Ancient-Era Novels Adapted Into TV Dramas 电视剧原著小说（古代）

1. 51 唐 Emperor Xuanzong of Tang 唐玄宗 Meng Man蒙曼Historical318k WordsCompleted Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the public face of the High Tang golden age. Brilliant and gifted, with grand ambitions, he ushered in the golden age of the Tang dynasty, the Kaiyuan Era. Yet under his rule, the mighty empire also suffered the greatest calamity in Tang history: the An Lushan Rebellion. He was passionate and versatile, and with Yang Guifei he lived out a legendary romance for the ages. But he also watched helplessly as the woman he loved passed away. What grand vision and talents did t 325Reads9.4Score102Shelves
2. 52 庶 The Concubine’s Strategy 庶女攻略 Beauty and Bone美人与骨Ancient Romance328k WordsCompleted A moment of cruelty brings fleeting satisfaction, but winning back your wife is a long road to ruin. The ruthless and merciless Marquis Pingzhang never knew when he fell in love with the concubine-born girl who was treated as a stand-in. But is there any hope for them... “I’m nothing but a stand-in for my legitimate sister.” After my legitimate sister died in an accident, I, whose face bore a seven-tenths resemblance to hers, became the Marquis of Pingzhang’s principal wife. Using my original st 1.1kReads8.1Score103Shelves

   Reader note

   Four novels adapted from popular historical dramas are going viral! "The Killing of Three Thousand Crows" is a heart-wrenching fantasy romance, "The Strategy of a Concubine's Daughter" is a battle for power and godhood within a family, "Ancient Times" is an epic tale spanning the three realms, and "Legend of Fuyao" is a thrilling underdog story. Each one is a must-watch, even if it means staying up all night!

3. 53 神 Detective Di Renjie, Book Five 神探狄仁杰第五部 Northwest Brother Mao西北毛哥Mystery3.8M WordsOngoing In the final years of Emperor Wu of the Tang dynasty, the capital Luoyang had finally begun to settle down. After the brilliant detective Di Renjie exposed the Burning Heaven Fire at the Shanjin Bureau, the rebellion in Youzhou, and the Blood Eagle's chain of murders, he retired from public life and settled in the Southern Market, hoping to enjoy his twilight years in peace. But when all is quiet, trouble is never far away. After a banquet in the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Li Xian suddenly fa 629Reads8.8Score122Shelves

   Reader note

   TV series novels.

