Looking for Palace Intrigue Novels, No Mary Sue Heroines, Please, With Great Plot and Writing 求宫斗文，不要女主万人迷，希望剧情文笔在线的

1. 101 继 The Second Empress 继后 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The Noble Consort was favored, the Worthy Consort bore a son, the Bright Etiquette was the emperor’s white moonlight, and the Beautiful Consort was his cinnabar mole. Every other concubine had her own talents and charms. It was a whole garden in full bloom. So who was our protagonist? The unfavored empress, with no children and no powerful family backing. Great. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Never mind. On the first day Zhao Wumian transmigrated here, she decided to lie flat. Compete for t 79.6kReads9.5Score8.9k14d adds

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   The female protagonist transmigrates and becomes empress, but unlike typical wish-fulfillment stories, she doesn't directly drive social progress. Instead, she fulfills her role as empress well, remaining unmoved by worldly temptations and upholding modern values, striving for benevolence. She's not a saint, but she maintains her original intentions and doesn't have many melodramatic inner monologues; she's quite adaptable. While the story might become a bit dry later on, the everyday joys reminiscent of "Empresses in the Palace" will keep you entertained.

2. 102 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
3. 103 小 Listening to Spring Rain All Night in a Small Tower 小楼一夜听春雨 Bright Moon Tilts明月倾Ancient Romance876k WordsCompleted A critically acclaimed historical romance ensemble that topped the annual charts! A calculating, lovesick beauty versus a dark, scheming top scholar! A historical take on Pride and Prejudice: life in the inner household isn't all scheming and rivalry, but also deep sisterly affection. The clever and capable Second Madam Lou takes the greatest pride in her life in having three beautiful daughters. To marry her three marriageable girls into “good” families, she travels a great distance to the capi 35.4kReads9.6Score5.8k14d adds
4. 104 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. 8.5kReads9.0Score55514d adds
5. 105 谢 The Xie Family's Short-Lived Son Has Lived to a Hundred 谢家的短命鬼长命百岁了 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] The lid of a dead person's coffin won't lie flat because they had an unresolved longing in life. Given time, that longing turns into a demonic obsession, and unless it is resolved, their descendants will suffer. Yan Sanhe's job is to release the dead from their obsessions. One day, she gets hounded by Third Master Xie, who claims to have one. Yan Sanhe says she doesn't deal with the living. Third Master Xie replies, “Everyone says I won't live long. Just think of 125.4kReads9.6Score17k14d adds
6. 106 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. 8.3kReads9.2Score95314d adds

   Reader note

   I think these three books are the pinnacle of palace intrigue fiction 🥰🥰 I absolutely love them, I've already read them three times. The plot, the characters' intelligence, and the character development are all very vivid 💕💕💕💕

7. 107 让 You Asked Me to Be a Concubine, So I Killed the Lord? 让你当小妾，你把主君杀了？ Jiang Yu Is Very Lazy江鱼很懒Ancient Romance685k WordsCompleted (A full-cast audio drama has been produced) (The short drama adaptation, A Kiss Beneath the Spring Moon, is now online) [Quick transmigration + femme fatale + palace and household intrigue + revenge for every grudge + villainess fiction + no fixed male lead + growth-focused heroine] As a newly created System, Erdan only wanted to choose a gentle, charming Host who knew how to humble herself, so they could complete the concubine survival missions. But it turned out Erdan had misjudged her. A low- 17.2kReads9.6Score2.4k14d adds
8. 108 穿EN After Becoming the Villainess, I Clear My Name Every Day 穿成恶女后每天都在洗白 Gathering Vetch, Gathering Vetch采薇采薇Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Everyone’s Darling + Adorable Kids + Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy]: Transmigrating into a lovesick woman, Tang Zhuyun wakes up in the middle of a scene where she’s climbing into a man’s bed. She turns around and runs. Forget this bed, she’s not getting in! Who needs a man when her father is the top scholar, her brother is the top scholar, and even her son will be the top scholar? They’ll protect her, so she can do whatever she wants! As a master physician, she’ll focus on her career, save lives, and k 33.5kReads9.3Score4.7k14d adds
9. 109 缚 Tethered to the Dust 缚尘缨 Egg Tart蛋挞Ancient Romance998k WordsCompleted Everyone in the capital knew that General Ling was a dashing, dashing warrior. Unfortunately for him, Xue Wan ruthlessly divorced him when he decided to take a second wife. Everyone thought Xue Wan was just a lonely orphan with no one to rely on. Who could have guessed that she would divorce him and transform into the legitimate daughter of the Xue family, then go on to become the Ninth Prince's consort? The Ninth Prince, who even dared to show his displeasure to the emperor, repeatedly looked a 52Reads5.9Score10914d adds

