Palace Intrigue with Real Scheming and Cunning Moves at Every Turn 宫斗文，真宫斗，步步为营，勾心斗角

1. 201 重 Reborn: Our Paths Unite 重生之姝途同归矣 Chrysanthemum Wanderer of South Mountain南山菊客Ancient Romance141k WordsOngoing [Historical romance + reborn + household intrigue + sweet romance + devoted couple + war + childhood sweethearts] [Brave and steadfast daughter of a marquis's household VS warm, puppy-like young general] Yan Qingshu was born into the Marquis of Zhenyuan's household in Chang'an. For three generations, her family had served in the military, protecting their country. As the legitimate daughter of the marquis, she had been well protected for the first sixteen years of her life. Then, through one car 1Reads—Score—14d adds
2. 202 王 Sweet Everyday Life in the Prince’s Mansion 王府甜宠日常 Xu Lian序连Ancient Romance443k WordsCompleted [Past and Present Lives 1v1 + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] Wen Sisi was crown princess for five years. The crown prince appeared to be a loving husband, but in truth he loathed her. From their wedding night onward, he sought out his concubines, and in the end he personally caused her death before elevating the concubine he loved to the position of his principal wife. Reborn, Wen Sisi ignored the crown prince's flirtatious hints and chose to marry Liu Xuan, Prince of Jingjiang, a man o 12.1kReads9.1Score1.5k14d adds

   Reader note

   I love watching stories where a palace maid rises to power step by step.

3. 203 皇 Your Majesty, Who Is More Beautiful, My Wife or Your Empress? 皇上，臣妻与你的皇后谁美？ The Ink Cicada Falls Silent墨蝉不鸣Ancient Romance16k WordsCompleted Your Majesty, who's more beautiful, my wife or your empress? 6.5kReads—Score—14d adds
4. 204 通 After His Bedchamber Maid Faked Her Death, the Chaste Heir Searched for Her for Three Years 通房假死后，禁欲世子苦寻三年 Return Feast Wine归宴酒Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Powerful Man Bows His Head] [The Regret-and-Redemption Arc] [Both Leads Are Inexperienced] At first, in Zhao Xuanyou’s eyes, Yu Ying was nothing more than an ordinary bedchamber maid. She was pretty, she knew how to flatter him, and she was just a plaything. Watching Yu Ying scheme her way up the ranks and bask in her success, he treated it all as a diversion. It wasn’t until she faked her death and ran away that Zhao Xuanyou realized he didn’t just covet her charms. He wanted all of her, inclu 15.5kReads8.6Score2.2k14d adds
5. 205 谁 What Kind of Concubine Bears Four Sons and a Daughter, Then Becomes a Noble Consort? 谁家通房生四儿一女，还当贵妃啊 Autumn Is Long秋很长Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both leads are devoted only to each other + One-on-one romance + Many children + Sweet romance + Inner- and imperial-palace intrigue] In the fortieth year of the Xihe era, Lüqing became a concubine-in-waiting to Prince Jin. She knew full well that she had to earn Prince Jin's favor and give birth to a child as soon as possible if she wanted to secure her place in the prince's household. For eight years, she contended with the other women in the inner court, using every means at her disposal to 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5k14d adds
6. 206 太 The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife: The Empress's Daily Life After Bearing Twins 太子宠妾灭妻，娘娘双胎上位日常 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance554k WordsCompleted [There are a few typos, so please skip this if that bothers you.] A deranged, ruthless heroine and an obsessive Crown Prince, with exclusive devotion later on, clear-headed palace intrigue, and multiple births. Jiang Shiruo is stunningly beautiful, but only a concubine’s daughter. Still, even a concubine’s daughter deserves to live. Jiang Shiruo has no interest in the other princes. She only wants to enter the Eastern Palace, because that’s the only way she can reach the highest position. After 7.7kReads8.9Score66314d adds
7. 207 照 Dressed in Red: The Maid's Rise to Power 照红妆：通房丫鬟上位记 Sweet, Sweet Milk Candy奶糖甜甜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (New book updating) Haitang's rules for fighting in the inner household as a maidservant: First, be flexible. Second, don't let love cloud your judgment. Third, if a woman isn't ruthless, her position won't be secure. Haitang was breathtakingly beautiful but born into a lowly family. In her previous life, proud and unwilling to become a bedchamber maid, she was tortured to death by the principal wife. Reborn, she decided to live differently. Everyone thought she was reaching above her station ju 13.8kReads9.3Score1.9k14d adds
8. 208 婢 The Beautiful Maid 婢子绝色 Rain Tapping the Pipa雨打琵琶Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted “Come here and let me hold you.” Looking at Lin Shuang'er trembling before him, Ye Beicheng suppresses the madness in his eyes. Everyone knows the God of War Prince of Great Song is cold, restrained, and uninterested in women. Yet he takes a servant girl to his bed and cherishes her like a treasure. Lin Shuang'er was born poor, with a life worth less than dirt. She knows she shouldn't become so attached to her master's affection. But this master stands up for her, lowers himself for her, and giv 4.5kReads9.2Score1k14d adds
9. 209 将 Cast-Off Daughter of a Military Family? I'm the Moon in His Heart 将门弃妇？她是本王的心上月 Song Jiujiu宋玖玖Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Dual Rebirth] [The Ex-Wife Wants Him Back] The short drama adaptation is now online: The General’s Abandoned Consort Qu Jinshu married the great general He Xiujun at eighteen. To protect him, she became a prisoner of an enemy nation, her face disfigured and her martial arts skills destroyed. On the day the city fell, what awaited her was his arrow through her heart. He said “I married you only to take revenge.” “If you hadn’t refused to marry the foolish Prince Jing, your elder sister wouldn’t 11.6kReads9.1Score1.7k14d adds

