Palace Intrigue, No Rebirth 宫斗文，不要重生

1. 101 帝 The Imperial Terrace's Charm: The Noble Consort Is Beautiful and Well-Behaved 帝台娇：贵妃娘娘她又美又乖 Mu Niannian慕年年Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + climbing the ranks and crushing the villains + doting romance. The male lead knows his own heart. He'll devote himself to her alone later on.] [The heroine rises through the ranks quickly at first, then more slowly later on.] [The heroine comes from a noble family, is the most beautiful woman in the harem, and already has two adorable children. The Emperor falls for her first and favors her from early on, before devoting himself to her alone in the middle and later parts.] By a 20.2kReads9.4Score2kShelves
2. 102 穿 The Daily Life of a Laid-Back Concubine After Transmigrating 穿越之闲鱼妾室的日常 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance480k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + household and palace intrigue + no golden finger + devoted love later on] Zhang Xinian transmigrated into the body of a concubine in Prince Jing’s household. Above her was the princess consort, backed by powerful connections and ruthless in her methods. Beside her was a brainless side consort with overwhelming fighting prowess. Below her, a reborn woman and a transmigrated woman were locked in fierce competition. Zhang Xinian trembled with fear. She had no golden finger and did 104.7kReads9.4Score12.2kShelves

   Reader note

   Recommended, but not the reincarnation one, especially the third one, the female lead is cautious, very cautious.

3. 103 重 Reborn: I Flirted the Gloomy Regent into a Daze 重生后，阴鸷摄政王被我撩晕了 Heart Yearning for Gardenias心向往栀Ancient Romance556k WordsCompleted "Print edition available for preorder October 24 at 7 p.m.!" "Black Lotus Beauty of a Princess & the Grim, Ruthless Regent" [Two Powerful Leads + Sweet Romance + Devoted Couple + Putting Scumbags in Their Place] Zhixian was the sharpest blade at the side of the Third Prince of Nanzhao, eliminating every obstacle in his bid for the throne. But on the day he was named crown prince, she met her end. "Zhixian, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for knowing too much." Xuan Yuan Heng wiped t 32.5kReads9.3Score3.3kShelves
4. 104 戏 The Drama Queen Consort 戏精王妃 Drunk and Free醉风流Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted [A huge online hit] [Born to steal the show + unrivaled medical and poison skills + powerful hero and heroine + face-slapping + doting romance] Hua Raoyue transmigrates as a discarded consort. Watch her turn the tables with her extraordinary skills. Her maid reports, “Your Highness, we’ve been put under house arrest.” Yue: “It’s fine. I know hypnosis. We can go wherever we want.” Her maid reports, “Your Highness, they’re joining forces to bully you.” Yue: “It’s fine. I know how to poison people. 10.6kReads9.1Score1.5kShelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist is a time traveler and she's quite funny; the story is hilarious.

5. 105 后 The Entire Harem Is Cool as Chrysanthemums, So I Win the Emperor’s Heart by Outworking Them 后宫全员人淡如菊，我靠内卷独得帝心 Zhi A Qing沚阿情Ancient Romance527k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + scheming beauty + palace intrigue + ambitious heroine who is focused on her career vs. perceptive but tight-lipped, cold emperor + clear-headed surrender] Su Yin transmigrated into the harem as the lowest-ranking palace woman. This harem seemed rather unusual. The emperor was handsome and refined, but all the concubines had given up and had no interest in competing for his favor. Each had her own reason for giving up. The empress was determined to become a virtuous ruler and en 169Reads8.0Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   ① Time travel + scheming beauty + palace intrigue + career-driven female lead + insightful but discreet + ruthless emperor + conscious descent into depravity ② Palace intrigue, not a clean break story + femme fatale + forceful acquisition + exclusive favor after the beginning