   Reader note

   It features a lot of palace intrigue, all very intense, and each main character is very distinctive. You should give it a try.

10. 110 重 Reborn, I Made My Ex-Husband's Imperial Uncle Come Fight for My Hand 重生后我让前夫皇叔来抢亲 Molten Honey Candy流心蜜糖Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted This novel has been adapted into the short drama Petals Fall, Fireflies Appear, now streaming on Hongguo Short Drama and Tomato Novel. [Rebirth + physician consort + punishing scum + sweet romance + wish fulfillment + equally matched leads + devoted couple] Original title: After Being Reborn, I Had My Ex-Husband's Royal Uncle Come Claim Me In her previous life, she was tricked by a scoundrel into marrying into Prince Cheng's household, only to bring ruin upon the entire Su Duke's family. Reborn 5.4kReads9.3Score1k14d adds
11. 111 笑 Laugh at Her Divorce? After She Marries the Emperor, You'll All Kneel Before Her 笑她和离？改嫁帝王后都给她跪下 Guest from the Immortal Realm仙中客Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted The heir of the Duke of Qingguo doted on his concubine and neglected his wife. The emperor felt sorry for the man’s wife and brought her into the palace to look after her. The result was the birth of several little princes and princesses. Full synopsis: Yun Qing’s father commanded a powerful army. Several princes wanted to marry her to gain control of his troops, which aroused the emperor’s suspicions. To protect both her and the Yun family army, her father had no choice but to petition the empe 14.8kReads9.0Score2.1k14d adds
12. 112 穿 Reborn as a Noble Consort, the Empress Is Acting Strange 穿成贵妃，皇后娘娘她不对劲 Love You Lots大爱贴贴Two Female Leads324k WordsCompleted (The main story is complete) [Two female leads + 1v1 + both devoted + secondary couples, also women] Both leads are absolutely devoted in heart and body, and even the emperor is a woman disguised as a man! The aloof, elegant, and actually jealous reborn empress VS the lively, flirtatious, and actually emotionally dense transmigrated consort Zhong Xingyan, who transmigrates into the book as a consort, unexpectedly meets her one great regret: Lin Ruoxuan, the empress from the story. She’s so beau 936Reads8.5Score10514d adds

    Reader note

    In her past life, she endured a life of hardship, from the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an to a courtesan available to all. She barely escaped her fate of being a kept woman, only to fall into another trap. Each step she took was fraught with peril, until she finally became the de facto ruler of the Prefect's household. Unfortunately, her body was already riddled with sores from the misery of her earlier life. On her deathbed, she learned that the person responsible for her tragic end had been released. But when she opened her eyes again, Lin Xuanyan had returned to the age of sixteen, before anything had happened… In this life, she decides to enter the palace and become the most noble woman in the world, where no one can control her destiny anymore.

13. 113 穿 Transmigrated as a Bedclimbing Palace Maid in a Palace-Intrigue Novel 穿成宫斗文里的爬床宫女 Red Wolf Doesn't Eat Meat红太狼不吃肉Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted No prestigious family background, no peerless beauty. After transmigrating, film queen Li Songyue finds herself cast as the most expendable bed-climbing maid in a palace intrigue novel. The transmigrated heroine is ahead of her, the reborn supporting female lead is behind her, and there’s also a demanding emperor to contend with. From bed-climbing maid to empress dowager of the realm. She won’t know how cold it is at the top until she climbs there. 228Reads—Score—14d adds
14. 114 安 An Lingrong Is Reborn into a Disastrous Start 安陵容重生到天崩开局 Rose Leaning on Snowy Fragrance蔷薇倚香雪Female-Channel Fanfiction520k WordsCompleted Reborn into the disastrous opening scene of a blood test to determine parentage, An Lingrong works to unite everyone she can. First, she gets the useless An Bihuai out of the way, then gradually takes revenge on each person who humiliated her in her previous life, ultimately finding happiness. 1. An Lingrong is still An Lingrong, and she is not a good person. 2. An Lingrong’s appearance draws on the original work’s descriptions. She has a very bewitching face. 3. Zhen Huan’s intelligence is not 8.1kReads9.3Score68814d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue novel 🥰🥰

