Looking for Historical Stories with Two Strong Leads and Sweet Romance. Palace Intrigue Is Fine Too 想看古文，双强，甜文，宫斗文也行

1. 201 千 Qian Jinhuan 千锦欢 Yun Lingge云翎歌Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Completed · [A highly intelligent amnesiac fake princess x a cold, scheming prince] [Not a mindless power fantasy] [Both devoted to each other + classic historical romance + no transmigration, rebirth, or System + political intrigue + doting romance + reunion after a long separation + devotion to country and family + exclusive devotion + the one who got away + happy ending] For twenty years, the second prince of Nantang, Chu Jinyuan, has kept his guard up and trusted no one, until Hua Qianmei ar 501Reads8.1Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Don't let the low rating fool you, it's incredibly good! A pure historical romance with two strong leads, political intrigue, and sweet romance—a must-read! Everyone's cunning and shrewd, the plot is fresh and unconventional, the male and female leads are both intelligent and skilled in martial arts, constantly outwitting and scheming against each other. The female lead is the male lead's ideal woman 😄 Guaranteed to be sweet!

2. 202 进 The Concubine’s Daughter Rises Through the Ranks After Entering the Palace 进宫后庶女一路高升 Ming Shiqi明十七Ancient Romance533k WordsCompleted After a car accident, Chen Zhirou unexpectedly transmigrates and becomes the beautiful, timid Seventh Miss of the Yong'an Marquis Household. Rather than let her father give her away as a concubine, Chen Zhirou chooses to risk everything by entering the palace. On the day of the selection, she is about to be rejected when she calls out to the emperor, earning herself the rank of Good Lady. But that is nowhere near enough. The harem is filled with three thousand beauties, each extraordinary in he 456Reads8.2Score100Shelves
3. 203 娘 The Empress Is Exquisitely Charming: Winning the Palace Battles and Raising a Child to Become Empress 娘娘千娇百媚，宫斗养崽坐后位 Take Your Pikachu Away抱走你的皮卡丘Ancient Romance486k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Pure Palace Intrigue + Raising a Child + Clear-Headed Heroine + Focused on Her Career + Light Ensemble Cast] Xie Zhao transmigrates to the state of Beiqi, a country that has never existed in recorded history. When she learns she is to take part in the selection two years later, she begins diligently practicing all kinds of skills. After successfully being selected, her goal is to safely give birth to a prince, raise him into an outstanding crown prince, put him on the throne, a 374Reads7.3Score—Shelves
4. 204 人 Life Simulator: I'm a Pro at Rising Through Palace Schemes 人生模拟器：宫斗升职我专业 I Eat Tomatoes Without Spitting Out the Skins吃西红柿不吐番茄皮Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + System + Golden Finger + A Story That's 30% Indulgence and 70% Playing It Safe] (Important, important, important!!! Content warning: The heroine is an ordinary person who grows over time. At first, she has some girlish romantic notions; she isn't highly intelligent from the start. Not a mutually exclusive first-love story, and the male lead doesn't dote on her alone. Don't read if these bother you.) From the start, she's in the hardest difficulty mode. After s 6.9kReads9.1Score666Shelves
5. 205 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 1.2kReads8.9Score104Shelves
6. 206 娘 Her Majesty Is Bewitchingly Beautiful, Reigns over the Six Palaces, and Takes the Empress's Throne! 娘娘千娇百媚，宠冠六宫坐后位！ It's Bing'er是冰儿啊Ancient Romance632k WordsCompleted [Harem intrigue + clear-headed heroine + not the emperor’s sole favorite at first, but his only favorite later] Su Mei never imagined she would transmigrate into a harem-intrigue novel, let alone as the lowest-ranking palace concubine. If she wants a better life, she has to cling tightly to the emperor’s coattails. At first, the emperor is interested in her only because of her alluring face. Later, he summons her more often because she is delicate and soft, and somehow he develops feelings for t 397Reads7.5Score—Shelves
7. 207 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 2.2kReads8.9Score222Shelves

   Reader note

   When a delicate concubine's daughter is forced to marry a disabled prince, a meticulously planned scheme within a scheme is about to unfold! 💔 ✨The war god who disappeared on the battlefield three years ago suddenly returns as a cripple✨The Xuanjia General has become a tyrannical wheelchair-bound tyrant✨How many heartbreaking truths are hidden in the word "get out" during the wedding ceremony?

