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. 301 庶 The Reborn Concubine Wants to Enter the Palace! 庶女重生我要进宫！ The Universe's Most Solitary and Rare Star宇宙最孤独且稀有的星Ancient Romance856k WordsCompleted [Concubine-born Daughter + Reborn + Palace Intrigue + Strong Female Lead] In her past life, she endured endless humiliation. She could only watch helplessly as her birth mother died before her eyes. Her stepmother was domineering and cruel, while her half-sister was arrogant and repeatedly drove her into dire straits. Her father did not care in the slightest whether they lived or died. Schemed against and married off to a dissolute playboy, she suffered every indignity and met a tragic end. She 90Reads—Score—14d adds

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   I highly recommend this book!! It's incredibly good, pure palace intrigue!

2. 302 献 Offering to the Abyss 献京渊 Qi Yi Zi七一子Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [Print edition releasing October 25] “He taught me to kill, seize power, and look after myself. I taught him what it means to have a weakness.” [Serious drama + political intrigue + the fate of the nation and its people + I’m terrible at writing blurbs] Jiang Qingyu was born into wealth, and her family’s love had made her naive and pampered. It wasn’t until the day the entire Jiang family was executed that she realized how foolish she had been! When she opened her eyes again, she was determined 24.3kReads9.5Score3.9k14d adds

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   I absolutely love these two books! You can read them without worry.

3. 303 炮 Book Transmigration: The Delicate Cannon-Fodder Supporting Character Is Too Pitiful 炮灰女配她娇软堪怜【穿书】 Spring Waters Stretch a Thousand Miles春水千里Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, delicate little star, adored by everyone, men competing in a battlefield of love] Hua Wu transmigrates! The good news: she’s transmigrated into a historical romance about a Mary Sue heroine adored by everyone. The heroine is born with an irresistible allure, and any man who sleeps with her becomes unable to leave her. She gathers a scheming prince, a bold general, an obsessive imperial tutor, a cold, aloof miracle doctor, a mysterious state preceptor, and many more 5.8kReads8.8Score63314d adds

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   Although the rating is low, it's still a good read. The female lead isn't a naive, innocent character. It tells the story of a royal curse: "The emperor's true love will bring chaos to the country." The female lead transmigrates into the book as the daughter of a merchant family, the fake daughter of a marquis's household, who is pampered but unloved by her mother and father, and whose brother even favors her fake sister. She enters the palace as a concubine, is exiled from the marquis's household, and gains the emperor's favor. It's the story of the original female lead in the book and her little follower breaking down.

4. 304 穿 Transmigrating into a Chaotic Age, the Mad Princess Builds a Nation Through Robbery 穿乱世，疯癫公主她靠抢劫建国了 Turning Ink into Ink点墨成墨Ancient Romance2.7M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate + Struggle for Supremacy + Chaotic Era + Powerful Female Lead + Fleeing Famine + Infrastructure Building + No Romantic Pairing + Portable Space] Original title: Transmigrating Through Chaotic Times, the Mad Princess Builds a Nation by Robbing Others When Jiang Jin awoke, she discovered that she had become a princess of a fallen kingdom and was being sent to Liang City to become a plaything for the barbarian Jiao Liang. She thought about it and decided it would be better for others 147.3kReads9.5Score18.2k14d adds
5. 305 诱 The Regent Princess's Seduction 诱捕摄政王妃 Jelly Qiqi果冻七七Ancient Romance299k WordsCompleted [1v1, happy ending for both, drama queen, sweet romance, play the pig to eat the tiger] The new emperor arranges a marriage for the regent, and Jiang Gu, the illegitimate daughter of the Chancellor's household, becomes a stand-in bride for her elder sister. On their wedding night, she poisons him, and he imprisons her. Tortured day and night, she sees no light. After three years of scheming, Jiang Gu empties the Regent's estate and leaves behind a divorce notice. From then on, the world is wide 26Reads8.0Score—14d adds

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   The female lead is cunning, and the male lead is cunning too. Together, they're cunning to a fault. Their back-and-forth is incredibly satisfying.

6. 306 宫 A Palace Maid Rises to Power and Becomes the Tyrant’s Beloved 宫女上位，成为暴君心尖宠 Ming Yan明烟Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue] [The leads are not each other’s first] [He only dotes on her in the later part] Overworked office worker Fang Ziluo transmigrated into the body of a young palace maid named Fang Zhilu. Three years earlier, the emperor had exchanged a few words with her. That alone was enough to offend Noble Consort Liu, and she spent the next three years tending the kitchen fire. The original Fang Zhilu had died a miserable death after enduring all that humiliation. Fang Zhilu thought, Now that 707Reads8.8Score10514d adds

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   Fang Zhiluo felt that appeasing a tyrant was no different from appeasing a corporate slave; the tyrant worked over ten hours a day, so of course he was irritable. Therefore, she spent her days preparing delicious food for him, relieving his stress, and soothing him, making him increasingly dependent on her. Subsequently, Fang Zhiluo successfully rose to power, thus beginning her escalating journey of palace intrigue and power struggles. Initially, she only wanted to be a favored concubine to survive, harboring no genuine feelings for the emperor. Little did she know, as she continued her scheming, the tyrant became completely dependent on her, and ultimately made her empress!

