Inner-Household Scheming Stories with a Male Lead Who Has a Past 想要男主不洁的宅斗文

1. 1 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

   The first book has a male protagonist with wives and concubines; the female protagonist is just one of his many concubines. She treats the male protagonist's favor as a career, relentlessly pursuing it. The second book also features a male protagonist who is not chaste.

2. 2 穿 Transmigrated as a Concubine, I Keep My Head Down Every Day 穿成妾室后，每天都在苟命 Fuyu Ya浮玉呀Ancient Romance526k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Transmigrate into a Book + No Golden Finger] After dying, C-list actress Qiao Rongjin transmigrates into a book. She becomes a despised, soon-to-be-written-out concubine, a cannon-fodder favorite in the prince's residence. The heroine of the book is a woman who transmigrated from another world. Like Qiao Rongjin's original character, she is a concubine of the male lead, Prince Rui, but all she wants is to laze around and do nothing. She never fights for his favor or gets invol 15.9kReads9.1Score1.3kShelves
3. 3 失 The Daily Life of a Disfavored Concubine 失宠妾室的日常 Rabbit Meat Bun兔肉包子呐Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Complete] [Not a devoted couple + No harem infighting + No golden finger + Not a wish-fulfillment story] P.S. The heroine is plain-looking, with an alluring, ample bust. Jiang Ying gained weight after having a baby, reaching 160 jin, and her husband was no longer willing to touch her. She died without ever knowing she was a supporting concubine in The Reborn Matriarch. By keeping her head down and behaving herself, she avoided being sacrificed by the plot. The heir and the matriarch were a lovi 9.4kReads8.4Score855Shelves

   Reader note

   The male lead has several women, and the female lead was brought in as a concubine to ensure the continuation of the family line. The female lead remained obedient and dutiful until she was used and discarded, at which point the male lead embarked on a tumultuous journey of pursuing her relentlessly.

4. 4 穿 Transmigrated to the Six Dynasties Cultivation World, My Modern Knowledge Gives Me a Huge Edge 穿到六朝修仙界，现代知识赢麻了 I Eat Preserved Mustard Greens我吃梅菜Fantastical Romance102k WordsOngoing [Nontraditional cultivation + multiple male leads + not all relationships are exclusive + dark themes + rivalry among men] (Readers with strong preferences for purity, proceed with caution) Cheng Xiaoxiao transmigrates to another world! In ancient times, six kingdoms stood side by side in this realm. One fell several hundred years ago, leaving the five kingdoms of Jin, Liang, Chu, Yan, and Donghu. Yet the heartland of the continent still follows the old custom of calling it the Six-Dynasty Conti 1Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Non-traditional cultivation novel. Somewhat political intrigue, but not domestic drama. Is it okay if it's not a story about two clean couples?

5. 5 被 Driven From the Manor for Over a Decade, I Return With Three Sons and Two Daughters to Claim the Empress's Throne 被赶出府十多年，三儿两女送后位 Rabbit Meat Bun兔肉包子呐Ancient Romance402k WordsOngoing [Mother-Son Bond] [Children Reunite with Their Mother After Years Apart] [No Harem Infighting] [Family Bonds at the Center] [Romance and Career as Side Plots] [Healing Through Family] [Includes a Powerful Emperor's Push and Pull with His Concubine] [Not Both Leads' First Love] Fifteen years ago, Jiang Ying went into labor late at night and suffered a massive hemorrhage. She used the last of her strength to give birth to a daughter, only to be thrown out of the side gate of the prince's manor, al 2.7kReads6.5Score192Shelves

   Reader note

   The first two books are about a woman who gives birth to four children, yet her status as a mother is diminished by her children's status, a clash between modern and feudal ideologies… The latter two books are by the same author; I recommend the one about the "Funeral Brother."