15. 115 盛 The Emperor's Cherished Consort Nian: Her Majesty Only Wants to Be Empress Dowager 盛宠年贵妃：娘娘她只想当太后 Xuan Bao暄宝Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Not a clean romance, devoted-to-one-only story. Reader discretion advised] On the first day Nian Xiyue arrived in the Qing dynasty, she knew she was the famous Consort Nian from history. She was destined to become a secondary consort in Prince Yong’s residence, bear Yinzhen three sons and a daughter, and be his sole favorite. If her son Fuhui hadn’t died, how could Hongli have inherited the throne? But Nian Xiyue wanted none of that. To escape her fate of dying young at twenty-eight, she studie 4.5kReads8.3Score40314d adds

    Reader note

    The female protagonist tries everything to escape her predetermined fate, but ultimately loses to the male protagonist's insistence. Even when faced with adversity, she doesn't give up but instead carves out her own path, making the male protagonist even more determined to win her heart. The entire story is free of misunderstandings; it's a tale of genuine affection. The female protagonist isn't a saint; rather, she believes in "I won't offend others unless they offend me; if they do, I will retaliate." It's definitely worth reading.

16. 116 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 16.8kReads9.0Score1.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's a very sweet story about time travel and rebirth. If you like sweet stories, you should check it out.

17. 117 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 13.8kReads9.4Score1.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a palace intrigue novel where the female lead is intelligent throughout. Just blindly charge in and you're good to go. 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘 Most importantly, she's not a heartthrob.

18. 118 炮 Book Transmigration: The Delicate Cannon-Fodder Supporting Character Is Too Pitiful 炮灰女配她娇软堪怜【穿书】 Spring Waters Stretch a Thousand Miles春水千里Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, delicate little star, adored by everyone, men competing in a battlefield of love] Hua Wu transmigrates! The good news: she’s transmigrated into a historical romance about a Mary Sue heroine adored by everyone. The heroine is born with an irresistible allure, and any man who sleeps with her becomes unable to leave her. She gathers a scheming prince, a bold general, an obsessive imperial tutor, a cold, aloof miracle doctor, a mysterious state preceptor, and many more 5.8kReads8.8Score63314d adds
19. 119 宫 A Palace Maid Rises to Power and Becomes the Tyrant’s Beloved 宫女上位，成为暴君心尖宠 Ming Yan明烟Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue] [The leads are not each other’s first] [He only dotes on her in the later part] Overworked office worker Fang Ziluo transmigrated into the body of a young palace maid named Fang Zhilu. Three years earlier, the emperor had exchanged a few words with her. That alone was enough to offend Noble Consort Liu, and she spent the next three years tending the kitchen fire. The original Fang Zhilu had died a miserable death after enduring all that humiliation. Fang Zhilu thought, Now that 707Reads8.8Score10514d adds
20. 120 替 The Substitute Bride: Reborn to Crush My Enemies, I Can Pick Any Man I Want 替嫁新娘：重生虐渣我的男人任挑 Mr. Rabbit a Chen Menghouai兎先生a陈蒙厚爱Modern Romance269k WordsCompleted Once the discarded daughter of her family, she was cruelly pushed into the abyss of a substitute marriage. After the wedding, she suffered endless torment and betrayal, and ultimately died with hatred in her heart. But fate gave her a chance to be reborn. Carrying the memories of her past life, Lu Yao returned to the eve of the scheme that had forced her into that marriage. This time, she was no longer a weak woman at the mercy of others. She was determined to get justice for herself. In the bat —Reads—Score—14d adds