   Reader note

   These books are super good, with a step-by-step plot and incredibly satisfying reads.

10. 210 权 The Powerful Prince’s Spoiled Princess: Proud, Wild, and Unruly 权王溺宠：狂傲王妃野又撩 Green Plums and Bamboo Wine青梅竹酒Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Court intrigue + feel-good power fantasy + ruthless decisiveness + an incredibly badass heroine + face-slapping + a heroine with her wits about her] Bai Xuan, commander-in-chief of the Huaxia Special Forces Training Camp, transmigrates to the Great Zhou. She is a peerless beauty with exceptional martial skills. As a woman, she carves her own path through force of arms, establishes herself at court, and wields enormous influence. With a deft hand, she turns the tide of both schemes and open stra 16.5kReads9.4Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    The writing is brisk and engaging, the plot is exciting, the characters are well-developed, and the book has both laughter and tears—it's a pretty good book.

11. 211 错 After a Mistaken Marriage to the Heir, She Spends Every Day Showering Him with Sweets 错嫁世子后，她每天都在撒糖 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance370k WordsCompleted [Reborn + mutually devoted sweet romance + revenge and household intrigue] Jiang Rong was deceived her entire life, and only learned the truth when she was on the verge of death. Returned to ten years earlier, she found herself fleeing an arranged marriage to elope. Jiang Rong gave the scoundrel a thorough beating, then turned around and went back to the prince’s manor to marry. The husband she had run from was Xie Lingxi, heir to the Northern Prince. In her previous life, he had protected he 34.7kReads9.5Score4.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    These are all completed books, and once you start reading, you can't stop.