6. 106 宫 The Palace Maid Schemed to Seduce Him, and the Mad Emperor Fell for Her and Seized Her by Force 宫女蓄意勾引，疯批帝王沦陷强夺 Orange-Brilliant Starlight橘灿星光Ancient Romance210k WordsOngoing [Palace intrigue, not a virginal couple / villainess / femme fatale / forced possession / doted on exclusively after the opening] [Scheming, theatrical maid vs. deranged emperor who falls deeper with every step] Yao Shu was born beautiful, and the empress chose her as a pawn to send to the emperor. The first time she met Xiao Xulan, she was too frightened to look him in the eye. But when he began to consider taking her to his bed, she broke free of his grasp and knelt down, declaring, “This serv 260Reads9.3Score—Shelves
7. 107 妃 A Consort's Scheme for the Emperor's Heart 妃谋帝心 Falling Ashes坠落的灰Ancient Romance527k WordsCompleted With her father turning a blind eye and her stepmother throwing her weight around, Mu Li is ordered to marry an old prince as a concubine. They tell her this is her fate. Mu Li refuses to believe it. She has never believed in fate… Just then, the imperial household holds its selection of consorts. Daughters of officials of rank eight or above who are of suitable age may participate. Mu Li thinks: Since I’m to be a concubine, why not become the concubine of the most powerful person in the realm? 9.1kReads8.9Score1kShelves

   Reader note

   I highly recommend the last one, it's absolutely amazing! ʕᵔᴥᵔʔ

8. 108 侯 The Marquis's Estate Forgot Its Gratitude? The Regent Backs Me, and I Won't Forgive Them 侯府忘恩义？摄政王撑腰，不原谅 Chu Diandian初点点Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Luo Ning took a blade meant for the Empress Dowager and suffered severe injuries, trading her life for her family's noble title. She went south to recuperate for three years, but when she returned, she discovered that her maternal cousin had taken over her courtyard. Her cousin had even replaced her in every aspect. Luo Ning's parents and elder brother adored her, her grandmother favored her, and even Luo Ning's childhood sweetheart secretly admired her, saying that she surpassed Luo Ning in eve 177.6kReads9.4Score27kShelves

   Reader note

   I saw this recommended in a video; it looks quite nice, a subtle kind of beauty. You should check it out.

9. 109 美 Starting Out with Good Looks, I Became an Emperor for the Ages 美貌开局，达成千古一帝 Fox Talk, Fish Nonsense狐言乱鱼Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Beloved by Everyone heroine + multiple men competing for her + all the men are chaste + not a cold, romance-free heroine!! Lots of romance!!] [From country girl to princess to empress] Shen Lianqi transmigrated into a novel. In this novel, the country had no princes, only one precious princess. So the emperor chose four young noblemen from the descendants of the four kings with different surnames to raise as heirs. Anyone who wanted to inherit the throne had to marry the princess. The good news 935Reads8.4Score153Shelves

   Reader note

   It's a pretty satisfying novel with a female protagonist who's universally loved. The palace intrigue and domestic power struggles aren't too vicious, so you can enjoy it as a lighthearted read.

