Palace Intrigue with a Clear-Headed, Intelligent Female Lead, Not a Clinging Vine 宫斗，不要菟丝花女主，需要头脑清晰聪明的女主

1. 51 撕 Tear Apart the Harem! Win Favor! She's a Lunatic, Who Dares Cross Her? 撕后宫！得恩宠！她是疯批谁敢惹 Cats Are Extra Sweet猫猫特别甜Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue Only + Concubine-born Daughter + Reborn + Revenge + Everyone Is Evil + Wish-Fulfillment] [The story begins before the heroine enters the palace] [The emperor favors no one at first, and the heroine doesn’t fall in love] Jiang Shiying had died once. She died in childbirth, after her own elder sister had her killed to keep the baby. Reborn, she had made up her mind: she would enter the palace and get revenge, but she wouldn’t suffer! Not her stepmother or her elder sister, not eve 7.4kReads9.3Score950Shelves
2. 52 青 The Childhood Sweetheart Consort Rises to Power, Her Goal Is to Become Empress Dowager! 青梅侧妃上位，目标是太后位！ Xiao Yan Wants to Get Rich小闫要暴富Ancient Romance593k WordsCompleted [Domestic scheming in the early stages, palace intrigue later; the leads are not both faithful~] [The heroine loves the hero but keeps her feelings in check, staying clear-headed and never obsessed. The hero cares for her, but as emperor he has to balance the court, and there will be no shortage of women around him. The heroine is special to him!] An unexpected imperial decree changed Jiang Qingyue from the Princess Consort of Prince Qing to his secondary consort overnight. The emperor’s favor a 4.6kReads8.3Score383Shelves
3. 53 诱 Luring the Lord into His Embrace 诱君宠 Queen Julian朱莉安女王Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [The animated series “Win Your Lord's Heart: My Troubled Prince” is now streaming. We hope you'll show it your support.] Shen Yu, a modern-day doctor, is murdered by her senior fellow and transmigrates into the body of the eldest daughter of the Shen family. The eldest Shen daughter is breathtakingly beautiful, but her fiancé sets her up and forces her to marry the brutal Prince of Qi. At first, Shen Yu ties her handkerchief around the prince's wrist. “This handkerchief is like me. As long as yo 12.6kReads9.4Score1.6kShelves
4. 54 菀 Wanfeng Palace 菀凤宫 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance282k WordsCompleted [Doesn’t love the emperor + aims to become Empress Dowager + wants her own child to be crown prince + later receives exclusive devotion + palace intrigue, eliminates every consort in the harem] Note: They are not mutually faithful at first. The heroine gradually wins the emperor over with her schemes and tactics. Jiang Zhiwan was a general’s daughter who studied the art of poisoning, then accidentally poisoned herself to death. She transmigrated into a different fictional era, only to 295Reads8.8Score—Shelves
5. 55 娇 The Sweet Little Promise Who Rose Through the Ranks by Bearing Children 娇娇小答应靠生子一路晋升 Purple Cat紫色猫Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + System golden finger + multiple births + silly beauty + laid-back palace intrigue + doted on exclusively later + not a pure romance] Guys, how is this fair? Other women fight for favor with their family background, beauty, and talents... Qing Luo does it by getting pregnant. She spends her days having babies, raising them, and doting on them, gradually earning the emperor's exclusive favor. With her children by her side, she climbs to the top of life... 10.1kReads9.1Score951Shelves
6. 56 皇 The Emperor Is Reborn, and His Consort Is a Little Sweet 皇帝重生，娘娘有点娇 Zhu Qing渚清Ancient Romance327k WordsCompleted [Reborn Emperor × devoted-to-each-other romance × alternate setting × not a strong female lead] [Sweet at first, angsty in the middle, sweet again at the end] [Both happy and tragic endings] Before she was reborn, the Noble Consort chased after the Emperor day in and day out... After she was reborn, the Noble Consort who used to follow him everywhere began keeping her distance. Why had the Emperor gone from cold to hot all of a sudden!? Nalan Zhengjun, daughter of the prime minister, was the mo 1.7kReads8.4Score101Shelves
7. 57 谢 Thank You for Giving Me a Heart of Sorrow 谢你赠我一心伤 Mo Xi墨兮Ancient Romance49k WordsCompleted The most ridiculous thing in An Lingxi’s life was probably that she loved Xuanyuan Mo more than life itself, while Xuanyuan Mo thought of nothing but taking her life… 62Reads5.4Score—Shelves
8. 58 贵 The Noble Consort's Cherished Days 贵妃娘娘娇宠记 o Two Lines of Tearso两行清泪Ancient Romance279k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance, everyone’s favorite, 1v1] Ye Menger grew up pampered and cherished. Her parents doted on her, her brothers adored her, and she even had an aunt who was the Empress Dowager and an imperial cousin who was the emperor to rely on. From childhood, everyone treasured her above all else. But then an imperial decree sent her into the palace. See how this noble-born young woman is coddled by an emperor and rises step by step to the highest position in the inner palace! 1kReads7.0Score105Shelves
9. 59 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.4kReads9.2Score950Shelves
10. 60 中 The Empress's Palace 中宫 Tomato Lychee Rice番茄荔枝饭Ancient Romance904k WordsCompleted At eighteen, Yu Lanqing was shrewd, clever, and breathtakingly beautiful, yet stubborn enough to keep going until she hit a wall. Wei Li went to every length to marry Su Yaoyao, and Yu Lanqing used every means at her disposal to become Wei Li's empress. A daughter of the Yu family couldn't stand the sight of anything dirty. She acted decisively and turned his harem upside down. Wei Li did not love Yu Lanqing. That was why everything she did and said annoyed him so much. Wei Li said Yu Lanqing wa 669Reads8.6Score102Shelves
11. 61 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Before the age of seventeen, Shen Yu was the valiant daughter of a military family, a woman of great courage and skill. After seventeen, she became the wife of a frail and ailing Vice Minister Jiang. With her father and brothers dead in battle, and her entire family of loyal martyrs, she married Jiang Lianzhi, bearing the scorn of the world. She thought he was her savior, but he turned out to be her reaper. This once fierce and courageous daughter of a military family was drowned in an icy lake by a conspiracy. Returning to the year her father and brothers died, she walked alone, witnessing the devastation of the world. She would avenge the wrongs no one had done, and bring justice to the people no one had served. If Heaven was unjust, she would overturn it; if treacherous officials held power, she would kill them. She would reopen old cases, execute corrupt officials, and slay her long-time enemies…

