I'm Out of Books to Read: Looking for Consort Stories with a Clear-Headed Emperor 书荒了，求贵妃文，皇帝清醒的

1. 1 重 Reborn, the Noble Consort Only Wants to Be the Villain 重生后贵妃她只想当反派 Love Sleeping In爱睡懒觉Ancient Romance351k WordsCompleted [Mutual devotion + sweet romance + no angst] After being reborn, Ye Jiujiu takes her brash, don’t-mess-with-me attitude to the extreme: She kicks the meticulously dressed Consort Li into the water; She slips laxatives into the tea of the coquettish Consort Yun; She wreaks havoc at the flower-viewing banquet the Empress painstakingly prepared; The consorts all rush to the emperor to complain: The cool, dignified emperor says, “I established this harem solely to give the Noble Consort something to 3.7kReads9.1Score359Shelves
2. 2 谁 What Kind of Concubine Bears Four Sons and a Daughter, Then Becomes a Noble Consort? 谁家通房生四儿一女，还当贵妃啊 Autumn Is Long秋很长Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + One-on-one romance + Many children + Sweet romance + Inner- and imperial-palace intrigue] In the fortieth year of the Xihe era, Lüqing became a concubine-in-waiting to Prince Jin. She knew full well that she had to earn Prince Jin's favor and give birth to a child as soon as possible if she wanted to secure her place in the prince's household. For eight years, she contended with the other women in the inner court, using every means at her disposal to 22.6kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves
3. 3 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 63.6kReads9.5Score8.2kShelves
4. 4 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 53.1kReads9.0Score3.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Relying on the favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Andehai acted unscrupulously and domineeringly, without knowing how to restrain himself, and ended up with his head in a different place. Li Lianying learned lessons from An Dehai. The more favored the Empress Dowager Cixi was to him, the more respectful he became. In the end, Li Lianying enjoyed all the glory and wealth in her life and became the ceiling among eunuchs. Empress Dowager Cixi broke the ancestral system and promoted Li Lianying to a second-grade eunuch in charge of the Forbidden City. Xiaode Zhang was a great eunuch in the late Qing Dynasty. He served Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Longyu. He was clever and good at strategy, and he eventually died.

5. 5 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 67.2kReads9.6Score10kShelves

   Reader note

   The two protagonists are very sober, and neither of them is currently in love. Although it is not finished yet, it is really good. The heroine design fits the title of the book, so don't give it a low rating.

6. 6 雪 Snowfall at Zichen Palace 雪落紫宸宫 Young Master of the Listening Snow Studio听雪斋公子Ancient Romance506k WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + The emperor chases his wife to the crematorium + Childhood sweethearts + The emperor is hopelessly lovestruck + The emperor is a total jerk] In the twenty-first year of the Xihe era, Consort Shen Yao, whose favor surpassed that of every other woman in the palace, was sentenced to death by the emperor with a cup of poisoned wine for offending the Empress Dowager. As she died, she was still carrying the emperor's child. As her final breath left her, She 2.5kReads6.7Score172Shelves

   Reader note

   His Majesty is diligent, but he is also a young king. When he encounters troubles, only the concubine's boudoir fun can help him relieve his fatigue. Childhood sweetheart, there was a misunderstanding in the previous life, the emperor personally fed her poisoned wine, she was actually the Queen Mother.

7. 7 穿 The Daily Life of a Laid-Back Concubine After Transmigrating 穿越之闲鱼妾室的日常 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance480k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + household and palace intrigue + no golden finger + devoted love later on] Zhang Xinian transmigrated into the body of a concubine in Prince Jing’s household. Above her was the princess consort, backed by powerful connections and ruthless in her methods. Beside her was a brainless side consort with overwhelming fighting prowess. Below her, a reborn woman and a transmigrated woman were locked in fierce competition. Zhang Xinian trembled with fear. She had no golden finger and did 89kReads9.4Score9.7kShelves

   Reader note

   In the novels about imperial concubines, some are first concubines of the royal family and then imperial concubines.

