting to become entangled in their schemes herself. Shen Qinghe could only sigh. He was the emperor, and she was a palac 12.8kReads9.2Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    Both are palace intrigue novels, with the female protagonists being clear-headed and scheming step by step.

11. 161 女 Disguised as a Man: The Tyrant Charms with Her Beauty 女扮男装：暴君她美色撩人 Flower Roll Rice花卷饭Ancient Romance750k WordsCompleted [Woman disguised as a man + no romance + strong heroine + gradually becomes everyone’s favorite] Jun Lin was born into the modern world and then reborn in another era. After disguising herself as a man, she finally managed to ascend the throne, only to be poisoned by her childhood friend and turned into a puppet under his control. Her memories became jumbled and her personality changed drastically. After five years of tyranny, she died in court. Jun Lin: “Thanks for asking. I woke up in a mass g 2.9kReads9.5Score48214d adds
12. 162 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

    Super exciting! I was so engrossed in reading it late at night that my toes cramped up. The plot didn't drag at all, and more importantly, none of the three emperors in these books had a good ending. [Shy]

13. 163 她 She Just Wants to Lie Low, but They Keep Forcing Her to Rebel 她想咸鱼躺，非逼她造反 Warfires Stain All烽火尽染Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] Lu Songli transmigrated into a book and became the cannon-fodder first wife of Xie Zhan, the male lead of The Powerful Minister's Beautiful Young Second Wife. In the book, her friend Zhao Yutan, who returned in glory from a place of exile, would steal her husband. The two of them carried on behind her back while she was gravely ill, and their affair literally angered her to death. Lu Songli was about to roll up her sleeves and tear into the cheating scumbag and 106.8kReads9.5Score12.4k14d adds

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    1. *The Alluring Concubine, the Debauched Emperor* The true essence of palace intrigue! No romance-obsessed protagonists, intense female rivalry, political maneuvering, and a four-lifetime destiny loop! Transmigrated into the body of Su Jingyao, a cannon fodder concubine destined for a tragic end, she believes only in herself, distrusting love and using power as her weapon and ambition as her ladder, navigating the treacherous Eastern Palace step by step. From hiding her true intentions to wielding absolute power in the harem, she uses seduction and manipulation, leveraging others' strengths, refusing to be a parasitic vine clinging to imperial power, but rather a master strategist controlling the entire situation. The book is divided into four volumes, progressively unfolding: palace intrigue, double rebirth and sweet romance, a wife-chasing frenzy, and modern romance. A four-lifetime destiny loop, the extreme tug-of-war between the male and female leads, a two-way game of power, delicate political intrigue, and stunning writing—a pure and realistic ancient Chinese palace intrigue novel! 2. *She Wanted to Laze Around, But Was Forced to Rebel* The ultimate anti-cliché palace intrigue novel! Forget the palace intrigue and backstabbing; this story leaps to the level of dynastic change! The female protagonist transmigrates into the body of a cannon fodder first wife, hoping to escape her carefree life, but is forced to marry into the loyal Qin family, destined for exile. Instead of getting caught up in the romances of the inner palace, she focuses on building her career, accumulating merchant caravans, recruiting talented individuals, and gathering supplies, painstakingly building the capital for rebellion. She rises from the inner palace to the imperial court. The male protagonist is pushed onto the path of rebellion by his wife, and together they sweep across the court, ultimately leading to the reign of two emperors and the establishment of a prosperous era. There's no melodramatic power struggles or internal strife; only a clear-headed female protagonist pursuing her career and a doting male protagonist spoiling his wife. The political intrigue is logically sound, and the plot is packed with exciting moments. This is a pure palace intrigue novel that transcends the limitations of the inner palace and boasts a grander scope!