7. 307 宠 Spoiling His Wife Without Limit: The Reborn, Scheming Regent Is Clingy 宠妻无度：腹黑摄政王重生太粘人 Su Hanzhou苏寒舟Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Hero is reborn and speaks his mind + devoted husband + putting villains in their place + one-on-one, both leads have only ever been with each other + power couple + three-year age gap] On her wedding day, Shen Yangui waited in the snow for a full half hour, only for the Regent to arrive at the residence holding another woman’s hand and marry her. Shen, the rightful Princess Consort, was brought in through a side gate and settled in the remote Snow Lodge, becoming the laughingstock of the entire 2.9kReads8.5Score42714d adds
8. 308 盛 Spoiled in a Golden Age 盛世娇宠 Feng Qingling风轻灵Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Her promising fiancé is set up by her cousin, so she casts him aside. The heir of a marquis's family wants to take her as a concubine, but she refuses! To protect the people she cares about and trample those who wronged her underfoot, she becomes the emperor's woman. See how she wins the emperor's heart, protects her children, battles the Empress Dowager above and the imperial consorts below, and rises higher with every step. 2.5kReads9.0Score25414d adds

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   Purely ancient Chinese! Purely ancient characters! No time travel, rebirth, or cheat codes. The female lead rises from humble beginnings to power step by step. The romance between the male and female leads is also very delicate. My absolute favorite palace intrigue novel!!! (I read this twice when I was a teenager and didn't have a phone, so I could only read novels on the computer at home on weekends. Its quality speaks for itself.) Now that I'm looking for something to read, I tried searching for it, and surprisingly, it's on Taobao. Time for a third read! [You get the idea]

9. 309 为 Playing the Unambitious Concubine? It's All an Act 为妾不争不抢？我装的 The Gods Don't Eat Candy神明不吃糖Ancient Romance631k WordsOngoing Wu Ning had spent two years as the concubine of Xie Rui, the second legitimate son of the prince's household. Life was peaceful, and she figured she might as well enjoy a quiet retirement. After all, the two heads of the household were deeply in love. Concubines like her were just there for show. Unfortunately, the principal wife was growing more and more unhinged, shouting about killing people all day long. She couldn't even stand having concubines around as ornaments anymore. Life had become i 92.6kReads8.3Score13.1k14d adds

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   This is a domestic power struggle story, and it's really good! The female lead doesn't have any special abilities; she relies entirely on herself. The romance between the male and female leads isn't forced either, although at the beginning I thought the male lead was just a cannon fodder villain [facepalm]—he was so wicked!

10. 310 女 The Vicious Villainess in a Matriarchal World Raises Her Fish Online 女尊恶獠在线养鱼 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Matriarchal society + sweet romance + one-on-one + devoted to each other] [Calculating and ruthless princess × obedient, loyal guard] The capital's good-for-nothing Second Princess is beaten in the street by another woman for pursuing a man, then crashes into a stone lion. After recovering from her serious injuries, the Second Princess seems like a completely different person: kind to others, uninterested in competing, and always helping her sisters. It isn't until the day this powerful princes 15.2kReads9.5Score1.7k14d adds
11. 311 别 Don't Be Weak, Don't Provoke Her: An Angry Palace Maid Can Restore a Fallen Kingdom 别太弱，别招惹，宫女发怒能复国 Ethereal Fairy霓裳妖妖Ancient Romance748k WordsCompleted [Unusual premise + assassin’s rise + strong heroine + political intrigue + cold and heartless + mildly yandere + cool-headed lunatic + male lead rises from the nth place] * Su Mian was just a palace maid serving a princess. On the day the Southern Yan Kingdom fell, she watched everyone die before her without a flicker of emotion. The princess gave her an even more perilous mission. Until it was done, she had to stay alive. But in a world thrown into chaos, she was sold as a slave and forced to e 25.6kReads9.5Score4.2k14d adds
12. 312 安 An Lingrong Reborn: Beauty of the Inner Palace 安陵容重生之后宫佳人 Chenxiang Munan沉香慕南Female-Channel Fanfiction731k WordsOngoing No taking sides, no getting emotionally invested, and this is not a wish-fulfillment story. Reborn at the time of the selection, An Lingrong becomes clearheaded after dying once. When she enters the palace as a consort again, she knows exactly what she wants and what the emperor wants, and has the secrets of the entire harem tucked away in her mind. But she won't rush. Good steel must be used where it counts. Taking things one step at a time is the only way she can walk this path to the heavens 3.4kReads8.8Score25414d adds

    Reader note

    This palace intrigue is quite sophisticated.