8. 208 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 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves
9. 209 宠 The Beloved Consort's Rise to Power 宠妃升职记 Qing Ling卿绫Ancient Romance399k WordsCompleted When faced with the selection, An Ruyi is merely a low-ranking daughter of a noble family. To avoid the marriage arranged by her legitimate mother, she has to choose between becoming another man's concubine and becoming the emperor's. Without hesitation, she chooses the latter. Backed by a golden finger in the form of a pocket dimension, she originally only wants to retire in the imperial palace. But even the harem is unsafe, and everyone can bully her. The emperor's favor only puts her in the s 2.8kReads8.9Score196Shelves
10. 210 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. 8.4kReads9.2Score950Shelves
11. 211 你 Didn't You Say She Was Old and Out of Favor? 你不是说她年纪大，不得宠吗？ I'm Xingxing Da我是星星大Ancient Romance590k WordsCompleted [Palace and household intrigue + raising children + food + everyday life + not chaste, but doted on] Su Tang transmigrated into the body of a concubine of Xiao Jingrong, Heir of the Prince of Zhaonan, with a two-year-old toddler in tow. The original owner had let herself go, behaved crudely, and was even older than the heir. He had long since forgotten her, leaving her to languish in a corner. Su Tang figured that was just fine. She wouldn’t compete for his favor or make the first move. But then 20.4kReads8.8Score2kShelves
12. 212 嘘 Shh! The Tyrant Is Secretly Spoiling His Little Sweetheart Again 嘘！暴君又在偷偷宠他的小娇娇 A Little Milk Kitty一只小奶喵Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Yun Jiaojiao, a genius alchemist with an overprotective older brother, was cherished and spoiled from childhood. But after failing to survive her tribulation, she transmigrated into a despised imperial consort, entrusted to the emperor by her dying brother after he saved the emperor’s life. The emperor gave her a cold look. “I can only be your brother. Don’t even think of me as anything else!” Yun Jiaojiao blinked, looking pitiful on the outside but secretly thrilled. She cautiously tested him 7.5kReads8.9Score803Shelves
13. 213 只 As Long as You Can Act, You’re Bound to Become a Consort 只要演技好，贵妃之位没得跑 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted Lin Qingyan was the daughter of a marquis. Her father was the Marquis of Ding'an, a prominent figure at court, yet she had none of the fine clothes and luxurious comforts that should have come with her birth. She was merely an unloved concubine-born daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an’s household. A father who ignored the people and affairs of the inner quarters and cared only for his own pleasure; a ruthless legal wife who treated her concubine-born daughters harshly; and a half-sister who wante 1.6kReads8.6Score184Shelves
14. 214 被 After Being Sent to the Palace, I Win All the Emperor’s Favor 被献入宫后，我夺尽恩宠 Qin Yao沁摇Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted 🌟The drama adaptation, Qin Meiren’s Rise to Power, is now streaming!🌟 [Palace intrigue / not both virgins / devoted love later on. This isn’t a mindless indulgence story. If you’re looking for pure doting after just two or three chapters, you should leave now.] In her previous life, Qin Liuse entered the palace in place of a noble daughter of the Qin family. In the end, she was left with nowhere to call home, forced to watch the man she loved marry someone else. Reborn, she is still the neglect 3.3kReads8.8Score381Shelves
15. 215 怎 How Can Anyone Resist the Noble Consort's Alluring Charm? 怎敌贵妃百媚千娇 Fish Carrying the Moon鱼衔月Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + sweet romance + heroine transmigrates] In the fifth year of Yongyan, the emperor ordered a selection of consorts. Wen Wanyu was the most beautiful among the candidates. With her charming looks and soft, lilting voice, she was as delicate as a flower and soon won the emperor’s favor. She had once been the apple of her father’s eye, but when he was framed and her elder brother humiliated, she defied her whole family and asked to enter the palace to protect them. From the darling 2.2kReads8.9Score194Shelves
16. 216 宫 A Palace Maid’s Daily Struggles 宫女奋斗日常 Phantom Beneath the Moon月下幻影Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ling Huan has skin as smooth as ice and looks like a goddess, yet she has no interest in power and thinks only of leaving the palace. In the end, neither she nor her child meets a good end. Given another chance, her goal is to raise her child well and become Empress Dowager herself. A palace-intrigue story with a strong female lead. The heroine is ruthless and clever. A thoroughly satisfying read. 6kReads9.2Score853Shelves
17. 217 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 9.2kReads9.4Score1.1kShelves
18. 218 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 16.6kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves
19. 219 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 2.1kReads8.8Score293Shelves
20. 220 权 The Powerful Minister's Little Spoiled Concubine Is Doted on to No End 权臣家的小作妾被宠上了天 The House Star Is a Star房星本是星Ancient Romance408k WordsCompleted [Also known as: A Heavenly Emperor’s Consort Gets Laid Off and Starts Over] She woke up to find herself another man’s concubine. The good news: he was the emperor. The bad news: the emperor was bankrupt, and she, a peony raised in a golden basin, was about to be handed over to a new owner. Meng Fu, about to be given away: ∑ (°口°๑)! What are you waiting for? Run! Meng Fu, having escaped one danger only to fall into another: ( ╯-_-)╯┴, ┴… Just destroy the world already. - As the fifth son of 5.2kReads9.0Score564Shelves