6. 6 说 Wasn’t He Supposed to Be Infertile? How Did the Palace Maid Have Three Babies? 说好的绝嗣呢？小宫女咋三胎了 One Little Sweet Fish一口小甜鱼Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [The heroine transmigrates, then is reborn + fertility + sign-in beauty System + palace intrigue] [The heroine is ambitious, and the male lead is a scumbag] Beauty is a kind of resource. Yun Wanning, a top makeup artist devoted to helping ordinary people look beautiful, understands this all too well. One day, she transmigrates into the body of a plain-looking palace maid. After clawing her way up, she becomes a favorite of the Emperor's beloved consort. But the consort is dull-witted and makes o 18.3kReads7.9Score2kShelves
7. 7 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

   The male protagonist has other people in his household, but after meeting the female protagonist, he gradually stops going to other people's rooms.

8. 8 快 Quick Transmigration: The Seductive Green Tea Siren's Climb to Power Through Childbearing 快穿：尤物绿茶精的生子上位记 Yi Zhi Luan亦枝鸾Ancient Romance783k WordsCompleted Liu Ruofu was once the Hibiscus Flower Goddess of the Ninth Heaven. She is sent to the mortal realm to live in place of innocent women who were framed and met tragic, untimely deaths. She must also win over men destined to have no children and bear offspring for them. Each small world is its own separate story. The heroine is stunningly beautiful, and her personality varies from world to world. World One: A scheming concubine wins over a crown prince whose heart belongs to someone else World Two 9.1kReads8.0Score555Shelves

   Reader note

   Both of these books feature male protagonists who are impure, while the female protagonists are very clear-headed and cunning.

9. 9 娇 The Spoiled Consort's Road to Glory 娇气包娘娘的荣华路 Qingxi Hexi清兮禾兮Ancient Romance385k WordsCompleted Sweet romance! Undivided love! She’s doted on to the max! [The heroine is cunning, a little black lotus hidden beneath a rabbit’s skin] [The hero has a harem and isn’t chaste, but once he meets the heroine, he devotes himself to her alone in a one-on-one romance] The third young lady of the Sheng’an Marquis’s household, born to his secondary wife, was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Sweet and clever, she knew how to win favor. Her grandmother and father favored her, and even her legitimate 13.4kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves
10. 10 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 77.9kReads9.5Score8kShelves

    Reader note

    A highly-rated work on Tomato, the male lead is impure, and the female lead is intelligent and cunning.

11. 11 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
12. 12 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
13. 13 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 81.1kReads9.5Score9.1kShelves
14. 14 宠 The Most Doted-On Consort Ever 宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠宠妃 Two Bars二杠Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing A word of warning: a truly historical heroine, authentic household intrigue, and a heroine who really is not a good person. Xie Sui Sui is the most beautiful concubine of Prince Dongcheng. With a face that could bring a kingdom to ruin and a slender waist that looks like it might snap at a touch, she has Prince Dongcheng utterly infatuated with her, keeping her as his sole companion night after night while the other wives and concubines grind their teeth in envy. Xie Sui Sui... What bad intentio 1.7kReads8.2Score111Shelves

    Reader note

    It's really good. The female lead is incredibly beautiful, knows how to be charming, and is also very intelligent. The male lead has a queen, as well as concubines and maids.

15. 15 我 After I Was Reborn, the Heir Apparent Pursued Me to the Bitter End 我重生后，世子追妻火葬场了 Ten Thousand Measures of Moonlight in the Mortal World万斛人间月Ancient Romance485k WordsCompleted [Win Her Back at All Costs + Rebirth + Raising a Child] Shen Shuyi and Song Hengyue had been married for five years. They were not exactly a loving couple, but they did treat each other with respect. But when his childhood friend, the woman he cherished most, was surrounded by enemy troops, he abandoned Shuyi, who was carrying their second child. In her fury, she went into premature labor and suffered a difficult delivery. After being reborn, Shen Shuyi looked at her eldest son, who could alread 16.2kReads8.5Score873Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist has three wives and four concubines, but the female protagonists don't care. They only care about whether they have power in their own hands and about themselves and their children.