4. 54 大 The Tang Dynasty’s Female County Magistrate 大唐女县尉 Lucky Little Ji招财小吉Mystery657k WordsOngoing Tang Dynasty, women-focused suspense, mystery, crime-solving She is a rare female official under the laws of the Tang Dynasty. On her very first night in office, a strange case lands at her door: deep in a rainy alley, night watchman Chen San lies dead, wearing one brand-new red bridal embroidered shoe, while the other has vanished. Rumors that a “fox spirit has taken a husband” sweep through the city in an instant. 73Reads—Score—Shelves
5. 55 雪 The Sword of Snow Stride: Northern Mang 雪中悍刀行之北莽 Northwest Brother Mao西北毛哥Male-Channel Fanfiction901k WordsCompleted My new work is out! Welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 6.2kReads6.3Score352Shelves
6. 56 大 The Great Song Coroner, Part Three 大宋提刑官第三部 Northwest Brother Mao西北毛哥Historical539k WordsCompleted At the end of the Southern Song, Song Ci, the founding father of Chinese forensic science, resigns from office and retreats into seclusion after losing all faith in the court. He devotes himself to completing the work of a lifetime, The Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified. But the tides of the age will not let him stand apart. Mongol cavalry rides south, and the realm is shattered. In his twilight years, Song Ci is forced to return to public life. From a corruption-murder case at the Jianyang 787Reads7.1Score—Shelves
7. 57 大 The Splendor of Great Zhou 大周风华录 Is Wasabi Spicy?芥末辣不辣Ancient Romance4.3M WordsCompleted After three years of drought, the land was strewn with the dead. Her parents sold Qin Fengyao as a “two-legged sheep.” Faced with certain death, she sold herself into servitude and escaped with the human traffickers. Sold to the Chang family, she accompanied their eldest daughter through confiscation of their property and desperate flight, then their restoration to favor. She helped the young lady establish herself in her husband’s household, became embroiled in the struggle for the throne, and, 21.3kReads9.2Score2.8kShelves
8. 58 朱 The Vermilion Bird Calls 朱雀鸣 Pickled Millet Chilies泡小米椒Eastern Fantasy3.2M WordsCompleted This is an irreverent fantasy cultivation novel. Readers used to traditional cultivation stories may find it a little jarring. But if you're just as irreverent, then you're in the right place. This book is all about having fun. 20.4kReads8.9Score2.3kShelves
9. 59 荒 Two Wolves in the Wilderness 荒野双狼 Continue Writing Spring and Autumn续写春秋Urban1.2M WordsCompleted A prequel to King of the Wilderness, and the first installment in the Wilderness series. Yu Zekai’s days in northern Myanmar... Half of it is true and half is fictional. Take your time reading, and you won’t be disappointed. 38.3kReads9.1Score4.6kShelves
10. 60 谢 The Xie Family's Short-Lived Son Has Lived to a Hundred 谢家的短命鬼长命百岁了 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] The lid of a dead person's coffin won't lie flat because they had an unresolved longing in life. Given time, that longing turns into a demonic obsession, and unless it is resolved, their descendants will suffer. Yan Sanhe's job is to release the dead from their obsessions. One day, she gets hounded by Third Master Xie, who claims to have one. Yan Sanhe says she doesn't deal with the living. Third Master Xie replies, “Everyone says I won't live long. Just think of 125.4kReads9.6Score17kShelves
11. 61 未 Weiyang: Rise and Fall 未央·沉浮 Instantly Captivating瞬间倾城Ancient Romance318k WordsCompleted Amid the political power struggles of the Han palace, a maid to Empress Lu fights to survive as power changes hands, bearing witness to the bloody rise and fall of Weiyang Palace. 755Reads9.4Score230Shelves
12. 62 替 After Becoming the Substitute Bride of a Comatose Prince, the Imperial Physician Wife Slays Left and Right 替嫁植物人王爷后，医妃嘎嘎乱杀 Pillow Star Fish枕星鱼Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [One devoted couple + special space + satisfying read + strong heroine + sweet romance + crushing the scumbags] Ji Yuntang, a military doctor and PhD from the 24th century, transmigrates as the true daughter of a marquis’s household. From the start, her whole family forces her to marry in place of the fake heiress. Even worse, the man she’s to marry is a comatose prince, completely paralyzed except for the ability to move his head. No problem! With silver needles and a surgical knife in her left 19.2kReads9.1Score2.7kShelves
13. 63 天 Poison Genius Consort 天才小毒妃 Jie Mo芥沫Ancient Romance4.3M WordsCompleted She is a master of both medicine and poison, disdainful of everyone. Yet on her wedding day, she is turned away at the door and becomes the laughingstock of the entire capital. She sneers. “Prince Qin? Who does he think he is? If he won’t appreciate what he’s got, let’s wait and see!” She rubs her hands together, ready for action, but the moment she sees a handsome man, she loses her nerve and can barely stand straight. “Wow! Where did this immortal face come from? That figure is all curves, sli 31.2kReads9.2Score2.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Each of these dramas is incredibly popular, with fresh and original themes, making them all worth watching two or three times. [Learned something new]