    Reader note

    The story is original, about a concubine who escapes and encounters the male protagonist.

21. 221 绝 The Unparalleled Little Scapegoat 绝世小冤种 I Took Great Pains我煞费苦心Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Also known as: I Pay, You Risk Your Life, and We Both Go Crazy; The Ultimate Scapegoat; Power Over All, Sword to the Heavens Someone has set a trap to make everyone turn against me. "It's fine. I have a System..." Luo Yinyou comforted herself. "Even if the System is a total troll!" The world order had changed drastically, and the flow of destiny had been redistributed. Countless geniuses emerged, but the most dazzling of them all was the young lord Ye Ci of Dragon Island, hailed as the greatest 32kReads9.6Score4.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This novel, which once topped the charts, has sound logic without being melodramatic, is witty and humorous, and is very addictive. It features two strong leads, with the male lead having less screen time, and is of high quality.

22. 222 长 The Grand Princess Is Obsessed with Rebellion, but There Are Six Male Leads 长公主沉迷造反，但有六个男主 Xi Han习含Ancient Romance511k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + political intrigue + strong female lead + otome + adored by all + romantic rivalry + multiple male leads + all male leads are chaste] Su Fengyi transmigrates into a villainous princess in a male-oriented rebellion novel. She has only a year before the male lead succeeds in his rebellion and has her killed. After looking over the entire novel, Su Fengyi realizes the male lead succeeds thanks to two things: protagonist plot armor and the help of talented supporters. To 10.6kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Su Fengyi transmigrates into the body of a villainous princess in an ancient world. To avoid being killed when the male lead succeeds in his rebellion, Su Fengyi begins to undermine his faction. Unexpectedly, she ends up on the emperor's throne herself. The male leads are all very powerful, but they are all captivated by the female lead's charm and willingly remain by her side.

23. 223 明 Marry Me Beneath the Bright Moon 明月嫁卿卿 Rabbit Purple Moonrise兔紫月上Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Song Chuyu thought she and Kang Rui were deeply in love, and that no one could ever come between them. Yet that person had been living by their side all along, pampered under the title of “sister-in-law.” After being reborn, Song Chuyu didn’t spare Kang Rui a glance as he rode through the streets in triumph, and she certainly wouldn’t marry him again. * When Kang Rui woke up to find himself back in the impoverished days of his youth, he struggled to get used to the drafty windows after having li 85.4kReads9.3Score10.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Very good, a highly rated masterpiece.

24. 224 一 Before I Knew It, His Majesty Was Helping Me Fight My Household Battles 一不小心，陛下他下场帮我宅斗了 A Touch Of Green On Junshan君山一点青Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted An accident causes Cui Lingyao and the reigning emperor, Pei Jie, to swap souls. On the fifteenth of every month, each must spend a day in the other's body. One side is the chaotic Earl's residence, with a reborn younger cousin, an aunt harboring dark intentions, an uncle shrouded in secrets, and a grandmother who loves to smooth things over. The other is the imperial court, where the empress dowager holds power, Prince Xin is ambitious, the emperor's personal attendant has already defected, an 10.8kReads8.9Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is very good; both sides demonstrate strategic thinking and achieve a win-win cooperation.

