Looking for a Little Palace Maid Who Rises Through the Ranks, with an Emperor Who's Been Plotting This All Along!! 求小宫女上位，皇帝蓄谋已久！！

1. 1 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 12.8kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves

   Reader note

   The young palace maid longed to leave the palace and return home to find her younger brother, but the emperor tricked the empress dowager and empress into sending the female lead into the harem.

2. 2 小 The Palace Maid Is Soft and Sweet, and the Emperor Cherishes Her 小宫女又软又娇，皇上宠她入骨 Silver Charm银娇Ancient Romance530k WordsCompleted [HE; a cold, powerful emperor VS a carefree little palace maid, not both virgins] A Zhi grew up in the palace and knew all its twists and turns. Her goal was clear: eat well and wait to die! Who could have guessed that one day, while delivering a meal, she would catch the emperor’s eye? Terrified, A Zhi packed her little bundle that very night, determined to make a run for it at dawn! But before she could get away, she and her pitifully small bundle were sent straight to Taihe Palace. Only after 20.9kReads9.2Score2.1kShelves

   Reader note

   So all the stories are finished, you can read them without worry [heart]. The first one has a completely clear-headed female lead, both leads are strong, super good! [Kiss][kiss] The second and third ones have female leads who are a bit slow, but the male leads pamper them. There are basically no angst points [admiration][admiration] The fourth one has a female lead who is reborn, and there's a bit of forced marriage involved, but it gets quite sweet later on [shy][shy] I hope you all enjoy reading and make a lot of money! $_$ [Laugh]

3. 3 小 The Little Palace Maid Who Ruled the Harem 小宫女宠冠后宫 Silver Charm银娇Ancient Romance329k WordsCompleted [A pampered little palace maid × a possessive, scheming emperor; pseudo-childhood sweethearts; doted on from the start; happy ending] When A Ruo was seven, the Grand Empress Dowager found her and brought her into the palace. She had been raised by her ever since. Though she was a maid, everyone in the palace addressed her as Miss A Ruo. Life couldn’t have been sweeter. But her carefree days didn’t last long. After four years away from the capital, she returned to hear something unbelievable. The 4.9kReads7.5Score533Shelves

   Reader note

   The little palace maid is gentle, delicate, beautiful, and charming [shy], but the emperor is cunning and dotes on her exclusively [heart emoji]. She is his absolute favorite, the most favored concubine in the harem. Highly recommended! 📚

4. 4 乖 The Dutiful Palace Maid Rises to Empress 乖乖宫婢，一路封后 Yuanyuan Isn't a Crybaby元元不是小哭包Ancient Romance452k WordsCompleted One promise: If it’s not sweet, you don’t pay! Sweet romance! Sweet romance! Sweet romance! [Beautiful, gentle little palace maid × cold, ruthless, obsessive emperor] [Palace intrigue, neither lead is inexperienced | Possessive pursuit | Devoted from the start | Hero worships the heroine to the extreme] Chu Linyuan is a tyrant in the eyes of the world, cruel in his methods and unpredictable in his moods. Zhizhang is merely an ordinary palace maid. Delicate and lovely, she wants no wealth or stat 7.2kReads8.8Score906Shelves
5. 5 小 The Little Palace Maid's Thoughts Were Read 小宫女被读心了 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the palace as a maid, Qin Jianjian works diligently, flatters those above her, and deceives those below her. In the end, she becomes the top-ranked maid serving the Empress Dowager. She has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of her profession. Money she’s openly entitled to, along with money she shouldn’t have, keeps flowing into Qin Jianjian’s pockets. Delighted, she just has to wait until she’s old enough to leave the palace and retire early. Who could have guessed the 14.7kReads9.4Score1.2kShelves

   Reader note

   The first book is about an emperor's long-planned romance; he confessed his love to her in his youth but was rejected [eating melon emoji], and they later got together. However, the female lead isn't a lowly palace maid; she's a head maid serving the Empress Dowager. The later books are also quite good.