14. 64 穿 Transmigrated as a Madwoman in the Countryside, I Raise Kids and Enjoy Life 穿越农门疯妇，带孩子享乐人生 Flying A Ba A Ba飞翔的阿吧阿吧Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted A physically powerful heroine + getting rich through hard work Zhou Qiong was only trying to save someone from drowning. Who could have guessed that one plunge into the water would turn a modern, upstanding young woman into a crazy woman in ancient times who bites everyone she sees? Luckily, only her mother is crazy, not her father. Looking at the two lonely, sensible children who’ve been worn down by life, her heart aches. If she’s their mother now, then she’ll make sure they’re fed and clothed 31.5kReads8.9Score1.6kShelves
15. 65 雪 Snowflake Town 雪粒镇 Sister Corpse尸姐Modern Romance130k WordsCompleted [Ji Handeng, a fragile, sickly, dark-minded younger brother x Xu Qiongqiong, a kind, resilient older sister who loves money] [Modern romance + mutual salvation + healing + older woman/younger man romance + revenge + cover-up + high-stakes twists] Xu Qiongqiong and Ji Handeng are siblings with no blood ties. In a small, poor town full of secrets, they rely on each other and keep one another warm. Their days hold happiness and pain, darkness and budding affection. Their shared goal is to leave Xue 84.7kReads9.7Score11.5kShelves
16. 66 烟EN Misty Rain Tower 烟雨楼 A Night of Misty Rain一夕烟雨Eastern Fantasy9.5M WordsOngoing [The print edition is now available nationwide at all major retailers] "Traditional xuanhuan" "No harem" In the land of Jiuzhou stands a tower called the Misty Rain Tower. Its master, Li Qingzhi, is hailed as a peerless prodigy, holding life and death in his hands beneath the cover of night. Yet what the world doesn’t know is that someone else stands behind the Misty Rain Tower, its true founder. Using the guise of a spoiled young master as cover, he manipulates the winds and clouds and plots ac 868.8kReads9.6Score66.1kShelves
17. 67 花 Hua Mulan 花木兰 Ming Deyun明德运Historical186k WordsCompleted A legendary novel based on the famous heroine Hua Mulan of ancient China. Drawing on extensive folk materials and legends from across the country, as well as historical research, it was written around the heartfelt folk legends of Hua Mulan from Huangpi, Hubei. 324Reads9.6Score—Shelves
18. 68 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 27kReads9.5Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all based on the novels used in the TV series!

19. 69 帝 The Emperor's Ambition 帝王业 The Dream Speaker寐语者Ancient Romance367k WordsCompleted The original novel for the television series The Rebel Princess, starring Zhang Ziyi. A thousand miles of blood mark the road to the throne; holding hands for half a lifetime, a beauty brings ruin. She is the daughter the Langya Wang family is proud of, the deepest love of a great ruler, and the power behind the founding of a dynasty. She is a traitor to the aristocratic clans and the last protector of her family, a sinner who brought down the imperial house and an adviser who helped two emperor 947Reads9.5Score143Shelves
20. 70 大 Heartbreak in the Great Desert 大漠情殇 Jian An简暗Ancient Romance220k WordsCompleted [Strong Female Lead + Power Struggles + Powerful Allies] The marriage-alliance princess is both beautiful and badass, competing for dominance across the desert with the world as her game board! A peerless strategist and beauty vs. a cunning, enigmatic intelligence chief vs. a fierce, free-spirited desert bandit vs. the ambitious, patient ruler of Yunpei. In a war-torn age, three powers stand opposed. Matched in wits, they join forces! With the fate of their families and kingdoms at stake, a beau 191Reads9.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Novels can give people more room for imagination.

21. 71 陈 The Untamed: The Song of Chenqing Rises Again 陈情令：陈情再起 Soft and Sticky Rice糯糯米米Two Male Leads4.5M WordsOngoing The backlash of ten thousand ghosts made everyone think the Yiling Patriarch was as good as dead. Little did they know that, during the backlash, Wei Wuxian struck a bargain with the ghosts, offering his own resentment and body in exchange: everything would start over. 1.4kReads9.2Score123Shelves

    Reader note

    It's really beautiful!

22. 72 猎 Under the Skin: The Perfect Partners 猎罪图鉴：最佳搭档 Three Waters, Two Trees三水二木Two Male Leads584k WordsOngoing [No plagiarism. No reposting.] I’ve already seen plot points similar to my work. Please respect other people’s creations. If you come across plagiarism, please report it or contact me. Thank you. Du Cheng and Shen Yi become neighbors, and Du Cheng starts driving him to work every day. Shen Yi still falls asleep as soon as he gets in the car. They work cases together, and little by little, they become the perfect partners... 35Reads8.8Score—Shelves
23. 73 大EN The Tang Dynasty's Pearl-Dispelling Record (Original Novel of the TV Adaptation Starring Tian Xiwei and Song Weilong) 大唐辟珠记（田曦薇、宋威龙主演同名影视原著） Meal Card饭卡Martial Arts810k WordsCompleted [All-New Bonus Edition] [A Screen Adaptation with the Same Title Has Been Officially Announced, Starring Tian Xiwei and Song Weilong] [Beloved Princess Reborn: Looks Like a Delicate Crybaby, Actually a Well-Rounded Warrior] ✖ [Defiant, Doomed, Devoted, Pure-Hearted Top Jianghu Big Shot] [Their Romance Is So Sweet It Makes You Cry] Princess Wanshou, blessed with the Tang emperor's favor and love, died of an illness at just seventeen. A thief secretly opened the eerie underground palace, only to d 203.8kReads9.7Score25.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I've seen almost all of the TV series adapted from it.

