Looking for Palace Intrigue: The Female Lead Rises Step by Step, the Emperor Falls First, and She Eventually Gives Him Her Heart 求宫斗，女主步步晋升，皇上先动情女主后付出真心

1. 1 都 It's All Those Men's Fault: They Tempt Me with Their Abs 都是那些男人的错，用腹肌诱撩我 The Little Girl Who Goes Crunch小女孩咯嘣脆Ancient Romance508k WordsCompleted [Not mutually exclusive, but all the men are chaste] [A sharp-tongued heroine + a battlefield of male rivals + System + everyone's favorite + heroine claims the men + card draws + strong female lead] Su Qiannian transmigrates into the body of the legitimate daughter of a marquis's household. Her half-sister has already had countless men, while Su Qiannian has kept herself pure, waiting for her betrothed to come propose. Who could have guessed that her fiancé would become her brother-in-law? She 5.3kReads9.0Score594Shelves

   Reader note

   Although the book I recommended is different from the one in the title, it's still quite good. The first one has multiple male leads, and the second one was quite interesting. It doesn't get high ratings, but it's very good!

2. 2 野 Wild and Free Little Orchid: The Coldhearted Prince Falls for Her First 野浪小兰花，冷情王爷他先动心了 The Madam Smiled夫人笑了Ancient Romance499k WordsCompleted [Cool, aloof hero who falls hard and falls first; both leads are virgins; transmigration; pocket dimension; no strong female lead, no palace intrigue] The doomsday war goddess Lu Jiuwan died on the first day the light returned... 1 The quiet, graceful, seductive Princess Consort who killed without blinking woke up one day with a completely different personality. Princess Consort: Want to do it? Cold-hearted Prince: Insolence! A moment later, the cold-hearted Prince was in disarray... 2 With her 37.8kReads9.3Score5.3kShelves
3. 3 成 Three Months of Marriage Without a Wedding Night, and He Breaks Down When I Ask for a Divorce 成亲三月不圆房，提和离他哭炸了 Snow in the Endless Night永夜雪里Ancient Romance302k WordsCompleted Complete [Best friends marry into the same family + the long road to winning their wives back + male love rivals] Shen Youwei and her best friend are reborn together. They switch identities and each marries into a family they can keep in line. After the switch, the two often exchange letters to share tips on getting their husbands' families under control. The husband takes a concubine? Give him what for, and don't hold back! The mother-in-law starts trouble? Make her kneel in the ancestral hall 657Reads8.4Score101Shelves
4. 4 闺 Best Friends Transmigrate Together, and the Imperial Consort Climbs the Wall on Imperial Orders 闺蜜同穿，皇贵妃奉旨爬墙 Crazy Duck疯子鸭Ancient Romance323k WordsCompleted (Best friends transmigrate together + mildly comedic + love-brained male lead + transmigration.) Ye Qingqian and her best friend transmigrated: one became an emperor who dressed as a woman, the other an imperial consort. The retired emperor was old, senile, and eccentric. One day, he came looking for her. “The emperor isn’t my biological child. General Fei is my illegitimate son. How about you have a child with him?” Ye Qingqian: “Wait, you older folks are really that wild?” Before she entered t 148Reads6.8Score—Shelves
5. 5 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 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves

   Reader note

   The first book: The female protagonist transmigrates into a book as a cannon fodder imperial concubine with only two years left to live. She has no background, no money, and is too beautiful to be easily envied. She can only proceed cautiously, gaining the emperor's exclusive favor and eventually rising to a high position. The second book: The female protagonist is a lowly maid who sold herself into slavery for her family. Before she even understands love, she has already won the crown prince's favor and become his concubine. When the crown prince ascends the throne, they ultimately create a beautiful love story between the emperor and empress.