12. 212 重 Reborn as the Villainess to Protect My Family: I’ll Save Grandma and My Sister 重生恶女守家：祖母阿姐我都要 Qu Wei去微Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiang Zhiyue was deceived by her stepmother into doing many terrible things, earning her a notorious reputation. Her elder siblings died because of her, and she was accused of plotting to kill her grandmother. Her eyes were blinded, her voice stolen, and the tendons in all four limbs severed. In the end, she was thrown into a river, still full of resentment. Her stepmother then used the corpses of her blood relatives to claim her mother's title as Duchess of the State. When 13.5kReads9.1Score2.1k14d adds
13. 213 娇 The Reborn Beloved Consort and the Cold Crown Prince Who’s Impossible to Coax 娇妃重生，清冷太子超难哄 Black Crow Jili黑鸦几里Ancient Romance378k WordsCompleted [The main story is complete] [Reborn + sweet romance + winning back her husband + childbirth] [Versatile and sweet Crown Princess vs. aloof, hard-to-please Crown Prince] A little angst adds spice, but this is an irresistibly sweet story full of affection. No heavy angst, one-on-one romance, both leads have eyes only for each other! P.S. Next stop: all sorts of sweet bonus stories are on the way~ In her previous life, Wen Wuyue was a complete joke, blinded by love and too foolish to see the truth 7.1kReads9.1Score55114d adds
14. 214 帐 Beauty in the Bedchamber: The Tyrannical Eunuch Is Crazed and Dotes on Me 帐中娇：暴戾九千岁又疯又宠 Grilled Fish Tonight今晚吃烤鱼Ancient Romance531k WordsCompleted The comic adaptation is now available! (Also known as The Mad, Brutal Eunuch Turned Around and Gently Coaxed Me) [Abusing scumbags + reborn + happy ending + both leads untouched + a vicious, cold-blooded Chief Eunuch who is ruthless to everyone else but a broken, devoted puppy to her vs. a clear-eyed heroine who has been reborn and learned from her mistakes. This novel is entirely fictional.] Pei Min, Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, wielded absolute power and was bloodthirsty and brutal. The 87.4kReads9.3Score6.7k14d adds
15. 215 养 The Adopted Daughter's Scheme 养女谋 Li Zhili李之鲤Ancient Romance10k WordsCompleted The Adopted Daughter’s Scheme 3Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Come and read this collection of short stories!

16. 216 献 Offering to the Abyss 献京渊 Qi Yi Zi七一子Ancient Romance528k WordsCompleted [Print edition releasing October 25] “He taught me to kill, seize power, and look after myself. I taught him what it means to have a weakness.” [Serious drama + political intrigue + the fate of the nation and its people + I’m terrible at writing blurbs] Jiang Qingyu was born into wealth, and her family’s love had made her naive and pampered. It wasn’t until the day the entire Jiang family was executed that she realized how foolish she had been! When she opened her eyes again, she was determined 24.3kReads9.5Score3.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is really good; I followed it from the beginning to the end.

17. 217 叶 Ye Qifeng 叶栖风 Riding a Horse to See Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Flowers骑马看红橙黄绿青蓝花Ancient Romance158k WordsOngoing Clouds call out, urging fate onward; phoenix feathers stir, and beauty furrows her brow. Where dust settles on the Jade Terrace and dreams crumble, none would envy the bright moonlight over Penglai. At the start of the Tianxing era, the Great Yu realm was in turmoil. The old emperor died overnight, and the five-year-old crown prince was rushed to the throne with the Grand Tutor’s support. The Grand Tutor harbored sinister ambitions, the four northern kingdoms watched hungrily, and harsh laws and 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A pretty good novel, worth recommending.

18. 218 贵 The Imperial Consort Trades on the Emperor’s Favor, Seeking Revenge and Rising to Power 贵妃恃宠而骄，一路复仇上位 Bell Meow铃铛喵Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted (A pure palace-intrigue revenge power fantasy, with sweet romance, scumbags getting what they deserve, and an adorable child later on. The leads are not each other's firsts, so read with caution if that bothers you!!! Not fantasy!!!) She is Yu Zhiyi, daughter of Jiangnan's richest man, and Yu Zhiyan, daughter of the Minister of Rites. On her fifth birthday, because of a Frost Soul Pearl, all 100-odd members of Yu Zhiyi's family were slaughtered. The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley had once 2.6kReads9.1Score27514d adds

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue novel, with a captivating and slowly unfolding plot. Highly recommended.

19. 219 入 A Palace Maid: The Noble Consort and Empress's Entire Families Are Executed 入宫为婢：贵妃皇后满门抄斩 Lu Ganren路赶人Ancient Romance73k WordsCompleted A Palace Maid: The Noble Consort and Empress's Entire Families Are Executed 3Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    After reading this book, my depression was cured.

