Well-Written Palace Intrigue, Not Both Leads’ First Relationship, Transmigration, and No System or Golden Finger 质量宫斗，不双洁，穿越，没有系统金手指

1. 1 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 84.3kReads9.5Score9.6kShelves

   Reader note

   Before bed, her colleague recommended a novel called "The Beloved Imperial Concubine," in which the male lead only cared about his empire and abandoned the female lead countless times. She held her breath, eager to see when the author would finally torment the male lead. She held her breath until 3:30 AM.

2. 2 都 Since I've Transmigrated into the Qing Dynasty, Why Not Boldly Choose Kangxi? 都清穿了，不妨大胆点选康熙啊！ Midnight Stars深夜星辰Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted On the first day Shi Nanxi transmigrates into the Qing Dynasty, she learns that her elder legitimate sister, Shi Rongyue, is also a transmigrator. Shi Rongyue wants to escape her future as the Crown Princess, so she approaches Nanxi and offers to let her marry the Crown Prince while she marries the Fourth Prince. Anyone who transmigrates into the Qing Dynasty knows the history. The Crown Prince’s later years are miserable. Though the Fourth Prince eventually wins, he is only thirteen now and wil 18.3kReads9.2Score2.2kShelves

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this ancient Chinese palace intrigue novel! It's incredibly suspenseful, with the female lead completely captivating the male lead, who keeps believing her to be weak and vulnerable. She's intelligent, calm, and outwardly gentle but inwardly resilient. Although she's a time traveler, she hides it exceptionally well. Another time-traveling woman desperately wants to marry the Fourth Prince, but the female lead ends up becoming her mother! Hahaha!

3. 3 借 A Surrogate Pregnancy? The Emperor Dotes on Me, and I Keep Having Lucky Pregnancies 借腹生子？被帝王娇宠到福孕连连 Yi Jiu Lu宜久录Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Feel-good revenge + palace intrigue + fertility + System + multiple births + sole favorite later on + not a story where the leads have only ever been with each other + an emperor who talks himself into loving her at first, then begs humbly for her affection × a clear-eyed, beautiful consort] Yan Qingshu has a nightmare. In it, she takes her infertile elder sister’s place in the emperor’s bed and becomes pregnant with his child. But the moment the baby is born, her sister snatches it away. Yan Q 5.5kReads8.7Score723Shelves
4. 4 重 Reborn: I Became Crown Princess by Stepping on His Moonlight 重生后，踩着白月光成了太子妃 Tian Nanxing Nan天南星南Ancient Romance239k WordsCompleted In her previous life, the empress harmed the entire Xie family for her own selfish desires, sentencing them all to execution. Only Xie Shuhua managed to escape by sheer luck. To get revenge, Xie Shuhua entered the palace as a maid. She spent fifteen years navigating its treacherous waters before finally killing the empress herself and avenging her family. She, too, was pierced by a thousand arrows. When she opened her eyes again, Xie Shuhua discovered that she had returned to the age of sixteen, 2.8kReads8.6Score269Shelves
5. 5 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 26.8kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves
6. 6 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 87.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

   Reader note

   This palace intrigue novel is highly recommended! [Strong female lead, high-IQ palace intrigue, female lead scheming against the entire harem, and a mad, villainous character] Song Zhao is a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she lives with a sharper sense of reality than anyone else. Her objective is very clear: "I'm entering the palace to become Empress, otherwise what am I supposed to do? Cook for others?" The female lead is neither a naive nor a saint; she's the villain! She doesn't want love, only power!

7. 7 梦 Dreamed I Was Poisoned to Death? The Wicked Consort Goes on a Rampage 梦到自己被毒死？恶毒贵妃杀疯了 Pour Me a Glass of Green Plum Wine来一杯青梅酒Ancient Romance555k WordsCompleted [Not a pure romance + an all-villain cast + a heroine who kills + an indulgent hero + exclusive devotion from the start] [An aloof, ruthless, pleasure-seeking autocratic emperor vs. an arrogant, domineering, viciously cunning consort] Emperor Long'an had ruled for seven years. What people talked about most was his unusual hobby: keeping all kinds of fierce beasts and wild birds. Little did they know that the creatures who caught Emperor Long'an's interest were all in the harem's fighting ring. E 20.1kReads9.2Score2.2kShelves

   Reader note

   🥳🥳🥳 No time travel, no cheat codes, no system, the female lead enters the palace through a talent show.