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    "The Substitute Bride: Reborn to Take Revenge, My Man is My Choice" is a passionate and revenge-driven rebirth novel. The story revolves around the protagonist, Lin Wanqing, a wealthy heiress forced into a marriage with a man she doesn't love due to family interests. On her wedding night, she suffers betrayal from her husband and abandonment from her family, ultimately dying in despair. However, fate grants her a second chance at life, returning her to a time before the tragedy occurred. Reborn, Lin Wanqing is determined to change her destiny; she is no longer the weak woman manipulated by others. Using her memories from her past life, she cleverly avoids trap after trap, gradually uncovering the conspiracies and betrayals within her family. In this process, she not only learns how to protect herself but also gains real power within the family, becoming its true ruler. Simultaneously, Lin Wanqing's love life undergoes a dramatic transformation. She encounters several men who are genuinely devoted to her, each possessing different charms and backgrounds. She is no longer a bride passively accepting her fate's arrangement but actively choosing her life partner. She learns how to maintain independence and autonomy in relationships, ultimately finding true happiness. In the novel, Lin Wanqing's rebirth is not merely a change in her personal fate, but also a profound reflection on her entire family and society. She uses her wisdom and courage to break free from traditional constraints, demonstrating the resilience and strength of women in adversity. "The Substitute Bride: Reborn to Take Down the Scum, My Man is My Choice" is not only a novel full of suspense and emotional entanglements, but also an inspirational story about female self-awakening and growth.

21. 121 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 13.4kReads8.9Score1k14d adds

    Reader note

    All are completed.

22. 122 综 Across the Qing Harem Dramas: A Big Shot Reborn as Cannon Fodder Easily Turns the Tables 综清穿：大佬穿成炮灰，轻松逆袭 I'm an Old Antique我是老古董Female-Channel Fanfiction481k WordsCompleted [Multiverse Transmigration + Qing Dynasty Transmigration + Beautiful Heroine + Easy Wins] Shuang Yao, a veteran task-taker on semi-retirement, takes on the Qing-transmigration team's mess, traveling to one world after another to resolve the original hosts' grievances. [Empresses in the Palace] Transmigrated as Geng, Hongzhou's birth mother, she wants her son to live well? Open the door and send Prince Yi in! As long as he's alive, what does Empress Chun Yuan or a substitute for Wanwan matter? Th 7.4kReads8.9Score39914d adds
23. 123 入 After Entering the Palace, the Obsessive Emperor Wouldn’t Let Me Leave 入宫后，偏执帝王不许我出宫 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance509k WordsCompleted [Not both virgins, not a strong heroine, a little angst early on, devoted love later] In the fourth year of the new emperor’s reign, Consort Duan died suddenly of an illness in the palace. At the time, Shen Jiafu was not yet fifteen. The Empress Dowager was from the Shen family. Half a year later, she summoned a Shen daughter to the palace to attend to her, claiming to be ill. Shen Jiafu traveled from Quzhou to the imperial capital. In public, she was gentle and well-behaved, like a charming flo 14.1kReads9.0Score1.3k14d adds
24. 124 小 The Palace Maid Is Soft and Sweet, and the Emperor Cherishes Her 小宫女又软又娇，皇上宠她入骨 Silver Charm银娇Ancient Romance530k WordsCompleted [HE; a cold, powerful emperor VS a carefree little palace maid, not both virgins] A Zhi grew up in the palace and knew all its twists and turns. Her goal was clear: eat well and wait to die! Who could have guessed that one day, while delivering a meal, she would catch the emperor’s eye? Terrified, A Zhi packed her little bundle that very night, determined to make a run for it at dawn! But before she could get away, she and her pitifully small bundle were sent straight to Taihe Palace. Only after 20.8kReads9.2Score2.1k14d adds
25. 125 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 1.1kReads7.4Score11214d adds

    Reader note

    These are all good.

