Intrigue, Schemes, Political Maneuvering, High Intelligence, Master Plans, and Suspense 阴谋 阳谋 权谋 高智商 布局 悬疑

1. 101 鬼 Ghost Bean 鬼豆 Qing Chong Yue Er青虫月二Historical341k WordsCompleted History, mysticism, enlightenment, cultivation, qi refinement, and political intrigue. Not for beginners. Gui Dou is neither a ghost nor a bean. He is simply Guiguzi’s son. At sixteen, he left the mountain during the early Warring States period, an age of upheaval that few records describe. This book follows on from Guigu’s Divine Stratagem, telling a historical fantasy of intrigue and turbulent events in the Warring States era, as well as conflicts in the martial world. 45Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   You absolutely must see this!

2. 102 鬼 The Divine Schemes of Guiguzi 鬼谷神谋 Qing Chong Yue Er青虫月二Historical4.6M WordsCompleted [Historical Fiction Writing Contest] Other people are reborn into wealth and privilege, but I came back as a stalk of rice. No, a stalk of rice growing on a grave! A lovesick woman ate me, and became my mother. I became Guigu Wang Chan, whom later generations called Guiguzi, the founding patriarch of the Vertical and Horizontal School. In this turbulent age, watch me stir up the world once more and make my mark on the battlefields of the Warring States! 554Reads6.6Score102Shelves
3. 103 妖 The Prodigious Scholar’s 39th Book 妖孽书生第39本书 Bewitching Scholar妖孽书生Urban1.6M WordsCompleted [New book: They sent you undercover, so why did you sleep with the mob boss's daughter?] I caught my fiancée cheating, then married the man she was cheating with's fiancée on the spot. She was fair-skinned and beautiful, with a stunning figure and plenty of money and influence. I thought I'd hit the jackpot. But I never expected that on our wedding night, she would actually... 1.7kReads7.7Score215Shelves

   Reader note

   Don't be put off by the title and rating! The foreshadowing and plot development begin from the very first sentence!

4. 104 清 Secrets of the Qing Palace 清宫秘史 Clear and Fragrant清馨Historical718k WordsCompleted As China’s last feudal dynasty, the Qing dynasty has no shortage of stories. The Aisin Gioro clan has ancient and mysterious legends. It is said that the bandit hero Nurhaci rose to power with just thirteen suits of armor and formed an unbreakable bond with a blue horse and a yellow dog. Hong Taiji rose above the other princes to claim the throne and shared a legendary love with Hai Lanzhu, a romance said to move heaven and earth. The Shunzhi Emperor loved a beautiful woman more than his empire. 2kReads9.5Score136Shelves
5. 105 中 A History of Prostitution in China (A Republic-Era Masters’ History Collection) 中国娼妓史(民国名家史学典藏文库) Slave to Books Wang王书奴Historical164k WordsCompleted This book is divided into six chapters: Introduction; The Era of Shaman Courtesans; The Emergence of Slave Prostitutes and Official Courtesans; The Parallel Rise of Household Courtesans and Slave Prostitutes; The Golden Age of Official Courtesans; and The Era of Privately Run Prostitution. Topics include names and definitions, distinctions between periods, when the history of Chinese prostitution began, and shaman courtesans in the Shang dynasty, among others. 132Reads8.5Score121Shelves
6. 106 清 A Popular History of the Qing Dynasty 清史通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical587k WordsCompleted [A Tale of the Qing Dynasty #Popular History #The Rise and Fall of the Ming and Qing Dynasties #Political Intrigue and Warfare #Legends of Emperors #History in Plain Language] This classic historical novel recounts the full 268-year rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty, from the origins of its ancestors in the Changbai Mountains to Xuantong's abdication and the dynasty's collapse. Told across one hundred chapters, it follows the story clearly and avoids obscure historical material. It begins with N 103Reads8.8Score—Shelves
7. 107 前 A Popular History of the Former Han 前汉通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical563k WordsCompleted [Cai Dongfan's Historical Romance, The Complete Founding History of the Han Dynasty, The Qin-Han Rivalry, A Plain-Language History, Political Intrigue and War] This book is Cai Dongfan's A Popular History of the Former Han, a classic historical novel that recounts the dynasty's rise and fall from the chaos at the end of the Qin through the middle and late Western Han. Spanning one hundred chapters, it begins with Lü Buwei's extraordinary investment and Qin Shi Huang's unification of the realm, a 128Reads8.3Score—Shelves
8. 108 后 A Popular History of the Later Han 后汉通俗演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical582k WordsCompleted [Historical Romance Grounded in the Official Record, The Complete History of the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms, An Easy Introduction to Official History] A Popular History of the Later Han is a classic historical novel in episodic form and a continuation of A Popular History of the Former Han. Across one hundred chapters, it follows the full historical arc from Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han and Emperor Guangwu's restoration, through the decline of the Eastern Han, to the division of the rea 105Reads8.6Score—Shelves
9. 109 花 Flower Demon 花妖 Cotton Flower棉花花Ancient Romance337k WordsCompleted [Past and Present Lives + One True Love + Palace Intrigue and Power Struggles] A thousand years of longing will not go unanswered; a lifetime of devotion will never bring regret! A brilliant, resilient surgeon versus a suspicious, ruthless God of War general! Meeting him was the bond of fate from her past life, and the tribulation of this one. A tearjerking tale of a white plum blossom in the immortal realm of Qilian, a true dragon, and a snowflake reincarnated to endure a trial. The white plum 6.5kReads9.5Score1kShelves
10. 110 谍 Blood and Intrigue 谍血风云 Fei Yihou非亦侯Historical1.2M WordsOngoing [Decisive and Ruthless] [Absolutely No Saintly Do-Gooder] [Fired with Passion] Returning to the war-torn Republic of China, the protagonist uses his slight head start to navigate between the various factions. On the secret front, every move is fraught with danger; between black and white, he repeatedly risks his life, earning achievements that no one will ever know about… 15Reads7.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Both are very good, highly recommended.