8. 8 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 44.5kReads9.4Score5.5kShelves
9. 9 贵 The Noble Consort Is Alluring and Teasing: The Emperor Dotes on Her Every Day 贵妃茶又媚：皇帝日日娇宠轻哄 Song Guagua宋呱呱Ancient Romance695k WordsOngoing Gu Xian opened her eyes and discovered that she had not only transmigrated into a book, but had also become a minor character with the lowest rank in the emperor's harem in a palace-intrigue novel. Her legitimate half-sister kept setting traps for her in the palace, and the other concubines were all at odds with her too. Gu Xian's new life in the harem was a living hell. Fortunately, she had a golden finger, a spirit spring that could keep her alive. She figured surviving to a ripe old age in th 268Reads8.7Score—Shelves
10. 10 贵 The Noble Consort Is Cool and Aloof, and the Emperor Yearns for Her Night After Night 贵妃清冷，圣上夜夜相思 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance448k WordsCompleted Shen Qinghe was in the bloom of youth when she entered the palace, where she weathered its intrigues for more than a decade. She had hoped to leave with a reward one day, or perhaps spend her whole life peacefully as a palace official. But then an order came down, and one day she unexpectedly became an imperial consort. She watched these women fight day after day, never expecting to become entangled in their schemes herself. Shen Qinghe could only sigh. He was the emperor, and she was a palac 16.3kReads9.1Score1.5kShelves
11. 11 生 After Giving Birth to the Fourth Prince, the Noble Consort Rose to Empress in One Fell Swoop 生下四阿哥后贵妃一路开挂登后位 Creamy Watermelon Sauce奶油西瓜酱Ancient Romance521k WordsCompleted [The male lead is reborn + the female lead is neither transmigrated nor reborn + some events do not follow historical records + the leads are not mutually faithful at first] On the tenth day of the seventh month of the twenty-eighth year of the Kangxi reign, the Tong Jia clan woman, already named empress, died in Kangxi’s arms. From that moment on, Tong Jia Qingdai was no more. Kangxi was consumed by regret, living in nightmares every day until he was reborn. Watch as he secretly protects his co 1.7kReads8.7Score128Shelves
12. 12 出 Born Humble? Made Noble Consort Three Months After Entering the Palace 出身低微？入宫三月封贵妃 Immortal Osmanthus Pudding人仙桂花酪Ancient Romance209k WordsCompleted [A stunningly beautiful heroine + ruthless revenge + palace intrigue + both leads' first love, don't ask me how it works, the emperor has his ways] Ten years ago, the Tang clan was framed by villains and sentenced to execution, their blood flowing for miles. No one knew that beneath the mountain of corpses, the youngest daughter of the Tang family was still alive. Ten years later, Tang Wanhua changed her name to Ning Sitang and entered the imperial harem on the strength of her unparalleled beaut 840Reads8.9Score130Shelves
13. 13 贵 Is the Noble Consort the Most Favored in the Harem Today? 贵妃今天宠冠后宫了嘛 Yu Liang鱼梁Ancient Romance629k WordsCompleted [The Noble Consort is the reborn empress. Liang Jiayi = Zhou Jinghe. A clever, brave, strong-willed little troublemaker × a diligent, virtuous, wise, and benevolent ruler] Rumor had it that the newly arrived Noble Consort was the empress’s double. The Noble Consort had never put up with such an insult in her life, so she turned around and raised hell in the entire harem. The concubines competed for the emperor’s favor? She drove them out of the palace. The Empress Dowager made things difficult f 655Reads9.2Score102Shelves
14. 14 白 The White Moonlight Noble Consort’s Daily Life in the Harem 白月光贵妃的后宫日常 Yuanzi Eats Mulberries元子吃桑葚Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted (Cover used with permission) With an illustrious family background, breathtaking beauty, and the distinction of being the emperor’s moonlight, Jiang Hui should have found life as a Noble Consort effortlessly easy. Unfortunately, the sisters in all but name in the Eastern Palace, wave after wave of beautiful candidates from the provinces, and the supposed substitutes who resemble her in looks and bearing all tell her the same thing: no one can walk unscathed through the imperial harem. [Alternate 30.6kReads9.3Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    💥💥Business in the early stage + unparalleled favor in the later stage + the emperor secretly assists the palace in the battle + the heroine does not want to love the emperor and concentrates on the palace battle to advance to the throne. 💥💥 ✨✨🧚‍♀️In the 40th year of Xihe, Lu Qing became the maid of the King of Jin. She knew very well that she wanted to take advantage of King Jin's favor to give birth to a child as soon as possible so that she could gain a foothold in the palace. After the King of Jin inherited the throne, Lu Qing rose from a side concubine to a noble concubine of the Ming Dynasty, enjoying the exclusive favor of the emperor.

