I Want a Real Palace-Intrigue Novel With a Female Protagonist 我想看真正的宫斗小说，女主小说

1. 51 春 Spring Robes in Disarray: Only to Unravel the Chancellor's Desires 春衫乱：只为奸臣解风情 Fish in the South City南城有鱼Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + reborn to change fate + devoted husband + political intrigue and revenge. The heroine is gentle yet resilient, kind and perceptive. The hero is a noble, powerful minister, beautiful and tragic. Many foreshadowed clues and twists.] Lin Shu was a noble young lady from the capital, raised without ever having to lift a finger. When disaster struck the Lin family, Lin Shu became a government slave. She was put to washing and dyeing cloth in the Imperial Household Dep 12kReads9.4Score1.4k14d adds
2. 52 夫 My Husband Gives Me Two Hundred Thousand Taels a Month 夫君每月给我二十万两 Having Met the Young Master既见公子Ancient Romance768k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance + Transmigrate Into a Book + Goofy Comedy + Redemption + Marriage Before Love] Gan Qiongying transmigrated into the body of a princess! Before she could even celebrate, she realized this world was the setting of a book she had read. And she was the wicked supporting character who committed countless evils and met a tragic end... The plot had reached the point where a princess of her stature was being forced to marry a merchant. Merchants ranked below scholars, farmers, and arti 29.1kReads9.4Score3.7k14d adds
3. 53 青 After Losing Her Memory, the Childhood Sweetheart Became the Young General's Cherished Love 青梅失忆后成了少年将军掌中娇 Kelisiting克莉斯汀Ancient Romance223k WordsCompleted [Clever, Cunning Foxlike Heroine VS Steady, Stern, Humble Hero] [One-on-One Romance, Sweet Pampering, Adorable Child, Childhood Sweethearts] [The Hero Suffers] The night before, Shen Zuihuan was still preparing for her engagement ceremony. The next morning, she woke up in shock to discover she had been married for five years already! Her fiancé was nowhere to be found, and her current husband was the childhood friend she had hated most of all. He was even holding a child who looked exactly like 26.1kReads9.3Score2.4k14d adds
4. 54 上 Spring Affairs in the Capital 上京春事 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted Ning Chaoyang rises to become a fourth-rank female official, yet still can’t escape the fate of being traded into a political marriage. She decides to take in a lover to fight back. He must be lowborn, handsome, and preferably too frail to look after himself. She glances to the side and spots a charming young doctor in white. 5.5kReads9.3Score85514d adds
5. 55 女 The Tyrannical Empress and the Chaste Heir Whose Beauty Bewitches All 女帝暴虐，禁欲世子他美色撩人 Yu of the Three-Tiered Tower三重楼喻Ancient Romance396k WordsCompleted [Completed ❤️] Transmigration + 1v1 + strong female lead and weaker male lead + coercion + woman disguised as a man + decisive and ruthless heroine vs. restrained, reserved, beautiful but tragic hero [Warning: strong female lead and weaker male lead!!!] Feng Jin, an executive at a publicly listed corporation, suddenly died and transmigrated into the body of a tyrannical, cruel, mentally unstable crown prince who was a woman disguised as a man. From the start, a beautiful man offered himself to h 6.2kReads9.3Score68114d adds
6. 56 重 After Being Reborn, My Five Brothers Beg Me in Tears to Return Home 重生后，五个哥哥哭着求我回府 Mu Mianmian慕绵绵Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Currently being published] [She chases him after the breakup + sweet romance + satisfying read] In her previous life, Jiang You'an was a cannon-fodder side character in a novel where the whole family doted on the heroine. Her entire family favored her younger sister, and she was beaten to death with clubs. After being reborn, she refuses to repeat her past mistakes, only to discover that her family regrets everything and begs for her forgiveness. Everyone wants to make amends? Hah, I’m not int 7.7kReads9.4Score1.2k14d adds

