I’m in a Reading Slump. I Want Stories About Palace Maids Rising to Power, With Wicked Female Leads! Ahhh! 最近书荒，想看宫女上位，恶女人设，啊啊啊

1. 51 陪 The Lady’s Maid 陪房丫鬟 March Chirp三月啾Ancient Romance516k WordsCompleted [A Tale of Taking by Force] Unluckily transmigrated into the body of a maid who serves as a dowry, Yun Xiang knows she will eventually be chosen to become Second Master Lu’s bedchamber maid. Second Master Lu is refined and gentle, the man of many maids’ dreams. But she doesn’t want that. She struggles and resists, openly and in secret, doing everything she can to avoid it. Yet, by a twist of fate, she unexpectedly catches Second Master Lu’s eye. She has no right to refuse. Just as it seems the m 71.1kReads9.1Score11.4k14d adds

   Reader note

   It's worth a look!

2. 52 快 Quick Transmigration: Seducing My Way to the Top 快穿之勾引上位 Fatty Loves Lamb肥肥爱吃羊Ancient Romance451k WordsCompleted [Delicate beauty + calculated seduction + scheming green tea + stealing someone’s love + interconnected stories] There are always delicate, innocent beauties in this world. They are the incarnations of spirits, naive and ignorant when they first enter the mortal realm, yet irresistibly captivating. Every glance and smile can ensnare the heart and soul. To survive in this world, they act helpless and cling to the most powerful men like parasitic vines. Even if those men already belong to someone 14.2kReads8.9Score69614d adds
3. 53 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
4. 54 女 The Tyrannical Empress and the Chaste Heir Whose Beauty Bewitches All 女帝暴虐，禁欲世子他美色撩人 Yu of the Three-Tiered Tower三重楼喻Ancient Romance396k WordsCompleted [Completed ❤️] Transmigration + 1v1 + strong female lead and weaker male lead + coercion + woman disguised as a man + decisive and ruthless heroine vs. restrained, reserved, beautiful but tragic hero [Warning: strong female lead and weaker male lead!!!] Feng Jin, an executive at a publicly listed corporation, suddenly died and transmigrated into the body of a tyrannical, cruel, mentally unstable crown prince who was a woman disguised as a man. From the start, a beautiful man offered himself to h 6.2kReads9.3Score68114d adds
5. 55 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 69kReads9.4Score8.7k14d adds
6. 56 侯 The Marquis's Widow Raised a Household of Geniuses 侯夫人守寡，却养出满门天骄 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Tang Shuyi transmigrated into the Great Qian dynasty, becoming the wife of the Marquis of Yongning. She was rich, powerful, and high-status, with no parents-in-law and a dead husband: she had it better than almost anyone else who had transmigrated. Just as she was about to enjoy a comfortable life as a wealthy noblewoman, she discovered that she had transmigrated into a book, and was its biggest villain. She wasn’t just rich, powerful, and high-status. She also had three unruly children. The eld 71.3kReads9.4Score10.4k14d adds
7. 57 粗 A Lowly Palace Maid's Rise to Power 粗使宫女升职记 Coconut Seal Candy椰子海豹糖Ancient Romance982k WordsOngoing [A new writer and a new novel. The rating has just appeared, so it’s quite low. My family is struggling, and writing isn’t easy. I hope you’ll be patient with me. I’m deeply grateful to you all.] [This story features a large ensemble] [No rivalry between women, no love-brained heroines, and no adoration of men] [Women supporting women] [An unconventional palace drama] [A heroine who grows] Please note! The emperor in this story is extremely [human] (bolded for emphasis!), and lacks basic moral 648Reads8.8Score11214d adds

   Reader note

   A palace maid rises to power; she's intelligent, doesn't compete for favor with men, isn't love-struck, and has good logic. The low rating is due to fewer reviews. It's a good story that doesn't glorify feudal society! A female protagonist who doesn't fall in love, a humanoid emperor 🤦 A growing female protagonist, female mutual support, a slice-of-life palace intrigue story, with an ensemble cast, and decent writing. I wrote this myself; no debut, no traffic, I can only promote it myself. Life is tough, writing is hard, so please support and understand! The title of my humble work is rather cliché, but it's definitely not a melodramatic story. Two updates a day, please take a look, thank you!