14. 164 替 I Took My Eldest Sister's Place in the Palace, and I Loved It. She Regretted It 替嫡长姐入宫后，我爽翻，她悔了 Moon Gazing at Lotus望月荷Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The rating has only just come in and will rise later, so don’t be put off by the low score. Gu Ya is the second legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household. With an elder brother and sister to shoulder the family’s responsibilities, she had thought she’d only need to marry off for the family once she came of age. But then her eldest sister changed her mind and refused to enter the palace. To avoid making an enemy of the emperor, the Duke of Zhenguo’s household had to send in an unwill 29.1kReads8.1Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    I just finished reading the classical Chinese text

15. 165 如 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Graceful as the Moon 如懿传：亭亭似月 Ye Shiwei叶诗薇Female-Channel Fanfiction658k WordsCompleted [Completed] In the palace, the consorts’ foremost task is to win the emperor’s favor. No matter their rank or how low their methods, all that matters is achieving their goal. Yanwan was once a maid in the Fourth Imperial Storehouse. Innocent and lively, with captivating beauty, all she wanted was to marry her childhood sweetheart, Ling Yunche. But her flower-like face made others wary of her, and she suffered three years of humiliation without anyone offering a helping hand. So she took matters 1.9kReads9.4Score17914d adds

    Reader note

    Book 1: The female protagonist transmigrates, uses cunning to gain favor, remains remarkably clear-headed, and doesn't succumb to temptation. Book 2: An Lingrong is reborn. This book features characters with 800 hidden agendas; it's a female empowerment story! The author's writing is superb, and the final female empowerment is truly breathtaking. Book 3: A crossover of film and television, a constant whirlwind of events. Book 4: Song Zhao. Book 5: Yan Wan is reborn, hiding behind the scenes and escaping unscathed. Book 6: Yan Wan and Jin Zhong are both reborn, colluding in wicked schemes, a den of vipers. The tug-of-war and sense of destiny between them is incredible. Book 7: Yi Xiu is reborn, wreaking havoc and mercilessly tormenting scumbag men.

16. 166 白 The Emperor's White Moonlight Goes on a Killing Spree in the Palace 白月光进宫后杀疯了 Winter Soup冬季汤Ancient Romance205k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + bewitching, scheming beauty heroine + male lead gradually falls for her + revenge] In her previous life, Xie Shuning was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, yet her cousin’s family manipulated and brainwashed her into marrying far from the capital. After the wedding, her husband’s family abused and humiliated her, while her cousin became a favored consort of the emperor, living in splendor. She even joined forces with Prince Yu to frame the Xie family, sending 2.6kReads8.8Score31114d adds
17. 167 孤 An Orphaned Girl Takes the Family Reins: Ruling the Realm from the Inner Chambers 孤女承家：从后宅定天下 Li Mingjiu李明玖Ancient Romance310k WordsCompleted [A score of 6.9 on May 25, 2026. A special milestone, and here's hoping it rises! A strong female lead, a cast where everyone shines, no one is reborn, and there is no System] Who says women are inferior to men? Why be confined to the inner courtyards and their rivalries? Women have a world of their own to conquer. Her father and brother returned victorious, only for their deaths to be announced. When their coffins came home, she became an orphan overnight. Everyone laughed at her for having no 16Reads6.9Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A household intrigue with eight hundred schemes

18. 168 如 Story of Yanxi Palace: Yanwan Gets the Heroine’s Script 如懿传：当嬿婉拿了女主剧本 Wu Wu Wu Mei巫巫巫梅Female-Channel Fanfiction698k WordsCompleted [Main story and bonus chapters complete] After Yanwan dies, she is reborn on the day she is made a Minor Attendant. This time, she'll kindle the flames of revenge and make everyone who bullied her pay dearly. Jinzhong is reborn at the same time after his death. He hates her with all his heart, yet can't help falling in love with the utterly wicked Wei Yanwan. Both have hearts steeped in malice. Yanwan and Jinzhong are two of a kind, a wicked consort and a treacherous courtier bringing a lurid bl 1.7kReads9.3Score16514d adds
19. 169 太 The Crown Prince’s One and Only: The Bewitching Consort Captures His Heart and Claims Her Place 太子独宠，尤物娘娘缚心上位 YQ Lazy Little CatYQ小懒猫Ancient Romance736k WordsOngoing [Unhinged, Ruthless Heroine + Cold, Scheming, Obsessive Crown Prince + Palace Intrigue] [Before the heroine entered the palace, the hero already had wives and concubines, but the emperor had forced them on him for political reasons. He only went through the motions with them, and their relationships were in name only.] [Readers who mind this should proceed with caution] She was the legitimate daughter of the Luo family, breathtakingly beautiful. But when her father demoted her mother to a concub 2.4kReads—Score17014d adds