6. 6 娇 The Pretty Palace Maid's Step-by-Step Rise to Empress 娇娇宫女，步步为后 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / not both partners’ first time / devoted love in the later story / not a strong heroine; the female lead cries easily and isn’t particularly clever, so don’t expect too much!] After three years in the palace, Yue Li has worked carefully and waited for a chance at promotion. Just before she is promoted, a palace maid sharing her room is sentenced to death for offending a consort. Thunder crashes and rain pours that night as blood spatters everywhere. Terrified, Yue Li cannot sle 24.5kReads9.3Score11.5kShelves
7. 7 出 The Night I Left the Palace, the Mad Emperor Took Me by Force 出宫当晚，被疯批帝王强取豪夺 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, delicate palace maid vs. cold, ruthless, obsessive emperor] [Palace intrigue, neither lead is chaste + powerful male lead, weak female lead, and he’s completely unhinged + possessive love + a long road to winning her back] Yue Ling was a vain little palace maid. Hoping to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth, she seduced the emperor and worked tirelessly to win his favor, but still met a tragic end. After being reborn, Yue Ling saw things clearly. Rather than tread on thin ice in the de 25.5kReads9.2Score1.8kShelves
8. 8 帝 The Emperor's Cherished Consort 帝王娇宠 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance417k WordsCompleted [Not a pure-love couple / not a strong heroine / weak heroine / little palace intrigue / slight angst early on, exclusive devotion later] Shu Li began having frequent dreams after she was transferred from the Hall of Sacred Books to serve the emperor. In them, a tall man stood not far from her. The first time their eyes met, she woke with a start. The second time she saw his face, he grabbed her by the throat and frightened her. The day after waking from the dream, she suddenly realized that 8.3kReads9.2Score887Shelves
9. 9 重 Reborn Palace Maid: She Only Wants to Fight for the Emperor's Favor 重生宫女之她只想宫斗 Lady Yejiu夜九娘Ancient Romance444k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiaoyun spent years confined in the Cold Palace before finally being released. What she got in return was a useless husband and a wicked mother-in-law. This time, she decisively betrayed her mistress and climbed into someone else’s bed, successfully rising in status. And then she became the lowest-ranking palace maid… When Emperor Jingheng first saw Jiaoyun, he was merely captivated by her looks. “How can this palace maid have fairer skin than the Noble Consort?” Jiaoy 745Reads9.1Score101Shelves
10. 10 宫 The Beautiful Palace Maid and the Emperor's Endless Favor 宫女娇美，皇宠不断 User35188912用户35188912Ancient Romance351k WordsCompleted Born with a disability and orphaned, Su Niannian grew up without anyone to protect her. In her harsh circumstances, she suffered endless humiliation and mistreatment from a young age. She lived a lowly, helpless life, escaping one sea of misery only to fall into another. Even after entering the palace as a low-ranking maid, she remained an easy target, and everyone who came near her had an agenda and meant her harm. Yet she did her best to swallow every bitter consequence alone, all for the sa 2.7kReads8.7Score242Shelves

    Reader note

    These books all feature palace maids as female protagonists, and they're all completed, so feel free to read them!

11. 11 娇 Delicate and Frail, She Is Imprisoned and Doted on by the Ascetic Emperor 娇娇柔弱，被禁欲帝王强制囚宠 Fluffy Furball毛团团Ancient Romance323k WordsCompleted [Both leads are sexually inexperienced + powerful hero and weak heroine + transmigration] After transmigrating into the body of a palace maid, Mu Qingci acted with the utmost caution, taking calculated steps and employing every trick in the book. After helping the Empress Dowager seize power, she finally became the illustrious Head Palace Matron. She had not only risen to the top of her career as a palace maid, but was also beautiful, with flawless skin and a graceful, alluring figure. Everyone 4kReads8.5Score303Shelves
12. 12 出 I Failed to Leave the Palace and Became the Emperor's Most Cherished One 出宫不成，反成了陛下的心尖宠 Moon on the Western Mountain西山上的月Ancient Romance447k WordsCompleted "Not a clean romance, not a strong female lead, with exclusive devotion later on." Zhou Ying is a junior palace maid. To get enough to eat in the palace, she often embroiders pieces and asks palace guards to take them outside and sell them for her. Later, the guard who used to help her disappears, so she has no choice but to find someone else. This time, however, the guard she finds is nothing like the gentle one before. He is stern and taciturn, and at first Zhou Ying doesn't even dare look him 7kReads7.7Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is a palace maid, and the male lead is the emperor. He initially disguises himself as a guard to approach her. Later, when she tries to leave the palace, he stops her, revealing his true identity. [Almost crying emoji] She tries to escape once but fails, and the male lead catches up and brings her back. They return to the palace together, where he showers her with exclusive affection. It's a very good story! [Thumbs up emoji]