25. 225 重EN Too Many Reborn Heroes? Time to Bring in the Government 重生者太密集？我带国家队下场 Bian Lu边鹿Sci-Fi & Apocalypse758k WordsCompleted (A feel-good power fantasy, with a beautiful, badass heroine who confiscates golden fingers) “Sheng is the boss around here. She's ruthless and doesn't waste words. Cross her, and she'll take you down!” In the year 2323 of the Star Era, the apocalypse is about to begin. Some people awaken their powers early, while reborn people are already making their moves… As the head of a new department, Sheng An is responsible for recruiting and leading all the powered and reborn individuals, preparing for 123.7kReads9.7Score17.5kShelves
26. 226 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 995.7kReads9.9Score158.5kShelves
27. 227 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 87.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves
28. 228 顶 The Ultimate White Moonlight Goes All Out 顶级白月光她开大了 Xi Ju西桔Modern Romance587k WordsCompleted A short drama of the same name, Top-Tier White Moonlight Goes All Out, is available on Hongguo Short Drama. Watch Wang Yiyang. Meng Jie, a wealthy and powerful business magnate from Bingzhou, awakens in the body of a true heiress who has just been brought back by a rich family to take the place of their fake heiress in an arranged marriage. At home, everyone looks down on her and finds fault with everything she does. “She’s so tacky and provincial, with no sense of refinement. Taking her anywher 2kReads9.2Score252Shelves
29. 229 换 After the Marriage Swap, I Had Twins with My Playboy Brother-in-Law 换亲后，与纨绔小叔子一胎双宝 Le Zhizhi乐吱吱Ancient Romance441k WordsCompleted Unbelievably handsome + wicked to the core + the original playboy VS reborn + wickedly sharp-tongued + stunningly beautiful princess!! Sweet and steamy!! In the cold palace, Shen Shurong saw her husband’s younger brother, her brother-in-law Xie Yunzhao. He held no official position, so why had he come into the palace so late at night? Wait, why were his clothes and the sword in his hand stained with blood? “You… staged a rebellion?” “Sister-in-law, I… I’m taking you home!” Shen Shurong shook her 18.3kReads9.2Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Both of these books are quite intelligent, and the writing is excellent!

30. 230 大 The Ming Emperor's Beloved Consort, Wan Zhen'er 大明宠妃万贞儿 Mad Twenty-Four Snake疯廿四蛇Ancient Romance745k WordsCompleted 7.7kReads9.4Score700Shelves

    Reader note

    It's super good, the storyline is very engaging.

31. 231 女 The Villainess Refuses to Be a Doormat 女配才不做炮灰 San Jizi三吉仔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted This is a quick transmigration novel, and an utterly satisfying one at that. It's lighthearted and fun, not brainless, and full of humor and comedy. (Quick transmigration + historical romance + contemporary romance + apocalypse + cultivation + reborn + transmigrate + wife-chasing crematorium + farming + political intrigue + palace intrigue + fantasy + wild imagination + System...) The heroine isn't a scheming white lotus, a self-sacrificing saint, or a naive sweetheart. She's decisive, quick, an 1.6kReads7.5Score153Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is so good you won't be able to put it down.

32. 232 皇 Your Majesty, I Think Your Palace Maid Is Cursing You Again 皇上，你家宫女好像又在骂你 Six Yuan六元钱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The irresistible appeal of what you once rejected + powerful men bowing their heads + a double-standard male lead + raising her before a story of power and statecraft + romantic push and pull + he truly doesn’t love her at first, but gives his all once he does] Su Nanchu is unruly. Shen Jingzhi has always known that. But life in the palace is dull, and he doesn’t mind having a little plaything who can kick and scream. She becomes his daily amusement: reading memorials, practicing calligraphy, a 11.3kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The bag is so beautiful!!! It's my number one!

