In a Reading Slump. Looking for a Palace Intrigue Novel 书荒了，想求一本宫斗文

1. 1 惹 Why Mess With Her? She's His Majesty's Beloved and His First Wife 惹她干嘛，她是陛下白月光兼发妻 Amidst Misty Rain on the Terrace楼台烟雨中Ancient Romance452k WordsCompleted [A calculating, possessive emperor × a sweet, gentle beauty | devoted to one another | mutual healing | growing-up romance | two hopeless romantics falling for each other~] Jiang Yingli has spent four years as Prince Su’s concubine. Xiao Chenglan, Prince Su, has little interest in women, and she is the only concubine in his household, so her life is peaceful and carefree. She thinks things will stay that way, but then Prince Su ascends the throne. Overnight, she rises from a lowly concubine of P 56.1kReads8.9Score6.5kShelves

   Reader note

   It's really good; the male lead teaches the female lead to rely on him step by step. 🥰🥰🥰

2. 2 皇 The Royal Family’s Cherished Daughter-in-Law: The Emperor and Empress Are Shipping Themselves 皇家宠媳：帝后嗑CP啦 Sheng Qian笙浅Ancient Romance296k WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance + palace and household intrigue + no transmigration or rebirth + alternate history + one-on-one romance + sweet and doting + childhood sweethearts] [Gentle, resilient beauty VS cool, composed Crown Prince] Just three months after Mu Shuangyin's birth mother passed away, Chancellor Mu took a second wife. The new madam brought a son and a daughter into the household. They were said to be the Chancellor's children, and even more remarkably, the twins had been born ab 18.1kReads9.2Score1.8kShelves
3. 3 急 Help! I Borrowed a Seed to Have a Baby, So Why Is It the Emperor’s Heir? 急！借种生子，借成龙种了怎么办 Eighty Thousand Springs八万春Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Freshly transmigrated and ready to make her mark, Xia Chirou, a playboy of a woman, was practically speechless with anger. Her household was surrounded by hungry wolves, and she urgently needed a child to help her future husband, a top scholar in the making, claim the position of family head. At her husband’s repeated pleas, Xia Chirou went along with it. After carefully considering her options, she chose the handsome, aloof coachman from the household. The new coachman had long, powerful arms, 1.9kReads7.5Score210Shelves
4. 4 穿 I Became the Crown Prince's Consort, and Got Twins as a Bonus 穿成太子良娣，我喜提双胞胎 Sui Sui An Lan穗穗安兰Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance, no misunderstandings] Wen Ruantang transmigrates into a wish-fulfillment novel she once read, but she isn't the heroine! She's a cannon-fodder character who kills herself right from the start, a secondary consort of the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Kingdom. That's right, she's cannon fodder, not even a supporting female character! After narrowly escaping death, Wen Ruantang decides to keep her head down and survive. After all, being a secondary consort to the Crown Prince is pra 28.9kReads8.7Score3.2kShelves

   Reader note

   The third one is a palace intrigue novel; the others are all domestic intrigue novels, and they're all really good! Come on, ladies, take a look and see which one you like! 🤭👍👍

5. 5 我 I’m Fighting for Favor in the Palace, and You’re Watching the Show??? 我在宫斗，你在看戏？？？ Dreams on the Mountain山上有梦Ancient Romance492k WordsCompleted A no-holds-barred harem showdown. Got the guts to join? ^_^ [Pure palace intrigue + characters who aren't dumbed down + clear-headed heroine + no pointless self-torment + cheerful and lighthearted] After Qiu Ju dies, she transmigrates to the Qianyuan Dynasty and becomes a low-ranking palace maid. Because she doesn't want to get up at three in the morning to work, she decides to seduce the emperor... Her modest goal: become a consort who has to get up no earlier than five in the morning... 5.5kReads9.0Score533Shelves

   Reader note

   It's quite unique, different from what I've seen before. The most important point is that there's no romance.