8. 8 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Highly recommend! 💕 Superb palace intrigue! Absolutely brilliant! 🥰🥰🥰

9. 9 娇 The Pretty Palace Maid's Step-by-Step Rise to Empress 娇娇宫女，步步为后 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance574k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue / not both partners’ first time / devoted love in the later story / not a strong heroine; the female lead cries easily and isn’t particularly clever, so don’t expect too much!] After three years in the palace, Yue Li has worked carefully and waited for a chance at promotion. Just before she is promoted, a palace maid sharing her room is sentenced to death for offending a consort. Thunder crashes and rain pours that night as blood spatters everywhere. Terrified, Yue Li cannot sle 24.5kReads9.3Score11.5kShelves
10. 10 不 No More Slacking: The Prince’s Favorite Concubine’s Daily Grind 不当咸鱼，王府宠妾的内卷日常 Four Crescent Moons四弯月Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + cutthroat household competition + no slacking off + ambitious heroine] Shen Wei, a die-hard rat-race fanatic, transmigrated into the lowest-ranking maid in a prince’s manor. Prince Yan held a position of great prestige, but all his wives and concubines had given up trying. The princess consort, born to a prestigious family, was as aloof as a chrysanthemum. The secondary consort wanted lifelong monogamy. The reborn woman had lost all hope in Prince Yan and was content to lie fla 68.4kReads9.4Score8.7kShelves
11. 11 催 Urging the Empress to Have a Baby: The Female Lead Is an AI 催生皇后，当女主是个AI Go Eat a Giant Watermelon去你个大西瓜Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [AI Empress] [Ridiculous palace intrigue] [All about raising kids] “Empress Ai.” “I... am... here...” The woman's voice is stiff, each word spoken separately. An AI from the year 3026, seeking to prevent humanity from dying out, travels through a parallel timeline to... The year 1132, when human reproduction is at its peak, during the Great Ming Dynasty, known as the “Golden Age of the Great Ming.” She becomes Empress Ai of the Great Ming. The little AI's mission is simple: get people to have ch 418Reads9.1Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a palace intrigue story, but not quite (not a clean romance). The female lead was originally an interstellar AI. An accident caused her spaceship to transport her to an ancient world, where her soul inhabited the body of an ancient noblewoman. Her family knew she had relationship problems, but after she turned six, a woman skilled in using Gu poison possessed her body. Her family noticed the change and knew the body wasn't hers, but to protect it, they didn't forcefully suppress the woman possessing her. The story begins with our little AI awakening and losing all memories of her previous life—from the moment of the accident. She believes she's still a little AI, diligently protecting the secret of human reproduction by ensuring our male lead, the emperor, has many children. However, the male lead isn't lustful; he wants to be a good emperor. There are other concubines in the palace, and the concubine who opposes the female lead is actually her best friend and her brother's lover. Her brother died unexpectedly, dragged to war by that evil woman, and her best friend became a concubine. But the male lead and this best friend didn't get together; they didn't sleep together! The ending sees the female protagonist's best friend and her brother reunited. Her brother hadn't actually died, just lost his memory, but later returned. It's a happy ending, and whoever the female protagonist chooses becomes the male lead. So, the emperor could be considered a male lead, albeit with a limited role, though his plot isn't very extensive. The female protagonist always thought she was hiding her true identity well, but in the opening chapters, her best friend and the emperor realized he wasn't the one possessed by the evil woman, and that she had actually returned! I think the entire story is intellectually savvy, but because the female protagonist is an AI, she seems a bit dim-witted.

12. 12 金 The Golden Palace Locks Away the Spring Breeze 金阙锁春风 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance757k WordsCompleted Her entire family perished, she was left dependent on others, the dynasty fell, and she married and divorced. In just eighteen years, Yu Zheng has endured things most people never face in a lifetime. A noblewoman of the former dynasty, all she wants now is to stay alive. She plans to enter the palace as a maid, then use her literacy to earn a post as a court official and support herself. She never imagined that the new emperor would send her to the Fourth Prince’s residence as a gesture of goodw 21.1kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Reincarnation means no special abilities or cheat codes; everything starts off difficult, the whole family suffers misfortune, and there's a divorce and second marriage.