26. 126 嫁 After Marrying the Mad Crown Prince to Bring Him Good Fortune 嫁给疯批太子冲喜后 You Shi尤时Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The unfavored legitimate daughter of the Mu family is ordered by imperial decree to marry the crown prince, Zhou Jing, who is at death's door, to bring him good luck. Plenty of people wait to laugh at her, saying she might just end up bringing him luck by killing him in bed. When Zhou Jing opens his eyes, he finds himself with a fiancée. The young woman is clearly terrified of him, but still can't help swearing her loyalty. “Your Highness, I'll treat you very well.” “Your Highness, after you pas 33.2kReads9.4Score4.6k14d adds
27. 127 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 82.1kReads9.5Score9.3k14d adds
28. 128 惜 Cherishing Flowers 惜花芷 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [The original novel behind the TV adaptation starring Hu Yitian and Zhang Jingyi] After keeping her talents hidden for fifteen years, Hua Zhi thought she could spend her life as a proper aristocratic young lady, living in peace. But when the Hua family’s fortunes collapse, she has no choice but to reveal her sharp edge and hold the storm-tossed household together. Being out in public becomes the norm, and so does galloping through the streets. When all else fails, she even carries a coffin on he 18.6kReads9.6Score4.2k14d adds
29. 129 她 The Love-Brained Villain Has Targeted Her Again and Again 她又又又被恋爱脑反派攻略了 Duo Mao Mao朵猫猫Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Complete] [Mutual devotion + Comedy + Love-Hate Relationship + Transmigration + Mind Reading + System + Relentless Pampering] Jiang Wan transmigrates to the cultivation world. Her mission is to purge it of demons and monsters so she can return home, but… why does that terrifying Demon Lord keep staring at her? What? The Demon Lord is bound to a romance-addict System? What? His target is Jiang Wan? What? She can hear the Demon Lord and the System’s thoughts? As someone who only wants to go home, 13.4kReads9.1Score1.8k14d adds
30. 130 一 A Lifetime of Rong An 一世容安 Qing Xueyao卿雪瑶Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Li Rongan’s husbands, both in this life and her previous one, were peerless warlords. At first, they all loathed her, despised her, and wanted nothing more than to kill her. Later, they all fell for her... * After being reborn, Rongan fled her former husband’s clutches by marrying far away to Yanbei, where she became the wife of a prince. She knew the Prince of Yan would rebel in two years. When he did, he would divorce the princess consort appointed to him and marry his childhood sweetheart, hi 10.5kReads9.1Score1.5k14d adds
31. 131 小 The Little Palace Maid's Thoughts Were Read 小宫女被读心了 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the palace as a maid, Qin Jianjian works diligently, flatters those above her, and deceives those below her. In the end, she becomes the top-ranked maid serving the Empress Dowager. She has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of her profession. Money she’s openly entitled to, along with money she shouldn’t have, keeps flowing into Qin Jianjian’s pockets. Delighted, she just has to wait until she’s old enough to leave the palace and retire early. Who could have guessed the 14.7kReads9.4Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    These four books, which are intellectually stimulating, are, in my opinion, rare gems from Tomato (the author), you should check them out!

32. 132 古 The Female Side Character in an Old-School Romance Wakes Up 古早言情文女配觉醒了 Zhu You1竹由1Ancient Romance412k WordsCompleted [Rebirth + villainess + no golden finger] Rumors in the capital said that the Heqin Prince's heir had gone south to Jiangnan and been bewitched by a village girl. He was so besotted that he wanted to marry her as his legal wife, despite the rules and their difference in status. Even the emperor indulged his recklessness instead of stopping him, issuing an imperial decree to help him get his way. Everyone couldn't help wondering what kind of breathtaking beauty the girl must be to have the heir s 446Reads9.0Score10214d adds

    Reader note

    This is a pure palace intrigue novel. The female lead is intelligent and cunning, scheming every step to achieve a high position. She won't suffer losses and doesn't love the male lead. The male lead is impure, but later becomes her sole favorite.

