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

1. 201 谷 Flowers at the Bottom of the Valley 谷底的花 Li Shixin立十辛Mystery367k WordsCompleted [Slice-of-life mystery + deduction + crime solving + case-of-the-week + serious drama] Main characters: Lu Jun (forensic pathology intern) vs. Chen Zhou (criminal investigation team captain) Six years ago, a family upheaval completely changed Lu Jun's personality, and his family sent him abroad. Six years later, Lu Jun returned to China and voluntarily joined Chen Zhou's workplace. The two are twelve years apart in age. Their relationship shifted from close friends to an awkward “uncle and nephe 1.2kReads—Score132Shelves

   Reader note

   A crime thriller you absolutely shouldn't miss! Highly recommended, this series uses episodic cases for suspense and mystery. Don't let the unassuming title fool you; the male lead is incredibly likable—a super cute intern forensic pathologist. No one who reads it can resist him! Plus, the author's writing is excellent, not at all padded, and the descriptions of investigative techniques are very professional. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up][I also highly recommend it]

2. 202 丝 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin's Destiny as an Undercover Agent in Chang'an 丝路玉鉴：李烬宿命之长安卧底 White Prism LEE白棱镜LEE35k WordsCompleted Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: Li Jin's Fate as an Undercover Agent in Chang'an 3Reads—Score—Shelves
3. 203 太 The Crown Prince Is a Treasure Trove, but She Flirts and Runs 太子浑身是宝，但她撩完就跑 Nine Strokes, Then a Horizontal Line九笔横才Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Clever revenge + ensemble court drama + male lead fakes his death and reveals his identity, then goes mad + heroine is his one true love] [Power couple comedy | Strategic mind games | All the right ingredients | Fictional setting] Axiang, a huntress, bought herself a live-in husband. He was handsome, with a fine figure and a noble, radiant air, like an immortal crane descended from the heavens, or a jade-faced gentleman from a storybook. But he had no idea how to show affection. When she offer 1.5kReads9.2Score185Shelves

   Reader note

   This novel boasts a grand and meticulously crafted political intrigue, spanning from court factional struggles to the overall political landscape, with every calculation intricately linked. The romance, on the other hand, is restrained yet passionate, depicting the trials, trust, and unwavering commitment between two strong individuals—a bond unrelated to mere physical attraction yet surpassing any romantic romance in itself. The female protagonist is resilient, decisive, and shrewd, free from any signs of intellectual impairment or romantic folly. Amidst the clash of swords and the treacherous schemes of power, she weaves a poignant love story between two exceptional individuals in a chaotic world, a tale both thrilling and deeply moving.

4. 204 丝 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin's Good Fortune, the Stunning Beauty 丝路玉鉴：李烬幸事之绝色佳人 White Prism LEE白棱镜LEE37k WordsCompleted Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: Li Jin's Good Fortune and the Peerless Beauty 2Reads—Score—Shelves
5. 205 系EN Immortality System: I Outlived Everyone 系统赋我长生，我熬死了所有人 One Durian No. 3一只榴莲3号Eastern Fantasy5.6M WordsOngoing Observing the love and hatred of cultivators across the river of time from a perspective beyond life itself. He left a modest little town and entered the wondrous world of cultivation. His journey sped up and slowed down, moving forward or stopping to rest, but he never stopped walking. The Age of Declining Dharma, the Age of Emperors, the Age of Dark Turmoil… He appeared in every age, and the only thing he could do was watch old friends die with his own eyes, then see them off to their grave 579.3kReads9.4Score60.9kShelves
6. 206 丝 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin’s Secrets and the Triangle Star Pattern 丝路玉鉴：李烬秘事之三角星纹 White Prism LEE白棱镜LEE34k WordsCompleted Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin's Secrets, the Triangular Star Pattern 2Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 207 算 Calculating Your Fate to the End 算死命 Nine-Rank Game九品一局Mystery5.9M WordsCompleted When I was born, I was nursed by a wolf for a few days. I thought of her as my mother, and believed I'd never see her again. Then one day, a woman came looking for me... 22.8kReads8.9Score2.5kShelves

   Reader note

   ① Behind the mysterious Master of the Misty Rain Pavilion lies an even more mysterious figure. ② Scheming—without scheming, how could one reach the pinnacle of power? ③ A small man's revenge, enduring hardship and biding his time, meticulously plotting—a story of an ant trying to shake a mighty tree.