13. 13 惹 Offending the Imperial Daughter 惹金枝 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Film and television rights have been sold. The physical book will be available for preorder on July 10 at 19:00.) Shi Buyu was born smiling. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, collapsing a row of outbuildings in the Shi family compound. Days of torrential rain brought devastating floods and countless victims. Rumors soon spread through the capital that she was a disaster star sent into the world. But she was as precocious as a demon, with a photographic memory, and learned bo 257.8kReads9.7Score30.2kShelves

    Reader note

    The political intrigue I've ever seen is the most ingenious; it has foreshadowing and vividly portrayed characters.

14. 14 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Bewitching, and the Emperor Gives In to Pleasure 娘娘撩人魅惑，帝王纵情堕落 You Gongyu尤宫羽Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted The Tomato short drama Kun Yi is now streaming~ [Transmigrate into a book, male lead is not a virgin but female lead is, palace intrigue, psychological games, happy ending] The Crown Prince, Jun Zechen, has seen his fair share of calculating women, and loves only those who are pure and kind. While campaigning beyond the frontier, he meets Ling Yue and is captivated by her free-spirited kindness. He promises to spend his life with her alone. But two years pass, and the Crown Princess has yet to c 118kReads9.5Score11.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! Especially the first book!!!

15. 15 踹 After Kicking Over the Dragon Throne, the Entire Court Begged Her to Take the Crown 踹翻龙椅后，满朝文武跪求她登基 Fei Xi妃玺Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted (The heroine focuses on her career, with no romantic pairing. She becomes somewhat cold-hearted and ruthless later on.) Born into the world as a princess, Yu Hui thinks that at last, an incredible fortune has fallen into her lap. She has a palace to live in, money to spend, and status to protect her, so she can enjoy a peaceful, happy life. But peace is out of the question. Calamities keep dropping out of the sky, and they’re heavy ones. Happiness? Not really. Someone is always ending up dead, s 8.6kReads8.8Score728Shelves
16. 16 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… 8.5kReads8.2Score716Shelves
17. 17 勾 Flirt with the Crown Prince, Become His Favorite Consort? A Piece of Cake 勾太子，宠妃？顺手的事儿 Snowy Dudu雪之嘟嘟Ancient Romance418k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance, sweet romance, sweet romance! We’ll say it three times because it’s important] She transmigrated? And became a favored concubine to the Crown Prince of the Jun Kingdom? After waking up one day, Mu Wantang finds herself inside a wish-fulfillment novel she had read recently, as the Crown Prince’s beloved concubine. Jun Chengyan, the Crown Prince of the Jun Kingdom and The Outcast, is breathtakingly handsome, elegant, and incomparably noble. The original owner was beautiful, but not 24.6kReads9.1Score2.5kShelves
18. 18 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 24kReads9.1Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is incredibly intelligent; she not only battles with the women in the harem but also with the emperor, using her advantages to climb the ranks step by step. It's so captivating! 💕💕💕

19. 19 娘 The Consort Is All Charm and Cunning, Scheming Her Way to the Top 娘娘又茶又媚，一路宫斗上位 Tea Little Ink茶小墨Ancient Romance835k WordsCompleted Signed for print publication In the third year of the Yifeng era, a concubine-born daughter of the Ningyang Marquis’s household enters the palace. The palace is a vast, treacherous place, where the one thing you must never do is give your heart away. Ning Shuyan is clear-eyed: she wants wealth and prestige, along with the emperor’s favor. For three years, she carefully plots each step, wins the emperor’s attention, and rises from Talented Lady to Noble Consort. Rumor has it that the emperor only 56.9kReads9.5Score7.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The entire story is thrilling; seeing her suffer such torment will break your heart and deeply move you!

20. 20 尤 The Alluring Consort Climbs to the Phoenix Throne and Captures the Emperor's Heart at First Sight 尤物娘娘爬凤位，让皇上一见钟情 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance228k WordsCompleted [Devoted love + the emperor falls at first sight + palace intrigue and rising to power through favoritism + heroine’s acting skills + strong, clever heroine] Wen Shuyao loved only herself. Only losers loved men. Now that she had been granted the title of Attendant and ordered into the palace, she would make use of the emperor’s love at first sight. The emperor was merely a stepping stone for Wen Shuyao. It wouldn’t be hard to act like someone deeply in love with him. Wen Shuyao was the legitimat 5.1kReads9.0Score609Shelves

    Reader note

    A super captivating palace intrigue story.

