Looking for Clever, Scheming Female Leads Like Lü Songli and Lin Zhihuang 求吕颂梨、林知皇之类的足智多谋大女主文

1. 1 乱 After Fleeing the Chaotic Era, I Became the Founding Empress 乱世逃亡后，我成了开国女帝 Nan Wanxu南婉徐Ancient Romance4.1M WordsCompleted [Publication rights signed] [Strong heroine + political intrigue + turbulent times + power struggles + ensemble cast] She’s fleeing from the start, a female warlord in a chaotic age. Lin Zhihuang, originally named Lin Zhihuan, transmigrates as a county magistrate’s daughter, only to find tens of thousands of refugees attacking the city from the start! While others transmigrate into palace or household intrigue, she transmigrates straight into a chaotic age and a desperate flight from famine. The 98.2kReads9.4Score13.6kShelves

   Reader note

   The first book is *Lin Zhihuang*. A ensemble piece set in a chaotic era, somewhat reminiscent of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. The female lead is strong, and the supporting characters are also strong and intelligent. Both the main and supporting characters are well-developed, with no simplistic or illogical moments. The second book is *Lü Songli*. This book doesn't delve as deeply into the ensemble cast as the first. The female lead's main adversaries are the male supporting characters, who are also well-developed. The plot differs from the first book, but both are excellent, and I personally think they are equally compelling. The third book is *Xiao Wangshu*. While not comparable to the first two, it's still a rare gem from Tomato (the author's pen name). Like the previous two, the female lead is clear-headed, independent, and powerful. The fourth book is *Jiang Jin*. A truly exceptional book whose title doesn't do it justice. I've been following it, catching up and then rereading, and it recently finished. I declare this book a late bloomer, directly becoming my top pick for a female lead from Tomato. The ensemble cast is also exceptionally well-developed. The author vividly and movingly portrays the lives of ordinary people during wartime and the founding of a nation. It's incredibly captivating and spiralingly exciting. Fans of political intrigue and strong female leads shouldn't miss it.

2. 2 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 108.1kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves
3. 3 穿 Transmigrated as a Treacherous Minister's Legitimate Daughter, She Plays the Part to Perfection 穿成奸臣嫡女，她本色出演 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance565k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + Career-focused early on + Sweet romance + One-on-one romance + Both leads are devoted to each other] [Two-faced, ruthless minister's daughter × Wild, formidable iron-faced general] The ruler of the business world transmigrates into a book overnight, becoming the daughter of the treacherous chancellor. She throws her weight around and commits every kind of evil, with the label “vicious supporting female character” practically branded onto her. She's madly pursuing the 86.5kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves
4. 4 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 149.6kReads9.5Score18.7kShelves
5. 5 满 My Whole Family Are Cannon Fodder, but After They Read My Mind, They Rebel 满门炮灰读我心后，全家造反了 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Physical edition of "Claiming the Pearl 2" goes on presale October 17 at 7:30 p.m.] [Mind reading + System + adored by the whole family + transmigrate into a book + play the pig to eat the tiger] Qiao Jiaojiao had accumulated so much virtue in her past life that the Old King of Hell granted her a rebirth with all her memories intact, plus a golden finger: a Virtue Points Shop. Qiao Jiaojiao was thrilled to start her new life, only to discover she hadn't been reborn at all. She'd transmigrated i 124.4kReads9.7Score14.2kShelves

   Reader note

   This book is already available in physical print, don't be fooled by the title!!! It starts strong and continues to grow stronger, with a lot of grand themes, national affairs, freedom, and ensemble writing!! It's incredibly detailed, with both emotions and strategies handled very well. Lots of emoticons are super cute, so get hooked! You'll become increasingly addicted as you read on, especially towards the middle and later parts. Seriously, I've read it three times!!

6. 6 惹 Offending the Imperial Daughter 惹金枝 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Film and television rights have been sold. The physical book will be available for preorder on July 10 at 19:00.) Shi Buyu was born smiling. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, collapsing a row of outbuildings in the Shi family compound. Days of torrential rain brought devastating floods and countless victims. Rumors soon spread through the capital that she was a disaster star sent into the world. But she was as precocious as a demon, with a photographic memory, and learned bo 262.1kReads9.7Score30.8kShelves

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   I think this is pretty good, even better than Lü, and it also has a group theme (in my opinion), with strong male characters and even stronger female characters.

7. 7 最 The Best Lyricist 最佳词作 Kong Liu空留Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] One is a heroine, the other a pampered youngest son who’s always smiling. They work together seamlessly to resolve an unexpected crisis the first time they meet. The second time, she warns her younger cousin not to fall for someone like him. Then comes the Nth meeting, and with it, a lifetime together. 24.6kReads9.6Score3.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Lü Songli, Yan Sanhe, Xia Le, Shi Buyu, Song Xixi...

8. 8 我 After Reaching Max Level in the Wasteland, I Transmigrated to a Famine Year and Became Empress 我在废土满级后，穿越荒年当女帝 Zhuye竹野Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted A satisfying infrastructure-building power fantasy, not a matriarchal-world story. Ruan Xiang, ruler of the largest base in the wasteland, transmigrated into one of the refugees fleeing famine in ancient times. Finding water, irrigating fields, building filtration ponds, making bricks and building kilns, teaching people to read, pressing oil… To survive better, Ruan Xiang gathered every worker she could. Until she discovered that the imperial court was growing weak, the ministers were afraid 9.6kReads9.1Score1.1kShelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist is absolutely a heroine; any one of these heroines could easily be the subject of a full-fledged female protagonist novel.