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this palace drama! It's a must-watch, a coming-of-age story with a strong female lead and a satisfying comeback. A friend recommended it, and I'll definitely rewatch it two or three times when I'm looking for something to watch. 👍

7. 57 墨 Ink Reaches the Heavens 墨入云霄 A Breeze Blows into the Stars微风入星辰Ancient Romance779k WordsCompleted Shi Mo, a farm girl, is sold by her family to the Shen household as a bride to bring good fortune to their sickly young master, Shen Chenyuan. On their wedding night, she tries to strangle him but fails, and the Shen family sends her back home. On the way, Shi Mo runs away and is taken in by Liu Yong, the county yamen coroner. Thus begins a life full of twists and turns… 553Reads8.6Score10014d adds

   Reader note

   The female protagonist is courageous and doesn't care about worldly conventions; everything she does is for the sake of survival.

8. 58 冉 The Empress Ran 冉后 Nai Nai J奈奈JAncient Romance376k WordsCompleted Ran Hu was made a Jieyu concubine as soon as she entered the palace. On her very first day, she was summoned to the emperor’s bedchamber and granted the title of Chen, cherished like a rare treasure. Her peerless beauty and her younger brother’s illustrious military achievements as Marquis of Chang’an gave her the confidence to act as she pleased in the harem. The two souls who had come from a later age ultimately left a lasting mark on this strange world. 4.6kReads9.0Score47914d adds
9. 59 逞 Indulging 逞娇 Yuan Yuan原瑗Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Rugged Hero and Sweetheart, A Princess's Devoted Suitor] [Marriage First, Love Later, One True Pairing, Sweet Romance] As the most honored princess of the Great Yi Dynasty, Pei Heyu was raised from birth in a world of wealth and luxury. When she grew up, she associated only with princes, nobles, and members of eminent families. Those young ladies and gentlemen all came from households of immense wealth, dressed in bejeweled finery. They drank Mingqian Longjing tea worth a fortune, ate tribute p 11.7kReads8.9Score1.1k14d adds
10. 60 新 Wedding-Night Joy: The Sweet Princess Consort Can't Stop Throwing Up 新婚夜有喜，娇娇王妃孕吐不止 Deng Feng灯枫Eastern Fantasy370k WordsCompleted (The manhua adaptation is out. Search "My Fake-Dead Prince" for stunning character models and atmosphere.) [Redemption + Yandere + Secret Obsession + Extra Sweet Romance + Both Pure, Happy Ending] Yun Jiao transmigrated, arriving at a feast during Prince Yan's third funeral. The man in the ice coffin slowly sat up. Yun Jiao (chewing away): "What a coincidence. Did you fake your death too?" "Mm." "I've been dead for half a year. How about you?" "Hah. I die whenever I'm in a bad mood." Rumor had i 13kReads9.3Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    A top choice that will catch your eye.