20. 220 乱 Butterflies Flutter Through the Dust 乱尘蝶飞 Let Me Adorn Myself with Flowers且自簪花Ancient Romance181k WordsCompleted [Main story complete] [Fast-paced plot] [Not a wish-fulfillment novel] Written in the style of classical Chinese chaptered fiction, with a realistic bent. The female lead is disciplined by nature. There is no transmigration or rebirth. This is a traditional, fate-driven novel about society and human nature, rooted in traditional values. If you prefer wish fulfillment or a radically rebellious female lead, this book may not be for you. Female lead Lu Dieyan: She rides out in men's clothes, both c 29Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The cure for your reading slump has arrived! A high-IQ political intrigue and palace drama, highly recommended.

21. 221 锦 The Zither's Unending Mystery 锦瑟无端 Cha Xiao Qi茶小七Ancient Romance150k WordsCompleted [Clear-headed, rational heroine × Devoted, possessive second male lead; SC; HE] [Power couple | Play the pig to eat the tiger | Marriage first, love later | Everyone gets their comeuppance] [The heroine is no angel, and she's good at striking back and stirring up trouble] [He enjoys mistreating his wife at first, then runs himself ragged chasing her later] My name is Jin Se. By imperial decree, I married the capital's most famous lovesick second male lead. He was devastatingly handsome and brill 1.6kReads9.0Score16814d adds

    Reader note

    The intelligent female protagonist and the obsessive young master have a hidden affection, but their love is reserved only for the person in front of them.

22. 222 奸 The Treacherous Minister Can't Resist Her Allure 奸臣不经撩 Fruit Jelly水果冻冻Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Later, when Shen Gongchen pressed her too hard, Liu Suisui covered her face and wept. She was terribly aggrieved. “My father died, my mother remarried, and I have no one to rely on. I came all the way to the capital just to marry a rich husband. What’s wrong with that?” Shen Gongchen pressed her at every turn. “He has to be rich? Why not rich and powerful?” Liu Suisui raised her eyes ever so slightly and gave him a shy, coquettish glance. After a long pause, she asked softly, “Uncle… do you like 10.9kReads8.8Score1.3k14d adds
23. 223 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—14d adds
24. 224 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 90.9kReads9.6Score12.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    Seriously, seriously, they're all incredibly good! The first one on my bookshelf is about a character rising to power step by step; the strategies are truly brilliant. The seventh one is about an empress starting out, and it also has strategy and love; the protagonist is remarkably clear-headed.

25. 225 上 Spring Poems from the Capital 上京春赋 Shi Munan十木南Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [Signed for print publication under the title Spring Rhapsody in the Capital] [Pure historical romance, not reborn + a long-planned scheme + a touch of coercive seduction + devoted pampering and flirting + emotional push and pull] [Completed; the original title was Spring Rhapsody in the Capital] [Sweet romance, both mutually inexperienced: brave and gentle young princess x sinister, fanatical powerful minister] A conspiracy landed Mo Yuan’s father and brother in prison, their lives at the mercy 71.6kReads9.3Score5.7k14d adds
26. 226 娇 After Her Beloved Becomes a Widow, the Chaste Governor Imprisons Her and Becomes Obsessed 娇娇守寡后，禁欲督主囚她上瘾 Xiao Yimian小亦绵Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted 5.3kReads9.0Score66814d adds
27. 227 清 Qing Transmigration: The Noble Consort Takes Down Consort De and Becomes Empress Dowager 清穿：贵妃娘娘她灭了德妃成太后 My Feelings for You卿我意Ancient Romance873k WordsCompleted [Child-rearing (not self-sacrificing; willing to go after her mother, but never schemes against children) + Harem intrigue] After transmigrating into the Qing Dynasty as Noble Consort Tongjia during the reign of Kangxi, Ruirui's first thought was to go find that poor child... Ruirui didn't like the Qing Dynasty. But if she had to choose one person in all of Great Qing, it would be the Fourth Prince, later the Yongzheng Emperor. Not because she liked him, but because she felt for him. She felt fo 14.6kReads9.4Score1.2k14d adds
28. 228 穿 Transmigrate to the Tang Dynasty: The Beloved Consort Goes to War 穿越大唐之宠妃出征 Shanshan's Peach Blossom Spring姗姗桃花源Ancient Romance590k WordsCompleted Beloved concubine + demoted to commoner + general's wife + envoy + titled lady + Crown Prince's tutor + brilliant woman general + Consort Xi. The protagonist, Yang Yunxi, transmigrates into the Tang dynasty and becomes the emperor's beloved concubine, favored above all others in the harem. She gives birth to the crown prince, but her heart dies toward the emperor, and she asks to leave the palace and marry the guard she adores. The guard has rendered great service defending the frontier, and the 12Reads7.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    These are all exceptional palace intrigue novels. The plots are captivating, and the intrigue is meticulously crafted. 👍👍👍

