Novels like The Young Second Wife
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Young Second Wife, best match first.
- 1 Waiting for Spring on a Winter Branch 寒枝待苏 A royal decree brings them together: Shen Jinghan, the stern magistrate of the Court of Judicial Review, and Han Jingsu, the perceptive and intelligent legitimate daughter of the prime minister, become the capital’s most talked-about “proper couple.” From cautious first encounters to perfect understanding, from facing crises side by side to falling deeply in love, a marriage that began as an obligation becomes a sweet romance in which they choose each other wholeheartedly. You keep the realm pea 408Reads—Score101Shelves
- 2 A Love That Binds the Soul 缚魂情 Yun Qingluo is the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s household. She is breathtakingly beautiful and kindhearted, the woman of every man’s dreams. Song Wenjing is the young general of the General’s household. Handsome as Pan An, he is the great hero in every young woman’s heart. They love each other and should have become husband and wife, bound together for life. But her parents force her to marry the new emperor of Donglai, while his family is framed and suffers untold torment in prison. —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 3 Reborn and Breaking Off the Engagement, I Married My Ex’s Father as His Principal Wife 重生退婚，嫁给前夫他爹当主母 In her previous life, she was the legitimate daughter of the Shen family. When the entire Shen family was convicted of crimes, the Xie family broke off her engagement overnight. She was thrown into the entertainment quarter, suffered humiliation after humiliation, and died full of hatred. That cool and upright assistant minister of the Xie family, the father of her former fiancé, was someone she had never truly grown close to in her previous life. He was the one who gathered her remains and laid 85Reads—Score—Shelves
- 4 Fine Rain, Soft Light 细雨湿流光 Just as a long-awaited love finally cleared the gloom that had settled over her heart, and she at last decided to accept his feelings, she suddenly discovered that this love had been built on lies from the very beginning... Shen Wan was a gentle young woman from the water towns of Jiangnan. She waited desperately for her fiancé for three years, only to receive word that he had died on the battlefield. Resilient as she was, she pulled herself together, carrying her longing for her “late husband 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 5 General Ye, Please Stop Climbing the Wall! 叶将军，请不要翻墙啦！ [Gentle, kind beauty of a wealthy family × starved-for-love God of War general] [Historical romance | Sweet romance | Healing | Secret crush | Devoted dog | Happy ending] A general, the only son of a military family, falls for the gentle and charming daughter of a Grand Tutor. He is a descendant of a military family, cold on the outside but desperately starved for love within. She is a frail, ailing young woman from a distinguished family, yet steadfast in character and upright in nature. On the 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 6 Notes from the Inner Palace: The Crown Princess Is the Emperor's Only Favorite 深宫小记，独宠太子妃 [Traditional historical romance with a devoted couple + Harem + A mix of sweetness and angst + Coercion and domination + Secret affair + Chasing his wife to the crematorium + Happy ending] [The true white moonlight versus the false cinnabar mole] (in the final part) She was his white moonlight. He was the man who had quietly taken root in her heart years ago. Their story began at the Hundred Flowers Banquet and ended at the Lantern Festival the following year. Gong Luoyun finally understood why 286Reads6.4Score—Shelves
- 7 A Spring Day in the Fourth Month 朝春四月时 As the richest young lady in the land, every expense of Fan Xiwen’s travels is recorded in The Gossipy Chronicles, a publication founded by several officials’ wives. Their aim is to hunt down the juiciest gossip and most irresistible topics in the capital and beyond. Fan Xiwen used to find this quite vexing. She once considered offering the creators of The Gossipy Chronicles a little money to buy them off, but they refused, declaring sternly, “A passion for gossip cannot be bought. Miss Fan, you 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 8 Oh, Lord Justice, He Just Won't Take the Bait 哎呀，青天大人，他撩不动 Xing Zhaozhao’s father died young, and her mother never cared for her. Since childhood, she and her younger brother have lived with their uncle’s family, where her aunt mistreats her and her cousin lusts after her. After an accident leaves her harassed by a hooligan, it becomes the excuse her relatives need to throw her out of the house. With nowhere left to turn, she finds that every kindness comes with ill intent. Thankfully, someone is still there to shine on her path like a bright, clear moo 6Reads—Score—Shelves