6. 6 东 The Eastern Palace’s Hidden Darling 东宫藏娇 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance222k WordsCompleted [Sweet, imaginative historical romance + Pursuing his wife through live comments + A forced romance that turns mutual + A beautiful airhead + A sinister crown prince + The real and fake heiress] To earn money for her seriously ill mother and her injured brother, desperate Pei Jiaojiao sold herself into slavery at the Eastern Palace. Her pretty face and timid, trouble-avoiding nature earned her a place serving in the Crown Prince's study, assigned by the steward. Her daily chores were simple: gri 4.2kReads9.1Score317Shelves
7. 7 皇 The Royal Family’s Cherished Daughter-in-Law: The Emperor and Empress Are Shipping Themselves 皇家宠媳：帝后嗑CP啦 Sheng Qian笙浅Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + palace and household intrigue + no transmigration or rebirth + alternate history + one-on-one romance + sweet and doting + childhood sweethearts] [Gentle, resilient beauty VS cool, composed Crown Prince] Just three months after Mu Shuangyin's birth mother passed away, Chancellor Mu took a second wife. The new madam brought a son and a daughter into the household. They were said to be the Chancellor's children, and even more remarkably, the twins had been born ab 18.1kReads9.2Score1.8kShelves

   Reader note

   The content is excellent and well worth reading.

8. 8 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 10.9kReads8.1Score673Shelves

   Reader note

   In their past life, the male protagonist fell in love with the female protagonist first, but because he dared not face his own feelings, the female protagonist suffered a lot of grievances despite her gradual advancement in her career. She also fell in love with him during their time together, and ultimately died from the shock. In their second life, the male protagonist faced his true feelings and doted on the female protagonist. However, because of her past life's fear of love, the female protagonist eventually chose to believe again through the male protagonist's efforts.

9. 9 入 I Entered the Palace to Help My Sister Keep the Emperor’s Favor, but Became His Cherished Favorite 入宫替嫡姐固宠，却成皇上掌心宠 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she entered the palace and devoted herself to helping her legitimate elder sister keep the emperor’s favor. In the end, she died without a body to bury, abandoned by her family. Returning to the year of the imperial selection, Luo Shuran calculates her every move. Her breathtaking beauty is her only weapon. She sheds her youthful timidity and blossoms into a woman of captivating charm. One fleeting glimpse, like a fairy fallen from the heavens, catches the emperor’s eye. 6.1kReads9.3Score859Shelves

   Reader note

   I love it so much, everyone should go see it!!!

10. 10 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 13.1kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This book does have palace intrigue elements, though. It's more in line with the later emperor's feelings; he only truly loves the female lead after falling for her. But I feel this book is incredibly realistic. It truly portrays the female lead's inner struggles and the powerlessness of a lowly person in the palace. The female lead starts as a palace maid, not in love with the emperor, but is forced into the power struggles of the other concubines. She's very clear-headed, and the author portrays her inner struggles and transformations with exceptional smoothness. Highly recommended!

11. 11 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 68.4kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I haven't read many, but these two are really good.

12. 12 赐 After the Imperial Betrothal, the Princess Consort Just Wants the Prince to Keep Her Alive 赐婚后，王妃只想靠王爷续命 Zha Xiaogua扎小瓜Ancient Romance411k WordsCompleted A historical romance: marriage first, love later. Both leads are intelligent, articulate, and quick-witted. No angst, no silly characters, and sweet moments throughout. Originally titled Who Dares to Define Romance. Everyone in the capital regards Prince Yong as untouchable. Gu Qing is the only exception. Desperate for a life-saving medicine, she takes advantage of the emperor’s arranged marriage and weds Prince Yong, unaware that he is also gravely ill with a deadly poison. She is calm and rati 6kReads9.4Score746Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead initially married the male lead to save her own life; neither of them liked the other at first, but feelings gradually developed between them.

