Looking for Intricate, Mind-Bending Palace Intrigue 求高级烧脑的宫斗文

1. 51 陛 After the Emperor Is Reborn, the Empress Becomes the Apple of His Eye 陛下重生后，娘娘成了掌中娇 Muzi Yingbao木子颖宝Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted “Your Majesty, if there is another life, I hope never to have known you, and never to meet you again in any lifetime.” Yujing Chen detested her. Yet the last thing she did before dying was take the fatal sword strike for him. She said, “Your Majesty, could my life leave a vivid mark in your heart?” Perhaps Heaven believed his task was unfinished and granted him a new life. After being reborn... he discovered that she had once been bright and beautiful, too... [No System + No transmigration + Mal 6.3kReads8.4Score398Shelves
2. 52 太 The Empress Dowager's Retirement Life 太后的退休生活 Zhou Xinhan周信含Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + female lead is the mastermind behind the scenes + no romance + plot-driven + ensemble cast] After transmigrating to the Great Jing dynasty, Su Minqing entered the palace as the empress. She worked tirelessly at palace intrigue for over a decade and finally fought her way to becoming the Empress Dowager. The only catch was that there was another Empress Dowager in the palace besides her. As the emperor’s adoptive mother, she was named the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces. The 6.1kReads8.4Score350Shelves
3. 53 宫 A Palace Intrigue? Leave It to Me 宫斗？让朕来 Ferry Wanderer野渡人Female-Channel Fanfiction478k WordsCompleted In the official histories, Yongzheng slept later than a dog and rose earlier than a chicken. He worked tirelessly and governed diligently, eventually emerging victorious in the struggle among the nine princes. Who could have guessed that his final years would take such a turn? Bound to a System, he is forced to save the twelve consorts in Empresses in the Palace. [Save the following palace consorts to earn rewards!] Including, but not limited to, the Empress, Consort Qi, Consort Hua, Shen Meizhu 429Reads6.0Score—Shelves
4. 54 不 Oh No, Fourth Master from Empresses in the Palace Has Transmigrated 不得了，甄嬛传四大爷穿越了 The Master and the Master's Husband夫子和夫子夫Female-Channel Fanfiction1.1M WordsCompleted [System] [Transmigration] [Empresses in the Palace] [True Harem] Ye Shu has watched Empresses in the Palace countless times, and her greatest pleasure is reading the live comments. Without them, the show just isn't as fun. As usual, Ye Shu turned on the live comments, only to spot an amusing one: “If the emperor could be reborn, what would he do?” Ye Shu chimed in, “Guard against fire, thieves, and getting cheated on. Hahaha.” Ding! Congratulations, you've been granted the chance to transmigrate 570Reads5.5Score—Shelves
5. 55 九 I Gave Birth to All Nine Princes, So Why Fight for the Throne? 九龙都是我生的，还夺什么嫡？ Shushu der舒舒derAncient Romance572k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue, promotion through the ranks, and having children, plus a useless System] Lin Wan is a well-known tasker from the Sea Star Planet. Eager to earn more points and take a vacation, Lin Wan throws herself into her work. When she opens her eyes again, she has transmigrated into the body of Ye Gulu Te Yuwan, a low-ranking concubine in Emperor Kangxi’s harem. Good news: each child earns five thousand points! Even better news: she has pills to help her conceive a son, a daughter, and ev 1kReads7.2Score119Shelves
6. 56 作 The Suicidal Noble Consort's Inner Thoughts Are Exposed, and the Whole Palace Spoils Her! 作死贵妃心声暴露，全宫卖力宠！ Green on the Lotus荷上翠Ancient Romance245k WordsCompleted [Everyone can hear her thoughts + palace gossip + beloved by all + goofy comedy + forced to court disaster] Jiang Lanyue transmigrates into a palace-intrigue novel as the vicious imperial consort. Out of jealousy, she frames the heroine and gets killed by one of the heroine’s admirers. She originally plans to be a good person and scrape by until the end, but the System warns her: She must maintain her original character and follow the script to return to her own world and claim a billion-yuan 815Reads8.8Score104Shelves
7. 57 清 Changing Fate in the Qing Dynasty: The Empress Raises a Reborn Child 清穿改命：娘娘养了个重生崽 Heng Chen姮宸Ancient Romance695k WordsCompleted [Qing Dynasty transmigration + raising a child + System + harem power struggles] Tong Suwan transmigrates into the past and becomes Empress Xiaoyiren, the adoptive mother of Emperor Yongzheng. For the first ten years, she has no memories of modern life. But thanks to her intelligence, she succeeds in building a deep bond with Emperor Kangxi. At the age of ten, her memories return. With nothing to tie her to her modern life, she readily accepts her situation, then receives the essential transmigr 1.8kReads8.8Score141Shelves
8. 58 惨 Reborn After a Horrific Death, I Drove Every Villain Crazy 惨死重生后，我把反派都逼疯啦 Yan Fei颜翡Ancient Romance1.9M WordsCompleted Reborn + household and palace intrigue + strong heroine and hero + revenge and taking down scumbags + satisfying read In her previous life, Shen Shuyi schemed and plotted at every turn to secure the crown prince's position for Xiao Tingshan. But he repaid her by turning his back on her, despising her for being calculating and deep-minded, and not gentle and demure enough. He not only took her life, but also caused countless friends and family members to die unjustly. Fine. Given another life, 15kReads8.9Score1.9kShelves
9. 59 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