6. 6 人 Life Simulator: I'm a Pro at Rising Through Palace Schemes 人生模拟器：宫斗升职我专业 I Eat Tomatoes Without Spitting Out the Skins吃西红柿不吐番茄皮Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Palace Intrigue + System + Golden Finger + A Story That's 30% Indulgence and 70% Playing It Safe] (Important, important, important!!! Content warning: The heroine is an ordinary person who grows over time. At first, she has some girlish romantic notions; she isn't highly intelligent from the start. Not a mutually exclusive first-love story, and the male lead doesn't dote on her alone. Don't read if these bother you.) From the start, she's in the hardest difficulty mode. After s 6.9kReads9.1Score666Shelves
7. 7 论 How to Become the Mad Tyrant’s White Moonlight 论如何成为疯批暴君的白月光 Little Sheep Cheese小羊奶酪Ancient Romance900k WordsCompleted [Delicate, stunning noblewoman * mad, twisted boy-emperor] (Complete) [Both leads are each other’s first and only + System + redemption + heroine fakes her death and loses her memory later + hero is genuinely insane] The first time Meng Yuan met Xie Hui, she saw him order someone to feed a young palace maid to a horse. When he turned to look at her, his voice was so excited it frightened her. “You have lovely eyes. Let’s have someone dig them out and turn them into glass marbles.” Meng Yuan felt 76.9kReads9.2Score9.1kShelves

   Reader note

   Wow, let me just say "It's great!" The male lead is Xie Hui, the Great Emperor of Nanzhao, and the female lead is Meng Yuan, a modern college student who was forced to transmigrate. There are over 200 chapters in total. The first 160-odd chapters are the main text, where the female lead's mission is to transform the male lead from a tyrant into a good emperor, bringing peace and prosperity to Nanzhao. Due to his parents' circumstances, the male lead has a very cruel personality, but he is very kind to the female lead. Later, with her help, he overcomes this flaw. The male lead is like a stubborn little dog, finding light in his life under the female lead's guidance. The remaining 100-odd chapters are supplementary chapters detailing various endings for the male and female leads, catering to different reader preferences. This is the first time I've encountered such a detailed summary on Tomato Bookstore. I don't expect you to read it all, but even a quick glance at the synopsis would be appreciated!

8. 8 夫 My Husband Makes Me Sleep Alone, So I Lure the Imperial Uncle Into the Bridal Chamber 夫君让我守空房，我诱皇叔入洞房 Zhuchuan Xue竹川雪Ancient Romance352k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book, sweet romance and wish-fulfillment, faux uncle and niece, one-on-one and mutually devoted, face-slapping and punishing scum] “Be good. Let me hold you.” After Shen Zhiyu dies from staying up too late, she transmigrates into the little ancestor the regent Xiao Wang has been waiting ten years for. Unfortunately, the moment she arrives, she’s stripped and hauled onto a chopping board. So she goes berserk on the spot and slaps the scumbag and the homewrecker. “If you 10.4kReads8.6Score1.7kShelves

   Reader note

   [Highly Recommended!!!] Tuanzai is back with another book recommendation! It's not overly palace intrigue-filled; this novel not only features ancient settings but also incorporates a time-travel element! Most importantly! The male lead waits for the female lead to travel back in time ten years to save him?! Wow! So pure and devoted! You absolutely have to read it! This is a typical story of a regent and his sweet, loving wife, but!❗The female lead traveled to ancient times ten years ago❗, saved the male lead, then traveled back again❗Ten years later, she travels back to ancient times, and the male lead has waited for her for ten years—it's a very novel premise! And the female lead isn't exactly a pampered little wife; she's bold and reckless because she has her husband's backing, hahaha! The regent is someone even the emperor fears! In short, it's awesome! If you're too lazy to read, you can listen to the audiobook; it's narrated by multiple people, not AI at all, and it's very engaging!

9. 9 贤 The Worthy Consort Is Still Taking It Easy Today 贤妃今天也在咸鱼 Misty Clear Melody渺渺清音Ancient Romance625k WordsCompleted In the harem of Emperor Chenyuan of the Great Jin, there is a dignified and gentle empress, a charming and lovely Noble Consort, a peerlessly beautiful Consort Li, and a clever, kindhearted Consort Hui. Talented women abound, and the competition is fierce. Han Shuyi looks left and right, but can't find a niche for herself as Worthy Consort. Oh, well. Competing for favor now and then while choosing to lie flat the rest of the time: that's the real truth of life in the harem. * As emperor, Meng Ti 21.7kReads8.2Score2kShelves

   Reader note

   This book, combining time travel, rebirth, and palace intrigue plots, was the first palace intrigue novel that got me hooked.