13. 13 先 Love After Marriage: The Crown Princess Keeps Pretending to Be Good Again and Again 先婚后爱，太子妃又又又又在装乖 I Want to Be a Rich Lady我想当富婆Ancient Romance278k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance] Song Yao, who was born into this world, got married to Nangong Yi, the notoriously violent crown prince. After their wedding, they acted like a proper couple, treating each other with courtesy and respect. Gradually, Song Yao discovered that the crown prince was nothing like the violent man of the rumors. He was gentle, considerate, and easy to get along with. So she let her true nature out and started doing as she pleased. - At first, when facing the crown prince: Song Yao: gent 21.7kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    In palace intrigue dramas, the female leads are all very capable and have their own strength.

14. 14 太 The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife: The Empress's Daily Life After Bearing Twins 太子宠妾灭妻，娘娘双胎上位日常 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance554k WordsCompleted [There are a few typos, so please skip this if that bothers you.] A deranged, ruthless heroine and an obsessive Crown Prince, with exclusive devotion later on, clear-headed palace intrigue, and multiple births. Jiang Shiruo is stunningly beautiful, but only a concubine’s daughter. Still, even a concubine’s daughter deserves to live. Jiang Shiruo has no interest in the other princes. She only wants to enter the Eastern Palace, because that’s the only way she can reach the highest position. After 7.7kReads8.9Score676Shelves
15. 15 药 The Delicate, Scheming Medicine-Jar Consort Has the Sickly Tyrant Begging for Mercy 药罐贵妃娇又作，病娇暴君乖乖认怂！ Tang Jiujiu糖酒酒Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Transmigrated into the role of a cannon-fodder concubine, Xiao Xiruo is destined to die of rage and leave her entire family dead? And she’s sickly, coughing up blood every day? Xiao Xiruo: Keep it together. Don’t panic! With powerful backing, I’ll take the court by storm and rule the imperial harem! Feng Wuyan, the puppet emperor of Great Yan, is a deranged villain who slaughtered everyone in the book until only its title remained. He does the cruelest deeds and strikes with the deadliest hand. 3.8kReads9.2Score409Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is cunning and manipulative, while the male lead falls in love with her first and then dotes on her exclusively.

16. 16 贵 The Noble Consort Only Wants to Rule from Behind the Curtain 贵妃她只想垂帘听政 Idle Young Master公子闲Ancient Romance315k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Xiao Wei was the emperor's favored concubine, accused of beguiling her ruler and bringing chaos to court. She endured endless condemnation, open attacks, and secret schemes. Only when she was dying did she discover that the emperor's beloved, the moonlight in his heart and the cinnabar mark he could never forget, was someone else. She had merely been a scapegoat, taking the arrows meant for another. When she lived again, the woman in the emperor's heart had only just entere 478Reads8.7Score105Shelves
17. 17 虚 Illusory Splendor 虚幻浮华 Ignite the Dark Soul点燃黑暗之魂Ancient Romance304k WordsCompleted She turned back and smiled, dazzlingly charming. Stars seemed to sparkle in her eyes, dimples appeared faintly in her cheeks, and the fair wrist she raised to cover her red lips was whiter than snow. Liu Qi was instantly smitten, frozen like a fool. She had stolen his very soul. 18Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A super good palace intrigue drama

18. 18 狐 Fox Demon, How Dare You? That’s My Husband! 狐妖你放肆，那是本宫的夫君 Ignite the Dark Soul点燃黑暗之魂Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted After two thunderclaps, a third exploded overhead. To escape the heavenly tribulation, a thousand-year-old fox spirit had actually burrowed into its mother's womb. A silver bolt of lightning was about to strike the mother when a sudden red glow flared inside her belly, pierced through the roof, and blocked the heavenly thunder. The bolt veered off course and struck a towering tree outside the Duke's residence. The massive tree was pierced in an instant and crashed to the ground. “Waaah... waaah. 4Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 19 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 118kReads9.5Score11.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This book tells the story of a female protagonist who, from the very beginning, plans to become Empress. She's an exceptionally skilled actress, subtly manipulating the relationship between the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, inciting infighting among others. Step by step, she wins the Emperor's heart, constantly testing his limits before finally revealing her true self. While the Emperor falls for her, the female protagonist also develops feelings, though not completely. Then, in a second life, they truly fall in love, having both been reborn multiple times. It's a wonderful book, a must-read!