16. 16 继 The Difficult Life of a Second Wife 继室难为 San Shui三水Ancient Romance465k WordsCompleted A single marriage ceremony mistakenly pairs Pei Xiurong with Gu Yuanqing. But standing between them are more than just a disapproving, difficult mother-in-law, a scheming stepmother and stepsister, and the intrigues of the inner household. There is also the cold distance of the children from the first wife. Amid the deep courtyards and layers of conspiracy, the legitimate daughter becomes a second wife for the first time and carefully schemes her way to a bright future! 413Reads8.0Score—Shelves
17. 17 天 A Divine Consort Falls from the Sky and Steals the Cold Emperor's Heart 天降神妃，盗走冷帝心 Xiaoxiang Yu潇湘羽Ancient Romance417k WordsCompleted A sacrifice brings forth a goddess? At their first meeting, her breathtaking beauty strikes a chord in his heart. He pursues her at every turn, determined to make her his alone. He attends court, reviews memorials, visits the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the imperial mausoleum, all to pave her way to the throne. He showers her with gifts and stays by her side every night. What? She doesn’t want him and only wants to run away, while flirting with a handsome young general? Enough is enough! This 16Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    In both of these books, the male lead is impure in the early stages, but after meeting the female lead, she's all he cares about. 😏

18. 18 成 On Our Wedding Night, the Obsessive Crown Prince Took Me to the Eastern Palace 成亲当晚，偏执太子夺我入东宫 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted The aloof, possessive Crown Prince × the dazzling beauty who loves money Everyone in the Eastern Palace knows that the Crown Princess was snatched away from someone else by the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince, as elegant as jade and as clear as moonlight, fell into the sea of love, there was no climbing back out. He Yue transmigrated to ancient times and became the owner of a rouge shop. She wasn’t rich or powerful, but her life was peaceful and carefree. Then one day, the woman she liv 35kReads9.0Score2.7kShelves
19. 19 穿 Transmigrating to Become the First Wife 穿越之我为正室 mockangleAncient Romance883k WordsCompleted Xu Mingwei was the legitimate daughter of a prominent family. Raised according to her family's traditions, she married a man of equal standing and became his principal wife. To Xu Mingwei, who had been raised to be a proper wife, this was all perfectly ordinary. Looking back, she and Fu Heng had been married for five years and had a pair of adorable children. She had never expected to find love from the start. She never imagined that her husband would suddenly ask her for it. How could she give 2.1kReads7.9Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    It perfectly matches your requirements. The male and female leads were betrothed since childhood, and during their newlywed years, the female lead almost fell in love. However, the male lead, fearing the female lead would become jealous later, deliberately took a concubine. For decades afterward, he tried to win her back, but she had already given up on him.

20. 20 重 Reborn in the Dragon Bed, the Beloved Consort Cries in the Emperor's Arms 重生在龙塌，宠妃抱着陛下哭 Staggering Along蹒跚行Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [A spoiled, sweetly obedient favorite consort VS a gentle, jade-like emperor who's sweet on the outside and ruthless within (they are not each other's first, but he dotes on her exclusively from the beginning to the end)] Jiang Shuyi's life as a favorite consort went smoothly for fifteen years. The emperor was gentle and benevolent, doting on her without restraint, and not a single woman in the harem dared challenge her. But she was blind to her own sister's treachery. In the end, her closest 100.7kReads9.2Score11.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The male lead is impure, but he dotes on the female lead very much.

21. 21 长 After My Eldest Sister Died, I Entered the Palace as the New Empress and Won the Emperor's Favor 长姐死后，我入宫为继后，夺帝宠 Qu Jiuhe曲九鹤Ancient Romance175k WordsCompleted [Pure historical romance] Song Mingqian, Grand Secretary of the Central Secretariat, had two daughters. His legitimate daughter, Song Yingzhen, was the top beauty and most talented woman in the capital. At fifteen, she came of age and married the Crown Prince as his principal consort. His concubine-born daughter, Song Mingzhen, was raised deep within the household and rarely spoken of. The emperor died, and the Crown Prince ascended the throne. The Crown Princess became empress, and the era name 1.2kReads7.4Score124Shelves