24. 74 天 The Heart of Heaven and Earth’s Sword 天地剑心 Original story by Xiao Xin, adapted by Lu Lili小新原作 鹿礼礼改编Male-Channel Fanfiction398k WordsCompleted A novel adaptation of the TV series starring Cheng Yi and Li Yitong. New chapters will be released alongside the show starting October 25. Wangquan Fugui was raised from childhood as the ultimate weapon of the Yiqi Alliance, destined to slay demons. Then he met Qing Tong, a spider demon who had infiltrated the Wangquan Manor as a spy. Her arrival further changed Fugui's view of demons. Through the world Qing Tong showed him, he experienced a freedom he had never known, and his dream of a world w 248Reads—Score—Shelves
25. 75 五 Five Blessings at the Door 五福临门 Xin Xiaoyao辛逍遥Female-Channel Fanfiction465k WordsCompleted [Novel based on the hit drama Five Blessings] Produced by Huanyu Entertainment and directed by Yang Huan, starring Lu Yuxiao, Wang Xingyue, Ni Hongjie, Liu Xiening, Chen Heyan, Wu Xuanyi, Huang Shengchi, Ke Ying, Liang Yongqi, Huang Yangtiantian, and Dong Sicheng, with Zhao Qing, Mi Jin, Luo Zekai, and others. During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song, Lady Li, a wealthy woman in Luoyang, moves her entire family to Bianjing to find suitable husbands for her five beautiful daughter 1.8kReads8.8Score301Shelves
26. 76 花 Order Amidst the Flowers 花间令 Xin Xiaoyao辛逍遥Mystery390k WordsCompleted Original screenwriters: Yu Hailin and Zhong Jing. Adapted from the original period romance and mystery drama In Blossom, starring Ju Jingyi and Liu Xueyi. Jointly presented by Youku, Shengxi Huashi, and Zhudi Pictures, co-produced by Shengxi Huashi and Zhudi Pictures, and now streaming exclusively on Youku. In the crime-ridden city of Heyang, shrouded in mystery, the fearsome coroner Yang Caiwei (played by Ju Jingyi) marries the handsome county magistrate Pan Yue (played by Liu Xueyi), only to b 373Reads7.0Score103Shelves
27. 77 官 Guan Chuer 官楚儿 Wan Xun Chu Er宛询楚儿Ancient Romance153k WordsOngoing Southern Kingdom princess Guanchu Er infiltrates the Yun residence to obtain The Strange Book of Lin Shiqi. But on the day of a banquet there, news suddenly arrives that Yun Zhi Yu, son of the Yun family, has died unexpectedly. The celebration turns into a funeral. Jiangcheng princess Long Feifan makes a mistake in her childhood. While searching for her younger sister, she meets Lin Rong, a talented young woman from Jiangcheng. Then, by a stroke of chance... Tears shimmered in Long Feiyan's eyes 3Reads—Score—Shelves
28. 78 夫 Madam Crooks Her Finger to Train Her Dog, and Her Man Obediently Follows 夫人勾手训狗，爷乖乖就走 Xiao Tianyi小甜一Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (A proud, sharp-tongued hero whose actions belie his words × a clever, beautiful heroine who knows how to tame men) By her parents’ arrangement and the matchmaker’s word, Qiao Qiao marries Xie Heng, the third son of the Xie family, whose family has been close to hers for generations. The Xie family is complicated, with many sisters-in-law to contend with. On top of that, Third Master Xie is aloof by nature and comes from a military examination background. Everyone says Qiao Qiao will be worn out 14kReads9.0Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book, "Xie Zhongqing and Wang Zheng," tells the story of the Xie family over a thousand years. The male lead is incredibly gentle; every beautiful word in the world can describe him. He's also easily embarrassed and unwaveringly loyal to the female lead. The female lead's mother is a time traveler and forbids her from having children before she turns 18. The male lead takes birth control pills himself to prevent the female lead from suffering any pain. [Facepalm][Facepalm][Facepalm][Facepalm] In the second book, arranged by parents and matchmakers, Qiao Qiao marries Xie Heng, the third young master of the Xie family, a family with a long-standing friendship. The Xie family is a complex family with many sisters-in-law. In addition, the third young master Xie is aloof and has a military background. Outsiders all say that Qiao Qiao will be exhausted and the couple will be cold to each other. In time, they will probably become a couple who are only together in name but not in reality. Some people feel sorry for her, while others are just watching the show. They are all waiting to see what will happen to Qiao Qiao in the Xie family. They waited and waited, and they saw the couple go from being respectful but not together in name to being harmonious and loving. Later, the great general Xie, who was famous in the Northwest, was willing to bow down to his wife and became a well-known "henpecked husband" in the capital. Everyone was astonished. Appearances can be deceiving. Xie Heng married a young woman from a prominent family who had often visited his home in his childhood. Outsiders assumed that this marriage, arranged by his parents and a matchmaker, must be something he disliked, something he must have had many unavoidable reasons for. To this, Xie Heng silently declared—he was just an ordinary man. Regardless of whether it was arranged by his parents or a matchmaker, why wouldn't he be happy with such a beautiful and charming wife? Why wouldn't he be happy? And those who hoped for their divorce, what were their true intentions! Initially, Xie Heng was simply attracted to his wife's gentleness and tenderness. Later, without even realizing it, he lost his heart, willingly surrendering and bowing down to her.