33. 133 风 Willows in the Wind 风中柳 Yu Ling雨泠Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Ruthless heroine➕female-lead power fantasy➕light ensemble-style palace intrigue➕face-slapping and scum-bashing➕primarily focused on building her career] (Female lead is a virgin; male lead is not) Jiang Fu, the Jiang family’s fifteen-year-old illegitimate daughter, was lovely and graceful. Unfortunately, her stepmother was cruel and her father was heartless. As an illegitimate daughter, she had no say even in the marriage that mattered most to a woman. Her family could manipulate her as they p 2.1kReads8.8Score29214d adds
34. 134 老 The Old Ancestress Doesn't Want to Follow the Plot 老祖宗她不想走剧情 End of the Winter Month冬月末Ancient Romance552k WordsCompleted Only after she died did Old Madam Huang learn that she had been living in a book. In the story, she was foolish, ignorant, and all looks with no brains. Her younger son, a high-ranking official, should have been the one she relied on, yet she had somehow become obsessed with protecting her eldest and second sons. In the end, she let their two households cause a terrible disaster, dragging the whole family into confiscation and exile. During the journey into exile, her eldest and second sons foun 532Reads8.3Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    Driven by the world consciousness depicted in the book, we witness the characters' awakening and struggle, their moments of helplessness and retreat, and ultimately, their unwavering resolve.

35. 135 月 When the Moon Sets and the Wind Dies 月阑风烬起 Nangong Yixun南宫仪薰Ancient Romance465k WordsCompleted The noble and pampered princess versus the jade-faced, demonic eunuch statesman [Xiao Yueqing VS Cui Lan] A story about a sly little fox and a loyal, scheming, dark-hearted man [Past Life] In their previous lives, the princess and Cui Lan were forced to rely on each other. She was the eldest princess, compelled to submit to the powerful eunuch statesman so the deposed crown prince could return to court. He was the all-powerful “Grand Eunuch,” physically incomplete yet commanding immense authorit 123Reads8.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    In their past lives, the princess and Cui Lan were a powerful eunuch who had to submit to the emperor in order to depose the crown prince and restore the court. The princess was a high-ranking official with immense power but a physical disability, known as the "Nine Thousand Years Old." The two were always vying with each other, trying to maintain their pathetic and laughable self-respect. Xiao Yueqing fell into his arms, held by the waist. Cui Lan's gaze was deep and unwavering as he looked steadily at Xiao Yueqing. "Your Highness is my god, and what else is there to fear?"

36. 136 退 Break Off the Engagement? Dream On! The Prime Minister's Daughter Humiliates the Scoundrels on the Spot 退婚？做梦！相府千金当场虐渣 Young Phoenix Midas雏凤MidasAncient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a book fourteen years ago, Pei Xiaoxiao, the Chancellor’s beloved daughter and a second-rank county lady, has become the most notorious person in the capital. Then the heroine arrives. I’ve been waiting for you! The worse the original Pei Xiaoxiao suffered, the harsher her revenge will be. You want to help her fiancé break off their engagement? Dream on! Not only will I keep the engagement, I’ll also hit you with a warning to pay your debts. You want to hurt her best fr 2kReads7.9Score29914d adds
37. 137 和 After a Political Marriage, the Princess Is Pampered by a Rugged Khan 和亲后公主被糙汉大汗宠成小娇娇 Fu Qiao苻乔Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + strong female lead + raising children + farming + career-focused plot + doting romance!!!] Jiang Xunyin is shot dead. She thinks she is doomed, but by a stroke of luck, she gets another life and becomes Princess Zhaohua of the Sunu tribe on the day she is sent to marry into the Great An Empire. Clear-headed and perceptive, she only wants to live a quiet life, but is forced into a whirlpool of intrigue. She thinks that after marrying the iron-blooded khan of the grasslands, the 2.1kReads9.2Score21814d adds
38. 138 公 The Princess Is Stunning and Clear-Headed, but the King Pursues Her Day and Night 公主绝美清醒，大王日夜纠缠 Yao Yang遥飏Ancient Romance640k WordsCompleted Neither the hero nor the heroine is a good person. Marriage first, love later; she tempts him; both are chaste; size difference; the hero is a hopeless romantic; romantic tension early on; a powerful heroine and political intrigue in the middle and later parts. More serious than a mindless feel-good story. Purely fictional ancient setting. Please don’t overanalyze. Liu Chuying is the ninth princess of Beixiang. While the other princesses study the Four Books and Five Classics, her mother teache 2kReads8.9Score19414d adds
39. 139 我 There’s No Way My Husband Is a Sickly Villain 我的夫君不可能是病娇大反派 Nan Xiaoxiao南小小Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [One-on-One Romance + Both Leads Are Strong + They Dote on Each Other!] When Lu Xingyue started her senior year of high school, a fantasy game set in an ancient world mysteriously appeared on her phone. She started playing because she thought the characters looked lovely. Later, she found an exceptionally handsome young man in the game. She fell in love with a pixel character and married him in a wedding ceremony. Later, as the pressure of the college entrance exams mounted, she chose to give up 8.8kReads9.3Score95014d adds
40. 140 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 8.8kReads9.4Score1k14d adds

