Looking for a Palace-Intrigue Novel with a Strong Female Lead 求宫斗大女主文

1. 1 皇 The Empress Leaped to Her Death, and the Mad Tyrant Wept Until His Eyes Were Red 皇后纵身一跃，疯批暴君哭红了眼 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance635k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, devoted couple + palace intrigue + regretful pursuit, clear-headed heroine, everyone's unattainable ideal] Meng Tang is a gracious, gentle empress who never competes for favor. Everyone thinks she is a true white lotus standing tall in the harem, and even the tyrant believes it. He takes a new concubine, and she smiles, congratulates him, and arranges for the newcomer to spend the night with him. He sends her restorative medicine, and she obediently takes it, knowing full we 21.5kReads9.3Score2k14d adds

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   There's palace intrigue involved, but in the end, the female lead becomes the harem's ideal woman.

2. 2 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

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   Highly recommended! ❤️❤️

3. 3 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 120.1kReads9.5Score11.3k14d adds

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   The female lead is a femme fatale, a victor in the palace intrigue, who has completely tamed the male lead, turning him into a devoted follower. She gradually seduces the emperor, and is ruthless and merciless, cruel to others and even more so to herself. She is acutely aware of what she wants and is extremely ambitious.

4. 4 谁 Whose Favored Concubine Doesn't Get Herself Killed? 谁家宠妾不作死啊 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Pei Shiyuan had always thought that, as a concubine-born daughter, she thrived at her family home because she knew a little tea ceremony and all she had to do was flatter her father, the head of the household. She had been quite pleased with herself about it, right up until she entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The Eighth Prince’s mother, the Noble Consort, was so favored that the Empress had no room to stand. His maternal family wielded so much power that the court officials could barely b 77.1kReads9.5Score7.9k14d adds

   Reader note

   It's good, and the female lead has a strong personality.

5. 5 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
6. 6 重 Reborn to Plot for the Emperor's Heart 重生之谋帝王心 Apricot Blossoms in the Sky's Reflection杏花天影Ancient Romance439k WordsCompleted Because Emperor Jingming was making an inspection tour of the south, Yan Lanshu was forced by the Duke of Zhenguo to become his mistress. She later met Emperor Jingming and bore him a royal heir. Bound by society’s expectations and the propriety she had been taught since childhood, she ultimately could not overcome her inner torment and died with regrets. Given the chance to live again, she resolved to enter the palace, claim the empress’s throne, and take revenge on the Duke of Zhenguo, who had 724Reads7.0Score10414d adds

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   ① It's a great read. The female lead is brave, resourceful, and intelligent. Every confrontation with the female supporting character is tense and exciting, but thankfully, she manages to cleverly resolve the situations, making it very enjoyable to watch. The male lead is also great; his gradual descent into love with the female lead and the emotional tug-of-war between them is very interesting. ② Yan Lanshu carries the resentment and hatred of her past life, but also possesses the intelligence and decisiveness of her rebirth. With her intelligence and beauty, she gradually wins the favor of Emperor Jingming. ③ After her rebirth, the Empress Dowager obtains a system. By reducing the Emperor's murderous intent towards her and increasing his trust level, she can obtain a lottery prize pack. It contains everything they need—very timely! The Empress Dowager is also very clever. Everyone around her is improving and changing their attitude towards her. She especially likes the little crown prince; he's such a clever little devil. …