29. 79 捉 You Caught Me Cheating in Bed, So I Won't Marry You Again 捉奸在床后二婚都不嫁你 The Tranquil Young Master公子寂然Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted “The heroine is beautiful and noble, adored by all, and never looks back.” Xie Zhongqing, the beloved daughter of the Xie clan’s head, dances so captivatingly at the Flower Festival when she is thirteen that Yu Weiyi, a young general of the Yu clan, becomes hopelessly obsessed with her. He chases after her every day, and public declarations of love are routine. Eventually, the Xie young lady is moved by his sincerity, and they spend two years together. But just as they are discussing marriage, X 3.9kReads7.5Score292Shelves
30. 80 后 The Legend of Ruyi 后宫·如懿传 Liu Lianzi流潋紫Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [The original novel behind the TV drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace] Emperors have always been fickle, and no family is more heartless than the imperial family. Hongli’s side consort, Qingying, was born into the prominent Ula-Nara clan. But after Hongli ascended the throne, the court and the imperial harem were thrown into turmoil. Her former status and privilege became a thing of the past, and Qingying found herself in an awkward position, burdened by a shocking secret. To protect herself, 2.8kReads8.3Score340Shelves

    Reader note

    Two incredibly good books

31. 81 传 The Romance of Tiger and Rose 传闻中的陈芊芊 Nanzhen, Screenwriter; Bangbangbing, Adaptation南镇编剧 棒棒冰改编Ancient Romance907k WordsCompleted The Romance of Tiger and Rose is adapted from the television drama of the same name, written by Bang Bang Bing. The historical romance stars Zhao Lusi, Ding Yuxi, and others. It is exclusively streamed worldwide by Tencent Video and exclusively published and distributed by Dian Yue Literature. Chen Xiaoqian, a single since birth and a seventh-rate screenwriter, pours her heart and soul into writing a major drama set in a matriarchal society. Production should have started smoothly, but the proje 136Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    📺📀A treat for drama fans! The original novels of those period dramas that kept us up all night are equally captivating! *The Legend of the Young Swordsman* paints a picture of a chivalrous world of heroes and villains, where young people embark on adventures filled with dreams, their passion and chivalry intertwined. *The Lotus Pavilion* follows the mysterious master as he unravels mysteries, perfectly blending suspense and ancient Chinese style, offering even more imaginative possibilities than the drama series. *The Record of Tang Dynasty Ghost Stories* takes us back to the Tang Dynasty, filled with strange and supernatural events and thrilling adventures. And then there's *The Romance of Tiger and Rose*, a sweet and romantic time-travel story; the written version allows you to immerse yourself in its romance. These original novels, with words as their pen, paint a more vibrant picture of ancient Chinese life than the screen. Come unlock more exciting details in the books and embark on your own unique ancient fantasy journey!