    Reader note

    I don't read palace intrigue novels much anymore, but I still really enjoy this one, even though I'm still reading it from my senior year of high school 💕💕💕 When she was stuck in an opera troupe, the actor playing a female lead once got drunk and pulled her aside for a long talk. She can't remember what he said, but she strongly agrees with two sentences: "When a man is infatuated with a woman's beauty, he's not far from liking her." "As for love, don't expect something only a fool would believe in."

41. 141 折 Snap Off a Crabapple Branch! 折棠枝！ Consort Xi熙贵妃Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Sisters switch marriages+the chase-back-to-win-her-heart trope+romantic rivalry+putting scumbags in their place; clear-eyed, scheming beauty X mad tyrant X aloof, powerful minister...] Short drama now available Jiang Wantang is the second legitimate daughter least favored by the current prime minister. With incomparable beauty and bewitching charm, she was abandoned in the wilderness and remained unknown to the world. Her elder legitimate sister was the moon in the sky; she was the mud beneath 9kReads8.9Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue and domestic power struggles, punishing scumbags

42. 142 重 Reborn! The Prince Regent Gives Her a Blade and Has Her Back 重生！摄政王为她递刀为她撑腰 Little White Peach小白桃Ancient Romance1.5M WordsOngoing [Legitimate Daughter + Reborn + Face-Slapping Revenge + Political Scheming + Palace and Household Intrigue + Satisfying Read + Sweet Romance] In her previous life, Song Yuan was flattered into ruin by her stepmother, betrayed by her stepsister, and ultimately burned to death by a scumbag man. When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the time before her wedding. Her stepmother was a hypocrite, so Song Yuan would tear away her good-person mask. Her stepsister was a fake white lotus, so 1.6kReads8.7Score19014d adds
43. 143 完 It's Over! The Sweet and Delicate Heiress Flirts Up a Storm, and the Prince Can't Take It 完蛋！娇软嫡女花式开撩，王爷他顶不住了 The Girl Who Walks Sideways姑娘横着走Ancient Romance822k WordsCompleted Born on the night of a lunar eclipse, she was branded a cursed, ill-fated loner. Xie Wan grew up in a Taoist temple. By the time she returned, both her parents were gone. Wolves circled from the outside, while her little brother cried for food at home. And her biased grandmother wanted nothing more than to drive her out of the family estate. A certain man: “Stop dragging it out and get to the point!” “Oh.” Xie Wan smiled. “The point is, I’ve taken a liking to someone. I’ll plan my moves one by o 822Reads9.2Score24814d adds
44. 144 阴 After I Drove the Gloomy Heir Crazy, He Knelt and Begged to Be My Dog 阴沉世子被我撩疯后，跪着求当我的狗 Dali Li大离离Ancient Romance439k WordsCompleted Qu Fenghua is dead. A medical and Gu-craft prodigy famed across the continent, she was murdered by her own father and brothers, who wanted her blood and bones as ingredients for their beloved little sister's medicine. When she wakes again, she finds herself sent as a substitute bride to the heir's residence, where she is treated as a bedmate. Rumor has it that the heir to Prince Yongyi is temperamental and bloodthirsty, yet he dotes on his consort to a maddening degree, spending every night in p 474Reads9.0Score10414d adds
45. 145 非 An Unconventional Palace Intrigue 非传统宫斗 Known in the Jianghu as the Thorny Rose江湖人称带刺玫瑰Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted Imperial selection from the start / Pure palace intrigue with a touch of household intrigue / Ensemble cast / Realistic style [Pure palace intrigue begins after chapter 20] Not the emperor’s sole favorite / Not a virgin couple / No romance pairing [The emperor is a scumbag with the power of life and death. The first few chapters establish his character and contain potentially uncomfortable scenes. If that bothers you, skip to chapter 20.] Everyone is caught up in palace intrigue. The consorts an 2kReads8.3Score22314d adds

    Reader note

    This novel features no overpowered plot devices, no single favorite character, a pure palace intrigue story, and excellent writing. The plot is absolutely original, unconventional, and very realistic – you can tell from the author's preface and the end of the first chapter!

