Palace Intrigue, Palace Intrigue, Pure Palace Intrigue 宫斗宫斗 纯宫斗

1. 301 照 Dressed in Red: The Maid's Rise to Power 照红妆：通房丫鬟上位记 Sweet, Sweet Milk Candy奶糖甜甜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (New book updating) Haitang's rules for fighting in the inner household as a maidservant: First, be flexible. Second, don't let love cloud your judgment. Third, if a woman isn't ruthless, her position won't be secure. Haitang was breathtakingly beautiful but born into a lowly family. In her previous life, proud and unwilling to become a bedchamber maid, she was tortured to death by the principal wife. Reborn, she decided to live differently. Everyone thought she was reaching above her station ju 13.8kReads9.3Score1.9k14d adds

   Reader note

   I recommend these palace intrigue novels, especially the third one!!!

2. 302 宫 The Rise of A Miao, Palace Maid 宫婢阿渺上位录 Gray-Blue Basket灰蓝箩箩Ancient Romance535k WordsCompleted A resilient, calculating heroine who grows stronger and always gets her revenge. A palace-intrigue novel, set in a fictional world. The male lead is thirteen years older than the female lead. The emperor is not a virgin, but once he and the heroine truly become a couple, he has eyes for no one else. In the fourth year of the Jingshun reign, a great fire destroyed Yun Miao’s family and left her with nothing. A year later, she entered the palace as a maid under someone else’s identity, all for 512Reads8.4Score10014d adds

   Reader note

   They're all very beautiful.

3. 303 皇 Imperial Noble Consort 皇贵妃 Liang Zhihe梁之鹤Ancient Romance190k WordsCompleted Forced possession / the pursuit of a wife after losing her / angst (avoid if you dislike these) / avoid if you're a heroine stan / weak heroine / both leads are virgins According to the official history of Tianzhao, Noble Consort Chen, of the Jiang clan, shared a deep bond with Emperor Tianzhao and had once saved his life. She enjoyed his favor for many years without losing it. In the first year of Tianzhao, she was made Noble Consort Chen. The following year, she gave birth to the Crown Prince 17.8kReads8.9Score94614d adds
4. 304 娘 The Empress Is Sweet and Alluring, Winning Favor and Rising to Power 娘娘娇软妩媚，一路争宠上位 Bell Meow铃铛喵Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (A pure palace-intrigue story, not a one-on-one romance, and not a mutually faithful pairing. Proceed with caution!) Bai Ruotang is the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Right Chancellor’s household. At fifteen, just after coming of age, she is sent into the palace to bear a child for her legitimate elder sister and help her secure the emperor’s favor. Unwilling to be reduced to someone else’s pawn, from the moment she steps through the palace gates, she decides she will carve out 10.5kReads8.9Score1k14d adds

   Reader note

   Palace intrigue novels are just so satisfying.

5. 305 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 101.2kReads9.2Score11.2k14d adds

   Reader note

   🍅A curated selection of palace intrigue dramas, so entertaining!

6. 306 太 The Crown Prince’s White Moonlight Can’t Compare: The Soft, Sweet Girl Is His True Love 太子白月光不香，软娇娇才是真爱 October Brocade Deer十月锦鹿Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted Sweet romance! Palace and household intrigue + reborn heroine + transmigrated rival + face-slapping the beloved white moonlight The Crown Prince has a beloved woman. She's beautiful and talented, forthright by nature, and the orphaned daughter of a loyal martyr. She and the Crown Prince grew up together, yet she claims to see him as an older brother and refuses to enter the Eastern Palace and share a husband with the other women. The Crown Prince is utterly devoted to her and has turned down th 5.7kReads8.5Score54214d adds
7. 307 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 5.5kReads8.5Score59614d adds

   Reader note

   The characters are well-defined, and the plot is fast-paced.