32. 82 一 The Awakening of a Housewife 一个家庭主妇的觉醒 Sister Shui水姐Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted When the heroine, Song Xiaoying, discovers that her daughter is planning to kill herself, she follows the clues and uncovers her husband Zhou Yang's affair. This sets off a battle of interests between the wife and the mistress, husband and wife, and parents-in-law and daughter-in-law, laying bare the calculations and compromises, darkness and ugliness of human nature. It's a rare and compelling work of realistic relationship fiction. 23.9kReads9.2Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Do you still believe in marriage? A housewife's awakening will tell you the answer.

33. 83 综 Film and TV Crossover: No One Gets to Call Her Bad! I Taught Her Everything 综影视：不许说她坏！都是朕教的 Yueluo Yao月落瑶Female-Channel Fanfiction607k WordsOngoing My new book is climbing the rankings! [Self-serving, refined heroine + selfish, stunning beauty + heroine’s halo + exclusive devotion + sweet romance] Every cause has its effect. A pine seed beneath a barren mountain gained human form through a demon’s passing whim, but life that comes into being outside the natural order is bound to bring change. Falling in love with the heroine is the punishment they deserve. The heroine loves only herself VS. the male lead, who is as clueless as a pine nut, k 4.6kReads6.7Score170Shelves
34. 84 希 Hitchcock's Suspense Stories: Rear Window (Collector's Hardcover Edition) 希区柯克悬念故事集：后窗（精装典藏版） Wang Qiang王强340k WordsCompleted A landmark work by masters of suspense and horror around the world. The most classic, authoritative, comprehensive, and collectible collection of Alfred Hitchcock stories. A byword for suspense and terror in the human psyche, bringing together masterpieces by the greatest film director of all time. An introductory textbook to horror and suspense films, offering deep insight into life’s absurdity and human frailty. This collection comprises eight hardcover volumes, printed in gold and made for co 3Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A hidden treasure, a chance encounter is fate.

35. 85 完 Oh No, My New Boss Is My Brooding Ex-Husband 完蛋，空降上司居然是闷骚前夫 Misty Passes and Mountains关山袅袅Modern Romance416k WordsCompleted (The new book has just received its initial rating, which will go up later.) Second chance romance + 1v1 + divorce caused by a misunderstanding + stubborn powerful man comes crawling back + he falls apart while trying to win his wife back + a bit of combative banter . [Warm-hearted but tough office worker × stubborn, soft-hearted, secretly passionate executive] . Good news: Song Zhi got promoted. Bad news: Her boss is her ex-husband. Good news: Her ex-husband has a fiancée. They're childhood swe 9.7kReads8.1Score965Shelves

    Reader note

    Today, you are uniquely adorable, exceptionally adorable, genuinely adorable, and adorable in a way that defies all scientific explanation.

36. 86 南 The South Wind Knows My Heart (The Original Novel of the TV Drama Starring Cheng Yi and Zhang Yuxi) 南风知我意（成毅、张予曦主演同名电视剧原著） Qi Wei七微Modern Romance376k WordsCompleted At eighteen, Gu Ruanuan was spending the summer holidays in the ancient town of Muyun when she rescued Fu Xizhou, whose car had plunged into the river while she was swimming. Fu Xizhou woke from a high fever three days later with no memory. Kindhearted Ruanuan took him in and cared for him. During the month they spent together, she fell for him, but before she could confess, he left without saying goodbye. Four years later, they met again at the airport. The years had not washed away her feeling 394Reads9.3Score102Shelves
37. 87 莽 Chronicles of the Wilds 莽丛记 Wang Hu王胡Historical386k WordsCompleted [Wuxia chivalry + the nation in peril + torn between loyalty and righteousness + a tragic song of a turbulent age] The first volume of The Record of the Wilds, winner of the Best Long-Form Book Award at Legends Ancient and Modern, is set amid the Song-Jin wars and paints a vivid portrait of ordinary people caught up in the tides of history. It captures the essence of classical storytelling without sacrificing dramatic force: the wandering swordsman Yan Sheng rescues a secret envoy and obtains a 398Reads9.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Under the moonlight, the Water Margin grows amidst the wild grass.