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue thriller where the female protagonist enters the Eastern Palace through the imperial concubine selection. She is unassuming and adept at feigning weakness, but is actually highly skilled. She tests the Crown Prince's abilities, who dotes on her. The plot is fast-paced and highly recommended.

20. 170 踹 Dump the Romance Hero, Seduce the Emperor from a Male-Oriented Novel 踹掉言情男主，勾搭男频帝王 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, revenge, scheming, stunning heroine, seductive mastermind] The short drama His Heart on a String is now streaming! Shen Yuling transmigrated into a romance novel as its heroine. Unfortunately, she was a heroine whose luck had been stolen by a woman who transmigrated into the story. She would die in a fire, taking her unborn child with her, while her entire family would be wiped out. It was a fate the original heroine had failed to change, even after being reborn twice 17kReads9.2Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    These are some palace intrigue novels I've read, and I thought they were all very good.

21. 171 宜 Yi Xiu Is Reborn: Driving Her White Lotus Half-Sister Mad Ninety-Nine Times 宜修重生：逼疯白莲嫡姐九十九次 Fat Cat Eats Three Bowls at a Sitting肥猫一顿吃三碗Female-Channel Fanfiction626k WordsCompleted Villainous heroine ⭐ Cunning palace intrigue ⭐ No pampered romance! Empress Yixiu was reborn a year before her elder sister entered the household. The first thing she saw when she woke was Fourth Master tenderly holding her hand. He said, “Xiao Yi, once you give birth to a boy, the position of principal wife will be yours!” Yixiu sneered. Did he think she didn't know what would happen next? Now that she had a second chance at life, she would never hand over her position as principal wife or her 1.6kReads9.1Score13214d adds
22. 172 满 The Entire Court Longs for the Empress to Attend Court and Rule 满朝文武盼着皇后娘娘上朝理政 Lantern Festival Dumplings元夕圆宵Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (The live-action series is out!) After her elder sister dies in palace infighting, Shen Shixi enters the palace by imperial decree to be selected as a consort. Within the palace are the powerful and virtuous Empress, born to the imperial in-laws; Consort De, born to an aristocratic family and exceptionally prolific; Consort Rong, the Emperor's favorite, with a strong artistic streak; Consort Qiong, whose superb cooking has won the Emperor's heart; and Consort Xiurong, known as a learned woman an 51.7kReads9.1Score5.5k14d adds
23. 173 蓦 The Phoenix Turns Back 蓦回鸾 Sea Green Takes the Swan海青拿天鹅Ancient Romance786k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Sun Wei was determined to marry well so she could escape her predicament and strike back at her clan's humiliation. Through various means, she married Sima Jun, Prince of Yuzhang. When chaos engulfed the realm, Sun Wei didn't realize that Sima Jun had feelings for her until the city fell and she was killed. In this life, a woman suddenly appeared before Sima Jun, Prince of Yuzhang, claiming to be his father's second wife. She could read fortunes and seemed to know everythin 5.1kReads9.0Score63014d adds

    Reader note

    Both of these are palace intrigue novels that I find very enjoyable, especially the first one, which is truly full of cunning and scheming.

