Harem Intrigue, With a Clear-Headed Female Lead and Both Leads Having Past Relationships 想要宫斗，女主清醒，双不洁

1. 1 贵 The Imperial Consort Is Ravishingly Beautiful, but All She Wants Is Power and Wealth 贵妃千娇百媚，只求权势富贵 Fujiwara Tofu藤原豆腐Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [A mad, obsessive emperor with jealousy to spare x a consort who has renounced love and walled off her heart] [One-on-one romance + both reborn + devoted to each other in body and heart, in both lives] One-line summary: A story about an emperor who lost the love of his life, and how he slowly teaches the woman he loves to understand love, jealousy, anger, and longing. As the eldest son born to the empress, Qi Junyi was born to privilege. He seized power in his youth, was named crown princ 10.6kReads8.1Score644Shelves

   Reader note

   This is really good.

2. 2 大 A Blessed Heir for the Ming Dynasty: The Empress Begs Every Day to Be Deposed 大明好孕：皇后娘娘她日日求被废 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted They are not mutually exclusive, and this book covers quite a lot of Ming dynasty history. Some details may not be accurate, so please bear with me. Thank you. Jing Shu transmigrated as Hu Shanxiang, the most useless empress in the Great Ming dynasty, and nearly fell apart. Sun was Zhu Zhanji’s childhood sweetheart. Jing Shu was at best a lucky charm her family had offered to the imperial household. How could she possibly compete with Sun? So, knowing how history would unfold, Jing Shu simply g 4.4kReads9.1Score290Shelves
3. 3 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 87.1kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves
4. 4 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 120.1kReads9.5Score11.3kShelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist is always clear-headed and intelligent, knowing exactly what she wants. While she's not a good person, she believes in self-preservation. This is the first time I've read a book like this; by the end, the story between the male and female leads forms a perfect closed loop. Because the female protagonist doesn't understand love, the male lead suffers a lot in his first life. The second life is their sweetest, with only each other and no one else. As for the third and fourth lives, although there are twists and turns, the mutual testing between the male and female leads is still very engaging. This book is unlike typical tropes and is well worth reading.

5. 5 白 The White Moonlight Noble Consort’s Daily Life in the Harem 白月光贵妃的后宫日常 Yuanzi Eats Mulberries元子吃桑葚Ancient Romance434k WordsCompleted (Cover used with permission) With an illustrious family background, breathtaking beauty, and the distinction of being the emperor’s moonlight, Jiang Hui should have found life as a Noble Consort effortlessly easy. Unfortunately, the sisters in all but name in the Eastern Palace, wave after wave of beautiful candidates from the provinces, and the supposed substitutes who resemble her in looks and bearing all tell her the same thing: no one can walk unscathed through the imperial harem. [Alternate 24.6kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves

   Reader note

   It's not that both characters are impure, but the female leads are both very clear-headed; it's purely a palace intrigue story.

6. 6 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.2kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves
7. 7 浣 Huan Bi Becomes a Consort 浣碧为妃 Ye Yongsi夜永思Female-Channel Fanfiction250k WordsCompleted When Huanbi was reborn, she no longer lost herself in the lonely waiting of her previous life. What would her future hold? Would she leave the palace with her elder sister, as she had in her previous life? Her greatest wish was to become a daughter of the Zhen family openly and honorably, and to have her mother’s memorial tablet placed in the ancestral hall. After careful thought, Huanbi decided to stay in the palace and find a chance to get close to the emperor. She would use his power to prote 2.3kReads9.1Score202Shelves
8. 8 娇 The Sweet, Beloved Consort Who Bewitches Hearts 娇娇宠妃惑人心 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Not a pure couple; he dotes on her exclusively later on; a little palace intrigue; the heroine is a master flirt; story complete] She transmigrated from the modern world. Quirky and clever, she was also a brilliant actress. Emperor Shengwu could govern with effortless command, bring peace and stability to the realm, and win battles from a thousand miles away, striking fear across the four seas. He was an emperor who held all power in his hands and ruled over all beneath the heavens. Yun Mengq 56.6kReads9.3Score6.9kShelves

   Reader note

   The female lead is lucid, there's a bit of palace intrigue, the male lead is the emperor, and he dotes on her exclusively in the later stages.