29. 229 大 Great Tang: Two Li Chengqians After a Soul Swap 大唐：灵魂互换，两个李承乾 Dark Night Ranger暗夜游侠Historical460k WordsOngoing Transmigration + ancient and modern souls switch bodies + two Li Chengqians exist in the Tang Dynasty By a twist of fate, the soul of Li Chengqian, crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, switches places with that of a modern-day Li Chengqian. The modern Li Chengqian gets a golden finger: when he closes his eyes, there’s a phone in his mind that can connect to the internet and be controlled by thought, along with a phone assistant named Xiao Ai whose voice only he can hear. The two share a portable sp 55Reads—Score—14d adds
30. 230 天 A Cursed Lone Star? The Chaste Prince Dotes on Her to the Bone 天煞孤星？禁欲王爷却宠她入骨 Gu Baobao顾宝宝Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Marriage before love + divine physician + one-on-one romance + pocket dimension + satisfying wish fulfillment] Because Shen Yindi was said to have the fate of a jinx, her birth family despised her and bullied her until she became mentally disabled. Her own sister even disfigured her, making her the ugliest woman in the world. On the night she was married off to the ugliest prince in Great Chu, she died an untimely death. A top physician from the twenty-second century transmigrated into Shen Yin 2.5kReads9.2Score48914d adds
31. 231 穿 Transmigrating as Yixiu: The Day Before Giving Zhen Huan a Lucky Pouch 穿越宜修之给甄嬛系福袋前一天 Canghai Nanshan沧海楠杉Female-Channel Fanfiction364k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + no System + putting Zhen Huan through the wringer + the empress unleashes her full force + Zhen Huan fans, stay away + the empress gets a makeover every day] On her way home from work, a young woman spots a strange bracelet by the roadside. Curious about what it is, she bends down to pick it up, only to be sent flying by a passing car! For no apparent reason, the girl transmigrates into Empresses in the Palace and becomes the unfortunate empress, Ulanara Yixiu. The bracelet she 724Reads8.6Score10214d adds
32. 232 权 The Power of the Imperial Favorite 权宠天下 June六月Ancient Romance4.1M WordsCompleted Live-action short-form drama: The Power and Privilege 4: Ruling the World is now streaming on Hongguo. A brilliant medical PhD transmigrates into the body of the Chu Prince’s discarded consort. As soon as she arrives, she encounters a critically injured patient. Guided by her medical ethics, she treats him, only to nearly be thrown into prison on false charges. When the Retired Emperor falls gravely ill, she finds a way to treat him, but that hateful Poison King misunderstands and berates her. I 10.3kReads9.4Score3.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's agonizing at first, then sweet.