10. 110 和 Stealing the Male Lead from a Transmigrated Woman 和穿越女抢男主 Double Espresso, Writing Till Dawn双倍浓缩肝到凌晨Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted [Completed. A growing heroine in a political intrigue story. Bold enough to speak, flirt, and make a move. One heroine, multiple male leads. Every male lead has his own agenda, with plenty of foreshadowing early on. Not a wish-fulfillment story from the start.] After transmigrating into a book, she encounters another transmigrator. Friend or foe? The devoted general she thought she could trust with her heart is actually a fox spirit who came prepared. The assassin she thought was loyal, but who 295Reads8.6Score—Shelves
11. 111 女 Matriarchy: I Reach the Pinnacle of Life by Living Off Others 女尊：我靠吃软饭走上人生巅峰 A Fan Stirring Gently Beneath the Moon月下扇微和Ancient Romance833k WordsOngoing [Female-Dominated World Reversal + Empress + Multiple Male Leads + Scumbag Everyone's Favorite + Living Off Others + A Little Imperial Examination + Rebellion and Conquest + Leeching Off Men and Women + Male Leads Are Chaste + One-Sided GL] [The bankrupt village girl from the start becomes the founding empress] [Imperial examinations in the early part, a struggle for power among women in the later part] . Xu Qingchen transmigrated into a female-dominated world. Her family fell on hard times from 340Reads9.4Score—Shelves
12. 112 女 Matriarchy: A Scumbag Wife-Owner's Guide to Turning Her Life Around 女尊：人渣妻主逆袭指南 Lantai Big Tiger兰台大虎Ancient Romance688k WordsOngoing [Feel-good wish fulfillment + Matriarchal society + System + Imperial examinations + Court politics + Reform + Hegemony] A journey from overworked corporate drone to powerful court official. P.S. The heroine keeps a low profile and grows stronger in the early story, then goes on a rampage later. She has her low points and moments of humiliation, and initially rises through the ranks by showing off and currying favor with powerful people. If that bothers you, don’t read. Read with caution. Conten 146Reads9.0Score—Shelves
13. 113 笑 This Is Hilarious, the Handsome Men Are All Waiting for Her to Chase Them to the Bitter End 笑死，美男们都在等她追夫火葬场 Bai Yunshan百允山Ancient Romance164k WordsCompleted [Matriarchal world + classic gender-swap tropes + building a harem + some men suffer] Every step on Huang Zhiwei’s path to becoming emperor is paved with men’s bones. “Huang Zhiwei, you have no heart!” “You’ll die a horrible death!” “I curse you to spend your whole life alone, never knowing love!” With that, the man leapt from the city tower. Holding a beauty in her arms, Huang Zhiwei raised her cup and toasted him from afar. “I’ll take that as a blessing.” I’ll take that as a blessing. May my r 88Reads6.9Score—Shelves
14. 114 开 From the Start, My Lifespan Hit Zero: The More Handsome Men I Have, the Longer I Live 开局寿命归零，美男越多命越长 Shu Wangxing舒望星Ancient Romance619k WordsCompleted [The animated series is now streaming] [Female-Dominated World + Strong Female Lead + Satisfying Wish Fulfillment + Multiple Male Leads] Ji Han transmigrates into a sickly prince in a female-dominated world. From the start, she’s already at death’s door. The world’s consciousness tells her that she can extend her life by ten years if she marries a husband who has achieved the [Devoted to Her] milestone. Ji Han keeps her cool, rubs her hands together, and gets ready to carefully pick her favorit 27.5kReads9.4Score3.1kShelves
15. 115 技 The Concubine with Maxed-Out Skills Is Turning Herself into an Empress? 技能拉满的侍妾，卷成皇后了？ White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted Empress Wenzhao was a famously bewitching consort and the most talented empress. The way she has been judged and defined throughout her life has changed many times, but that has never diminished her status or the value of studying her. [System + Raising Kids + Relentless Competition] Thanks to being well fed at home, Qi Jiao was plump and rosy-cheeked. After a flood, she was sold into the palace as a maid, and when she got a little older, she was assigned to the empress’s palace. A few years lat 12.5kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
16. 116 谢 Empress of the Xie Family 谢家皇后 Song of the Yue People越人歌Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In her first year in the palace, she is a Talented Lady. In her fifth, she is a Jieyu. In her tenth, she wants to become empress. As empress, she can hold on to everything she treasures and keep it from being taken away. She can protect herself and her child, and she can... stay by his side. This is a road with only one direction: take a single step back, and all will be lost. The bright yellow ceremonial parasol moves forward, and the emperor's procession slowly enters the city gate. A yellow p 8.8kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves
17. 117 快 Quick Transmigration: I Win the Imperial Harem's Favor with My Childbearing System 快穿：我靠生子系统宠冠后宫 Set on Getting Rich一心向富Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Peerless beauty + quick transmigration childbearing + satisfying palace intrigue + no fixed pairing + ancient-world settings] Qing Ning was sent flying in a car accident and bound to a childbearing System. The System said that if she bore children for the male leads in the small worlds who had no heirs, she would receive endless wealth and eternal life. Qing Ning: There’s really a deal this good? Sign me up! Story One: The Young Madam of the Marquis’s Estate and the Childless Emperor Song Qingn 1.5kReads8.6Score155Shelves
18. 118 开 From the Start, Wed to a Corpse: The Diviner Becomes the Capital’s Beloved 开局替嫁死人，卦妃成京城团宠 Jiangnan Yan江南烟Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Shi Zheyue was forced to marry the deceased heir of Prince Yan, only to discover that the man who had come to fetch her was someone she had once slept with! What a disaster!nShe figured she might as well go through with the marriage. He wouldn’t recognize her anyway. But then she discovered that he was the destined man who could break the curse of her short life:nA hug from him would give her one more day to live; a kiss would give her three.nTo stay alive, she decided to use her old tricks agai 5.8kReads9.2Score1kShelves
19. 119 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 162.8kReads9.6Score22.7kShelves

    Reader note

    "Do as I say, and I guarantee you'll soar to the top!" A fresh and original concept! 🥰

20. 120 金 The Golden Palace Locks Away the Spring Breeze 金阙锁春风 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance757k WordsCompleted Her entire family perished, she was left dependent on others, the dynasty fell, and she married and divorced. In just eighteen years, Yu Zheng has endured things most people never face in a lifetime. A noblewoman of the former dynasty, all she wants now is to stay alive. She plans to enter the palace as a maid, then use her literacy to earn a post as a court official and support herself. She never imagined that the new emperor would send her to the Fourth Prince’s residence as a gesture of goodw 20.6kReads9.2Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The second book features a supporting character who is reborn, but they don't play a significant role in the main storyline.