9. 9 继 The Second Empress 继后 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The Noble Consort was favored, the Worthy Consort bore a son, the Bright Etiquette was the emperor’s white moonlight, and the Beautiful Consort was his cinnabar mole. Every other concubine had her own talents and charms. It was a whole garden in full bloom. So who was our protagonist? The unfavored empress, with no children and no powerful family backing. Great. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Never mind. On the first day Zhao Wumian transmigrated here, she decided to lie flat. Compete for t 79.6kReads9.5Score8.9kShelves

   Reader note

   🔥🔥🔥Zhao Wumian, a time traveler from a later era, is a "three-nothing" individual: childless, without family background, and without affection. He doesn't love, so he doesn't compete or fight, content with his lot and living each day to the fullest. No virginity, no high-tech elements from the future—a very realistic time-travel story. ❤️❤️❤️

10. 10 贵 The Noble Consort's Thousand Charms 贵妃千娇百媚 Ji Nanzhi寄南枝Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Palace-intrigue novel + reborn black lotus heroine + exceptionally talented actress, rising through the ranks] [The male lead has consorts at first. After falling for the heroine, he favors her, makes her his sole favorite, and eventually dismisses his harem. One-on-one romance.] In her previous life, Shen Fu was a substitute for her elder sister. Her sister was the beloved Noble Consort, the most favored woman in the imperial harem, and lived in unmatched splendor. Shen Fu, timid and frail, ha 3.1kReads8.5Score360Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is super good!

11. 11 宠 He Spoiled His Concubine and Neglected His Wife. Reborn, I Broke Off My Engagement to the Scumbag and Married the Prince 宠妾灭妻，重生我退婚渣男嫁王爷 Zhi Zhi之知Ancient Romance640k WordsCompleted The physical book is available on all major platforms. Formerly titled Riding the Phoenix. [Reborn + Powerful Female Lead and Male Lead + Nation and World + Political Schemes] Before the age of seventeen, Shen Yu was the legitimate daughter of a military family who could wield a blade and charge into battle. After seventeen, she became the frail wife of Jiang Manor's Vice Minister Jiang. Her father and brothers died in battle, and the entire Shen family was honored for their loyalty. Bearing 87.6kReads9.5Score12kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is good; the female protagonist is strong-willed and has her own opinions.

12. 12 演 I Played the Emperor My Whole Life, and After Being Reborn, He Still Wants the Crown Prince 演了皇上一辈子，重生他还要太子 One Little Sweet Fish一口小甜鱼Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Original title: Only After His Death Did He Learn That the Empress Did Not Want to Be Buried With Him [The heroine transmigrates, the hero is reborn] As he lay dying, Emperor Tianhe looked back on his eventful life. He had risen from humble beginnings to become the founding emperor, and the world praised his achievements. In his fading consciousness, he saw his virtuous empress, his beautiful consorts, and his weeping children. He felt that his life had been complete. But after he died, his soul 31.7kReads8.9Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    After her rebirth, it's a clean break story... Anyway, the female lead is incredibly clear-headed, while the male lead is completely smitten. The female lead will never truly fall in love with the male lead; she'll never gamble on the insecurity stemming from their unequal social standing. She's absolutely clear-headed and rational.

13. 13 与 Joy with You 与君欢 Moonset月落Ancient Romance657k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] A young king and queen join hands to bring peace to the realm, brimming with ambition! A sinister, calculating ruler versus a clever, decisive queen: evenly matched, they win the world together! Jiang He, daughter of an envoy from Qi, was forced to enter the palace as a servant after her mother died and her father disappeared. Then, just before the marriage alliance, the princess of Qi died a tragic death, leaving 26.3kReads9.5Score3.4kShelves

    Reader note

    👍Political intrigue and palace drama + arranged marriage + mutual devotion✨ I couldn't wait to recommend this before even finishing it! #The young emperor and empress join hands, full of vigor and ambition to conquer the world! From mutual testing to becoming confidants, from constant suspicion to unwavering trust, from playing along to giving their hearts away~ After he falls in love, she wants to leave with someone else? Amidst a thousand armies and the surging tides of the four seas, you are mine, who dares to take you away~

14. 14 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    Everything I release is guaranteed to be a high-quality product.