    Reader note

    The female protagonist enters the palace to raise her elder sister's child, while the male protagonist is impure. Song Mingqian, the Grand Secretary, has two daughters. His legitimate daughter, Song Yingzhen, is the most talented woman in the capital. At fifteen, she marries the Crown Prince and becomes his principal wife. His illegitimate daughter, Song Mingzhen, is raised in seclusion and rarely heard from. The Emperor dies, the Crown Prince ascends the throne, and his wife becomes Empress, with the reign title Yuande. In the fifth year of Yuande, the Empress gives birth to a legitimate son but dies from postpartum hemorrhage. The country cannot be without an heir, and in accordance with the Empress's last wish, Song Mingzhen, the illegitimate daughter, enters the palace as Empress, becoming the Second Empress. Crown Prince Changce is adopted by the Second Empress.

22. 22 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
23. 23 在 A Hundred Ways to Win the Emperor's Heart in the Harem 在后宫征服皇帝的一百个技巧 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ever since entering the palace, Yun Li has become a shameless schemer. Two-faced and insincere, she puts on an act every day. When dealing with the emperor’s favorite consort, she tears into her until she’s furious, then clutches her chest with a wounded look and says, “I’m so envious that His Majesty dotes on you.” When someone tries to frame her, she casually slaps them, then bursts into tears. “Why would you treat a kind person like me this way?” When speaking with the empress, she nods absen 12.2kReads9.5Score1.4kShelves
24. 24 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1kShelves
25. 25 谢 Empress of the Xie Family 谢家皇后 Song of the Yue People越人歌Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In her first year in the palace, she is a Talented Lady. In her fifth, she is a Jieyu. In her tenth, she wants to become empress. As empress, she can hold on to everything she treasures and keep it from being taken away. She can protect herself and her child, and she can... stay by his side. This is a road with only one direction: take a single step back, and all will be lost. The bright yellow ceremonial parasol moves forward, and the emperor's procession slowly enters the city gate. A yellow p 8.9kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves
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 105.4kReads9.4Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    These aren't just typical sweet romance novels; they're all highly-rated stories about palace intrigue and power struggles, with excellent writing. 💕💕💕

27. 27 妻 My Wife’s Crimes Are Heinous, and She Shows No Remorse 妻主罪恶滔天，死不悔改 Lucky Blue-and-White Porcelain幸运的青花瓷Ancient Romance597k WordsCompleted [Female-dominant world / strong heroine / a rotten woman reborn and remorseful / heroine stays wicked from beginning to end / devoted to her husband / not a brainless power fantasy / System / one-on-one romance / after the heroine is reborn, she has no other men; decide for yourselves whether the leads are virgins, I’m done labeling it / the male and female leads’ bodies are not swapped] Jiang Tang admits she has never been a good person. She’ll do anything to get what she wants, and beneath her 8.1kReads9.0Score664Shelves
28. 28 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.4kReads9.2Score950Shelves
29. 29 只 As Long as You Can Act, You’re Bound to Become a Consort 只要演技好，贵妃之位没得跑 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted Lin Qingyan was the daughter of a marquis. Her father was the Marquis of Ding'an, a prominent figure at court, yet she had none of the fine clothes and luxurious comforts that should have come with her birth. She was merely an unloved concubine-born daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an’s household. A father who ignored the people and affairs of the inner quarters and cared only for his own pleasure; a ruthless legal wife who treated her concubine-born daughters harshly; and a half-sister who wante 1.6kReads8.6Score184Shelves
30. 30 娘 The Palace Maid Rises to Power, and the Entire Harem Hopes She’ll Be Deposed 娘娘宫女上位，满宫盼她被废 Yun Ning蕴宁Ancient Romance751k WordsCompleted [No transmigration or rebirth; ruthless heroine; neither lead is a good person, so don’t read if you mind; heroine plays the helpless green tea at first, then fights back hard; he devotes himself to her later on] Pinglan is a maid serving the unpopular eldest princess. When the princess’s mother, Consort Rong, is deposed, she pleads with Pinglan to look after her daughter before she dies. Pinglan agrees. Not long afterward, the eldest princess is adopted by Consort Yu. But Consort Yu loses the e 196Reads8.4Score—Shelves
31. 31 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 20.4kReads8.8Score2kShelves
32. 32 娇 The Pretty Palace Maid's Step-by-Step Rise to Empress 娇娇宫女，步步为后 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / not both partners’ first time / devoted love in the later story / not a strong heroine; the female lead cries easily and isn’t particularly clever, so don’t expect too much!] After three years in the palace, Yue Li has worked carefully and waited for a chance at promotion. Just before she is promoted, a palace maid sharing her room is sentenced to death for offending a consort. Thunder crashes and rain pours that night as blood spatters everywhere. Terrified, Yue Li cannot sle 24.5kReads9.3Score11.5kShelves
33. 33 出 On the Night Before Leaving the Palace, She Is Forced to Become a Prince's Concubine 出宫前夜，她被迫成为王府侍妾 Songyu Fish淞雨鱼Ancient Romance339k WordsCompleted The story has only just started gaining traction, so its ratings will rise gradually~~ The main story is complete, and the extra chapters are being updated. [Household intrigue + devoted love in the middle and later stages + male lead has a romantic past + no abuse of the heroine] Yue Heng is an inconspicuous palace maid in the harem of the State of Zhao, and is about to leave the palace at twenty-five. She works diligently and saves her money, hoping to open a shop in the capital and live out t 2.6kReads7.3Score203Shelves