8. 208 上 The Strange Tales of Shangguan Zhaorong 上官昭容诡事录 Bamboo Shoot Buns Are So Delicious竹笋包子超好吃Mystery1.6M WordsCompleted [Completed] [Strong female lead, no romance, Chinese-style horror, transmigration through history, numerous foreshadowed clues, coherent plot, no System, not a power fantasy] [The Strange Tales of Shangguan Zhaorong] [Also known as: Old Tales from the Yellow Springs] [Reader’s guide: The main plot and the individual arcs are interconnected, with plenty of clues and foreshadowing. Almost every character who appears has a role to play, though each arc can also be read as a standalone story.] Th 2.1kReads9.3Score347Shelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist, Yan Yulin, possesses high intelligence. She travels through a thousand years of the Tang Dynasty, orchestrating the Taishan Fujun Festival, and plotting to revive the Martial Empress and become the Empress herself.

9. 209 金 A Game in the Golden Boudoir 金闺戏 Jing Mo旌墨Ancient Romance680k WordsCompleted [A snake-hearted heroine who lies through her teeth vs. a beautiful, tragic heir with a scheming heart] [Pure historical romance + love and hate + excruciating tension + an epic showdown between two liars + a couple doomed to clash] Ming Xian forged her identity to marry, then made a living by killing her husbands and taking their money. Beautiful enough to inspire pity, yet ruthless in her methods, she had married and murdered six men without ever slipping up, earning the nickname Crimson Ser 6.5kReads8.8Score918Shelves

   Reader note

   The male and female leads are both incredibly cunning and evenly matched, their strengths evenly matched. The villains are also quite clever; it almost seemed like the main couple was going to lose, but they all ended up suffering minor setbacks.

10. 210 虎 Tiger's Roar Over the Sea of Clouds: Starting with Military Discharge 虎啸云海从转业开始 The Zhu Clan's Spring and Autumn朱氏春秋Urban2.2M WordsCompleted Lin Haoyu leaves the military as a senior colonel and enters local government, rising from county magistrate to a powerful official in charge of an entire region. His wife, Su Mengyao, heads a Fortune 500 company. His younger sister, Lin Xiaowan, quietly supports her brother's political career, while his older brother, Lin Yu, is fiercely protective of her. Their background is enough to leave people speechless. I hope you’ll enjoy my new book. 16.3kReads8.2Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    It's just these two books.

11. 211 官 Soaring Through Officialdom: From Township to the Summit of Power 官途腾龙从乡镇到权利巅峰 The Zhu Clan's Spring and Autumn朱氏春秋Urban984k WordsCompleted After Chen Linhai passes the civil service exam, his girlfriend betrays him and a powerful family uses its influence to take his position. He keeps his illustrious family background hidden and starts out at the grassroots level in a township. Staying true to his original ideals and relying on exceptional ability, he overcomes one crisis after another and rises through the ranks to the pinnacle of power. Along the way, he uncovers the mystery of his birth and fulfills his ambitions and purpose in 6.6kReads7.2Score674Shelves
12. 212 过 Adoption into the Family 过继 Dreams of Spring and Autumn梦话春秋Urban1.9M WordsCompleted This is a novel about a man growing up through blood and tears. Along with the cruelty of reality comes the trickery of fate. But if you’re a man, wipe away your tears and face every hardship. Make yourself tough as steel, unbreakable... 29.9kReads9.3Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Novels full of political intrigue are well worth reading.

13. 213 残 Seeking Life Amid Lingering Regrets 残念觅生 Yu Cangjue御苍爵Mystery318k WordsOngoing [Infinite-flow, rules-based horror, extreme escape, eerie games, no harem, no formula, no invincible protagonist, no System, no mindless plot, not a feel-good power fantasy] I’m a ballet doll, grinning as I watch them kill themselves. I throw people into “my” mindscape and lay out an inescapable path to their doom. But that lunatic Li Yu finds a loophole in every stage. I crank up the difficulty of surviving, but he uses game theory to beat me. I forbid him from speaking, but he has the whole t 237Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Infinite Twists | Horror & Thriller | Group Battle | Mind-Bending Game of Wits] -- Ten-Day Same Style -- Werewolf is so lame! Playing in a locked room with a person in a vegetative state is insane! The tattooed fat guy goes crazy and gives up the first kill... The man in the suit starts by brainwashing everyone with "You're all dead," and the whole team's suspicion and infighting is 100 times more exciting than a murder mystery game. There are no overpowered protagonists, only a battle of wits. --▼Click below▼ --Try browsing▼885630