13. 13 娇 The Clever Palace Maid and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Who Can't Resist Her 娇娇宫女手段高，冷戾帝王不经撩 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Reborn / palace intrigue, not both virgins / delicate heroine / hero is a bit of a jerk early on, loses his mind midway, and dotes on her alone in the end] Yuan Qing was just a low-ranking palace maid. But she was born alluring and beautiful. In her previous life, the Empress Dowager gave her to Prince Jing as a concubine. Who could have guessed she would become the princess consort's thorn in the side, and that a bowl of poisoned soup would end her life? Reborn, Yuan Qing set her sights on the 5.8kReads9.2Score569Shelves

    Reader note

    This is super good! Actually, I think the male lead's character is one of the better ones in harem novels. After realizing he likes the female lead, he clearly understands his own feelings and treats her very well. I think this book is really worth reading. It's so sweet, and misunderstandings are really resolved.

14. 14 宫 A Palace Maid Rises to Power and Becomes the Tyrant’s Beloved 宫女上位，成为暴君心尖宠 Ming Yan明烟Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue] [The leads are not each other’s first] [He only dotes on her in the later part] Overworked office worker Fang Ziluo transmigrated into the body of a young palace maid named Fang Zhilu. Three years earlier, the emperor had exchanged a few words with her. That alone was enough to offend Noble Consort Liu, and she spent the next three years tending the kitchen fire. The original Fang Zhilu had died a miserable death after enduring all that humiliation. Fang Zhilu thought, Now that 735Reads8.8Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    These books are really good.

15. 15 生 Share a Bed in Life! Share a Grave in Death! She Can't Escape After Being Forced to Become His Wife 生同衾！死同穴！强夺为妻逃不掉 Round Little Egg圆滚滚蛋Ancient Romance373k WordsCompleted [Possessive love + classic melodrama + love that never comes with time] [A frail, beautiful woman who gives in after marriage VS a deeply devoted man with an overwhelming need for control] Everyone envies Lou Wantang. She’s only the daughter of a county magistrate, yet she gets to marry Prince Chen, a man of great power, and receive his undivided favor. But only she knows she was forced into it. In other people’s eyes, Pei Sijin is a man of noble status, handsome and strong, and a devoted, fa 26.8kReads8.9Score1.3kShelves
16. 16 不 No Eavesdropping on the Emperor 不许偷听朕说话 Yin Zaishui尹在水Ancient Romance925k WordsCompleted An Jiu transmigrated into the body of a young palace maid who wanted to climb into the emperor’s bed. The moment she opened her eyes, the tyrant ran his sword straight through the maid who had tried to seduce him. The next day, the tyrant killed a senior maid who served one of the consorts. On the third day, a maid who tasted the emperor’s food died from poison. Being a palace maid was a high-risk job. An Jiu decided to work hard, save up, cherish her life, and stay away from the tyrant. But the 78.3kReads9.4Score13kShelves
17. 17 重 Reborn in the Dragon Bed, the Beloved Consort Cries in the Emperor's Arms 重生在龙塌，宠妃抱着陛下哭 Staggering Along蹒跚行Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [A spoiled, sweetly obedient favorite consort VS a gentle, jade-like emperor who's sweet on the outside and ruthless within (they are not each other's first, but he dotes on her exclusively from the beginning to the end)] Jiang Shuyi's life as a favorite consort went smoothly for fifteen years. The emperor was gentle and benevolent, doting on her without restraint, and not a single woman in the harem dared challenge her. But she was blind to her own sister's treachery. In the end, her closest 101.2kReads9.2Score11.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Pei Pei's love is always top-notch!

18. 18 龙 Favored on the Dragon Throne, I Was Seized by a Mad Emperor 龙榻承宠，被疯批帝王强夺了 A Touch of Pure Intent一点素心Ancient Romance217k WordsOngoing To escape the harassment of a local bully, Shen Wanyu had no choice but to enter the palace. Who could have expected that she would escape one danger only to fall into another? [Both Pure and Faithful | Coercive Possession | Instinctive Attraction | Size Difference | Escape Story | Sole Devotion | Forced Relationship] Zhu Lin had his eye on a young palace maid. She said she had emotional scars and couldn't accept men. Even if forced, her body would instinctively resist. So he kept restraining h 9.9kReads—Score438Shelves

    Reader note

    This one! To escape the harassment of a bully, Shen Wanyu had no choice but to enter the palace. Little did she know, she'd escaped one danger only to fall into another. The emperor fell instantly in love with a beautiful young palace maid—a purely physical attraction, quite captivating! [Shy][admiring]

19. 19 金 The Golden Sparrow Hairpin 金雀钗 Thirteen'er十三儿Ancient Romance153k WordsCompleted Rong Lan entered the palace as a maid at thirteen and worked diligently for ten years. She thought she would be able to leave the palace and marry once she turned twenty-five. Little did she know that she would accidentally serve the Empress Dowager to death, and from then on, one unexpected incident followed another. The young tutor Feng Qiw u took a liking to her despite being blind, so Rong Lan hurriedly latched onto a powerful patron and privately pledged herself to him for life. Who knew th 1.1kReads9.4Score139Shelves

    Reader note

    These two books are both exceptional; the woman accompanied him from before he ascended the throne as a prince, and after he became emperor, she became a palace maid.