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 21.8kReads9.3Score2.1kShelves
21. 21 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 88.8kReads9.5Score12.2kShelves

    Reader note

    For palace intrigue novels, I highly recommend this one. Compared to typical time-travel dramas, the female lead is more realistic and well-developed. The plot is full of twists and turns, the author's writing is superb, and the logic is very clear! You won't regret reading it! 😄

22. 22 错 After a Mistaken Marriage to the Heir, She Spends Every Day Showering Him with Sweets 错嫁世子后，她每天都在撒糖 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [Reborn + mutually devoted sweet romance + revenge and household intrigue] Jiang Rong was deceived her entire life, and only learned the truth when she was on the verge of death. Returned to ten years earlier, she found herself fleeing an arranged marriage to elope. Jiang Rong gave the scoundrel a thorough beating, then turned around and went back to the prince’s manor to marry. The husband she had run from was Xie Lingxi, heir to the Northern Prince. In her previous life, he had protected he 34.9kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    A super good palace intrigue drama, highly recommended!

23. 23 重 After Being Reborn, My Five Brothers Beg Me in Tears to Return Home 重生后，五个哥哥哭着求我回府 Mu Mianmian慕绵绵Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Currently being published] [She chases him after the breakup + sweet romance + satisfying read] In her previous life, Jiang You'an was a cannon-fodder side character in a novel where the whole family doted on the heroine. Her entire family favored her younger sister, and she was beaten to death with clubs. After being reborn, she refuses to repeat her past mistakes, only to discover that her family regrets everything and begs for her forgiveness. Everyone wants to make amends? Hah, I’m not int 7.7kReads9.4Score1.3kShelves
24. 24 让 They Wanted Me to Be a Sacrificial Stepmother, but I Chose to Make My Own Way 让我当炮灰主母，我偏另谋高枝 Ji Yun霁妘Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Historical Romance / Household Intrigue / Sweet Romance / The Male Lead Is Head Over Heels] In Ruyi's Beloved Concubine, the heir apparent Xie Yunzhix is a brave and formidable warrior, always dashing across the battlefield in fine clothes, with no one able to stand against him. Sadly, he is only a supporting character. The story opens with him in a vegetative state, leaving behind three adopted sons. Xu Qingyi discovers that she has become the foil to the beloved heroine of a sweet romance. On 139.3kReads9.4Score20.5kShelves
25. 25 睁 I Opened My Eyes and Became the Flirtatious Side Character Who Abused the Down-and-Out Prince 睁眼！成虐待落魄皇子的轻浮女配 Taishi Ying太史婴Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The short drama “Reborn as a Flirtatious Widow, I Tormented My Younger Brother-in-Law Until He Ascended the Throne” is now streaming. Prince Ding, Xiao Nanshen, was the Great Xuan's God of War. But people close to him set him up, leaving him gravely wounded and disabled, then pursued him. When poison reached his brain, his subordinate disguised him as a long-lost younger brother and brought him home to hide him. The subordinate died of his injuries, and Xiao Nanshen found himself face-to-face wi 46kReads9.3Score5.4kShelves

    Reader note

    A historical farming romance where the female lead transmigrates into a world of excellent chemistry and medicine! She's got status, ability, and brains! The male lead is her brother-in-law, a seemingly simple-minded guy who's actually a prince, but his early attempts to win him over are hilarious! 😆😆😆 From the female lead's perspective, she only wants to cling to the king's coattails 🦵, but her love for him is surprisingly genuine 🥺 A true pure love story 💕💕💕💕

26. 26 青 After My Childhood Sweetheart Marries, the New Emperor Becomes Obsessed with Possessing Me 青梅嫁人后，新帝占有上瘾 Ice-Hearted Begonia冰心海棠Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Devoted couple + the hero chases his wife after losing her + possessive pursuit + simmering tension + power struggles + play the pig to eat the tiger] Everyone said Crown Prince Lu Xingjian was the very picture of grace and nobility: aloof, distinguished, elegant, and composed. Su Wanwan, who had grown up in the palace, knew how wild and heartless he was behind closed doors. She had been his secret lover for two whole years, yet never once received a promise from him. At last, she gave up hope 8.8kReads8.0Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Unable to marry the female lead, the male lead forces her into marriage. Later, while the male lead is away from the capital, the female lead is forced into marriage. Three years later, the female lead returns as a widow, only to find the male lead now a powerful emperor, waiting for her to fall into his trap. But the best hunters are those who disguise themselves as prey.

