I'm Really Into Palace and Household Intrigue Lately. What's Your Number One Pick? 最近迷上了宫斗宅斗，哪本书是你们心中的NO1

1. 201 要 You Want Me to Marry a Servant? I'll Climb the Social Ladder Instead 要我嫁小厮？我偏要攀龙附凤 The Sleepy Owl爱瞌睡的猫头鹰Ancient Romance273k WordsCompleted [Possessive Pursuit] [1V1] Shen Zhilan, the neglected legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis's household, was pulled from a lake in front of a crowd. Amid the commotion, all anyone could talk about was marrying her off to a servant. Her younger sister had staged this whole spectacle to ruin her reputation in public. Shen Zhilan, who had transmigrated, smiled. Did her sister really think she would get her way? She charged straight in and pulled the handsome Third Prince Li Jingyu into her arms 4Reads—Score—14d adds

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   She used tea to combat tea, and he protected her. Together, they battled the green tea of the capital. Even if it were like this for a lifetime, what did it matter? On the day of the autumn hunt, Shen Zhilan was kidnapped. His ruthlessness reappeared, his eyes cold and sinister: "You all must die!" Shen Zhilan was bewildered by the completely different Li Jingyu. Was this still the same foolish third prince from before? He thought they had shared hardships and death together, inseparable. But this life of constant worry and danger terrified her, and she finally said, "Let me go." Noble as he was, his pride prevailed: "I don't need you." Shen Zhilan feigned death and escaped. The towering flames of the Marquis's mansion fueled Li Jingyu's rage, driving him almost to madness. He suddenly realized that she had become his flesh and blood; he truly couldn't live without her. He searched for clues, traveling day and night, disregarding his reputation, and finally, on their wedding day, he forcibly took her. His eyes were deep as he pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her cheek: "Got you, my wife!"

2. 202 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

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   1. The Regent's story, the female lead is a time traveler. 2. The Crown Prince and his maid, the story's premise is excellent, starting with someone commenting on a painting scroll and then on to a memorial to the throne. 3. The Marquis is incredibly eccentric. 4. My first book to get into this genre, the Emperor and his maid, after meeting the maid, he basically only has eyes for her.

3. 203 东 The Eastern Palace’s Hidden Darling 东宫藏娇 Chiyo千代Ancient Romance222k WordsCompleted [Sweet, imaginative historical romance + Pursuing his wife through live comments + A forced romance that turns mutual + A beautiful airhead + A sinister crown prince + The real and fake heiress] To earn money for her seriously ill mother and her injured brother, desperate Pei Jiaojiao sold herself into slavery at the Eastern Palace. Her pretty face and timid, trouble-avoiding nature earned her a place serving in the Crown Prince's study, assigned by the steward. Her daily chores were simple: gri 4.2kReads9.1Score31714d adds
4. 204 重 Reborn Maid: The Mad Young Master’s Daily Devotion to His Wife 重生丫鬟：疯批少爷的宠妻日常 Miss White Rabbit Milk Candy大白兔奶唐女士Ancient Romance102k WordsCompleted After being reborn, Xiao Tao swore she would leave her young master. She ran away once, and he chased her. She ran again, and he chased her again... And she realized that her young master was becoming more and more unhinged. “Little girl, you can't leave me. Understand?” “Little girl, where are you going now?” “Xiao Tao, run again and see what happens. Hmm?” Xiao Tao trembled in Xiao Jingyan's arms. Oh my gosh, how had her elegant, noble young master turned into a complete lunatic?! In both her 4.4kReads8.0Score23714d adds
5. 205 帝 The Emperor's Cherished Consort 帝王娇宠 Three Days in the Capital三日京Ancient Romance417k WordsCompleted [Not a pure-love couple / not a strong heroine / weak heroine / little palace intrigue / slight angst early on, exclusive devotion later] Shu Li began having frequent dreams after she was transferred from the Hall of Sacred Books to serve the emperor. In them, a tall man stood not far from her. The first time their eyes met, she woke with a start. The second time she saw his face, he grabbed her by the throat and frightened her. The day after waking from the dream, she suddenly realized that 8.1kReads9.2Score86914d adds
6. 206 纵 So What If You’re Reborn? 纵你重生又如何 Yao Yaoya妖幺芽Ancient Romance169k WordsCompleted [The main story is complete] [Two powerful leads + no point in being reborn as a concubine’s daughter + face-slapping and punishing scoundrels + the male lead has a secret crush] [A cool, composed beauty with overwhelming combat prowess vs. a mysterious, bewitching prince] [One-on-one romance + happy ending + single and chaste] Her mother was the most favored legitimate princess, her uncle was the reigning emperor, her maternal grandmother was empress dowager of the realm, and her older brother 2.3kReads8.9Score29614d adds