20. 20 娇 So Pure and Innocent as a White Lotus, How Could She Be Scheming to Seduce Him? 娇娇纯净似白莲，怎会心机引诱？ Melon Egg瓜蛋Ancient Romance536k WordsCompleted [A femme fatale schemes for power, leading the hero step by step into ruin.] Jiang Yueyao is ruthless and destined to become empress. She first meets the emperor at a palace banquet. She is the most favored concubine of a minister, and after a palace consort publicly humiliates her, she drops to her knees and pleads for mercy, looking heartbreakingly beautiful beneath the dazzling palace lanterns. She meets the emperor for the second time in the study at her residence. Frantically fleeing her hu 3.9kReads9.0Score425Shelves

    Reader note

    🌈The third book isn't about a palace maid rising to power, but rather about her becoming the wife of a minister. I like this plot—a forceful takeover, unaware that it's all part of her carefully planned scheme to avenge her family and clear her name. If you don't like this kind of story, please don't read it! [Admiring]

21. 21 东 The Eastern Palace’s Hidden Darling 东宫藏娇 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance222k WordsCompleted [Sweet, imaginative historical romance + Pursuing his wife through live comments + A forced romance that turns mutual + A beautiful airhead + A sinister crown prince + The real and fake heiress] To earn money for her seriously ill mother and her injured brother, desperate Pei Jiaojiao sold herself into slavery at the Eastern Palace. Her pretty face and timid, trouble-avoiding nature earned her a place serving in the Crown Prince's study, assigned by the steward. Her daily chores were simple: gri 4.2kReads9.1Score317Shelves

    Reader note

    It's really good!!! It's all about palace maids rising to power, high rating, and short.

22. 22 有 The Tyrant Is Sick! He Loves Hearing Her Cry 有病！暴君就爱听她哭 Sunny Little Bubbles阳光小泡泡Ancient Romance203k WordsCompleted The rating is low because it was just posted! [Transmigrate into a book + devoted couple + System + sweet romance + forced love] [A teary-eyed crybaby VS a tyrant who won't hesitate to have you beaten to death] Even if you cracked Shen Jiajia's head open, she'd never have guessed that staying up late to binge a show would get her killed. She wished she could swallow a whole basket of regret pills, but no such things existed. She'd made her own bed, so she had to lie in it. The surroundings were 247Reads8.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A lowly palace maid rises to power, and a tyrant showers her with affection—the whole story is incredibly sweet!!

23. 23 宫 The Palace Maid Is Alluring and Wily, and Coaxes the Emperor into Making Her Empress 宫女茶又媚，哄着帝王送凤位 Shui Shengyu水生玉Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Just started receiving ratings, so they’ll gradually go up. Your support is welcome!] [Beautiful, calculating palace maid x devoted, possessive emperor] [Reborn + 1v1, both devoted to each other, happy ending + powerful man bows his head, heroine knows how to keep him in line] Lin Chan was the least noticeable concubine-born daughter in the General’s residence. When her legitimate elder sister entered the palace as a consort, Lin Chan could only go with her as a maid. She endured one humiliatio 2.4kReads8.9Score315Shelves

    Reader note

    A serialized novel, both protagonists are virgins and reborn, it's very good.