24. 174 娘 The Empress Is Coldhearted, Yet Rises Step by Step 娘娘薄情，步步为后 Yun Yuebai云月白Ancient Romance294k WordsCompleted Shen Tongning had been the emperor’s favorite consort for two years, always believing that he loved her. It wasn’t until his first love entered the palace that she finally realized he had never loved her at all. His beloved framed her for using witchcraft to sow chaos in the harem. The emperor gave her no chance to prove her innocence, ruthlessly stripped her of her title, and demoted her to a convict servant in the Yeting Palace. The Shen family was implicated as well. Their home was confiscate 458Reads—Score—14d adds
25. 175 表 My Cousin Can Only Be Mine 表妹只能是朕的 Puff Pastry Little Nurse泡芙小奶妈Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (The ratings have only just opened, so they’re sure to shoot up later, my dears.) A formidable emperor × his breathtakingly beautiful, sweet and gentle cousin. A teasing beauty, doted on exclusively. Both leads are sexually inexperienced. The court officials all believed the Empress Dowager had raised her niece, Shen Wan, in the palace so she could send her into Xiao Che’s harem. But only Xiao Che knew that the aunt and niece guarded against him as if he were a wolf. The Empress Dowager searched 29.4kReads8.2Score2.7k14d adds
26. 176 从 From Palace Maid to Imperial Consort: Her Majesty Is on a Killing Spree 从宫女到贵妃，娘娘她杀疯了 Yu Yidao俞一刀Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted It’s bad enough that she’s transmigrated into a palace laundry maid. Who knew a eunuch would take a fancy to her, too? Jiang Zhiyi decides that lying low in the palace is out of the question. She’ll just have to climb the ladder to success. When a eunuch lusts after her, she sends him to his grave. When the concubines vie for favor, she’ll stop at nothing. Jiang Zhiyi knows the imperial harem is a cutthroat workplace where only the capable survive. The palace is full of deceit and intrigue, 6kReads8.8Score58714d adds

    Reader note

    From a laundry maid to a favored concubine, deeply loved by the emperor, everyone in the palace said she was ruthless, cunning, and adept at currying favor. Yet, while everyone tried to emulate her, none were quite like her. Jiang Zhiyi knew the palace was a battlefield without gunpowder; only the capable survived. The palace was rife with intrigue and backstabbing; one wrong step could lead to certain doom. Jiang Zhiyi used every trick in the book to carve out a bloody path and win the emperor's heart. [Palace intrigue, alternate history, not a clean romance]

27. 177 贬 Demoted from Wife to Concubine? Reborn, I Make the Cold-Blooded Emperor Kneel and Beg 贬妻为妾？重生后冷厉帝王跪地求 Jie Chong解虫Ancient Romance399k WordsCompleted It only just got a rating after completion, so it’s low [Both are reborn and pursue their spouses + The leads are chaste in both lives + Alternate world + Love-struck emperor humbly pursues his wife] In her past life, she was his Crown Princess. But once he ascended the throne, he demoted her to a concubine, making her a laughingstock. She endured five years of torment in the harem, and even her own child was taken from her! Reborn, she planned every step carefully, all to make the lofty emperor 2.7kReads8.1Score14114d adds
28. 178 这 This Palace Maid Doesn't Want to Be Famous 这个宫女不想红 Boiling a Frog in Hot Water热水泡青蛙Ancient Romance153k WordsOngoing A modern fitness trainer transmigrates into the body of a palace laundry maid about to leave the palace. With her knack for postpartum recovery, she fights her way to the top, rising from an ant trampled underfoot to a woman feared even by the empress and desired even by the emperor. —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Unconventional

29. 179 贤 The Worthy Consort Is Still Taking It Easy Today 贤妃今天也在咸鱼 Misty Clear Melody渺渺清音Ancient Romance625k WordsCompleted In the harem of Emperor Chenyuan of the Great Jin, there is a dignified and gentle empress, a charming and lovely Noble Consort, a peerlessly beautiful Consort Li, and a clever, kindhearted Consort Hui. Talented women abound, and the competition is fierce. Han Shuyi looks left and right, but can't find a niche for herself as Worthy Consort. Oh, well. Competing for favor now and then while choosing to lie flat the rest of the time: that's the real truth of life in the harem. * As emperor, Meng Ti 21.5kReads8.2Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    A true palace intrigue novel, the female lead is intelligent.