   Reader note

   In short: Highly recommended

7. 207 与 Joy with You 与君欢 Moonset月落Ancient Romance657k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue and Political Scheming + Marriage Before Love + Mutual Devotion] A young king and queen join hands to bring peace to the realm, brimming with ambition! A sinister, calculating ruler versus a clever, decisive queen: evenly matched, they win the world together! Jiang He, daughter of an envoy from Qi, was forced to enter the palace as a servant after her mother died and her father disappeared. Then, just before the marriage alliance, the princess of Qi died a tragic death, leaving 26.3kReads9.5Score3.4k14d adds

   Reader note

   Did you watch it more than twice?

8. 208 清 Qingfeng Villa 清风墅 Sunlit Bird扶光鸟Modern Romance284k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available] [Marriage first, love later + Age gap + Literary family + Slow-burn romance + Both leads are each other's first] *Theme: Children who are cherished don't have to say they're sorry.* As a child, Shu He was utterly broken by her coldhearted father. During an extreme snowstorm in Jingbei, she wandered alone by the roadside, clutching the doll that had grown up with her. The blizzard raged, and she eventually collapsed, frozen stiff. A Bentley pulled over. The young man 115.6kReads9.5Score14.9k14d adds
9. 209 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 87.6kReads9.5Score12k14d adds

   Reader note

   These two books are quite engaging and worth reading; I highly recommend them!

10. 210 后 The Legend of Ruyi 后宫·如懿传 Liu Lianzi流潋紫Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [The original novel behind the TV drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace] Emperors have always been fickle, and no family is more heartless than the imperial family. Hongli’s side consort, Qingying, was born into the prominent Ula-Nara clan. But after Hongli ascended the throne, the court and the imperial harem were thrown into turmoil. Her former status and privilege became a thing of the past, and Qingying found herself in an awkward position, burdened by a shocking secret. To protect herself, 2.8kReads8.3Score34614d adds

    Reader note

    You deserve it.

11. 211 后 The Harem: Empresses in the Palace 后宫·甄嬛传 Liu Lianzi流潋紫Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Exclusive Consort Hua bonus chapter now available!] The original novel of the TV series Empresses in the Palace She enters the palace and wins the emperor’s favor, but every step is fraught with danger. The palace is deep as an ocean, and though Zhen Huan has no wish to enter and become the emperor’s consort, fate pushes her into the cruelest of harems. The women in the palace are as radiant as flowers, with lovely brows and eyes, yet every one of them conceals her own schemes and plots agains 12kReads8.9Score1.7k14d adds
12. 212 当 Back Then, I Refused to Marry the East Wind (A Companion to A Spring Rain on a Night in a Small Tower, a Historical Pride and Prejudice) 当年不肯嫁东风（《小楼一夜听春雨》姊妹篇，古代版傲慢与偏见) Bright Moon Tilts明月倾Ancient Romance556k WordsCompleted [Sisters united + rekindled romance + historical ensemble cast] The Ye sisters’ battle to protect their romantic prospects: a long-planned, romantic counterattack. With sisters sticking together, nothing is too difficult! After their mother died, the three Ye sisters broke with their father, who favored his concubine and neglected his wife. They lived in a separate residence and took in A Cuo, the adopted daughter of their late maternal aunt, relying on one another to get by. Four years ago, the 17.2kReads9.6Score2.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    I read both books until 3 a. M.