12. 62 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 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    There is no time travel or rebirth; the story follows the female protagonist's journey from maid to concubine and finally to Imperial Noble Consort!

13. 63 重 After Being Reborn, I Raise My Husband and Nephew 重生后，我养丈夫养侄子 A Touch of Platycodon一抹桔梗花Ancient Romance506k WordsCompleted Su Zhuqing was reborn at a time when the Chu Yang Marquis household was on the brink of collapse. Given another chance at life, she devoted herself to protecting the household's elderly, young, sick, and disabled as best she could. Her husband was crippled, her grandmother was old, and her nephew was still a child. She only hoped that when the Chu Yang Marquis household rose again, she might have a little corner of it to call home. But things gradually went beyond her expectations. Her husband g 5.6kReads9.2Score664Shelves

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    "3" is a palace intrigue and domestic power struggle novel written by Tu Ziyue, with Lin Zhinian as the protagonist. The story revolves around Lin Zhinian's husband, Lu Daniu, who suddenly returns fifteen years after his death. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law, Lu Jichen, has inherited the property and status of both Lu Daniu's and Lu Jichen's families. This event triggers a series of complex family and emotional entanglements.

14. 64 手 With the Notable Ministers System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man in Ancient Times 手拿名臣系统，我在古代女扮男装 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Xu Yue transmigrates into a book. She becomes the delicate, vulnerable cousin of the male lead in an examination-themed novel: her mother died young, she has no brothers and no one to rely on, and her family won't take her in, so she is awkwardly forced to live in the male lead's home. In her previous life, Xu Yue rose from being an orphan to earning a doctorate. She never believed in fate, and even though it was hard for women to get by in ancient times, she never stopped thinking about how to 118.2kReads9.6Score11.4kShelves
15. 65 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
16. 66 岁 A Dream at the End of the Years 岁时梦晚 Jun Laixiang君来详Ancient Romance125k WordsCompleted Don’t read this, don’t read it!! It’s really bad! I wrote it on a whim! Run away, aaah! Song Yao, a modern office worker, drops dead at three in the morning on the KPI battlefield. When she opens her eyes, she has become the most miserable royal in the Zongqi Kingdom! Her parents are long gone, and her eldest brother has taken on the burden of raising her. She thought she could lie flat and slack off, but classes for noble girls in ancient times drive her to the brink: endless lessons in the Th —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Song Yao, a soul from another world, transmigrates to the Kingdom of Zongqi, inhabiting the body of the obscure princess of Qi'an County. Orphaned at a young age, she relies solely on her elder brother. As fate rolls on, dynasties rise and fall, her brother ascends the throne, and she instantly rises from an unknown county princess to the esteemed Princess Zhaoyang. This sudden change in status brings with it greater responsibility and expectations. In this chaotic world, countless princesses have left their mark on history, but Song Yao desires more than just historical renown; she aspires to be a good princess who serves her country and its people. She knows that only by helping her brother unify the world can she realize this ideal. Watch as she overcomes numerous crises to help her brother ascend the throne; watch as she uses her wisdom to stabilize the court and ensure the people's well-being; watch as she leaves her own legendary chapter in the torrent of history.