15. 15 疯 Mad Empress: I’ll Be the Harem’s Number One White Lotus 疯批皇后，争做后宫第一白莲花 Luo Zhi洛枝Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Transmigration into a fictional setting + highly intelligent heroine in palace intrigue + face-slapping + a volatile, multifaceted personality + not a clean romance] Lin Junxue transmigrated to the Xie Dynasty, an era that had never existed in history, and ended up as an unloved empress who had no idea how she died. She’d thought she was a powerless, unloved empress, but it turned out the original owner’s father was a first-rank military marquis, a loyal servant of the court for three generatio 24.4kReads9.1Score2.8kShelves
16. 16 怎 How Can Anyone Resist the Noble Consort's Alluring Charm? 怎敌贵妃百媚千娇 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + heroine transmigrates] In the fifth year of Yongyan, the emperor ordered a selection of consorts. Wen Wanyu was the most beautiful among the candidates. With her charming looks and soft, lilting voice, she was as delicate as a flower and soon won the emperor’s favor. She had once been the apple of her father’s eye, but when he was framed and her elder brother humiliated, she defied her whole family and asked to enter the palace to protect them. From the darling 2.2kReads8.9Score194Shelves
17. 17 谁 Whose Favored Concubine Doesn't Get Herself Killed? 谁家宠妾不作死啊 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Pei Shiyuan had always thought that, as a concubine-born daughter, she thrived at her family home because she knew a little tea ceremony and all she had to do was flatter her father, the head of the household. She had been quite pleased with herself about it, right up until she entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The Eighth Prince’s mother, the Noble Consort, was so favored that the Empress had no room to stand. His maternal family wielded so much power that the court officials could barely b 77.1kReads9.5Score7.9kShelves

    Reader note

    So beautiful! 🥰🥰

18. 18 都 I'm Already a Concubine, So How Could I Not Go Mad? 都做妾了，哪有不疯的？ Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance762k WordsCompleted #She miscarries from the start. What's wrong with going a little crazy?# #The heroine isn't a good person, the hero isn't a good person, and nobody's a good person# Yuan Xiangxue transmigrates. Other heroines either become mothers without the pain or get an overpowered golden finger. She's the unlucky one who miscarries from the start... Then she takes a look at her new identity: she's become the concubine of Liang Yujing, the ninth prince of the Great Liang Dynasty. She was a perfectly good per 5.2kReads8.6Score500Shelves
19. 19 九 Ninefold Brocade 九重锦 Evening Breeze Under the Moon月下晚风Ancient Romance715k WordsCompleted Household and palace intrigue, with the leads not both being each other's first. A fictional setting, with all ranks and titles made up. A heroine who grows over time and isn't blinded by love. After being suppressed for more than a decade, a concubine-born daughter has her fate rearranged overnight. Entering the prince's manor only fuels her ambition. Her birth father ignores her, allowing her stepmother to torment her and her mother for half their lives without ever offering them the slightest 35.1kReads9.3Score5.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Take a look at these two books

20. 20 皇 The Empress Leaped to Her Death, and the Mad Tyrant Wept Until His Eyes Were Red 皇后纵身一跃，疯批暴君哭红了眼 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance635k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, devoted couple + palace intrigue + regretful pursuit, clear-headed heroine, everyone's unattainable ideal] Meng Tang is a gracious, gentle empress who never competes for favor. Everyone thinks she is a true white lotus standing tall in the harem, and even the tyrant believes it. He takes a new concubine, and she smiles, congratulates him, and arranges for the newcomer to spend the night with him. He sends her restorative medicine, and she obediently takes it, knowing full we 21.5kReads9.3Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    This is a non-pure palace intrigue novel where the male and female leads are clear-headed and not driven by romantic idealism; they show mutual affection but are not completely open with each other.

21. 21 综 A Comprehensive Qing Dynasty Journey: Splendid Elegance 综清穿：锦绣风华 Drunk in the Flower Fields花田醉Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted (Alternate Qing Dynasty setting + Space + System + Slow Travel Through Worlds + Strong Female Lead + Feel-Good Story) Her golden finger is seriously overpowered. She can torment anyone she likes, but never the heroine. There may not be a love interest in every world. (A quick heads-up: this is a Qing Dynasty crossover story. The heroine will transmigrate into all kinds of roles. If that's not your thing, feel free to leave. There's no need to tell the author you're dropping the story, or to stic 12.8kReads9.2Score726Shelves

    Reader note

    I think these two books are worth reading.