    Reader note

    This book fits the bill perfectly. The male lead has a principal wife and concubines in his harem, while the female lead is a maidservant. He will basically have exclusive favor from the beginning, and only have children with her. There's also a later plot where he pursues her.

34. 34 朱 The Concubine of the Zhu Family 朱门妾 Yun Xibai云夕白Ancient Romance211k WordsCompleted [Male Lead, No Female Lead, Angsty Novel] In short, this is a story about a modern woman who transmigrates to ancient times, where modern and ancient ways of thinking collide. This novel has no moral compass and no shame. 1.3kReads8.6Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    That night I went to his quarters to find him. He scolded me for being unruly and slapped me across the face. It turned out that in this era of polygamy, his favor was never something I could rely on. After I became pregnant, I asked him if he cared about me. He said, "Why are you jealous of the child?" He hadn't touched another woman in four years, and I actually thought that was already very good. But what I wanted was exclusivity, while I had always been just one of many in his harem. He wasn't a scumbag in the traditional sense, just an ordinary man steeped in feudalistic ideas, while I was an outcast from another world. 😅

35. 35 佛 The Easygoing Second Wife 佛系继室 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance111k WordsCompleted From the moment Cui Jiangwan learns she’s to marry Marquis Wu’an Ji Huai, she knows the marquis still carries an irreplaceable first love in his heart. That woman was his late wife and his childhood sweetheart. So Cui Jiangwan plans to be a laid-back second wife and live with Ji Huai in mutual respect. 3kReads6.8Score215Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book is really good!

36. 36 听 Rumor Has It the Noble Consort Alone Enjoys the Emperor's Favor in the Deep Palace 听说贵妃在深宫独得圣上恩宠 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance568k WordsCompleted When they were young and love stirred in his heart, he took her in. Once he held power, he had no choice but to hide her away. In the lonely inner palace, she waited quietly, day after day and year after year. For power and status, he feared nothing. He overcame every obstacle and held her close. Behind layer upon layer of palace gates and red walls, a dream within a dream awakened the lovers from their reverie. 8.9kReads9.0Score573Shelves
37. 37 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 33.5kReads9.3Score5.8kShelves

    Reader note

    The male lead never truly loved anyone. The female lead loved him, but he betrayed her too many times, so she stopped loving him. She just wanted to rely on him to survive.