13. 313 南 Nan Jingchun 南景春 A Melon in the Bowl碗里一只瓜Ancient Romance347k WordsOngoing A princess who commands armies and wields great power X a poor-born statesman who claws his way to the top Lu Nanjing is the Great Xi’s Goddess of War, a princess who rides through the imperial city with a mighty army at her back and the world beneath her feet. Du Ruolan is a statesman from a humble family, ruthless and cunning, who fights his way into the heart of power with sheer courage and ingenuity. One spring day on the street, she casually tossed him a fortune and rescued him from the mud 41Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Only then did she realize that the sharpest knife in the world was never the sword in her hand, but the unspoken love he held hidden in his sleeve. 🎉🎉🤩😋

14. 314 九 Nine Layers of Spring Splendor Enshroud the Jade Hall 九重春色锁玉堂 Strange Guest in Brocade锦衣怪客Ancient Romance251k WordsOngoing One night, she wakes from a dream to find herself the most absurd footnote in the history books: Yang Qinglan, cousin to Yang Yuhuan. Beneath Chang'an's moon, deep within the Daming Palace, this should have been her cousin Yuhuan's fate: one performance of “The Rainbow Skirt” captivating the realm, and three thousand favors bestowed on one woman. Yet the imperial decree falls into her hands instead. Everyone says this is the Yang family's greatest glory. Only she knows the road ahead leads to an 4Reads—Score—14d adds

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    Transmigrated into the body of a woman from the Yang family of the Tang Dynasty, she starts with a "cannon fodder" role? Facing the emperor's suspicion, the concubines' schemes, and the legendary aura of her cousin Yang Yuhuan, she proceeds cautiously, stunning the court with her "Mountain and Sea Chess" and secretly laying the groundwork for her network of connections. When An Lushan's iron hooves approach, the aloof Prince Qi defies fate for her, and the plot twists are incredibly addictive!

15. 315 皇 The Empress Dies a Horrible Death: The Mad Princess Plots to Claim the Empire 皇后惨死：疯批公主谋江山夺天下 Mint-Flavored Lemon Candy薄荷味的柠檬糖Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Political intrigue + strong female lead + no romance Born into privilege, Mo Xiuqi was the emperor’s legitimate daughter by the empress, and the sunniest, most carefree girl in the capital. She began her studies at three, wrote poetry at five, and excelled at both scholarship and martial arts, never losing to the men around her. The heir she was betrothed to had been her childhood sweetheart. She thought she would be happy forever. On her wedding day, she drank the nuptial wine and lost consciou 25.3kReads8.0Score1.1k14d adds
16. 316 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 1.4kReads8.2Score13414d adds
17. 317 慈 Empress Dowager Cixi and Her Three Favored Eunuchs 慈禧皇后与她的三个宠爱太监 Farmer Third Young Master农家三少Historical3.7M WordsCompleted [Eunuchs + Palace Secrets + Empress Dowager Cixi + Court Intrigue] From the time Empress Dowager Cixi entered the palace to the day she ruled from behind the curtain, she shared an unusual relationship with three eunuchs: An Dehai, Li Lianying, and Xiao Dezhang. They were like master and servants, like friends, and more than anything, like old companions. She doted on the three eunuchs, who relied on her favor to do as they pleased, throw their weight around, and take part in court affairs. This 50.2kReads9.0Score3.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    The historical novel is absolutely brilliant.

18. 318 娘 The Empress Is on a Rampage: 15 Top-Tier Palace Intrigue Stories 娘娘她杀疯了：15个顶级宫斗故事 Read a Little Editorial Team读点编辑部Ancient Romance294k WordsCompleted [Historical romance + strong female lead + reborn + palace intrigue + court politics + tragic romance] She was Consort Hua, who lost the palace struggle and died by banging her head against a wall in the Cold Palace. After dying with regrets, she was reborn before her clan's downfall. Now that she knows how all the palace intrigues will end, can she defeat Zhen Huan and have the last laugh…? She was Yang Guifei, the woman blamed for bringing ruin to the country. Everyone knows she lived in luxur 3.1kReads9.1Score10514d adds

    Reader note

    💕Hey everyone! This ancient romance novel is absolutely amazing! 👏 It's packed with elements like strong female leads and rebirth. Abandoned empress of Miao territory, a resilient and unloved princess, Yang Guifei, and Dong Shi—all these powerful female protagonists make their grand entrance! [Kiss emoji] After being reborn, they dominate the palace and court. The angst-filled romance is also incredibly captivating. Seriously, just start reading it, you won't be able to stop! 💝