11. 61 重 Reborn and Doted On by All: The Princess of Beijing’s Elite Is Maxed Out 重生团宠：京圈皇太女是满级大佬 Qi Yue Shisan漆月拾叁Modern Romance899k WordsCompleted [Family Bonds + Reborn + Everyone’s Darling + Powerful Figures + Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Heroine + Redemption + Everyone Loves Her + Regret and Retribution] [1] Sang Ning begged for the Shen family’s affection her entire life, but never received even a shred of warmth. In the end, her beloved father and brother killed her, after squeezing every last bit of value out of her. She thought Qin Wang, her boyfriend of ten years, truly cared for her. Then she accidentally discovered that he had t 61.7kReads9.1Score4.3k14d adds
12. 62 野 Wild and Free Little Orchid: The Coldhearted Prince Falls for Her First 野浪小兰花，冷情王爷他先动心了 The Madam Smiled夫人笑了Ancient Romance499k WordsCompleted [Cool, aloof hero who falls hard and falls first; both leads are virgins; transmigration; pocket dimension; no strong female lead, no palace intrigue] The doomsday war goddess Lu Jiuwan died on the first day the light returned... 1 The quiet, graceful, seductive Princess Consort who killed without blinking woke up one day with a completely different personality. Princess Consort: Want to do it? Cold-hearted Prince: Insolence! A moment later, the cold-hearted Prince was in disarray... 2 With her 38.2kReads9.3Score5.3k14d adds
13. 63 他 He Won't Be Tamed 他不驯 Dai in Her Boudoir呆字闺中Modern Romance366k WordsCompleted [Powerful leads + both leads are faithful + pursuing his wife + mutual devotion + redemption] [Powerful man who crashes into her life for love x movie queen who keeps saving herself] One-line summary: A story about two people who don't know how to love, clumsily learning to love each other. Synopsis: Jiang Jin was the world's ultimate calamity. He commanded the worlds of finance and arms dealing, reveling in the thrill of destroying everything. But Shen Yang had transmigrated into a book and 12.6kReads9.3Score1.5k14d adds
14. 64 反 The Villainess Kills with Her Beauty 反派她以美貌杀人 Shattered Starlight夜空碎光Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted (The heroine is a true villain. If you prefer morally upright characters, read with caution.) She was the villain of a book, but she never knew it. But what did that matter? Her beloved was dead. How could those responsible for his death be allowed to live? She toyed with the world in the palm of her hand, laying schemes within schemes and concealing deadly intent at every turn. Her gentle nature and ethereal beauty were both weapons, and no one could stand in the way of her revenge. The person 4kReads9.4Score48014d adds
15. 65 身 You Can Steal My Identity, But What About My Mental Illness? 身份可以偷走，那我的精神病呢？ Flickering Candle Stub残烛跳荡Modern Romance484k WordsCompleted [Publication rights signed ✚ Absurd memes ✚ Chaotic variety show ✚ Animal mind reading] Ming Li wakes up in the body of a celebrity who was sent to a psychiatric hospital by her family. From the start, she’s mocked by the entire internet, saddled with a family that leeches off her, and called mentally ill! Ming Li: Whatever. The things that don’t kill her will only make her even crazier! When a sharp-tongued entertainment reporter comes after her, she says, “A tadpole with a frog tattoo, and you 55.1kReads9.6Score7.6k14d adds
16. 66 癫EN Unhinged? We're All Unhinged—and That's a Good Thing! 癫，都癫，癫点好啊 Little Salt小盐子Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Super-Sweet 1v1]+ [Silly Humor and Memes]+ [Showbiz]+ [Dating Variety Show]+ [Face-Slapping] [Unhinged Actress vs. CEO with a Mind of His Own] Betrayed by her scumbag boyfriend, she transmigrated into a book and was immediately stabbed and sent to the hospital by an extremist shipper. Xie Mi went berserk on the spot, spouting wild claims in the livestream. “Come on! Stab me! All of you, stab me! I'll blow up the Earth!” A passerby who had wandered into the livestream nearly fainted. Okay, okay. 335.5kReads9.8Score46.5k14d adds
17. 67 我 My Little Madman 我的小疯子啊 Cat for a While一时猫Modern Romance293k WordsCompleted [Scheming seduction, face-slapping revenge, bloody madness, and the aesthetics of violence] Everyone is crazy, and everyone has a mental illness. If that bothers you, don’t read. Care for your mental health by reading novels. * Reborn after death, Su Jinyi has too many scores to settle. She refuses to sell herself for beauty or take the path of degradation. Instead, she chooses a more direct, more unhinged way to get even. But first, she needs powerful allies. So Su Jinyi checks herself into a p 2kReads9.2Score23914d adds