33. 233 疯 Mad Empress: I’ll Be the Harem’s Number One White Lotus 疯批皇后，争做后宫第一白莲花 Luo Zhi洛枝Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Transmigration into a fictional setting + highly intelligent heroine in palace intrigue + face-slapping + a volatile, multifaceted personality + not a clean romance] Lin Junxue transmigrated to the Xie Dynasty, an era that had never existed in history, and ended up as an unloved empress who had no idea how she died. She’d thought she was a powerless, unloved empress, but it turned out the original owner’s father was a first-rank military marquis, a loyal servant of the court for three generatio 24.4kReads9.1Score2.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    The story opens with high-energy moments: the protagonist transmigrates and encounters a ghost. The original owner's spirit requests an investigation into the cause of death, and the female protagonist starts from the cold palace, gradually uncovering the intrigues of the harem. Power struggles and romance intertwine: the female protagonist engages in a psychological battle with Emperor Xie Yu during her revenge, involving both calculated interests and subtle, underlying feelings. The ensemble cast is meticulously portrayed: the reborn woman, the system-wielding woman, and the imperial concubine, among other villains, each possess distinct characteristics, making the harem intrigues incredibly complex and unpredictable.

34. 234 绝 A Ravishing Beauty Makes the Broken Male Lead Happy Again 绝色尤物，崩坏男主又幸福了 The Koi Is So Done锦鲤麻了Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Quick transmigration + devoted romance + stunning heroine + love at first sight + a touch of universal admiration + no fixed pairing] There are many ways to die: a car accident, a serious illness, or getting hit by a flowerpot. But you absolutely must not come close to losing your virtue right before you die! Just because you’re beautiful, does that mean a toad can lick your feet??? No! Ruan Guannan, preserve your virtue for the world! And then she died... and got bound to a rookie System, 9 33.8kReads9.0Score2.9k14d adds
35. 235 沦 After Becoming a Concubine, I Was Lavishly Doted on by a Chaste, Powerful Minister 沦落外室后，被禁欲权臣放肆疯宠 Startled by Snow on the Mountain下山惊雪Ancient Romance444k WordsCompleted (Traditional historical romance + master of deception + brothers vying for the same woman + children later on + sweet romance and melodrama) Li Ruofu was the neglected legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue. One day, she was framed, fell off a cliff, and was taken captive. She did everything she could to return to Shengjing, but her stepmother announced her death. Afterward, her coffin was not allowed into the ancestral graveyard, her fiance became her brother-in-law, and the Minister's 1kReads8.8Score20114d adds

    Reader note

    I don't read many books like this, and I don't have many on my bookshelf to recommend 😳

36. 236 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Delicate, and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Falls for Her at First Sight 娘娘娇娇媚，冷戾帝王一见倾心 The Star Among the Stars in the Sky天上星星的星星Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and revenge, a slow-burn, slow-payoff story + stunning heroine + exceptionally clearheaded heroine with an unwavering goal] [The hero always favors the heroine + dotes on her exclusively in the middle + disbands his harem later] After Shen Qingtang’s aunt is schemed against and killed by Madam Shen, her goal becomes perfectly clear: she will enter the palace, become the most honored woman in the land, and make everyone who plotted against her aunt pay. She is also perfectly clea 5kReads9.1Score56414d adds

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue and power struggles #A satisfying read where you don't get bullied

37. 237 皇 The Empress Is a Max-Level Palace Intriguer, Crushing Everyone 皇后满级宫斗，嘎嘎乱杀 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + infidelity + fictional setting + a resourceful, money-loving, beauty-loving, life-loving empress ✖️ emperor] In her previous life, Hua Shu was a lowly palace maid. She schemed her way to the top of the political ladder, only to be condemned by everyone and branded a wicked woman who brought ruin to the nation. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the unfamiliar state of Chu, as an unloved empress who’s also being made a scapegoat. As if she’d put up with that! S 13.8kReads9.4Score1.8k14d adds
38. 238 刘 The Biography of Liu E 刘娥传 The Moon Sleeps in the Starry River月眠星河Historical247k WordsCompleted The Story of Liu E, Part One: Springtime in Bianjing A creative take on history + the growth of an ordinary person. ☆Not a wish-fulfillment story☆Slow burn☆A rewarding read☆Humorous prose☆Remember! The politics of this dog-eat-dog dynasty have nothing to do with women, so the heroine often disappears from the story in the early chapters! Emperor Taizong of Song really couldn't appoint a crown prince. His eldest son, Zhao Yuanzuo, was made crown prince: he went mad. His second son, Zhao Yuanyou, 107Reads6.9Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    After the palace intrigue and the court struggle, Empress Liu was in a truly difficult situation...