8. 308 攻 After Winning Over the Male Lead and His Rivals, My Best Friend and I Faked Our Deaths 攻略完男主男配我和闺蜜死遁了 Jiang Xiaobai Is Invincible姜小白无敌了Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted ( Li Sisi and Li Nian transmigrate into a book together and both get bound to a cuddling-to-extend-your-life System. They start with only three days to live! Best friends should live together and run away together! One of them goes after the male lead, the other the second male lead. What? The female lead is back? Perfect, we’ve saved up enough time to live. Let’s grab the money and run~ Elder brother Xiao Yunyu: “My wife is dead?” Younger brother Xiao Yunchen: “My wife died for love?” Later, af 474Reads8.5Score10014d adds

   Reader note

   I don't believe your eyes are empty, Your Majesty.

9. 309 踹 Dump the Romance Hero, Seduce the Emperor from a Male-Oriented Novel 踹掉言情男主，勾搭男频帝王 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, revenge, scheming, stunning heroine, seductive mastermind] The short drama His Heart on a String is now streaming! Shen Yuling transmigrated into a romance novel as its heroine. Unfortunately, she was a heroine whose luck had been stolen by a woman who transmigrated into the story. She would die in a fire, taking her unborn child with her, while her entire family would be wiped out. It was a fate the original heroine had failed to change, even after being reborn twice 17kReads9.2Score2.3k14d adds
10. 310 凰 The Phoenix Rules the World: I Will Be Empress 凰倾天下：本宫要为后 Bright and Clear皎皎清兮Ancient Romance185k WordsCompleted They say when you’re reborn, you should take revenge and crush your enemies. She was reborn, so why did she end up in the body of a lowborn dancing girl? It’s a far cry from her former status as a Worthy Consort! Even a mere secondary consort in a prince’s household thinks she can lord it over her. Just wait until I enter the palace and defeat Noble Consort Zhao and Virtuous Consort De, those two wretches. Then I’ll take your prince husband for myself and come back to play cat and mouse with you —Reads—Score—14d adds
11. 311 荣 Consort Rong Reigns Supreme in the Imperial Harem 荣妃娘娘宠冠后宫 Soul Mosaic灵魂马赛克Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Consort Rong, Maijia, enjoyed the emperor's favor for ten years and bore five sons and one daughter. Sadly, only one son and one daughter survived. After that, she faded into obscurity in the imperial harem. Qi Yali, who had transmigrated from the apocalypse, became Maijia Yaliqi. She swore to change the tragic fate of herself and her children and carve a broad path through the thorn-filled imperial harem. 1.1kReads6.5Score12314d adds
12. 312 她 After She Revealed Her Secret Identity, Her Emperor Husband Got Jealous 她掉马甲后，帝王夫君茶花了 Tang Mengruo Ying唐梦若影Ancient Romance316k WordsOngoing [Super-satisfying read + everyone’s favorite + comeback + scheming, lovesick male lead + top research scientist heroine] She transmigrated into a book as a dim-witted young lady. Everyone bullied and mocked her, taking pleasure in watching her make a fool of herself! Her fiancé even showed up at her door with a gaggle of manipulative green tea girls and fake innocent white lotuses. But the silly young heiress had powerful backing and plenty of influence! What a coincidence: that was exactly her —Reads—Score—14d adds
13. 313 大 The Great Yu's Master Strategist 大渝筹算师 Little Darling Lost in the Way迷途的小心肝Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Strong female lead + revenge on scumbags + lighthearted + pure romance + playing the fool to catch the tiger + happy ending] Good news: Her betrothed came first in the provincial exams and earned the title of Jieyuan. Bad news: Her betrothed, now a Jieyuan, wanted to break off the engagement without losing face, so he schemed against his fiancée, who came from a merchant family. Fine. If you want to break things off with dignity by scheming against someone, then neither of us is going to have a 19kReads9.3Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    They're all palace intrigue dramas. Especially the third one, which is purely a palace intrigue drama.