18. 68 极 The Prison of Extreme Punishment 极刑之狱 Meishan Strange Dao梅山诡道Mystery1.0M WordsCompleted [Graphic crime investigation + a vomit-inducing masterpiece] The Gentle Chair, a sleep aid invented by a corrupt Ming official; a Pixiu treasure chest that can only be opened by sacrificing the Grave-Robbing Finger; a coffin-boat Gu child secretly admired by a top student; a sinister wine cup made from a woman's body! Come explore a series of bizarre, shadowy cases. 4.4kReads8.8Score56514d adds
19. 69 皇 The Empress Leaped to Her Death, and the Mad Tyrant Wept Until His Eyes Were Red 皇后纵身一跃，疯批暴君哭红了眼 Huang Dandan黄蛋蛋Ancient Romance635k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance, devoted couple + palace intrigue + regretful pursuit, clear-headed heroine, everyone's unattainable ideal] Meng Tang is a gracious, gentle empress who never competes for favor. Everyone thinks she is a true white lotus standing tall in the harem, and even the tyrant believes it. He takes a new concubine, and she smiles, congratulates him, and arranges for the newcomer to spend the night with him. He sends her restorative medicine, and she obediently takes it, knowing full we 21.5kReads9.3Score2k14d adds
20. 70 恶 The Devil Reversed 恶魔逆位 20/100 Vision视力零点二一Mystery737k WordsCompleted “If I wanted to kill him, I wouldn’t use a method this laughably clumsy.” After the black-haired girl in black finished speaking in the interrogation room, she didn’t say another word. The way she calmly studied the photograph made it seem more like she was admiring the victim’s gruesome death. In the photo was a cold, white bathtub filled with shocking amounts of blood. A man lay slumped inside, his deathly pale body visible only from the shoulders up. The deceased was Zhou Haixiong. He had 39kReads9.5Score6k14d adds
21. 71 白 The White Zone 白色禁区 Flowers Don't Forsake the Trees花不辞树Modern Romance326k WordsCompleted [Two equally powerful leads + both inexperienced + one-on-one romance + heroine with multiple secret identities] Sharp-tongued, straight-shooting criminal investigation captain x wealthy heiress and undercover agent with two faces For revenge, she was willing to sell her soul, setting a trap to win his trust. She thought she could throw him away once she had used him, but a kiss unsettled her heart. She fell for him. They fell in love and naturally became a couple. But how could a love born of 8.5kReads9.3Score88014d adds
22. 72 好 Such a Good Girl 好一个乖乖女 I Took Great Pains我煞费苦心Modern Romance361k WordsCompleted [Print edition signed] [Short drama now streaming] [Sweet romance with a touch of angst] [Fake-good, scheming heroine x domineering wealthy tyrant] [Both leads are each other’s only one] Duan Xiuming first met Lu Mingyu at a wedding. She was stunningly beautiful, yet looked like a well-behaved good girl, sitting off to the side and painting because someone had told her to. “Boring woman,” he judged. But in the blink of an eye, Lu Mingyu gave him a huge surprise! She destroyed her painting and co 30.4kReads9.5Score4k14d adds
23. 73 异 The Gifted Empress Reigns Above, Her Ministers Kneel Below 异能女皇在上，众臣在下 Good Days, Safe Home良辰安宅Ancient Romance806k WordsCompleted The State of Mu enjoys favorable weather and bountiful harvests, while its old emperor indulges in wine and women, lives a life of excess, and has few heirs. The court is controlled by powerful factions. By the 327th year of Mu, the kingdom has been divided among four of them. The foolish Princess Mu Nanzhi is pushed onto the throne as an easily controlled pawn. But on the first morning court, the one who opens her eyes is an empress from another world. 1.9kReads8.9Score16914d adds
24. 74 薄 Lord Bo, Your Wife Sold You for Spending Money 薄爷，夫人把您卖了换钱花了 Nan Family's Little Jiu南家小九Modern Romance751k WordsCompleted The short drama is now available. Shen Ciyu had been perfectly content as the useless rich heiress, until her parents suddenly went crazy and threw her out, luggage and all. Her father, Shen, said, “Get out! Support yourself. If you can’t, don’t come back and bring shame on the Shen family!” Shen Ciyu looked down at the few hundred yuan in her hand. With a monthly allowance of a million yuan, she never spent more than 999,900. Now she burst into tears. To make a living, Shen Ciyu headed to the c 12.3kReads8.9Score1.3k14d adds
25. 75 金 Mr. Jin, Your Wife Has Run Away with Your Daughter Again! 金总，太太又带小姐离家出走了！ Jin Er斤二Modern Romance355k WordsCompleted Prissy troublemaker x shameless rogue Childhood sweethearts x regret and redemption x happy ending In their third year of marriage, Lu Ying asked for a divorce. The man sat carelessly, his long, phoenix-shaped eyes nonchalant. “Is this because I went with her to the hospital but didn't go with you?” Lu Ying: “Yes.” “Fine,” he said, clearly not taking it seriously. “Then I won't go with you anymore.” Lu Ying: “I'll leave with nothing.” The unruliness vanished from his eyes. With the speed of 111.1kReads8.9Score11.2k14d adds
26. 76 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 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    General