   I remember being really into it when I was watching it, but after a while, I've forgotten a little bit of the plot. However, there were twists and turns, and it got quite sweet at the end.

10. 60 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 82.6kReads9.3Score10.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Fighting the emperor, fighting the princes, fighting the empress dowager, and finally rising to the throne—does that fit the theme? I absolutely love this book! It has absolutely nothing to do with my ex-husband. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes ancient palace intrigue and domestic drama. I love all the side couples.

11. 61 一 A Lifetime of Rong An 一世容安 Qing Xueyao卿雪瑶Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Li Rongan’s husbands, both in this life and her previous one, were peerless warlords. At first, they all loathed her, despised her, and wanted nothing more than to kill her. Later, they all fell for her... * After being reborn, Rongan fled her former husband’s clutches by marrying far away to Yanbei, where she became the wife of a prince. She knew the Prince of Yan would rebel in two years. When he did, he would divorce the princess consort appointed to him and marry his childhood sweetheart, hi 10.5kReads9.1Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all palace intrigue dramas, they're super good!

12. 62 两 Two Lives of Joy: The Duke's Legitimate Daughter Is Truly Unrestrained 两世欢：公府嫡女她是真的狂 Dancing Sunflower跳舞的向日葵Ancient Romance667k WordsCompleted (Rebirth power fantasy + married across two lifetimes + palace and household intrigue + political machinations) Ye Liujin once thought she was the happiest young lady in Shengjing. Her aunt was just one step away from becoming empress. Her elder brother was the illustrious Duke of Shanguo, commanding an army of two hundred thousand, while her elder sister was a brave and battle-hardened warrior admired by all, both in court and beyond. She herself had been betrothed in infancy to the Third Princ 17.7kReads9.0Score4.6kShelves
13. 63 锦 Prince Jin Has Trouble Fathering Heirs? His Delicate Beauty Bears Two Babies in One Night 锦王子嗣艰难？娇柔美人一夜两崽 Today Is Another Day I Want to Get Rich今天也是想发财的一天Ancient Romance772k WordsCompleted [Household and palace intrigue + devoted love later on + the most beautiful heroine + a scheming flirt] Sheng Wendi is a delicate beauty with a face like a celestial maiden. Though she has transmigrated, she can’t remember a single poem or song. Her legitimate elder sister, who transmigrated into a book and knows the plot inside out, steals everything from her. The sister marries the son of a civil official, while Sheng Wendi is sent to marry Prince Jin as a concubine. The prince’s manor is full 6.2kReads8.5Score542Shelves
14. 64 宠 The Beloved Consort Is Hard to Handle: Why Is the Villainess So Charming? 宠妃难为，恶女如此多娇 Ode to Spring Snow颂春雪Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue escalates + rivalry between women + villainess + heroine who refuses to fall in love] Su Yao was a concubine-born daughter, and her birth mother was an unfavored concubine. Everyone told her to be cautious and yield to her legitimate elder sister in everything. She suffered from cold and hunger, and her birth mother fell gravely ill. Growing up in such circumstances, Su Yao knew that only by gaining power could she avoid being bullied and ignored. She climbed upward step by step 62Reads—Score—Shelves
15. 65 清 A Brilliant Scheme for the Noble Daughter of Qingchen 清辰似锦嫡女谋 July Light L七月光LAncient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted As the youngest legitimate daughter of a duke's household, she should have had a peaceful, uneventful life. But after entering the palace one day, she found herself caught in its treacherous intrigues… 8.4kReads8.2Score690Shelves
16. 66 替 After Taking Her Sister's Place in the Palace to Win Favor, She Turns Out to Be the Emperor's Beloved 替姐入宫争宠后，竟是帝王白月光 Jie Chong解虫Ancient Romance694k WordsCompleted (A short drama adaptation with the same title is now available) [A timid, cowardly little beauty who only wants to keep her head down VS a ruthless, solitary emperor who indulges the heroine without limit] [Palace intrigue, love at first sight, a gradual romance, doted on from the start, the hero is completely devoted to her] Song Wu was the illegitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue in the Great Yan Dynasty. From birth, she was branded as an ill omen and sent away from the capital. When s 21.5kReads8.5Score2.5kShelves