38. 88 千 A Thousand Peach Blossoms Bloom for a Lifetime (The Original Novel Behind the TV Series Starring Zhang Binbin and Sun Zhenni) 千朵桃花一世开（张彬彬、孙珍妮主演同名电视剧原著） At Ease with the Universe随宇而安Ancient Romance340k WordsCompleted Xie Xuechen was the greatest swordsman among the human race, but after losing all his magical power, he fell into the hands of the Demon Saintess. A swordsman’s path is one of unbending resolve and fearless advance. Born extraordinary, he has never suffered such humiliation. If he submits, his conviction will waver; if he fights to the death, he risks losing his chastity. A story about a proper, cold, and unfeeling swordsman who falls on hard times, decides to lie flat, and gets toyed with by a 3.5kReads9.6Score523Shelves

    Reader note

    Not only is the TV series good, but the novel is even better!

39. 89 隋 The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties: Complete, Edited Edition 隋唐演义-精编完整版 Chu Renhuo褚人获Historical617k WordsCompleted An epic tale of heroes rising amid chaos. Qin Qiong sells his horse, revealing a hero at the end of his rope; Cheng Yaojin robs the imperial tribute convoy, showing off his street smarts; and Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Incident reshapes the course of history. Blending the official historical record with folk storytelling, it weaves a legendary tale steeped in history and the spirit of the jianghu. 838Reads9.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The book is even better than the TV series.

40. 90 红 Secret Records Behind the Red Walls: A Complete History of China's Unofficial Past, Unabridged 红墙秘录：中国野史大全（无删节完整版） Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical2.7M WordsCompleted This complete collection is like a secret key unlocking the hidden chambers of China's imperial past, guiding readers into shadowy corners that official histories leave shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient legends of Unofficial History of the Xia and Shang to the imperial passions and court intrigues of The History of the Imperial Harem in the Song Dynasty, The History of the Imperial Harem in the Ming Dynasty, and Unofficial History of the Yuan Dynasty; from the extravagant excesses of The Ero 1.6kReads9.3Score256Shelves
41. 91 中 Party Struggles Throughout Chinese History 中国历代党争 Wang Tongling王桐龄Historical151k WordsCompleted Chinese Factional Struggles Through the Ages is a history of power struggles between factions, between factions and imperial authority, and between individuals. Using strategy as its thread and history as its fabric, it recounts a host of tangled stories. Covering three thousand years of factional strife, from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods through the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the book details major events, rises and falls, triumphs and humiliations, and 302Reads7.7Score100Shelves
42. 92 中 Two Thousand Years of Chinese History 中华二千年史 Deng Zhicheng邓之诚Historical1.4M WordsCompleted A History of China Through Two Thousand Years was first published in 1934 as one of the University Series, then republished by Zhonghua Book Company in 1956. Written by Deng Zhicheng, it primarily recounts Chinese history from the Qin and Han periods through the Ming and Qing dynasties, while also presenting the author’s historical thought and commentary. 88Reads8.8Score—Shelves
43. 93 慈 The Tale of Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical226k WordsCompleted This book offers a detailed account of Cixi’s life, from her birth and entry into the imperial palace to her rule from behind the curtain, her decades wielding power over the Qing dynasty, and her death. It is not only literary and highly readable, but also of some value as a reference for historical research. 12Reads9.4Score—Shelves
44. 94 明 Tales of the Sixteen Reigns of the Ming Court 明宫十六朝演义 Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical751k WordsCompleted The Romance of the Sixteen Reigns of the Ming Court delves into the imperial palace, recounting the love and enmity between emperors and their consorts, while ranging widely across history to survey the twists and turns of feudal dynasties. Understand this series, and you will understand the court; understand the court, and you will understand history; understand history, and the realities of the world will become clear to you. 78Reads9.4Score—Shelves
45. 95 历 The Complete Collection of Courtly Tales Through the Ages 历代宫廷演义全集 Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical2.0M WordsCompleted Xu Xiaotian brings the secret histories of the Ming, Qing, and Tang courts to life in the style of a novel: the bloodshed of the Nine Princes’ struggle for the throne, Wu Zetian’s political schemes, and the tragic final days of the Chongzhen Emperor... The book has the solid historical foundations of a meticulously researched account, enlivened with the colorful flesh and blood of historical fiction. More vivid than official histories, yet more rigorous than tales of the past, it is an ancient v 137Reads9.5Score—Shelves
46. 96 掌 Palm [TV Series] 掌心【电视剧】 Purple Rice Sponge Cake紫米海绵Mystery350k WordsCompleted Ye Ping’an, a healer of the heart, comes to the Sacred Capital to investigate an old case. Because she is skilled at scheming, everyone avoids her as if she were a “witch.” Yuan Shaocheng, an assistant minister at the Court of Judicial Review, was born in the impoverished Mangou district and seizes every opportunity to climb the ladder. A sudden murder in the Sacred Capital sees Ye Ping’an branded the killer. Yuan Shaocheng notices something amiss, yet still drives her to the brink of death. No 78Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all the original novels for period dramas, and they have all been adapted into TV series. You can read the novels while watching the TV series, and you can read the novels for some details that are not in the TV series.