27. 77 今 Jinjin, You Have Captured My Heart 今今绾君心 Yu Yang Xiaohe鱼羊小和Ancient Romance604k WordsCompleted [Level 1: Devoted couple, sweet romance, an eight-year age gap, happy ending] [Bright and alluring orphan of a military family vs. cool and noble Crown Prince] A war breaks out. Song Zhiwan is the only living person Xiao Yan finds amid mountains of corpses. He sees her as the hope of the countless fallen soldiers and brings her back to the Eastern Palace. He pities her and spoils her until she can do whatever she likes, letting her throw tantrums and roll around on top of him. When the Princess 11.5kReads8.9Score1.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    Perfect for those experiencing a reading slump due to palace intrigue.

28. 78 假 Pretending to Be a Lazy Beauty with Bewitching Bones, I Make the Mad Regent Dote on Me, Again and Again 假咸鱼媚骨，疯批摄政王宠宠宠 Tong Yu铜余Ancient Romance291k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance, Devoted Couple, One-on-One, Funny and Lighthearted, Secret Identity Revealed Later] Yun Luoyu is the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue: beautiful, wealthy, and naturally alluring. She had planned to coast through half her life, but on her wedding day, she was forcibly taken by the mad Prince Regent. From then on, she became his cherished darling, the delight of his bedchamber. She plays sweet and obedient, acts cute, pouts, and cracks jokes. She becomes classmates wi 5.6kReads9.3Score69214d adds
29. 79 娇 Don't Leave, My Darling: The Possessive Crown Prince Begs Her to Stay 娇娇宝贝别离开，偏执太子哀求 Sichuan Pepper Wine and Star Anise Cake花椒酒与八角糕Ancient Romance253k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance, no angst + devoted couple + sugary sweet + feel-good power fantasy] [Soft, delicate beauty vs. possessive crown prince] [The leads get together in chapter 49; the earlier chapters are optional. It's all sweetness after that, and the villains are dealt with quickly.] On her wedding night, she was stabbed to death by the childhood sweetheart she had known for ten years. She discovered that he and her close cousin had been carrying on behind her back for a long time. Her soul linger 5.3kReads9.1Score43414d adds
30. 80 爆 Breaking News! The Fallen Princess Was Carried Off by the Villainous Overlord 爆！亡国公主被反派大佬扛走了 Fallen Today落今朝Ancient Romance578k WordsCompleted [The Most Beautiful Woman in the Three Continents] x [A Mad, Powerful, Miserable, and Ruthless Demon King] Reborn as a princess of a fallen kingdom in a tragic romance novel, Qiao Li tries to change her fate and escape the scumbag. But through a twist of fate, she is carried off by a notorious demon king whose name is feared across the Three Continents. His cultivation is peerless, and he looks down on everything in the world. Yet one misstep leaves him with a regret to last a thousand years: he 4.8kReads9.3Score49614d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is a bit angsty, but it gets less so later on. As for the second book, "Sunny Day, Hateful Sea," I haven't read many chapters yet, only the first chapter, so you'll have to explore the rest yourself 😘. The third book isn't the kind where it's just endless baby-making; the female lead does harbor some resentment towards the male lead. There are also two side stories. I highly recommend the third book; it's extremely, extremely, extremely good! 😘😘😘😘