11. 111 重 Reborn at Seventeen: I Slap the Campus Belle with a Banana Peel from the Start 重生17岁，开局给校花一香蕉皮 Chasing the Sunset to Watch the Milky Way追着落日看银河Urban2.4M WordsOngoing At thirty-eight, he was laid off, crushed by mortgage and car-loan payments. His fiancée ran off with another man, taking 800,000 yuan with her. Yu Tiancheng, filled with resentment, was reborn at seventeen. He realized that life as a high school senior wasn't so dull after all. The sky was still blue, the campus belle beside him was still dazzling, and his parents still loved him more than anyone. Now that he had a second chance, this time he would live boldly and do whatever he pleased! 18.7kReads8.0Score1.4kShelves
12. 112 回 Rewind: A Different Approach, One More Time 回档：换个姿势再来一次 Coffee with Garlic咖啡就蒜Urban10.6M WordsOngoing Because Bai Ershisan, a senior employee in the Netherworld’s Department of Soul Guidance, made a mistake, Li Le was kicked straight out of the cycle of reincarnation. The great science of quantum mechanics tells Li Le that time’s arrow points only toward the future. As for why he has gone back thirty years, if you can’t figure it out, asking him won’t help either. All Li Le can do is pull himself together and live through the script of his life once again. 84.1kReads9.3Score5.3kShelves
13. 113 风 The Road Through Jiangnan, Through Wind and Rain 风雨江南路 Wind and Snow in the West City风雪西城Urban153k WordsOngoing This book is a sequel to the author's previous work, Xu Fei's Carefree Life. It once again follows Xu Fei's life, portraying brotherhood, tireless perseverance, and a journey that ultimately leads to glory. A tale of passion and grit, showing the rise of a powerful figure in a particular era. 51Reads—Score—Shelves
14. 114 徐 Xu Fei's Wild Life 徐飞的浪荡人生 Wind and Snow in the West City风雪西城Urban377k WordsCompleted Just after the Lunar New Year, Xu Fei returns with a simple pack to the small northern city where he was born and raised, after three years away. He'd planned to find any wife and settle down to an ordinary life, but fate has other plans. He is pushed onto a path unlike any other, and begins a life far from ordinary. 787Reads6.7Score111Shelves
15. 115 7 Starting in 1979, I Have Something to Say 79开始我有话要说 Braised Pork and Beef Brisket红烧肉炖牛腩Urban2.1M WordsOngoing By a twist of fate, an ordinary young man transmigrates to a parallel world in the early 1980s. See how he makes his way and thrives in that turbulent era, approaching it with the outlook of an ordinary person from a later age. 1.2kReads8.2Score100Shelves
16. 116 重 Back to 1978 重返1978 Xiao Xiaoyangyang小小扬扬Urban8.7M WordsCompleted Jiang Xiaobai, a university graduate with a degree in economics, was reborn and witnessed the arrival of a new era with his own eyes. It surged forward with unstoppable force, as all things grew unchecked, dust and dawn rose together, rivers converged into mighty streams, and nameless hills rose into towering peaks. For a time, the world stretched boundlessly wide... 2.1kReads8.8Score219Shelves
17. 117 退 A Veteran Reborn to Protect the Beautiful Women Around Him 退伍重生之护我美女如云 Cyanide Murmurs氰呓语Urban330k WordsCompleted If you could live your life over, who would you choose to save? When Shen Chan woke up, she found herself back at four in the morning on that day in 2014. Bao Shulin, this time, I will make sure you survive even if I have to stand against the whole world. 59Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended...