14. 214 官 The Officialdom Game 官奕 Dreams of Spring and Autumn梦话春秋Urban636k WordsOngoing My name is Wei Zilong, and I’ve spent my career in government. Through my story, I want to show everyone what the political arena is really like... When you’re in public service, you can’t always control your own fate. If you never weather a storm, how can you ever mature? 13kReads7.6Score1.1kShelves
15. 215 十 Eleven Madmen 十一个疯子 Lu Ban Banban鲁班班班Mystery2.5M WordsCompleted (Not mindless, no harem, no System, and not a conventional power fantasy. Please read with that in mind.) From the day you were born until now, have you ever had doubts like these? “Do I really exist?” “Does the world really exist?” “Why do I exist?” “And why does the world exist?” “Is my existence inevitable? If I die, will the world keep existing?” “At the moment m 38.7kReads9.4Score5.6kShelves

    Reader note

    These two books are very good.

16. 216 这 This Ghost Has a Heart of Gold 这个鬼的圣母心爆棚啊 It's Ping'an是平安啊Mystery483k WordsOngoing [Fresh new premise, a protagonist who doesn’t get caught up in angst, one heroine, ensemble cast, apocalypse, eerie phenomena, and a cast of smart characters] The story itself is great, but the writing isn’t good enough to do it justice. It’s such a shame. —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The beginning is comedic, but later it starts to involve conspiracies and has a grand plot. Those who like this kind of story should definitely check it out.

17. 217 地 The Eighteenth Level of Hell: No Lying Allowed 地狱十八层：这里禁止说谎 Two Liang of Plain Water二两白开Mystery2.3M WordsOngoing [No System, no power fantasy, no harem, no saintly protagonist. Mind games + wits and strategy + locked-room mysteries + deduction.] Chen Ran is a good person. He went to hell. This is the Tongue-Ripping Hell, where lying is forbidden, so everyone lies about their lies. Differences in how people believe lies should be handled gave rise to two major alliances. The Lie-Slayer Alliance: Lie, and you're killed instantly. The Strange-Tongue Alliance: Turn lies into the truth. A beginner's tutorial wi 74.6kReads9.1Score11.6kShelves
18. 218 大 Ming Dynasty: The Impostor Prince Who Saved the Empire 大明，冒牌皇子挽天倾 Yifan Shi一凡石Historical2.0M WordsOngoing On the eve of the Ming Dynasty’s fall, the Qing already controls most of the realm. After transmigrating, he awakens to find himself mistaken for a dead substitute for one of the Chongzhen Emperor’s surviving descendants. The vast realm lies in ruins, and the heroes within its borders have all fallen. The Qing army’s unification of the realm seems all but certain. But circumstances are ever-changing. When the order to shave their heads and adopt Qing hairstyles tears apart the Han people’s tradi 143.9kReads9.0Score16.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Intrigues and schemes, both overt and covert.