9. 9 我 I Only Want to Be a Military Doctor, So Why Are You Making Me Empress? 我只想当军医，你们让我当女皇？ I'm Starving我超饿Ancient Romance965k WordsCompleted [Feel-good revenge + transmigration + System + medicine + nation-building + conquering a chaotic age + empress + cheat powers] Medical student Liu Yi transmigrates into a war-torn age. The world is in chaos, the imperial court has fallen, and ordinary people can barely survive. But she brought along her all-purpose doctor System. System: “I can give you medical equipment.” System: “I can give you medical books.” System: “I can give you an entire modern hospital.” System: “Your goal is to becom 6.1kReads9.5Score859Shelves

   Reader note

   Lin Zhihuang, Liu Yi, Jiang Jin, and Li Shu—don't be too authoritative, okay? The other two books are also worth reading.

10. 10 被 Wrongfully Married, I Stabbed My Husband to Death and Became Famous 被错嫁后，我捅死夫君名扬天下了 Bright Blue灿蓝Ancient Romance646k WordsCompleted [No Romance] + [Pocket Dimension] + [Taking Down Scumbags] + [Villainess] After transmigrating, Li Shu became a pitiful woman who had been married off to the wrong man. Her deranged husband had just beaten her to death. Her mother-in-law said, “My son has no flaws except that he hits people. Can’t you just put up with it?!” The man said, “I wanted to marry A Ning, but I’m not good enough for her, so let’s just settle down and live our lives together!” Even her own father kept his head down and i 16.3kReads9.3Score2kShelves
11. 11 穿 I Transmigrated, So I Might as Well Become an Empress 穿越了，搞个女帝当当 Shu Bao殊宝Ancient Romance457k WordsCompleted (The rating was just released, and it will rise later) [No romance. The heroine has every admirable quality, including a fiery temper, a long memory for grudges, exceptional intelligence, and a photographic memory.] Song Qiao thought she had died, but she came back to life, and in a very fantastical turn of events, transmigrated. Transmigration, huh? Song Qiao had never transmigrated before, but for an ordinary genius like Dr. Song, this was small potatoes. So why not start with a modest goal: b 1.9kReads8.6Score245Shelves
12. 12 搞 Funny: A Hundred Thousand Cavalrymen, and I’m Supposed to Play Support 搞笑，十万骑兵，让我打辅助 To Be Honest有一说一的话Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Strong female lead + no romance + incredible luck + lighthearted comedy Xia Lanfeng: I have an army of a hundred thousand elite cavalry. Wudou: We’re an auxiliary System. Auxiliary, got it? We help the chosen ones fulfill their wishes. We’re not a strong-female-lead System that lets you recruit followers everywhere. Xia Lanfeng: What’s wrong with recruiting followers? Just tell me, did I fulfill the chosen one’s wish or not? Wudou: You cheated! That’s not how this is supposed to work. Xia Lanfen 238Reads6.4Score—Shelves
13. 13 开 From the Start, Disguised as a Man, I Rose to First Rank Through the Imperial Exams 开局女扮男装，我靠科举官居一品 I Want to Make Money爷要赚钱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Disguised as a man + imperial examinations and court intrigue + rises to the highest office + one heroine, focused on her career] When Xie Qingfeng opens her eyes, she's handed a nightmare of a life: a house with bare walls, and a woman forced to disguise herself as a man. In an age when everything is considered inferior to scholarship, if she doesn't fight for her place, she'll be crushed to pieces. Since she's here, she'll give it everything she's got! As a woman, she enters the imperial cour 50.3kReads9.3Score6.1kShelves

    Reader note

    As an ordinary person, she shouldered the responsibility for the well-being of all. A person's value is never defined by gender. She didn't shout for the overthrow of the world, but instead diligently carried out every practical task, gradually dismantling the heavy prejudices of the era. Reading over a million words, witnessing a poor scholar gradually become the trusted Xie Gong, I was deeply moved. Compared to personal affections, this story of caring for the common people, upholding one's principles, and forging a path to success through one's own efforts is truly touching. Thank you to the author for creating such a dignified and upright figure as Xie Qingfeng.

14. 14 游EN Game Invasion: Addicted to Snatching the Male and Female Leads' Destinies 游戏入侵：抢男女主机缘会上瘾诶 The Cat Isn't Bald猫不秃Sports3.1M WordsCompleted [Game Invasion + No Romance + Leveling + Lone Wolf + Gaming] (Also known as: Game Invasion) After being reborn, the first thing Yu Xunge did was go home and make her younger brother down a bottle of liquor, causing him to miss the first game beta test. In her previous life, she didn't learn until she was dying that he had been scheming against her from the shadows all along. She was merely the villainess in a wish-fulfillment novel about a live-in son-in-law... Every bit of malice she suffered w 969.1kReads9.5Score83.2kShelves
15. 15 乱 A Lone Woman in Troubled Times, Plotting an Age of Prosperity 乱世孤女，谋千古盛世 Lingering Fragrance and Faded Powder旧香残粉Ancient Romance2.2M WordsOngoing [Strong Female Lead + No CP + Empress + Ensemble Cast + Political Scheming + War + Power Struggles in a Chaotic Era + Nation-Building and Farming + No Spatial Storage or System + Slow-Burn Growth + Epic Length] Yun Huaijin suddenly became a "corpse" in a world torn apart by chaos. She crawled out of a pile of bodies, with only a child on the verge of starving to death beside her. In this world, nobles lived in drunken indulgence, powerful clans monopolized knowledge, bandits slaughtered withou 25.5kReads8.9Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Forget about Lü Songli; she was empress before the two emperors ascended the throne, but she changed her title after being heavily criticized. [Sad face] You can read about Yun Huaijin; he's both scholarly and martial, resourceful and capable, no romantic partner, no spatial ability, no system, and no power, influence, or background—a really tragic start. [Facepalm]