33. 233 王 A Concubine’s Daily Struggle to Stay Alive in the Prince’s Manor 王府侍妾的苟命日常 Panda Little Moneybags熊猫小财迷Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Intense Household Intrigue + A Touch of Ensemble Cast + Plot-Driven + Everyone Has Eight Hundred Schemes] After transmigrating into the body of a concubine in the Prince of Jing's residence, Xie Run only wants to live in peace and, ideally, reach a hundred years old. At first, everything in the prince's residence is orderly. The prince shares his favor equally, the princess consort's position is secure, and the secondary consorts and concubines know their place. Who could have guessed that ever 23kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves
34. 234 人 Life Is a Play, and the Empress Is All About Her Acting Skills 人生如戏，娘娘她纯拼演技 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + witty banter + sweet, delicate beauty + calculated mind games] The leads are not each other’s only partners. If that bothers you, don’t read. Be prepared for suspicion in the early chapters, followed by affection later. The pacing is slow, so proceed with caution if you prefer fast-paced wish-fulfillment stories. As a double award-winning actress and a seasoned star of palace intrigue dramas, how could Shi Yan possibly lose her nerve after transmigrating into the imperial hare 5kReads9.3Score532Shelves
35. 235 穿 After Transmigration, Her Whole Family Are Villains 穿越之我全家都是反派 Song Xiangbai宋象白Ancient Romance832k WordsCompleted Content warning: Lots of crude bathroom humor. Don't read while eating. Version One: Jiang Mianmian transmigrates. Her father is a scheming scholar with the face of a kindly man. Her mother has the face of a bodhisattva and the heart of a ruthless killer. Her eldest brother looks simple-minded but is cunning at heart. Her second sister is selfish and sharp-tongued. They were born destined to be villains. To highlight the protagonist's justice, kindness, and greatness, they work hard to do all so 137.8kReads9.6Score16.6kShelves
36. 236 掌 The Governess Raises the Children, So Your Majesty, Don't Panic 掌事姑姑养崽，皇上别慌 The Classic of Mountain Journeys山游经Ancient Romance402k WordsCompleted [Heartwarming Childrearing + No Romance] Li Zhuru stood by the once lonely and helpless Third Prince as he rose to become the supreme emperor. At five, Zhou Hong'an went hungry and was neglected. At fifteen, Li Zhuru fought the palace maids and eunuchs, losing again and again but always getting back up. Her determination and fearlessness earned her ten strokes of the cane, but at last she was moved to new lodgings. At fifteen, Zhou Hong'an was pushed onto the throne as an easy-to-control pawn. A 4.9kReads9.2Score466Shelves
37. 237 出 The Night I Left the Palace, the Mad Emperor Took Me by Force 出宫当晚，被疯批帝王强取豪夺 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, delicate palace maid vs. cold, ruthless, obsessive emperor] [Palace intrigue, neither lead is chaste + powerful male lead, weak female lead, and he’s completely unhinged + possessive love + a long road to winning her back] Yue Ling was a vain little palace maid. Hoping to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth, she seduced the emperor and worked tirelessly to win his favor, but still met a tragic end. After being reborn, Yue Ling saw things clearly. Rather than tread on thin ice in the de 25.8kReads9.2Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all palace intrigue novels.

38. 238 恶 The Wicked Supporting Actress Is Reborn and Wins at Life 恶毒女配重生后躺赢了 Bei Xin贝芯Ancient Romance622k WordsCompleted The emperor has never touched anyone but the heroine! One beloved consort in the harem + 1v1 romance + fictional setting. Meng Yan only learns on the brink of death that she's a supporting character in a sweet palace-intrigue novel. In the story, she loves the emperor, Lu Haozhi, devotedly until the very end. She diligently competes for his favor and tirelessly fights the innocent white-lotus heroine, only to land herself in the cold palace and die miserably in the snow. After being reborn, she 21kReads9.1Score2kShelves
39. 239 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 15.3kReads9.1Score1.9kShelves
40. 240 娇 The Pretty Palace Maid's Step-by-Step Rise to Empress 娇娇宫女，步步为后 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / not both partners’ first time / devoted love in the later story / not a strong heroine; the female lead cries easily and isn’t particularly clever, so don’t expect too much!] After three years in the palace, Yue Li has worked carefully and waited for a chance at promotion. Just before she is promoted, a palace maid sharing her room is sentenced to death for offending a consort. Thunder crashes and rain pours that night as blood spatters everywhere. Terrified, Yue Li cannot sle 24.5kReads9.3Score11.5kShelves
41. 241 娇 The Clever Palace Maid and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Who Can't Resist Her 娇娇宫女手段高，冷戾帝王不经撩 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Reborn / palace intrigue, not both virgins / delicate heroine / hero is a bit of a jerk early on, loses his mind midway, and dotes on her alone in the end] Yuan Qing was just a low-ranking palace maid. But she was born alluring and beautiful. In her previous life, the Empress Dowager gave her to Prince Jing as a concubine. Who could have guessed she would become the princess consort's thorn in the side, and that a bowl of poisoned soup would end her life? Reborn, Yuan Qing set her sights on the 5.8kReads9.2Score569Shelves
42. 242 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 14.1kReads9.0Score1.3kShelves
43. 243 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.5kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is incredibly reliable. In palace intrigue, a single, decisive blow is crucial for her to rise through the ranks and achieve her goals. The emperor, for the sake of his country and people, dies at the very moment he was willing to paint memories of her. A moment later, and they become bitter enemies. The seemingly heartless ultimately fall deeply in love. I started reading with skepticism, constantly worried about the female lead's safety, but now I can tell you, it's pure enjoyment; ignore some details, it's incredibly sweet.