17. 67 我 I'm a Master? How Come I Didn't Know? 我是高手我怎么不知道 I Took Great Pains我煞费苦心Ancient Romance705k WordsCompleted "Feel-good power fantasy"[Words Become Law]+ [Overactive Imaginations]+ [Ensemble Cast] Original title: I’m a Master, So Why Don’t I Know It? Xiao Ranshu suspects this world has gone mad! The dog she picked up is the fearsome Wolf King, renowned for his incredible combat prowess? The servant she hired while out shopping is a great sea monster from the merfolk? That silly rabbit is a Taotie that feeds on dragons... Xiao Ranshu slams the table in fury. “Bullshit! My pets are sweet, cute, and obedi 46.6kReads9.4Score4.9kShelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonists in these books are all very strong and independent, the men are just supporting characters, the plots are full of twists and turns, the characters are vividly portrayed, and the stories flow smoothly without dragging. They're so good! 🥰🥰

18. 68 七 The Wildest Military Officer in the ’70s Is No Match for a Surgical Ace 七零，最野军官被外科大佬拿捏了 Mimi Kid米米小子Modern Romance3.0M WordsCompleted [Alternate History + Spatial Powers + Powerful Male Lead + Face-Slapping + Military Marriage] In her past life, she became famous for her comics, sold the rights, and achieved financial freedom. She also completed her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in succession, becoming the youngest surgeon ever. She rose steadily through the ranks, becoming the youngest all-around specialist surgeon. Reborn in the 1970s as an educated youth sent to the countryside, she finds all her assets wiped o 8.6kReads8.8Score1.1kShelves
19. 69 重 After I Was Reborn, My Shameless Ex-Husband Seduced Me with His Good Looks 重生后，前夫不要脸用男色勾引我 Yu Sanshui渝三水Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Previously titled: The Husband I Was Forced to Marry Never Warmed to Me, So I Don’t Want Him After Being Reborn [Rebirth + household and palace intrigue + both leads are each other’s first and only + married in both lives + eight-year age gap] **Set in an imaginary world. Don’t nitpick the history! This is not a wish-fulfillment story!!** In her previous life, Gu Jinchu fell in love at first sight with the gentle and refined Jiang Nansheng. The more she saw him, the more she adored him, treating 5.1kReads8.7Score514Shelves
20. 70 好 A Fertile Beauty Lands in the Cultivation World, and Every Male Lead Goes Wild 好孕尤物降落修真界，男主都疯了 Ocean Hongzhong海洋红中Ancient Romance671k WordsCompleted [Strong heroine focused on her career + everyone’s favorite + face-slapping power fantasy + men competing for her + all male leads devoted only to her] Betrayed by her best friend and fiancé, her dantian crippled and her family slaughtered. If she survived, Xiao Qingcheng swore she would never be a good person again! At death’s door, she unexpectedly bound herself to an incredibly powerful childbirth System. Xiao Qingcheng launched her revenge, making everyone who bullied or hurt her pay their b 2.1kReads8.8Score248Shelves
21. 71 不 I Won’t Be a Noble Consort! I’m Set on Finding a Husband, and Now the Emperor Is Jealous 不做贵妃！一心招婿后皇帝红了眼 Yun Wan Cai Cai云挽财财Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Devoted 1v1 romance + his pursuit of her + childhood sweethearts + pampered by all + noblewoman vs. transmigrator] (Awakening, not reborn, no palace harem, no previous life) Lin Zhuyun was born into a distinguished family of meritorious officials. Raised in comfort, she is radiant and refined, frail yet carefree and composed. She was granted the title of commandery princess at a young age, cherished by the Empress Dowager, and grew up with the emperor like a childhood sweetheart. Later, the emp 17.4kReads7.4Score1kShelves
22. 72 千 I Traveled a Thousand Miles to Join My Husband, Only to Be Rejected? The Military Wife Is So Capable, the Nation Has Its Eye on Her 千里奔夫被嫌？军嫂太强国家盯上 Sweet Blossoms on Brocade锦上甜花Modern Romance800k WordsOngoing [Romance] [Military Marriage] [Agricultural Research] [Pride and Prejudice] Renowned agricultural scientist Lin Hongying has become a country girl who traveled a thousand miles to join the army and seek refuge with her fiancé. She is dressed in rags, gaunt and sallow, and seems both unsophisticated and uneducated. Everyone tells her arranged marriages never bring happiness. Everyone looks down on her and despises her. Look down on her? Despise her? So what? She has a heart full of ambition to 6.4kReads9.3Score468Shelves
23. 73 重 Reborn as a Beloved Concubine in an Enemy Kingdom 重生之我在敌国当宠妃 A Little Biscuit LM一块小饼干lmAncient Romance173k WordsCompleted [Yandere + Cunning + The Long Road to Winning Her Back + Reconciliation + Strong Leads + Western Fantasy + Black Lotus] When the Snow Kingdom's iron cavalry trampled the lands of the Li Kingdom, the soldiers seized Hua Ran, who had been unable to escape in time, and dragged the girl before Sang Qi. The man came through a sea of blood. His sharp, terrifying hawk eyes fixed on Hua Ran, filthy and lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. He slowly bent down, his voice cold, with a touch of bl 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Absolutely amazing! A clear-headed and cunning female lead—you absolutely have to watch it!