21. 21 娘 The Consort’s Laid-Back Daily Life 娘娘的佛系日常 Springtime Sweet Orange春日甜橙Ancient Romance1.1M WordsOngoing [A lazy, carefree little schemer who just wants to lie flat + historical fantasy + palace intrigue + heroine devoted to one man, hero not devoted to one woman] The charming and clever favorite consort Lin Jingran refuses to work herself to the bone. She’s got the Noble Imperial Consort position lined up, and plans to enjoy the drama and lie flat her way to becoming Empress. Family? She’s a treasured darling of her family, too. The emperor? He openly favors her and helps her navigate palace intr 1.5kReads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A palace intrigue novel featuring a spoiled and charming female lead who is also a concubine. The story is lighthearted, humorous, and has a gradual, steady development. The protagonist is intelligent and has sound moral values.

22. 22 娇 A Scheming Childhood Friend Charms the Coldhearted Emperor into Surrender 娇媚心机青梅诱，薄情帝王沦陷深 Fu Yuan福媛Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Pure palace intrigue + the leads are not each other’s first + no saintly heroine] P.S. The heroine is a villainess who takes the initiative. A bewitching, scheming beauty × a cool, heartless emperor An imperial decree made Chu Miaowei the crown prince’s secondary consort. With the little affection her childhood friend, Crown Prince Xiao Jinghuai, had for her, she could have lived a smooth and happy life. But she had no interest in love. She only wanted power. How could the position of secondary 648Reads5.5Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead starts as a concubine; it's pure palace intrigue and very entertaining.

23. 23 宫 Palace Beauty 宫姝 Clear Summer Xixi清夏兮兮Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted She dared not love too deeply, afraid it would all turn out to be nothing but a dream. She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, scheming every day to win the emperor's favor; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts, with invisible blood staining her hands; She thought that once she entered the imperial palace, she would be like the other consorts. In the end, it was only what she had imagined. 8.4kReads9.2Score950Shelves

    Reader note

    This book has a fast pace, the female lead is intelligent, and she is the only one who is truly loved in the later stages.

24. 24 祸 A Nation's Calamity: Yan (Complete in Two Volumes) 祸国·式燕（全二册） Fourteen Towers十四阙Ancient Romance369k WordsCompleted The land of Wei is divided among Yan, Bi, Yi, and Cheng. Crown Prince Zhanghua of Yan, fifteen years old, was set to marry the third daughter of the Xie family, Xie Fanyi. But Xie Fanyi tragically died on the way to her wedding. Two years later, the new emperor chose her younger sister, Chang Yan, as his empress. And so, at thirteen, Xie Chang Yan bid farewell to her paternal family, left her hometown, and journeyed to the imperial capital to learn court etiquette as she waited to come of age. S 3kReads9.5Score528Shelves

    Reader note

    The writing is excellent; I couldn't stop reading even if I stayed up all night. It's a little angsty, but the middle part shows the female lead's resilience and growth—it's super good!

25. 25 帝 The Emperor's Cherished Beauty 帝中娇 The Moon Is Ready for Bed月亮想睡了Ancient Romance321k WordsCompleted Original title: The Consort Yuan in the Cold Palace Is Favored by the Harem Again A cruel, unhinged emperor × a scheming consort who only pretends to love him × a tragic pursuit of his wife Song Huaiyue spends five years biding her time in the cold palace. Every day after she gets out, she plots a way to kill Li Chengzhi. That way, she can become empress dowager! But five years later, Li Chengzhi is even more unhinged and difficult to deal with. And he keeps insisting that he loves her! What a j 393Reads8.0Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    You've come to the right person! The real quality of this sober and strong female lead's palace intrigue drama isn't great, but it's really good. You'll understand once you finish watching it. 😉

26. 26 继 The Second Empress 继后 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The Noble Consort was favored, the Worthy Consort bore a son, the Bright Etiquette was the emperor’s white moonlight, and the Beautiful Consort was his cinnabar mole. Every other concubine had her own talents and charms. It was a whole garden in full bloom. So who was our protagonist? The unfavored empress, with no children and no powerful family backing. Great. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Never mind. On the first day Zhao Wumian transmigrated here, she decided to lie flat. Compete for t 81.1kReads9.5Score9.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The first and third books are by the same author. They are both very clever harem novels with palace intrigue and domestic power struggles, but no cheat codes. The plots are reasonable and interesting, and every character, whether good or bad, is carefully portrayed. They are especially good!