14. 314 首 The Grand Secretary Regrets It, but I've Already Won the Favor of the Entire Harem 首辅大人后悔了，我已宠冠六宫 The Wind Goes Blah Blah叽里咕噜的风Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama of the same name, Resigning as Chief Councillor, is now streaming on Hongguo and Fanqie! In this life, both leads are faithful to each other. In her previous life, the heroine, Liu Mianmian, was married. In his previous life, the hero, Xie Lingyuan, died young. There’s no rivalry between women, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this story isn’t for you. In her previous life, no one lived happily. In this life, Liu Mianmian just wants to live comfortably. All she wants this t 8.6kReads8.8Score2.4k14d adds
15. 315 掀 Flip the Table! The Legitimate Daughter Returns to Make Her Mark! 掀桌子！归来嫡女要立威！ Xuan Ying Luo玄英落Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Political Intrigue + Feel-Good Story + Sharp Tongues + Ensemble Cast + Nation and Family + Two Strong Leads + Devoted Couple] The legitimate daughter of a general's household, who had been left to fend for herself in the countryside, was maliciously attacked. When she opened her eyes again, she had become Liu Qingyue, China's top special agent. Determined to repay her master's kindness in recognizing her abilities, Liu Qingyue accepted his dying wish, left the Taoist temple, and returned home t 9kReads9.1Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    Inspirational, not love-struck

16. 316 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 19.1kReads9.1Score1.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue, but the female lead still seems a bit lazy.

17. 317 长 The Grand Princess Is Obsessed with Rebellion, but There Are Six Male Leads 长公主沉迷造反，但有六个男主 Xi Han习含Ancient Romance511k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + political intrigue + strong female lead + otome + adored by all + romantic rivalry + multiple male leads + all male leads are chaste] Su Fengyi transmigrates into a villainous princess in a male-oriented rebellion novel. She has only a year before the male lead succeeds in his rebellion and has her killed. After looking over the entire novel, Su Fengyi realizes the male lead succeeds thanks to two things: protagonist plot armor and the help of talented supporters. To 10.6kReads9.3Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    ... Why doesn't the struggle for the throne count?

18. 318 我 I Find the Top Scholar So Charming 我见探花多娇媚 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Jing Bao has three wishes: First, protect the family estate of the main branch; second, enter the Imperial College, place third in the palace examinations, and bring honor to the family; third, keep living as a man in disguise until the end. Lord Gu has three wishes too: First, help someone protect their family estate; second, help that someone place third in the palace examinations; third, bring the disguised top scorer home and make her the mistress of the household. 4.1kReads9.4Score75614d adds

    Reader note

    With a courageous and resourceful female lead, a deep and loving teacher like the male lead, and close friends made at the academy, Jingbao's life is truly fulfilling.

19. 319 反 The Villainess Kills with Her Beauty 反派她以美貌杀人 Shattered Starlight夜空碎光Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted (The heroine is a true villain. If you prefer morally upright characters, read with caution.) She was the villain of a book, but she never knew it. But what did that matter? Her beloved was dead. How could those responsible for his death be allowed to live? She toyed with the world in the palm of her hand, laying schemes within schemes and concealing deadly intent at every turn. Her gentle nature and ethereal beauty were both weapons, and no one could stand in the way of her revenge. The person 4kReads9.4Score48014d adds
20. 320 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 21.2kReads8.8Score2.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    This looks great! 😳

21. 321 病 After Her Sickly Husband Died, the Crown Prince Took Her into the Eastern Palace 病弱夫君去世后，太子夺我入东宫 Fei Nongmo妃弄墨Ancient Romance581k WordsCompleted [The short drama of the same name, Marry into the Eastern Palace, is now available] Three years ago, at the Eastern Palace’s consort selection banquet, the Crown Prince scolded her: “The Shen girl is coquettish and ingratiating, and her conduct is outrageous.” His words made Shen Lizhu the laughingstock of the capital’s noblewomen, forcing her to retreat to her maternal grandparents’ home in Jiangnan. Three years later, the Crown Prince is ordered to leave the capital and tour Jiangnan. Shen Liz 25.1kReads8.4Score2.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    Push push push