- 9 Warlord Mu: The Young Madam Has Been Snatched Away Again 军阀穆少：少奶奶又被抢了 [Mutual devotion and exclusivity + roguishly handsome male lead who pampers his wife + genius heroine who crushes wicked villains = a satisfying Republican-era rebirth story] After her stepmother disfigured Yi Wei and sold her to a brothel in the South Seas, she was eventually skinned and disemboweled to death. But by a twist of fate, she was reborn on the very day her stepmother disfigured her… From then on, she disguised herself as an apothecary, began changing the course of her life, and emba 76Reads8.8Score—Shelves
- 10 The Moon Shines on My Longing, Too 也有明月照相思 Originally titled Cloud Cranesong [Pure historical romance + alternate setting + sweet romance + palace and household intrigue + political scheming] [Arrogant, adorable legitimate daughter of a marquis × cool, gentle crown prince] Pei Yunzhi was the little tyrant of Mobei. With loving parents and three older brothers who doted on her, she spent fourteen years in Mobei doing whatever she pleased. After returning to the capital, she beat up the Prince of Ping’s heir. When she saw Crown Prince Shen 7Reads6.3Score—Shelves
- 11 The Supreme Ancestress Doesn't Want to Dazzle the World Anymore 顶级老祖宗她不想再惊艳全球了 She is an ancestor who has lived for a thousand years, with countless achievements and an illustrious reputation. Who would have thought that, once the story got underway, she'd become a clueless rich heiress raised in the countryside? And yet… At school, her perfect grades leave everyone amazed. In showbiz, she's a top-tier star from the start. In business, the heads of Fortune 500 companies treat her with utmost respect. In the art world, countless big names call her their master. Surrounded b 16Reads—Score—Shelves
- 12 My Elder Sister Is Gravely Ill, Yet My Brother-in-Law Wants to Force Me to Marry Him 长姐病重，姐夫竟要强娶我 [Beauty Series: The Second Wife] Along with the news that my elder sister was gravely ill came my brother-in-law Sui Ningyuan’s demand that I enter the General’s residence. It was called a demand, but it was really an order. I could only enter the General’s residence without a proper title or status, and I had only just come of age... 51Reads—Score—Shelves
- 13 You and I 君与卿 (Sweet Romance + Mutual Devotion + Both Pure + Romance) The stern marquis, rumored to have schemed for power and persecuted anyone outside his faction for a thousand years, starts spouting flirtatious lines after a chance encounter during the Qixi Festival... “Sheng’er, I can’t afford to die just yet. I still have to live long enough to marry you and take responsibility for you.” “Alas, you missed the whole point. My plan to make you take responsibility for me has fallen through again.” “I long 21Reads8.1Score—Shelves
- 14 The Art of the Long Wind 长风诀 After Ye Qing returned to the capital, she became entangled in an assassination plot targeting Xiao Yu and recognized one of the chief assassins. To eliminate any future trouble, the assassin ambushed Ye Qing, leaving her gravely wounded. Later, Ye Qing gradually recovered her memories, cleared the Ye family’s name, was made a Commandery Princess, and married Xiao Yu, the man she loved and who loved her in return. She thought she could finally live a happy, peaceful life, but He Shaoshao schemed 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 15 The Princess Wants to Become Crown Princess 郡主要当皇太女 3Reads—Score—Shelves
- 16 The Golden Cabinet Prisoner 金匮囚 The Golden Coffer Prisoner 5Reads—Score—Shelves
- 17 The City of Layers 重城 The City of Chong 15Reads—Score—Shelves
- 18 The Moon Sets over the Western Palace 月沉西掖 The Moon Sets Over Xiye 6Reads—Score—Shelves