10. 10 通 The Concubine-in-Waiting Is Pregnant, and the Cold, Powerful Minister Isn't So Cold Anymore 通房有孕，清冷权臣不清冷了 Lin Wanzi林丸子Ancient Romance703k WordsCompleted (Childbearing System + overachiever heroine + cool beauty brought down from her pedestal + workplace culture) After losing her job, office worker Yun Shu finds herself in ancient times as a maid in the Duke's estate, born into the household staff. Yun Shu throws her head back and laughs. She'll never have to worry about losing her job again! Her parents are both estate stewards, so she's well-connected. With a sharp eye for opportunity, Yun Shu rises through the ranks and becomes the senior m 54.6kReads8.7Score7.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is intelligent and acts with composure. It's basically about her leading her family to climb the social ladder step by step. It's pretty good, I recommend it.

11. 11 老 An Older Wife and Younger Husband: The Villain Keeps Trying to Become a Widower! 老妻少夫：反派他总想当鳏夫！ Three Peppercorns三两花椒Ancient Romance1.0M WordsOngoing 35.7kReads9.1Score5.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Palace intrigue and domestic drama, it's really good! 💕

12. 12 娇 The Sweet, Delicate Beauty Who Can Bear Heirs: The Heirless Emperor Kisses Her Waist 娇软美人最好孕，绝嗣帝王吻红腰 Making Money to Raise Nine Cats赚钱养九只喵Ancient Romance613k WordsCompleted [Both leads are virgins! Sweet romance! Delicate, calculating beauty who acts sweet and fertile, rising step by step vs domineering, childless emperor with an overwhelming need for control who dotes on his wife] Ming Yueni is delicate and soft, and so beautiful! In her previous life, the Crown Prince forced himself on her, leaving her family ruined and her life in shambles. Reborn, she seeks revenge by seducing the domineering emperor, who is believed unable to have children… At their first mee 21.1kReads8.5Score2.5kShelves
13. 13 窈 Yao Yao Keeps Visiting Him in Prison to Beg for a Child, Hmph! She’s Driving Him Wild 窈窈又在探监求子，哼！勾疯了他 Ji Yun霁妘Ancient Romance272k WordsCompleted [One-on-one romance / Sweet doting / Power fantasy] After accidentally transmigrating into a book, Ning Yuyao becomes the prosperous wife of a domineering male lead in a male-oriented novel. According to her character setting, she’s gentle and magnanimous, bears four children, gets cheated on countless times along the way, sees her family sacrificed for the plot, and is posthumously revered as a goddess by the novel’s fandom. Ning Yuyao politely declines! She has a cold womb and can’t become the 5.2kReads8.7Score787Shelves
14. 14 陛 Your Majesty, the Empress Is Killing Again Through Her Tears! 陛下，娘娘又哭着杀人了！ No Fish for Me不次鱼Ancient Romance361k WordsCompleted [Black-Bellied, Tear-Prone, Clumsy Consort vs. Love-Struck, Obsessive, Yandere Tyrant] [Devoted Couple + Sweet Romance + He Only Loves Her from Start to Finish + Mutual Healing + Hero Hands Her the Knife] Shen Qiyue died on a cold winter's day. Her soul drifted for three days, during which she witnessed Rong Heng holding her corpse as he slaughtered his way through the palace, before finally setting himself on fire. Reborn half a year earlier, she put aside her fear and took the initiative to 1.4kReads8.2Score220Shelves
15. 15 醉 Drunk on the Begonia Blossoms of Beijing 醉京棠 Heart Yearning for Gardenias心向往栀Ancient Romance351k WordsCompleted "A carefree black-lotus beauty and the jealous, unhinged Prince Ning" "Both devoted only to each other + married first, fell in love later + play the pig to eat the tiger + a little pursuit-after-the-breakup drama" Yun Jingtang, the legitimate daughter of a Duke's household, has skin as fair as snow and beauty beyond compare. She is famous for being gentle and delicate, but in truth, she runs the Gold-Gathering Pavilion single-handedly, is shrewd in her dealings, and knows everything happening a 6.2kReads9.0Score703Shelves
16. 16 贵 The Merciless Imperial Consort, the Tyrant Who Hands Her the Knife 贵妃娘娘心狠手辣，暴君他递刀 Late Summer, Not Yet Over夏末未余Ancient Romance333k WordsCompleted [Both leads faithful and powerful + one true pairing + male lead has concubines + dotes on her exclusively from the start + a little palace intrigue and political scheming + System plays a minor role + fast-paced + no brainless tropes + no over-the-top drama + happy ending] [Brutal, calculating tyrant + absolutely rational, breathtakingly beautiful consort] Ye Xiyin has traveled through three thousand worlds and finally reaches the world of her last mission. Then the System tells her to sell her 2.3kReads9.1Score262Shelves
17. 17 重 Reborn to Marry into Another Family: My Elder Sister Stole My Match, So I Stole the Show 重生换嫁：嫡姐抢嫁后我飒爆了 Ye Xiaohe叶小禾Ancient Romance152k WordsCompleted Two sisters are reborn at the same time, both with all their memories from their previous lives intact. The legitimate elder sister, Shen Qingrou, is the first to snatch her younger half-sister Shen Qingci’s betrothal contract to escape disaster. Shen Qingci has no choice but to marry the cold-faced prince who held power in her previous life. He dotes on her until she reigns supreme over the harem, and she dishes out face-slapping left and right. 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Two rebirth novels, in different eras and with different plots, but the suppressed heroines are like grass under a boulder. The longer they are suppressed, the stronger their resistance becomes. Once they awaken, they are unstoppable.