30. 180 娘 The Empress Is Sweet and Innocent, and the Emperor Raises Her to the Top 娘娘单纯娇媚，陛下捧她上位 Sleepy Snail爱睡觉的蜗蜗Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted [A native heroine who's been good at acting since childhood] As the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor's household, Bai Ruoli had always gotten everything she wanted. But when the palace selection came, she was destined to enter the palace as a concubine. The palace had not only the Empress Dowager and the emperor, but also the empress, and then the emperor's favored consorts below her. Bai Ruoli wasn't intimidated. Her family background was excellent. As long as the emperor wasn't a devoted 5.6kReads8.4Score70514d adds
31. 181 惹 Why Bother With Her? She's a Toxic Tease and the Emperor's Beloved 惹她干嘛，她茶又坏是皇上心尖宠 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance449k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + scheming black-lotus heroine + winning power through seduction + doted on exclusively from the middle onward] [Instinctive attraction + knowing one's own heart] Everyone said Song Shuangning was a gentle, innocent beauty, with shy eyes and a slender figure. But no one knew that beneath her delicate appearance hid a schemer whose plans never stopped turning. She framed consorts, slyly tripped up her rivals, and could toss out honeyed, affected words with ease. Xiao Yan had met 31.7kReads8.9Score4.7k14d adds
32. 182 我 I Abdicated, So Why Is the Regent Princess Throwing Herself at Me? 我都禅让了，摄政长公主为何倒贴 Incense Master in the Tent帐中掌香Historical302k WordsCompleted [Historical Intrigue + Lighthearted Everyday Life + Misunderstandings About Mind Reading + Misunderstandings + Older Woman-Younger Man Romance] Li Che transmigrates into the body of the notorious puppet child emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty. The woman ruling from behind the curtain is Xiao Chuchu, a princess from another clan who commands a powerful army and is ruthless in battle. According to the original story, he’s a useless tyrant who cares only for wine and women and even wants to force hi 6Reads—Score21614d adds

    Reader note

    The young emperor desperately wants to abdicate and retire, frantically offering the imperial seal in hopes of a peaceful old age. However, the eldest princess overhears his innermost thoughts and misunderstands his true intentions, believing he's secretly plotting something. This is a satisfying political intrigue story about a romance between an older woman and a younger man—it's so sweet!

33. 183 勾 Flirt with the Crown Prince, Become His Favorite Consort? A Piece of Cake 勾太子，宠妃？顺手的事儿 Snowy Dudu雪之嘟嘟Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance, sweet romance, sweet romance! We’ll say it three times because it’s important] She transmigrated? And became a favored concubine to the Crown Prince of the Jun Kingdom? After waking up one day, Mu Wantang finds herself inside a wish-fulfillment novel she had read recently, as the Crown Prince’s beloved concubine. Jun Chengyan, the Crown Prince of the Jun Kingdom and The Outcast, is breathtakingly handsome, elegant, and incomparably noble. The original owner was beautiful, but not 24.6kReads9.1Score2.5k14d adds
34. 184 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2k14d adds
35. 185 娘 The Empress Is Exquisitely Charming: Winning the Palace Battles and Raising a Child to Become Empress 娘娘千娇百媚，宫斗养崽坐后位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance486k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Pure Palace Intrigue + Raising a Child + Clear-Headed Heroine + Focused on Her Career + Light Ensemble Cast] Xie Zhao transmigrates to the state of Beiqi, a country that has never existed in recorded history. When she learns she is to take part in the selection two years later, she begins diligently practicing all kinds of skills. After successfully being selected, her goal is to safely give birth to a prince, raise him into an outstanding crown prince, put him on the throne, a 360Reads7.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I've been waiting for the first book to be published. The female lead doesn't love anyone, isn't a saint, it's purely about palace intrigue, and she'll stop at nothing to achieve her goals. [Heart emoji] A short drama adaptation came out, with Yue Yuting playing the female lead, but in the end, the female lead changed her mind. [Facepalm emoji] I completely disliked the second book. Both are about a clear-headed woman who kills the emperor and becomes the empress dowager. In the first book, Zhao Zhao eventually becomes the empress. [Smirk emoji] [smirk emoji] [smirk emoji] I highly recommend the first book. The ending of the sisterly relationship between the female lead and the second female lead is really regrettable. [Crying emoji] [crying emoji] [crying emoji]

