Palace Intrigue, with a Principled, Cunning Heroine and No Angst 宫斗，女主有原则，有心机，不虐。

201 穿 I Transmigrated into a Book as Cannon Fodder, and the Crown Prince Wants Me to Stay Alive! 穿书成炮灰，太子求我苟住！ First Meeting, Star Snow初见星雪Ancient Romance136k WordsOngoing [Historical Romance + Transmigrate into a Book + Palace and Household Intrigue + No Goody-Two-Shoes] Tian Jiao is a professional transmigrator who has just finished a mission in a book. Before she can even take a break, she clutches her stomach and dashes into the bathroom! The moment she squats down, a foul stench hits her. Suddenly, a strange ripple runs through space “Again? Could you at least wait until I'm done in the bathroom?” System, you bastard! This calls for extra pay! She has bare —Reads—Score—14d adds

Reader note

The female protagonist transmigrates into a book; no angst.

205 侯 My Lord, Your Wife Has Torn Down the Wall Again! 侯爷，夫人又拆墙了！ Jiang Jinyue gy江浸月gyAncient Romance241k WordsCompleted Sweet historical romance, a twin's stand-in marriage, bickering couple, a mix of sweetness and angst, and a husband chasing his wife to win her back in a battlefield of romantic rivals [Wall-smashing powerhouse wife × wall-repairing, wife-spoiling marquis] “The walls my wife tears down, I’ll repair myself!” Jiang Zhao punched through the walls of the marquis's manor, only for Lu Jing to pin her between the crumbling ruins. “Ten collapsed walls can't compare to one beat of my wife's heart.” The 21Reads—Score—14d adds

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You could try these two books; the female leads aren't love-struck and are quite intelligent.

207 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

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Super good-looking

208 谋 Scheming for the Heir 谋嫡 Master Hua花爷Ancient Romance403k WordsCompleted From being a pawn sent by her elder half-sister to the Third Prince's residence to climbing over a mountain of blood and claiming the empress's throne, Lin Wanying did just one thing: she kept Zhao Xuan firmly by her side. 3.1kReads9.1Score58214d adds

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Palace intrigue and domestic power struggles + a clear-headed female lead

209 郡 The Princess Is So Irresistible, the God of War Willingly Bows to Her 郡主如此多娇，战神王爷甘愿折腰 Yingluo英落Ancient Romance306k WordsCompleted [Brilliant Beauty with a Double Identity × Devoted, Powerful God of War Who Guards the North] [One-on-One Romance, Reborn, Sweet Romance, Love of Country and Family] In her previous life, Fu Yuetan was pushed into the water and lost her memories of the most important person in her life. Deceived by villains, the loyal Fu family was branded traitorous. Fu Yuetan, the Princess of Miaoqiong, became known as a demoness and died upon the sacrificial altar. When the man returned victorious from war, h 792Reads8.8Score14014d adds

Reader note

It's all palace intrigue, but sweet and fluffy with no angst 💕

217 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

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The imperial harem isn't a marketplace; infighting is never the goal. True strength lies in walking a tightrope between "guarding one's heart" and "breaking free from constraints": neither a pushover to be manipulated, nor a ruthless, indiscriminate killer; capable of understanding human nature, but never compromising one's principles; allowed to vie for power, but must live with clarity and grace. This time, watch how a principled and cunning heroine carves a path to survival that is "satisfying yet not cruel" in the ruthless harem!

218 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

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The first book goes without saying, but the second one is absolutely brilliant; it's been recommended to death.

219 庶 The Daily Madness of a Lowborn Daughter 庶女发癫日常 Chu Shimei楚诗魅Ancient Romance888k WordsCompleted [Transmigrated into a book heroine vs. reborn heroine, one-on-one romance] Shi Yao transmigrated into a reborn, pampered heroine’s revenge novel and became an ignored, expendable illegitimate daughter. The one doted on by everyone was Shi Mingzhu, the original heroine. In her previous life, the moment Shi Mingzhu was born, the old master declared, “Dote on her! I want the whole family to spoil her rotten!” So all eight brothers became hopelessly devoted to their little sister. To help the heroi 35.1kReads9.2Score4.7k14d adds

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①②③ Are all palace intrigue stories, with the female lead rising from a low rank. ① Is a palace maid, ② is a palace maid who becomes a concubine, and ③ is also a concubine who rises to power. The male leads are all relatively well-off. ③ Is a transmigration story, with the female supporting character being reborn or transmigrating. ④ The female lead is relatively weak at the beginning, but later uses a rebirth system to take revenge. The female lead doesn't do anything special; those who treat her badly are punished by the reborn characters she has.

220 病 Spring Returns to the Branches of a Sick Tree 病树枝头又逢春 Sweet Melon甜甜的瓜Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available] Sang Nian accidentally climbs into the world of cultivation and becomes the vicious supporting female character who meets a tragic end in the book. System: Your mission is to marry the male supporting character, Xie Chenzhou, abuse him, humiliate him, and then get killed by him. Sang Nian: OK (brandishes little whip) (hits herself) (collapses with a thud) System: (silence) (stares at the sky) System: Mission changed. Win him over, or go mine coal. Sang Nian: (smiles 183.4kReads9.5Score25.3k14d adds

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It's so beautiful, really so 🥰🥰😘

223 世 The Heir's Temper Burns Like Fire, and His Sweet Wife Can't Hide 世子性烈如火，娇娇夫人难以藏躲 Yuyu Zi渔渔籽Ancient Romance354k WordsCompleted [Pure historical romance, not reborn + fictional dynasty + marriage before love + both leads are virgins + gentle, graceful, perceptive beauty vs. cold-faced, devoted, hot-tempered lord] After her kingdom was defeated in war, she was sent to Beichen to marry, becoming a sacrifice for peace between the two nations. After the wedding, she and Yan Han, the heir of Beichen, were united in name only. As time passed, she realized he saw her only as a gift from Nandu, someone insignificant and dispensa 1.5kReads8.8Score14814d adds

Reader note

Both are super good, and two of them are super sweet.