24. 74 皇 The Empress Is a Max-Level Palace Intriguer, Crushing Everyone 皇后满级宫斗，嘎嘎乱杀 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + infidelity + fictional setting + a resourceful, money-loving, beauty-loving, life-loving empress ✖️ emperor] In her previous life, Hua Shu was a lowly palace maid. She schemed her way to the top of the political ladder, only to be condemned by everyone and branded a wicked woman who brought ruin to the nation. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the unfamiliar state of Chu, as an unloved empress who’s also being made a scapegoat. As if she’d put up with that! S 14.2kReads9.4Score1.9kShelves
25. 75 末 The Doomsday Queen Becomes a Maid and Just Wants to Lie Flat 末世女王成了丫鬟只想躺平 Cui Landai崔岚岱Ancient Romance515k WordsCompleted This is not a mindless power fantasy. This is not a mindless power fantasy. If that’s what you want, don’t read this! The characters grow in the early chapters, so impatient readers should stay away! [Mad apprentice × beautiful master, political power struggles, no golden finger, male lead goes from puppy-like to unhinged] In her previous life, Xu Yao lived through the apocalypse and was a cold-blooded killing machine. After dying, she was reincarnated as a maid in the Liu household, the home o 1.2kReads8.5Score114Shelves
26. 76 综 A Guide to Winning Over Baosi in the Qing Dynasty 综清穿：褒姒攻略手册 One Chen After Another陈陈相因Ancient Romance291k WordsCompleted World One: Nurhaci × Abahai World Two: Kangxi × Tong Jia (with a mountain of headcanons) World Three: Aobai × a bewitchingly beautiful woman (Meng Guqing) "Now that’s my kind of woman. I like her." Aobai’s eyes held undisguised desire and possessiveness. Aobai never expected that the woman he had glimpsed on the grasslands and wanted for himself would end up as the little emperor’s empress, and an unloved one at that. All the better. Let me have her. World Four: Prefect’s wife × Kangxi World Fiv 141Reads8.5Score—Shelves
27. 77 宣 Commandery Princess Xuanping 宣平郡主 Cat Who Loves Sweet and Sour Pinecone Fish爱吃糖醋松果鱼的猫Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Princess Xuanping and the Crown Prince grew up together. Everyone thought she would become the future Crown Princess. But the Crown Prince fell for the princess's delicate, innocent-looking cousin instead. He forgot his promise that they would spend their lives together, and even risked angering the Emperor so he could marry her cousin. When danger struck, he abandoned the princess without hesitation. After Prince An rescues her, the princess comes to her senses. Some people simply aren't meant 3.8kReads8.8Score364Shelves