18. 18 被 Reborn After Three Years in Bondage: I Want My Child and My Life Back 被典三年后重生：我要孩子也要命 Ye Xiaohe叶小禾Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted With her husband gravely ill and her young son still nursing, Xiu'er was at her wit's end. She had no choice but to submit to her in-laws' arrangements and be given to a wealthy master for three years, during which she bore him a son. Three years later, Xiu'er finally returned home after longing for it all that time, only for her husband to find her filthy and her son to refuse to acknowledge her as his mother. Heartbroken, Xiu'er threw herself into a pond to drown, but when she awoke, she found 60Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 19 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 266.6kReads9.6Score31.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is guaranteed to be a hit. The plot is well-written, and everyone has their own ending. Although the beginning might be a bit hard to follow, the later parts are quite good. The author's writing style is also excellent, with many blessings included.

20. 20 世 Prisoner of the Aristocratic Clan 世家囚 Three Autumns in Fine Print细书三秋Ancient Romance421k WordsCompleted Duanmu Heng had always believed that his wife, Shangguan Hui, was nothing more than a marriage pawn foisted on him by her family, one that needed to be kept under strict control. So he kept her at a distance, tested her, and held her firmly in his grasp. Until one day, she risked her life to save another man. The cautious, brilliant woman before him was nothing like the gentle wife he remembered. Only then did he realize that in all nine years of their marriage, he might never have truly known h 1.9kReads8.7Score198Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not strictly a palace intrigue novel, but rather a political intrigue novel. The female lead is a noblewoman from a prestigious family, and the male lead is a general from a family with a long history of military achievements. It is based on the story of Sima Shi and Xiahou Hui from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and the two fall in love after an arranged marriage.

21. 21 魂 Soul Transmigration into An Lingrong: Molan Seeks Only Wealth and Glory 魂穿安陵容，墨兰她只求荣华富贵 Tangtang Loves to Go Crazy棠棠爱发疯Female-Channel Fanfiction488k WordsOngoing Volume One (Complete): Flirtatious and frivolous? The emperor finds Molan charming. Foolish, shallow, and lacking insight? Molan is glad she escaped being used as a pawn to make the empress. Zhen Huan isn't sincere enough? Molan only needs her to lend a hand. As for the emperor's heart? She doesn't want it. All she wants is wealth and status! A note for readers: This follows the original Empresses in the Palace, but the dynasty is the fictional Great Zhou, not the Qing. The emperor here is Xuanl 4.2kReads8.1Score273Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all good palace intrigue novels.