39. 239 宫 Spring in the Imperial Palace 宫闱春 Dare to Draw a Mulberry Bow敢挽桑弓Ancient Romance246k WordsCompleted [Female Lead in Palace Intrigue + Male Lead in Political Schemes + High-IQ Cast + Beautiful, Unhinged Characters + Ensemble Cast] An alternate-world story. The female lead is highly intelligent, clear-headed, and no lovesick fool. From the moment she enters the palace, Jiang Wanqing knows she will spend her whole life within these walls. She never forgets one thing: she wants to become empress. She also knows that the current emperor, Zhou Qijing, cares only about royal power and dominion. So sh 636Reads8.7Score11214d adds

    Reader note

    Strong female lead, satisfying read, palace intrigue novel

40. 240 后 The Harem: Empresses in the Palace 后宫·甄嬛传 Liu Lianzi流潋紫Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Exclusive Consort Hua bonus chapter now available!] The original novel of the TV series Empresses in the Palace She enters the palace and wins the emperor’s favor, but every step is fraught with danger. The palace is deep as an ocean, and though Zhen Huan has no wish to enter and become the emperor’s consort, fate pushes her into the cruelest of harems. The women in the palace are as radiant as flowers, with lovely brows and eyes, yet every one of them conceals her own schemes and plots agains 12kReads8.9Score1.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    You've probably all seen "Empresses in the Palace," right? I recommend reading the original novel; it makes up for the need to adjust the pacing of the TV series.

41. 241 恶 Reborn After My Own Son, the Cruel Empress Dowager, Stabbed Me to Death 恶毒太后被亲儿子捅死之后重生了 Ink墨色Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted The vicious Empress Dowager Jiang Mingzhu was reborn. In her previous life, to put her son on the throne, she poisoned and tried to assassinate the emperor, colluded with court officials, drugged a pregnant consort to make her miscarry, and plotted against the young crown prince. Every time she schemed, she put her own life on the line to grind her stepson's face into the dirt. But when the plot to put the son she'd worked so hard to support on the throne was exposed, he stabbed her in the back 19.6kReads8.9Score2.1k14d adds
42. 242 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 22.7kReads9.1Score2.2k14d adds
43. 243 烬 Ashes and Frost: A World Laid at Her Feet 烬霜华之倾尽天下 Ren Meili任美丽Ancient Romance200k WordsCompleted [Ruthless Emperor × Daughter of a Condemned Official | Mutual Torment | A Love Rekindled | The Pursuit of His Wife’s Funeral] The day my entire clan was slaughtered, Xiao Jin made me choose how I would die. I tore our token of love to shreds before everyone, letting the scraps flutter like snow. “This guilty woman thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness.” Later, he demoted me to a slave in the Yongxiang Palace, watching as my fingers rotted and I endured every humiliation. Yet when I lay d 88Reads6.9Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A newly created work, with meticulous descriptions, a fantasy romance, and a story of reconciliation after a broken relationship.