21. 121 山 How Many Autumns Have Passed Over These Rivers and Mountains 山河几度秋 Jiang Xiaoyu江小雨Ancient Romance572k WordsCompleted In the first half of Zhao Lanxi's life, three men mattered most to her. One was her master, who had raised her; another was Yan Mo, the Vice Minister of Justice, who had recognized her talent; and the third was her full-blooded older brother, Zhao Jin, Duke of Zhenguo. Later, her master died, and Yan Mo died too. Zhao Jin, however, did not die. Not only was he alive, he also brought her a fourth man. One more thing: why does the heroine of a historical romance have to be a girl of fourteen or fi 53Reads6.0Score—Shelves
22. 122 白 After His White Moonlight Enters the Palace, the Dog Emperor Won’t Stop Pursuing Her 白月光入宫后，狗皇帝紧追不舍 He Yuyu Yuyu鹤羽羽鱼鱼Ancient Romance538k WordsCompleted [Historical romance + both pure + childhood sweethearts + fictional setting + devoted love] From the moment she was born, Su Qining always got everything she wanted. Her family spoiled her until she became the little tyrant of the capital. She was dazzlingly beautiful and willful, the apple of the Crown Prince’s eye since childhood, and his future Crown Princess. But when the Crown Prince broke off their engagement, she became the laughingstock of the capital. Worse still, on the day of his wedd 314Reads5.7Score104Shelves
23. 123 熙 The Daily Records of Consort Xi 熙贵妃起居注 Mo Mo Bu Ting莫莫不停Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Shen Tingnian has nothing going for her except a pretty face. As the Grandson's Concubine, she always wore a cold, world-weary expression around everyone, saying only that the days and nights in the Palace of Guanghan were endless, and that the human world would remain the same with or without her. As the Crown Prince's Concubine, she brazenly did as she pleased with the Crown Prince during the late emperor's mourning period, causing endless strife and bloodshed. As Noble Consort Xi, she set her 65Reads8.6Score—Shelves
24. 124 我 After I Was Reborn, the Heir Apparent Pursued Me to the Bitter End 我重生后，世子追妻火葬场了 Ten Thousand Measures of Moonlight in the Mortal World万斛人间月Ancient Romance485k WordsCompleted [Win Her Back at All Costs + Rebirth + Raising a Child] Shen Shuyi and Song Hengyue had been married for five years. They were not exactly a loving couple, but they did treat each other with respect. But when his childhood friend, the woman he cherished most, was surrounded by enemy troops, he abandoned Shuyi, who was carrying their second child. In her fury, she went into premature labor and suffered a difficult delivery. After being reborn, Shen Shuyi looked at her eldest son, who could alread 15.8kReads8.5Score843Shelves
25. 125 我EN Learning to Slay Gods in the Psychiatric Hospital 我在精神病院学斩神 Three Nine Sound Domain三九音域Urban4.3M WordsCompleted A must-read hit on Tomato Novel | Original novel of the hit anime Slay the Gods | IP influence on the China Online Literature Influence List | 2023 China Good Novel Have you ever wondered whether monsters from ancient myths lurk beneath the neon-lit city? Have you ever wondered whether gods stand watch over humanity atop the moon hanging high above us? Have you ever wondered whether extraordinary people walk among us in our bustling modern cities, acting in the gods’ stead? In the society ruled 992.2kReads9.9Score158.5kShelves

    Reader note

    💐💐This book has a captivating and suspenseful plot🌿🌿, and the supporting characters are vividly portrayed, each displaying their own unique language and expressions. 🌳🌳The second chapter of this book tells the story of how ordinary people can also protect those around them,🌺each supporting character has their own story. Unlike some novels that rely on a single formula🌼🌼, this book doesn't simply rely on a clichéd plot. Instead, each supporting character has their own principles and beliefs. 🍁🍁