17. 67 宫 Beneath the Palace Walls, I Seduce Him to Steal Her Favor 宫墙之下，勾他夺宠 Strawberry Fondant草莓糖心Ancient Romance462k WordsCompleted Original Title: The Princess Becomes a Favored Consort, Bears a Little Crown Prince, and Seizes Her Sister’s Throne. [Reborn + System + palace intrigue + aloof beauty + stunning beauty + sweet romance] An aloof, noble, one-of-a-kind ruler x a delicate, alluring beauty with an innocent sensuality … Once, she was his nominally illegitimate princess (a lie), and the only stain on his life. He sent her to a foreign land to marry for peace. From atop the palace walls, she leapt, thinking she would b 22.3kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves
18. 68 明 Moonlight on Ice and Snow 明月照冰雪 Mu Qiqi暮萋萋Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted A crazy, formidable woman. General Shen Guizhou VS a prince who only wants romance. Prince Chen Muyi Shen Guizhou was once the young general of the Shen Army, which commanded 300,000 troops in the northern frontier. As her reputation grew, her family feared the emperor would discover that she was a woman disguised as a man and bring disaster upon her. After weighing their options, they sacrificed her. For the sake of peace in the north and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Shen Army, 4.9kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves
19. 69 宠 He Spoiled His Concubine and Neglected His Wife. Reborn, I Broke Off My Engagement to the Scumbag and Married the Prince 宠妾灭妻，重生我退婚渣男嫁王爷 Zhi Zhi之知Ancient Romance640k WordsCompleted The physical book is available on all major platforms. Formerly titled Riding the Phoenix. [Reborn + Powerful Female Lead and Male Lead + Nation and World + Political Schemes] Before the age of seventeen, Shen Yu was the legitimate daughter of a military family who could wield a blade and charge into battle. After seventeen, she became the frail wife of Jiang Manor's Vice Minister Jiang. Her father and brothers died in battle, and the entire Shen family was honored for their loyalty. Bearing 87.6kReads9.5Score12kShelves
20. 70 上 Heaven Above 上邪 Lan Jia Sanshao蓝家三少Ancient Romance2.7M WordsCompleted Fu Jiuqing is hiding a huge secret: he secretly picked up his own wife... Everyone knows that the Fu family of Hengzhou is richer than the emperor, yet its heirs are a sorry lot. The eldest legitimate son died young, the second is a wastrel, the third is obsessed with food and women, and the fourth is an idiot. The youngest, Fu Jiuqing, is a concubine's son and a sickly child by nature. Everyone says the Fu family must have done something wicked in a past life to deserve this. Jin Yue didn't wan 3kReads9.0Score396Shelves
21. 71 智 Wise Men Avoid Love, and the Noble Consort Wants No Responsibility 智者不入爱河，贵妃不想负责 Uncle Luo洛叔叔Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Being a beggar would be better than being in the harem. Shen Qing is despairing over her current identity. The female lead won't appear for another two years, and Shen Qing is the lowest-ranking consort in the male lead's harem. Her father is useless, and she has neither money nor power. It seems her only option is to wait for the emperor's favor. To make matters worse, she has a face that attracts trouble. If she fights for influence, she has no leverage; if she doesn't, she'll just get bullied 47.7kReads9.5Score6.1kShelves

    Reader note

    It's really beautiful; you'll see the rest when you see it. 🍉

22. 72 公 The Princess Is Fierce and Beautiful, and Her Shadow Guard Keeps Crossing the Line 公主暴戾绝色，影卫日日以下犯上 Nanhuang南凰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Strong heroine + Feel-good power fantasy + Yandere + Devoted loyalist] Fate played a cruel trick: the most powerful imperial princess on the Jiuzhou Continent was reborn in the body of a lovesick little princess from Western Qi. The moment she awoke, the world was shaken. A scumbag points at her and curses? She orders coldly, “Drag him out and give him fifty more lashes!” The overlord of the business world is her subordinate, the most revered emperor in Jiuzhou is her older brother, the mighty 17.2kReads9.4Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Both of these books are about palace intrigue, especially the first one, where the female protagonist successfully ascends the throne; she's incredibly intelligent.