    Reader note

    A palace drama with both good looks and brains

28. 78 娇 The Sweet, Beloved Consort Who Bewitches Hearts 娇娇宠妃惑人心 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Not a pure couple; he dotes on her exclusively later on; a little palace intrigue; the heroine is a master flirt; story complete] She transmigrated from the modern world. Quirky and clever, she was also a brilliant actress. Emperor Shengwu could govern with effortless command, bring peace and stability to the realm, and win battles from a thousand miles away, striking fear across the four seas. He was an emperor who held all power in his hands and ruled over all beneath the heavens. Yun Mengq 54.3kReads9.3Score6.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Without further ado, let's read the book first. By the way, I read the first one a long time ago, but I still remember the plot. The female lead had everything planned out. In a word, it was awesome!

29. 79 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 68.4kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves
30. 80 替 After Marrying the Sickly Crown Prince Who Practices Buddhism in Her Sister's Place, She Makes Him Break His Vows 替嫁给病弱佛修太子后，他破戒了 Qin Qiu Chenyin琴秋尘音Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Traditional Historical Romance + Household and Palace Intrigue + Rebirth Revenge Fantasy + Substitute Marriage + Powerful Hero and Heroine + Black Lotus] After jumping from the city tower, Jiang Nanzhi and her legitimate elder sister, Jiang Tanxin, are both reborn. In her previous life, Jiang Tanxin gave up her childhood sweetheart, the young lord Shen Che, to become the Crown Princess, and schemed to make Jiang Nanzhi marry Shen Che as her substitute. But who could have guessed that the Crown 4kReads8.9Score579Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! Absolutely fantastic! Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Truly excellent, all highly rated, the author's writing is superb. Highly recommended!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟❄🌟🌟

31. 81 重 Reborn to Marry Into Another Family and Play the Virtuous Wife, I Make the Heir Regret It to His Core 重生替嫁装贤良，世子扶腰悔断肠 Mihua Hua米花花Ancient Romance736k WordsCompleted [Both leads reborn + switched lives + household intrigue + face-slapping + wish fulfillment + happy ending + sweet romance + adorable baby] Gu Xiling, the real daughter of the Jingyang Earl's household, was reborn three days before her wedding. She was planning to pretend to be docile and obedient so she could squeeze a bigger dowry out of her family, but then the fake daughter, Gu Xirong, who had been doted on by the whole family, stole her marriage to the impoverished Xie family. Gu Xiling was 245Reads8.6Score—Shelves
32. 82 今 Has the Heir Apparent Won Himself Over Yet? 今日世子自我攻略了吗 Heng Jiujiu恒久九Ancient Romance361k WordsCompleted [Childhood sweethearts + bickering enemies + a dramatic heroine who’s occasionally a goofball + a doting hero] After transmigrating, Ning Yuanrou has no grand ambitions. She just wants to enjoy life as a princess and laze around until she dies. But things never go as she wishes, and people keep lining up to give her a taste of her own medicine. So at three, she causes a scene in the imperial school, and at eight, she beats up princes and princesses. She’s the undisputed little tyrant of the pala 3.3kReads9.0Score309Shelves
33. 83 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 51.3kReads9.0Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    An Dehai, relying on the favor of Empress Dowager Cixi, was unrestrained and arrogant, showing no restraint whatsoever, and ultimately met his demise. Li Lianying learned a lesson from An Dehai; the more favor Empress Dowager Cixi showed him, the more obsequious he became. In the end, Li Lianying enjoyed a lifetime of wealth and honor, becoming the pinnacle of eunuchs. Empress Dowager Cixi broke with tradition, promoting Li Lianying to the rank of a second-grade eunuch, placing him in charge of the Forbidden City. Xiao Dezhang was a powerful eunuch in the late Qing Dynasty, serving both Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Longyu. He was clever and resourceful, and ultimately died peacefully in his old age.