18. 118 谍 The Spy's Snow Fox 谍之雪狐 Wind and Snow in the West City风雪西城Urban1.1M WordsCompleted On the evening of the eighth day of the first lunar month in 1945, snow was still falling in Xiangcheng. Inside the Ma Family Shaomai Shop on Second Street, a middle-aged man suddenly collapsed and began convulsing, foam bubbling from his mouth. At the shop entrance, a man wearing a felt hat and a scarf that concealed everything but his eyes hurried inside. He snatched up the fallen man’s briefcase, turned, and left, disappearing into the endless snow. 11.3kReads8.6Score941Shelves
19. 119 我 I Became a Spy in Republican-Era China 我到民国当间谍 Wind and Snow in the West City风雪西城Urban1.4M WordsCompleted Zhang Yunxuan, a team leader in the Criminal Investigation Squad of Xiangcheng Police Bureau, is a spoiled rich kid who spends his days loafing around and making friends. He has a taste for eating, drinking, and gambling. The only thing he doesn't do is visit brothels. But what people don't know is that he is the military intelligence agent Judge, a man despised to the bone by the Japanese and their Chinese collaborators. 6.8kReads8.6Score435Shelves
20. 120 美 Tea from a Beautiful Mountain Village 美丽山村的茶 Xiaoxiao Gou'er Lingdang晓晓狗儿铃当Modern Romance134k WordsCompleted A rural novel about people from the county town who come to develop a beautiful mountain village. A green village and beautiful tea mountains. A moving story of the village’s struggle and perseverance. Together, they build a greener village. 1Reads—Score—Shelves
21. 121 三 Three Kingdoms: Starting in Liangzhou, Building Power Step by Step 三国：从西凉开始，步步为营 Explosive Squid爆炸鱿鱼Historical10.0M WordsCompleted No System, no golden finger. A farming and political-strategy novel. Transmigrated to the late Han, he uses wisdom a thousand years ahead of its time to open up vast tracts of farmland and train elite troops. While other warlords are still forcibly recruiting soldiers, he already commands countless elite troops. While other generals are fighting over a single Red Hare, he has already assembled an army of tens of thousands of Red Hare cavalry. While the other lords are worrying about money and pr 511Reads8.1Score—Shelves
22. 122 重 Reborn in 1987: Becoming the Richest Man 重生1987年当首富 Readers of My Books Will Get Rich This Year看我书的读者今年暴富Urban3.3M WordsCompleted After a car accident, Chen Feng is reborn in 1987. He earns his first fortune by buying and reselling government bonds. He heads south to the Pearl River Delta to trade in home appliances. When the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets open, he speculates in subscription certificates. Wherever there's money to be made, he'll be there. With his grasp of the times, Chen Feng climbs steadily to the top. 25.9kReads8.2Score2.1kShelves
23. 123 宠 The Wife-Doting God of War! The Female CEO Marries Me on a Whim 宠妻兵王！女总裁闪婚捡到宝 Zhang Dali, Bursting with Bullish Energy牛气冲天的张大力Urban281k WordsCompleted Light comedy + modern romance + sweet doting + business warfare + suspense + high-stakes conflict Multiple heroines, no single official pairing! Shen Chan, a retired soldier king, only wants to keep a low profile as a security guard. A monthly salary of eight thousand, enough to coast and dream of doing nothing. 107Reads—Score—Shelves
24. 124 捞 Making Money on the Side! 捞偏门！ Li Er Bu Ha李二不哈Urban1.4M WordsCompleted [After graduating from college, I went from a shady fortune-teller to a political fixer] This book pulls back the curtain on political fixers, giving you an in-depth look at the scams hidden from view in both the underworld and the corridors of power. “Do you think officials are all fools? They know I’m a con artist. They just happen to need a con artist like me to do things for them.” 10.3kReads8.9Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    A hidden gem, in a very niche genre.