31. 81 亡 The Fallen Princess: A Sea of Love and Hatred 亡国公主：情天恨海 Mu Yan Bingxin木焱冰欣Ancient Romance1.2M WordsOngoing A kingdom falls, a family is destroyed, and a treasured pearl is cast into the dust. Years in the imperial palace, a lifetime tangled in love and hate. A fleeting moment of tenderness and the bonds of their child cannot erase a blood feud. She is a princess of a fallen kingdom, biding her time as she struggles between revenge, the people, and the fate of her former dynasty. He is an emperor who rules the land, with the realm always taking precedence over love. Imprisoned in the palace and subjec 2.4kReads8.4Score14114d adds
32. 82 芷 Zhizhi, Come Into My Embrace 芷芷入朕怀 Wei Shuangshuang, Who Loves Harmonica Accents喜欢重音口琴的韦双双Ancient Romance156k WordsCompleted [Love at First Sight + Obsessive, Possessive Male Lead + Rival Suitors + Stunning Heroine + Everyone’s Favorite + Coercive Possession + Mutual Fidelity] Jian Zhilu was the most cherished legitimate daughter of the Jian family, with stunning, incomparable beauty. She was happily waiting to marry the man she loved when the tyrant Sui Yan forced her into the palace and claimed her as his own. Two years earlier, Sui Yan had been the least favored prince in the palace. His birth mother had died of gr 434Reads5.5Score—14d adds
33. 83 踹 Dump the Romance Hero, Seduce the Emperor from a Male-Oriented Novel 踹掉言情男主，勾搭男频帝王 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance553k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, revenge, scheming, stunning heroine, seductive mastermind] The short drama His Heart on a String is now streaming! Shen Yuling transmigrated into a romance novel as its heroine. Unfortunately, she was a heroine whose luck had been stolen by a woman who transmigrated into the story. She would die in a fire, taking her unborn child with her, while her entire family would be wiped out. It was a fate the original heroine had failed to change, even after being reborn twice 17kReads9.2Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is absolutely a true palace intrigue story. The female lead's palace intrigue is actually taught by the male lead, who is both yandere and cunning, and also a master of scheming.

34. 84 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 106.8kReads9.5Score12.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    You can try these two books.

35. 85 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. 8.3kReads9.2Score95314d adds
36. 86 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 47.7kReads9.5Score6.1k14d adds
37. 87 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    So pretty! 🥰

38. 88 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 41.2kReads9.6Score5.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is a genuine palace intrigue story. The female lead is meticulous and shrewd, surpassing all transmigrators and reborn individuals; she's a powerful female protagonist who prioritizes self-interest above all else. The second book isn't a palace intrigue story, but I'd still like to recommend it. It's a female-centric novel where the protagonist's true identity remains hidden throughout, there's no romance, the focus is on her career, and the ending's dramatic twists and turns are quite moving. (This one isn't really part of the main topic; it's just a recommendation.)