23. 73 纨 The Playboy Won Me a Noble Title, and the Reborn Matriarch Went on a Killing Spree 纨绔为我夺诰命，重生主母杀疯了 Folded in the Mist折雾里Ancient Romance905k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication] [Clear-headed, independent true heiress x play-the-pig-to-eat-the-tiger fake wastrel] [Female-oriented fiction + heroine reborn + hero transmigrates + political intrigue] After more than ten years as the wife of the Ningyuan Marquis's heir, managing the household and dutifully serving her parents-in-law, Shen Tangning believed she had done nothing wrong. Not until the usually distant heir began an affair with her half sister, now married to his younger brother, and they 57.6kReads9.2Score7.6kShelves
24. 74 去 To Hell with the Civet Cat! This Time, I'm Getting Rich! 去他的果子狸，这次老娘要暴富！ The Delicate Concubine Who Can't Fend for Herself柔弱不能自理的外室Female-Channel Fanfiction489k WordsCompleted (No goody-two-shoes heroine, just mind-bending palace intrigue! If you hate Huanbi in Empresses in the Palace, this isn’t for you! Told in first person.) (The early story moves slowly. Even reborn, Huanbi is still a servant and will feel loyalty to those she once cared for! Later, she’ll take the world by storm!) (Pumpkin seeds and little stools are ready! Ladies, please come sit in the front row and watch! If you’re not satisfied, I’ll kowtow to you!) (The plot has been changed! The plot has be 286Reads8.8Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend "To Hell with the Civet Cat, This Time I'm Going to Get Rich!" Mind-bending rating: ★★★★★ Plot highlights: 1. Unconventional rebirth setting: The female lead, Huanbi (a spin-off character from "Empresses in the Palace"), refuses to be a saint after her rebirth and directly embarks on a "darkening" path—first killing Shen Meizhuang, exposing Zhen Huan's affair with Prince Guo, and then supporting Consort Hua's rise to power, completely subverting the original drama's character relationships. Every action contrasts sharply with the original work, requiring readers to constantly overturn their preconceived notions. 2. Multi-layered power struggles: ◦ Overt plot: The female lead, as a female official, navigates the harem, exploiting the conflict between Consort Hua and the Empress for personal gain. ◦ Covert plot: Through cases such as the "Fifth Princess's diarrhea," the secret deal between the Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess is exposed. Behind these cases are multiple forces, including imperial physicians, palace maids, and guards, with complex and intertwined clues. 3. Psychological warfare depiction: The female lead's interactions with Zhen Huan are like a "palace intrigue version of Werewolf." For example, the female protagonist feigns allegiance to Zhen Huan, but secretly slips a slow-acting poison into her pregnancy-preserving medicine. She appears gentle and considerate on the surface, but is actually plotting every step of the way. Her language is full of hidden metaphors, requiring the reader to understand the context to discern her true intentions. Reader reviews: • "Every time I thought the female protagonist was about to be exposed, it turned out she was playing a long game. My brain cells are running out!" • "The author has given the characters in *Empresses in the Palace* a fresh twist; Consort Hua actually became the female protagonist's ally! I give this a perfect score!"

25. 75 穿 After I Transmigrated Into a Book, I Married the Villain and Was Spoiled Into a Couch Potato 穿书后，嫁给反派被宠成咸鱼 Mao Fugui毛富贵儿Ancient Romance411k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + marriage first, love later + lighthearted and a little goofy + sweet romance, both leads are each other’s first and only] After more than twenty years of struggling to grow up, Qin Fei transmigrated into a book and wanted nothing more than to lie low. But her original character was destined to be cannon fodder, so to save herself and change her fate, she gritted her teeth and married the ruthless, vicious villain of the story. The book said that Cen Hejue was a notori 2kReads9.0Score264Shelves
26. 76 和 On the Day We Divorced, a Mad Beauty Snatched Me Away 和离当天，我被疯批美人抢走了 Little White Pile白色小乌堆Ancient Romance311k WordsCompleted Mutual devotion + a rival who gets his comeuppance + happy ending Synopsis One: Jiang Xueci transmigrated into a book, becoming the brainless heroine who still loved the male lead even after he slaughtered her entire family. Jiang Xueci: “Ha...” How is that any different from falling in love with the prime minister of Japan in the real world? Suffer for the male lead and then get back together with him? No way. I'll cling to the antagonist's leg instead. With the story in my hands, either I live 1.4kReads9.2Score169Shelves
27. 77 闺 Best Friends Transmigrate Together, and the Villainous Male Lead Spoils Them Rotten 闺蜜双穿，被反派男主宠上天 Little A Nuan小阿暖Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Best friends transmigrate into a book + absurd comedy + guaranteed laughs + powerful rivals + reversed mind-reading + a strong team-up + everyday banter + transmigrating into a book and fighting to survive + satisfying comeback OMG! My best friend and I transmigrated into a book, and we started out at a sacrificial burial! What do we do? Don't panic! Find someone powerful to cling to! One each! No one's getting left behind! My best friend, the top student, clung to the Governor of the Eastern De 1.7kReads7.2Score217Shelves
28. 78 闺 Best Friends Transmigrate into a Book: Two Heroines Join Forces to Rule the Royal Court! 闺蜜穿书：双姝联手，玩转皇族！ Wenren Yun闻人允Ancient Romance226k WordsCompleted Best friends transmigrate into a book + sweet romance + both are devoted to each other + marriage before love + an imperial couple’s romance + happy ending. The two couples’ storylines intersect, but each has its own plot, too. (The story has begun to be released in volumes.) [Main couple: a spoiled young lady who loves to play cute & a composed, aloof crown prince] [Secondary couple: a cool, haughty general’s daughter & a refined, elegant second prince with a surprising side] Modern girls Gu Ji 265Reads6.2Score105Shelves
29. 79 手 With an Intelligence System in Hand, Don't Spoil Me Too Much, You Ruthless Power Broker 手握情报系统，疯批权臣别太宠 Auntie Xiao Qiao小乔姑姑Ancient Romance670k WordsCompleted [Intelligence System + yandere madman + redemption + transmigration + household intrigue + power struggles + true and fake heiresses + rebirth] A disastrous start! Her whole family has been arrested and their property confiscated. Her father was unjustly killed, her eldest brother is imprisoned, her second brother has vanished, her third brother is mentally disabled, and her mother is gravely ill in bed. The only one who seems normal, Yu Wan, is cursed to doom her husbands. She has already cause 421Reads8.8Score104Shelves
30. 80 岁 Years in the Palace 岁岁宫阙 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance706k WordsCompleted Liu Yuetang was sent to a country estate by her legitimate mother the day she was born. When she came of age, her older half-sister gave up her chance to enter the palace because of a dream, stole her match, and spent the night with her betrothed. Liu Yuetang went along with it and decided to enter the palace to carve out a bright future for herself. Once inside, she kept a low profile, learned the arts of the bedchamber, and mastered the art of playing hard to get, pouting coquettishly, and put 10.7kReads8.9Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Both were written by the same author; the first book is still being serialized, and the second is already completed.