34. 84 穿 The Book Transmigrator Tears into the Reborn Woman, Even Ripping Out Her Hair Ornaments 穿书女手撕重生女，头花都扯掉了 Camellias and Wine茶花与酒Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted (Don’t worry about the rating. New books have few readers at first, but it will rise.) [A transmigrated woman takes on a reborn woman] [Fictional ancient setting, no need to nitpick] Gu Qingli transmigrated into a satisfying revenge novel about a woman reborn. She wasn’t the heroine, but the wicked supporting character who had killed her, and the first person the heroine would take revenge on after being reborn. Gu Qingli herself had been born into a political family. She was gentle, quiet, an 12.9kReads8.9Score996Shelves

    Reader note

    The female leads are all very smart

35. 85 独 He Dotes on His Concubine? I'll Enter the Eastern Palace and Marry the Ailing Crown Prince Instead 独宠外室？我入东宫转嫁病弱太子 Writer's Block文荒Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Published as "Love Takes You into His Heart", available on Taobao, Douyin, and Pinduoduo] [Palace and household intrigue + reborn revenge + devoted husband] In her previous life, Shen Ruoxi devoted herself to marrying Prince Qi, Murong Yu. At home, she exhausted herself managing his household; outside, she knelt and begged her father and brothers to help him ascend the throne. She even gave up her place as his princess consort to please him, willingly becoming a concubine. She gave him everythi 20.9kReads9.3Score4.5kShelves
36. 86 娇 The Spoiled Princess Is Bewitching and Alluring, Armed with the Plot and Ready to Stir Up Trouble 娇蛮公主妩又媚，手握剧情当祸水 Pineapple Prince菠萝王子Ancient Romance315k WordsCompleted [A flirtatious, delicate princess + a steady, powerful chancellor + sweet romance, devoted couple, face-slapping satisfaction, one-on-one romance + everyone’s darling, irresistible to all] Shen Wanshu is the most pampered princess in the capital, raised deep within the palace and so delicate and lovable that she inspires pity. One day, she awakens and realizes she is the wicked princess in a storybook. Before long, her imperial brother will throw the kingdom into chaos as he becomes hopelessly i —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This female lead is very intelligent and clear-headed.

37. 87 一 Part Ways in Peace, General, Let Me Be Beautiful on My Own 一别两宽，将军自重，妾身想独美 Lu Li路鲤Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted 69.1kReads8.9Score14.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Both are palace intrigue and domestic power struggle novels, but I personally think the second one is the best. It's not as mindless and entertaining; it has some intellectual depth.

38. 88 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
39. 89 桃 Ride Out to Battle, Peach Blossoms in My Wake 桃花马上请长缨 June六月Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted The short drama adaptation of June's novel, Power and Favor 3: Power and Favor in the Capital, is now available on Hongguo App. She cared for her in-laws and used her dowry to support the General's household, only for him to use his hard-won military achievements to ask for the female general's hand as his equal wife. Zhan Beiwang mocked her. “Song Xixie, do you know that your fine clothes, rich food, and glittering jewels all come from General Yi Fang and me fighting bloody battles to hold back 15kReads9.5Score5.5kShelves
40. 90 何 Why Not Sail Together 何不同舟渡 Xian Yuke羡鱼珂Ancient Romance483k WordsCompleted "The print edition under the same title is available to buy online" [No golden finger, no transmigration, no rebirth. A pure historical romance about family and country, with high-IQ espionage and political intrigue] [A double agent undercover + a petty thief who grows: a lone wolf plays a game of raising a rabbit, gives her fangs, then insists they run away together] In a chaotic age, she is a thief worth less than a blade of grass, willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive. She steals ten 142kReads9.7Score108kShelves

    Reader note

    These two are intelligent

41. 91 嘘 Shh, Whatever You Do, Don't Play a Murder Game on a Dating Show 嘘，千万别在恋综里玩杀人游戏 My Cat Went Bald我家猫秃头了Modern Romance261k WordsCompleted Cen Yueyue is a D-list actress who gets incredibly lucky when her agent shoves her onto a dating reality show starring famous actors, where she’s cast as a disposable extra. The director’s script calls for her to make a scene and squeeze every last drop of usefulness out of her supporting role. So on the very first night, the man Cen Yueyue is supposed to fall for gets a short arrow through the head. Night has fallen. Close your eyes. Killer, open your eyes and choose your prey... A mountain vil 7.3kReads9.3Score1.2kShelves
42. 92 长 The Grand Princess Knocked the Transmigrator's Head Clean Off 长公主把穿越女头都打飞了 Camellias and Wine茶花与酒Ancient Romance301k WordsCompleted Her younger brother brought home a woman who had transmigrated, and from then on he became a lovesick fool... The transmigrator could recite poetry, knew military strategy, and could make explosives. Her brother loved her to the point of obsession. The younger brother who had always respected her poisoned himself, surrendered his power, and even gave up the throne for that woman. Reborn, she thought, a lovesick fool? No problem. I'll make sure you two are stuck together forever. An ungrateful, i 1.7kReads8.5Score228Shelves

    Reader note

    It's so good-looking, trust me.