15. 15 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 39.5kReads9.5Score4.9kShelves
16. 16 皇 Has the Noble Consort Left Qirong Palace Today? 皇贵妃今天出栖容宫了吗？ Xiaoman Crisp小满酥Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [☆No transmigration, no rebirth, and no pristine couples] [☆The romance develops gradually] Everyone in the palace knew that the person they must never offend was neither the pampered and fiery Noble Consort Hui nor the peerlessly beautiful Consort Cen, but Noble Consort Zhe of Qirong Palace, Lady Fucha. A consort's guide to survival: If you want to get ahead, never provoke the lady of Qirong Palace. She was the emperor's first woman, his companion and confidante since their youth; the mother 17.5kReads9.3Score1.5kShelves
17. 17 惊 Shocking! The Noble Consort Wins the Favor of All Six Palaces by Gossiping 惊！贵妃娘娘靠吃瓜宠冠六宫 Day Mountain Moon昼山月Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + substitute + fleeing while pregnant + secret identity] [The leads are not each other’s first; she becomes his sole favorite later. The heroine stays clearheaded and never falls for him. A silly, fluffy story; the heroine is no saint.] Jing Shumei was born with stunning beauty. She used her looks to seduce the Emperor, never giving him her heart, only scheming for her own gain. Using her mind-reading ability to listen in on palace gossip and navigate the harem, she climbed step 4.4kReads9.3Score594Shelves
18. 18 药 The Delicate, Scheming Medicine-Jar Consort Has the Sickly Tyrant Begging for Mercy 药罐贵妃娇又作，病娇暴君乖乖认怂！ Tang Jiujiu糖酒酒Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Transmigrated into the role of a cannon-fodder concubine, Xiao Xiruo is destined to die of rage and leave her entire family dead? And she’s sickly, coughing up blood every day? Xiao Xiruo: Keep it together. Don’t panic! With powerful backing, I’ll take the court by storm and rule the imperial harem! Feng Wuyan, the puppet emperor of Great Yan, is a deranged villain who slaughtered everyone in the book until only its title remained. He does the cruelest deeds and strikes with the deadliest hand. 3.7kReads9.2Score402Shelves
19. 19 贵 The Noble Consort Rejects Romance: While Others Fight for Favor, I Seize Power 贵妃不入爱河，别人争宠我夺权 Ran Qiqi冉七柒Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Female-Lead Wish Fulfillment + Unfeeling Persona + Ruthless Revenge and Face-Slapping] Years later, the history books would describe Ming Tang as a master strategist with an iron fist, the ultimate winner of the harem struggles and the vast empire. Only Ming Tang knew she had never wanted to be that winner in the first place. From a young girl to the ruler of the realm, all she had wanted at first was to avenge her elder sister. The harem was full of danger. On one side was Consort Jin, who had 9.3kReads9.4Score1.3kShelves
20. 20 听 Rumor Has It the Noble Consort Alone Enjoys the Emperor's Favor in the Deep Palace 听说贵妃在深宫独得圣上恩宠 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance568k WordsCompleted When they were young and love stirred in his heart, he took her in. Once he held power, he had no choice but to hide her away. In the lonely inner palace, she waited quietly, day after day and year after year. For power and status, he feared nothing. He overcame every obstacle and held her close. Behind layer upon layer of palace gates and red walls, a dream within a dream awakened the lovers from their reverie. 14.2kReads9.0Score975Shelves

    Reader note

    💥💥Business in the early stage + ultimate favor in the later stage + the emperor secretly assists the palace in the battle + the heroine does not want to love the emperor and concentrates on the palace battle to advance to the throne. 💥💥 ✨✨🧚‍♀️In the 40th year of Xihe, Lu Qing became the maid of the King of Jin. She knew very well that she wanted to take advantage of King Jin's favor to give birth to a child as soon as possible so that she could gain a foothold in the palace. After the King of Jin inherited the throne, Lu Qing rose from a side concubine to a noble concubine of the Ming Dynasty, enjoying the exclusive favor of the emperor.