26. 126 陛 Your Majesty, Stop Stealing My Melons! 陛下，不要总偷我的瓜！ Ten Miles Above the Moon月上十里Ancient Romance241k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + mind reading + gossip + 1v1 + top-tier love-brained male lead + palace intrigue + happy ending] When Li Zhu woke up again, she discovered she had transmigrated into a book. [Wow, is this the tyrant from the original novel?] The tyrant, Li Shengyuan, frowned. Hm? Who's speaking? [He's so handsome! Handsome from every angle! No wonder he's Heaven's favorite son!] Li Shengyuan fixed his gaze on Li Zhu. Interesting! He could actually hear a woman's thoughts. [What a shame 5.6kReads9.0Score805Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all the ones I've watched, and they're all really good 😘

27. 127 娇 The Spoiled Consort's Road to Glory 娇气包娘娘的荣华路 Qingxi Hexi清兮禾兮Ancient Romance385k WordsCompleted Sweet romance! Undivided love! She’s doted on to the max! [The heroine is cunning, a little black lotus hidden beneath a rabbit’s skin] [The hero has a harem and isn’t chaste, but once he meets the heroine, he devotes himself to her alone in a one-on-one romance] The third young lady of the Sheng’an Marquis’s household, born to his secondary wife, was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Sweet and clever, she knew how to win favor. Her grandmother and father favored her, and even her legitimate 13.3kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves
28. 128 夺 Heart-Stealing Contract: Mr. Lu, Go Easy on Me 夺心契约：陆先生轻点宠 Brilliant Beneath the Moon月下灼灼Modern Romance3.5M WordsCompleted [Complete] [No angst in the whole book. It’s super sweet.] The day the Tong family went bankrupt, Tong Yan, Jiangcheng’s most sought-after socialite, became a target for everyone to trample on. Who could have guessed that Miss Tong would turn around and marry Lu Tingxiao, a living corpse who had been lying in bed for six months without ever opening his eyes? Well, now she was the punchline of every joke. Just as everyone waited for the ridiculous drama of Young Master Lu’s wife getting lonely an 3.2kReads9.1Score1.7kShelves
29. 129 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 10.5kReads8.9Score1kShelves
30. 130 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 13.8kReads9.4Score1.8kShelves
31. 131 皇 Has the Noble Consort Left Qirong Palace Today? 皇贵妃今天出栖容宫了吗？ Xiaoman Crisp小满酥Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [☆No transmigration, no rebirth, and no pristine couples] [☆The romance develops gradually] Everyone in the palace knew that the person they must never offend was neither the pampered and fiery Noble Consort Hui nor the peerlessly beautiful Consort Cen, but Noble Consort Zhe of Qirong Palace, Lady Fucha. A consort's guide to survival: If you want to get ahead, never provoke the lady of Qirong Palace. She was the emperor's first woman, his companion and confidante since their youth; the mother 15.3kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    ① Read it in one go! A grand ancient-style feast interwoven with power struggles and love [Learned it] The story begins with the female protagonist being unexpectedly caught up in a palace coup. Originally the daughter of a powerless minor official, she becomes a thorn in the side of various forces due to a chance encounter. From her initial confusion upon entering the palace to being framed and hunted down, the female protagonist fights back time and time again in desperate situations. Everyone is ruthless, making for a thrilling read. [Heavy-handed attack] The female protagonist is practically the template for a strong female lead, neither pretentious nor a saint. She shows no mercy to those who framed her, avenging her grievances on the spot, making for a satisfying read. She balances career and love, with an abundance of sweetness. While the female protagonist is pursuing her career, her romance with the male protagonist is also incredibly sweet. From their initial mutual testing to their later life-and-death bond, their relationship develops layer by layer. They share a tacit understanding in battle and a sweet exchange of heartfelt feelings. No melodramatic misunderstandings or love triangles, just pure, mutual devotion—who wouldn't love a story where both career and love flourish? ❤️