27. 27 为 The Professional Ethics of a Concubine 为妾的职业操守 Lin Wanzi林丸子Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main Story Complete] Ye Qingzhi, an overworked office drone, transmigrates into the body of a concubine in the Jiangyang Marquis’s household. Since she’s here, she might as well go crazy. Being a concubine is just changing workplaces. She doesn’t need to get emotionally involved. She can simply treat herself like a tool. Ye Qingzhi’s career goal: convince both the marquis and the principal wife to take responsibility for her and protect her. Ye Qingzhi’s workplace motto: Life is short. We’re al 31.6kReads9.4Score3.8kShelves
28. 28 谁 Whose Favored Concubine Doesn't Get Herself Killed? 谁家宠妾不作死啊 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Pei Shiyuan had always thought that, as a concubine-born daughter, she thrived at her family home because she knew a little tea ceremony and all she had to do was flatter her father, the head of the household. She had been quite pleased with herself about it, right up until she entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The Eighth Prince’s mother, the Noble Consort, was so favored that the Empress had no room to stand. His maternal family wielded so much power that the court officials could barely b 77.9kReads9.5Score8kShelves
29. 29 重 Reborn in the Dragon Bed, the Beloved Consort Cries in the Emperor's Arms 重生在龙塌，宠妃抱着陛下哭 Staggering Along蹒跚行Ancient Romance461k WordsCompleted [A spoiled, sweetly obedient favorite consort VS a gentle, jade-like emperor who's sweet on the outside and ruthless within (they are not each other's first, but he dotes on her exclusively from the beginning to the end)] Jiang Shuyi's life as a favorite consort went smoothly for fifteen years. The emperor was gentle and benevolent, doting on her without restraint, and not a single woman in the harem dared challenge her. But she was blind to her own sister's treachery. In the end, her closest 100.7kReads9.2Score11.2kShelves
30. 30 偷 Steal from the Imperial Palace to Raise the Prince: Anyone in My Way Dies 偷皇宫养皇子，谁挡路谁就死 Yang Xiuxiu扬岫岫Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [Thieving Maid ✖️ Prince of the Cold Palace] Two equally formidable leads, fiercely protective, raising him first, then fighting for power After dying, Shan Zhi transmigrates and is reborn in the Cold Palace. The moment she opens her eyes, Si Huaizheng is hoping she’ll die. Not the best start. … She hadn’t really planned on looking after him. But he calls her big sister… What can she do? Since she’s here, she might as well make a go of it. She can only take him along for the ride~ ❗Before she 55.2kReads9.4Score8.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended!!!

31. 31 出 The Night I Left the Palace, the Mad Emperor Took Me by Force 出宫当晚，被疯批帝王强取豪夺 Clashing Gold and Flying Jade铿金霏玉Ancient Romance507k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, delicate palace maid vs. cold, ruthless, obsessive emperor] [Palace intrigue, neither lead is chaste + powerful male lead, weak female lead, and he’s completely unhinged + possessive love + a long road to winning her back] Yue Ling was a vain little palace maid. Hoping to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth, she seduced the emperor and worked tirelessly to win his favor, but still met a tragic end. After being reborn, Yue Ling saw things clearly. Rather than tread on thin ice in the de 25.8kReads9.2Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    A treacherous court intrigue unfolds, intertwined with past and present lives. A mad and ruthless emperor enters the fray, creating intense emotional turmoil. A thrilling tale of palace intrigue and domestic power struggles, packed with high-energy moments, will take you on a journey through the ultimate realm of love, hate, and revenge – a must-see!