36. 186 入 She Entered the Palace as a Zhaoyi, Bewitching the Emperor with Her Obsession and Allure 入宫即是昭仪，又痴又媚紧握帝王 Quietly Draw Near悄悄靠近Ancient Romance465k WordsCompleted That year, she fell for him at first sight. She threw caution to the wind and insisted on entering the palace as his concubine, even knowing she was nothing more than a pawn he used to keep the harem in check. She was willing. Even knowing his heart held only the empire and Empress Chu, she was willing to be a reflection beneath Empress Chu’s feet. As Su Qingluan pursued the emperor’s love, schemes and intrigues unfolded in the harem, one step at a time. He once said, “You shouldn’t expect an em 1.6kReads8.4Score13314d adds

    Reader note

    👀Pure ancient romance, find new books📕, grab a front-row seat🍻, four books to solve your reading slump😉, you won't regret it👇🏻!! First book: Only 20,000 words, finish in half an hour, the heroine dies unjustly, leaving only the male lead heartbroken😪. Second book: Palace intrigue novel, completed. She enters the palace by imperial decree, balancing the harem. While pursuing the emperor❤️, the intrigues of the harem are gradually unraveled. Third book: A tragic novel🤧, completed. She and he met over ten years, their love was unrequited, ending with "You are the emperor, I am a commoner, emperor and commoner are different, how can we embrace?"😭. Fourth book: Palace intrigue novel, completed✍️! The female protagonist rises step by step from a lowly maid to the position of Empress, gradually winning the Emperor's heart. She sees clearly what imperial love is and what the responsibilities of an Empress are, and finally becomes the Empress Dowager, continuing the responsibilities of an Empress.

37. 187 怎 How Can Anyone Resist the Noble Consort's Alluring Charm? 怎敌贵妃百媚千娇 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + heroine transmigrates] In the fifth year of Yongyan, the emperor ordered a selection of consorts. Wen Wanyu was the most beautiful among the candidates. With her charming looks and soft, lilting voice, she was as delicate as a flower and soon won the emperor’s favor. She had once been the apple of her father’s eye, but when he was framed and her elder brother humiliated, she defied her whole family and asked to enter the palace to protect them. From the darling 2.2kReads8.9Score19414d adds

    Reader note

    My God, this is my first book!

38. 188 听 Rumor Has It the Noble Consort Alone Enjoys the Emperor's Favor in the Deep Palace 听说贵妃在深宫独得圣上恩宠 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance568k WordsCompleted When they were young and love stirred in his heart, he took her in. Once he held power, he had no choice but to hide her away. In the lonely inner palace, she waited quietly, day after day and year after year. For power and status, he feared nothing. He overcame every obstacle and held her close. Behind layer upon layer of palace gates and red walls, a dream within a dream awakened the lovers from their reverie. 8.5kReads9.0Score55514d adds

    Reader note

    As a seasoned fan of palace intrigue novels, I've read every single one of these books; they're all incredibly good, featuring female protagonists with high emotional and intellectual intelligence in their palace intrigue stories.