31. 81 她 She Just Wants to Lie Low, but They Keep Forcing Her to Rebel 她想咸鱼躺，非逼她造反 Warfires Stain All烽火尽染Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] Lu Songli transmigrated into a book and became the cannon-fodder first wife of Xie Zhan, the male lead of The Powerful Minister's Beautiful Young Second Wife. In the book, her friend Zhao Yutan, who returned in glory from a place of exile, would steal her husband. The two of them carried on behind her back while she was gravely ill, and their affair literally angered her to death. Lu Songli was about to roll up her sleeves and tear into the cheating scumbag and 106.8kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves

    Reader note

    A power struggle, high-IQ game, and meticulous planning—the characters are very well-developed. Although the female lead and the second male lead are adversaries, both scheming for their respective families, their power struggles are captivating. They plan ten steps ahead, each move calculated and deliberate. It's not a forced downplaying of intelligence, nor is it about weakening supporting characters to highlight the protagonists; it's a battle of wits and strategy! This is why it's my favorite novel.

32. 82 替 After Becoming His White Moonlight Through a Substitute Marriage, the Mad Crown Prince Forces His Love on Me 替嫁成白月光后，疯批太子强制爱 A Fan Arrives Late扇扇来迟Ancient Romance253k WordsOngoing [Beautiful and Delicate Legitimate Eldest Daughter vs. Paranoid, Scheming Crown Prince vs. Upright and Handsome Cousin] [Substitute Marriage + Forced Possession + The Chase After the Wife] Yun Wan, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Ying's household, was betrothed to her cousin Jiang Yan when they were children. The deranged Crown Prince Wen Yuji mistakes Yun Wan for the woman who once betrayed him. Because the two women look exactly alike, he forcibly claims Yun Wan as his own. Meanw 13Reads—Score—Shelves
33. 83 芙 The Hibiscus Canopy: The Crown Prince’s Childhood Sweetheart Wins Big 芙蓉帐：东宫青梅赢麻了 Ming Family Charcoal Fire明家炭火Ancient Romance448k WordsCompleted [Both Leads Are Inexperienced + Sweet Romance + Palace Intrigue + He Eventually Dotes on Her Alone] Xiao Wanyu had spent more than a decade living with carefree arrogance. Then she refused a marriage proposal and injured the young lord of the Duke of Wei’s household, who had coveted her family’s wealth. She was thrown into prison. To protect her maternal family’s immense fortune and save her own life, she agreed to become a concubine in the Eastern Palace, seeking the Crown Prince’s protection 2kReads7.6Score166Shelves
34. 84 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
35. 85 纨 The Spoiled Couple’s Mutual Admiration 纨绔夫妻互捧日常 Aconite on the Snow雪上一枝蒿Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted Su Yu'an is forced to marry Jiang Qiyun, the eldest son of the Marquis of Rongyang and the leader of Kyoto's four notorious young lords. Everyone in Kyoto waits for the two of them to make fools of themselves, but instead, they see a couple constantly praising each other. Jiang Qiyun: My wife is clever and brilliant. She brings good fortune to her husband and keeps our home safe! Su Yu'an: My husband is as handsome as a jade tree, shielding me from wind and rain! Kyoto's nobles: Are you talking 17.8kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I don't read many palace intrigue or domestic drama novels, but these two are the ones I've read and found engaging.