22. 22 谁 Film and TV Crossover: Who Says You Have to Grovel to Win Someone Over? 【综影视】谁说攻略就得舔？ Little Wei Wenshu小魏文舒Female-Channel Fanfiction408k WordsCompleted Newly rated [Film and TV Crossover + No Simping + Guided Romance + Standalone Pure-Love Stories or Career-Focused Stories with No CP] This is a self-indulgent story written to satisfy my own tastes. The modern arcs focus mostly on pure romance, while the historical arcs are mostly about careers. Tasker Lin transmigrates through time and space to help people fulfill their wishes, occasionally helping the System absorb the love points of the Chosen Ones as energy. (Some arcs are immersive, others 11.8kReads8.9Score458Shelves
23. 23 综 Film and TV Crossover: The Irresistible Beauty Is Here 综影视：万人迷美人在线中 Soy Milk Egg Tart豆乳蛋挞Female-Channel Fanfiction177k WordsOngoing Joy of Life + The Romance of Tiger and Rose [What a coincidence, I transmigrated too] in progress My Journey to You: [Human wingman Chu Xuanji vs. Gong Yuanzhi] in progress [Clueless little grape Jin Mi vs. Gong Shangjue] complete 487Reads6.0Score—Shelves
24. 24 综 A Pearl Returned to Its Owner: A Crossover Through Film and Television 综影视之还君明珠 Born Knowing When to Stop生白知止Female-Channel Fanfiction328k WordsOngoing My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 1.7kReads—Score102Shelves
25. 25 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
26. 26 甄 Empresses in the Palace Battle Royale: I'm the Craftiest One in the Harem 甄嬛传大逃杀，后宫我最茶 Lady Historian of Chenzhou陈州女史Female-Channel Fanfiction190k WordsCompleted When Yixiu plots to harm Chun Yuan and drag the heroine into it. The heroine: “Oh, Noble Consort Sister serves Her Majesty the Empress more attentively than even her personal maids do. Unlike me, all I know how to do is pray to the gods. Sisters De Fei, Xian Fei, Duan... None of us get to eat delicacies steamed in banana leaves or drink fresh, delicious almond tea. Only Her Majesty does. The Emperor and Empress are so devoted to each other, and so are the sisters. How enviable.” Noble Consort Xi 98Reads6.3Score—Shelves
27. 27 朕 Why Is My Harem Like This? 朕的后宫为何会这样？ Snow Pear with Tremella银耳冻雪梨Female-Channel Fanfiction719k WordsOngoing [An emperor from another world + episodic stories + male protagonist's perspective + background System] The main settings are Empresses in the Palace and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. Each story features a different male protagonist, so their personalities, interests, and favorite consorts vary. The main focus remains on the emperor's many women, with political intrigue making up just 1%. To make it easier to develop the characters and plot, the emperors' personalities are based on those in t 3.5kReads8.4Score173Shelves
28. 28 穿 I Transmigrated into Empresses in the Palace as a Palace Maid 穿越甄嬛传里当宫女 What Do You Mean?点解嘅Female-Channel Fanfiction173k WordsCompleted Qian Min struggles for years during the Kangxi era. Only when the new emperor ascends the throne does she realize this is Empresses in the Palace. As a palace maid under Mongol influence, her fortune and misfortune are bound to the mascot, Noble Lady Borjigit. But this wild card of hers stirs the fighting spirit of the mascot, Noble Lady Borjigit Xilidege. An Lingrong and Xia Changzai are devoted sisters; Noble Lady Fucha doesn't go mad and gives birth to twin princesses; Consort Hua survives an 75Reads—Score—Shelves
29. 29 剧 Crossing From the Drama Into the Original Novel: An Lingrong Climbs to the Top Step by Step 剧版反穿原著，安陵容步步登高 Ding-Dong, Ding-Dong!等灯等灯啦Female-Channel Fanfiction793k WordsCompleted I agreed to become a Selected Attendant? The Qing Dynasty has turned into the Zhou Dynasty? The Old Summer Palace is now the Peaceful Palace? The Eight Banners are gone, and so are the platform shoes? (Transmigration, not rebirth.) And what's this about being in love with Zhen Heng and refusing to attend the emperor? Who is Zhen Heng? Doesn't Zhen Huan only have one sister? When I was selected, I held a flower and cried and laughed because I could finally bring honor to my mother. How could I po 10.1kReads9.0Score1.3kShelves
30. 30 王 Your Highness, Hold Her Back! The Princess Consort Strikes to Kill 王爷拦着点，王妃出手就要命 Jiang Ajiangjiang姜啊姜姜Ancient Romance566k WordsCompleted Transmigration + sweet romance + a devoted couple Lin Ye transmigrates by accident, only to be used as a pawn by her own father and forced to marry a disabled prince. Lin Ye: “Your Highness, I’ve come to defect. How about we pull off a spy-within-a-spy operation?” The prince: Is this woman an idiot or what?! With silver needles in her delicate hands, she heals the prince’s legs. With deft hands, she takes up carpentry and strikes fear into powerful enemies on every side. The prince turns into he 5.2kReads9.3Score576Shelves