19. 319 穿 Reborn as the Empress Dowager, I Just Want to Take It Easy 穿成太后只想咸鱼 Fei Xi妃玺Ancient Romance2.4M WordsCompleted “Pay attention: this is a story with a strong female lead, no male lead, and no romance.” After transmigrating, she became the most exalted woman in Yun Zhao. She thought she could live a carefree life of wealth and luxury, but danger closed in from every side, with pitfalls everywhere. It was not just her reputation at stake, but her life. The emperor dreams of ruling in his own right? Here, take the imperial seal. Go play by yourself, kid! The consorts are fighting for power in the palace? Tos 15.3kReads9.2Score1.6k14d adds
20. 320 综 Film and TV Crossover: Kicking Empresses in the Palace, Tearing Down the Great Mansion 综影视：脚踢甄嬛传，手撕大宅门 Roast Duck, My Love美味烤鸭我的爱Female-Channel Fanfiction145k WordsOngoing Villainess + palace intrigue and household battles + ruthless + restore the Ming and overthrow the Qing + no romantic pairing Showing mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself. Having gone from the ultimate villainess Hua Xiangrong to virtuous wives and mothers who take blades meant for others, she will toy with everyone in the palm of her hand. Men are nothing but her pawns. Money and power, fame and desire: she wants it all! The original plots of the TV and film adaptations will be complete 26Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The premise is very novel. The female protagonist transmigrates into the body of Meng Jingxian in the TV series "Empresses in the Palace," where she plots to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. She engages in palace intrigue and ruthless power struggles, using any means necessary to achieve her goals. It's a very satisfying read, especially for those looking for something to read.

21. 321 恶 Reborn Evil Matriarch Swapped into a Marriage and Wreaks Havoc in the Marquis's Household 恶人主母重生被换婚在侯府杀疯了 Star Queen星辰QueenAncient Romance282k WordsCompleted [Palace and Household Intrigue + No Male Lead + Fictional Dynasty + Reborn to Crush Her Enemies + Bread, Not Romance] Chen Wu was the fake legitimate daughter, switched into the Chen family by mistake. When the real daughter, Chen Qingjiao, was brought home by their parents, she stole Chen Wu’s fiancé. Chen Wu didn’t fight back. She married a soldier and willingly followed him to the frontier. In the end, after her husband regained his true identity, he wanted her dead for the sake of his childh 504Reads8.9Score10614d adds
22. 322 甄 Empresses in the Palace: The Noble Consort Defies Heaven's Order [Linglong Game 甄嬛传之贵妃她倒反天罡【陵珑局 The Minesweeper Hermit Doesn't Want to Move扫雷居士不想搬迁Female-Channel Fanfiction167k WordsOngoing This story is also known as “The Dowager Empress’s Guide” and “A Green and Lustful Romance, Fit for a Dashing Emperor” [Behind-the-scenes machinations] [A little yuri] [Loves her daughter] [Idly tapping chess pieces beneath the green gauze curtains, waiting for an old friend from a thousand miles away.] Consort Li gets a second chance at life, with the emperor’s mother as her target. Not to become some middle-aged seductress, but the next Empress Dowager. But with spring in full bloom throughout 76Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead is determined to become Empress Dowager; she's highly intelligent and pretends to be weak to outsmart others.

23. 323 棒 The Wicked Matriarch Who Tore Lovers Apart Is Reborn and Chooses to Do Nothing 棒打鸳鸯的恶人主母，重生摆烂了 Crow Blue鸦青Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, Ruan Yunluo, the eldest daughter-in-law and head of the household, cared for her mother-in-law during her confinement and raised her younger siblings-in-law. But because she broke up one “true love” couple after another, she was despised and died with regrets. Her brother-in-law resented her. Her sister-in-law hated her. Even her husband abandoned her for his true love. Reborn, she learned her lesson and decided to stop trying. Her brother-in-law wants to be a lovesick door 3.7kReads8.5Score42114d adds
24. 324 公 Mists Over the Duke’s Estate 公府烟云 Whispers of the South Wind南风吟Ancient Romance457k WordsCompleted The Scheming Heir of the Prince’s Estate and the Duke’s Youngest Legitimate Daughter When Shao Lingyun was fifteen, her father and brother died in battle, and her mother passed away suddenly. In a single night, she became someone everyone avoided like the plague. After observing a year of mourning, she was also rejected by the family of her childhood sweetheart and fiancé. Even her close friends, with whom she had always gotten along, revealed their true colors, astonishingly declaring that she 264Reads7.4Score10314d adds
25. 325 水 A Night Raid at the Reservoir, and Now I’m Being Blamed for It 水库夜袭，被抓包后我被赖上了 Good Little Nuobao乖乖诺宝Modern Romance229k WordsCompleted In the summer of 1979, Zhang Chaoyan did something that rocked Xiaojiaying Village: she stripped the battle hero Lu Ting of his entire uniform, right down to his underwear. It started when someone drugged Lu Ting at a fellow soldier's wedding banquet. In the middle of the night, he was soaking in the reservoir with his shirt off. To get back at him for harassing her, Zhang Chaoyan knocked him unconscious and took all his clothes. She thought the matter was over, but the very next morning, the n 523Reads—Score10614d adds