36. 86 重 Heroic Wife Reborn 重生之悍妻 Mei Guo梅果Ancient Romance2.6M WordsCompleted On her first day as the eldest princess, Yu Xiaoxiao, a military instructor from the apocalypse, marries Gu Xinglang, a young general who has been wrongfully imprisoned and tortured, and has hit the lowest point in his life. From then on, a tough woman from the apocalypse who only knows how to eat, sleep, and kill zombies finds herself bound by fate to a brave general who is loyal to his sovereign and country, stern and taciturn. The country is weak, powerful enemies loom, and the court is full 7kReads9.2Score924Shelves
37. 87 掌 The Darling in the Palm 掌上娇娇 Zhi Yun支云Ancient Romance907k WordsCompleted [Print edition preorder opens July 17] [Film and TV rights sold] [Reader's guide: sweet romance, devoted couple, feel-good wish fulfillment, with clever schemes and political intrigue, many clues and details, and a large cast of well-developed characters. The heroine never gets the short end of the stick; anything that doesn't make sense will be explained later] Prince Xuan, He Junting. In the novel Devoted to the Imperial Consort, the author wrote of how he slaughtered the entire Northern Di co 82.1kReads9.5Score9.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Random Recommendation 🌈2. 📖 *Deep Palace Locks in Spring* | Que Ling Yan Zi 🌈 Shen Qinghe had struggled in the palace for over ten years, hoping to be granted a chance to leave or live a peaceful life as a female official. 🐖 Fate played a cruel trick on her; an imperial decree dragged her into the power struggles of the harem, transforming her into a concubine. 🌈 Emperor Xiao Qi, seemingly aloof and superior, 🐴 harbored secret feelings for Shen Qinghe, silently indulging her occasional whims. Surrounded by the complexities of the harem, Shen Qinghe initially reacted passively, but later, for the sake of her unborn child and her beloved, she was forced to take the initiative, engaging in fierce battles with other concubines. 🐕 During this process, their feelings for each other gradually deepened, and together they navigated the vortex of power and emotion. 🌈 This book is written with delicate prose, vividly depicting the intrigue and treacherous nature of the harem, and creating lively and three-dimensional characters. 🧸The emotional tug-of-war between the male and female leads is absolutely captivating, and the palace intrigue is thrilling and fast-paced! 🌟

38. 88 贵 The Noble Consort Is Cool and Aloof, and the Emperor Yearns for Her Night After Night 贵妃清冷，圣上夜夜相思 Que Ling Yan Zi雀翎宴子Ancient Romance448k WordsCompleted Shen Qinghe was in the bloom of youth when she entered the palace, where she weathered its intrigues for more than a decade. She had hoped to leave with a reward one day, or perhaps spend her whole life peacefully as a palace official. But then an order came down, and one day she unexpectedly became an imperial consort. She watched these women fight day after day, never expecting to become entangled in their schemes herself. Shen Qinghe could only sigh. He was the emperor, and she was a palac 12.8kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves
39. 89 授 Hand Him the Reins 授他以柄 Zhou Fuyao周扶妖Ancient Romance96k WordsCompleted With the city about to fall and the kingdom on the brink of ruin, Pei Qing wrote a letter asking that man for help. For seven whole days, there was no reply. But just when all hope seemed lost, he arrived. His peerlessly handsome face was full of disdain and contempt. Xiao Yuan walked into the imperial bedchamber with blood dripping from his blade and lazily called out, “Elder Brother.” Having earned merit by rushing to the emperor’s defense, he naturally expected a reward. “I have plenty of gol 24.9kReads9.5Score2.8kShelves
40. 90 京 The Capital's Most Notorious Beauty 京城第一祸水 Stars Fill My Eyes满眼星宸Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Currently being published [rival suitors in a dramatic love triangle + top-tier schemer + supporting villainess fights back + everyone comes around] [Historical romance + told entirely from the wicked supporting female character’s perspective] ❣️Blurb One Qiao Wanyan learned from a storybook that she was nothing but a wicked supporting character who abandoned her childhood sweetheart and chased after wealth and status. She sowed discord, poisoned her elder sister, and committed every imaginable 58.2kReads9.3Score7.7kShelves

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    I personally think these two books are pretty good!