39. 89 手 With the Notable Ministers System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man in Ancient Times 手拿名臣系统，我在古代女扮男装 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Xu Yue transmigrates into a book. She becomes the delicate, vulnerable cousin of the male lead in an examination-themed novel: her mother died young, she has no brothers and no one to rely on, and her family won't take her in, so she is awkwardly forced to live in the male lead's home. In her previous life, Xu Yue rose from being an orphan to earning a doctorate. She never believed in fate, and even though it was hard for women to get by in ancient times, she never stopped thinking about how to 119.8kReads9.6Score11.5k14d adds
40. 90 折 Snap Off a Crabapple Branch! 折棠枝！ Consort Xi熙贵妃Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Sisters switch marriages+the chase-back-to-win-her-heart trope+romantic rivalry+putting scumbags in their place; clear-eyed, scheming beauty X mad tyrant X aloof, powerful minister...] Short drama now available Jiang Wantang is the second legitimate daughter least favored by the current prime minister. With incomparable beauty and bewitching charm, she was abandoned in the wilderness and remained unknown to the world. Her elder legitimate sister was the moon in the sky; she was the mud beneath 9kReads8.9Score1.2k14d adds
41. 91 贵 The Imperial Consort Reigns Supreme in the Harem 贵妃娘娘宠冠后宫 Pine Ink and Smoky Elegance松墨韵烟Ancient Romance676k WordsCompleted [First novel, read at your own risk] The three armies welcome the imperial carriage! General Yun personally leads the way! The Emperor himself comes out to greet it! Who on earth is sitting inside that carriage? How can they deserve such a grand reception? “What village did you crawl out of? Who else could be treated like this by those two?” The younger sister of General Yun, the Yun family’s legitimate daughter, Yun Qing: the imperial consort personally appointed by the Emperor, and the apple o 871Reads7.8Score10314d adds
42. 92 谋 Scheming for the Phoenix Seal 谋夺凤印 Flowers in Hand, Yet Unseen拈花不现Ancient Romance12k WordsCompleted Plot to Seize the Phoenix Seal 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Must-read for those experiencing a reading slump! These three incredibly captivating palace intrigue novels feature heroines who are all intelligent, courageous, and resourceful—readers will be on the edge of their seats! In *Nine Layers of Brocade*, a wronged concubine's daughter carves out her own path in the royal palace and harem through her wisdom and courage; in *The Scheme for the Phoenix Seal*, a heroine burdened with a blood feud faces numerous obstacles, ruthlessly seeking revenge step by step; and in *The Chaos of Zhaohua*, a clear-headed and ruthless heroine takes the initiative, manipulating her enemies' schemes with ease. The three authors use exquisite writing to delicately depict palace intrigue, with plots full of twists and turns that will absolutely immerse you and leave you wanting more.

43. 93 娇 The Sweet Little Promise Who Rose Through the Ranks by Bearing Children 娇娇小答应靠生子一路晋升 Purple Cat紫色猫Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + System golden finger + multiple births + silly beauty + laid-back palace intrigue + doted on exclusively later + not a pure romance] Guys, how is this fair? Other women fight for favor with their family background, beauty, and talents... Qing Luo does it by getting pregnant. She spends her days having babies, raising them, and doting on them, gradually earning the emperor's exclusive favor. With her children by her side, she climbs to the top of life... 10kReads9.1Score93914d adds

    Reader note

    Watching the ladies fight back and forth, who will win?