16. 16 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 266.5kReads9.6Score31.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These three books are truly amazing! I'm currently reading the first one, and the original character setup immediately captivated me: the female lead and the scumbag male lead are both reborn, while the male lead is a time traveler. The female lead is incredibly intelligent, as is the male lead; they're both strong and sweet, with no misunderstandings, and they quickly express their feelings for each other. The male lead walks the path of a loyal minister, truly embodying high moral character and unwavering devotion to his country! I've been wondering why the male lead, after time-traveling, is so focused on doing things for the dynasty instead of himself? Is there really such a virtuous person as the bright moon? He's not a native, so it seems a bit far-fetched. Under this assumption, I subconsciously considered the male lead as a modern person who time-traveled, thinking it might be a minor plot hole by the author. But then again, the male lead is from that era—his beliefs and passionate fervor all make sense. This is precisely what makes this time-traveling protagonist different from other time-travel novels for me.

17. 17 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 165.6kReads9.6Score23.2kShelves
18. 18 重EN Too Many Reborn Heroes? Time to Bring in the Government 重生者太密集？我带国家队下场 Bian Lu边鹿Sci-Fi & Apocalypse758k WordsCompleted (A feel-good power fantasy, with a beautiful, badass heroine who confiscates golden fingers) “Sheng is the boss around here. She's ruthless and doesn't waste words. Cross her, and she'll take you down!” In the year 2323 of the Star Era, the apocalypse is about to begin. Some people awaken their powers early, while reborn people are already making their moves… As the head of a new department, Sheng An is responsible for recruiting and leading all the powered and reborn individuals, preparing for 124.2kReads9.7Score17.6kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend both of these books. They're by the same author, and both feature intelligent and resilient female protagonists. The novels have a strong underlying logic. I, a bookworm for over a decade, stayed up all night to finish them. If you know of any similar titles, please recommend them to me!

19. 19 病 Spring Returns to the Branches of a Sick Tree 病树枝头又逢春 Sweet Melon甜甜的瓜Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available] Sang Nian accidentally climbs into the world of cultivation and becomes the vicious supporting female character who meets a tragic end in the book. System: Your mission is to marry the male supporting character, Xie Chenzhou, abuse him, humiliate him, and then get killed by him. Sang Nian: OK (brandishes little whip) (hits herself) (collapses with a thud) System: (silence) (stares at the sky) System: Mission changed. Win him over, or go mine coal. Sang Nian: (smiles 196.2kReads9.5Score26.2kShelves

    Reader note

    I've talked a lot about these books, and they're all ones I found truly excellent and worth rereading: 1. They feature a strong female lead, brave and resourceful, prioritizing the country's interests above all else. 2. A youthful spirit should never be betrayed; a diverse cast of characters. 3. My beloved junior martial aunt; I've cried for her countless times. 4. She schemes for others while also scheming for herself; her past and future selves work together to change her destiny. 5. The price of defying the gods will surely be paid.

20. 20 全 Everyone in the Sect Is Love-Brained, Except Me, a True Lunatic 全宗门都是恋爱脑，唯我是真疯批 Paper Tiger纸老虎Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted The complete print edition of A Double Crossing is now available on all platforms. Relationship blogger Lin Du died of a broken heart after being driven crazy by hopeless romantics. After death, she transmigrated into a tragic romance cultivation novel, becoming the beautiful, powerful, yet doomed junior uncle who paved the way for the protagonists' great love with her own ashes. After reading the script, she slowly typed a question mark. “Have they dug up every wild vegetable on this sect's mou 235.3kReads9.7Score27.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Hua Zhi is truly!!! In my heart, she is the epitome of a strong female lead—brave, resourceful, and persevering. Although it was adapted into a TV series, the scene of twenty-four coffins rushing to the Wei family's door just to rescue their loved ones is truly moving and deeply impactful, whether read or listened to! Highly recommended!!!