    Reader note

    Just finished reading two books, both about arranged marriages that blossom into love. The first one features a strong female lead, and the second is about a border general. I'll jump right in!

31. 31 春 The Spring Breeze Blows Through Yumen Pass! 春风吹度玉门关！ Scallion Pancake with an Extra Egg手抓饼要加鸡蛋Ancient Romance409k WordsCompleted [They marry at the start + married life + sweet romance + native-born leads + mutually devoted] Gentle, tolerant, and magnanimous heroine & jealous, rough-around-the-edges puppy-dog hero The sixth year of the Zhending reign, spring. The old Duchess of Dingguo knelt before the Empress Dowager, asking for a marriage match for her grandson Yun Zheng, who was guarding the northwest. The emperor honored the Yun family’s generations of loyal service. Having also heard that the Cui family’s daughters 23.3kReads9.0Score2.9kShelves
32. 32 新 On Our Wedding Night, the Sickly Prince and I Fled Together 新婚夜：我和病娇王爷一起逃婚 Deng Feng灯枫Ancient Romance234k WordsCompleted Yu Jiao transmigrated. That night, dressed in her wedding gown, she hid in an alley and ran into a man in red. “Hey, what a coincidence! Are you running away from your wedding too?” “Yeah.” “I’m marrying Chu Yin. What about you?” “Hah. My name is Chu Yin.” After becoming the wife of a bewitching, sickly prince, Yu Jiao lived in constant fear. Rumor had it the Princess Consort of Yan wouldn’t survive three days. Yu Jiao turned to ask, “How long have we been married?” Chu Yin replied, “Be good, sw 12.9kReads9.3Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    ① "Hey, what a coincidence! Are you running away from your wedding too?" "Yeah." "I'm marrying Chu Gu, what about you?" "Tch, my name is Chu Yin." A charming and sweet little white rabbit x a possessive and obsessive prince seeking redemption + high sugar content + happy ending. ② Both leads are reborn + face-slapping + reconciliation + both are virgins + traditional domestic power struggles + extreme tension - super good! 😎😎

33. 33 喂 After Feeding Her a Contraceptive, the Mad Prince Turns Gray Overnight 喂她避子药后，疯批王爷一夜白头 Hai Dongqingdy海东青dyAncient Romance608k WordsCompleted The physical edition of Zhaohua’s Farewell is available on Taobao and Pinduoduo. [Male and Female Leads Both Reborn] [Face-Slapping] [Rekindled Romance] [One-on-One] [Traditional Household Intrigue] [Devoted Husband] [Reborn] [Satisfying Read] A comic adaptation and short drama of the same name are now available. Shen Ning, the legitimate daughter of the General’s Residence, learned only on the brink of death that the elder sister she had trusted all her life was an impostor. Her elder sister se 56.6kReads8.6Score7.9kShelves
34. 34 入 Entering the Imperial Harem 入春宫 Kun Yuan坤垣Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Palace intrigue + villainess with a career-driven mind + fluffy mind-reading + men competing for her] Su Fuqu was the legitimate youngest daughter of the Grand Preceptor. She and the Crown Prince, Qin Zhaolin, grew up together and were deeply in love. But after she came of age, Qin Zhaolin abandoned her, chose her cousin as his wife, and asked Su Fuqu to become his concubine. She turned around and schemed her way into the emperor's bed, sowing discord between father and son and throwing the pal 64.6kReads8.9Score8kShelves

    Reader note

    Both the male and female leads are incredibly intelligent, it's super engaging!!! The female lead is a master manipulator, not love-struck, and has an amazing work ethic. He falls in love with her even before the male lead does!