22. 22 盛 The Fourth Prince's Consort's Favor: Raising Children in the Inner Court 盛宠四福晋：后院养崽记 Wu Wu乌邬Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Shu Wen transmigrates into the Fourth Prince's household in the Qing dynasty and becomes obsessed with raising children, while the Fourth Prince falls deeply in love with her. Shu Wen, a "seedling gardener," was on her way to Beijing to receive an award when a plane crash sent her transmigrating to the Qing dynasty. She wakes up as the Fourth Prince's principal wife, Lady Ulanara, the poor woman who spent the first half of her life trying to have children and the second half mourning Honghui. Sh 3.1kReads9.0Score257Shelves
23. 23 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    My top palace intrigue novels: First, the protagonist transmigrates and becomes the Empress, gradually winning over hearts and minds and slowly taking control of the harem; her only concern is power. Second, the female lead is purely from ancient times; this one is highly recommended. She has no special abilities, relying solely on her intelligence to enter the palace and her unwavering belief in becoming Empress. Third, also quite good, the female lead is a psychology PhD who transmigrates; her expertise in psychology is equivalent to having mind-reading abilities, allowing her to navigate the harem successfully.

24. 24 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 69kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves
25. 25 蛇 The Viperous Favorite Consort: Scheming Her Way to Rule as Empress Dowager 蛇蝎宠妃心机深，垂帘听政做太后 It's Xinxin是欣欣呦Ancient Romance497k WordsCompleted [Content warning! The female lead is a wholly evil villain, cruel and scheming, and will stop at nothing to climb to the top.] “[Don't randomly bring up women competing against women. This is a palace-intrigue story!! The harem is a workplace, and the imperial consorts are all rivals!]” Bu Xingruo was the most favored consort in the palace. In her previous life, she let the Emperor's favor go to her head, throwing her weight around and acting arrogantly in the harem. Lost in the Emperor's fleeti 658Reads8.6Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Two really good books

26. 26 穿 The Daily Life of a Laid-Back Concubine After Transmigrating 穿越之闲鱼妾室的日常 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance480k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + household and palace intrigue + no golden finger + devoted love later on] Zhang Xinian transmigrated into the body of a concubine in Prince Jing’s household. Above her was the princess consort, backed by powerful connections and ruthless in her methods. Beside her was a brainless side consort with overwhelming fighting prowess. Below her, a reborn woman and a transmigrated woman were locked in fierce competition. Zhang Xinian trembled with fear. She had no golden finger and did 104.7kReads9.4Score12.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead remained clear-headed and knew what she wanted.

27. 27 侯 The Marquis's Widow Raised a Household of Geniuses 侯夫人守寡，却养出满门天骄 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Tang Shuyi transmigrated into the Great Qian dynasty, becoming the wife of the Marquis of Yongning. She was rich, powerful, and high-status, with no parents-in-law and a dead husband: she had it better than almost anyone else who had transmigrated. Just as she was about to enjoy a comfortable life as a wealthy noblewoman, she discovered that she had transmigrated into a book, and was its biggest villain. She wasn’t just rich, powerful, and high-status. She also had three unruly children. The eld 71.3kReads9.4Score10.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist transmigrates and becomes a mother; she is capable and resourceful. The male protagonist appears later in the story.

28. 28 一 We Transmigrated Together: My Sister Became the Empress, and I Became a Princess Consort 一起穿越：姐姐做皇后，我做王妃 Mr. Zhuozhou涿州先生Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Two couples + both inexperienced + sweet romance] Sisters Lu Wanxi and Lu Yanhua had just finished their college entrance exams and were waiting to start university when an accident sent them both transmigrating to a strange era: the Great Qi Dynasty, a time period neither of the two liberal arts students had ever even heard of. They transmigrate into the Lu clan of Fanyang, a distinguished family among the Five Surnames and Seven Great Clans, where they are also cousins. Surrounded by an unfam 1.7kReads9.1Score195Shelves
29. 29 废 The Crown Prince Is Deposed and Down for the Count, So I'll Make You a Father 废太子躺下，本宫让你喜当爹 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted (Villainous cast + revenge power fantasy + scumbag comeuppance) PS: One woman and four men, all with messy romantic pasts. Read at your own risk. Qin Wanqing had spent her whole life as everyone’s unattainable ideal, getting everything she wanted. Then, five years after entering the palace, she was relentlessly plotted against. Her health was ruined, and her beauty withered. The men who swore they loved only her found replacements and set out to break her, leaving her to live in hell. To prove t 138Reads8.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You definitely won't regret watching it.