27. 27 外 The Beloved Concubine 外室娇宠 Tan Yi檀意Ancient Romance494k WordsCompleted [Both leads are inexperienced in love + sweet romance + devoted affection + household and palace intrigue + the hero talks himself into falling in love] Everyone knew Cheng Yinyu was a peony fallen into a den of filth, dazzlingly beautiful and graceful, with nobles and aristocrats all vying for her attention. Who would have thought that on the day she came of age, Prince Qin, Gu Xingzhou, would beat everyone to her and make her his kept woman? To stay alive, she tread carefully, putting on a sho 3.6kReads8.9Score323Shelves
28. 28 清 Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty and Dream of the Red Chamber: Yingchun's Fortunate Pregnancy 清穿红楼康熙：迎春幸孕日常 Ruo Hongru若鸿如Female-Channel Fanfiction1.0M WordsCompleted Also known as: When Jia Yingchun Becomes a Noble Consort to the Kangxi Emperor. System missions + many children + spirit spring Becoming the Fourth Prince's birth mother Once Jia Yunyun completes her final quick transmigration mission, “Become a Noble Consort to the Kangxi Emperor and help the Fourth Prince ascend the throne,” she can retire in glory. But a colleague at the transmigration bureau accidentally sends her to a world that combines the Qing dynasty and Dream of the Red Chamber. Her ne 12.1kReads8.8Score911Shelves

    Reader note

    This is totally my cup of tea! I've watched it three or four times. I love stories where the protagonist is pregnant at the beginning and eventually becomes empress!

29. 29 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 3kReads8.5Score345Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is an excellent actress who rises through the ranks. The male lead has concubines in the early stages but becomes devoted to her later.

30. 30 皇 Has the Noble Consort Left Qirong Palace Today? 皇贵妃今天出栖容宫了吗？ Xiaoman Crisp小满酥Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [☆No transmigration, no rebirth, and no pristine couples] [☆The romance develops gradually] Everyone in the palace knew that the person they must never offend was neither the pampered and fiery Noble Consort Hui nor the peerlessly beautiful Consort Cen, but Noble Consort Zhe of Qirong Palace, Lady Fucha. A consort's guide to survival: If you want to get ahead, never provoke the lady of Qirong Palace. She was the emperor's first woman, his companion and confidante since their youth; the mother 15.3kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    In all these cases, the male lead falls in love first and dotes on the female lead immensely.