8. 58 折 Winning Over Jiao Ran 折服娇染 Xu Sui绪岁Ancient Romance295k WordsCompleted [Ruthless prince VS princess of a fallen kingdom] [Both chaste + Both strong + Love of country and family + Political intrigue] She is a princess of a fallen kingdom, enduring humiliation in the enemy nation. She masters military strategy and tactics, manipulates the enemy with ease, throws its court into chaos, and brings it down. At first, the two of them put self-interest above all else, trying to kill and outmaneuver each other. He lures her into his trap, but gradually falls for her delicat 748Reads9.1Score10414d adds
9. 59 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

   Reader note

   The path to revenge for a concubine's daughter or palace maid; the female lead is strong but not a saint, a classic villainous character.

10. 60 九 Ninefold Brocade 九重锦 Evening Breeze Under the Moon月下晚风Ancient Romance715k WordsCompleted Household and palace intrigue, with the leads not both being each other's first. A fictional setting, with all ranks and titles made up. A heroine who grows over time and isn't blinded by love. After being suppressed for more than a decade, a concubine-born daughter has her fate rearranged overnight. Entering the prince's manor only fuels her ambition. Her birth father ignores her, allowing her stepmother to torment her and her mother for half their lives without ever offering them the slightest 35.1kReads9.3Score5.9k14d adds
11. 61 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 87.1kReads9.5Score9.7k14d adds
12. 62 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
13. 63 偷 Steal from the Imperial Palace to Raise the Prince: Anyone in My Way Dies 偷皇宫养皇子，谁挡路谁就死 Yang Xiuxiu扬岫岫Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [Thieving Maid ✖️ Prince of the Cold Palace] Two equally formidable leads, fiercely protective, raising him first, then fighting for power After dying, Shan Zhi transmigrates and is reborn in the Cold Palace. The moment she opens her eyes, Si Huaizheng is hoping she’ll die. Not the best start. … She hadn’t really planned on looking after him. But he calls her big sister… What can she do? Since she’s here, she might as well make a go of it. She can only take him along for the ride~ ❗Before she 54.2kReads9.4Score8.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    In the book, the originally powerful characters are not so remarkable at the beginning. Their growth path is very ordinary. They have no special space or special weapons. Everything is learned slowly.

14. 64 被 The Barren Tyrant Heard My Thoughts, and Every Pregnancy Brought Me Good Fortune 被绝嗣暴君读心后，我胎胎好孕了 Lili Zi力力子Ancient Romance9k WordsCompleted I was the real daughter of the Prime Minister, but the fake daughter took my place in the imperial bedchamber and became the tyrant's favorite consort. But the tyrant was not only unable to father children, he was also short-lived. His childless consorts could only be buried with him. I, on the other hand, was naturally fertile. I married the frail Prince of Wu and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. When he ascended the throne, I became empress. Who knew that when I opened my eyes again, the fake 953Reads—Score3614d adds
15. 65 一 A First-Rank Palace Consort 一品宫妃 Illuminating the Flowing Light照流光Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted After dying a miserable death in a car accident in her previous life, she is reborn as a low-ranking palace maid in the cold palace who could starve to death at any moment. Song Qingqiao only wants a peaceful life as an ordinary palace maid who gets to eat her fill every day. But she accidentally heals the cold and unfeeling emperor, and somehow ends up as a favored concubine deep in the palace, despised by the officials and envied by the other consorts... 209Reads7.7Score—14d adds
16. 66 宫 The Palace Maid's Stratagems 宫女谋略 Phantom Beneath the Moon月下幻影Ancient Romance522k WordsCompleted Within the gilded, resplendent palace grounds lurk countless monsters and demons. Driven into the imperial palace by her stepmother, Rong Li faces only two choices: fight, or die. Rong Li doesn't want to die. So even if the road ahead is thorny and leaves her hands drenched in blood, she won't hesitate. 799Reads8.7Score10014d adds

    Reader note

    Both are about palace maids rising to power. ① There's no reincarnation or time travel, just pure palace intrigue; the female lead is ambitious and intelligent. ② Pure palace intrigue, with a bit of an infinite flow feel in the beginning. The female lead receives exclusive favor later on.