7. 7 恶 Reborn After My Own Son, the Cruel Empress Dowager, Stabbed Me to Death 恶毒太后被亲儿子捅死之后重生了 Ink墨色Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted The vicious Empress Dowager Jiang Mingzhu was reborn. In her previous life, to put her son on the throne, she poisoned and tried to assassinate the emperor, colluded with court officials, drugged a pregnant consort to make her miscarry, and plotted against the young crown prince. Every time she schemed, she put her own life on the line to grind her stepson's face into the dirt. But when the plot to put the son she'd worked so hard to support on the throne was exposed, he stabbed her in the back 19.6kReads8.9Score2.1k14d adds
8. 8 娇 The Sweet, Beloved Consort Who Bewitches Hearts 娇娇宠妃惑人心 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance425k WordsCompleted [Not a pure couple; he dotes on her exclusively later on; a little palace intrigue; the heroine is a master flirt; story complete] She transmigrated from the modern world. Quirky and clever, she was also a brilliant actress. Emperor Shengwu could govern with effortless command, bring peace and stability to the realm, and win battles from a thousand miles away, striking fear across the four seas. He was an emperor who held all power in his hands and ruled over all beneath the heavens. Yun Mengq 56.6kReads9.3Score6.9k14d adds
9. 9 老 The Old Madam Is Reborn and Goes on a Killing Spree 老夫人重生后杀疯了 My Mind Wandered Again又走神了Ancient Romance709k WordsCompleted It wasn't until her sixtieth-birthday banquet that she learned all her efforts had been a joke, and her forty-four-year marriage had been nothing but exploitation. Now that she had another chance at life, she would make them all pay... 3kReads8.9Score32414d adds
10. 10 穿 I Became a Middle-Aged Princess Consort, and Dashing Is My Style 穿成中年王妃，飒爽才是我个性 Jing Si Yi荆四一Ancient Romance423k WordsCompleted Feel-good comedy + absurd palace intrigue + absurd household drama + the leads don't fall in love Young Gu Xinrou transmigrates into the body of a middle-aged princess consort. Her husband, Prince Jin, is a notorious flirt with seven concubines, and he even brings his mistress home. Unable to leave, Gu Xinrou refuses to put up with any misery and takes an unconventional approach: every day, she wants to beat up the prince. If she's unhappy, they fight it out. Facing the crowd, Gu Xinrou gives a 5.6kReads9.1Score51714d adds
11. 11 重 Reborn: Whoever Messes with Me, I Tear Them Apart 重生后谁惹我撕谁 Old Ox Eats Immortal Grass老牛吃仙草Ancient Romance118k WordsCompleted [Upbringing + Rebirth + Household Intrigue + Satisfying Revenge] Qin Niang has been reborn. In her previous life, she treated her wicked daughter-in-law like a treasure. This time, she’ll treat her like trash and kick her dozens of miles away. She can take those two brats with her! Pah! Here’s a spitball for you. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out~ Now that Qin Niang has been reborn, she takes advantage of being the oldest person in the Earl’s household to act shamelessly tyrannical towar 11Reads—Score—14d adds
12. 12 忠 The Daily Life of the Old Lady of the Loyal and Righteous Marquis of Taian's Household 忠毅泰安侯府老太君日常 Demon Thirteen妖拾叁Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted (The opening is a little slow-paced, and this blurb doesn't do the story justice. Please read the book.) (Some details may be inaccurate. The book is already complete, so I can't revise them. Please understand.) After falling asleep, Han Xiangyun, chairwoman of a Fortune Global 500 company, never woke up. Well, she didn't wake up in her old body. Instead, she woke up in the body of the Marchioness of Tai'an. After spending several days eating vegetarian meals and reciting Buddhist scriptures, Ha 221Reads5.7Score—14d adds
13. 13 穿 After Reborn as a Duke's Old Lady, I Became More Brazen and Much Happier 穿成国公老夫人没素质后开心多了 I Love Cheese我爱芝士Ancient Romance732k WordsCompleted No CP + a heroine who’s done with love, romance, and even menstruation!!! Song Qiyao, a single woman who died from overwork in the modern era, woke up as the old madam of the Duke of Guo’s household in the Great Rui Dynasty. She had no parents, no husband, and no children. Her only adopted son was the current emperor, Emperor Xuanzhi. In the Great Rui Dynasty, she was practically the Empress Dowager. In her previous life, Song Qiyao had spent her whole life striving for financial freedom. At las 7kReads8.8Score79814d adds
14. 14 就 Now This Is Palace Intrigue! Thirty Heroines Topple the Harem 就这个宫斗爽！30个大女主掀翻后宫 Read a Little Editorial Team读点编辑部Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Palace and Household Intrigue + Anthology Stories + Strong Female Leads + Feel-Good Revenge + Face-Slapping] She waited three years for the general to return from war, only for her husband to come home with a pregnant woman and announce he was taking her as a second wife?! Dream on! I’m the daughter of the richest man in the land. From now on, I’m getting a divorce and building my own career! She was the exalted crown princess, yet on the very day she gave birth, the crown prince and her mother 318Reads8.5Score3314d adds