    Reader note

    The male lead is incredibly cunning, constantly devising new ways to spread rumors. The female lead is his fiancée, but surprisingly, nobody in the village believes him—a bit of a cliché. When his rumors are exposed, he loses his reputation, while the female lead does nothing and continues to thrive. The male lead, having failed in his attempts to spread rumors, resorts to living off her.

26. 326 蛇 The Viperous Favorite Consort: Scheming Her Way to Rule as Empress Dowager 蛇蝎宠妃心机深，垂帘听政做太后 It's Xinxin是欣欣呦Ancient Romance497k WordsCompleted [Content warning! The female lead is a wholly evil villain, cruel and scheming, and will stop at nothing to climb to the top.] “[Don't randomly bring up women competing against women. This is a palace-intrigue story!! The harem is a workplace, and the imperial consorts are all rivals!]” Bu Xingruo was the most favored consort in the palace. In her previous life, she let the Emperor's favor go to her head, throwing her weight around and acting arrogantly in the harem. Lost in the Emperor's fleeti 658Reads8.6Score10014d adds
27. 327 娘 The Empress Is a Black Lotus: Climb the Tyrant and Crush the Scoundrels 娘娘是朵黑莲花，攀暴君虐人渣 Morning and Evening朝時暮Ancient Romance379k WordsOngoing (Also titled: The Stratagem of Quezhi) [Not a Pure Relationship | Rivals in Love | Strong Heroine, Satisfying Revenge | Reborn and Crushing Scumbags | Everyone Is Evil | Matched in Strength | Love and Hate Entwined | A Scoundrel's Sincere Heart | An Unconventional Palace Intrigue and Power Struggle] [Seductive, Serpent-Hearted General's Daughter and Poisonous Empress vs. Scheming, Mad, Short-Lived Tyrant] Born into a family of generals, she trusted the wrong man in her previous life. In the end, 9Reads—Score114d adds

    Reader note

    I don't know if there's palace intrigue involved, but the male and female leads are definitely cunning and calculating in their interactions. I love that mix of scheming and affection. 🥰

28. 328 皇 The Empress Is a Max-Level Palace Intriguer, Crushing Everyone 皇后满级宫斗，嘎嘎乱杀 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + infidelity + fictional setting + a resourceful, money-loving, beauty-loving, life-loving empress ✖️ emperor] In her previous life, Hua Shu was a lowly palace maid. She schemed her way to the top of the political ladder, only to be condemned by everyone and branded a wicked woman who brought ruin to the nation. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the unfamiliar state of Chu, as an unloved empress who’s also being made a scapegoat. As if she’d put up with that! S 13.8kReads9.4Score1.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    She arrived in the unfamiliar Chu Kingdom and became an unfavored empress—how could she tolerate this! She rectified the chaotic harem, slapping those who were rude and forcing those vying for favor to memorize the palace rules; even those so-called "white moonlight" green tea bitches—they were all out of the running. Don't try to put on an act in front of her; she was a master of this game, and no one could outdo her! As for the high and mighty emperor, so what?