30. 30 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 56.6kReads9.5Score7kShelves
31. 31 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 47.7kReads9.5Score6.1kShelves
32. 32 为 The Professional Ethics of a Concubine 为妾的职业操守 Lin Wanzi林丸子Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main Story Complete] Ye Qingzhi, an overworked office drone, transmigrates into the body of a concubine in the Jiangyang Marquis’s household. Since she’s here, she might as well go crazy. Being a concubine is just changing workplaces. She doesn’t need to get emotionally involved. She can simply treat herself like a tool. Ye Qingzhi’s career goal: convince both the marquis and the principal wife to take responsibility for her and protect her. Ye Qingzhi’s workplace motto: Life is short. We’re al 31.5kReads9.4Score3.7kShelves
33. 33 宫 A Palace Maid’s Daily Struggles 宫女奋斗日常 Phantom Beneath the Moon月下幻影Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ling Huan has skin as smooth as ice and looks like a goddess, yet she has no interest in power and thinks only of leaving the palace. In the end, neither she nor her child meets a good end. Given another chance, her goal is to raise her child well and become Empress Dowager herself. A palace-intrigue story with a strong female lead. The heroine is ruthless and clever. A thoroughly satisfying read. 5.9kReads9.2Score846Shelves

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue and child-rearing story, this book tells the tale of a female protagonist's rebirth. After her rebirth, she uses her memories of her past life to carefully navigate each step, rising from a palace maid to the empress—every step is fraught with danger and suspense! It's super captivating!!!

34. 34 以 Trading a Concubine's Daughter for the Legitimate Heir? The Reborn Legitimate Daughter Shines Across the Capital 以庶换嫡？重生嫡女艳冠满京都 Bunny Pillow兔兔抱枕Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance + household intrigue + reborn + revenge + putting scumbags in their place + strong heroine + satisfying read] ​Jiang Zhaoyue was the legitimate daughter of a marquis, but at birth she was switched with the lowly illegitimate daughter of a concubine. In her previous life, Jiang Yuning stole her place, married the Crown Prince, and eventually became Empress, living a life of glory and luxury. Jiang Zhaoyue, meanwhile, was framed and robbed of her innocence, then forced to marry 4.5kReads8.6Score365Shelves
35. 35 撕 Tear Apart the Harem! Win Favor! She's a Lunatic, Who Dares Cross Her? 撕后宫！得恩宠！她是疯批谁敢惹 Cats Are Extra Sweet猫猫特别甜Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue Only + Concubine-born Daughter + Reborn + Revenge + Everyone Is Evil + Wish-Fulfillment] [The story begins before the heroine enters the palace] [The emperor favors no one at first, and the heroine doesn’t fall in love] Jiang Shiying had died once. She died in childbirth, after her own elder sister had her killed to keep the baby. Reborn, she had made up her mind: she would enter the palace and get revenge, but she wouldn’t suffer! Not her stepmother or her elder sister, not eve 7.5kReads9.3Score952Shelves

    Reader note

    🍉🍉Not a story with a clean break + female lead who is lucid + rebirth + transmigration + satisfying read👇 ① The female lead is a concubine's daughter who was killed by her elder sister in her previous life. Reborn, she slaps her stepmother in the face and kicks her scumbag father. In this life, she secretly resolves not to seek true love, but only wealth and status; she will become the most noble woman in the world. ② The female lead is a modern-day executive who transmigrates into the body of a concubine in the Great Zhou Kingdom. Upon arrival, she is immediately framed. As a high-ranking executive, she has seen all kinds of intrigue and treachery; these tricks are nothing to her. The female lead focuses solely on her career and doesn't concern herself with romance.