35. 35 继 The Second Wife Takes the Lead: Winning Over the Chief Cabinet Secretary with Lin Daiyu's Seductive Charm 继室在上：用黛玉文学钓系首辅 Little Lotus Bud小荷才露角Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Sweet and lighthearted romance + Lin Daiyu-style literary charm + highly intelligent heroine + age gap Shen Lingke, a talented literature major, transmigrates into the role of the legitimate daughter of a fallen marquis’s family. Forced to marry into the powerful household of the chief councilor, she becomes the new wife whom everyone in the capital both envies and pities. Faced with her unfathomable, high-ranking husband, she neither competes nor causes a fuss. With nothing but her “Lin Daiyu-s 5.7kReads8.2Score720Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book features a female protagonist with exceptional intelligence and emotional intelligence, making domestic and palace intrigues a breeze for her. The second book features a female protagonist with a clear head, who cleverly hides behind the male protagonist, allowing him to handle the intrigues and scandals in the backyard.

36. 36 哦 Oh, So I’m the Villainous Supporting Concubine 哦，我原来是恶毒妖妃女配 Cloud Rabbit云兔子Ancient Romance423k WordsCompleted [Gorgeous, cunning, doting consort; reborn, dark and brooding tyrant; healing romance; both leads are virgins] In his previous life, Emperor Xie Heng trapped himself in the rigid rules of a sage and enlightened ruler, striving to be a noble and virtuous emperor. Yet he was abandoned by everyone, lost his throne, and was poisoned, leaving him crippled. At his most wretched, the only person who stayed by his side was the wicked, domineering enchantress the civil and military officials called a dem 54.2kReads9.0Score6.8kShelves
37. 37 夫 Madam, the Heir Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time 夫人，世子他蓄谋已久 Susu Qian Ci酥酥芊瓷Ancient Romance471k WordsCompleted [A devoted couple, sweet romance, childhood friends] (Complete! Originally titled The Lady, the Heir Apparent Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time) [Scheming, doting heir apparent VS beautiful, high-maintenance heir apparent’s wife] Lu Zhaozhao, the youngest legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yunyang’s household, is adored by her parents and protected by her older siblings. She has grown up in comfort, with everything going her way. At sixteen, Lu Zhaozhao is a peerless beauty, and the thre 27.3kReads9.2Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    All three are excellent. The first two are ensemble-style sweet romances by the same author, while the last one is a pure palace intrigue story with a clear-headed and intelligent female protagonist that gets better as you read.

38. 38 世 Heir, Your Wife Says It’s Time to Come Home 世子，夫人喊你回家了 Susu Qian Ci酥酥芊瓷Ancient Romance237k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later; Devoted Couple; Sweet Romance] [Proud, Sharp-Tongued Heir vs. Beautiful, Cunning Young Madam] For generations, the Duke of Dingguo’s family has loyally guarded the frontier, keeping the realm at peace for decades. If you asked the women of the capital whom they most wanted to marry, the answer would be Ning Ye, the Duke of Dingguo’s heir. Noble by birth, handsome, and skilled in both letters and arms, he makes the hearts of young ladies from every family flutter. But 13.1kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves
39. 39 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
40. 40 重 Reborn at the Betrothal Banquet, the Scumbag Crown Prince Calls Me Little Imperial Aunt 重生赐婚宴，渣男太子喊我小皇婶 Little Fan小扇Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Both leads reborn + second male lead takes the lead + marriage before love + mutual healing + the scumbag gets his comeuppance] Shen Yao was the orphaned daughter of a general. The emperor took pity on her and offered to arrange her marriage. In her previous life, Shen Yao married the Crown Prince, Xie Jingchu. She endured endless humiliation in the Eastern Palace, yet overheard Xie Jingchu sneer in private, “She forced me to marry her. She deserves everything she gets.” Heartbroken, Shen Yao a 12.2kReads8.1Score10kShelves
41. 41 卿 My Beloved, Through Every Dawn and Dusk 卿是朝朝暮暮 Sugar-Roasted Little Deer糖炒小鹿Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted Shen Yunshu studied archaeology and had been working for just two years. She loved history, and her favorite dynasty was the Rong Dynasty. A few days ago, she had read an unofficial history of the Rong Dynasty's royal family. Little did she expect that after falling asleep, she would wake up in the Rong Dynasty, sent there by the heavens, as Shen Yunshu, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family of Prince Zhenbei's residence. She had transmigrated to her favorite dynasty and become a descendant 24.4kReads9.4Score3kShelves
42. 42 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