19. 219 离 The Day He Left Office, 100,000 Citizens Blocked the Road to Give Him Sweet Potatoes 离任那天，十万百姓拦路送红薯 Milk Pudding Basic Cola牛奶布丁基本可乐Urban1.4M WordsOngoing Power plays are the ultimate romance for men. Power plays combined with a slow-burn story set in the world of officialdom. Real life has no absolute black and white. Gray occupies most of our time, and everyone has their own logic behind everything they do. 30.4kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves
20. 220 我 My Wife Is the Eastern Jin Dynasty's Number One Female Demon 我老婆是东晋第一女魔头 Handsome Young Man俊俏少年Historical2.6M WordsOngoing The kings of the Sima clan turned their blades on one another. The northern barbarians ate their fill of human flesh. The aristocratic families fled south in terror. The starving commoners boiled their children in pots. Heroes fought for their lives on the battlefield, while nobles got high in their palaces. Sons killed fathers, younger brothers killed older brothers, daughters became slaves, and men became concubines... This absurd age was one long debauch. Tang Yu: “I just want to protect myse 121.2kReads9.3Score11.5kShelves
21. 221 路 Lu Beifang, Tonight the Officialdom Runs Red with Blood 路北方，今夜官血沸腾 Brother Jianghu江湖望哥Urban7.5M WordsOngoing [High-Octane, Passionate, and Deeply Sentimental Political Intrigue!] With power comes responsibility. One thought can separate public duty from private interest, like heaven and earth. Only by holding fast to your principles can you avoid being swept away by the storms or trapped by the gains and losses of personal relationships, and achieve great things. Lu Beifang came from humble beginnings, but lived an extraordinary life. He became a town mayor at 23, a county magistrate at 25, and married 115.9kReads9.1Score7.9kShelves
22. 222 复 Take Revenge on the Whole Village: Knowing All Its Secrets Feels So Good 复仇全村，掌握全村秘密不要太爽 Night Wind Startles the Bamboo夜风惊竹Urban1.8M WordsOngoing [Pure Wish Fulfillment] [Extremely Funny] [You’ll Regret Not Reading This] After being reborn, I become the village chief and learn everyone’s secrets. Zhao Lan: “Chief, could you please keep quiet about my falsified accounts...” Jin MiaoMiao: “Chief, surely we can sit down and talk some things over.” 50.7kReads9.5Score3.8kShelves
23. 223 回 The Spring Renewal Pharmacy 回春药铺 The Coldest Days Are Coming小寒将至Ancient Romance432k WordsCompleted [Pure historical romance + no rebirth or transmigration + revenge + political intrigue] Every thrilling tale begins in a little apothecary. After a chance encounter, a master and apprentice who have both suffered the slaughter of their families and endured countless hardships find themselves facing powerful enemies. They have no choice but to assume secret identities and disappear into the bustling streets of the capital, plotting carefully and advancing step by step as they seek revenge, stirri 19kReads9.4Score2.5kShelves
24. 224 关 The Guanshan Pact 关山契 It's Really a Dog真的是狗Historical488k WordsCompleted On the western frontier, yellow sands bury the dead, and honor is as fragile as paper. The young Zhao Tianhao was merely a merchant’s son from Ping Wharf. With a heart full of sincerity, he kept his contracts, protected his family business, and brought peace to his neighbors. Yet the crushing might of the war-torn age destroyed his household, driving him to abandon trade and take up arms. He entered the death camp, managed military rations, trained a corps of death-defying soldiers, and defended 5.3kReads9.3Score599Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend the first book; it perfectly meets your requirements. The intrigues, schemes, and power struggles are all very realistic. The writing is excellent, with the style of a master writer reminiscent of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and *Water Margin*. The logic is rigorous, the plot is tight, and it's very realistic. War, economics, politics, and resources are intricately interwoven. There's no time travel, no mindless wish fulfillment, no cheat codes, no stupidity, no romance, and no system. The main plot of the first book so far is as follows: Volume 1 shows the rise and fall of a empire, culminating in a logical power reversal in Chapter 10 with guidance from a wise man. Volume 2 is filled with the hardships of working-class people struggling to climb the corporate ladder. Volume 3 begins the battles, entering a world of bloody violence. Volume 4, as of now, elevates the world-building to a new level, reaching a complex game involving multiple countries and factions.

25. 225 宋 The History of the Song Dynasty’s Imperial Court 宋代宫闱史 Xu Muxi许慕羲Historical607k WordsCompleted Drawing on official histories, unofficial accounts, and folk legends, this work offers a profound portrayal of the emperor's emotional world alongside a detailed depiction of life in the palace. It vividly recreates the lives of emperors and empresses in the secluded inner palace, while also offering readers interested in history clues to follow. 2.5kReads9.4Score321Shelves

    Reader note

    High-IQ historical articles

26. 226 盐 Salt and Iron 盐铁 It's Really a Dog真的是狗Historical387k WordsCompleted Liaodong is bitterly cold, and salt is worth its weight in gold. To save his parents, young Shen Huai pawns his hairpin for salt. But without a permit, the officials seize it. His father dies in prison, and his mother’s blood stains their doorstep. After a blizzard, he leaves his home behind and follows his uncle, a wandering man of the jianghu, onto the path of the black salt trade. From then on, he is drawn into the fateful abyss of salt and iron, military funds, and political power. At first, 453Reads—Score—Shelves
27. 227 一 I Woke Up with 40 Murder Cases on My Hands 一觉醒来：我背上了40起命案 No Joy无喜Mystery1.0M WordsCompleted Chen Xiao wakes up to find everything around him strangely unfamiliar. The only thing beside him is a diary. He thinks it might explain his current predicament, but as he reads, he begins to doubt whether its contents are real. It is clearly a record of crimes committed by “himself.” Just as Chen Xiao is about to read on, the piercing wail of police sirens downstairs jolts him awake, and he can't help imagining the worst... 29.8kReads9.3Score3.2kShelves
28. 228 风 The Blade's Shadow in Love and War: A Choice Between Power and Loyalty 风月刀影：权谋与情义的抉择 Pine Sounds Beneath the Inkstone砚底松声Historical500k WordsCompleted When a great fire devours the red gates of the Jun family estate, the young man who emerges through the smoke is no longer the dashing, carefree playboy who once spent his days cockfighting and chasing dogs. His eyes hold fire and blood, and in his hand he clutches half of a broken jade pendant, the last keepsake his father gave him before the family fell. Fate sweeps him like a tide into one abyss after another. From a life of luxury to utter poverty, from the son of the powerful to an outcast 79Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Intrigue and scheming, open and overt strategies, high intelligence—you never know which pit you'll step into next.