29. 329 太 The Crown Prince Is Reborn 太子他重生了 Wild Goose Song in the Clouds云中雁歌Ancient Romance359k WordsCompleted [Reborn, darkened male lead VS sunny, resilient female lead; not both virgins! The male lead had been with someone else before he was reborn, so if that bothers you, consider this a warning!] Prince Xiao Jingrui was hailed as a paragon of virtue. He served diligently for years, but his one fatal flaw was trusting the wrong people. In the end, his beloved concubine framed him and had him thrown into prison. Trapped behind bars and awaiting death, he never expected his Crown Princess, Gu Ruoqing, 9.7kReads9.1Score82814d adds
30. 330 重 Reborn, the Consort Runs Wild in the Harem 重生后，娘娘在后宫横着发疯 Kong Jiang's Spicy Kimchi Soup空绛的辣白菜汤Ancient Romance360k WordsCompleted [A heroine focused on building her career, not falling in love!!!] In her previous life, Xuan Zhi had grand ambitions, but kept her promise and never crossed the line. In the end, her family was destroyed, her young son died, and she met a terrible end. She failed to hold on to everything she wanted to protect. Her resentment and regret were so deep that her spirit lingered in the vast imperial palace, watching her enemies live carefree lives without facing any consequences. Xuan Zhi's resentmen 257Reads8.7Score—14d adds
31. 331 母 Becoming Empress of the Realm by Pretending to Be the Chancellor's Widowed Sister-in-Law 母仪天下，从冒充丞相寡嫂开始 Luo Chunshui洛春水Ancient Romance630k WordsCompleted [Revenge + Face-Slapping the Scum + Lighthearted + Sweet Romance] When you’re out in the world, you can choose your own identity. To infiltrate high society and avenge the massacre of her sister’s family, Feng Qingsui decides to pose as the distant cousin of a prestigious household. But just as she’s about to seek their help, the household she picked is raided by the Imperial Guards. She tries another family. Raided. Then another. Raided again. At her wit’s end, she knocks on the door of the “Pr 23.9kReads9.4Score4k14d adds
32. 332 就 Now This Is Palace Intrigue! Thirty Heroines Topple the Harem 就这个宫斗爽！30个大女主掀翻后宫 Read a Little Editorial Team读点编辑部Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Palace and Household Intrigue + Anthology Stories + Strong Female Leads + Feel-Good Revenge + Face-Slapping] She waited three years for the general to return from war, only for her husband to come home with a pregnant woman and announce he was taking her as a second wife?! Dream on! I’m the daughter of the richest man in the land. From now on, I’m getting a divorce and building my own career! She was the exalted crown princess, yet on the very day she gave birth, the crown prince and her mother 330Reads8.5Score—14d adds
33. 333 重 After Taking the Harem by Storm, the Emperor's White Moonlight Can't Sit Still 重冠后宫后，皇帝白月光坐不住了 inxx7Ancient Romance406k WordsCompleted [Winning hearts + gradual surrender + System + devoted love in the later half] Su Yuanxi transmigrates into the palace-harem novel Deep Palace Favor, where the System tasks her with winning over the emperor, Xie Yunchen. In the original story, he is a devoted emperor who dotes exclusively on Consort Zhao, Shen Qingge. He leaves the empress’s seat vacant for her and vows, “My heart belongs to one woman alone.” When Su Yuanxi transmigrates into the book, the emperor and consort have been at odds 834Reads8.6Score10014d adds
34. 334 谁 Who Says an Emperor and Empress Can’t Truly Love Each Other? 谁说帝后不能有真情 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance749k WordsCompleted Pei Shu seems to have been born under a lucky star. Born into a prominent family, she grew up cherished by loving parents and surrounded by every luxury. Her only setback was when her fiancé fell for someone else and broke off their engagement. Before the people of the capital could even laugh at her, an imperial decree arrived at the Pei residence, and Pei Shu became the empress. From then on, everything went smoothly: her son was named crown prince, later became emperor, and Pei Shu naturally 11.8kReads9.1Score1.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book tells the story of a young woman climbing the ranks from a concubine to the empress, while the second book details how she gradually consolidates her position as empress.

35. 335 甄 Empresses in the Palace: When Qi Fei Becomes the Emperor's One True Love 甄嬛传：当齐妃成为大胖橘白月光 Qing Li青笠Female-Channel Fanfiction151k WordsCompleted With the pain of white silk still lingering around her neck, Qi Fei Li Jingyan finally sees the truth. The empress, always kind and benevolent in appearance, is actually a sinister woman with a heart of poison. The emperor, whom she thought still held old affection for her from his days before ascending the throne, coldly demotes Third Prince to the son of a convicted official. In her past life, she bowed to the empress and obeyed her, only to be repaid with a vicious plot to take her son. Sh 297Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a reborn concubine novel, leaning towards a plot-driven approach. The palace intrigue is characterized by each character's unique methods, and everyone's intelligence is consistently high; the protagonist's intelligence doesn't suddenly drop. I binged the latest chapter and couldn't resist recommending it [Sparrow's Masterpiece].

36. 336 我 After I Broke Off Our Engagement, He Sacked the Imperial City and Claimed the Throne 我退婚后，他血洗皇城称帝 Ling Jiang Chun陵江春Ancient Romance330k WordsCompleted Unhinged Male Lead × Dark Moonlight, White Moonlight × Devoted to Each Other × Loyal Hound An intense push and pull The day she tore up their marriage contract, the light in his eyes went out. Jiang Jinyue had once been the little moon Xie Xuanjin cherished above all else. On the night the entire Xie family was thrown into prison, she tore their marriage contract to pieces in front of him, then turned around and married the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, the Xie family's greatest enemy. “If 109Reads—Score—14d adds
37. 337 宝 Baoyu and Daiyu Reborn: This Life, I Will Marry Lin Daiyu 宝黛重生：此生必娶林黛玉 Nan Ruyue南如月Female-Channel Fanfiction340k WordsCompleted [Baoyu and Daiyu pairing + Dream of the Red Chamber spin-off + historical romance + imaginative take + sequel to the Wood-and-Stone bond] Everyone talks about the fated match of gold and jade, but I only believe in the bond of wood and stone. After being reborn, Jia Baoyu finally marries his Lin Meimei! After being reborn, Lin Daiyu unexpectedly loses her memory and becomes Zhou Jinyu, the daughter of the prefect of Suzhou, Madam Zhou. She is also betrothed to Yun Ke, the eighth prince and young 396Reads—Score10114d adds

    Reader note

    A super good novel about Daiyu's rebirth, both sweet and heart-wrenching.