31. 31 连 Executed for Killing Four Consorts, the Empress Is Reborn 连杀四妃被赐死，皇后娘娘重生了 Shi Xiaohan时潇晗Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Not a story where both leads are romantically inexperienced] + [Palace and household intrigue] + [Reborn] + [Empress] + [Feel-good wish fulfillment] + [Past and present lives] + [Villain] + [Face-slapping] In her previous life, Zheng Xiyan was a wicked empress hated by everyone. She killed four consorts and ruled the harem, never realizing it was all part of Emperor Xiao Xuanchen's scheme. He used her to keep the court in balance while consolidating power in his own hands. Reborn, Zheng Xiyan d 274Reads6.7Score105Shelves
32. 32 两 Two Lives of Joy: The Duke's Legitimate Daughter Is Truly Unrestrained 两世欢：公府嫡女她是真的狂 Dancing Sunflower跳舞的向日葵Ancient Romance667k WordsCompleted (Rebirth power fantasy + married across two lifetimes + palace and household intrigue + political machinations) Ye Liujin once thought she was the happiest young lady in Shengjing. Her aunt was just one step away from becoming empress. Her elder brother was the illustrious Duke of Shanguo, commanding an army of two hundred thousand, while her elder sister was a brave and battle-hardened warrior admired by all, both in court and beyond. She herself had been betrothed in infancy to the Third Princ 18kReads9.0Score4.7kShelves
33. 33 嫡 The Reborn Daughter Turns the World Upside Down 嫡女重生之凰倾天下 Mulberry Wine桑葚酒Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted On her wedding night, she was murdered with a cup of poisoned wine. She died full of resentment, vowing to take revenge if she ever got another life! Reborn in a single moment, she rises like a phoenix from the ashes. Her vicious stepmother and spoiled stepsister are no match for her. With a modest smile and lowered eyes, she manipulates them all with ease, and even wins herself a handsome husband along the way! 28Reads7.7Score—Shelves
34. 34 娘 The Empress Is Exquisitely Charming: Winning the Palace Battles and Raising a Child to Become Empress 娘娘千娇百媚，宫斗养崽坐后位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance486k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Pure Palace Intrigue + Raising a Child + Clear-Headed Heroine + Focused on Her Career + Light Ensemble Cast] Xie Zhao transmigrates to the state of Beiqi, a country that has never existed in recorded history. When she learns she is to take part in the selection two years later, she begins diligently practicing all kinds of skills. After successfully being selected, her goal is to safely give birth to a prince, raise him into an outstanding crown prince, put him on the throne, a 374Reads7.3Score—Shelves
35. 35 重 Reborn, the Consort Runs Wild in the Harem 重生后，娘娘在后宫横着发疯 Kong Jiang's Spicy Kimchi Soup空绛的辣白菜汤Ancient Romance360k WordsCompleted [A heroine focused on building her career, not falling in love!!!] In her previous life, Xuan Zhi had grand ambitions, but kept her promise and never crossed the line. In the end, her family was destroyed, her young son died, and she met a terrible end. She failed to hold on to everything she wanted to protect. Her resentment and regret were so deep that her spirit lingered in the vast imperial palace, watching her enemies live carefree lives without facing any consequences. Xuan Zhi's resentmen 264Reads8.7Score—Shelves
36. 36 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

    It's a good watch; the female lead is clear-headed, pragmatic, and intelligent.

37. 37 清 Qing Transmigration: After Raising Yongzheng, She Became the Winner of the Harem 清穿：抚养雍正后她成了后宫赢家 Yu Zhiwei予之微Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted When she opened her eyes, she had become an utterly ordinary concubine in the Kangxi Emperor’s court. The one unusual thing was that she had a prince as soon as she transmigrated. With no status, no favor, and only a child to rely on, how could she survive in the murderous imperial harem? There is no decisive heroine obsessed with power, nor any sweet romance. This is simply a story about surviving and raising a child, with the goal of becoming a dowager consort and enjoying retirement. But 13.5kReads8.9Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    I think this book is quite good. It mainly focuses on raising children, and there's also some romantic subplot between the male and female leads. 👍👍👍

38. 38 穿 Spoiled in a World with Few Women 穿在男多女少的世界被娇宠了 Xibei Facing the Sun西贝向阳Ancient Romance3.9M WordsOngoing [More Men Than Women + Everyone's Darling + Not 1v1 + Women Can Bear Children Painlessly + No Golden Finger] To escape being sold by her adoptive parents to a man more than a decade older than her, Su Yueyao hailed a cab straight to the airport and boarded a plane that was about to take off. Not long after she got on, the plane hit severe turbulence, and a flash of white light passed before her eyes... When Su Yueyao woke again, she was beside a pond. It was then that she realized she had transm 18.1kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I absolutely love watching it! Keep updating!