29. 229 官 The Official’s Path: Why Is It So Hard to Be a Good Official? 官道：当个好官为什么这么难 A Lonely Blade寂寞一刀Urban1.7M WordsOngoing A contemporary political novel rooted in real life, by a veteran author with years of experience writing political fiction. It’s wonderfully down-to-earth, and its schemes and power struggles will leave you on edge and emotionally reeling. Drawing on personal experiences, the author has created a modern-day exposé of officialdom, rich with life experience and thought-provoking political wisdom. It’s absolutely worth reading. Life is a journey of self-cultivation. You have to find your own path. 40.2kReads8.9Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Those who seek to rule the world must possess great wisdom; all others are but minor paths.

30. 230 救 Help! This Lousy System Is Making Me Found a Sect! 救命！这破系统让我开宗立派！ The Crying of Xiao Xiao萧萧之鸣Eastern Fantasy2.3M WordsCompleted After transmigrating to another world as a sickly man, the male lead triggers a System: if he fails to save twenty people within three years, he’ll die of his illness. He sets off on a journey to save people, meeting one lovely confidante after another along the way. In the end, he’s forced to found a sect and finds his happy ending. (This is not a cultivation novel.) The premise is fairly fresh, leaving behind the traditional level-up-and-fight-monsters formula. The protagonist is frail at firs 36.4kReads9.2Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Political intrigue, open schemes, and conspiracies—a high-quality fantasy novel that's truly captivating.

31. 231 寡 A Widow Is Reborn, but Her Proper-Minded Brother-in-Law Insists on Spoiling Her 寡妇重生，守礼大伯偏要宠 Yi Si Qi Tong一四七童Ancient Romance330k WordsCompleted The heroine is reborn. Both leads are devoted only to each other. The hero is aloof and proper, and pretends to be impotent despite being the heroine’s uncle by marriage. She falls for his seemingly proper act, and he pursues his wife. [The rating is slowly climbing] In her previous life, Jiang Wanshu was forced by her father to marry into the Marquis’s household holding a memorial tablet, where she was expected to live as a widow. To her surprise, her “deceased husband” returned with his belove 421Reads8.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book was really good, very enjoyable, and the female lead was quite intelligent; the second book was a textbook on business warfare, with amazing logic, well-developed characters, and overall very enjoyable.

32. 232 京 The Tide Between Beijing and Hong Kong 京港澜渡 A Book Worth a Fortune一本千万利Modern Romance631k WordsOngoing [The rating just opened, slowly climbing] [Hong Kong old-money style vs. Beijing political circles] [Intrigue and covert battles among the wealthy] [High-IQ business and romance] [Slow burn, not a fast-paced power fantasy; feel free to skip chapters] Four pairs of hunters, four hunts. The rain pours over Hong Kong. Come enjoy a TVB-style romance, business-war, and suspense drama! Sweet nothings go beyond “Stay a little longer” and “I adore you” to include “I’m crazy about you.” Duplicity is the 8.1kReads8.9Score740Shelves
33. 233 穿 Transmigrated as an Unlucky Villain, I’m Giving Up and Taking It Easy 穿成倒霉反派后，我直接摆烂了 Little Flower Eats Melon小花吃瓜Ancient Romance3.8M WordsOngoing Also known as: After the Villainess Gives Up, She Still Holds Power Over the Court [Content warnings: Ensemble cast! Ensemble cast! Ensemble cast! Goofy humor! Goofy humor! Goofy humor! Lots of unserious everyday moments, slow pacing] Cross-dressing as a man + a little political scheming + lighthearted comedy + ensemble cast + a touch of the supernatural The protagonist has a romance, but it doesn't take up much of the story. She is a true villain, the kind who is destined to fight the original 1.5kReads9.2Score161Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is definitely worth reading.