38. 338 后 The Tale of Yunxi in the Imperial Harem 后宫云曦传 Yan Rumeng闫如梦Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Once you enter the palace gates, the halls stretch deep, and you are powerless to decide your own fate. In the harem of Chu, open and covert attacks, flashing blades, honeyed words concealing daggers: its rivalries are no less fierce than the struggles among emperors and ministers at court. Countless schemes unfold in endless cycles, every moment of every day. To win favor, seize power, claim the throne, or become empress, women once as lovely as flowers spend all their finest years in the harem 6Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Refusing to be reborn or transmigrated—that's all about cunning.

39. 339 恶 The Wicked Woman Has Trained Countless Men! She Climbs the Social Ladder and Sparks a Rivalry 恶女训狗无数！攀高枝！引雄竞 Peach Blossoms Reflected in Wine桃花映酒Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Now publishing / The short drama Hong Luan Yin is streaming] [The villainess won't reform + unapologetically self-serving + taming men + a battlefield of men competing for her] Yun Qi is transported into a storybook that deliberately paints her as ugly and wicked. Once a powerful princess who ruled the court and kept countless male lovers, she now finds herself reduced to a disgraced fake heiress of the Marquis's household. The real heiress, meanwhile, is the family's precious jewel, destined t 135.4kReads9.4Score19k14d adds
40. 340 林 The Rebirth of Lin Daiyu 林黛玉重生记 Nan Ruyue南如月Female-Channel Fanfiction1.1M WordsCompleted [Dream of the Red Chamber rebirth + Lin Daiyu reborn + imaginative historical romance + the strongest couple in history: Lin Daiyu and Prince Beijing] Sweet romance, plus angst so agonizing you’ll want to curse them for making you jealous! Lin Daiyu wakes up one day and finds she has been reborn. She returns to the moment of Baoyu’s wedding, just as he lifts Baochai’s veil. Jia Baoyu is the man Lin Daiyu loves most, and Baochai is her best friend. Watching the two of them become husband and wife 3.7kReads7.5Score23014d adds
41. 341 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Charming, and the Emperor Sees Her as His Weakness 娘娘千娇百媚，皇上视为软肋 R Takes a BeatR慢半拍Ancient Romance206k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + palace intrigue + no exclusive favor + fake stand-in + clear-eyed heroine] Content warnings: The heroine is not a virgin. No System and no golden finger. Note: Set in a fictional dynasty. Jiang Qingchi wakes up one day and discovers she has become the heroine of a novel she only read one page of. After living cautiously for eight years, she finally gets her life in the palace on track. In the palace, she is the perfect stand-in for the late empress. As the late 7Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    In this book, everyone has eight hundred schemes in their hearts. The female lead is very good at pretending to be innocent in the beginning, but she turns the tables and manipulates things later on.

42. 342 主 The Matriarch's Conquest 主母攻略 King Smile笑笑大王Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [Transmigration to an alternate world + marriage first, love later + second wife + adorable children + age gap + pocket dimension] After a nobody from the apocalypse, Ning Yimeng, perished alongside the Zombie King, she woke up to find she had transmigrated to a place called the Great Qing Dynasty. The woman whose body she had taken was also named Ning Yimeng. She was a country girl who had married the heir of the Duke of Dingguo as his second wife. On the surface, the heir had married her to re 983Reads6.8Score10514d adds

    Reader note

    It's been a long time since I've read a good domestic power struggle novel. This one is very interesting, but it's only been around for a short time. I recommend it and send my best wishes to the author!

43. 343 朕 I Think You’re After Me, Not the Throne! 朕觉得，你就是图朕这个人！ Cat Qian Qiu猫千秋Ancient Romance311k WordsCompleted [Both leads are inexperienced + the heroine can read men's minds + the hero wins himself over + plenty of silly fun] In her previous life, Yu Huan spent three years in the imperial palace fighting to win and keep the emperor's favor. She tried every trick in the book, but still couldn't get the attention of the emperor, who cared only about gold, silver, and jewels and was endlessly greedy. In this life, she just wants to keep her head down in the harem and stay out of trouble. When the empero 3kReads9.0Score42714d adds

    Reader note

    You might want to search for these

44. 344 斩 After Cutting Off My Romantic Delusions, I Became Invincible in the Harem 斩掉恋爱脑后我在后宫无敌了 Li Huan离欢Ancient Romance533k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue is the main focus; the heroine doesn't love the emperor] After becoming a palace candidate, Lin Yanzhi counts her advantages on her fingers. Beauty? None. At best, she's a modest, unassuming beauty. Family background? None. Her father is a seventh-rank county magistrate, and her mother is descended from a disgraced official. Money? Even less. Talent? Traditional characters are so hard to write! Besides, there's a genuinely talented woman in the palace who's skilled in poetry and 543Reads8.7Score10314d adds

    Reader note

    ❤This is pure palace intrigue. I think it would be a miracle if I survived more than three chapters in this book, given my intelligence. The female protagonist transmigrates into the body of a newly arrived palace maid, determined to live well in the palace and strive to die a natural death.