39. 39 重 Reborn, I Won’t Be Crown Princess. I’ll Be Empress 重生后我不当太子妃只当皇后 It's Soleil是soleilAncient Romance330k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Ling Qingyue loved the wrong man. After countless hardships, she finally became the crown prince's long-awaited princess consort, only to discover that it had all been a trap he had laid to seize his family's military power. In the end, her family was destroyed and everyone she loved was killed... Reborn, she plans every move carefully. Willing to throw herself into the trap, she abandons love to pursue her scheme and enters into a marriage of convenience with him. Yet ev 47Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    In her past life, Ling Qingyue loved the wrong person. She painstakingly ascended to the coveted position of Crown Princess, only to discover it was all a trap set by the Crown Prince to seize military power for his own family. In the end, her family was destroyed... Reborn, for revenge, she used everyone around her who could be used... Wait a minute, how did she suddenly become Empress? And why is that so-called Emperor looking at her so strangely? Could it be, you were reborn too? Oh no, she seems to have fallen into another trap... @Issoleil

40. 40 锦 Spring in the Brocade Tent: The Rebellious Young General Takes the Cool and Composed Heiress by Force 锦帐春：桀骜小将军强娶清冷千金 Drinking With the Wind与风酌Ancient Romance331k WordsCompleted [Marriage before love + Mildly coercive romance + Older sister and younger puppy-dog romance] [A rebellious, wolfish young marquis]& [A cool, reserved, gentle heroine] [Both leads are chaste] At the New Year’s palace banquet, Bai Youhe, the Chancellor’s daughter, stood out in a water-red palace gown, her beauty unmatched and every gesture as graceful as an immortal descending to earth. Han Qing took one look and thought about her for three years. During those three years of war on the northern 1.3kReads8.5Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    A romance between an older woman and a younger man, featuring a fierce, assertive male lead and a cool, aloof female lead who gradually develop feelings for each other. The ending is that the female lead becomes an empress (but doesn't actually ascend the throne), while the male lead is a general.

41. 41 贵 The Delicate, Soft-Bodied Imperial Consort Turns Her Obsessive Emperor into a Devoted Puppy 贵妃身娇体软，偏执帝王变身忠犬 Tang Ling sally棠泠sallyAncient Romance385k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Unreasonable, Exclusive Devotion + Scheming Green-Tea Heroine + Obsessive, Love-Struck Hero] In the first year of Yongzhao, the new emperor ascended the throne and issued an edict summoning the former crown prince's betrothed concubine to serve in the palace. The world could not understand it, and the court historian condemned him, but Xiao Yu remained determined. * Yun Miao had seen the harshness of the world from a young age. All she wanted was wealth, status, and supreme po 2kReads8.8Score208Shelves

    Reader note

    It's really good; it shows how devoted an emperor can be.