44. 244 绝 Peerless Divine Doctor: The All-Round Princess Is a Force to Be Reckoned With 绝世神医：全能公主很嚣张 Peach Branch and Grain Leaf桃枝禾叶Ancient Romance366k WordsCompleted A pampered princess and the most beautiful woman in the land. A masterful ghost doctor afflicted with a fatal poison, she stands on the brink of death. Watch her heal and dazzle the world. She is Yun Qianluo, princess of Nanzhao. She sits upon the dragon throne, drafts imperial edicts, and wields the imperial seal, commanding immense power. He is Jun Heming, Prince of Jin of Beiming. Skilled in both letters and arms, he commands a vast army, wields great power, and holds life and death in his ha 16Reads6.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These three are very beautiful.

45. 245 素 A Graceful Beauty: The Cold King’s Darling 素手倾华：冷王怀中娇 Wei Cangzhu未苍竹Ancient Romance462k WordsCompleted [Strong heroine + strong hero] [Both devoted only to each other] [Sweet romance] [Flirting with each other] He is the Seventh Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty, cold by nature, cruel-tempered, and domineering. She is the disgraced legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family. Her mother died when she was young, her father is heartless, and her stepmother is cruel. She has spent her days surrounded by poison and her nights alongside slaughter. After a manhunt and an accident, he assumes she i 646Reads8.8Score101Shelves
46. 246 乖 The Rebellious Princess Returns to the Capital and Stirs Up the Court 乖戾郡主回京，搅弄朝堂风云 Fu Ruo Zhi Yu浮若知虞Ancient Romance365k WordsCompleted As a child, she was infamous in the capital as a hell-raiser. She slept on the imperial throne, beat up the crown prince, and did every outrageous thing imaginable. When she was ten, her parents sent her deep into the mountains, claiming it was to cultivate her character. Just as her return date drew near, word arrived that her entire family had been massacred. She returned to Yunjing. Her former glory was gone, and all sorts of unknown forces began targeting her, openly and in secret. Cou 623Reads5.9Score119Shelves
47. 247 谁 Who Says an Emperor and Empress Can’t Truly Love Each Other? 谁说帝后不能有真情 Jingzhou Chronicles景州记Ancient Romance749k WordsCompleted Pei Shu seems to have been born under a lucky star. Born into a prominent family, she grew up cherished by loving parents and surrounded by every luxury. Her only setback was when her fiancé fell for someone else and broke off their engagement. Before the people of the capital could even laugh at her, an imperial decree arrived at the Pei residence, and Pei Shu became the empress. From then on, everything went smoothly: her son was named crown prince, later became emperor, and Pei Shu naturally 11.9kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend! [Learned it!][Learned it!][Learned it!][Learned it!]

48. 248 绿 The Green Tea Legitimate Daughter Takes the Harem by Storm 绿茶嫡女卷翻后宫 A Speck of Dust某颗尘土Ancient Romance386k WordsCompleted Su Yunqing was once the neglected legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household. But she came out on top in the imperial selection and became the only woman bestowed with a title: Lady Rong. There is no true love in the imperial family. A woman is favored in the harem for profit or beauty, nothing more. Su Yunqing intends to use the emperor and become the most powerful woman in the Great Xi Dynasty. The harem has women who think they can share a hundred years of true love with th 74Reads8.8Score—Shelves
49. 249 高 Being a Stepmother in a Powerful Family Is No Easy Task, So She Seeks a Better Match Elsewhere 高门继母不好做，她转身另谋高嫁 Misty Clear Melody渺渺清音Ancient Romance531k WordsCompleted (Rebirth + bride swap + battling the System + defying fate) In her previous life, Qin Lingyi brought half the Qin family's fortune, amassed through their merchant business, when she married into the Earl of Zhongyong's household as his third wife. Although the earl had a perfect first love, a beautiful and talented second wife, a childhood sweetheart as a concubine, and a cousin he cherished deeply, Qin Lingyi still believed that sincerity would be met with sincerity. She treated her mother-in-l 3.4kReads8.7Score288Shelves
50. 250 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 453Reads9.0Score102Shelves

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