    Reader note

    The plot is intricate, the characters are vividly portrayed, and the film showcases the cruelty of court intrigue and the complexities of human nature.

15. 15 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 18.2kReads9.6Score4.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is so good! The female lead is amazing, it's not a mindless story. The female lead single-handedly helps her family get back on their feet, it's really great!!

16. 16 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 56.6kReads9.5Score7k14d adds

    Reader note

    🤭These are all completed palace intrigue novels.

17. 17 重 With My Reborn Son's High-Stakes Schemes, Becoming Empress Dowager Is No Dream 重生儿子手段高，晋升太后不是梦 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Fictional Imperial Harem Drama + No Romance + Giving Birth and Raising Kids + My Son Must Be Crown Prince + Ambitious + Clear-Eyed] Content warning: The romance isn’t mutually exclusive, she doesn’t love the male lead, and there are painful, heartbreaking parts. The male lead is a scumbag emperor. Song Yuyan was hooked on a palace-harem management game. She never expected to open her eyes and find she had transmigrated to ancient times. After keeping a low profile for three years, she entered t 3.6kReads9.3Score41814d adds
18. 18 宠 The Favorite Consort System: Host, Get Up and Fight for the Throne 宠妃系统：宿主起来宫斗啦 I Love Boun我爱bounAncient Romance361k WordsCompleted Leng Xiqing transmigrates and binds herself to a System. Hoping to return to her real life, she strives to become a favored consort, then the empress! Everyone tells her, “Don’t fall in love with him. Don’t fall in love with him.” But she never imagined that in the end, she would lose both her freedom and her heart. Even after returning to the modern world, she cannot tell whether it all really happened or was only a dream. The magnificent palace was like a prison, trapping her loved ones and ki 123Reads8.8Score—14d adds
19. 19 入 After Entering the Palace, She Becomes His Majesty’s One True Love 入宫后她是陛下的白月光 Yu Jiuzhao御九昭Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted [Pure Palace Intrigue] [No Saintly Heroine] [The Heroine Schemes Against the Entire Harem] [Political Machinations] [Clear-Headed Careerist] Originally titled "The Empress's Daily Life of Palace Intrigue," retitled "A Consort's Guide to Palace Intrigue" * Shen Yiwan, the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family, became pregnant after entering the palace and was made Virtuous Consort. Somehow, she let her good sense fly out the window and made the decision she would regret most in her life. She s 748Reads8.6Score10014d adds
20. 20 帝 The Emperor's Favorite: Reborn, I Fight My Way Through the Palace to Become Empress 帝心宠，重生娘娘一路宫斗夺后位 Must-Read必看Ancient Romance891k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue only + Not mutually chaste + Clear-headed heroine who pretends to be weak + Devoted hero] In her previous life, after her flesh had been carved away and her eyes gouged out, one man came for her through a river of blood and overthrew the dynasty to avenge her. Reborn, she did everything she could to get by his side. By then, he had become the supreme emperor, while she was just a low-ranking consort. She pretended to be a little white rabbit to avoid the palace’s bloody intrigue 243Reads—Score—14d adds
21. 21 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Charming, and Covets the Empress Dowager's Seat 娘娘娇娆柔媚，觊觎太后宝位 Buddhist-Style Little Salty Fish佛系小咸鱼Ancient Romance570k WordsCompleted [Rebirth + palace intrigue + medical skills + no pairing + doesn't love the emperor] At the age of seven, she was kidnapped in her previous life and became the disciple of a genius physician. But her master coveted the peerless beauty she gradually grew into. After three years of planning, she struck a fatal blow, thinking she was finally free. Then she found the letter her master had left behind... Reborn in a single moment, she changed her fate of being kidnapped and entered the palace. She tr 1.3kReads9.1Score15914d adds
22. 22 我EN With a Fox Immortal, I Subdue a Hundred Ghosts 我以狐仙镇百鬼 Purple Dream Wandering Dragon紫梦游龙Mystery10.3M WordsOngoing The day I was born, nineteen bolts of thunder struck around our family’s courtyard. A fortune-teller said I was born a demon child, fated to suffer eighteen calamities in my life. Either someone else would die, or I would. As it turned out, the fortune-teller met his own calamity on the very day I was born. He carried me out of the village, and suddenly dropped dead! 743.2kReads9.4Score41.2k14d adds
23. 23 女 Matriarchy: Resigning from the Golden Palace 女尊：辞金阙 Xie Yang谢央Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted He asked, “Does the Imperial Princess only make use of me? Is there not a trace of genuine feeling in her heart?” He said, “Your Highness, rest easy. Even if it costs me my life, I will bring Youzhou City back for you!” He said, “My wife, don’t frown. It’s only money. The He family will pay for it and help you unify the Nine Provinces.” He said, “Jiang Li, I already lost you once. This time, even if I die, I won’t let go of your hand.” They all asked her the same question: “Does Your Highness ha 8.5kReads9.1Score1.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a story where the female lead isn't interested in romance but only in power, single-mindedly pursuing the throne of Empress. The male leads are willing to become her stepping stones. 💕💕💕💕 It has a very high rating; you definitely should check it out!