34. 234 官 The Official Road, Starting at Level Three 官道，从三段开始 Mr. Fishjoy鱼乐先生Urban512k WordsOngoing My name is Bu Qingyun. (I hold a senior government post and have a fortune worth over a hundred million.) Let me tell you a secret. Ever since I was in elementary school, entering politics has been the light of my ideals and the flame of my ambition. It was buried in my heart like a seed, ready to take root and sprout as soon as the soil was right... 18.6kReads7.6Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended novels that you won't be able to put down! Realistic novels! They reveal the secrets of officialdom!

35. 235 职 Professional Assassin: From the Start, I Target a Court Official 职业杀手，开局刺杀朝廷命官 Dreaming of the Corner梦知隅Historical626k WordsCompleted [Political intrigue + history + martial arts + clever protagonists] At the end of a dynasty, human lives are worth less than grass. The court, feudal lords, powerful clans, and the martial world are all placing their bets recklessly. Lu Chen has no interest in gambling. He just wants to make enough money to retire in comfort. But the Pavilion Master claps him on the shoulder and says, “This is the best of times.” Then he pushes Lu Chen into the game of contending for the realm. Assassinations, f 966Reads8.2Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    The single female lead plot is unexpected, the mission is intelligent, and the author has good writing skills.

36. 236 无 Silent 1937 无声1937 Dreaming of the Corner梦知隅Urban746k WordsOngoing In his previous life, he met with an accident while carrying out a mission. When he opened his eyes, he had become Chen Shusheng, captain of a Juntong action squad, locked in an interrogation room and framed as a scapegoat. The Japanese spy wants him dead. His own men have set him up. His superior is happy to go along with it. On this path, one wrong word means death, and trusting the wrong person means ruin beyond redemption. He comes from the future and knows how much more suffering this natio 101.9kReads8.8Score9.3kShelves
37. 237 长 The Chilling Wind Over the River 长风江上寒 Hidden and at Ease若隐若闲Eastern Fantasy3.4M WordsOngoing Not only them, but everyone in the martial world had heard the legend of the Blade Demon. What they didn't know was that the seemingly harmless boy standing before them was that very Blade Demon! The God of Slaughter! H-he's not dead! He's back! A beauty tucked under one arm, a killing blade in the other! Living freely, roaming the world at his leisure! When you find yourself caught in a scheme, do you ever suspect it's a scheme within a scheme? Or perhaps... a scheme within a scheme within a sc 20.8kReads8.7Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This is a very good book. Without further ado, let's get straight to the point and share it with everyone.

38. 238 再 Look at Me Like That Again and I'll Slap You 再看老子拍死你 The Enlightened One Said悟道子曰Eastern Fantasy511k WordsOngoing [The Most Hardcore Male Lead] [邪修] [A Cunning Old Schemer] [A Little Pervert] [Making a Fortune in Silence] [Beast Taming] [Looting Corpses] [Romantic Encounters] Slapping beautiful women, romantic encounters, dual cultivation, looting corpses, and finishing off his enemies with a surprise strike. He raises a pack of ferocious beasts, birds of prey, venomous insects, and corpse puppets, and his combat prowess is off the charts. The male lead pulls off one outrageous move after another, never pla 7kReads—Score693Shelves

    Reader note

    [A Sly and Cunning Male Lead] He slaps beautiful women, has romantic encounters, picks up bargains, loots corpses, and finishes them off with a swift counterattack. He raises a group of ferocious beasts, birds of prey, and insects, constantly pulling off outrageous maneuvers. This lovable but mischievous protagonist never plays by the rules, the pace is fast, and the action is packed with satisfying moments. You won't regret investing in him! [Kiss][Admiration][Shy][What][Pout][Shy]

39. 239 盲 The Blind Physician in the Capital: Schemes of the Imperial Court 盲医踏京：帝阙权谋录 Dong Wang Jinglan东往景澜Ancient Romance237k WordsCompleted She is a blind physician with clear-sighted purpose, lying low for thirty years, waiting to stir up the treacherous imperial court. He is the supreme ruler, commanding all beneath heaven and mastering every scheme, yet somehow failing to account for his own heart. One fateful red thread binds her bloody vendetta at one end and his vast empire at the other. When her celestial eye sees through his game, it also reveals her own fate. A tragic romance that begins in manipulation and ends in deep 100Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend a morally sound historical romance novel about political intrigue: *The Blind Doctor's Journey to the Capital: A Chronicle of Imperial Power*. A blind female doctor, burdened with a deep-seated blood feud, remains kind-hearted, practicing medicine to save lives while acting with discretion and principle. The emperor, navigating the court, prioritizes the well-being of his people. Their relationship begins with calculation but culminates in understanding; they love each other without losing themselves, placing the greater good of their country above personal feelings. The political intrigue is logically rigorous, the characters are well-developed, and there are no extreme or biased plot points. With its sound values, delicate writing, and appealing style, this is a must-read for readers tired of mindless, feel-good novels.