25. 125 三 The Eldest Son of the Yuan Clan in the Three Kingdoms 三国之袁家长子 Redfall红落Historical1.6M WordsCompleted Establishing the Han (Han as in the Han people, not the Son of Heaven), also known as The Eldest Son of the Yuan Family in the Three Kingdoms. Yuan Tan, who had read Romance of the Three Kingdoms cover to cover, transmigrates to the end of the Han dynasty and becomes Yuan Tan. (Based on historical events, with some comic relief from Romance of the Three Kingdoms early on. No System. Not a wish-fulfillment story for beginners, so proceed with caution.) The protagonist is cunning, not a saint. (Cu 5.2kReads8.6Score601Shelves
26. 126 算 The Deadly Trap 算死局 Li Er Bu Ha李二不哈Urban1.7M WordsOngoing Everyone knows that shady dealings can make you big money, but not everyone can pull them off. As for me, I was born to make a living this way. My name is Li Shiming, but people call me Li Ergou. In 2006, just after turning eighteen, I pulled off a scheme in Guangzhou and made my first million. By 2026, my assets had topped ten billion. This isn't just a story. It's a true account of the underworld, and a guide to the secrets of human nature. Some people read it and copy the tricks without under 157.1kReads8.8Score6.1kShelves
27. 127 传EN Legend Management Bureau 传说管理局 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted (No harem, no formulaic plot, no invincibility, no System, no brainless decisions, and no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if any of that bothers you.) Du Yu dies an untimely death right at the beginning of the story. Hoping to secure a better spot in his next life, he takes a job with the Bureau of Legendary Tales. His job is to return to legends that have gone off course and put their plots back on track. He never expected that the first mission assigned to an ordinary mortal like him would 169.4kReads9.6Score21.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This is the first book by the author of *Ten Days' End*. It's really well-written. It has a particularly grand worldview; the entire world is a giant cause-and-effect relationship. Every plot hole is filled. While reading this novel, I used Douban to look up different versions of the legends mentioned in it, and it became more and more interesting the more I read.

28. 128 港 Hong Kong Movie: Am I the Ni Family's Illegitimate Son? 港片之我成了倪家私生子？ Loves Fried Tofu with Roast Chicken爱吃油豆腐烧鸡Urban531k WordsCompleted Ni Yonghao woke up one day to find that he had transmigrated into a world where the plots of Hong Kong movies had all merged together. He had always known exactly who he was, but then a bespectacled, cultured scoundrel showed up, and Ni Yonghao discovered that he had somehow become the illegitimate son of the Ni family! What the hell is this nonsense! 1.2kReads6.9Score109Shelves
29. 129 雪 Life-and-Death Gambit in the Snowlands 雪域生死局 Trusted Washlet心腹大浣Mystery1.4M WordsOngoing [Chinese Folk Horror + Gods and Ghosts + Folk Legends + Secret-Realm Exploration + Mystery and Deduction + Strong Allies] At an antique fair in Lhasa, I stumbled upon an ancient Tibetan stone tablet. Curious about its contents, I accepted an invitation to join a merchant named Lao Gun and the team he had assembled to search for goods. Together, we ventured deep into the barren mountains of northern Tibet to investigate an ancient temple. I never expected the old temple to conceal such mysteries. 8kReads8.6Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Folklore and supernatural tales + mystery exploration + unpredictable human nature + deduction and puzzle-solving – a high-stakes, intellectually stimulating experience throughout.