- 19 Entering the Inner Palace 入深宫 Entering the Inner Palace 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 20 A Handful of Yellow Sand 一抔黄沙 Gu Zheng was born into a family of military officers. Clever and mischievous, she had a perfect family and a childhood sweetheart, Meng Huai. Her days were happy and carefree. But after both her parents died, a series of upheavals turned her life upside down, forcing her to change. She began to hide her true feelings and rely on herself, growing darker inside... It took Meng Huai a long time to bring back the innocent, lively, and mischievous girl she had been when they were young, but things ne 34Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 21 The Difficult Life of a Second Wife 继室难为 A single marriage ceremony mistakenly pairs Pei Xiurong with Gu Yuanqing. But standing between them are more than just a disapproving, difficult mother-in-law, a scheming stepmother and stepsister, and the intrigues of the inner household. There is also the cold distance of the children from the first wife. Amid the deep courtyards and layers of conspiracy, the legitimate daughter becomes a second wife for the first time and carefully schemes her way to a bright future! 413Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 22 The Deposed Consort, Lady Cui 废妃崔氏 The Deposed Consort, Lady Cui 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 23 The Blood Plum Blossoms Reflect on the Sword Song 血梅映剑歌 Blood Plum Blossoms Reflecting the Sword Song —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 24 A Test of the Abyss 深渊之测 Testing the Abyss —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 25 The Flow of Darkness 暗之流 The Flow of Darkness —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 26 Stars over the Gobi 戈壁上的星星 Stars Above the Gobi —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 27 Mountains, Rivers, and the Road We Share 山河与同路 Mountains, Rivers, and Fellow Travelers —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 28 Reclaiming the Splendor of Youth 挽韶华 Gongsun Haoyue, the young lady of a marquis’s household, dreamed from childhood of riding into battle. She longed for her father to teach her martial arts when he returned victorious, but who could have guessed… After suffering the unbearable loss of her father and brother, Gongsun Haoyue developed a heart condition, yet her desire to avenge them only grew stronger. Six years later, Gongsun Haoyue returned from her training just as war flared up again in the north. Disguised as a man, she went t 17Reads—Score—Shelves
- 29 I Picked Up a Princess for a Wife 捡个公主做夫人 [Historical romance + sweet indulgence] [A gentle, upright official x a stunning princess with amnesia] When Shen Xiangzhi, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, returned from investigating a case, he brought back a lovely wife with amnesia. The capital was shaken! How had the aloof, jade-like Lord Shen come to have a warm, fragrant beauty by his side? Everyone was curious about the origins of his breathtaking wife. Even Shen Xiangzhi himself wondered. He had just left the capital u 33Reads—Score—Shelves
- 30 The Beloved Daughter of a Modest Household 小户嫡女的富贵盛宠 The mighty lord had earned great merit by capturing the thief. Wasn’t he her lifesaver? When he came to ask for her hand in marriage, everyone said they were a match made in heaven. No one knew that she, a hostage, had nearly been “sacrificed.” Unable to defy her parents’ wishes, she married him anyway. She planned to make the best of it, but after the wedding, he spoiled her so much that she was positively floating. Then one day, she woke from her dream. The scheming hypocrite had come to deliv 30Reads8.5Score154Shelves
- 31 The Cherished Second Wife 娇宠继室 Reborn into a new life, Gui Qingrou refuses to be a caged bird in the inner quarters. But on one side, the Earl of Qingchang clings to her like a dog-skin plaster, refusing to leave her alone. On the other, her betrothed, chosen for her by the matchmakers, is forcing her into a bridal sedan. * At first, Xiao Zhixian thinks Gui Qingrou is a shallow woman with no ambition. Later, he discovers she's not nearly as bad as the rumors make her out to be. As he watches over her, he grows protective 319Reads8.7Score—Shelves