42. 42 妻 Taking a Wife and Concubines at Once? I Remarried the Chaste Prince, and Now My Back Hurts 妻妾同娶？改嫁禁欲王爷后我腰疼 Er Fu二伏Ancient Romance396k WordsCompleted [Both leads reborn, revenge, sweet romance, the heroine falls in love after marriage, the hero has been plotting for a long time] Bu Jiusheng spent three years as the Crown Prince’s neglected wife, a widow in all but name. After he ascended the throne, he seized the Bu family’s military power, slaughtered her entire clan, and forced her to watch them all beheaded. The whole thing was laughable, all because of a doctor who had died in childbirth. Reborn on the day of her wedding, the doctor kn 3kReads8.6Score227Shelves
43. 43 掌 The Darling in the Palm 掌上娇娇 Zhi Yun支云Ancient Romance907k WordsCompleted [Print edition preorder opens July 17] [Film and TV rights sold] [Reader's guide: sweet romance, devoted couple, feel-good wish fulfillment, with clever schemes and political intrigue, many clues and details, and a large cast of well-developed characters. The heroine never gets the short end of the stick; anything that doesn't make sense will be explained later] Prince Xuan, He Junting. In the novel Devoted to the Imperial Consort, the author wrote of how he slaughtered the entire Northern Di co 84.3kReads9.5Score9.6kShelves
44. 44 咸 The Laid-Back Consort: Rising Step by Step 咸鱼娘娘：步步高升 Melancholy Cantaloupe忧伤的哈密瓜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + palace and household intrigue + childbirth + doted on exclusively later] Jiang Wan transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking palace consort of an emperor with no children. To protect the people around her, she has no choice but to compete for a little favor. Who knew she’d end up giving the emperor a chubby baby boy! Emperor: “She’s the birth mother of my only son. Of course I have to protect her.” Who knew that all that protection would turn into affection? As Jiang Wan ris 19.1kReads8.9Score1.7kShelves
45. 45 嫔 Life as a Consort: I’m Surprisingly Good at Slacking Off 嫔妃这职业，摆烂的我竟驾轻就熟 Qin Xiaoxu勤晓徐Ancient Romance2.4M WordsCompleted Office drone Tao Yanyan transmigrates into the body of Tao Yanyan, the lowest-ranking concubine in an ancient emperor’s harem. Surrounded by women of higher rank, she has no choice but to tread carefully and survive to the end. Competing for the emperor’s favor? Not a chance. Keeping her head down is the way to go. What? The emperor is super handsome? But he’s in love with everyone! What? Without the emperor’s favor, she won’t live to old age? What? You’re the lowest-ranking concubine and you’re 5.6kReads8.3Score559Shelves
46. 46 侧 The Side Consort Takes Charge of the Household, Then Rises to the Throne as Empress 侧妃潜邸掌中馈，一朝成凰登后位 Xiao Yan Wants to Get Rich小闫要暴富Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Not a Pure Couple, Not a Transmigration Story, Not Reborn, No Golden Finger] [Content warning: The heroine is caught in a whirlpool of conflict and is far from a good person. She knows how to read the situation and may even take the initiative to hurt others.] Given a choice, who would want to become a woman willing to do anything to achieve her goals? At a plum-blossom-viewing banquet in the snow, Hua Songyi tried to keep a low profile, but the host family chose her anyway and forced her to 5.7kReads8.5Score631Shelves
47. 47 皇 The Empress Is a Max-Level Palace Intriguer, Crushing Everyone 皇后满级宫斗，嘎嘎乱杀 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + infidelity + fictional setting + a resourceful, money-loving, beauty-loving, life-loving empress ✖️ emperor] In her previous life, Hua Shu was a lowly palace maid. She schemed her way to the top of the political ladder, only to be condemned by everyone and branded a wicked woman who brought ruin to the nation. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the unfamiliar state of Chu, as an unloved empress who’s also being made a scapegoat. As if she’d put up with that! S 14.2kReads9.4Score1.9kShelves
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 救 Help! What Kind of Empress Dowager Hangs Herself Every Day? 救命啊，谁家好太后天天上吊啊 Lazy Meow懒喵喵Ancient Romance735k WordsCompleted Liu Ruxu is the Empress Dowager of Great Qi. Ever since the late emperor died, she's been living without a care in the world. “Let's see any of you dare harm my son! Would you rather I hang myself outside your door, or have my father come knocking with his spear?” “There's no food for disaster relief? I'll take care of it!” “Great Jin wants a war? I'll lead my best friend and drive them back!” “Peace talks? A marriage alliance? The women of Great Qi will never be married off for an alliance!” Wi 585Reads8.7Score112Shelves

    Reader note

    😳😳😳

50. 50 绑 Bound to the System, the Empress Keeps Conceiving 绑定系统后，娘娘她好孕连连 Mu Ningxuan沐凝萱Ancient Romance621k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Yun Zhining was forced to enter the palace to save her legitimate elder sister from the Cold Palace. Her sister regained the emperor's favor and stepped over Yun Zhining's corpse to become empress. Unwilling to accept her fate, Yun Zhining bound herself to a System and was reborn anew. Ding! Congratulations, you've bound yourself to the System and gained exceptional talents. Ding! Congratulations, you've won the emperor's favor and received one fertility pill. Ding! Congrat 470Reads7.3Score105Shelves

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