30. 130 重 Reborn in 1978: Business Warfare? I'll Start by Robbing Gold 重生78，商战？从抢劫黄金开始 Rainy Season on the Wind雨季随风Urban1.1M WordsCompleted Back in the 1970s, Zhang Ye gives up his courtyard home in Beijing and sets off alone for Hong Kong... With no money or connections, he decides to head to Japan and reclaim some of the silver the Empress Dowager Cixi left there back in the day... The Treaty of Shimonoseki: 230 million taels, with 350 million taels actually paid; then there's the 57.36 million taels in Boxer Indemnity payments... 47Reads8.7Score—Shelves
31. 131 大 Great Ming: Tyrant Chongzhen Rebuilds the Great Ming 大明：暴君崇祯，重塑大明 Lun Dong伦东Historical2.9M WordsOngoing [No System] + [No mindless decisions] + [Political scheming] + [Court politics] + [High-stakes game] + [Passionate] + [Struggle for supremacy] His soul travels back to the twenty-fourth day of the eighth month in the seventh year of the Tianqi era, the very first day of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign. In history, Chongzhen would hang himself at Coal Hill seventeen years later. At this point, the Manchu ruler Huang Taiji has only just ascended the throne. Liaodong has not yet been completely lost, 173.4kReads8.7Score15.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This is the true history. What is planning? What is the general trend of the world? It is the pursuit in the hearts of individuals that constitutes the general trend.

32. 132 综EN Sewing Corpses: The Rise of a Shaolin Master 综武：开局缝尸，收获少林金钟罩 White and Plump Meat Bun白胖的肉包Eastern Fantasy592k WordsCompleted Only those burdened by the Five Evils and Three Deficiencies can become corpse seamsters. Wen Qingkong was born with a pure Yang Four Pillars fate, and everyone close to him died from childhood onward. Disillusioned, he perished alongside a drug lord, only to be reborn in a world of combined martial arts as a corpse seamster with the same name. Every corpse he sews lets him witness the deceased's life flashing before their eyes and inherit their martial arts and skills. He sews the corpse of a S 557Reads8.2Score111Shelves
33. 133 官 Officialdom: Starting by Slapping My Boss Twice 官锋：从打领导两巴掌开始 Little Lotus Breeze小荷风Urban1.4M WordsOngoing Made the scapegoat from the start? Pushed to the margins, with my future and my life ruined? Fine, I’ll remember this. There’s plenty of time to settle the score. My girlfriend breaks up with me, and my love life falls apart. What was I even here for? Fine, I’ll set you free. Don’t regret it. I turn around with power in my hands and return. Li Rui laughs aloud. Those who hurt and slandered me will all pay the price. 29.9kReads8.3Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend reading these two novels about officialdom; they're very engaging to listen to, giving you a sense of being there.

34. 134 官 The Road to Power: A Clash of Ambition and Desire 官途从权欲交锋开始 Little Lotus Breeze小荷风Urban1.7M WordsOngoing [Political Revenge] + [Career Advancement] + [Alliances of Mutual Interest] + [Romantic Entanglements] + [Political Scheming and Wits] + [Multiple Heroines] + [Ensemble Cast] [The male lead keeps a low profile without being creepy early on, reveals his sharp edge with a roguish charm in the middle, and takes revenge on all his enemies later.] Wang Maoyuan is a "golden phoenix" who flew out of the countryside. The year he graduated from college, he passed the civil service exam and joined the la 17.6kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves
35. 135 荆 The Wind Rises in Jingdu, Awaiting the Coming Rain 荆都风来待雨临 Rain Falls on Jingdu雨落荆都Historical1.9M WordsOngoing Overnight, a young blacksmith from a shop in Shengang becomes the last surviving grandson of a powerful family of scholars, whose influence once reached the highest halls of government. A pigeon’s whistle marks the way home, and old books conceal a conspiracy. With a nameless sword in hand, carrying his grandfather’s hopes and his adoptive father’s instructions, he steps into the turbulent world of Jingdu. The Shanfu Academy, deep within the Imperial College, is no ordinary place of learning. It 105Reads8.7Score125Shelves

    Reader note

    The first hundred chapters are full of foreshadowing, which is gradually revealed and resolved in the later chapters, depicting court intrigue and a step-by-step process.