- 32 Nine Princes Vie for the Throne, but I Just Want to Stay Alive 九子夺嫡，我只想保命 The eldest brother, who holds power over the court and answers to no one. The second brother, frail and sickly, but secretly intent on fighting for the throne. The third brother, who cultivates at a temple and wants only to return and take revenge. The fourth brother, free-spirited, graceful, and refined. The fifth brother, undefeated in battle. The seventh brother, ruthless and always plotting several steps ahead. The eighth brother, a madman who kills without blinking. The “Ninth Prince,” Li Z 27Reads—Score—Shelves
- 33 A Thousand Miles Along the Xiaoxiang, Together 千里潇湘共同途 [Concubine's Daughter] [Political Schemes] [Revenge] [Both Leads Are Inexperienced] A noblewoman who appears gentle and dignified but is secretly ruthless × a young nobleman who seems cold and heartless but ends up eating his words One day, a talented and beautiful illegitimate daughter of the Wen family suddenly appeared in the capital. Not only was she stunning, she was also gifted. She rose to fame at a poetry gathering, soon becoming the capital's most celebrated beauty. She also won the ard 26Reads—Score—Shelves
- 34 Still Awaiting Zhaoyang 犹待昭阳 Spring’s beauty once seemed impossible to surpass; beyond Zhaoyang, no day could be called fine. The first magnificent historical romance from the queen of romantic fiction, Mu Fusheng! A sweeping portrait of a nation and its people, and a profound love so true it could stand as witness to an empire. Within a week of beginning serialization, the novel was recommended by major Weibo book accounts! Two out of every three romance readers have been moved by this story. Several film and television co 629Reads9.1Score115Shelves
- 35 My Secret as a Woman Was Exposed, and the Crown Prince Forced His Love on Me 女儿身暴露，我被太子强制爱了 She had disguised herself as a boy since childhood and had always been careful, never once making a mistake. But after an accident revealed that she was a woman, the Crown Prince went mad with bloodshot eyes, determined to have her! 147Reads6.4Score—Shelves
- 36 After Becoming a Widow, I’m Doted on by a Lovesick Powerful Official 守寡后，被恋爱脑权臣宠上天了 [Sweet, innocent heroine vs. seemingly gentle but secretly ruthless, love-obsessed hero] [The heroine is not chaste; the hero is. Old-school flavor, forbidden love] ☆Traditional historical romance, slow burn, intensely sweet push-and-pull romance, heroine grows over time * After waking from a drunken stupor, newly widowed Du Yun discovered that a handsome young man was lying beside her. Horrified, she finally managed to flee his side, only to discover that he was… … Someone reminded Du Yun, “You 1.3kReads8.9Score178Shelves
- 37 My One-Sided Crush Turned Out to Be Mutual 我的单向暗恋，原来是双向 My One-Sided Crush Turns Out to Be Mutual —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 38 Embroidered Brocade of the Floating Pagoda 浮图锦 The Brocade Pagoda 7Reads—Score—Shelves
- 39 A Confession from the Heart 心尖之诉 A Plea from the Heart 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 40 Longing at Beique 北阙意晚 [1V1, mutually faithful, aloof general's elder brother VS gentle, self-possessed younger sister-in-law] Zhuang Wan is the daughter of a concubine kept at an estate by the Grand Tutor's household. When the Grand Tutor's legitimate daughter flees an arranged marriage to the frontier, Zhuang Wan takes her place and marries into the household of the Grand General Who Guards the Nation. On the second day after their wedding, her husband sets off for the frontier in pursuit of her half-sister. If he d 43Reads6.6Score—Shelves
- 41 Phoenix of Beauty 姝凰 [Traditional Historical Romance] [Palace and Household Intrigue] [Not a Pure Couple] [Clear-Headed, Strong-Willed Heroine] Orphaned Chu Yishu was forced to live under her uncle's roof with her younger siblings, where his family bullied and mistreated them. Then fate took a turn. Beautiful and gentle Chu Yishu was sent to the bed of the Prince of Shangqin. For the sake of her siblings and herself, Chu Yishu used every means at her disposal, seized every opportunity, and firmly captured the Prince 516Reads7.4Score101Shelves