36. 36 娇 The Alluring and Virtuous Consort Is a Master Flirt, and the Coldhearted Emperor Takes the Bait 娇媚贤妃太会撩，薄情帝王上钩了 Shou Chu守初Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + political scheming + slice of life + alternate world + heroine focused on her career] (Don't nitpick the historical details. Everything follows the author's own version!) Jiang Wanyi, a modern-day executive, unexpectedly transmigrates into the virtuous consort of the Great Zhou Kingdom. She thinks that with such a high-ranking position, she can relax and coast to an easy victory! Who could have guessed there'd be a honey-tongued, two-faced empress above her, along with an arro 58Reads—Score—Shelves
37. 37 娘 The Bewitching Consort Goes Mad, Scheming Ruthlessly to Seize the Empress’s Throne 娘娘疯诱娇媚，狠毒宫斗疯夺后位 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance202k WordsCompleted [Doesn't love the emperor + single-mindedly plays palace politics + not mutually chaste + favored exclusively in the later stages + no idiotic palace scheming + the empress's throne! The empress's throne!] Lin Zhi Ruan concealed her looks until she entered the palace, only then revealing her true appearance. Before she died, Concubine Meng clutched her hand tightly and warned her never to show her real face before leaving the estate. Given the chance to enter the palace, Lin Zhi Ruan understood 298Reads7.5Score—Shelves
38. 38 人 Life Is a Play, and the Empress Is All About Her Acting Skills 人生如戏，娘娘她纯拼演技 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + witty banter + sweet, delicate beauty + calculated mind games] The leads are not each other’s only partners. If that bothers you, don’t read. Be prepared for suspicion in the early chapters, followed by affection later. The pacing is slow, so proceed with caution if you prefer fast-paced wish-fulfillment stories. As a double award-winning actress and a seasoned star of palace intrigue dramas, how could Shi Yan possibly lose her nerve after transmigrating into the imperial hare 5kReads9.3Score532Shelves
39. 39 你 Didn't You Say She Was Old and Out of Favor? 你不是说她年纪大，不得宠吗？ I'm Xingxing Da我是星星大Ancient Romance590k WordsCompleted [Palace and household intrigue + raising children + food + everyday life + not chaste, but doted on] Su Tang transmigrated into the body of a concubine of Xiao Jingrong, Heir of the Prince of Zhaonan, with a two-year-old toddler in tow. The original owner had let herself go, behaved crudely, and was even older than the heir. He had long since forgotten her, leaving her to languish in a corner. Su Tang figured that was just fine. She wouldn’t compete for his favor or make the first move. But then 21.2kReads8.8Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I've read many palace intrigue novels, and there are many different types. My absolute favorites are the first and the last one.