41. 91 惟 May My Dear Brother Be with You Year After Year 惟愿兄长岁岁与卿 Listening to Snow in the Mountain Breeze岚风听雪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Quirky, delicate younger stepsister × powerful, imposing older stepbrother] [One-on-one romance + no misunderstandings + simmering tension + age gap + height difference] Liu Jintang followed her mother into a second marriage and entered the Shen family, one of the most illustrious families in Shengjing. She hadn’t even enjoyed two days of the good life before she drowned in the lake behind the Shen residence. When she opened her eyes after being reborn, it was the very day her mother married i 4.7kReads8.8Score687Shelves
42. 92 打 Beating the Matriarch, Crushing the Heir: The Wicked Maid Rises to the Top 打主母，踩世子，恶女丫鬟上青云 Dong Zha Muji东渣木鸡Ancient Romance2.1M WordsOngoing Green tea schemers | White lotus types | Men competing for her | A battlefield of romantic rivals | Everyone's dream girl | Taming men From the start, Lin Wu was a maid whose job was to carry water, and she was miserable. The heir's wife was spoiled rotten by her husband, acting as she pleased. She was also jealous, vicious, and suspicious. Any woman in her household could end up beaten to death by her. Lin Wu struggled for her life every day. How could she turn things around? Simple... Flirt s 3.9kReads9.2Score374Shelves

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    The content is clear, concise, and to the point.

43. 93 娘 The Empress Is Determined to Rise to the Top 娘娘她立志登高位 The Moon Has Set in the West月已西Ancient Romance679k WordsCompleted Scheming beauty x stern, cold emperor (soul transmigration + palace intrigue + not mutually devoted + eventually his one and only) In the third year of Zhaowu, Wen Zhuohua abandoned the path laid out for her and entered the palace as a palace-selection candidate. She loves wealth, splendor, power, and status. All under heaven belongs to the sovereign, and nothing in this world is more exalted than imperial authority. Once in the palace, she treads carefully in the harem and puts on an act for th 15.3kReads9.0Score2.1kShelves

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    The first book [Transmigration, Male Not Female, Palace Intrigue, Mutual Attacks, HE] tells the story of Crown Prince Jun Zechen, who, having seen countless scheming women, only loves those with pure and kind hearts. During a campaign in the borderlands, he encounters Ling Yue, captivated by her carefree and kind nature, and promises her a lifetime of devotion. However, two years pass, and the Crown Princess remains unconceived. By imperial decree, Su Jingyao, the daughter of the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, is made the Crown Prince's concubine, burdened with the responsibility of ensuring the continuation of the imperial line. She is fifteen years old, having already lived fifteen years in ancient times, growing from an infant into a stunning beauty. At the age of ten, she accidentally discovers that the world she lives in is the same one she read in modern times. In the book, the male protagonist Jun Zechen and the female protagonist Ling Yue's youthful affection eventually turns to mutual loathing. Su Jingyao, however, was bestowed upon the Crown Prince by the Emperor at the height of their love, ultimately dying in the Eastern Palace due to her inability to win the Crown Prince's favor. The modern-day Su Jingyao doesn't believe in love, only in herself. Whether in modern or ancient times, she always aspired to great heights, wanting to soar to the highest peaks. Men belonged to her; power was also something she sought. Volume 1: Main Text - A female protagonist with great ambitions overcomes obstacles to rise to the top in palace intrigue. Volume 2: Jun Yao's Double Rebirth - A Sweet and Pampered Life for Two! Volume 3: Original Book - Jun Rebirth - An Arrogant and Willful Concubine vs. A Cold and Indifferent Old Man (A Wife-Chasing Hell). Volume 4: Modern - Yao Yao's Love History: If You Bloom, Butterflies Will Come. Four lifetimes of love are preordained, and the cycle of cause and effect will eventually close. [Note: The male and female protagonists in all four volumes are Su Jingyao and Jun Zechen.] The second book is "Charming and Scheming Concubine * Deep and Cold Emperor" (Soul Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + Not Both Clean + Later Exclusive Pampering). In the third year of Zhaowu, Wen Zhuohua abandoned her original path and entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection. She loved wealth, power, and status. Under heaven, all land belongs to the emperor, and nothing in the world is more revered than imperial power. After entering the palace, she navigated the harem with meticulous care; she played along with the Emperor. Wen Zhuohua rose from a lowly concubine to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort in the shortest time, a position equivalent to that of a Vice Empress. Not only that, she also wanted the future heir to the Great Chong Kingdom to bear her blood! When people spoke of the current Emperor Xiao Huanyuan, they all praised him as a wise ruler, possessing the decisiveness and ruthlessness of an emperor. Even Xiao Huanyuan himself thought so. But there are always exceptions, and his exception was her. At first, he thought she was delicate and naive, but later he glimpsed a hint of ambition in her subtle details. Even knowing her sincerity towards him was mixed with self-interest, thankfully, he could afford what she wanted! Wen Zhuohua: Can you really afford it? Xiao Huanyuan: A king's word is law. Wen Zhuohua: But what about the chair she wants? Xiao Huanyuan (early): Don't worry about it, I know how much I love her. (Later): Give it to her, give it to her. PS: The female lead is ambitious, striving for the highest goals, and is definitely not a kind person!! The male lead's fortunes change, he'll have his share of troubles. A story of an emperor who possesses the world gradually being hollowed out. Some values are present, but not many. If you mind, please don't read!!