39. 189 娘 The Empress Is Determined to Rise to the Top 娘娘她立志登高位 The Moon Has Set in the West月已西Ancient Romance679k WordsCompleted Scheming beauty x stern, cold emperor (soul transmigration + palace intrigue + not mutually devoted + eventually his one and only) In the third year of Zhaowu, Wen Zhuohua abandoned the path laid out for her and entered the palace as a palace-selection candidate. She loves wealth, splendor, power, and status. All under heaven belongs to the sovereign, and nothing in this world is more exalted than imperial authority. Once in the palace, she treads carefully in the harem and puts on an act for th 15.3kReads9.0Score2.1k14d adds
40. 190 战 The God of War’s Beloved Is a Special Forces Soldier from Another World 战神的掌心娇竟是异世特种兵 Big Sister Ali阿狸姐姐Ancient Romance961k WordsCompleted The modern era’s top special forces soldier, “Night Phoenix,” dies on a mission. Her soul travels through time and she is reborn as Wei Shi, the infamous “spoiled and unruly princess” of Prince Jing’s manor in the Tianqi Kingdom. The moment she opens her eyes, she inherits the original owner’s painful memories of her past life: her father, Prince Jing, has rendered such great service that the emperor sees him as a threat. The incompetent and suspicious Emperor Jianwu joins forces with corrupt of 10.2kReads8.5Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    This rebirth was never about enjoying life; it was about starting over with the blood feud that had plagued the original owner's entire family. She knew she was outnumbered and outmatched, and couldn't confront them head-on. She could only continue to feign arrogance and willfulness to lull her enemies into a false sense of security, secretly accumulating strength and recruiting capable people in hidden corners, all in order to completely reverse the tragic fate of her family's extermination before the three-year deadline arrived.

41. 191 这 This Kept Woman Has a Conscience, Just Not Much of One 这个外室有点良心，但不多 Aow Big Meow嗷大喵Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (One-on-one romance + Both leads are each other's first and only + Ridiculous, no-logic comedy + Mind-reading + Adorable child + Hero has no legal wife) After a week of staying up late and working overtime, office drone Song Qingran died suddenly and became the Prince of Nanliang, Ning Zhuo’s mistress, kept at his country estate. At first, Ning Zhuo told her, “I don't expect you to have power, wealth, or a respectable background. You'll get five hundred taels every month, delivered on schedule. 12.3kReads9.4Score1.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is a no-brainer; just read it and you're done. It's the pinnacle of palace intrigue and domestic power struggles. The second book, you can tell from the title that it's a mix of silliness and political intrigue; the author is practically trying to make me laugh. The third book is about training an emperor, with all sorts of back-and-forth struggles. The author genuinely wants to teach me how to be in love—to avoid being love-struck and stay clear-headed.

42. 192 嫡 Married into the Eastern Palace 嫡嫁东宫 Mei Yi Si瑂忆覗Ancient Romance510k WordsCompleted Ever since she was little, Zhou Zhou knew she was different from her sisters. That difference meant she was lucky enough to be taught by her grandfather and cherished by her grandmother. At eight, the emperor personally selected her to be the princess’s companion. She entered the palace, grew up alongside the princess, and became the childhood sweetheart of the Fifth Prince. Before the Peach Blossom Banquet held when she was fifteen, everyone said she was destined to become the Fifth Prince’s co 5.1kReads8.9Score42214d adds
43. 193 娇 When the Delicate Consort’s Eyes Turn Red, the Cold Emperor Pulls Her Close and Spoils Her 娇娇娘娘眼一红，冷戾帝王揽腰宠 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance343k WordsCompleted [Just started posting, the score will rise over time] [Complete] [Palace intrigue and putting scoundrels in their place + Devotion in the later stages + A clearheaded heroine gradually winning over a distant, aloof hero] To protect the Dingyuan Marquis household, An Qingyao resolutely entered the palace. Her goal was clear: to become the most exalted woman in the land. With bright eyes and pearly teeth, she was dazzling beyond compare and earned the emperor’s particular favor. In just three year 4.3kReads7.7Score46814d adds
44. 194 惹 Why Mess With Her? She's His Majesty's Beloved and His First Wife 惹她干嘛，她是陛下白月光兼发妻 Amidst Misty Rain on the Terrace楼台烟雨中Ancient Romance452k WordsCompleted [A calculating, possessive emperor × a sweet, gentle beauty | devoted to one another | mutual healing | growing-up romance | two hopeless romantics falling for each other~] Jiang Yingli has spent four years as Prince Su’s concubine. Xiao Chenglan, Prince Su, has little interest in women, and she is the only concubine in his household, so her life is peaceful and carefree. She thinks things will stay that way, but then Prince Su ascends the throne. Overnight, she rises from a lowly concubine of P 56.4kReads8.9Score6.5k14d adds
45. 195 嫡 The Legitimate Daughter Becomes Empress, and I Rule the Harem 嫡女为后，后宫我说了算 Pikachu Loves Apples皮卡丘爱吃苹果Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [Young married couple, perfect teamwork, both incredibly capable] (Not an exclusive pairing, includes a harem, so proceed with caution if that bothers you. Alternate-history setting.) One is the niece of the emperor’s favorite consort; the other is the legitimate son of the empress, who has fallen out of favor. An imperial decree of marriage binds Lin Tingwan, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor’s household, to the Crown Prince, Li Yanlian. From then on, they share one fate, for better 5.9kReads8.8Score73014d adds
46. 196 皇 The Empress Leaped to Her Death, and the Mad Tyrant Wept Until His Eyes Were Red 皇后纵身一跃，疯批暴君哭红了眼 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance635k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, devoted couple + palace intrigue + regretful pursuit, clear-headed heroine, everyone's unattainable ideal] Meng Tang is a gracious, gentle empress who never competes for favor. Everyone thinks she is a true white lotus standing tall in the harem, and even the tyrant believes it. He takes a new concubine, and she smiles, congratulates him, and arranges for the newcomer to spend the night with him. He sends her restorative medicine, and she obediently takes it, knowing full we 21.5kReads9.3Score2k14d adds
47. 197 宫 A Palace Maid's Daily Life: My Parents Want Me to Be a Couch Potato 宫女日常：爹娘让我当咸鱼 Yu Tangluo玉糖萝Ancient Romance699k WordsCompleted Hang Jiayanxin was a bondservant of the Plain White Banner and a court-appointed royal service worker. She entered the palace at thirteen and would leave at twenty-five. For twelve years in the palace, she kept her parents' advice in mind: be a good-for-nothing fish, and hang on until it's time to leave. But the towering palace before her was like a massive vessel, bearing endless power and desire. Once she pushed open those heavy doors, she stepped onto a path from which there was no turning ba 5.2kReads9.1Score57514d adds