21. 21 入 I Entered the Palace to Help My Sister Keep the Emperor’s Favor, but Became His Cherished Favorite 入宫替嫡姐固宠，却成皇上掌心宠 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she entered the palace and devoted herself to helping her legitimate elder sister keep the emperor’s favor. In the end, she died without a body to bury, abandoned by her family. Returning to the year of the imperial selection, Luo Shuran calculates her every move. Her breathtaking beauty is her only weapon. She sheds her youthful timidity and blossoms into a woman of captivating charm. One fleeting glimpse, like a fairy fallen from the heavens, catches the emperor’s eye. 6.3kReads9.3Score878Shelves
22. 22 将 The General's Legitimate Daughter: The Hot-Tempered Consort Is Not to Be Trifled With 将门嫡女：暴脾气贵妃不好惹 Lu Yueerwu陆月二五Ancient Romance936k WordsCompleted [Devoted Love in the Later Story + Adorable Baby + Powerful Hero and Heroine + Beloved Legitimate Daughter] [Hopelessly Devoted Foolish Emperor + Clear-Headed, Self-Controlled, Clever Noble Consort] Once you enter the palace, it’s as deep as the sea. Yu Jinghe is the most clear-eyed woman in the world. Noble Consort Yue, the most stylish woman in the harem, wins the emperor’s favor all to herself with her fiery temper. Sharp-tongued and quick to throw a punch, she’s practically the harem’s gangs 3.4kReads9.2Score265Shelves
23. 23 贵 The Noble Consort Is Stunning, and Both Emperor and Empress Fight to Spoil Her 贵妃娘娘真绝色，惹得帝后争相宠 Returning South南归Ancient Romance600k WordsCompleted Yao Ying saves a stranger, never expecting him to be Ying Heng, the emperor’s eldest son. After waking, Ying Heng falls for Yao Ying at first sight. He showers her with concern day after day, and eventually wins her heart. Then he comes to the Yao residence to ask for her hand as his principal consort. Her mother tells her he is no good for her, but she ignores the objections and insists on marrying him. Yet just before he is due to marry her, he takes Su Wanrou, the eldest daughter of Chancello 4.4kReads9.2Score554Shelves
24. 24 怎 How Can Anyone Resist the Noble Consort's Alluring Charm? 怎敌贵妃百媚千娇 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + heroine transmigrates] In the fifth year of Yongyan, the emperor ordered a selection of consorts. Wen Wanyu was the most beautiful among the candidates. With her charming looks and soft, lilting voice, she was as delicate as a flower and soon won the emperor’s favor. She had once been the apple of her father’s eye, but when he was framed and her elder brother humiliated, she defied her whole family and asked to enter the palace to protect them. From the darling 2.6kReads8.9Score227Shelves
25. 25 穿 After She Transmigrates into a Book, the Noble Consort Is Forced to Raise the Villainous Tyrant 穿书后，贵妃被迫娇养反派暴君 A Little Meatball一个肉团Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Completed] Su Yijin, a veteran supporting actress, has transmigrated into a book once again. When she opens her eyes, she is breathtakingly beautiful and on the pampered darling route, backed by powerful connections. Her father is a general who guards the nation, her mother is the Junyang Commandery Princess, and her maternal grandfather is a prince of a different surname... With the heroine's script in hand, Su Yijin takes down the green tea and kicks the fake innocent aside, then throws herse 1.5kReads9.0Score281Shelves
26. 26 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 25.1kReads9.4Score2.6kShelves
27. 27 帝 The Emperor Has No Heart, Yet His Cool and Elegant Noble Consort Has Her Ways 帝本无心，怎奈清冷贵妃手段高 My Cat Is Called Huabei我的猫叫花呗Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Cool, seductive fox beauty vs. a carefree, womanizing emperor] [The heroine is the true daughter, driven by revenge and ambition: a scheming beauty, sweet on the outside but ruthless within, and far from virtuous. This is an unconventional palace-intrigue story focused on winning hearts. The hero is not chaste. Later, he desperately tries to win her back. The overall tone is sweet, and the romance becomes one-on-one in the latter half.] Until the age of five, Changyu Jiao was the legitimate da 11.8kReads9.4Score1.5kShelves