24. 24 易 The Fertile Little Palace Maid Is Sweet and Soft, Driving the Mad Emperor Wild 易孕小宫女娇且软，馋哭疯批帝王 Yan Zhinuan妍知暖Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [Sweet, tearful little palace maid & barren, deranged emperor] [Not both virgins | Coercive romance | He dotes on her exclusively after they meet | She later conceives and rises in status | Light palace intrigue | Powerful man, weak woman] Su Mian had seen too many concubines lose the emperor’s favor, some even losing their lives while competing for it. The only rule she lived by as a palace maid was: disguise herself, save money, and leave the palace! Who knew that one unexpected collision woul 15kReads8.5Score2.1kShelves
25. 25 帝 The Emperor Is a Madman, and His Seductive Palace Maid Has Had Enough 帝王太疯批，娇媚宫女她不干了 Day Mountain Moon昼山月Ancient Romance302k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + fleeing while pregnant] [Scheming palace maid x unhinged emperor. Both leads are calculating and morally gray. He treats her badly at first, then chases her and devotes himself to her alone. They scheme and spar against each other.] After her family was destroyed and their home confiscated, Jiang Chu, once a noblewoman from a prestigious clan, entered the palace as a maid. She carefully plotted her revenge, waiting for the chance to escape and regain her freedom once she had se 1.8kReads8.9Score195Shelves

    Reader note

    They're all this type, they're really good, I've already finished watching them all!

26. 26 纯 The Pure and Alluring Maid Has Wised Up, and the Coldhearted Minister Can’t Take It 纯欲丫鬟开了窍，清冷权臣受不住 Fat Mom Is a Little Fierce胖妈有点虎Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted [Brilliant maid VS aloof, unhinged powerful minister; sweet and angsty romance, fiercely doting, devoted couple] Hua Ying was born precocious, with a mind bordering on the supernatural. She was the eldest daughter of the Hua family of Jincheng. As a child, she took a miraculous medicine called the Frost Spirit Flower for an illness. It attracted a deadly threat, and the Hua family was wiped out overnight. To stay alive and find out who was responsible, she hid her identity, pretended to be dul 1kReads6.9Score145Shelves
27. 27 皇 Your Majesty, I Think Your Palace Maid Is Cursing You Again 皇上，你家宫女好像又在骂你 Six Yuan六元钱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The irresistible appeal of what you once rejected + powerful men bowing their heads + a double-standard male lead + raising her before a story of power and statecraft + romantic push and pull + he truly doesn’t love her at first, but gives his all once he does] Su Nanchu is unruly. Shen Jingzhi has always known that. But life in the palace is dull, and he doesn’t mind having a little plaything who can kick and scream. She becomes his daily amusement: reading memorials, practicing calligraphy, a 11.3kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The emperor is ambitious, the female lead is sensible, and the male lead gradually leads her to the position of empress.

28. 28 宫 The Palace Maid’s Seduction: The Tyrant Falls Deeper with Every Step 宫女蓄意勾引，撩得暴君步步沉沦 Mu Yunyi慕韫意Ancient Romance380k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, scheming little palace maid VS cold, ruthless, unhinged emperor] [Palace intrigue, not both each other’s first + powerful man, weaker woman + domineering possession + calculating, willful heroine + obsessive emperor + exclusive devotion] Yan Shu was beautiful, but she was only a lowly palace maid. Her one ambition was to become the emperor’s woman. At a palace banquet, she saw the favored consort drug the emperor. She chose to keep quiet and go along with it. When the drug took effec 1.3kReads6.9Score103Shelves
29. 29 太 The Crown Prince Is Exiled, and His Lucky Maid Goes Along to Bring Him Endless Fortune 太子流放，锦鲤婢女随行超旺他 Xiao Junzi萧君子Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Farming, food, political intrigue, a pure historical romance A clever, quick-witted palace maid X a scheming, domineering, deposed crown prince Adapted under the title Rebel Li Yue is a palace maid who carries dishes in the Eastern Palace. She rarely gets to see the crown prince, the crown princess, or the noble consorts. She thinks she's the luckiest person in the palace: her master's anger never falls on her, and the head cook looks after her. She's grown plump from eating well, and feels trul 12.2kReads8.9Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is about a prince and a maid who is also a cook. They fall in love over time. It's a really good read and has a very open and honest relationship.

30. 30 夺 Stealing My Sister-in-Law as His Bride, the Ruthless Marquis Closes In at Every Turn 夺娶长嫂，疯批军侯步步紧逼 Bright, Gentle Laughter笑语晏晏Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted Ling Xiao returned home covered in military glory, only to hear that his wanton sister-in-law had conspired with another man to kill his sickly elder brother. He looked at her in her plain white mourning clothes, slender as a willow, her brows dark as ink, kneeling before the coffin and weeping so pitifully that anyone would feel for her. He raised her gaunt chin with the tip of his sword, his killing intent suddenly flaring. “You seductive vixen, you deserve to die!” - Later, she proved her inn 67.9kReads9.1Score13kShelves

    Reader note

    🌷🌷③ Forced acquisition, love at first sight: The female lead is a vain palace maid who goes to great lengths to see the emperor, arranging everything to secure her a place by his side. Suddenly, she awakens to her true feelings and regrets her actions, wanting to leave the palace, but it's too late; the emperor has already fallen in love with her.