    Reader note

    A pure palace intrigue story! Most importantly, it's a completed novel with a clear plot and no brainless supporting characters. The most terrifying character in this book, in my opinion, is the emperor—that's the kind of personality the struggle for the throne among the nine princes should have.

48. 198 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... 6.3kReads9.4Score61714d adds

    Reader note

    He's very shrewd, and he even knows how to use his wits. [Thumbs up]

49. 199 后 The Harem's Number One White Moonlight: Winning Her Way to the Heavens 后宫第一白月光，步步为赢登云天 Yu Jiuzhao御九昭Ancient Romance376k WordsCompleted [Pure palace intrigue + ruthless female lead with great acting skills + clear-headed career-minded heroine + fighting for fame and power + high IQ] ※ The Empress was gravely ill. The consorts in every palace were mobilizing their forces, pulling out every trick, and harboring great ambitions. Mu Mingyue, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke’s mansion, was also ordered to enter the palace and help her own sister secure the position of Empress... But who would willingly serve as a stepping s 768Reads—Score12414d adds

    Reader note

    She is a vicious elder sister, a hypocritical white moonlight, and an ambitious bad woman. The basic theme of palace intrigue is that the winner takes all and the loser is condemned.

50. 200 退 After Calling Off the Engagement, I Helped the Chief Minister Topple the Court 退婚后，我帮首辅掀翻了朝堂 Every Year, Year After Year年年都有年年Ancient Romance339k WordsCompleted [Proud, strategic general's daughter Xie Zhaoning × cool, cunning chief minister Fu Huaijin] [Historical political intrigue + mutual devotion + palace and household scheming + romantic tension + a powerful team + reunion after parting + the emperor's game of chess] On the day her engagement was broken off, the Duke of Zhenguo's household was brought down overnight. Her father was framed for embezzling military funds, and Xie Zhaoning had to uphold her family's military legacy as a woman. At her 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    You can check this out. I'm the author of this book, and it's my first book. I hope you'll support and like it! [Kissing emoji]

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