36. 136 南 South Branches Toward Dusk, The Regent Has Been Plotting This for Ages 南枝向晚，摄政王他蓄谋已久 Doudou from Zhongyue Province中月省的逗逗Ancient Romance726k WordsCompleted [Just received a rating] Complete ◎ [Revenge after being reborn + mastery of medicine and poison + powerful leads who cherish each other + everyone’s a schemer + palace intrigue and political machinations] Important: No stupid villains. Everyone has eight hundred tricks up their sleeve, and the battle of wits is at its peak! In her previous life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s family, was blind to the truth. She used a forbidden technique to save a scumbag man, dr 22.6kReads8.8Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    A female-centric power struggle novel, everyone is cunning and scheming, a top-tier battle of wits ◔.̮◔✧. Completed, Rebirth and Revenge + Healing and Poisoning Mastery + Two Strong Couples Mutual Pampering + Everyone is Cunning + Palace Intrigue and Power Struggle] Highlight: No villains with low intelligence, everyone is cunning and scheming, a peak battle of wits! In her past life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, was blinded and used forbidden techniques to save her scumbag husband, exhausting her life force. In return, she found him secretly having an affair with her scheming cousin, causing her entire Shen family to perish! Reborn, she holds silver needles, returning to the day she used poison to prolong her husband's life. Facing her husband's expectation and her cousin's feigned tears, Shen Nanzhi coldly withdrew her needles: "I won't cure the poison. Since my cousin is so deeply in love, why don't you bleed her flesh?" In this life, she tears off the disguise, possessing unparalleled healing and poisoning skills, able to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded! Xiao Duo, the Regent of Dayuan, a powerful and invincible ruler, was suffering from a rare poison. Shen Nanzhi threw down the antidote, her voice cold and arrogant: "Your Highness, I will save your life. Lend me your blade to slaughter all the demons and monsters, how about it?" The world believed that the Duke's daughter was merely a delicate canary in the palm of the living devil's hand. Only when powerful officials took center stage, and deadly schemes unfolded one after another, did everyone realize with horror—the seemingly fragile Shen Nanzhi was actually a master strategist, a woman of unparalleled wisdom and skill! She entrusted her life to him back-to-back, slaying gods and demons alike, manipulating the entire court with ease! When the bloody path was cleaved through, the world was at peace. The ruthless regent, who struck fear into the hearts of all under heaven, shed his menacing aura and held her tightly in his arms, his voice low and hoarse with madness: "Zhizhi, the realm is settled. This vast and beautiful land is my dowry; when will you finally give me a title?!" —A ruthless and decisive medical and poison queen × A crazed regent who bows down to her; together, they join forces to slaughter all demons and monsters!

37. 137 名 In the Name of the People: My Rise to the Top Starts as a Provincial Secretary 名义：我的巅峰从省秘起步 Mu Shang Qinghua沐上青花Male-Channel Fanfiction728k WordsCompleted He transmigrates into In the Name of the People, armed with the complete script. No golden finger, just careful planning and a sharp mind; No mindless wish fulfillment, just policies as his blade and public support as his shield in a hard-fought rise to power. Follow his journey from the grassroots to the top as he cuts through the tangled power struggles of Handong, steadily climbs the ranks, and ultimately reaches the pinnacle of power! With the board of fate in his own hands, he will forge a 19.7kReads6.6Score486Shelves

    Reader note

    This is definitely a great book; the male lead is incredibly intelligent.

38. 138 天 The Heavenly Hunt Map 天狩图 Heading North向北Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted Beneath the dragon throne lie a million corpses; in the imperial court, the lives of all are played like pieces on a board. Clad in purple, the ministers scheme for a century of dynastic rule; clad in white, the sword-bearers honor a promise worth a thousand gold pieces! Some negotiate and maneuver in the Golden Throne Hall, weaving power into a snare; others discuss the Way over wine deep in the bamboo grove, cleaving through the fog with chivalry. I have stood atop palace walls, surveying the 6.7kReads7.7Score643Shelves

    Reader note

    The story, recently released, depicts the protagonist's difficult choice between power struggles and chivalry. Its grand scale and well-developed characters make for a gripping yet exhilarating read. The author's writing is fluent and solid, consistently updating with 5,000 words per update, guaranteeing quality.

39. 139 穿 A Lowly County Office Clerk with Kids at Home and No Rice to Cook 穿成县衙小吏，家有儿女等米下锅 Don't Discuss the Wind-Banner, Follow Your Heart心动莫论风幡Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [A clerk is no official, and the desk is a mountain of blades] [No errors in the ledger, every stroke of the brush decides joy and sorrow] The male lead had only just transmigrated when someone cracked him over the back of the head. After missing work for three days, he nearly got struck off the rolls. His father thought he was saddled with two useless dependents. His older brother thought he was too inflexible to make money. His fourth younger brother feared his lowly clerk's status would tarni 166.2kReads9.2Score22.8kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this one. It requires some thought; it's a story about the daily lives of ordinary officials and commoners in a county town during the Northern Song Dynasty. The exquisite details and stark depiction of social customs transport you to the bustling city life of the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago. It's not a wish-fulfillment novel, but it has its emotional moments. It's not about political intrigue, but it captures the essence of human relationships. There are no romantic pairings, no cheat codes, and no modern-day superiority complexes—it's a hyper-realistic ancient Chinese novel. It's almost a million words long, well-developed and juicy, so you can start reading now. The downsides: slow-paced, not a wish-fulfillment novel, no romantic pairings, relatively uneven plot development, and a few chapters are too detailed. Impatient readers should avoid it.