38. 38 陛 Your Majesty, Stop Stealing My Melons! 陛下，不要总偷我的瓜！ Ten Miles Above the Moon月上十里Ancient Romance241k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + mind reading + gossip + 1v1 + top-tier love-brained male lead + palace intrigue + happy ending] When Li Zhu woke up again, she discovered she had transmigrated into a book. [Wow, is this the tyrant from the original novel?] The tyrant, Li Shengyuan, frowned. Hm? Who's speaking? [He's so handsome! Handsome from every angle! No wonder he's Heaven's favorite son!] Li Shengyuan fixed his gaze on Li Zhu. Interesting! He could actually hear a woman's thoughts. [What a shame 5.4kReads9.0Score762Shelves
39. 39 娘 After the Empress Consort Closed Her Heart to Love, the Emperor Became Addicted to Begging for Her Affection 娘娘断心绝爱后，陛下跪舔上瘾了 Jie Chong解虫Ancient Romance435k WordsCompleted [Both leads are reborn] [Alternate history] [He pursues his wife after losing her; the hero is humble and devoted] [In her previous life, she was a love-struck fool; reborn, she is a clear-eyed and captivating consort × In his previous life, he loved her without realizing it; reborn, the powerful emperor eagerly becomes her devoted admirer] In her previous life, Su Yunning was infatuated with her cousin, the emperor, for over twenty years. She had no children of her own, willingly became his con 23.2kReads8.6Score1.6kShelves
40. 40 王 Princess, Stop Lounging Around! You Have a Regency to Run! 王妃别躺了，您要垂帘听政了！ Jiang Nanyi姜南忆Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [The rating was just posted, but it’ll go up later!] She became a stepmother at a young age, and everyone said Shen You’an was doomed to a hard life. Just as everyone expected her to wreak havoc in Prince Yi’s manor, she went and lay flat instead. When Prince Yi got hurt, she put on a show of mourning. When his concubines fought, she sat back and watched. Her only goals were to eat, wait for death, and retire early. Shen You’an believed life’s three greatest joys were getting promoted, getting r 583Reads7.5Score—Shelves
41. 41 清 Raising Children in the Qing Palace: The Side Consort Wins by Taking It Easy 清宫养崽，侧福晋她躺赢了 Mango Sago, Yeah芒果西米露吖Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted An Ran spent more than a decade diligently serving as a palace maid in the Qing court. At long last, she caught the eye of Consort De of Yonghe Palace. She had hoped that, once she turned twenty-five, she could ask Consort De to let her leave the palace. Instead, she was assigned to serve as the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen’s, first woman. Wait, wasn’t that Song’s job in history? There was no defying an imperial decree, so An Ran arrived at the imperial princes’ residence in a small sedan chair. Since 16.8kReads9.0Score1.6kShelves
42. 42 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

    Reader note

    The male protagonist has three sons and is bedridden; he is conscious even when lying on his bed, but cannot move. The female protagonist marries him in order to survive.

43. 43 双 We Were Both Reborn, Wife. I Was Wrong. Give Me One More Chance 双重生，媳妇儿我错了再给次机会 Second Day of the Fifth Month五月初二Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Dual Rebirth, The Long Road to Winning Her Back, Obsessive Love, A Band of Chivalrous Sisters, Political Intrigue, Family and Country] [Heaven’s Favorite Daughter VS Mad Emperor VS Cunning Little One] Shen Zhuo had the perfect hand from the start: her father was a powerful minister, her mother a princess, her elder sister a princess consort, and her own brother commanded a mighty army, guarding a region. She was the darling of everyone, yet ended up with her family destroyed and no place to bu 6.1kReads7.6Score375Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead in this ancient romance novel refuses to accept the role, has a child with another woman, and even makes another woman his empress while still believing he loves the female lead. 😅😅😅 Some parts of this book made my heart pound; it felt like a helpless feeling that couldn't be slapped into the book.