22. 322 仪 Splendid Ceremony: The Su Family Heiress Rises Step by Step in the Imperial Palace 仪华万千：苏氏千金深宫步步高升 May No One in This World Grow Gray不许人间尽白头Ancient Romance268k WordsCompleted [Dual happy and bad endings] [Palace intrigue] [Not a pure romance] [Clear-headed heroine] Also known as: Beneath the Inner Palace: A Favored Consort's Step-by-Step Plot to Win the Emperor's Heart According to popular gossip, the Su family's daughter had bright eyes and pearly teeth, a face like a peach blossom, and was known as the most talented woman in the capital. She entered the palace in the first year of the selection. From the moment she arrived, Mingyi understood that she would spend th 140Reads7.1Score—14d adds
23. 323 京 The Capital's Most Notorious Beauty 京城第一祸水 Stars Fill My Eyes满眼星宸Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Currently being published [rival suitors in a dramatic love triangle + top-tier schemer + supporting villainess fights back + everyone comes around] [Historical romance + told entirely from the wicked supporting female character’s perspective] ❣️Blurb One Qiao Wanyan learned from a storybook that she was nothing but a wicked supporting character who abandoned her childhood sweetheart and chased after wealth and status. She sowed discord, poisoned her elder sister, and committed every imaginable 58.2kReads9.3Score7.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is really good; it's funny so you won't get tired of reading it for too long. The second book has a strong palace intrigue feel, with subtle plot lines throughout.

24. 324 入 After Entering the Palace, the Obsessive Emperor Dotes on Consort Yuan 入宫后，偏执皇上盛宠元妃娘娘 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [A violent emperor + a feigning-fool, ruthless concubine-born daughter + not mutually exclusive in the early stages + favored above the entire harem later] An Qingyu was the fourth daughter of the prime minister. Her mother, Concubine Lan Yue, had been brought into the household as the prime minister’s wife’s dowry maid. As a concubine-born daughter, An Qingyu had grown up at the First Madam’s side, keeping her head down and ingratiating herself, just like Concubine Lan. Then a twist of fate rui 1.8kReads9.0Score19414d adds
25. 325 红 Dream of the Red Chamber: Waiting to Become a Widow and Raising Daiyu 红楼：坐等守寡，抚养黛玉 Grape Sangshen葡萄桑甚Female-Channel Fanfiction553k WordsCompleted “The Jia family are no good, sister. You shouldn’t get into that sedan chair!” And so a fine private sedan chair appeared before Daiyu. “They’re just a bunch of spoiled brats, and they still have the nerve to brag? How shameless!” Baoyu, who was about to take her hand, was kicked away out of nowhere. “That old lady is so hypocritical. If you care about Daiyu, why didn’t you even bring her a welcoming gift?” Jia Mu winced and dug into her private savings to give Daiyu a gift. Daiyu likes her 5.3kReads9.1Score70214d adds

    Reader note

    Anyone who has read *Dream of the Red Chamber* knows that Daiyu's fate is something everyone laments. This book, however, presents you with a vibrant and lively Daiyu.

26. 326 攀 Marrying Up 攀高枝 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance424k WordsCompleted [Film and TV rights sold] [Print edition published] Zhang Zhixu had everything from birth. A family with a century of prestige, enviable talent, and a career that kept rising step by step. But he found life terribly dull. Then, one day, an accident struck, and his soul entered a woman's body. A woman who couldn't read a single character, yet dreamed of marrying into a powerful family and becoming a phoenix. · Chen Baoxiang had traveled a thousand miles from the countryside to the capital, hoping 162.8kReads9.6Score22.7k14d adds
27. 327 贵 The Alluring Imperial Consort Climbs to the Top by Winning the Emperor’s Favor 贵妃娘娘妩媚诱人，一路争宠上位 Cheng Shuang乘霜Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted [A drama-loving, cunning heroine who puts on a beautiful act × a hero who falls for all her tricks] The heroine is spoiled by his affection, and the hero keeps lowering his standards for her Shen Yue knew from childhood that she had to fight for whatever she wanted. Having watched her concubine mother bow and scrape around the household, she wanted to win a respectable place in the world for them both. As a concubine-born daughter, no high-ranking family would take her as a principal wife. If sh 2.8kReads8.8Score24514d adds

    Reader note

    You can check out various types of palace intrigue novels.