32. 32 清 Consort De in the Qing Dynasty: One Small Goal, Become Empress Dowager 清穿德妃：定个小目标，先当太后 The White Coat Has Given Up白大褂它摆烂了Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Not a devoted-couple story, not exclusive pampering, not a childbearing plot, no golden finger, not a wish-fulfillment story. Don’t read if you dislike that. There are no golden fingers whatsoever. The heroine transmigrates, she is not reborn! The story breaks up historical Emperor Yongzheng’s official pairing, but Empress Xiaojingxian will get a happy ending. The author is still growing, so if you don’t like the early chapters, you can skip ahead. Readers say the later writing is better.] (The 2.1kReads9.2Score203Shelves
33. 33 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.5kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves

    Reader note

    In the world of historical romance novels, I absolutely adore this kind of clever and cautious female protagonist! In "The Imperial Concubine is Extraordinarily Cautious," the female protagonist uses her wisdom and hard work to navigate the palace step by step. The palace intrigue is incredibly captivating, the writing is excellent, and it's already completed at 602,000 words. Rest assured, you'll be thoroughly entertained!

34. 34 娇 Little Love Demon, Snatched Away Again by the Yandere Evil God 娇娇小魅魔！又被病娇邪神叼走了 Eight Million Eight Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand八百八十八万Two Male Leads714k WordsOngoing [Quick Transmigration + Extremely Twisted + 1v1 + Devoted Couple + Yandere + Sweet, Flirtatious Romance] [Teary-Eyed Little Demon Girl vs. Unhinged Yandere Evil God] As the last hope of the demon realm, Sang Mian shoulders a mission and enters the world of nightmares, determined to win the Evil God’s blessing. But then... The cool and abstinent god’s son murmurs hoarsely, “Sang Sang, you belong only to me.” The refined, depraved doctor boldly tempts her: “Sweetheart, if it’s you, you can do what 525Reads9.5Score114Shelves
35. 35 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 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Transmigrated into the body of a transparent concubine, she hid her modern mindset and spent her life playing the role of a docile and obedient woman in the imperial harem. Only on her deathbed did the emperor realize: "The most ruthless one was the one I thought was the most innocent." Not a story of virginity, a pinnacle of tragic ending aesthetics, with immense staying power!

36. 36 娇 So Pure and Innocent as a White Lotus, How Could She Be Scheming to Seduce Him? 娇娇纯净似白莲，怎会心机引诱？ Melon Egg瓜蛋Ancient Romance536k WordsCompleted [A femme fatale schemes for power, leading the hero step by step into ruin.] Jiang Yueyao is ruthless and destined to become empress. She first meets the emperor at a palace banquet. She is the most favored concubine of a minister, and after a palace consort publicly humiliates her, she drops to her knees and pleads for mercy, looking heartbreakingly beautiful beneath the dazzling palace lanterns. She meets the emperor for the second time in the study at her residence. Frantically fleeing her hu 4kReads9.0Score425Shelves

    Reader note

    Everything needed for palace intrigue in the Manchu dynasty! Look, look!

37. 37 皇 A Concubine’s Carefree Days 皇妾咸鱼日常 Zhi Tang知棠Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + alternate setting + lazy, carefree heroine + lighthearted daily life] Overworked office drone Zhuang Yunlan dies suddenly and transmigrates into the body of a young lady from a gentry family in the Jing Dynasty. After more than a decade of living off others and doing as little as possible, she never expects the imperial selection to reach Nan Zhili. A gentry family's young lady instantly becomes a junior consort to the crown prince. Her farming-life plot turns into a palace-int 5kReads8.5Score390Shelves

    Reader note

    Some of these books aren't actually palace intrigue stories, but the female leads are all very clear-headed. I don't care whether there's intrigue or not, but the female lead absolutely has to be discerning.