13. 213 小 Listening to Spring Rain All Night in a Small Tower 小楼一夜听春雨 Bright Moon Tilts明月倾Ancient Romance876k WordsCompleted A critically acclaimed historical romance ensemble that topped the annual charts! A calculating, lovesick beauty versus a dark, scheming top scholar! A historical take on Pride and Prejudice: life in the inner household isn't all scheming and rivalry, but also deep sisterly affection. The clever and capable Second Madam Lou takes the greatest pride in her life in having three beautiful daughters. To marry her three marriageable girls into “good” families, she travels a great distance to the capi 35.4kReads9.6Score5.8k14d adds
14. 214 庶 The Concubine's Plan for the Legitimate Daughter 庶女嫡谋 Bei Mu Nan Qiao北木南乔Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted The Grand Empress Dowager, who had ruled the court for more than a decade, passed away. Reborn as the unloved, impoverished daughter of a marquis’s concubine, she had no desire to strive in this life. All she wanted was to marry a husband with a short life expectancy and enjoy widowhood after he died. Yang Yue died in battle. After death, his soul lingered on, witnessing the shifts of power in the Great Qing dynasty and watching the Grand Empress Dowager be poisoned by her own grandson. When he 9.1kReads8.9Score1.2k14d adds
15. 215 凤 Feng Yu's Imperial Power 凤钰凰权 Qin Xiangwan秦向晚Ancient Romance207k WordsOngoing In the year 6066, the obsessive archaeologist Qin Wan lived in seclusion, devoting herself to the study of history. While exploring an unclaimed imperial tomb, she triggered a mechanism and became trapped inside. In despair, she set herself alight, merging with an ancient painting of a beauty. When the flame died and her life ended, she transmigrated into a matriarchal dynasty! In the early years of Empress Feng Lin's reign, the Cangyu Dynasty was beset by internal troubles and external strife. 17Reads8.1Score—14d adds
16. 216 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 54.2kReads9.4Score8.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    These are all very nice, highly recommended!! [Bump]

17. 217 折 Spring Breeze, Broken to Pieces 折尽春风 Shi Jin是今Ancient Romance280k WordsCompleted She is the eldest daughter of the provincial governor’s household. She sees through worldly affection, and only money can make her feel secure! He is the great general of the chancellor’s household. He has witnessed every kind of hardship, yet the one thing he can never forget is the smile on her face when she sees money. At their first meeting, he seemed to step out of a painting in shades of lush green, the mountain wind billowing his robe and dazzling everyone who saw him. At their second mee 9.8kReads9.5Score1.1k14d adds
18. 218 惊 Shocking! The Noble Consort Wins the Favor of All Six Palaces by Gossiping 惊！贵妃娘娘靠吃瓜宠冠六宫 Day Mountain Moon昼山月Ancient Romance620k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + substitute + fleeing while pregnant + secret identity] [The leads are not each other’s first; she becomes his sole favorite later. The heroine stays clearheaded and never falls for him. A silly, fluffy story; the heroine is no saint.] Jing Shumei was born with stunning beauty. She used her looks to seduce the Emperor, never giving him her heart, only scheming for her own gain. Using her mind-reading ability to listen in on palace gossip and navigate the harem, she climbed step 4kReads9.3Score55614d adds

    Reader note

    This was the first book I read after that, and I got hooked and read a lot more palace intrigue novels. These are all good, go for it! Go for it! Go for it!