17. 67 宫 A Palace Maid’s Rise: Fighting Her Way to the Top 宫女逆袭路，一路斗到底 Only Du Kang Remains唯有杜康Ancient Romance330k WordsCompleted [Harem Warfare (They fight to the death, until the world is turned upside down) / Not Both Leads' First Love / Devoted Love Later On / Not a Strong Female Lead] A servant is lowly, a servant is base. To escape her fate, Lihua wants to use every advantage she can to claw her way up. What better advantage could there be than the ruler of the realm? See how a little palace maid, battered by fate, carves out an extraordinary path in life. Lihua never imagined that a lowly palace maid like her could 9Reads5.6Score—14d adds
18. 68 重 Reborn, I Promise You a Lifetime of Joy 重生，许你一世倾欢 Wu Yuetang伍月棠Ancient Romance616k WordsCompleted (Both leads reborn + scheming prince + palace and household intrigue + punishing scumbags + physician heroine) In her previous life, Ye Ruan was hopelessly devoted to Prince Xuan, Jun Li. But at the Mid-Autumn banquet, the drunken Prince Jing, Jun Zhan, took her innocence. To avenge herself, she pretended to marry into Prince Jing’s household. While he was away on campaign, she forged the late emperor’s edict and elevated the scumbag to the highest position. But once everything had settled, the 10.8kReads9.3Score1.6k14d adds
19. 69 宫 A Palace Maid's Daily Life 宫女日常 Lu Xiaoqiao卢小乔Ancient Romance800k WordsCompleted [Transmigration] A sweet romance between a palace maid from the Laundry Bureau who sweeps the streets and the Kangxi Emperor. He can make room for the entire Qing Empire, so why would he mind making room for one little girl? Jiang Liuyan is no naive, sweet girl. She may be foolish, but she’s neither innocent nor sweet. She’s an illegitimate daughter of the Jiang family, with low status and a bad temper. She makes trouble all day and can’t get a single thing done properly. But for some reason, Ka 88Reads5.6Score714d adds

    Reader note

    The sweet daily life of a palace maid sweeping the streets of the Imperial Household Department and Emperor Kangxi. He could tolerate the entire Qing Dynasty, so what was there to fear about tolerating a mere young girl? Jiang Liuyan was no naive fool. She might be simple-minded, but she wasn't naive or sweet. She was an illegitimate daughter of the Jiang family, of low status, and had a bad temper. She was a troublemaker who couldn't get anything done properly. But, ironically, Kangxi tolerated her. He could tolerate the entire Qing Dynasty, so what was there to fear about tolerating a mere young girl?

20. 70 心 The Scheming Beauty's Conquest Notes 心机美人的攻略手札 Drink a Little Less Milk Tea少喝1点奶茶Ancient Romance582k WordsCompleted Jiang Fu swore from a young age that she would climb the social ladder and marry into a powerful family. She was willing to use any means necessary. On the eve of the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter’s wedding, the groom’s side was rocked by a scandal of epic proportions. Jiang Ruyue, who had been pampered all her life, immediately refused to marry him. So the Jiang family secretly brought back Jiang Fu, the concubine-born daughter who had been raised far away. The Jiang family looked down on 4.6kReads9.3Score59814d adds

    Reader note

    The plot is thrilling and engaging; it's clearly made by someone with brains 🥰 The storyline is fast-paced, with interconnected events, and the characters are well-developed. Once you start watching, you won't be able to stop! Hehehe

21. 71 色 Captivated in Body and Soul 色授魂予 Ai Sisi艾丝丝Modern Romance206k WordsOngoing My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you'll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 3Reads—Score—14d adds
22. 72 偏 The Paranoid Tyrant Throws a Tantrum, but the Empress Is Too Much for Me 偏执暴君无能狂怒，皇后欺朕太甚 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance999k WordsCompleted [The comic adaptation, with the same title, is now available on Tomato: “You Made Me a Palace Maid, So Why Did You Make the Tyrant Kneel on a Washboard?”] [Mind-reading + changing the plot + a cast of lovable idiots + laugh-out-loud comedy + one-on-one romance, both leads have eyes only for each other] After Ning Xiaoxiao transmigrated into a book, she unexpectedly gained the golden finger ability to change the plot. From then on, she began living the life of a feel-good heroine who could do wha 5.2kReads9.4Score84414d adds

    Reader note

    😘😘😘

23. 73 五 Five Years of Waiting Came to Nothing: My Husband Brings His New Love to Demand a Divorce 五年痴等成空，夫君带女逼我和离 Cang Yuesheng仓月生Ancient Romance604k WordsCompleted [Both Chaste] [Romance with His Older Brother's Wife] [Male-Male Story] [The Male Lead is repeatedly seen completely naked but stays faithful. Later, what looks like infidelity is actually a guard in disguise; the male lead remains devoted to the female lead throughout.] [Dear readers, we're very sorry! When you reach Chapter 139, please skip straight to Chapter 146. Chapters 140 to 145 are inconsistent and can be ignored.] On their wedding night, unrest broke out at the border, and her husband 5.8kReads9.3Score43414d adds

    Reader note

    Everyone in the comments said to keep watching until the end, and it really is great! 🙂🤭

24. 74 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
25. 75 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
26. 76 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—14d adds

    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, pretending to be an innocent and naive girl, completely oblivious to everything. She's playing dumb to outsmart him! The writing is excellent and the plot progresses very quickly.

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