28. 328 娇 The Bewitching Consort Rises to Power, Face-Slapping the Scheming, Cold Emperor 娇媚娘娘狂上位，打脸勾心清冷帝 Treading Spring Afar踏春遥Ancient Romance403k WordsOngoing [Palace intrigue, transmigration, a clear-eyed heroine who uses schemes and acting skills to rise to the top, palace intrigue in the early stages, then becoming the emperor's only favorite, happy ending] [A glamorous star with a thousand-layered bag of tricks and countless ways to seduce; a slow-to-warm, aloof emperor gradually gets proven wrong, and an old flame turns him into a lovesick fool] Everyone in the palace knew that Emperor Zhaoming, with his immortal bearing and few desires, treated 3Reads—Score—14d adds
29. 329 夺 Claiming Her: The Mad Emperor Regretted It After Their Wedding 夺她：成亲后疯批皇帝后悔了 Little Fruit Pear小果梨Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted [Chasing His Wife to the Crematorium + Taking Her by Force + All the Angsty Drama] [He stages a coup to seize power and take by force the woman who once loved him as if he were everything] Lu Qingzhu is the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's household. She married Meng Huairen, heir to the Duke of Ningguo's household. Her husband is upright and refined, highly esteemed by His Majesty, and the very model of a noble young gentleman. One month into their marriage, the couple are inseparab 493Reads6.0Score—14d adds
30. 330 娘 The Empress Remarries in Search of True Love, While the Emperor Grows Old Alone 娘娘改嫁另觅真爱，皇上孤独终老 Yun Yuebai云月白Ancient Romance251k WordsCompleted [No getting back together after a broken relationship + no reconciliation or forgiveness + the second male lead wins] From childhood acquaintances to lovers, Jiang Suwan stood by Mo Linyuan every step of the way. They fought side by side, conquered the realm, and became emperor and empress. He once promised that he would love only her for his whole life and take no other wife. But as soon as he ascended the throne, he brought one woman after another into the palace, gradually neglecting her. To 489Reads5.7Score—14d adds
31. 331 皇 The Emperor Chases His Wife: Empress, Love Me One More Time 皇帝追妻：皇后再爱我一次 Fallen Angel 8424折翼天使8424Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted “Your Majesty, I beg you to spare my brother's life.” “Yuer, is your brother all that matters to you? If you go back this time, I promise you'll become my empress. I will never depose you for as long as I live, and I promise the throne will go to your son. You'll always be the empress of Dongchen, and even become the empress dowager one day. Just go back, please.” “Your Majesty, I don't have to be empress. You know that wealth and glory mean nothing to me, but my family is different. All I ask i 511Reads—Score—14d adds
32. 332 假 After Faking My Death to Escape, the Scumbag Emperor Cries in Secret Every Day 假死脱身后，渣皇帝每日偷偷的哭 Very Lucky Raccoon大吉大狸Ancient Romance511k WordsCompleted [Laid-Back Harem Schemes + Clear-Eyed Realism + The Emperor's Regret + No Forgiveness + Second Male Lead Wins] Shen Ning and Emperor Jing had been childhood sweethearts, bound by deep affection from a young age. He had once promised her that she would be the only woman he loved in this life, and his one and only empress. But even the deepest love of youth could not withstand the novelty of someone new. You always think the food you've never tried tastes better. In the third year of the Jingde er 1.3kReads7.5Score11114d adds
33. 333 有 There’s a Kind of Harem Called Consort De 有种后宫叫德妃 A Suo阿琐Ancient Romance3.1M WordsCompleted All Wu Yalanqi wants in this life is to be a good palace maid. To become one, she's even willing to risk her life and trick the emperor. Certain she's doomed, she opens her eyes and finds herself lying on the imperial bed... Everyone thinks she's nothing but a pawn the emperor is using to spite his new empress and the court officials after the death of his beloved first wife. But Xuanye cherishes this pawn in the palm of his hand, and keeps her there for a lifetime. 2.3kReads9.0Score22914d adds
34. 334 想 I Just Want to Lie Flat, but the Emperor Pushes Me into the Harem Battles 想躺平，皇上却push我宫斗 Wooden Raisin木提子Ancient Romance328k WordsCompleted [An unconventional palace-intrigue story + 1v1 later on + a love-triangle free-for-all] The emperor falls first, then turns dark later [A beautiful, easygoing sloth consort who just wants to lie flat x a hard-working emperor who is secretly scheming and potentially unhinged] “Me, Just Looking for a Basic Salary and Slacking Off, Got Promoted Thanks to the Emperor’s Help” / “The Emperor Fights Palace Battles for Me Behind My Back” / “Consort Yao Doesn’t Want His Favor or Love, She Just Wants to R 8.4kReads9.3Score73414d adds