21. 21 就 Even as a Fake Heiress, I’ll Still Daringly Embrace Doing Nothing 就算是假千金也要勇敢摆烂 Ji Furan纪扶染Modern Romance659k WordsCompleted [Print edition launching across all platforms on August 9, 2025] When Shen Yue was twelve, she accidentally fell into a pond while feeding the fish. That was when she learned the truth: her parents weren’t her real parents, and her five older brothers weren’t really her brothers. She was the Mu family’s fake heiress! Faced with a future where she was destined to lose everything, Shen Yue decided to get ahead… by lying down. If she was going to lose it all anyway, she might as well lie back and 118.9kReads9.6Score13.8kShelves
22. 22 大 The Great Yin Empress 大殷女帝 A World of Splendor繁华锦世Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted She died in a single night, and the Purple Gold Palace came crashing down. Reborn overnight, she rose to glory once more. Nie Qingwan, Empress Dowager of the Great Yin Empire, was the woman who secured the empire with a single word. But after she helped her heir take the throne, she met a violent end. When she awoke again, she had become Hua Beijiao, a woman in the Eastern Jin Prince’s mansion who had swallowed poison and died rather than marry into the imperial palace. Marry the Emperor of Yin? 123Reads8.4Score—Shelves
23. 23 穿 After Reincarnating as a Wretched Old Woman, I Just Want to Live a Laid-Back Life 穿成极品老妇之后只想当咸鱼 Every Inch Is Gold寸寸金Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted The old woman was a real piece of work. She drove her eldest daughter-in-law to her death, then doted on her second son, who passed the highest imperial exam and married the daughter of the prime minister. She even encouraged him to favor his concubine and neglect his wife. In the end, the prime minister had the whole family killed. The old woman suddenly came back reborn, only to be scared to death by what she had experienced in her previous life. Manxing, a promising 25-year-old woman, transmi 31.1kReads9.4Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    🎉A lover of female-centric novels! 🌿The first book features a heroine who single-handedly defeats a multitude of officials, decisive and ruthless, with incredibly deep schemes, leaving them trembling and speechless, ultimately leading the nation to unprecedented glory. 🌿The second and fourth books are similar, but I personally prefer the fourth one. After finishing it, I was left wanting more? A little unsatisfied? Anyway, I recommend it. 🌿The third book features a calm, intelligent, and cautious heroine. The writing is very realistic, and the author's character portrayal is truly superb. There are no absolutely good or absolutely bad people in the world.

24. 24 南 South Branches Toward Dusk, The Regent Has Been Plotting This for Ages 南枝向晚，摄政王他蓄谋已久 Doudou from Zhongyue Province中月省的逗逗Ancient Romance726k WordsCompleted [Just received a rating] Complete ◎ [Revenge after being reborn + mastery of medicine and poison + powerful leads who cherish each other + everyone’s a schemer + palace intrigue and political machinations] Important: No stupid villains. Everyone has eight hundred tricks up their sleeve, and the battle of wits is at its peak! In her previous life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s family, was blind to the truth. She used a forbidden technique to save a scumbag man, dr 22.4kReads8.8Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend! Highly recommend! (*≧∪≦)👍🏻

25. 25 女 Matriarchy: Become Empress Just to Survive? 女尊：为了苟下去而当皇帝？ Little Meeda King小咪哒王Ancient Romance218k WordsCompleted [Female-dominated world + Strong female lead + No romance + Wish fulfillment + Wild imagination + Light political scheming] A brief introduction: This is a world where women come first. Congratulations, player. Your starting identity is the second prince of the Great Liang Kingdom, the most beloved of the emperor's four sons. Unfortunately, you’ve been innocently caught up in a conspiracy. After weighing her options, your empress mother chooses to abandon you and sends you to the enemy kingdom a 144Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book has no romantic pairings, no ambiguous relationships, and no female-male romance. The female lead manipulates everyone around her to become empress, always prioritizing her own survival and interests, and she does indeed become empress in the end! Moreover, all the important characters—her friends, teachers, subordinates, and enemies—are women! The number of male characters is negligible, and there are no derogatory terms used against women; it is a completely female-centric narrative.

26. 26 惊 Shocking! The Legitimate Princess Defies Fate Every Day! 惊！嫡公主她每天都在逆天改命！ Ran Qiqi冉七柒Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Female-led power fantasy + ruthless, unhinged heroine + an extreme “I’d rather betray others than let them betray me” mentality] Xuan Mingyao was reborn at the age of seven, back before anything had happened. Though she was the empress’s legitimate daughter, a princess treated like royalty, her younger brother, the crown prince, was about to die of illness. Her mother would soon be consumed by worry, grow estranged from the emperor, and eventually be deposed in the witchcraft scandal. Overnight 28kReads9.4Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    These two books are absolutely fantastic! The characters are resourceful, rational, and clear-headed, able to achieve their goals through legitimate means. The first book has no romantic pairing; the princess is solely focused on becoming empress. The second book features a mutual romantic relationship, and the female lead doesn't suffer any drastic intellectual decline because of the male lead. Both are incredibly enjoyable novels.

27. 27 他 He's a Fool, She's Loaded. What's It to You? 他人傻，她钱多，关你什么事 Mianmian Gao绵绵羔Ancient Romance206k WordsOngoing (A sickly but absurdly powerful heroine x a clingy, loyal, green-tea schemer of a hero who goes insane for her; two strong leads, both devoted only to each other, and plenty of sweet romance) Content warning: The story starts slow, then features a lot of political intrigue later on, so proceed with caution! The hero is genuinely an idiot at first, but he gets better. If that's not your thing, don't read. - She gets caught in a last-minute marriage swap, and the concubine still has her eye on the 109Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this book! It's a complete female-dominated story, featuring a clear-headed and ruthless female lead! She'll fight or kill anyone she doesn't like, and she absolutely won't tolerate it. [I also strongly recommend it!]