32. 132 在 A Hundred Ways to Win the Emperor's Heart in the Harem 在后宫征服皇帝的一百个技巧 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ever since entering the palace, Yun Li has become a shameless schemer. Two-faced and insincere, she puts on an act every day. When dealing with the emperor’s favorite consort, she tears into her until she’s furious, then clutches her chest with a wounded look and says, “I’m so envious that His Majesty dotes on you.” When someone tries to frame her, she casually slaps them, then bursts into tears. “Why would you treat a kind person like me this way?” When speaking with the empress, she nods absen 12.3kReads9.5Score1.4kShelves
33. 133 精 The Refined Self-Serving Life of the Imperial Harem 精致利己的后宫生活 Extra Extra Extra Spicy微微微微辣Ancient Romance906k WordsCompleted Content warning: Good and evil are relative, human nature is complicated, and the heroine is an unapologetic self-interested pragmatist. As a low-ranking palace maid, she has hundreds, even thousands, of mountains bearing down on her. Life is truly miserable... Rather than toil away her whole life, become a eunuch's bedmate, and be cremated after death, with her ashes scattered into the Rebirth Well so that they become one with his... Ji Hansu decides to find herself a better place to end up. As 1.3kReads7.2Score117Shelves

    Reader note

    This is an ongoing palace intrigue novel that tells the story of Ji Hansu, a low-ranking palace maid, and her struggle for survival in the imperial harem. She not only faces the cruel realities of palace life but also must outwit and outmaneuver other concubines to secure her own place in the world.

34. 134 表 The Cousin Is Going on a Matchmaking Date, and the Heir Is Panicking 表姑娘要去相看，世子他慌了 Yu Yu禹予Ancient Romance492k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance] [Both Leads Are Each Other’s First] [Happy Ending] [Both Leads Are Natives of the Era] [Gentle, Refined Heir Apparent × Cool, Elegant Cousin] Orphaned and without anyone to rely on, with wolves circling all around her, young Shi Jianli had no choice but to travel to the capital and seek refuge with her aunt. She became the second branch’s cousin, staying as a guest at the Duke of Anguo’s residence. When she came of age, her aunt found her a match. But the second branch’s concubin 33.8kReads9.3Score4.4kShelves
35. 135 嫁 Marrying the Imperial Tutor 嫁帝师 Changshanli长山里Ancient Romance560k WordsCompleted [When a Scheming Black-Bellied Type Meets a Sweet-on-the-Outside, Dark-on-the-Inside Type + Love and Hate + Soul Swap + Revenge, Traditional Historical Romance in an Imaginary Setting] Jiang Wanzhi first met Song Qingshi when she was fourteen. At sixteen, she became Mrs. Song. Everyone said she was lucky: a merchant’s daughter had married a top-scoring scholar. That is, until she died under mysterious circumstances on the very night Song Qingshi asked her for a divorce. When she awoke again, she 28kReads9.3Score4.4kShelves
36. 136 念 Spring Tide of Longing 念念春潮 Zhi Yun支云Ancient Romance754k WordsCompleted [Print edition under contract] [Sweet romance and comeuppance, a seemingly gentle but calculating male lead, a fierce and adorable heroine, and intense push-and-pull between the leads] The Marquis of Wuning's daughter is to be married, but the bride hangs herself. The groom is Prince Danshuo, a handsome man who enjoys the emperor's deep trust, and the emperor himself personally arranged the marriage. In their panic, the marquis's household can only find someone to take the bride's place. Cheng 73.8kReads9.4Score10.6kShelves
37. 137 春 The Spring Breeze Blows Through Yumen Pass! 春风吹度玉门关！ Scallion Pancake with an Extra Egg手抓饼要加鸡蛋Ancient Romance409k WordsCompleted [They marry at the start + married life + sweet romance + native-born leads + mutually devoted] Gentle, tolerant, and magnanimous heroine & jealous, rough-around-the-edges puppy-dog hero The sixth year of the Zhending reign, spring. The old Duchess of Dingguo knelt before the Empress Dowager, asking for a marriage match for her grandson Yun Zheng, who was guarding the northwest. The emperor honored the Yun family’s generations of loyal service. Having also heard that the Cui family’s daughters 23.4kReads9.0Score2.9kShelves
38. 138 开 A Low-Ranking Palace Lady from the Start, with Maxed-Out Harem Warfare Skills 开局小秀女，娘娘宫斗技能满点 Lucky Fish招财鱼Ancient Romance601k WordsCompleted [No CP, devoted to palace intrigue for a hundred years!] Ning Yuzhen was sixteen the year she entered the palace, and twenty-eight the year she became Empress Dowager. Framing, miscarriage, poisoning, betrayal... After twelve years of ups and downs in the inner palace, the principles she once hoped to uphold had long since vanished. The people who had once stood by her had long since turned to dust. Ning Yuzhen walked the paths she'd taken in the past, leaving behind only a sigh. When she turned 312Reads5.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Entering the palace is like entering a deep sea; newcomers and veterans alike harbor their own hidden agendas. Born of humble origins, she only wished for a peaceful life within the palace walls, but her exceptional talent drew her into a vortex of intrigue. In this treacherous harem, every smile could conceal murderous intent, every greeting a deadly trap. Will she yield and submit, or defy the odds and turn the tide? This war without gunpowder awaits your witness.