    Reader note

    These two are pure palace intrigue novels, I highly recommend them! They're really good, but I'm too lazy to write book summaries. Just go read them yourselves, darlings! 🥰🥰😘😘 They're super good, really! 😘

35. 335 皇 The Empress Doesn't Love the Emperor, and Now He Regrets It Too Late 皇后娘娘不爱陛下，陛下追悔莫及 Mr. Fanyang范阳先生Ancient Romance271k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, emperor and empress couple, not a mutually devoted romance] The young emperor Xiao Chenyuan had just ascended the throne when he met Luo Qingning, the daughter of a military family, at a palace banquet. He fell in love at first sight and, despite her existing engagement, appointed her empress on the spot. Luo Qingning was a clear-headed university student born in the 2000s. After unexpectedly transmigrating to an unfamiliar world, she remained a committed opponent of marriage an 4.7kReads8.0Score10614d adds
36. 336 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 23.5kReads8.6Score1.7k14d adds
37. 337 进 After Entering the Cold Palace, the Empress Fakes Her Death 进冷宫后皇后她死遁了 Peach Blossom Gummies桃花软糖Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted Ji Feiyu was forced into the palace and made empress, but she did not love the current emperor, Yong Yaxuan. She thought they would go on treating each other with respect and keeping their distance. Yet again and again, he tried to open her heart. At last, when she fell for him and was overjoyed at the thought of growing old together with Yong Yaxuan, the other consorts framed her. “I never thought you would stoop to the same schemes as those vicious women in the harem!” She was mercilessly bani 117Reads—Score—14d adds
38. 338 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Delicate, and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Falls for Her at First Sight 娘娘娇娇媚，冷戾帝王一见倾心 The Star Among the Stars in the Sky天上星星的星星Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and revenge, a slow-burn, slow-payoff story + stunning heroine + exceptionally clearheaded heroine with an unwavering goal] [The hero always favors the heroine + dotes on her exclusively in the middle + disbands his harem later] After Shen Qingtang’s aunt is schemed against and killed by Madam Shen, her goal becomes perfectly clear: she will enter the palace, become the most honored woman in the land, and make everyone who plotted against her aunt pay. She is also perfectly clea 5kReads9.1Score56414d adds
39. 339 山 Beauty and Strategy in a Land of Rivers and Mountains 山河美人谋 Moonset月落Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Proud young lady who always gets even vs. frail, scheming Ninth Prince] Her fiancé was a total jerk, and he was planning to kill her to keep her quiet. Ye Jiao decided to strike first and find a scapegoat while she was at it. She thought the scapegoat would be a transparent, sickly “living corpse,” but rumors were misleading. He was clearly a two-faced, deeply cunning Ninth Prince. After Ye Jiao used the Ninth Prince’s name to punish her scumbag fiancé, Li Ce, the real Ninth Prince: “Miss, I be 18.3kReads9.5Score2.6k14d adds
40. 340 修 In Cultivation, How Can Anyone Be Sane at Such a Young Age? 修仙年纪轻轻哪有不疯的 Wrote a Story写了个文Ancient Romance293k WordsOngoing The over-three-thousand-year-old senior sister of Qingcheng Mountain finally went completely mad one morning. Ignoring her master's and junior disciples' pleas, she resolutely shouted, "Break through the dimensional wall! I'm finding myself a husband!" That's right, senior sister Lin Wuwu is a transmigrator and has been in this world for over three thousand years. At first, she had to look after her master, who was wholly absorbed in cultivation. Later, she had to care for her junior brothers an —Reads—Score—14d adds