28. 28 乱 In a Chaotic Age, I Married a Monk, Never Expecting We Were Both Full of Potential 乱世嫁个和尚，谁料我俩都是潜力 He Zizi禾子子Ancient Romance233k WordsOngoing This is an ancient-style, female-oriented political intrigue novel set in a turbulent era. An Ancient Letter mainly tells the turbulent story of Ma Wan’er’s life and her journey of growth, beginning with her encounter with him seven years ago. —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The story of Ma Xiuying, set in the chaotic late Yuan Dynasty, tells of an orphan girl who eventually became empress. However, it's a story about a native of the area; I don't know if you'll like it.

29. 29 被 After Being Banished to the Cold Palace, I Cling to the Imperial Preceptor 被打入冷宫后我赖上了国师 Gentle Scholar温柔文人Ancient Romance488k WordsOngoing [Transmigrate into a book + Subverting tropes + Light political intrigue + Devoted to each other + Not a wish-fulfillment story] Jiang Dai was just a busy modern office worker. She clicked on a political intrigue novel to investigate a case, but before she could finish reading it, she opened her eyes one day and found herself as an abandoned consort in the Cold Palace who wouldn't survive three chapters... No, not even one. Where was the essential System for someone who'd transmigrated into a bo 130.9kReads9.5Score20.3kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all high-IQ novels! Either the male lead is so intelligent and rational that he doesn't need a romantic partner! I have to complain here that most of the powerful male leads with high intelligence cultivate the ruthless path or join the Hehuan sect! And the female leads with high intelligence either cultivate the ruthless path or practice dual cultivation! The female leads in Hehuan sect novels aren't as intelligent as the former!

30. 30 全EN Global Death Exam: Straight from the Execution Grounds to the Test Room 全球死考：刚下刑场你让我去考试 I Love Eating Cat Chips我爱吃猫片哇Mystery1.0M WordsOngoing [Tactical battles + mild horror + infinite-world adventure] The Deadly College Entrance Exam has arrived, dragging thirty million candidates into hell. The exam questions have been replaced with scenes from horror movies and disasters. Even staying alive is a pipe dream. Pass and earn rewards. Fail and be erased! Ten points earn ten million. One hundred points earn Tyrant genes. One thousand points earn the Apocalypse. Only ??? can make it out of this exam. To investigate, the military “ 1.6MReads9.3Score295.4kShelves
31. 31 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 127.1kReads9.6Score17.2kShelves
32. 32 开 From the Start, I Snatched the Embroidered Ball: Will Becoming a Live-in Son-in-Law Stop Her From Taking Power? 开局抢绣球，入赘影响她当权臣吗 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance749k WordsCompleted [Female-Supremacist World + Court Intrigue + Women Stronger Than Men + One-on-One Romance + Sweet Doting] [Refined Scoundrel, Scholarly Imperial Tutor × Lively, Proud Heiress to a Wealthy Merchant House] Before Lou Yushen became a live-in son-in-law, the standard for a good one was simple: don't covet the family's wealth, and don't take anyone's life. Lou Yushen thought, The people who came before me sure made the path easy! One day, while coaxing someone, she said, “Since the world is so lenien 17.3kReads9.4Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The first three books are by the same author, and she has several other excellent books! You absolutely must read them, my goodness, they are definitely about strong female leads. The author's thinking is also constantly evolving. The first book is the author's current work, and my goodness, after reading many of the passages, I realized that even though I pride myself on having broken free from patriarchal thinking, I'm still under its constraints. We grew up in a patriarchal environment, and there are many things we might not even realize without someone pointing them out. Especially for some readers who are still very young and without fame or power, they are even less aware of these things.

33. 33 师 Senior Sister, Drop the Act. You're the Tight-Lipped One in the Whole Sect 师姐别装了，整个宗门数你嘴严 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance717k WordsCompleted [Cultivation + ensemble cast + stronger woman/ weaker man + 1v1 + sweet romance] [Max-level reborn Nether Ancestor Soul Master × arrogant, cheeky young master of the Fox Clan] Everyone knows that the eldest direct disciple accepted by the master of Dragon Transformation Peak in the Lingxiao Sect is a peerless genius of this age, with terrifying talent. She is also respectful toward her master and devoted to her fellow disciples. Every disciple in the Lingxiao Sect admires her wholeheartedly and 34.2kReads9.5Score4.3kShelves
34. 34 暴 The Tyrant Tormented Me? I'll Turn Around, Seduce the Powerful Eunuch, and Seize His Empire 暴君虐我？转身勾搭权宦夺他江山 Green Mountain Has Its Say青山有辞Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted For eight years in the palace, Xiangjun fought to get ahead and tried to please everyone, yet the palace’s noble masters still ground her down, used her, humiliated her, and cast her aside... Those nobles basked in all the wealth of the realm atop heaps of corpses and bones, yet mocked her for trying her hardest and not knowing her place. In the end, the child Xiangjun risked her life to bear called her enemy “Mother,” while Xiangjun was cut open alive so the baby could be taken from her. She di 116.2kReads9.6Score16.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The finale is coming soon! The main character is Xu Xiangjun, a cunning concubine and a scheming minister who slays the dragon. I'm too lazy to write a synopsis, but you deserve to read it!