24. 24 权 The Alluring Powerful Minister 权臣妖娆 Minced Meat and Fried Egg肉沫跑蛋Ancient Romance960k WordsCompleted Also known as The Female Top Scorer and The Female Imperial Tutor. He was a celebrated, charmingly elegant top scorer, showered with every favor under the heavens. Only after the Du family was destroyed and he hanged himself in prison did the world learn that “he” was a woman! After her father's death, the family's good name was ruined. Dozens of loyal servants starved to death. The beautiful women of the household were either made into servants or reduced to playthings for officials. Reborn, Du 3.3kReads9.1Score43514d adds
25. 25 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 37.3kReads9.4Score4.3k14d adds
26. 26 皇 The Emperor and Empress Are Flirting with Girls Again 皇上娘娘又撩妹了 Late Summer浅晚夏Ancient Romance840k WordsCompleted Warning: Don’t say I didn’t tell you, there’s no male lead! P.S. This isn’t traditional palace intrigue. The female lead loves money and power most of all. In her previous life, Xu Lingyi spent every moment competing to get ahead. At school, she competed with her classmates, staying single as she worked her way through a doctorate. At work, she competed with her colleagues, ruthless and cold-blooded as she rose to a P8 position at a major tech company with an annual salary of a million. But she 1.4kReads9.0Score14114d adds
27. 27 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
28. 28 拽 The Feisty Consort Climbs to Power Through Palace Intrigue, Everyone Else Back Off 拽妃宫斗上位，闲杂人等退退退 Pine Blossom Candy松花糖Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The short drama is out now. Search for it on Fanqie to watch. [Palace Intrigue Power Fantasy + Not a Clean Romance + Being the Emperor’s Mother Is Better Than Being His Consort] Every woman in the harem hopes to win Emperor Jingrong’s favor, but Yuan Yuntang sees the emperor only as a tool for having children. Women in ancient times had to marry sooner or later anyway, so she might as well marry the most powerful man of all. After all, Emperor Jingrong has a great figure, a handsome face, and a 16.4kReads9.1Score1.8k14d adds

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