47. 97 春 Spring Banquet 春日宴 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance664k WordsCompleted She kept male favorites and toyed with powerful ministers! For eight years, the arrogant and tyrannical Princess Danyang, Li Huaiyu, wreaked havoc across the court and country. She died on the day the new emperor ascended the throne, bleeding from every orifice in a truly gruesome death. The officials celebrated and the people rejoiced: Evil gets what it deserves! Good riddance! Yet on the seventh day after her death, Princess Danyang returned to life in the body of the Bai family’s Fourth Mis 13.6kReads9.4Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    "Nine Egrets Not Fragrant" and "Egrets in Pairs" are both works by very strong authors, and many have been adapted into films and television series.

48. 98 攀 Marrying Up 攀高枝 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] [Print edition published] Zhang Zhixu had everything from birth. A family with a century of prestige, enviable talent, and a career that kept rising step by step. But he found life terribly dull. Then, one day, an accident struck, and his soul entered a woman's body. A woman who couldn't read a single character, yet dreamed of marrying into a powerful family and becoming a phoenix. · Chen Baoxiang had traveled a thousand miles from the countryside to the capital, hoping 163.8kReads9.6Score22.8kShelves
49. 99 倚 The Legend of Junxiang: A Prequel to The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Part 2 倚天前传之君襄风云录2 The Tired-Headed Youngster费头青年Male-Channel Fanfiction523k WordsOngoing Another work by the author of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber: The Ming Cult's Revenge. [The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber] [The Legend of the Condor Heroes] [The Return of the Condor Heroes] [Wuxia] [System] [Transmigration] [Jin Yong fan fiction] This isn't a wish-fulfillment story about seducing other men's wives and taking in one's master's wife or junior sister. Xiangyang falls, and Guo Jing and Huang Rong die. On Mount Emei, the “Little Eastern Heretic” Guo Xiang uses her sword as a brus 10kReads8.7Score541Shelves

    Reader note

    Filling a Century-Old Gap in the Condor Trilogy

50. 100 长 Till the End of the Moon: Long Song 长月烬明：长歌 The Quiet Homebody宅女不说话Female-Channel Fanfiction384k WordsCompleted Signed with a publisher. No borrowing plot ideas, plagiarism, or reposting. A sweet romance with just a touch of angst. A cold, ruthless Demon God born with evil bones x a goddess who is resourceful and cares for the world. “Tantai Jin, no one will protect you, but I will.” “No one believes you, but I do.” “Believe me, we’ll meet again in five hundred years.” “Long time no see.” When Li Susu went to the world of Sword 3’s Tang Dynasty martial arts realm to mend her soul, she grew up in Changge S 102Reads7.5Score—Shelves

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