46. 146 宫 A Palace Maid's Daily Life: My Parents Want Me to Be a Couch Potato 宫女日常：爹娘让我当咸鱼 Yu Tangluo玉糖萝Ancient Romance699k WordsCompleted Hang Jiayanxin was a bondservant of the Plain White Banner and a court-appointed royal service worker. She entered the palace at thirteen and would leave at twenty-five. For twelve years in the palace, she kept her parents' advice in mind: be a good-for-nothing fish, and hang on until it's time to leave. But the towering palace before her was like a massive vessel, bearing endless power and desire. Once she pushed open those heavy doors, she stepped onto a path from which there was no turning ba 5.2kReads9.1Score57514d adds

    Reader note

    A grand collection of palace intrigue stories. Highly rated with excellent writing. You won't regret watching!

47. 147 撕 Tear Apart the Harem! Win Favor! She's a Lunatic, Who Dares Cross Her? 撕后宫！得恩宠！她是疯批谁敢惹 Cats Are Extra Sweet猫猫特别甜Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue Only + Concubine-born Daughter + Reborn + Revenge + Everyone Is Evil + Wish-Fulfillment] [The story begins before the heroine enters the palace] [The emperor favors no one at first, and the heroine doesn’t fall in love] Jiang Shiying had died once. She died in childbirth, after her own elder sister had her killed to keep the baby. Reborn, she had made up her mind: she would enter the palace and get revenge, but she wouldn’t suffer! Not her stepmother or her elder sister, not eve 7.5kReads9.3Score95214d adds

    Reader note

    These palace intrigue novels all feature protagonists who are all unique and have distinct personalities. The authors' writing is also quite good, making them worth reading. 💕💕💕💕

48. 148 娘 The Empress Doesn't Want Palace Intrigue, but the Emperor Keeps Stirring Things Up 娘娘不想宫斗，奈何皇上带节奏 Geng Jiujiu耿啾啾Ancient Romance652k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, Palace Intrigue, Political Scheming, Not Both Pure, Absurd Comedy, Devoted Love Later On] Shen Jinruo transmigrated into the body of a low-ranking concubine who had no favor from the emperor. Having lost her freedom, she’d planned to keep her head down and quietly build up her strength. But she soon discovered that in this harem, even if you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will find you. To survive, Shen Jinruo worked hard to adapt and officially joined the harem’s struggl 2.2kReads8.9Score22014d adds
49. 149 娇 The Emperor’s Favorite: His Beloved Consort 娇妃娘娘盛宠六宫 Blue Snow Pear Blossom蓝雪梨花Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted (Transmigration + System + palace intrigue + happily ever after with the heroine as the emperor’s sole favorite) Xu Lanshan transmigrates into the body of a palace maid who was tortured to death by her own mistress. She has no choice but to plot her escape. The only way to stay alive is to win the emperor’s favor. She sees the bright side: he’s the most powerful man in the world, and he’s young and handsome, too. Sleeping with him would be a win. But what’s with this palace-intrigue System? If s 1.2kReads8.9Score10614d adds
50. 150 被 The Tyrant Dragged Me Back 18 Times, and I'm Pregnant Again 被暴君抓回去18次，我又怀上了 Ninefold Thousand Towers九方千阙Ancient Romance534k WordsCompleted The short drama My Heart Is Weary, the Villain Only Wants Cuddles Every Day is now online. [Unhinged, tyrannical dog emperor] x [sweet, fierce, adorable heartthrob] After Su Ci transmigrates into a book, the mad emperor forces her to absorb his good luck, locks her in his bedchamber, and makes her sleep in his imperial bed. By day, she's a prisoner; by night, she's treated like an empress. She pretends to go along with it, then runs away. By day, the mad emperor is a dog: “Bring that wretched wo 6.9kReads9.4Score86514d adds

    Reader note

    I prefer humorous stories; they're generally enjoyable and satisfying to read. 🤭🤭🤭

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