40. 140 伏 Ambush 伏杀 Mo Bai1莫白1Historical1.4M WordsCompleted [Original title: Ambush] Beneath the awe-inspiring might of Heaven, all living beings are mere ants. And yet he dares, with the strength of an insect, to turn the world upside down. For family, for friends, for the burning hatred in his heart, for the nightmares that haunt him year after year, for justice, and for fairness. This story is set in an imaginary world and has no connection to actual history. Everything in it is fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 14.8kReads8.3Score931Shelves

    Reader note

    This fictional political intrigue novel is absolutely amazing! Everyone is incredibly intelligent, the battles of wits are mind-bending, the writing is excellent, and the plot doesn't drag on!

41. 141 恨 You Have to Hate Me to Survive 恨我，你才能活 Blue Waters Reflecting青水相映Modern Romance262k WordsCompleted In 1937, Shanghai was home to two of the fastest guns around. He was Gu Tingyuan, the youngest major general and division chief in the Military Statistics Bureau, a man who killed without blinking. She was Su Wan, the Fuxing Society’s top female agent, code-named “Black Swan.” They first met in a rainy alley, their guns aimed at each other, neither pulling the trigger. It was the only time in their lives they ever saw each other as enemies. Later, she became his trainee, his fake wife, and the t 22Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A powerful collaboration, it's entertaining.

42. 142 长 Eternal Immortality: A Jailor Hiding Out in the Heavenly Prison 长生万古：苟在天牢做狱卒 Qingfeng Riverside青峰浦上Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsCompleted [Smart characters, no brainless plotlines]+ [No System]+ [Cautious survival]+ [Immortality]+ [No heroine]+ [A sly schemer]+ [Political intrigue]+ [Prudent and cautious] Zhang Wu transmigrates to a cultivation world and becomes a jailer in the Imperial Prison from the start. For officials, the end of the road is the Imperial Prison. For soldiers, it is dying on the battlefield. For those in the martial world, it is getting killed in a vendetta. None of them meet a good end. If he wants to survive 37.6kReads9.1Score3.2kShelves
43. 143 假 Fake Eunuch: From Helping the Empress Dowager Ascend the Throne to Ruling Through Intrigue 假太监：从扶太后登基到权谋天下 Harmony Before Birth和而未生Historical353k WordsCompleted A power fantasy of court intrigue set in an alternate history, starring Mo Wujin, a fake eunuch who transmigrates into the imperial palace! The moment he opens his eyes, he is swept into the turmoil of an emperor and empress at odds and a court in chaos. He appears humble and obedient, but in truth he is cunning and ruthless, with unparalleled strategic brilliance. He can manipulate the peerlessly beautiful empress dowager, whose power holds sway over the entire court. He can also keep the patie 264Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I couldn't find a better historical intrigue novel on Tomato Books. I read it all in one go, and it was incredibly enjoyable!

44. 144 明 The Great Stronghold Lord at the End of the Ming Dynasty 明末大寨主 Duke of Bohai渤海郡公Historical7.2M WordsCompleted Back in the late Ming dynasty, Chu Xing became a bandit. But his stronghold was repeatedly overrun, and he went through four or five big brothers. After fleeing time and again, his thoughts grew increasingly clear. It seemed Heaven was pointing him toward the answer: he should become the big brother himself and fight to rule the land. 283Reads7.8Score141Shelves

    Reader note

    The subsequent natural consequence was a desire to gain more market share, ruthlessly crush the Hans Kingdom, and secure its dominant position. This ultimately led to the Battle of Andoria last year, and subsequently to the current declaration of war between the two countries and the Battle of Dongji Island. All of this revolves around the word "interest," or more precisely, economic interest. The Great Qian Empire's objective in launching this war was clear: to crush the Hans Kingdom, maintain its position as the center of the global economic system, gain more market share for industrial products, and secure more sources of industrial raw materials. The victory in the Battle of Dongji Island has given the Great Qian Empire's business community a glimpse of the potential to plunder global market economic benefits! Therefore, when the Great Qian Empire launched a new tranche of national bonds following the victory in the Battle of Dongji Island, it sold out in less than half a month, raising a staggering 15 billion Qian Yuan for the empire. The issuance of large amounts of war bonds has also caused the Great Qian Empire's total national debt to skyrocket! Before the world war, the Great Qian Empire actually had only a very small number of...