39. 139 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 7.5kReads9.3Score952Shelves
40. 140 累 I'm Exhausted! To Fool Him, I Pretend to Be Sweet and Innocent Every Day 累死！为了骗他，本宫日日装娇纯 Deer in the Deep Forest深林的鹿Ancient Romance455k WordsCompleted “If you want to win, you have to learn how to lose first.” Meng Xianxiang lost a life, and learned to struggle, to seize what she wanted, to scheme and plan, and to claw her way up. Looking back on her previous life, she had lived in a stable, eaten pig slop, served tea and emptied chamber pots, enduring abuse and humiliation at every turn. Each memory was a stab to the heart. Given another chance, she wants status and power, and a world where no one dares bully her again. Behind the palace’s re 3.5kReads9.2Score302Shelves

    Reader note

    Are these okay?

41. 141 小 The Little Highness Has a Screw Loose 小殿下他脑子有坑 I Eat Pomelos Without Spitting Out the Pith吃柚子不吐皮吖Ancient Romance295k WordsCompleted [Sweet, bold, and outspoken young princess X gentle, seemingly innocent but secretly calculating young prince] Shi Sui transmigrated into the heroine of a classic tragic romance. In the original, the male and female leads' melodramatic love story tortured them from the first chapter to the penultimate one, and still ended in a tragic finale. Shi Sui: Bye-bye, then. I'll pick the devoted second male lead. Basically, it's a story about a laid-back girl using her wonderfully quirky imagination to s 12.9kReads9.5Score1.7kShelves
42. 142 被 After Being Kidnapped, I Kidnap the Western Regions' Young Lord and Bring Him Back to the Central Plains 被拐后，我反拐西域少主回中原 Thousand Threads of Intrigue千丝戏Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Young lord of the Western Regions × Princess of Sheng'an] Ye Zhaoyu was born into the imperial family. She figured she'd surely been dealt the pampered darling's script in life, so she wisely decided to coast. But she never expected to take a wrong turn and be kidnapped to the Western Regions. By a stroke of bad luck, she was sent to the bed of a deranged young lord known as a demon's lair and a living Shura. She immediately switched into survival-and-escape mode, determined to flee back to the 9.2kReads9.5Score1.5kShelves
43. 143 小 Little Menace! She Makes the Cold and Aloof Young Heir Climb Her Wall Every Day 小祖宗好疯！惹清冷世子日日爬墙 Holding a Brush to Tie Up My Hair执笔绾青丝Ancient Romance523k WordsCompleted (Completed. Transmigrate into a book + win over the husband + face-slapping and punishing scumbags + sweet romance + doted on by everyone + an austere, upright heir to the throne and a righteous-yet-evil, unhinged young lady) Everyone knew that Fu Wenyan, daughter of the Grand General’s household, was hopelessly in love with the Second Prince and would do anything for him without complaint. But after she fell off a cliff, someone else took over Miss Fu’s body. To the Second Prince, whom she h 13.9kReads9.3Score1.7kShelves
44. 144 得 When He Learned I’d Secretly Taken Contraceptive Soup, the Powerful Minister Turned Dark 得知我偷喝避子汤后，权臣黑化了 Salty Fish Boss咸鱼头子Ancient Romance439k WordsCompleted [Household intrigue + sweet romance + rise to power + age and height gap + a touch of healing] Tan Yin is the third daughter among the Song family's concubine-born daughters. When she was twelve, she accidentally ate crab roe and broke out in a rash all over her body. A plague was sweeping through Jiangnan at the time, and everyone feared it might be smallpox. So they sent Tan Yin to Puhua Mountain outside the capital, leaving her to fend for herself. Five years passed, and no one came to see he 15.5kReads9.1Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue novel, no reincarnation elements, but it's good! 🥰🥰