38. 38 技 The Concubine with Maxed-Out Skills Is Turning Herself into an Empress? 技能拉满的侍妾，卷成皇后了？ White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted Empress Wenzhao was a famously bewitching consort and the most talented empress. The way she has been judged and defined throughout her life has changed many times, but that has never diminished her status or the value of studying her. [System + Raising Kids + Relentless Competition] Thanks to being well fed at home, Qi Jiao was plump and rosy-cheeked. After a flood, she was sold into the palace as a maid, and when she got a little older, she was assigned to the empress’s palace. A few years lat 12.6kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
39. 39 王 A Concubine’s Daily Struggle to Stay Alive in the Prince’s Manor 王府侍妾的苟命日常 Panda Little Moneybags熊猫小财迷Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Intense Household Intrigue + A Touch of Ensemble Cast + Plot-Driven + Everyone Has Eight Hundred Schemes] After transmigrating into the body of a concubine in the Prince of Jing's residence, Xie Run only wants to live in peace and, ideally, reach a hundred years old. At first, everything in the prince's residence is orderly. The prince shares his favor equally, the princess consort's position is secure, and the secondary consorts and concubines know their place. Who could have guessed that ever 23kReads9.1Score2.2kShelves
40. 40 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 45.4kReads9.5Score5.7kShelves
41. 41 大 The Imperial Consort of the Great Sheng Dynasty 大盛皇妃 Shu Yiyu书亦娱Ancient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing Ensemble cast + revenge + black lotus heroine + not both virgins + high-IQ palace intrigue rising to political power struggles + tragic romance + alternate history + love rivals The palace is the main battleground: beneath its dazzling, extravagant facade are witty, charming daily moments and a brutal core of deadly conflict. Palace secrets are portrayed in meticulous detail. Some content may be upsetting. A bad ending. If you enjoy it, please leave a five-star review. Ling Longxiu was born to a 684Reads—Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    Not a "double virginity" story, a traditional palace intrigue novel with brain-teasing elements. The female protagonist cleverly uses schemes to achieve multiple goals while seeking revenge in the palace. It's an ensemble piece with both joy and sorrow. Have you ever seen a palace intrigue novel where both men and women are involved in the struggle? This story depicts the tragedy of ancient feudalism, showcasing the brutality of court struggles and the complexities of human nature. Each character is well-developed, with their own goals and principles. It's not a "double virginity" story; the female protagonist experiences a tumultuous love affair with both the male lead and the second male lead.