28. 28 恶 The Wicked Supporting Actress Is Reborn and Wins at Life 恶毒女配重生后躺赢了 Bei Xin贝芯Ancient Romance622k WordsCompleted The emperor has never touched anyone but the heroine! One beloved consort in the harem + 1v1 romance + fictional setting. Meng Yan only learns on the brink of death that she's a supporting character in a sweet palace-intrigue novel. In the story, she loves the emperor, Lu Haozhi, devotedly until the very end. She diligently competes for his favor and tirelessly fights the innocent white-lotus heroine, only to land herself in the cold palace and die miserably in the snow. After being reborn, she 17.4kReads9.1Score1.4kShelves
29. 29 皇 Imperial Noble Consort 皇贵妃 Liang Zhihe梁之鹤Ancient Romance190k WordsCompleted Forced possession / the pursuit of a wife after losing her / angst (avoid if you dislike these) / avoid if you're a heroine stan / weak heroine / both leads are virgins According to the official history of Tianzhao, Noble Consort Chen, of the Jiang clan, shared a deep bond with Emperor Tianzhao and had once saved his life. She enjoyed his favor for many years without losing it. In the first year of Tianzhao, she was made Noble Consort Chen. The following year, she gave birth to the Crown Prince 17.6kReads8.9Score832Shelves
30. 30 贵 The Noble Consort Rejects Love, Yet the Emperor Dotes on Her and Decrees Her Empress 贵妃不入爱河，皇上盛宠下旨封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [The leads aren't both chaste at first + he pampers her devotedly later + the emperor secretly helps her navigate palace intrigue + the heroine has no interest in loving the emperor and focuses on climbing the ranks.] Alternate-era setting [The emperor personally raises his future empress, then claims her in the night] The Yun family has a legitimate daughter, a peerless beauty hidden away in the general's manor. The prime minister's son came to propose, but didn't even get to see her. “I don't 1.5kReads9.1Score191Shelves
31. 31 失 A Lost-Memory Noble Consort’s Story of Winning the Emperor’s Favor 失忆贵妃承宠记 Xi Die汐蝶Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [Harem romance + aloof beauty + historical coming-of-age + worlds apart in status + devoted in body and heart, one-on-one] Kang Yuyi was born a hereditary servant of the Prince of Qin’s household. Because of her extraordinary beauty, the princess consort took a liking to her and sent her to serve as a bedchamber maid to the heir, Li Yuanheng. But the heir turned out to be cold and distant, with no interest in women. After Kang Yuyi’s attempts to flirt with Li Yuanheng repeatedly failed, his cous 19kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    In the novel about a noble concubine, the male protagonist is very sober.

32. 32 清 The Secret Life of Heshen, the Qing Dynasty's Greediest Official 清朝第一贪和珅秘传 Farmer Third Young Master农家三少Historical460k WordsOngoing [Palace secrets + power struggles] How did Heshen rise from the son of a fallen official to become the Qing dynasty’s most notorious corrupt official? This sweeping, multifaceted novel reveals the secrets of the imperial palace, clashes for power, and struggles over imperial authority from every angle. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the story is gripping. How did Heshen navigate these tangled relationships and rise to the top? —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    He Shen, from a poor second-generation official to the most corrupt person in the Qing Dynasty, how he counterattacked in life, cheated all the way, and climbed to the top. His philosophy of life and ways of being an official are worth watching for middle-aged people in the workplace. The novel is wonderful and full of interesting things, so you shouldn't miss it.

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