44. 94 生 With a Childbearing System in Hand, the Empress Gives Birth to Octuplets 生子系统在手，皇后娘娘一胎八宝 Ju Zhou橘洲Ancient Romance431k WordsCompleted [Not a devoted couple + palace and household intrigue + multiple pregnancies and births + satisfying revenge] Lin Shuangshuang was forced to become a consort and had planned to spend her life doing nothing. Little did she know that people in the imperial harem were experts at currying favor for money. Without money or the emperor's affection, she could barely even get enough to eat. Faced with the servants' mistreatment and her own growling stomach, Lin Shuangshuang decided to compete for the em 1.5kReads7.2Score13014d adds
45. 95 妃 A Consort's Scheme for the Emperor's Heart 妃谋帝心 Falling Ashes坠落的灰Ancient Romance527k WordsCompleted With her father turning a blind eye and her stepmother throwing her weight around, Mu Li is ordered to marry an old prince as a concubine. They tell her this is her fate. Mu Li refuses to believe it. She has never believed in fate… Just then, the imperial household holds its selection of consorts. Daughters of officials of rank eight or above who are of suitable age may participate. Mu Li thinks: Since I’m to be a concubine, why not become the concubine of the most powerful person in the realm? 9.1kReads8.9Score1k14d adds
46. 96 皇 The Emperor Has Trouble Conceiving? The Stunning Empress Has Another Baby! 皇上难怀？绝色皇后又多胎 Dried Tofu and Sweet Potato Noodles豆干苕皮Ancient Romance342k WordsCompleted (Transmigration + System + lots of children + sweet romance + useless at harem politics + melodrama + adored by everyone + not mutually chaste) Ye Jinyun spent her whole life as a corporate wage slave. After dying suddenly from overwork, she is reborn in ancient times with the help of a System. From the start, she gets the orphan's role. Fine. But why does it get upgraded to a harem drama, where the emperor keeps chasing her and demanding she bear his children? “The emperor would never choose 16.2kReads9.0Score1.8k14d adds
47. 97 陛 Your Majesty, Don't Love Me So Much! I Win the Harem's Favor Through Good Fortune in Childbearing 陛下别太爱！我靠好孕独宠后宫 Hua Xiaoci花小辞Ancient Romance2.2M WordsCompleted [The short drama adapted from this novel, Your Majesty, Don't Love Me Too Much! I'll Win the Harem's Favor with My Fertility, is now available.] [The animated drama adapted from this novel, Darling, Enter My Heart, is now available.] [The leads are not faithful to each other. He becomes devoted to her later + The heroine is stunningly beautiful and clear-eyed, and aims to become an empress + Fertility and childbirth + Multiple babies in one pregnancy + Intelligent palace intrigue + Political man 8.2kReads8.8Score74714d adds
48. 98 人 In the Imperial Harem, My Goal Is to Become the Empress Dowager 人在后宫，目标太后 Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance358k WordsCompleted # Palace intrigue is out of the question. I'll eat snacks, watch the drama, and have children, that's the plan # Cui Xuejian transmigrated into the past and became a low-ranking palace consort. Powerful figures towered over her, while a few insignificant nobodies clawed at her feet. With things like this, why bother with palace intrigue? Better to just give up and coast! Cui Xuejian believed that as long as she kept out of trouble, no monsters, demons, or other ghoulish creatures would come afte 1.7kReads9.2Score13814d adds
49. 99 宫 A Palace Maid’s Life as the Emperor’s Favorite 宫女承宠日常 Kun Bai坤白Ancient Romance206k WordsCompleted Wei Rongxiang was a palace maid who served tea before the emperor. One day, she was abducted and dragged onto the imperial bed, where the emperor forced himself on her. Everyone called her Aunt Rongxiang, yet treated her like a mistress of the palace. Wei Rongxiang entered the imperial harem, where the emperor favored her every night, but she always kept a clear head. She watched him favor his concubines, watched him surround himself with wives and concubines, watched his children dote on him, w 8.7kReads7.8Score53814d adds
50. 100 皇 The Emperor Fell for Her at First Sight: The Bewitching Consort Becomes Empress After Bearing Many Heirs 皇上一见钟情，尤物娘娘多胎封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance251k WordsCompleted [The emperor falls in love at first sight + the emperor begs the heroine to manage the harem + heroine with stellar acting skills + strong, intelligent heroine + lots of children] Whoever harms me, I’ll make them pay! Hua Yunchu loves only herself. The right way to deal with a man is to use up every last bit of his value. But the emperor wants to make Hua Yunchu a Noble Lady, while the empress’s throne sits empty. And he wants me to manage the harem, too? What is going on? I’d planned to coast o 2.7kReads9.1Score30314d adds

Other lists with Spring Robes in Disarray: Only to Unravel the Chancellor's Desires