42. 42 满 The Max-Level Killer Is Reborn! Don’t Mess with Her, She’s the Real Deal 满级杀手重生！别惹，她是真大佬 Miao Xiao妙肖Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Feel-good power fantasy + punishing scumbags and face-slapping + lots of secret identities + play the pig to eat the tiger + stronger heroine] She was the ruthless, iron-fisted leader of the world’s most feared assassin organization, until her trusted subordinate betrayed and murdered her. Once reborn, she became an ugly, timid, good-for-nothing schoolgirl. In her previous life, she was queen of the underworld. In this one, she was the laughingstock of the school. Her father didn’t love her, he 14.8kReads8.6Score1.8kShelves
43. 43 禁 No Divorce Allowed! The Capital's Young Master Whispers Sweet Nothings Every Night 禁止离婚！京少夜夜低声轻哄 Tang Mengruo Ying唐梦若影Modern Romance5.3M WordsCompleted Young Master Jing got divorced! Looking at the freshly issued divorce certificate, he laughed in disbelief. “Mrs. Jing, you’ve got quite a few tricks up your sleeve.” The next day, he brought her an outrageously absurd agreement. “Mrs. Jing, I’ve left the marriage with nothing. Please take care of me.” From then on, Young Master Jing took his 108 clingy tricks to the extreme. As Buddha says, the Tao may rise a foot, but the demon rises ten; everything has its match, and there’s always a higher m 1.7kReads7.8Score155Shelves
44. 44 甜 Sweet Temptation! The Sickly-Sweet Actor Has Me Blushing and Swooning 甜欲！被病娇影帝撩哄得脸红心跳 Pihei痞黑Modern Romance861k WordsCompleted [Dating-show livestream, married first and falling in love later, devoted sweet romance! Enchantress ✖ Buddhist monk! Extra sweet and heart-fluttering!] Lin Zhiyang, one of the entertainment industry's most stunning stars, has been blacklisted across the internet and has no work, so she can only join a dating show. To her surprise, she runs into the source of all the hate she's received: her husband in name only, Qi Yanchen! Qi Yanchen is a legendary, award-winning actor. With Buddhist prayer 26.8kReads9.3Score3.6kShelves
45. 45 末 In the Apocalypse, I Lied to the Male Lead and Told Him I Was His Girlfriend 末世，我骗男主说我是他女朋友 Violent Moonlight暴烈月光Sci-Fi & Apocalypse660k WordsCompleted [Post-Apocalypse + Transmigrates into a Book as a Villainous Supporting Character + Male Lead with Amnesia + Spatial Power + Sweet, Delicate Beauty + Unhinged Male Lead] Qi Jinnuo transmigrates into a book and becomes the unhinged male lead’s gold-digging, villainous first love in a post-apocalyptic novel. She dumped him back when he was poor. After he became a wealthy young master in the capital, she shamelessly begged him to get back together. When he rejected her, she drugged him. He fought b 30.8kReads8.2Score3.3kShelves
46. 46 浮 The First Book by All Glamour Fades 浮华尽褪的第1本书 All the Glitz Has Faded浮华尽褪Modern Romance1.9M WordsCompleted Gu Yu gets dumped. Her scumbag ex says his new girlfriend is gentle and sensible, with a rich and powerful father. “What do you have?” Gu Yu smiles. “I have your dad!” After hiding her identity for years, Gu Yu has a wealthy father and a grandfather with immense power. How could she possibly be inferior to that scheming green tea girl? Gu Yu offers some advice: “Why not donate your eyes to a guide dog? They'd be useful.” The moment she turns around, business tycoon Li Shaojing pins her between h 734Reads7.0Score109Shelves
47. 47 疯 A Crazy Kiss! The Capital's Big Shot Is Nearly Swooning from Her Seduction 疯吻！京圈大佬快被她撩断气了 September's Meow九月的喵Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Taming her husband + off-the-charts tension + a battle of male rivals + romance so sweet it makes your teeth ache + daily trips to the groveling grounds] Sang Jiu is the real daughter of Xia's richest family, switched at birth and raised elsewhere. Everyone thinks she'll return to the Sang family and meekly beg them to dote on her! But on her very first day back, this heiress slaps the fake daughter, argues her eldest brother into coughing blood, hangs her second brother upside down, and nearly 4kReads7.5Score432Shelves
48. 48 姐 My Sister Insisted on Switching Marriages? I Married a Commander, and Now She Regrets It 姐姐非要换亲？我嫁首长她悔哭了 Yun Qingqiu云青楸Modern Romance485k WordsCompleted Gorgeous battlefield surgeon + celibate military officer + 1980s + marriage first, love later + devoted couple Shen Zhihuan died a horrible death on New Year’s Eve. When danger struck her family, her biased parents protected her older sister and pushed Shen Zhihuan out without a second thought! When she opened her eyes again, she was back at nineteen. Her sister insisted on switching marriage arrangements: “Mom! Xie Lanshen is badly wounded and won’t live long. Let my sister become a widow, and 1.3kReads8.8Score143Shelves
49. 49 入 Entered the Wrong Bridal Chamber and Still Want to Escape? The Rogue Military Big Shot Won't Let Go 入错洞房还想逃？军痞大佬缠疯了 Rainbow Blossoms彩虹朵朵Modern Romance239k WordsCompleted [Martial Arts Champion Badass x Cold-Faced Eighties Military Big Shot | Complete] By day, Lian Zhi beats up her junior fellow apprentices and drills her younger sisters at the martial arts school. By night, Shen Xiao corners her against a wall. “Where’d that nerve go, the nerve you had when you grabbed my clothes that night?” Her legs go weak, but she puts on a tough front. “Uncle Shen, I’m sorry...” Shen Xiao grips her chin. “You called me the wrong thing. Try again.” Drunk and acting wild, 269Reads8.8Score—Shelves
50. 50 入 I Entered the Palace to Help My Sister Keep the Emperor’s Favor, but Became His Cherished Favorite 入宫替嫡姐固宠，却成皇上掌心宠 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance504k WordsCompleted In her previous life, she entered the palace and devoted herself to helping her legitimate elder sister keep the emperor’s favor. In the end, she died without a body to bury, abandoned by her family. Returning to the year of the imperial selection, Luo Shuran calculates her every move. Her breathtaking beauty is her only weapon. She sheds her youthful timidity and blossoms into a woman of captivating charm. One fleeting glimpse, like a fairy fallen from the heavens, catches the emperor’s eye. 6.1kReads9.3Score859Shelves

    Reader note

    🍀In the first book, she was originally a pawn sent to the palace to secure the emperor's favor in place of her elder sister, navigating the treacherous inner palace with difficulty. Initially, she was extremely cautious, walking on thin ice, solely focused on completing her mission and making a safe retreat. However, each unintentional glance and tender interaction gradually melted the emperor's cold heart. From then on, she was no longer a pawn to be manipulated, but a precious treasure in the emperor's palm.

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