227 烬 Ashen Bones, Passionate Embrace 烬骨合欢 Yu Yuan钰芫Ancient Romance150k WordsCompleted I still remember the years when we were children, laughing and talking without end, close as we played in the courtyard with its swings. We shared sour plums, and leaned together by the pine-framed window through many a spring. Now each of us has grown old in a different corner of the world, yet still searches for warmth on the page. Sometimes I turn to the verses on red leaves, and we look at each other, recalling old tearstains. The first ten years of Jiang Wanqing’s life were blissfully happy 197Reads—Score—14d adds

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🤭🤭🤭🥰🥰🥰

234 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 25.1kReads9.3Score12.4k14d adds

Reader note

Palace intrigue is so good, I stayed up all night watching it!

235 女 The Scheming Maids by the Side of the Villainess 女配身边的心机丫鬟们 Spring Ice, Tiger's Tail春冰虎尾Ancient Romance389k WordsCompleted [Quick transmigration stories, each one standalone, with a different heroine in every story: a scheming woman rises to power] [Narrated in the third person] (The Young General) My young lady was infatuated with the young general. She didn't care that everyone in the capital laughed at her, and went to look for him at the military camp outside the city every single day. The young general was as dazzling as the morning sun, yet he never spared her a glance. My lady was so furious she slapped me 762Reads6.6Score10714d adds

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"The Scheming Maids Around the Female Supporting Character" is incredibly captivating! A quick transmigration story, each tale is independent. The scheming maids each employ their own methods: in the young general's story, a maid secretly flirts with the general; in the scholar's story, a maid gains the opportunity to become a concubine. Witness how they rise through the ranks using their cunning, creating unique tales of triumph and revenge!

236 贵 The Imperial Consort's Palace Intrigue 贵妃美人宫斗 Fictional Paranormal Dangdang小说灵异当当Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted From entering the palace to wielding power over the entire harem, this story follows the favored consort's growth from innocence to maturity. (Favored → cast aside → fighting back →). With a focus on palace intrigue and the ties between the imperial court and the inner palace. The emperor's feelings shift from novelty to suspicion, then guilt, then dependence… 27Reads6.7Score—14d adds

Reader note

This is the only palace intrigue novel I've read.

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

Reader note

Ahhh, I can't quite explain it, it's so good 🥰🥰 But it's the first book I've read that isn't a clean romance 🥺🥺 Please don't scold me if you disagree 😢😢 The writing is also super good 😘😘🥰

240 赶 Thrown Out of the Manor? A Year Later, I Return as a Consort 赶我出府？一年后封妃归来 Jingjing Yeye京京耶耶Ancient Romance352k WordsCompleted [Scheming seduction, a golden finger, sweet and satisfying romance, palace maid rises to power] (The rating has only just opened. Check the reviews for details; it’ll go up, q-q.) - On the day of her grandmother’s funeral, Shen Lingyang was framed for having an affair with another man. The marquis’s household couldn’t wait to drive her out. But how could a beautiful, frail young woman survive in the rough and tumble streets? After much thought, she realized there was perhaps only one person unde 4.2kReads8.3Score66414d adds

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1️⃣ The female protagonist transmigrates into a palace intrigue novel, becoming the Crown Prince's concubine. In the original story, she died tragically, unloved by the Crown Prince. After transmigrating into the body of the original 10-year-old owner, she spends lavishly to cultivate herself, single-mindedly pursuing power, snatching the male lead from the original female lead, and ultimately becoming Empress. Throughout, she is clear-headed and intelligent, using the male lead as a tool to rise to power. 2️⃣ The female protagonist, Song Zhao, is ruthless and shrewd in achieving her goals. From the moment she enters the palace, her objective is clear: to become Empress. Using her beauty and wisdom, she meticulously plans her moves, winning the Emperor's heart, manipulating the six palaces, living as the villain, defeating everyone, and ultimately successfully ascending to the throne.

242 病 The Sickly Heir Married the Wrong General’s Daughter, and Now He Can’t Keep His Wife in Line 病世子错娶将门女，夫纲难立 The Paper Doll's Freedom纸片人的自由Ancient Romance532k WordsCompleted The rating just came in [A ridiculously strong heroine who even argues her own case + a male lead who gets trained into idiocy by his wife, from a cold, sickly young lord] [Porcelain-doll puppy] [Fake-and-real young lord trope: the male lead is switched out maliciously, then switched back.] Shen Yunzhou never dreamed that she and her legitimate older sister, who were married off on the same day, would get into the wrong bridal sedan chairs. She married the aloof, immortal-looking heir of the Pe 1kReads7.5Score17014d adds

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These books are really good, and they're all virgins/clean!

247 寿 Three Months Left to Live, Hurry and Take the Kids to Find Their Father 寿命还剩三月，火速带娃去找亲爹 Ye Yiyi叶亿亿Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Metaphysics + fortune-telling + feel-good revenge + adorable kids] The real daughter, mistakenly switched at birth with the Duke's Estate's child, has returned with twins, a boy and a girl. The powerful Prince Han declares that he'll acknowledge the children, but wants nothing to do with their mother. The scheming green-tea women and fake innocent white lotuses laugh themselves silly, but soon they have nothing to laugh about. Jiang Yunxi heals the sick and saves lives, and can read fortunes wi 13kReads9.0Score1.9k14d adds

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Highly rated palace intrigue novels 📚 I'm hooked!