45. 145 娘 Mother, Please Stop Trying to Find Me a Concubine 娘，真的别给儿子纳妾啦 White Dragon, Don't Lurk白龙勿潜Historical909k WordsOngoing Multiple heroines + alternate world + political intrigue + satisfying power fantasy Shen Zhi'an transmigrates into an ancient family of merchants as its only son. To ensure the Shen family line continues, his mother is intent on taking concubines for him so he can father a dozen sons. Shen Zhi'an's own dream is to live as a spoiled young master. But the world is in turmoil, and the Jiangnan Shen family has become a target of the imperial court. Shen Zhi'an has no choice but to flee. In Great Zho 5.3kReads—Score372Shelves
46. 146 游EN Game Invasion: Addicted to Snatching the Male and Female Leads' Destinies 游戏入侵：抢男女主机缘会上瘾诶 The Cat Isn't Bald猫不秃Sports3.1M WordsCompleted [Game Invasion + No Romance + Leveling + Lone Wolf + Gaming] (Also known as: Game Invasion) After being reborn, the first thing Yu Xunge did was go home and make her younger brother down a bottle of liquor, causing him to miss the first game beta test. In her previous life, she didn't learn until she was dying that he had been scheming against her from the shadows all along. She was merely the villainess in a wish-fulfillment novel about a live-in son-in-law... Every bit of malice she suffered w 988.6kReads9.5Score85.7kShelves
47. 147 天 The Hidden Secrets of the World 天下藏局 Little Nine Disciple小九徒Urban2.8M WordsCompleted [Wuxia World + Antiques Appraisal + Tomb Raiding] I never went to school as a child. Instead, I spent ten years learning the trade from a beautiful woman. Over those ten years, she forged me a pair of “Ghost Eyes” that could identify every rare treasure in the world. She trained my hands into “Buddha’s Hands,” teaching me to break traps and set schemes with impunity. And she taught me a repertoire of “divine skills” that let me navigate the shifting world of the martial underworld with ease. Dra 100kReads9.4Score18.4kShelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend reading these books. Don't be fooled by the low rating of the last one; the content is truly excellent.

48. 148 我 I Took Over My Own Body 我夺舍了自己 Fang Yebai方夜白Urban1.2M WordsCompleted An accident turned Chen Luo into a vessel for his parallel-world selves, who had died and come back to life. He was possessed by his counterparts from parallel worlds. Every time Chen Luo fulfilled an unfinished wish of one of his parallel selves, he gained a skill they had learned, such as combat, languages, computers, firearms, and more. Assassin Chen Luo: “Let's go paint the town red!” Playboy Chen Luo: “My blade is practically begging for a taste!” Master Thief Chen Luo: “Next, we're going t 14.5kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves
49. 149 帝 The Emperor: A Young Man's Journey Through the Land 帝：山河少年行 A Light Garment一袭轻衣Eastern Fantasy4.8M WordsCompleted By a twist of fate, Qin Ziyu obtained the Mo Bing Token and forged a bond with the Ancestral Dragon. Every step forward brought him into contact with secrets of an even higher order. Trapped in layer upon layer of intricate schemes, he presses on through an endless climb and game of wits, driving himself ever forward. 5Reads—Score—Shelves
50. 150 不 Can You Become an Immortal by Any Means Necessary? 不择手段，可成仙否？ The Kingdra Who Loves Drum Corps喜欢军鼓的海刺龙Eastern Fantasy2.1M WordsOngoing [Decisive and ruthless]+ [Will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals]+ [No female lead]+ [The middle and later parts get dark, so don't read if that's not your thing] "The weak are always making excuses for their incompetence and failures, but they themselves are the best excuse of all!" (There are a lot of trolls in the comments, so use your own judgment.) Chen Yi transmigrates to the world of immortal cultivation and opens his eyes already struggling to survive at the bottom. Five years ag 180.7kReads8.6Score23kShelves

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