45. 145 春 Springtime Joy 春日欢 Yu Bai Bai鱼摆摆Ancient Romance825k WordsCompleted The night of the political marriage, in the bridal chamber! Jiang Wumian falls from being a princess of Northern Wei to a camp prostitute. To survive and uncover the mastermind behind it all, she has to win over the temperamental, brutal ruler of the grasslands! At first, he steps on her slave's clothes and lifts her chin with a curved saber, his tone scornful and icy. “You know, this prince has never liked dull women. At best, you can be my plaything. Get out.” Later, she becomes poison, opium, 101Reads8.9Score—Shelves
46. 146 娘 One Tear from the Empress, and She Acts Her Way to the Emperor's Throne 娘娘一滴泪，演到帝王送凤位 Little Peeled Egg剥壳的小蛋蛋Ancient Romance589k WordsCompleted [Story complete; easy to get around] Shen Qingfu transmigrated into a rebirth novel. The reborn heroine, Chu Can, had grown up with the crown prince, Ning Xuanli, as his childhood sweetheart. Given a second chance at life, she wanted no love, only power and riches. To become the most special person in the crown prince’s heart, she played hard to get. She had schemes, but no feelings. Shen Qingfu was nothing more than the most insignificant cannon fodder in the rebirth novel. Shen Qingfu gave a s 303Reads9.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Time Travel + Palace Intrigue + Sober Female Lead] This book is seriously amazing! Even I, who usually skips chapters, read it chapter by chapter. The female lead's goal from the moment she transmigrates is to become the Empress. Upon entering the palace, she deliberately seduces the male lead, making him fall in love with her, while pretending to be an innocent fool, completely unaware of anything. She's playing dumb to outsmart him! The writing is excellent and the plot progresses very quickly! 😘

47. 147 金 The Golden Sparrow Hairpin 金雀钗 Thirteen'er十三儿Ancient Romance153k WordsCompleted Rong Lan entered the palace as a maid at thirteen and worked diligently for ten years. She thought she would be able to leave the palace and marry once she turned twenty-five. Little did she know that she would accidentally serve the Empress Dowager to death, and from then on, one unexpected incident followed another. The young tutor Feng Qiw u took a liking to her despite being blind, so Rong Lan hurriedly latched onto a powerful patron and privately pledged herself to him for life. Who knew th 1.1kReads9.4Score139Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient Chinese palace intrigue novel, the female protagonist is rational and clear-headed.

48. 148 中 A General History of China 中国通史 Ren Zhongyuan任中原Historical491k WordsCompleted The world-famous writer Cervantes said, “History gives birth to truth; it can withstand time and preserve old tales and past events. It is a record of ancient times, a warning for the present, and a lesson for future generations.” History is a mirror that records the successes and failures, prosperity and decline, triumphs and tragedies, transitions and renewal of human society. It also foreshadows humanity's future. 26.1kReads9.6Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    😠History is truly fascinating. From the Stone Age to modern times, we can witness five thousand years of joys and sorrows. While recounting history, Mr. Wang incorporates anecdotes, such as "The beacon fires did not disturb the feudal lords, but the father-in-law died and the Western Zhou Dynasty was overthrown," "The Western Jin Dynasty's unification was of low quality, but the selection of concubines by sheep cart was highly anticipated," and "The Battle of Guandu pacified the north, and middle-aged men were filled with anxiety," making history truly interesting!

49. 149 野 Unofficial History Isn't Necessarily False 野史未必假 Wang Lei王磊Historical151k WordsCompleted [The full-cast audio edition is now available. Give it a listen!] From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the Ming and Qing dynasties, discover the truth behind popular unofficial histories! This book examines 22 popular historical tales from China’s earliest dynasties through the Ming and Qing, using vivid reconstructions, close study of historical sources, and logical analysis to uncover the truth behind them. Was Qin Shi Huang’s biological father Lü Buwei? Did Emperor Taizong of Song m 30.6kReads9.6Score5.3kShelves
50. 150 历 The Republic of China, Buried Deep in History (3 Volumes) 历史深处的民国（共3册） Jiang Cheng江城Historical612k WordsCompleted This is a gripping history of the official record from 1840 to 1925, a sweeping work that offers a comprehensive interpretation of late Qing China, the Republic, and the War of Resistance. No book about the Republic of China has ever explained this period as comprehensively, truthfully, clearly, and engagingly as "The Republic of China in the Depths of History". For that reason, "The Republic of China in the Depths of History" is the top choice for the tens of millions of Chinese enthusiasts of 15.8kReads9.6Score3.5kShelves

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