41. 341 皇 The Emperor’s Beloved Little Princess 皇帝舅舅的团宠小公主 Wrote a Story写了个文Ancient Romance313k WordsCompleted Everyone in Kyoto knew that the little princess of Princess Changning’s household had the emperor, her uncle, and the empress dowager, her maternal grandmother, backing her. She was someone every noble family in Kyoto wanted to curry favor with. The little princess’s father was Zhou Shaoling, the second young master of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household. She took her mother’s surname, Ouyang, and was named Jiao. At her full-month celebration, her imperial uncle, the emperor, bestowed the courtesy n 488Reads6.2Score10414d adds
42. 342 清 After the Cool Beauty Ran Away, the Mad Crown Prince Saw Red 清冷美人逃跑后，疯批太子急红眼 Shui Yangyang水央央Ancient Romance337k WordsCompleted A cool, gentle beauty X a possessive, deranged crown prince In her previous life, Nan Zhi was hit by a car while running away, then transmigrated to ancient times. She thought she’d live a peaceful life, but who could have known… The crown prince brought a beauty back with him. Everyone in the Eastern Palace said she’d climbed her way into his favor, but no one knew she didn’t want to climb that high. All she wanted was to escape. After her first escape attempt failed, the crown prince grabbed h 5.5kReads8.9Score36214d adds
43. 343 将 Liu Qianqian, the Legitimate Daughter of a Military Family 将门嫡女柳浅浅 Late Autumn on South Mountain南山暮秋Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Historical romance, palace intrigue, sweet and angsty, strong male and female leads, mutual devotion] The Liu family had earned great military honors. To avoid provoking the emperor’s suspicions, they had their legitimate daughter, Liu Qianqian, obey the imperial decree and enter the palace for selection, thus securing the family’s prosperity. Liu Qianqian’s beauty and gentleness won the emperor’s favor, and within three months she was elevated to Noble Consort. But the path to advancement in 559Reads8.9Score10114d adds
44. 344 惑 Ensnaring the Eastern Palace: Tying the Mad Crown Prince to My Skirts 惑东宫，把疯批太子拴在裙带上 Ninefold Thousand Towers九方千阙Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted Originally titled Eastern Palace Erotic Picture. A madman and a madwoman, both clear-eyed about the world. [A delicate beauty with a ruthless streak × a deranged crown prince who takes what he wants, 1v1, both leads pure and Alpha] From the age of fourteen, when Ruan Qing arrived in the capital, she was hailed as the most beautiful woman in the city. Three years later, the unruly Sixth Prince had become the Crown Prince, while Ruan Qing had become a widow burdened with a monument to her chastity 34.3kReads9.3Score4.9k14d adds
45. 345 也 The Moon Shines on My Longing, Too 也有明月照相思 Fish Sleeping on the Moon枕月眠鱼Ancient Romance406k WordsCompleted Originally titled Cloud Cranesong [Pure historical romance + alternate setting + sweet romance + palace and household intrigue + political scheming] [Arrogant, adorable legitimate daughter of a marquis × cool, gentle crown prince] Pei Yunzhi was the little tyrant of Mobei. With loving parents and three older brothers who doted on her, she spent fourteen years in Mobei doing whatever she pleased. After returning to the capital, she beat up the Prince of Ping’s heir. When she saw Crown Prince Shen 7Reads6.3Score—14d adds