    "Zhao Hua Luan" and "Yan Zhu Qiang" are by the same author. Both feature a female protagonist who uses her intelligence to outmaneuver everyone. "The Night Before the White-Eyed Sister Enters the Palace" is a story about a spoiled wife. "The Villainess Transmigrates into a Book" is a transmigration story with several lifetimes. "The Emperor is Too Ruthless, But I Am His White Moonlight" is a system transmigration story. In "Zhao Hua Luan," the female protagonist doesn't transmigrate, reincarnate, or have any cheat codes. She acts on her own, and everything is planned. She defeats everyone, including the male protagonist, who dies when she hates him the most. If he hadn't died, she probably would have taken action. The female emperor "Yan Zhu Qiang" is someone the male protagonist personally trained. She doesn't transmigrate, reincarnate, or have any cheat codes. Everything is a tool she uses. She is clear-headed and doesn't succumb to the emperor's favor. Moreover, the emperor in this book is different. He knows that the concubines trapped inside the palace are suffering and will send them out. Most of the concubines in this book are good people, with only a few bad ones. In the end, only the emperor is trapped inside the palace! "The Night Before the Ungrateful Sister Enters the Palace" is a romance novel featuring a spoiled wife. The female lead is a crybaby who believes she's navigating palace intrigue, but in reality, the emperor is helping her. A villainous woman transmigrates into a book and plays the female lead, seeing through the emperor's ruthless nature and defeating the hypocritical empress. The male lead's portrayal of the emperor as too ruthless is interesting from the start. The female lead actually successfully seduces the male lead early on, then leaves. She's then betrothed to the male lead's nephew, who falls in love with her. This time, the female lead's goal is to seduce both the nephew and the emperor, manipulating them both. The novel covers 100 palace rules and is quite enjoyable. The female lead is decisive and clear-headed. I've read and recommended the novels featuring the female lead, from concubine to empress.

43. 43 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
44. 44 却 Yet You Betrayed the Spring's Grace 却负春恩 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Print edition now available. Search for Ascending to the Clouds on any platform to buy] [Original titles: Ascending to the Clouds / Loathing the Vermilion Walls] [High-IQ Palace Intrigue + Pure-Hatred Heroine + No Disposable Characters] [No transmigration, no rebirth, no golden finger] [The blurb doesn’t do it justice. Please go read the story] How do you become an emperor’s favorite concubine? A prestigious family? A good education? A gentle, respectful, modest, and accommodating nature? Unfor 25.3kReads9.2Score3.2kShelves
45. 45 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
46. 46 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 17kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
47. 47 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Although this book isn't about palace intrigue, the characters speak in a very roundabout way.

48. 48 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

    Reader note

    She rose from a concubine to the Empress Dowager, her story revolving around a single chapter.

49. 49 先 Love After Marriage: The Crown Princess Keeps Pretending to Be Good Again and Again 先婚后爱，太子妃又又又又在装乖 I Want to Be a Rich Lady我想当富婆Ancient Romance278k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance] Song Yao, who was born into this world, got married to Nangong Yi, the notoriously violent crown prince. After their wedding, they acted like a proper couple, treating each other with courtesy and respect. Gradually, Song Yao discovered that the crown prince was nothing like the violent man of the rumors. He was gentle, considerate, and easy to get along with. So she let her true nature out and started doing as she pleased. - At first, when facing the crown prince: Song Yao: gent 21.7kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This seasoned bookworm finds it enjoyable. [Thumbs up]

50. 50 椒 The Pepper Palace Receives the Emperor's Favor 椒殿承宠 Not Two Picture 2不二图2Ancient Romance335k WordsCompleted The rating is low because it was just released. [Mad Emperor & adorable darling] Devoted to each other, with nothing but indulgent sweetness After being born into this world, Shen Tinghe opens her eyes to find herself amid the most dazzling splendor in the Great Zhao Dynasty. Her grandfather is the only prince of a different surname. Her maternal grandmother is a Grand Princess, a heroine who is every bit as formidable as a man and helped the late emperor conquer the realm. Her maternal grandfat 78.7kReads9.0Score8.9kShelves

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