19. 219 人 Life Is a Play, and the Empress Is All About Her Acting Skills 人生如戏，娘娘她纯拼演技 Hot Hot烫烫Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + witty banter + sweet, delicate beauty + calculated mind games] The leads are not each other’s only partners. If that bothers you, don’t read. Be prepared for suspicion in the early chapters, followed by affection later. The pacing is slow, so proceed with caution if you prefer fast-paced wish-fulfillment stories. As a double award-winning actress and a seasoned star of palace intrigue dramas, how could Shi Yan possibly lose her nerve after transmigrating into the imperial hare 5kReads9.3Score53214d adds
20. 220 灭 After the Crown Princess Conceives Twins, the Crown Prince Favors His Beloved Concubine and Makes Her Empress 灭太子妃怀双胎，太子宠娇妾封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance500k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance. Not a virginal couple! + Clear-headed heroine gradually grows stronger in palace intrigue + Twins + Winning the Crown Prince’s heart, aiming for the empress’s throne] An Ruyan clutched her book of Thirty-Six Stratagems and set out to win over the tyrannical Crown Prince!!! An Ruyan was rescued by Prince Yan when she was robbed while visiting a temple. She had long been in love with him, but an unexpected incident made her see what a scumbag he was. Determined to 2.3kReads8.9Score23514d adds
21. 221 娘 The Empress Is Otherworldly and Alluring: The Emperor's Exclusive Favorite 娘娘又仙又撩：陛下椒房独宠 Clouds Rise to the Ninth Heaven云出九霄Ancient Romance519k WordsCompleted [Not a first-love-only pairing; the heroine is no saint; the emperor favors her exclusively in the middle and later stages; fluffy, brainless sweet romance; silly and lighthearted, read with caution] Everyone says that a highborn legitimate daughter who enters the palace is doomed to a bad end, but Pei Jinyan refuses to believe it. Besides, she was once the emperor’s favorite consort in her previous life. She simply ruined a winning hand through her own arrogance and capriciousness. She gave bir 7.5kReads9.2Score86714d adds
22. 222 贵 The Noble Consort’s Blessed Pregnancy: She Takes the Harem by Storm! 贵妃福孕，在后宫杀疯了！ White Peppercorn白藤椒Ancient Romance275k WordsCompleted [Completed! Bonus chapters may appear from time to time] In her previous life, Lin Jinyu was a lone wolf in the imperial harem. After taking fierce revenge for the two pitiful children, Consort Cheng, satisfied after seeing her daughter married, closed her eyes for the last time. When she opened them again, she was back in her maiden home. The price, it seemed, was having children: the more, the better. For the sake of the children she had lost in her previous life, Lin Jinyu embarked on a journ 1.5kReads8.9Score14314d adds
23. 223 东 The Eastern Palace's Pampered Concubine: The Crown Prince Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife, and She Sets Her Sights on the Empress's Throne 东宫娇妾：太子宠妾灭妻目标后位 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance229k WordsCompleted Not a pure pairing, not a pure pairing [The prince’s concubine is not a pure pairing at first + she enters the palace soon after, and becomes his sole favorite after the palace struggles] [The heroine is clear-headed and career-minded, working her way up to the empress’s position] Since I’ve been granted the title of Worthy Lady, my goal should be the empress’s throne. The Crown Prince has been married for two years, but the Crown Princess has yet to bear him a child. The Empress personally choo 2.2kReads8.9Score18314d adds
24. 224 娇 The Emperor’s Favorite: His Beloved Consort 娇妃娘娘盛宠六宫 Blue Snow Pear Blossom蓝雪梨花Ancient Romance501k WordsCompleted (Transmigration + System + palace intrigue + happily ever after with the heroine as the emperor’s sole favorite) Xu Lanshan transmigrates into the body of a palace maid who was tortured to death by her own mistress. She has no choice but to plot her escape. The only way to stay alive is to win the emperor’s favor. She sees the bright side: he’s the most powerful man in the world, and he’s young and handsome, too. Sleeping with him would be a win. But what’s with this palace-intrigue System? If s 1.2kReads8.9Score10614d adds
25. 225 撕 Tear Apart the Harem! Win Favor! She's a Lunatic, Who Dares Cross Her? 撕后宫！得恩宠！她是疯批谁敢惹 Cats Are Extra Sweet猫猫特别甜Ancient Romance683k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue Only + Concubine-born Daughter + Reborn + Revenge + Everyone Is Evil + Wish-Fulfillment] [The story begins before the heroine enters the palace] [The emperor favors no one at first, and the heroine doesn’t fall in love] Jiang Shiying had died once. She died in childbirth, after her own elder sister had her killed to keep the baby. Reborn, she had made up her mind: she would enter the palace and get revenge, but she wouldn’t suffer! Not her stepmother or her elder sister, not eve 7.5kReads9.3Score95214d adds