- 42 Moon of the Ember Palace: The Substitute Consort Refuses His Favor 烬宫月：替身妃，不承宠 Moon Over the Ashen Palace: The Substitute Consort Is Not Favored 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 43 The Treacherous Minister's Wife Gets Spoiled Every Day 奸臣夫人的甜宠日常 Lord Zhao has lost three wives in a row. A wise man tells him that he is cursed by an evil star, and that only a fourth wife of low birth and exceptionally strong fate can keep it at bay. Luo Baozhu lost her father at three, her mother at four, and even her only uncle at five. She grew up eating at the tables of kind neighbors, making her a perfect match for the description of someone low-born and strong of fate. So Lord Zhao married Luo Baozhu. This is a wish-fulfillment romance. The heroine 818Reads8.7Score—Shelves
- 44 Laughter Across the Land 江山笑 A calamity brought by a beauty, a song that made all beneath heaven weep, a kingdom plunged into chaos, and a legendary love spanning mortals, immortals, gods, and demons. Zhao Huaiyan was a princess of Zhao. When her father gave her that name, he meant for her to cherish the wild geese. He often said, “I have no son. You are my prince, the future heir to Zhao.” Huaiyan listened and devoted herself to the arts of power and the way of emperors. At fifteen, she was the most beautiful woman in the 42Reads6.6Score—Shelves
- 45 Two Thousand Years as a Pauper 穷鬼两千年 Gu Nan suddenly thought that lighting a lantern outside the gates of Wuan Prefecture might make the place feel a little less desolate. Too bad she'd already forgotten the way back. Among all these glowing windows, not one light was hers. 286Reads7.0Score—Shelves
- 46 The Pretty Widow: Yuniang 俏寡妇之玉娘 Farming + dual protagonists + historical romance Yu Niang was the illegitimate daughter of the county magistrate. Because her mother was exceptionally beautiful and alluring, the madam was always looking for a chance to make trouble for them. At last, the madam found her opportunity when Yu Niang's mother fell gravely ill and never recovered. The county magistrate gradually grew distant from his withered concubine, who eventually died with bitterness in her heart. With her last breath, she warne —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 47 Quiet Days Flow By, Shared with You 细水流年与君同 She is An Yue, the daughter of a minor fifth-rank official. He is Xu Ze, the celebrated General Who Guards the Nation. Their marriage is one of convenience: one seeks to secure her family’s future, while the other hopes to keep a low profile and conceal his true intentions. Before long, neither knows who was the first to entrust the other with their heart and fall in love. A sweet romance between the official’s daughter An Yue and the great general Xu Ze. 59Reads7.8Score—Shelves
- 48 Empress of Hongwu: From Orphan Girl to Empress of the Ming Dynasty 洪武皇后之从孤女到大明皇后 The Empress of Hongwu | No System, No transmigration, Based on Official History When she died, he held her hand as it changed from warm to lukewarm, then cold. The historian wrote: The emperor wept bitterly and never appointed another empress. Thirty years earlier, he was a poor young man with missing teeth on the streets of Haozhou. When he lifted her bridal veil, he fumbled and spilled wine all over her. “One day, I’ll make you a pair of soft-soled shoes. I could tell you were in pain when y 20Reads—Score—Shelves
- 49 After Our Divorce, My Ex-Husband Placed First in the Palace Exam 和离后相公高中探花郎 Farming + rekindled love + a slow-burn romance + cozy everyday life After three years of marriage, they parted ways. When they met again, the man from her past had become a top scholar. Everyone urged Qing Huan to give in, saying that even a single day as husband and wife was worth a hundred days of affection, and that she was sure to live well from now on. Xiao Zeyan looked down at her and tossed over a money pouch. “This fifty taels of silver is payment for the three years you worked like an o 416Reads—Score—Shelves
- 50 Together with You, I Remember Our Meeting 与君同，忆相逢 [Complete] [Historical romance + both leads inexperienced in love + mistaken bride + marriage before love + devoted favoritism + sweet and angsty + mutual devotion + slow burn + HE] [The straightforward prince who owns up to his mistakes × the lively, proud young princess consort] Cen Jingchen thought his princess consort was cold to the extreme, but he never expected her to slap him the very first time they met. He may be angry, but he still wants to keep her by his side. “You can touch me, 49Reads8.1Score—Shelves