44. 44 另 Seeking a Better Match: I Won’t Be the Madam of This Marquis’s Manor! 另谋高嫁：这侯府夫人我不做了！ Egret Under Clear Skies晴天白鹭Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Original title: Finding a Better Match: I’m Done Being the Marquess’s Wife! Regarding plagiarism, don’t make baseless accusations. The publication dates are there for all to see. [Traditional historical romance and household intrigue + strong heroine and hero + mutual devotion + a prince who cherishes his wife] A merchant’s daughter marries into a marquess’s household, becoming the laughingstock of the capital. For six years, Jiang Shu lives alone and supports the entire household without compla 23.9kReads9.2Score4.8kShelves

    Reader note

    The second one was pretty good, but the male lead was different 🤦

45. 45 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Against a grand backdrop, this is a novel domestic drama where the ancient heroine completely triumphs over the time-traveling heroine. The time-traveling heroine's inappropriate actions and modern ideas are crushed by the heroine's strong female lead. The novel doesn't treat readers like fools at all, and the writing is excellent, making it incredibly enjoyable to read!

46. 46 帝 The Emperor Has No Heart, Yet His Cool and Elegant Noble Consort Has Her Ways 帝本无心，怎奈清冷贵妃手段高 My Cat Is Called Huabei我的猫叫花呗Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Cool, seductive fox beauty vs. a carefree, womanizing emperor] [The heroine is the true daughter, driven by revenge and ambition: a scheming beauty, sweet on the outside but ruthless within, and far from virtuous. This is an unconventional palace-intrigue story focused on winning hearts. The hero is not chaste. Later, he desperately tries to win her back. The overall tone is sweet, and the romance becomes one-on-one in the latter half.] Until the age of five, Changyu Jiao was the legitimate da 9.2kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The male lead is impure!!! Real palace intrigue and scheming!!! This book is my absolute favorite, it's incredibly good!!!

47. 47 技 The Concubine with Maxed-Out Skills Is Turning Herself into an Empress? 技能拉满的侍妾，卷成皇后了？ White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted Empress Wenzhao was a famously bewitching consort and the most talented empress. The way she has been judged and defined throughout her life has changed many times, but that has never diminished her status or the value of studying her. [System + Raising Kids + Relentless Competition] Thanks to being well fed at home, Qi Jiao was plump and rosy-cheeked. After a flood, she was sold into the palace as a maid, and when she got a little older, she was assigned to the empress’s palace. A few years lat 12.6kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
48. 48 皇 A Royal Concubine 皇家妾室 A Bottle of Milk with Wangzai一瓶牛奶加旺仔Ancient Romance242k WordsCompleted [The heroine does not transmigrate, has no golden finger, and is not the sole object of the prince’s favor. He may favor her more later on. Read with care if that bothers you.] Qiao Weiyue was born into a merchant family. Because of her beauty, she was presented to Prince Jin as a concubine. She knew her place. The prince would never favor her alone, and she couldn’t compete with noblewomen who had powerful families and plenty of tricks up their sleeves. So she could only cling tightly to Prince 7.1kReads8.4Score823Shelves
49. 49 撩 After Flirting with the Emperor, the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 撩拨皇帝后，贵妃她不想负责 Butterflies Dance into Tragedy蝶舞成殇Ancient Romance607k WordsCompleted Household intrigue in the beginning, palace intrigue later. Bai Zhi was the legitimate daughter of the prime minister. Though born to the prime minister's household, her mother died young and her father remarried. He doted on her younger sister, while Bai Zhi spent sixteen years unloved by her father and mother. Then an imperial decree came: the emperor had chosen her to be Prince Ying's concubine. Later, Prince Ying ascended the throne. "Your Majesty, this is terrible! Consort Xian slapped Lady 1.1kReads7.4Score112Shelves
50. 50 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 31.6kReads9.4Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all first books, and the female lead is truly a working-class soul, slacking off after get off work and cultivating a good relationship with her boss during work hours, mainly relying on her sweet talk. The third book features a female lead who is a well-bred lady, only wanting to hold power in the household and live her own life well; she doesn't really care about the male lead.

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