26. 226 娘 The Empress Is Alluring and Delicate, and the Cold, Cruel Emperor Falls for Her at First Sight 娘娘娇娇媚，冷戾帝王一见倾心 The Star Among the Stars in the Sky天上星星的星星Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue and revenge, a slow-burn, slow-payoff story + stunning heroine + exceptionally clearheaded heroine with an unwavering goal] [The hero always favors the heroine + dotes on her exclusively in the middle + disbands his harem later] After Shen Qingtang’s aunt is schemed against and killed by Madam Shen, her goal becomes perfectly clear: she will enter the palace, become the most honored woman in the land, and make everyone who plotted against her aunt pay. She is also perfectly clea 5kReads9.1Score56414d adds
27. 227 宠 He Spoils His Favorite Consort and Destroys the Harem, While the Biased Emperor Decrees Her Empress 宠娇妃灭后宫，偏心皇上下旨封后 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance309k WordsCompleted [The emperor falls in love at first sight + the heroine isn't the only one for him at first, but later receives all his favor + the emperor helps her fight in the harem and makes her empress + the heroine fights in the harem and kills] A low-ranking concubine? I want to be empress. No, no, I want to be Empress Dowager. What? The emperor saw Han Qianning kill someone, and still wants to keep her by his side... Once I'm in the palace, I'll climb my way up to the phoenix throne and kill them all. 1.1kReads9.0Score10614d adds
28. 228 宫 A Heart Caged Behind Palace Walls: Consort Yuan Is Promoted Again 宫墙锁心宠，元妃娘娘又晋位了 Han Qingxue寒清雪Ancient Romance320k WordsCompleted No one is completely devoted to one person in the early part of the story, so don’t read if that’s a dealbreaker. The emperor is a scoundrel at first, but utterly doting later. More sweet than angsty. [Palace intrigue and rising to power + many children + absolute favor + climbing to the top one step at a time] Su Zhitang, the daughter of a general, enters the palace as a beauty after the selection. Her father is already a second-rank official, so she only wants to heed her mother’s advice, keep 607Reads9.0Score10114d adds
29. 229 小 The Little Palace Maid's Thoughts Were Read 小宫女被读心了 Jiang Xiaoshi江小十Ancient Romance254k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the palace as a maid, Qin Jianjian works diligently, flatters those above her, and deceives those below her. In the end, she becomes the top-ranked maid serving the Empress Dowager. She has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of her profession. Money she’s openly entitled to, along with money she shouldn’t have, keeps flowing into Qin Jianjian’s pockets. Delighted, she just has to wait until she’s old enough to leave the palace and retire early. Who could have guessed the 14.7kReads9.4Score1.2k14d adds
30. 230 只 As Long as I Act Well, the Empress's Throne Is Mine 只要演技好，娘娘的凤位跑不了 A Bird's Wing一只鸟的翅膀Ancient Romance260k WordsCompleted Red bricks and green tiles, beauty all around. One shower of imperial favor, and from then on she advances step by step, finally ascending the throne to stand alongside the emperor. Her family is in decline? Her brother's career prospects are uncertain? Her sister's marriage prospects have come to nothing? See how Wen Ruo keeps true to herself in the harem, rises step by step, leads her family back to the top, helps her brother advance his career, and finds her sister a fine marriage! “This hare 2.4kReads9.0Score26414d adds
31. 231 重 Reborn Palace Maid: She Only Wants to Fight for the Emperor's Favor 重生宫女之她只想宫斗 Lady Yejiu夜九娘Ancient Romance444k WordsCompleted In her previous life, Jiaoyun spent years confined in the Cold Palace before finally being released. What she got in return was a useless husband and a wicked mother-in-law. This time, she decisively betrayed her mistress and climbed into someone else’s bed, successfully rising in status. And then she became the lowest-ranking palace maid… When Emperor Jingheng first saw Jiaoyun, he was merely captivated by her looks. “How can this palace maid have fairer skin than the Noble Consort?” Jiaoy 710Reads9.1Score10214d adds
32. 232 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
33. 233 九 Ninefold Brocade 九重锦 Evening Breeze Under the Moon月下晚风Ancient Romance715k WordsCompleted Household and palace intrigue, with the leads not both being each other's first. A fictional setting, with all ranks and titles made up. A heroine who grows over time and isn't blinded by love. After being suppressed for more than a decade, a concubine-born daughter has her fate rearranged overnight. Entering the prince's manor only fuels her ambition. Her birth father ignores her, allowing her stepmother to torment her and her mother for half their lives without ever offering them the slightest 35.1kReads9.3Score5.9k14d adds
34. 234 为 The Concubine's Guide to Self-Cultivation 为妾的自我修养 Yu Jian郁见Ancient Romance429k WordsOngoing Zhu Yan transmigrates as a merchant's daughter and becomes a pawn her family uses to avoid disaster. Her father sends her to Changning Marquis Xie An as a concubine. As a concubine, Zhu Yan stays true to herself. She doesn't compete, make a fuss, or draw attention. Who could have guessed that the Marquis of Changning would be so fortunate? When something happens to the royal family's only two heirs, the emperor chooses Xie An, a member of the imperial clan, to inherit the throne. If a concubine 6.3kReads9.2Score45014d adds

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