40. 40 通 The Bedchamber Maid 通房丫鬟 Snow on the Cold River寒江雪Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted As a bedchamber maid, Hua Rong has always remembered her place. She mustn't fall in love with her master, let him become addicted to women, or compete with his future young madam for his affections. After finally enduring until age and fading looks let her buy back her freedom, Hua Rong sets her sights on an honest, decent widower and plans to share a simple life with him. But her highborn master pins her to the wall, eyes red, and asks, “You'd rather have that old man than me?” Hua Rong: “...” 2.6kReads9.2Score674Shelves
41. 41 清 Qing Transmigration: The Fourth Master’s Sweet Side Consort Is So Fertile 清穿：四爷的娇娇侧福晋太好孕 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Ancient Romance582k WordsCompleted They are not mutually devoted at first. Only after Fourth Prince takes the throne does he gradually stop taking other women to bed. I haven’t followed historical records, so please be understanding if certain characters don’t match your expectations. Gu Linlang struggled for half her life in the modern world. Just when she finally managed to buy a little apartment, a truck coming straight at her sent her to the next life. When she opened her eyes again, she had become the side consort of Yinzhe 3.2kReads8.9Score189Shelves
42. 42 清 A Qing Dynasty Noble Consort's Glorious Reign 清穿贵妃荣宠记 Yu Zhiwei予之微Ancient Romance766k WordsCompleted A favored consort from the start? And the younger sister of Empress Xiaozhao, no less? Wasn’t she supposed to die young, with her daughter passing away in childhood? This time, she has both sons and daughters, and the emperor cherishes her like a treasure. Not only is he clingy, he has an overactive imagination, and Niu Hulu Baozhu is exhausted. After outliving Imperial Noble Consort Tong and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in the imperial harem. All she wants i 3.8kReads8.8Score263Shelves
43. 43 恶 The Wicked Supporting Actress Is Reborn and Wins at Life 恶毒女配重生后躺赢了 Bei Xin贝芯Ancient Romance622k WordsCompleted The emperor has never touched anyone but the heroine! One beloved consort in the harem + 1v1 romance + fictional setting. Meng Yan only learns on the brink of death that she's a supporting character in a sweet palace-intrigue novel. In the story, she loves the emperor, Lu Haozhi, devotedly until the very end. She diligently competes for his favor and tirelessly fights the innocent white-lotus heroine, only to land herself in the cold palace and die miserably in the snow. After being reborn, she 21kReads9.1Score2kShelves
44. 44 清 Qing Transmigration: Stay Calm, Princess Consort! The Fourth Prince Will Win You the Empress's Throne 清穿：福晋稳住！四爷给你挣后位 Willow Bank杨柳岸Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [An alternate Qing dynasty, unlike the historical one.] After transmigrating, Yun Qu swallowed nervously as she faced her complicated new circumstances. She had become the Fourth Prince's primary consort. What was she supposed to do? Could she ever go back? Once she learned that returning was impossible, Yun Qu accepted her fate. She decided to raise her son well and treat the Fourth Prince like her boss, serving him diligently. If he pointed east, she wouldn't go west. If he wanted to take a co 19.1kReads9.1Score1.5kShelves
45. 45 重 Reborn! A Son Makes the Father Noble, and Fourth Master Lifts Her to the Empress's Seat 重生！父凭子贵，四爷巴巴捧后位 Happy StellaLou快乐星黛露Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Two Powerful Leads + Sweet Romance + Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Cunning Little One] (Not a chaste romance. The heroine is the sole favorite from the middle onward. Read with care if this bothers you.) Heaven took pity on her. Reborn, Yijun returned to the day she gave birth to Honghui and swore she would protect the child who had died young. But who could have guessed that the icy Fourth Prince from her previous life would become captivated by the tenderness and liveliness in Yiju 6.4kReads9.4Score490Shelves
46. 46 清 In the Qing Court, Kangxi Wants Only Me 清穿之康熙只要我一个 Pour Me a Cup of Tea来盏茶Ancient Romance510k WordsCompleted What’s it like when someone who firmly believes in historical materialism suddenly transmigrates? Jing Su: ...I’d really like to think about it, but my freshly beaten backside won’t let me. To stay alive, Jing Su quickly sets herself some life goals. Goal one: Keep her head down until she can leave the palace at twenty-five! Why it fell through: Staying alive is too hard. She has to climb higher. Goal two: Su Malagu is so impressive. I want to be like her! Why it fell through: I’ve fallen for th 3.4kReads9.2Score275Shelves
47. 47 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
48. 48 劫 The Stolen Bride: The Obsessive Emperor’s Darling 劫娶：偏执帝王的掌中娇 Zhi Xiaoyuan知小元Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, both leads pure; The Emperor Steals His Minister's Wife; childhood sweethearts; second chance romance; palace intrigue early on; romance-focused] Lu Wan and Xie Zhan grew up together. Just as Lu Wan happily prepared for her wedding, Xie Zhan became the Crown Prince overnight. The very next day, he came to break off their engagement and marry someone else. After Xie Zhan ascended the throne, the noblewomen all lamented that Lu Wan had been unlucky and missed her chance to bec 1.4kReads8.4Score101Shelves
49. 49 娘 The Empress Doesn't Want Palace Intrigue, but the Emperor Keeps Stirring Things Up 娘娘不想宫斗，奈何皇上带节奏 Geng Jiujiu耿啾啾Ancient Romance652k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, Palace Intrigue, Political Scheming, Not Both Pure, Absurd Comedy, Devoted Love Later On] Shen Jinruo transmigrated into the body of a low-ranking concubine who had no favor from the emperor. Having lost her freedom, she’d planned to keep her head down and quietly build up her strength. But she soon discovered that in this harem, even if you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will find you. To survive, Shen Jinruo worked hard to adapt and officially joined the harem’s struggl 2.2kReads8.9Score220Shelves
50. 50 借 Surrogate Motherhood? The Second-Time Bride and Beloved Consort Insists on Rising to the Top 借腹生子？二嫁宠妃偏要步步高升 Silver Terrace and Golden Palace银台金阙Ancient Romance626k WordsCompleted [A gentle, kind widow and an arrogant, biased emperor. Sweet, doting everyday romance, with little palace intrigue (the emphasis is on little).] The Yu family had three daughters, all beautiful. The eldest became a countess, the youngest became a consort in the palace, and only the second daughter returned home a widow less than five years after her marriage, with a little girl in tow. One day, the palace consort suffered a miscarriage and was told she would have difficulty bearing children in t 21.5kReads9.3Score3.2kShelves

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