31. 31 通 Her Slender Waist and Jade-Like Beauty Drive the Reserved Crown Prince Out of Control 通房细腰玉颜，引清冷太子失控了 Xiao Lizhi小荔稚Ancient Romance262k WordsCompleted [Complete] [Both leads devoted to each other + sweet romance + male lead is hopelessly in love!] [Delicate, soft-waisted chamber maid × noble, aloof crown prince] Nian Yao was the lowliest maid in the inner palace, yet she had a face as beautiful as a hibiscus. Unfortunately, she was frail and the daughter of a criminal, someone everyone could bully. But nobody knew that whenever Nian Yao was moved by desire, a begonia flower bloomed on her right shoulder, alluring and radiant. Except the noble, 2.1kReads8.9Score209Shelves
32. 32 成 On Our Wedding Night, the Obsessive Crown Prince Took Me to the Eastern Palace 成亲当晚，偏执太子夺我入东宫 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted The aloof, possessive Crown Prince × the dazzling beauty who loves money Everyone in the Eastern Palace knows that the Crown Princess was snatched away from someone else by the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince, as elegant as jade and as clear as moonlight, fell into the sea of love, there was no climbing back out. He Yue transmigrated to ancient times and became the owner of a rouge shop. She wasn’t rich or powerful, but her life was peaceful and carefree. Then one day, the woman she liv 35kReads9.0Score2.7kShelves
33. 33 妃 A Consort's Scheme for the Emperor's Heart 妃谋帝心 Falling Ashes坠落的灰Ancient Romance527k WordsCompleted With her father turning a blind eye and her stepmother throwing her weight around, Mu Li is ordered to marry an old prince as a concubine. They tell her this is her fate. Mu Li refuses to believe it. She has never believed in fate… Just then, the imperial household holds its selection of consorts. Daughters of officials of rank eight or above who are of suitable age may participate. Mu Li thinks: Since I’m to be a concubine, why not become the concubine of the most powerful person in the realm? 9.2kReads8.9Score1kShelves
34. 34 勾 After Seducing the Sinister Emperor, He Goes on a Stable Spiral 勾了阴鸷帝王后，他稳定发疯 Plain Meatball素丸丸Ancient Romance381k WordsCompleted The rating just came out, so it’ll go up. [A tearful, fake-innocent little flower vs. a sinister, obsessive emperor] [Taking by force + Obsessive, deranged yandere + Imprisoned with no chance of escape + Faking her death] The male lead grows more and more twisted, obsessive, and vicious as the story progresses. Tang Bao’er hurriedly packs her things and heads straight into the Eastern Palace of the crown prince. She does it not only to escape trouble, but also because she knows that the “bloodth 1.7kReads8.6Score135Shelves

    Reader note

    In "The Little Palace Maid Wins the Emperor's Heart," the lazy palace maid Azhi initially planned to live a life of leisure, but the hypocritical Emperor Han Yan saw through her true nature—by day she pretended to be docile and obedient, but by night she transformed into a cunning little fox. The most ingenious part was when the emperor, while reviewing memorials, coaxed her: "My little darling, I'll give you my life."

35. 35 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 19.9kReads9.3Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead was a servant girl born into a royal household. She woke up one morning to find herself a Noble Consort, having just given birth to the only prince. [Admiration] In reality, she had amnesia, and the current emperor was the heir of the royal household she had once served.

36. 36 哑 The Mute Palace Maid’s Daily Life 哑巴宫女日常 Pearl Pu'er Tea珍珠普洱茶Ancient Romance524k WordsCompleted Maids! Maids! No Romance Bai Zhi was sold into the palace by her family when she was five. At ten, she was assigned to serve the Fifth Prince, who was the same age as her. At fifteen, she saved his life during the spring hunt. The Fifth Prince eventually ascended the throne and became Emperor Zhaoxuan, while Bai Zhi became the head auntie of the Imperial Tea Room in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Because Bai Zhi was quiet and had once saved Emperor Zhaoxuan's life, she became a famous mute m 8.3kReads8.9Score461Shelves