35. 35 全 The Whole Sect Are Simps, but the Junior Sister Is a Real Menace 全宗都是舔狗，小师妹是真狗 Holding Hands by the Fire执手烟火Ancient Romance4.2M WordsCompleted [The physical edition of One Thought, Phoenix Rising is available on all platforms] Feng Xi transmigrates into a cultivation novel as a cannon-fodder female side character, and the day she enters the book is the day she is doomed to die. To stay alive, she does everything she can to leave the heroine's sect, the Hunyuan Sect, and join the Xuantian Sect instead. Oh! All five of her senior brothers are the heroine's devoted admirers in the book, and each one dies more miserably than the last. Feng 182.2kReads9.5Score23.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is worth collecting! 😀 I highly recommend you read it; you'll definitely gain something... Feng Xi transmigrated into a cannon fodder female supporting character in a cultivation novel, and the day she transmigrated was her death anniversary. To survive, she tried every means to escape the Hunyuan Sect, where the female lead was, and joined the Xuantian Sect. Wow! Five senior brothers... 😇 😛 😚

36. 36 纨 The Pampered Life of a Spoiled Commandery Princess 纨绔郡主得宠日常 Zhao Pian赵骗Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Signed for publication. The print edition is expected to be available by the end of the year. No! This! Is! Not! A! Romance! No CP! No rebirth, no transmigration, a thoroughly evil heroine, a power-struggle story A truly wicked heroine, vying for power over the realm, genuinely unhinged, ruthless, and rotten to the core Questions that come up while reading can only be answered by reading on. The willful, overbearing young princess of the Prince of Zhenbei’s household takes a fancy to Pei Jinnian 51.1kReads9.4Score6.4kShelves

    Reader note

    I rave about the first book! It's absolutely amazing! Trust me, you all need to read it, ladies!

37. 37 嫡 The Legitimate Princess Consort Died Tragically, Then Returned Reborn and Turned to the Dark Side 嫡妃惨死，重生归来黑化了 Jiang Damo姜大沫Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted She was the daughter of a century-old military family, noble in status, yet she was cruelly betrayed by her fiancé and half-sister. Her face was flayed, her identity stolen, and she died miserably, only to be reborn and awaken as the princess consort of her former fiancé's sworn enemy: Qin Wan, a legitimate daughter who had been raised in a mountain village since childhood, timid, weak, and afraid of trouble? Ha! The noble daughter of a military family, reborn with peerless medical skills and ma 66kReads8.6Score5.5kShelves

    Reader note

    #9.9 Points! Super captivating, you won't be able to stop reading! Highly recommend the historical romance and political intrigue masterpiece, "Bloodstained Family"! An entire family is massacred, twin sisters are separated by death and reunited, one trapped within palace walls, the other wandering the martial world. A mind-bending political intrigue and battle of wits, treacherous palace politics fraught with hidden dangers, and the thrilling yet heart-wrenching romance of the martial world. Layers upon layers of conspiracies and traps, the villains' schemes are unpredictable, and the two sisters, separated by the court and the martial world, relentlessly pursue the truth behind their family's annihilation. The characters are vividly portrayed, the plot is fast-paced and constantly suspenseful, and it's packed with elements of revenge, political intrigue, martial world, and palace drama—definitely worth watching!

38. 38 谈 Explosives Under the Negotiation Table: The Young Lady Storms the Imperial Court 谈判桌下埋火药，大小姐入朝杀疯 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The heroine’s creed: Power and money are what let a woman live freely and boldly!] [Strong heroine + satisfying story + vying for the finest men in the realm] Jiang Yu thought she’d be content with a modestly comfortable life. But when she turned eighteen, one ridiculous twist after another came her way. First, the husband she had supported with her own money for years passed the imperial exams at the top of his class, then demanded a divorce so he could marry a noblewoman. Then the Duke’s mans 37.9kReads9.2Score5.5kShelves
39. 39 郡 The Commandery Princess Returns to the Capital, So Why Is the Entire Marquis’s Household Dead? 郡主一回京，侯府怎么死光了？ Dancing Sunflower跳舞的向日葵Ancient Romance607k WordsCompleted [Satisfying family-intrigue story + ruthless heroine + face-slapping the villains] Qu Ling was framed by her stepmother and left the Marquis's residence for six years. When she returned to the capital, happiness wasn't waiting for her. Instead, she was driven step by step to the brink of madness. In the end, she went mad and killed everyone in the marquis's household, paying for it with her own life. After coming back to life, Qu Ling took up her knife. She no longer needed to go mad to slaughte 33.1kReads9.2Score4.4kShelves
40. 40 逢 The Lantern-Bearing Chronicles 逢灯纪 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance982k WordsCompleted (Signed for publication, with screen adaptation rights sold) You're the daughter of a marquis. You want to take your mother's dowry and remains with you? Done. I'll take the dowry and remains, and bring you your mother's divorce papers as well as your own severance papers cutting ties with your family. You were declared dead and became an invisible person behind your brothers. You want to live like a normal person again? Done. I'll restore your name and identity, and make sure you receive the en 87.8kReads9.3Score12.8kShelves
41. 41 疯 Has the Regent Gone Mad? He Stole the Bride for the Heir Apparent? 疯了吧！摄政王抢亲竟为了世子？ Ke Xin柯新Two Male Leads382k WordsCompleted [Sweet historical romance + bickering rivals + two equally formidable leads + BL + GL + political intrigue + devoted lovers + two couples] On their wedding day, two bridal processions meet at a narrow stretch of Zhuque Avenue. A ten-mile procession of red finery, two bridal sedan chairs coming toward each other. Prince Regent Mo Fengming gives a cold laugh. “Elder sister, this road is narrow. How about a fight? Whoever wins goes first.” The princess royal, Mo Qinghuang, stands in blazing red. “B 149Reads7.0Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    No more feeling lost in a reading slump! This book is definitely worth following. The plot is engaging, the characters are compelling, and there's no disappointing ending. You won't regret reading it; you'll want more after you finish! A highly recommended gem! The plot is tight and fast-paced, with plenty of exciting moments that don't feel frustrating. The writing is smooth and immersive. Once you start reading, you'll be hooked and won't want to put it down! I've discovered a treasure of a divine novel—likable characters, an explosive plot, and not a single dull moment. If you like this genre, don't miss it! [Laughs][admiration]