43. 93 逃 The Refugee Saintess: The Cold Tyrant Can't Stop Plotting Against Her 逃荒圣女，冰冷暴君总想图谋不轨 Dou Momo豆墨墨Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Also known as The Doomsday Powerhouse Slays Her Way Through a Chaotic World [Strong heroine + satisfying read + sweet romance + mutual devotion] Ability-wielding saintess vs. cold tyrant Luo Shengge, an S-rank agent from the apocalypse, transmigrates into a chaotic age and becomes the saintess of the Xiyue tribe, gifted with the power of divination. Her people are hunted by various nations, while this chaotic world is rife with monsters, treacherous hearts, famine, and bandits. Luo Shengge reali 2.2kReads9.1Score276Shelves
44. 94 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 86.4kReads9.6Score11.3kShelves
45. 95 清 My Unlucky Sons in the Qing Dynasty 清穿之我的倒霉儿子们 Sunny Peach桃子晴朗Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Qing dynasty transmigration + happy-go-lucky heroine + sweet and naive + feel-good story + scheming + yandere + Qing dynasty + System + quick transmigration + the Myriad Worlds] No moral compass or bottom line. I write for fun, so don't leave a rating unless it's five stars. Let's show each other some respect. [The first volume is set in the Qing dynasty. After that come the immortal realms of the Myriad Worlds, the Qin dynasty, the Tang and Han dynasties, the Ming dynasty, modern entertainmen 4.5kReads9.1Score264Shelves
46. 96 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 15.3kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves
47. 97 综 A Qing-Dynasty Crossover: After Su Daji Arrives, All the Heroines Go Crazy 综清穿，苏妲己驾到后女主都疯了 Dust in the Universe宇宙里的尘埃Ancient Romance406k WordsCompleted (Alternate setting + Qing Dynasty transmigration + quick transmigration + bewitching heroine + System + male leads devoted exclusively to the heroine) (A brainless wish-fulfillment story. The heroine shines on her own, with each world standing alone. Qing Dynasty transmigration comes first, followed by quick transmigration, though the order may vary. If it's not your thing, please don't flame.) After Su Daji, the infamous temptress who brought ruin to a kingdom, was executed by Jiang Ziya, even 7.5kReads8.5Score568Shelves
48. 98 综 A Comprehensive Qing Dynasty Journey: Splendid Elegance 综清穿：锦绣风华 Drunk in the Flower Fields花田醉Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted (Alternate Qing Dynasty setting + Space + System + Slow Travel Through Worlds + Strong Female Lead + Feel-Good Story) Her golden finger is seriously overpowered. She can torment anyone she likes, but never the heroine. There may not be a love interest in every world. (A quick heads-up: this is a Qing Dynasty crossover story. The heroine will transmigrate into all kinds of roles. If that's not your thing, feel free to leave. There's no need to tell the author you're dropping the story, or to stic 13kReads9.2Score744Shelves
49. 99 影 A Dreamlike Beauty Across Film and TV Worlds 影视综穿之美人如梦 Sen Yu Ya森屿呀Female-Channel Fanfiction660k WordsOngoing Transmigrate through various film and TV worlds and turn the lives of cannon-fodder female supporting characters around. World 1: Empresses in the Palace, Fucha Langhua ✔ World 2: The Story of Minglan, Molan ✔ World 3: Fireworks of My Heart, original heroine Yu Zishu ✔ World 4: Beauty's Rival in Palace, Nie Shen'er ✔ World 5: Empresses in the Palace, Nian Shilan ✔ World 6: Whirlwind Girl, Fang Tingyi ✔ World 7: Till the End of the Moon, Ye Bingshang 951Reads7.1Score186Shelves
50. 100 女 The Vicious Villainess in a Matriarchal World Raises Her Fish Online 女尊恶獠在线养鱼 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Matriarchal society + sweet romance + one-on-one + devoted to each other] [Calculating and ruthless princess × obedient, loyal guard] The capital's good-for-nothing Second Princess is beaten in the street by another woman for pursuing a man, then crashes into a stone lion. After recovering from her serious injuries, the Second Princess seems like a completely different person: kind to others, uninterested in competing, and always helping her sisters. It isn't until the day this powerful princes 15.1kReads9.5Score1.6kShelves

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