46. 346 妹 Little Sister, Stop Competing. Your Elder Sister Has Married into a Powerful Family 妹妹别斗了，嫡姐已嫁高门 Li Wu礼午Ancient Romance611k WordsCompleted Household intrigue + marriage first, love later + warrior x young woman Synopsis: Xie Yuxi had an excellent marriage prospect. Her unremarkable, illegitimate fiancé was far more impressive than anyone realized: without making a fuss, he had passed the imperial exam and become its top scorer. In the prime of her youth, she would marry a promising man who was everything she could wish for. How enviable. But after he failed to show up for their arranged meeting at a temple, the top scholar sent som 16.1kReads8.9Score1.8k14d adds
47. 347 王 The Princess Consort Turns Up the Charm, and the Prince Offers Her the Throne 王妃深撩低哄，王爷皇权相送 Pale Scallion Isn't Pale葱白不白Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Born into the royal family and married into it, people with passionate hearts have always been held back by their emotions! They say the imperial household is the most heartless place of all. After making one mistake, Shen Yunqian gets a fresh start, only to discover that it isn't the imperial family that's heartless, but the desires in people's hearts. Prince Li Xun is a peerless strategist, a god of death on the battlefield, and a player who has never lost a game of chess... He only wants to l 1.4kReads7.4Score12314d adds
48. 348 王 The Princess Consort Is Too Arrogant? She's Earned Her Place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple! 王妃太嚣张？她凭本事配享太庙！ Jian Yu简钰Ancient Romance824k WordsCompleted [Expert at winning over his wife + sweet on the outside, ruthless within + goofy + two powerful leads + sweet, satisfying romance] Behind a red bridal curtain, Shi Wanwan opens her eyes to find herself surrounded by handsome men. Her eyes light up. Is this the legendary perk of transmigrating? What? The scumbag wants to break off their engagement? Break it off, then! Absolutely! With all these handsome men around, who needs a scumbag? Xie Xuanzhi happens upon Shi Wanwan impersonating him after d 4.3kReads9.0Score57014d adds
49. 349 清 Qing Transmigration: The Noble Consort Wins by Doing Nothing with Her Golden Touch 清穿：贵妃靠点金手躺赢了 I'm an Old Antique我是老古董Ancient Romance509k WordsCompleted [Qing dynasty transmigration, golden finger, palace intrigue, heroine stands alone] One morning, wealthy woman Song Ruche woke up transmigrated to the Qing dynasty as the only legitimate daughter of the Fucha family. She was born with a golden finger that could upgrade anything she touched, transforming it completely. Unfortunately, she could only use it once every three years. To use it more often, she had to raise her own status. So she decided to take a shortcut: In a feudal society, what fas 5.7kReads9.1Score40014d adds

    Reader note

    Recommended by a ten-year veteran reader, this is truly amazing! The writing is impeccable, the plot is engaging, and it's so captivating you won't be able to put it down! The imagery is incredibly vivid! You can check it out on my bookshelf; the ones I've grouped are the ones I've read that I like (except for those that are on hiatus; I haven't read the ones in the hiatus group).

50. 350 甄 Empresses in the Palace: By Lingrong's Side 甄嬛传之陪着陵容 Zai Zai Yu An崽崽余安Female-Channel Fanfiction274k WordsCompleted Awakened Hua Fei and her brother, an Empress who no longer harbors any illusions about the Emperor, and Empress Chun Yuan, whose true face is gradually revealed! Will the consorts in the palace still be bound by the Emperor, scheming against one another to keep each other in check? If Ling Rong had had a personal maid who treated her like a younger sister from childhood, would she still have felt lonely? If Huan Bi had borne a son and become a consort, would Zhen Huan and Yu Rao, back from Ningg 154Reads—Score—14d adds

Other lists with Dressed in Red: The Maid's Rise to Power