40. 240 双 Bound Together Across Two Lifetimes, We’ll Grow Old Together 双世缱绻，与君共白头 Dreamer Dadao爱做梦的大道Ancient Romance727k WordsCompleted [Two powerful leads who rise to greatness | Complete souls | Extreme contrast | Love across two lifetimes | Sweet romance and court intrigue] A modern married couple are reborn as babies in the Tianqi Dynasty. He becomes an iron-fisted Crown Prince, commands the Xuanhuo Army, and plots to industrialize the realm. She becomes a queen of commerce, controls trade routes along three borders, and holds the lifeblood of the people in her hands! Toward their enemies, he presides over the execution of t 5.5kReads8.1Score646Shelves

    Reader note

    A story of childhood sweethearts and a loving couple for 55 years in their past lives, both protagonists are reborn, and the male lead is a UI designer with a meticulously crafted political intrigue plot (implementing new policies and navigating court politics), a delicate emotional arc (daily interactions and tender care), and practical application of modern skills (double-entry bookkeeping and design applications). This multi-dimensional balance of elements makes it a well-rounded tale of sweet romance, political intrigue, powerful duo co-rule, past-life bonds, a deeply affectionate time-travel relationship, and a profound entanglement of romance and court politics.

41. 241 神 The Gods Devour Earth 神噬地球 The Old Donkey Keeps Braying驴子老叫Sci-Fi & Apocalypse536k WordsOngoing [Ensemble cast] + [No overpowered cheats] + [Power struggles] + [Slow burn, not a power fantasy] + [No stereotypical characters] + [Wits and strategy] + [A blend of classical and modern prose, not for everyone] (Revised through Chapter 37 of Volume Two. Later chapters will be updated gradually.) Thermodynamics applies in this book. You cannot replenish your mana forever. Any method of gaining power will gradually be discovered by others over time, causing its benefits to diminish until they even 48.6kReads9.5Score8.9kShelves

    Reader note

    A passerby brutally beats up a cheat-like character, while an atheist outwits Cthulhu. A new genre: the anti-cheat style. [Thumbs up] When all characters' intelligence loses its value and aura in reality, cheat-like abilities become a death knell for possessing something valuable.

42. 242 乱 A Lone Woman in Troubled Times, Plotting an Age of Prosperity 乱世孤女，谋千古盛世 Lingering Fragrance and Faded Powder旧香残粉Ancient Romance2.2M WordsOngoing [Strong Female Lead + No CP + Empress + Ensemble Cast + Political Scheming + War + Power Struggles in a Chaotic Era + Nation-Building and Farming + No Spatial Storage or System + Slow-Burn Growth + Epic Length] Yun Huaijin suddenly became a "corpse" in a world torn apart by chaos. She crawled out of a pile of bodies, with only a child on the verge of starving to death beside her. In this world, nobles lived in drunken indulgence, powerful clans monopolized knowledge, bandits slaughtered withou 24.2kReads8.9Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend! The female lead is not only a skilled warrior on horseback but also a capable ruler on foot—truly a woman of both literary and martial talents! She has everything you're looking for, haha!

43. 243 寒 A Cold Crow Nests in Your Heart 寒鸦栖君心 Wind and Sunset风夕阳Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Everyone envies the Prince of Beian for loving his wife beyond all measure, with a love as deep as the sea. No one knows he won this perfect life by risking everything. Yan Junjue clawed his way out of a mountain of corpses in the Cold Palace. He was bloodthirsty and ruthless, a possessive, obsessive madman whose jealousy was carved into his bones. Everyone in the world feared him. Only Cui Yunqi was a little warmth in his endless darkness. She was the proud and steadfast lord of Hanya City, dev 9.1kReads8.8Score907Shelves

    Reader note

    Intrigue, open schemes, and cunning calculations—it's not just about palace intrigue and family feuds, but also about national integrity and the examination of human nature.