45. 345 寒 The Order of the Cold Boat 寒舟令 Xiaoyao Shisanlang逍遥十三郎Ancient Romance342k WordsCompleted The day my entire family was executed, I became the sole survivor of the Shen family. Seven years later, I took on the identity of an orphan girl named Chen Zhou and infiltrated my enemy’s residence, the Shen estate, as a maid. They laughed at me for being as lowly as a weed. I laughed at them for being on the brink of death. I wielded medicine as a blade and turned the inner household into a game, throwing the illustrious Shen estate into chaos. Then the powerful official Xie Lin seized me by t 238Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    These two novels are highly recommended and well worth reading.

46. 346 与 Together with An, We Shine in Splendor 与安共灼华 Xiaoyao Shisanlang逍遥十三郎Ancient Romance473k WordsCompleted [Revenge entangled in mistaken identities + political intrigue and tragic romance + court and country + palace and household schemes] Under the starry night sky at a northwest beacon tower, Chu Zhuohua and Zhou Yu'an first formed a bond. She was the beloved daughter of the Grand Tutor; he was a young scion of a military family. Their mentor gave them courtesy names, and as childhood sweethearts, they enjoyed peaceful days together. A carefully planned assassination and a jade pendant used to fr 2Reads—Score—14d adds
47. 347 折 Folding Pearls on Horseback 折珠马上 Wu Kou乌蔻Ancient Romance185k WordsOngoing [The truth is out! I came back for revenge, not to become empress] [Court intrigue + ruthless heroine + revenge and power struggle] (Tang Yuning was abandoned by the marquis’s household for sixteen years. She returned home to seek revenge, only to discover amid the struggle at the heart of power that she was a fake daughter of the Tang family?) When she first arrived in the capital, a good life was the last thing waiting for her. People saw her as a wicked demon in the lovely face of an empress. —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I'm shameless, so I'm recommending this book.

48. 348 皇 Your Majesty, My Fate Is Mine to Decide 皇上，妾身命由己 Xiangxiang Loves Fish湘湘爱吃鱼Ancient Romance362k WordsOngoing Not a devoted couple + palace intrigue + scheming, mad protagonist Alone in the world, she has chosen the hardest path and will climb it over a mountain of corpses. "I came to the palace to become the Empress Dowager," she thinks. The dog emperor has someone he adores? Not a chance. Why not become a young Empress Dowager and have some fun? Song Yuncheng thought she was just a little woman who could be won over with a few favors. He never expected that the more he gave, the more she wanted. Firs —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book's palace intrigue details were well-written. The second book featured a remarkably clear-headed female protagonist, and the plot was also engaging. The third book featured a female protagonist with exceptional intelligence.

49. 349 暖 Fragrant Bedchamber: The Eastern Palace Concubine's Lie-Flat Life 暖帐香：东宫侍妾的躺平日常 Jin Yu锦喻Ancient Romance390k WordsCompleted [Raising a child + palace intrigue + ordinary transmigrator + not both leads’ first love, but doting romance] Xu Qinglu was transmigrated into the Xu family as their legitimate daughter. In the tenth year of Chengde, she was sent to the Eastern Palace as a concubine. After a year of cautiously serving the Crown Prince, walking on eggshells, she finally became pregnant. Having a daughter was all she needed. She would have been happy to live out her days peacefully in the palace. But when her daug 3kReads9.0Score23414d adds
50. 350 穿 After I Transmigrate Into a Book, the Male Lead Becomes My Princess 穿书后，男主成了我的公主殿下 L Shen BaiL深白Ancient Romance309k WordsCompleted [Completed] [Transmigrate into a book + gender swap + palace intrigue + light political scheming + trope subversion + two strong leads + redemption] [Quick-witted heroine who really transmigrated into a book × tyrant hero who only pretends he did] On her first day in the body of the male lead, Mu Chen, Lin Yao looks at the handsome face in the mirror and bursts out laughing. That is, until she meets the princess from a neighboring kingdom, who pins her against the wall. “Get out of my body.” Lin 20Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The female lead is very smart and doesn't rely on men. [Upvote][Upvote][Upvote]

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