44. 94 亡 After the Fall of Her Kingdom, the Crown Princess Can No Longer Hide Her Secret Identity 亡国后，太子她马甲藏不住了 A Book Born from a Whale Fall鲸落成书Ancient Romance647k WordsCompleted After the Kingdom of Liang fell, people lamented that its famous young crown prince would suffer a miserable fate. Instead, they discovered that Ruan Feng was thriving in the Kingdom of Sheng! Everyone: “Don’t you have even a shred of awareness that you’re a crown prince of a fallen kingdom!?” Ruan Feng smiled faintly. “No.” … Lu Xuan was ambitious. At first, he went to every length to recruit this young genius into his service. Somewhere along the way, he ended up becoming her devoted admi 2kReads9.1Score276Shelves

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    The first book features a female protagonist who disguises herself as a man and is the only disciple of a ghost doctor. She initially intends to use the male protagonist to support her power, but unknowingly ends up getting herself involved (ultimately falling in love with him). However, this isn't the main point; the focus is on how the female protagonist consolidates her power and rises to the top.

45. 95 一 Climbing the Ranks! I Enter the Palace, Lie on Kangxi’s Dragon Bed, and Become His Favorite Consort 一路上位！入宫躺康熙龙榻做宠妃 Salty Fish Qi咸鱼柒Ancient Romance387k WordsCompleted [Complete] [Alternate-history Qing dynasty + sweet romance, not palace intrigue + not both leads' first time + female lead transmigrates + mischievous female lead with a special charm + Kangxi reborn + doted on above all others] Female lead's perspective: The world-weary Li Jia Xuecha transmigrates into the Qing dynasty as a consort who never existed in Kangxi's harem. In her frail, sickly body, all she wants is to laze around in the harem and gossip. But on her second day in the palace as a pin 5kReads8.1Score431Shelves
46. 96 皇 Imperial Noble Consort 皇贵妃 Liang Zhihe梁之鹤Ancient Romance190k WordsCompleted Forced possession / the pursuit of a wife after losing her / angst (avoid if you dislike these) / avoid if you're a heroine stan / weak heroine / both leads are virgins According to the official history of Tianzhao, Noble Consort Chen, of the Jiang clan, shared a deep bond with Emperor Tianzhao and had once saved his life. She enjoyed his favor for many years without losing it. In the first year of Tianzhao, she was made Noble Consort Chen. The following year, she gave birth to the Crown Prince 17.8kReads8.9Score946Shelves
47. 97 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 14.6kReads9.4Score1.2kShelves
48. 98 富 Riches and Splendor 富贵芳华 Lotus Flower藕花Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted When it came to Ning Fang’s idol, there was only one: Xia Zhenzhen, the Xia family’s legendary great-aunt, whose glory peaked more than a century ago! Renowned for her “exceptional intelligence,” she was chosen at just fifteen by a family of scholars and married into a prestigious household as the legitimate wife, despite being a merchant’s daughter. After the wedding, she and her husband were “deeply devoted to each other,” and even her mother-in-law praised her: “She is as good as my own daugh 4.8kReads9.3Score545Shelves

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue and domestic power struggle novels

49. 99 娇 The Delicate Flower’s Decree 娇花令 Qieqie Rong'an惬惬容安Ancient Romance933k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Fang Qingjiu challenged the emperor, killed her mentor, and brought down the former dynasty. During her reign, she united the Six Kingdoms by force, then abdicated. When she opened her eyes again, she was still Fang Qingjiu. But though she had the same name, this life was different: her parents were dead, and she was a little orphan everyone could bully. In this life, she decided to let go of the past, keep a low profile, and find herself a handsome young man to live happil 193Reads8.7Score104Shelves
50. 100 春 Springtime at the Marquis's Gate 春暖入侯门 Peach Blossom Tea桃花小茶Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Gu Caiwei closed her eyes, then opened them to find she had been reborn in the body of the person who had killed her. Heaven had even thrown in a cold, aloof marquis as her husband, along with a stepson who opposed her at every turn. Revenge was out of the question, and killing herself was never an option. So she decided: she would divorce him, go home, and get her life back on track! But on the road to divorce, her poker-faced husband quietly set one trap after another for her... 34Reads7.5Score—Shelves

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