44. 244 我 Ten Lifetimes, Ten Reincarnations with You 我与卿的十生十世 Ren Meili任美丽Ancient Romance190k WordsCompleted [When Even Ancient Gods Face a Cooling-Off Period Before Divorce] Ten lifetimes of reincarnation, and a tragic death in every one! I don't want this divine marriage contract anymore! Xiwu and Yeh Huang are the officially sanctioned couple blessed by the Heavenly Dao, yet somehow they've turned married life into life as roommates. At last, they join forces to tear up their marriage contract. “We want a divorce!” The Heavenly Dao sneers. “Want to call it quits? First, descend to the mortal realm —Reads—Score—14d adds
45. 245 云 The Fate of Yun Mo 云墨缘 Ren Meili任美丽Ancient Romance230k WordsCompleted [A broken god of war vs. a mortal girl] This is a love story about a fated bond of protection, and the journey of two extraordinary yet ill-fated protagonists as they save each other through boundless suffering and stand side by side to slay the gods. When she found him in the dust, she had no idea that he was the god of war once revered by the Three Realms. Mo Yuan was once the mightiest god of war in the Three Realms. Now, with his immortal bones stripped away, he was nothing but a discarded 1Reads7.1Score—14d adds
46. 246 安 An Lingrong Reborn: The Supporting Actress Changes Her Fate 安陵容重生之女配改命记 Lay Buddhist of the Lychee荔枝居士Female-Channel Fanfiction454k WordsCompleted An Ling Rong’s confession: In my previous life, I was always cautious in the palace, yet I still did plenty of evil. Zhen Huan, Shen Mei Zhuang, Noble Lady Fu Cha, Li Pin, Hua Fei... Which one of them did I not meddle with? But I had no choice. I came from a lowly family. My father favored his concubines and neglected my mother, who suffered terribly. I grew up with an inferiority complex, but I was no coward. Beneath my delicate heart lurked boundless madness. I stood in the darkness, longing f 2.5kReads8.4Score24714d adds

    Reader note

    Highly recommended, a thrilling palace intrigue novel.

47. 247 太 The Crown Prince Says I Can Only Have His Children, and the Pressure Is Getting to Me! 太子只准我生娃，压力有些大！ Mu Yuqing, Who Likes Camellia Seeds喜欢山茶籽的慕雨青Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted In a parallel world, the former Fourth Consort Ulanara Buerhe became the principal consort of the deposed Crown Prince Yinsi, the first Crown Princess of the Qing Dynasty. After the Crown Prince doted on her exclusively for over a decade, Buerhe gave birth to five sons and a daughter. In the end, Kangxi actually abdicated in favor of the Crown Prince, and Buerhe became the Qing Dynasty’s first empress to enjoy her husband’s undivided favor. The reborn women and transmigrated women were all dumbf 5.8kReads7.6Score39614d adds
48. 248 太 The Daily Life of a Concubine in the Crown Prince's Manor 太子府的侍妾日常 Zhu Chidan朱赤丹Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Reborn and switching betrothals + household battles + raising children + adorable babies + doted on exclusively later] Chu Mingyun and her legitimate elder sister, Chu Mingxi, were both reborn. In their previous lives, Chu Mingxi became the Crown Prince’s secondary consort and lived in splendor. She married an old man from the marquis’s household as his second wife and had to raise someone else’s children. The whole family’s hopes rested on her elder sister, but who could have expected this? Th 4.4kReads8.0Score49614d adds
49. 249 独 Reigning Supreme in Kangxi's Harem, the Consort Is Clever, Charming, and Fertile 独霸康熙后宫，娘娘娇慧又好孕 Sunlight on a Sunflower向日葵印着阳光Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted A growth story + a growth story + a growth story Let me say it again: this is a growth story!! Love at first sight + breathtaking beauty + sweet romance + doting husband + clear-eyed heroine Important things must be said three times: fictional setting! Fictional setting! Fictional setting! Reader beware: This novel is entirely fictional, and please note that it is a growth story. If you want to read about historical figures, please look elsewhere. There is no golden finger! Jiaojiao transmigrate 5.9kReads8.8Score49314d adds
50. 250 甄 Empresses in the Palace: A Virtuous Empress Slaughters Her Way Through the Court and Harem! 甄嬛传：一代贤后杀穿前朝后宫！ Lamenting the Gentle Rain惜萧萧素雨Female-Channel Fanfiction381k WordsCompleted Ulanara Yixiu, who has endured a lifetime of humiliation, is reborn before Rouze enters the household. This time, she loves no one. She will focus only on her children and her power, and watch as Chun Yuan loses her beauty and the emperor’s affection. But she never expected that once she stopped loving him, that scumbag would start coming after her instead. This is not a wish-fulfillment story! This is not a wish-fulfillment story! This is absolutely not a wish-fulfillment story!!! 2.9kReads8.1Score26814d adds

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