42. 42 她 After She Ascends the Throne, She Takes a New Husband, Leaving Her Ex to Weep 她登基后换了夫，新夫不见旧夫哭 Rabbit Purple Moonrise兔紫月上Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (Power! It's a woman's second face! She loves it!) (1V2 + advancing the nation through technology + two men competing for her, only to end up regretting it) Lu Jichen: He is an ill-omened man. On the day his elder brother got married, they smeared dog blood all over his face and locked him in a cellar. Later, she brought him out, washed his hands, let him sit at the table, fed him, and paid for his education. Wei Chiyuan: He is the young lord of an aristocratic clan; she is a young widow. One sc 17.2kReads9.3Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    A book whose title almost ruined my reading experience, a book I'd been following for ages, and it's finally finished. I absolutely love it; Lin Huang is such a strong female lead.

43. 43 神 My Divine Bones Were Stolen? I Emptied the Imperial Treasury for My Dowry 神骨被夺？我搬空国库当嫁妆 Ke Xin柯新Ancient Romance875k WordsCompleted [Legitimate Daughter + Household and Palace Intrigue + Two Strong Leads + Devoted Love + Political Scheming + Divine Physician + Taking Down Villains + Satisfying Revenge] To save the Crown Prince, the genius physician Shen Jingwan is sacrificed by her family, who cut out her once-in-a-century “Exquisite Bone.” Her family is ennobled in return, while she is abandoned in the countryside to fend for herself. Three years later, she returns with unparalleled medical skills, only to discover that her 296Reads7.4Score—Shelves
44. 44 翡 Lotus in an Emerald Cage 翡翠笼中莲 Jiang Chengyu C江承钰CAncient Romance49k WordsCompleted The Lotus in the Jade Cage 838Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female author's most acclaimed historical romance novel‼️ It's exceptionally good, intelligent, logical, and thought-provoking🔥 My absolute favorite Tomato Female Channel novels feature several truly strong female protagonists who are charming, original, clear-headed, rational, and not overly sentimental. In the end, they achieve both fame and fortune, wielding immense power✌️❤️ 1: Domestic intrigue + Palace intrigue🩷 A bit tear-jerking, reminiscent of the bittersweet feeling of an unfulfilled love😭 The daughter of a jade merchant meets a down-on-his-luck prince who has fallen on hard times, but there's no spark between them until they fight assassins in a dilapidated temple. She falls in love with him, but he falls in love with another extremely delicate woman. By chance, he is placed on the throne by a powerful minister.👑🍅 He doesn't love her, but respects her and needs her wisdom to help him navigate between the powerful minister and the imperial power. She also lives peacefully with his lover. She loves him, and therefore loves him in a way that the male protagonist prefers. 😍🍅 In the end, it was that seemingly weak woman who protected the female lead with her own life until the very end. 😊 After reading it, you'll feel a sense of loss. It's a rare story where the male and female leads don't fall in love, but rather need to use each other. There's no competition between them, and the story has a strong aftertaste. 2: Palace Intrigue and Power ❤️ The seemingly ruthless female lead is a former slave girl, but she has the face of a phoenix. The mistress of the house not only doesn't kill her, but also spends a lot of money to cultivate her and build her up, successfully sending her into the palace. The young emperor falls in love with her at first sight 💘 and immediately makes her empress 👑 To protect the secret of her background and her power, she has been plotting to use external forces to bring down her enemies. She's almost ready to wreak havoc in the harem, but the emperor loves her to the bone and can't bring himself to punish her, not even to neglect her. 😍 The most divine part is the final, deathbed confession. The emperor already knew the female lead was originally a slave, and he knew she was ruthless and a bloodthirsty killer, but he was only grateful that he was the emperor and could help her. He also longed to be protected by her without hesitation just once 😭 Super tear-jerking! 3: Ancient Chinese romance novel with a strong female lead 🌹 A noble princess from a powerful family is forced into a political marriage with a prince, but the prince's heart belongs to another, and he plans to use her and her family as tools for future use. After collapsing in the rain, the female lead awakens and immediately leads her family to ally with the prince who is her husband's enemy, protecting her family and killing the male lead, her enemy 👍 In the process, she meets the mysterious spy male lead, and the two are drawn into each other's struggles and falls in love while still lucid. Super addictive and sweet! ✌️ A well-written novel with a smooth logic and a fresh plot 😍🍅