    Reader note

    Ah!! These are all

37. 37 穿 Reborn Emperor Begs Me for Affection After I Become a Palace Maid 穿成小宫女，重生帝王求我垂怜 A Persimmon Tree一棵柿子树Ancient Romance230k WordsCompleted [Mind Reading + Transmigration + Rebirth + One-on-One Romance + Sweet Romance + Ancient Imperial Harem] Yun Jinxia transmigrates into the body of a palace maid. The moment she opens her eyes, she's faced with a horrifying scene: she's about to be beaten to death. Even worse, the memories she's inherited are incomplete. What is she supposed to do? Is this the end for her? Luckily, there's still hope. She can actually hear the emperor's thoughts. But can someone explain why this emperor has been r 40Reads8.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Learned] In the treacherous and unpredictable imperial harem, even a lowly palace maid can stir up trouble and defy fate! These novels about palace maids rising to power are packed with exciting plots that will captivate you instantly. [Drooling][Drooling][Drooling]

38. 38 娇 The Sweet, Seductive Palace Maid Flirts with the Crown Prince, Then Runs Away 娇娇宫女媚又软，撩完太子她就跑 Picking Green for the Consort取青妃白Ancient Romance231k WordsCompleted [Clear-headed, calculating palace maid vs. obsessive, lovesick emperor; reborn revenge + palace intrigue + satisfying revenge + romantic rivalry + running away while pregnant + sugary romance + the emperor chases his wife] In her previous life, Yun Xuesu was a low-ranking palace maid. Her fiancé served in the palace as a guard, and she gave him her monthly wages and did whatever he told her. In the end, he handed her over to a wicked concubine to be used as a blood beauty treatment. Locked in a 92Reads6.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead was deceived by a scumbag in her previous life. After being reborn, she seduces the crown prince and turns her life around. The crown prince is very devoted to her and dotes on her exclusively. Even when she is poisoned and ages, he never abandons her... A happy ending, super sweet! [Admiration]

39. 39 进 I Entered the Palace as a Maid, but Bore the Crown Prince Twins 进宫当宫女，却给太子生下龙凤胎 Everything Goes Well万事皆宜Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ji Nianzhen entered the palace as a maid and was always perfectly obedient. She planned to keep her head down until she was allowed to leave the palace, but then she unexpectedly became the Crown Prince's concubine. To her surprise, luck kept coming her way, and she rose in rank while raising a child! But is being obedient really enough to survive in the palace? Even in this deep palace, she never forgot who she was. She kept her hands clean as she protected herself and her child. A kind heart a 1.6kReads8.6Score177Shelves
40. 40 宫 The Palace Maid's Alluring Charms: The Emperor Grips Her Waist and Kisses Her Every Day 宫婢娇软媚人，皇上日日掐腰吻 Tong Yue桐月Ancient Romance427k WordsCompleted Zhu Jinrun was a low-ranking palace maid at Yimei Garden. The matrons were jealous of her beauty and said she was bound to set her sights on the emperor. As it turned out, they were right, though he was the one who fell for her first. The mighty emperor clung to a little maid and refused to let go, even if it killed him. After the Empress Dowager took a liking to her, Zhu Jinrun was assigned to Shoukang Palace. The palace staff said the emperor visited the Empress Dowager every day out of filial 211Reads5.1Score—Shelves
41. 41 开 A Palace Maid from the Start, the Emperor’s Beloved 开局成宫女，皇帝的心头宠 I Love Orange Juice我爱喝橘子汁Ancient Romance122k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + satisfying revenge + romance] After entering the palace, she becomes the noble consort’s personal maid, the only person who can get close to her. In this imperial harem, countless eyes are fixed on her, and she can feel their greedy gazes. “Your Majesty, although I’m only a servant, I’m the person Her Highness trusts most. You...” “I want the truth.” In that moment, it was as if every sound in heaven and earth had faded away, leaving only his deep, resonant voice beside her ea 29Reads—Score—Shelves
42. 42 皇 The Emperor Is Infertile, Yet He and His Scheming Palace Maid Have a Secret Romance and Many Children 皇帝不孕，和心机宫女地下恋多胎 Bunny Gets Rich兔兔发财Ancient Romance347k WordsCompleted [A scheming, beautiful young palace maid + a cunning, possessive emperor] What does it feel like to have a secret affair with the emperor in ancient times? Su Jin transmigrates into the body of a nine-year-old beggar girl in ancient times. With a little luck and a lot of cunning, she makes her way into the palace and becomes a favorite of the empress. She never expects to catch the eye of the abstinent, aloof crown prince as well. She doesn’t want to be the other woman, but imperial power rules 431Reads6.8Score—Shelves
43. 43 惊 What?! The Empress Consort Rose from Palace Maid to the Top! 惊！娘娘竟是宫女上位！ Rice Wine and Little Cherries酒酿小樱桃Ancient Romance157k WordsCompleted From the moment Yun Rou climbed into his bed, her goal was clear. She would play a frail, innocent favorite who had eyes only for the emperor, and slowly work her way up in the imperial harem. From the day he ascended the throne, Shen Hui’s goal was just as clear. The harem had no place for useless people. His favor would be granted solely according to their usefulness. Then one day, he tasted a bowl of sweet lychee soup, and there was no turning back. Everyone said the emperor was merely indulg 29Reads—Score—Shelves
44. 44 不 A Palace Maid Who Doesn't Want to Rise Through the Ranks Isn't a Good Maid 不想上位的宫女不是好宫女 Mint and Su Mu薄荷苏木Ancient Romance312k WordsCompleted Li Chuyan, daughter of the Assistant Prefect of the Capital, was set up by her elder half-sister, Li Heyue, and sent into the palace, where she became a lowly maid in the Imperial Kitchen. She died bitter and depressed, with no hope of ever leaving the palace. After transmigrating, Li Chuyan decides that if leaving the palace is out of reach, she will do everything she can to rise above everyone else within it. She drops her disguise and uses her beauty to tempt the emperor. After careful invest 59Reads6.5Score—Shelves
45. 45 好 Good Fortune Is Always on the Way 好孕常在 Wang Lanhua Manlou王兰花满楼Ancient Romance277k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + no System + childbirth + devoted love in the later story + male lead is not a virgin] [Female lead keywords: stunning beauty + drama queen + clear-eyed realist] After transmigrating, Lin Wan became a low-ranking concubine. Everyone said Emperor Hongjing's lack of sons was divine punishment. Lin Wan, a genius medicine master: Yeah, right! You want a beauty as light as a swallow, and lots of children and grandchildren too? As if you can have it both ways! With her medical skills 637Reads8.8Score103Shelves