44. 244 权 A Woman in Power 权姝 Wind and Sunset风夕阳Ancient Romance628k WordsCompleted Legitimate daughter | Devoted hidden guard × Long-suffering childhood friend, the prince | Pure romance | Court intrigue | Strong female lead | Nation and family The court of the Great Qi dynasty is in turmoil, with the struggle for the throne brewing beneath the surface. The Molong cavalry bears down on Zhenmen Pass, where starving, freezing soldiers hold the border with their flesh and blood. On the battlefields of a troubled age, it is not only men who march to their deaths. Fu Ziyou brav 558Reads—Score—Shelves
45. 245 财 The Wealth Immortal Has Arrived 财仙到 You Zi Yin油子吟Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsCompleted “You can't be bent by force, but you can be corrupted by wealth.” “Bowing for five bushels of rice is the bearing of an immortal.” “Nothing matters more than silver. And if something does...” “Then it must be even more silver...” What is cultivation like for everyone else? Qingshan doesn't care. He cultivates by making money from people, immortals, and even Heaven itself. The more silver he earns, the stronger he becomes! Why become so strong? Naturally, to earn even more silver... The Way of th 18kReads8.9Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    From brain teasers to power struggles to the grand scheme of the world

46. 246 烈 Blazing Flames Sweep the Plains: Whose Ming Dynasty Is Burning? 烈焰燎原，谁的大明在燃烧 The Rabbit on Hanlin Street翰林街的兔子Historical2.0M WordsCompleted [Historical Setting] [No System] [Transmigration] [Ensemble Cast] [Struggle for Supremacy] [A nation's fortunes at the bottleneck of civilization] [The budding of capitalism entangled with tradition] [Less court politics, more focus on ordinary people] History isn't about romance and beauty. It's where human nature collides. It's about surviving with no resignation, no surrender, and no regrets. In the Great Ming dynasty, wastrels, hypocrites, and selfish men held power. Nurgan, the Hetao r 15.1kReads8.6Score1.3kShelves
47. 247 大 Great Ming's Legitimate Eldest Grandson: Grandpa Emperor Makes Me Hunt Down Corrupt Officials 大明嫡长孙：皇爷爷逼我抓贪官 Short Autumn 667短短秋667Historical796k WordsCompleted [No mindless plot]+ [Character growth]+ [Court intrigue]+ [Family and country] In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, Zhu Xiongying, eldest legitimate grandson of the emperor, was supposed to die young. But this time, he survives. A night of high fever throws half the Eastern Palace into chaos. Zhu Yuanzhang stands guard by his bed, murderous intent in his eyes. Zhu Biao stays at his side, eyes red, while the Imperial Medical Academy kneels in rows as if attending an ancestral sacrifice. Everyone th 115Reads—Score—Shelves
48. 248 风 The Wind Sweeps Through Xizhou City 风过西周城 In the Sanxiyuan Garden三溪園里Urban260k WordsCompleted The long-running anti-corruption novel The Wind Sweeps Through Xizhou City has thirty-one chapters and a total of 260,000 words. It tells the story of the offices in Xizhou County, a county town on the western plains. Career and romance, social relationships and the ways of the world, survival and workplace advancement: a series of collisions between people and events, feelings and rules, conscience and human nature paints a vivid, tangled portrait of ordinary people at the grassroots level. It 266Reads6.7Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    All the intrigues and schemes of the world are contained in the officialdom novel "The Wind Passes Through the Western Zhou City".

49. 249 风 The Wind Blows Through Xizhou City: Part Two 风过西周城第二部 In the Sanxiyuan Garden三溪園里Urban383k WordsCompleted The second volume of the long anti-corruption novel Wind Over Xizhou City continues the story begun in the first. Planned to span thirty-three chapters and 390,000 characters, it once again unfolds among the offices of Xizhou County, in the western plains. Career and love, human relationships and social customs, the rules of survival, and advancement at work: a series of collisions between people and events, emotion and rules, conscience and human nature. It paints a vivid, tangled portrait of e 145Reads—Score—Shelves
50. 250 红 A Red-Blooded Official's Rise to Power 红色军转官场逆袭 The Zhu Clan's Spring and Autumn朱氏春秋Urban1.4M WordsOngoing Lin Ning was born into a privileged family, but turned down their support to leave the military as the special forces soldier “Mountain Hawk,” determined to start from the bottom and build his career from scratch. He places first in the provincial civil service exam, only to have someone take his spot and be sent to the logistics department. He quietly bides his time in the face of injustice, takes over public complaints and petitions, and uses the role as the start of his comeback. When he is 11.3kReads7.3Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend these three novels about officialdom.

Other lists with Flowers at the Bottom of the Valley