45. 45 大 Building Infrastructure in the Great Qin! Ying Zheng Discovers I’m a Woman 大秦搞基建！我女儿身被嬴政发现 Chu Jian Ci楚见辞Ancient Romance663k WordsCompleted The second part of this book is complete, so you can read with confidence!٩(๑ᵒ̴̶̷͈᷄ᗨᵒ̴̶̷͈᷅)و Transmigrates into a younger body + adored by everyone + no CP + career-focused + System + infrastructure building + cute pets + unifies the Six Kingdoms + changes the fate of dying in the second generation After attending a friend's Hanfu gathering, Zhao Jiuyuan was urged by his father back home in Hanzhong. As he drove through a tunnel, he somehow entered a time tunnel and transmigrated to the Qin Empi 16.4kReads9.4Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    All three are time-travel novels set in the Qin Dynasty. Only the first one is currently completed, and none have a romantic pairing. The first and second books feature the same female lead, but their memories are separate. The second book's timeline is earlier than the first, but she still assists Ying Zheng. The first book's female lead dies; her illness and death are unavoidable due to altering history. The third book features a female lead who transmigrates into Ying Zheng's long-lost daughter. It features a celestial screen that shows the female lead's path to rebellion. However, by the time the screen starts playing, the female lead's supporters are almost all present, so there's no immediate rush to her side. The female lead has a very strong personality and doesn't act arrogantly or boast without doing anything.

46. 46 七 Her Seven Brothers Died in Battle, and the Legitimate Daughter Returned Darkened 七个哥哥战死沙场，嫡女黑化归来 Wild Donkey Tribe野驴部落Ancient Romance1.1M WordsOngoing [Historical romance, court intrigue, palace and household scheming, reborn, joining forces, legitimate daughter, revenge, two formidable leads, transmigrate into a book, seven older brothers, no saintly heroine, miracle doctor, adored by all, comeback, punishing scoundrels, imperial uncle, devoted husband, devoted couple] The comment section is 99% positive! Read with confidence! “Shen Nanqiao, being chosen to marry into the Eastern Palace is a blessing for your Duke of Zhenguo household!” Rebor 4.1kReads7.2Score825Shelves
47. 47 锁 Locked Glaze 锁琉璃 Jiang Chengyu C江承钰CAncient Romance36k WordsCompleted Locked Glaze 433Reads—Score—Shelves
48. 48 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 25.6kReads9.5Score4.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book is about Lü Songli. After learning her fate, she schemed and planned relentlessly. Knowing her family would be exiled, she prepared accordingly. She even plotted against the second male lead, causing his family to be exiled as well—a very exciting part at the time. The character of the female lead's father was also a first for me. He knew the emperor's preferences perfectly, flattering him and saying things the emperor couldn't say in court. The part about the emperor's impending death was also very compelling. Before dying, the emperor would write a list to take with him. Everyone thought the emperor had such a good relationship with the female lead's father, so he would probably take him too, but he didn't. The emperor was also clever; he even let the female lead and her family use his influence. Later, the emperor died, and in the end, it was the female lead... After ascending to that position, her father always remembered the emperor and would still go to pay his respects. [Heart emoji] I read the second book later, and it's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since, but I haven't dared to read it a second time. The female lead's country is destroyed, and she becomes a slave to the princess. She's sent to a place where she's trained to be an assassin. She remembers the princess's words about giving something to someone, something that's inside her body. But later, the female lead discovers that she's wrong, completely wrong. She is the princess, and that person is the culprit who caused her country's downfall. Then she embarks on the path of unifying four states. Along the way, she recalls her past memories through the deaths of those around her. She's not trusted by those around her, yet she sits on that position. It seems perfect, but it's not. [Heart emoji] The third book doesn't have a romantic pairing. The female lead relies on her own abilities and talents to slowly enter the public eye and become well-known. The plot is intricately linked. I read it a long time ago, and it's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. You should check it out!

49. 49 大 Great Qin: A Frail Strategist Is Bound to the Vixen System 大秦：病弱谋士她绑定了毒妇系统 Chu Jian Ci楚见辞Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Qin Dynasty + Infrastructure Building + Unifying the Six States + No Romance for the Female Lead + Character Growth + Farming + Political Intrigue + Unifying the Six States Zhao Jiuyuan transmigrates into the body of a baby girl and gets the worst possible start. Just as she is about to starve to death, Bai Qi finds her. But she has barely spent a few days living in his home when she witnesses him arguing with the King of Qin. After the king leaves, Fan Ju comes over to argue with him too. What 18.3kReads8.8Score4.1kShelves
50. 50 重 Reborn: Will the Four Maids Help Their Mistress Divorce and Remarry? 重生，四大丫鬟带主母和离改嫁？ Ke Xin柯新Ancient Romance467k WordsCompleted [Maid-assistance story + a heroine who wins by lying flat + a low-status marriage turned into a counterattack] Shen Yue, the prime minister’s legitimate daughter, was easygoing and plump, and had no love for using her brain. Back then, she had married down into the declining Marquis Gu household, bringing a lavish dowry. She had only wanted to take it easy and live out her days in peace. But after her husband, Gu Yanzhou, attached himself to the daughter of a powerful family, Su Wanrou, the two 469Reads6.9Score103Shelves

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