    Reader note

    I've read both of these books, and they're both incredibly good; they're both about rising from humble beginnings.

46. 46 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
47. 47 御 The Little Empress of the Imperial Kitchen 御膳房小皇后 Ye Bai夜白Ancient Romance768k WordsCompleted A top chef at a five-star hotel transmigrates into the body of a little girl, only to be sold into the palace as a lowly maid by a rotten old man. Would a great chef be content with being a palace maid? She should at least be head chef in the Imperial Kitchen! Then she happens to come across a trash can that can listen to her vent. How could she pass up an opportunity like that? But when she starts complaining that the emperor's meals are getting stranger every day, and that he keeps specificall 45Reads6.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I have a group full of these kinds of articles; you can take a look.

48. 48 皇 The Empress's Making 皇后养成记 Liang Shan梁杉Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Lin Jia, the legitimate son of Prince Xingping of Great Zhou, was born into a life of luxury, yet endured many hardships after his birth mother died. At the bleakest, most oppressive point in his life, sixteen-year-old Lin Jia met fourteen-year-old Yu Zhi. At first, Lin Jia saw Yu Zhi only as a maid who served him well and did things just the way he liked. But after years of supporting and accompanying each other, affection grew between them without either realizing it. By the time Lin Jia under 150Reads8.4Score—Shelves
49. 49 宠 The Beloved Maid 宠婢 Rose Xiaoxiao蔷薇晓晓Ancient Romance562k WordsCompleted Ruyi, the little maid who spent her previous life scheming to get into her master's bed, has been reborn. In this life, all she wants is to be a decent, unassuming person, but her young master takes her completely. Watching her belly grow larger by the day, she worries that the mistress of the household won't accept her in the future. But the young master merely says, “From now on, you'll be the mistress of the household!” She won't have to lift a finger... 584Reads8.8Score101Shelves
50. 50 朕 My Beloved Ugly Girl, Please Take Care of Me 朕心爱的丑姑娘，请多指教 A Single Taste of Longing一味相思Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Her fiancé went from being a pampered crown prince to a paralyzed man on the brink of death. The proud noblewoman slit her own throat, leaving behind a luckless maid with a disfigured face, who was forced into the bridal sedan chair. “You’re paralyzed, and I’m ugly. We’re even, so neither of us gets to complain about the other.” At their first meeting, she put on a brave face and acted haughty. ... “Please guide me for the rest of my life.” Years later, the man who had once been half-dead walked 8.5kReads9.1Score912Shelves

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