Novels like The Former Dynasty's Maidservant
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Former Dynasty's Maidservant, best match first.
- 1 Joy Before the Palace 殿前欢 At a single glance, she saw in his eyes how deeply he loved her. Somehow, she let him take her hand and refuse to let go; somehow, he kept her hidden away in his golden house. Qi Yaoyao thought that Lord Pei, the austere and untouchable powerbroker in public, was nothing more than a phony prude and a libertine in private! Lord Pei’s scandalous past: He never married, yet had an affair with Princess Tan Xuan. Shameless beyond belief, they hooked up everywhere from city walls and hot springs to me 29Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 The Stepson Breaks a Branch: The Imperial Tutor Bends the Young Madam to His Will 继子折枝：帝师偏折小娘腰 A wild rose with no regard for rules, and a ruthless, scheming player in the game of power. A bitter fruit is still a fruit, and even a forced match might turn out sweet. He hates how sly as a fox she is, yet lets her shatter all his rules. Lowering his eyes, he gently brushes the bruises on her neck. “From the moment I first saw you, I wanted to lock you away in a golden house and make you my one and only concubine.” He is the one moving the pieces, and yet he is trapped in the game too. When a 81Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 3 Seizing the Jade, the Iron-Fisted Lone Minister Falls for a Beloved Maid of a Noble House 夺玉，铁腕孤臣爱上侯门宠婢 He had cherished that jade for over a decade, only to have it taken from him. He watered the flower, and he had lovingly handled the jade. After raising it until it was so lush and radiant, it rightfully belonged to him. But he wasn't allowed to touch it... So he couldn't stand seeing anyone else touch it, either. Whenever someone did, he felt as though they were stealing from him. She was called a maid, yet she was closer to him than any maid... She was called his bedchamber attendant, yet —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Immortal Wife of a Spoiled Young Prince 纨绔小王爷的神仙妻 [Sweet and Angsty] [Strong Female Lead] The young prince is a spoiled playboy, idling away his days with no one able to rein him in. Then a female tutor arrives and keeps him firmly under control. Go to the gambling den? She'll break his legs... Disobey? She'll draw her sword... “You're just a tutor. What gives you the right to interfere in my private life?” “Then I'll become someone who does have that right.” “Y-you, what are you doing?” “What you were just about to do.” “H-help me...” 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 Run! Run! Run! The General's Legitimate Daughter Flees Her Wedding 逃！逃！逃！将军府嫡女逃婚了 (This is a fictional setting!) [Historical romance + love that grows over time + war + devotion to family and country] Their first meeting! “Hey!” Mu Yun Zhao asked tentatively. “Are you breathing, or have you stopped?” Qi Han Yu gave a slight shake of his head! Mu Yun Zhao let out a sigh of relief. “You’re alive!” She saved him, and then latched onto him! The nth time he saved her! A curved saber was about to plunge into Mu Yun Zhao’s body! The chill of death rushed toward her. But the excrucia 133Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Tarnished Young Noble 蒙尘贵公子 [Historical Romance + Sweet Romance + Winning Her Back + Happy Ending] Ming He thought her husband was the most remarkable man in the world. He could recite poems like the most learned teacher at the academy, lines she didn’t fully understand but found utterly lovely, and even his offhand references to old stories carried an elegant, literary charm. He could also move like the fleetest hunter in the mountains, leaping and climbing with astonishing skill, as if these towering peaks were his own 89Reads6.8Score1614d adds
- 7 The Deposed Consort, Lady Cui 废妃崔氏 The Deposed Consort, Lady Cui 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 New Tales of the Strange: Feng Sanniang 聊斋新编之封三娘 Based on a tale from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Feng Sanniang tells the story of Fan Shiyi, who defies feudal morality and bravely pursues love, while Feng Sanniang remains steadfast in her sisterly devotion. In the end, the lovers find their way to each other. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 Call Me a Country Bumpkin? I'll Keep the Arrogant Prince Awake All Night 骂我村姑？我让傲娇皇子夜不能寐 Don’t look! Don’t look! It’s not well written. Greedy, lustful village girl x cold, proud prince [Sweet romance + hero head over heels + hiding one’s real abilities + a long road to winning her back + face-slapping and taking down scoundrels] “When the Twin Stars unite, the realm will flourish.” But no one knew that the destined phoenix star, meant to become the mother of the realm, had been abandoned in the mountains for eighteen years. Li Fujiao, the destined phoenix star, an orphan who emerg 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 You're Marrying Someone Else? Then I'm Leaving! But the Mad Young Lord Kneels 你另娶？那我跑！疯批世子却跪了 [Historical romance + marriage before love + mutual devotion + mind games + love that grows over time] Mu Yao is an assassin in the rookie camp of Hidden Moon Pavilion. Before she can even take a mission, the entire pavilion is wiped out, bringing her assassin career to an end. With her martial arts completely ruined, she lies low in a fishing village, making a living by treating the sick. One day, she rescues a handsome man who is gravely injured and, following the usual romance-novel plot, pre 200Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 11 The Cold Palace's Abandoned Empress and Her Obsessive Tyrant 偏执暴君的冷宫弃后 The main story is complete. [Classic historical setting + political intrigue and romance + no palace infighting + the second male lead wins] [The heroine is slow to recognize romantic feelings. Only three male leads are lovesick over her] Xie Tiange, a Cold Palace prisoner released in a general amnesty, seems insignificant, yet her origins are a mystery. No one knows she is the beloved of the ruthless emperor who imprisoned her for three years, not even Xie Tiange herself. She has no idea she is 101Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 12 The One Destined for Me: The Crown Pact 命定之人：王冠契 The day they first met, the snow had stopped and the sky was clear, with the golden sun just rising. She seemed like a fairy who had accidentally fallen from the ninth-tier Jade Lake into the mortal world. By chance, she stepped through the pristine snow, bringing an air of cool purity to this ordinary place. He reined in his horse at the corner of the bustling street. Seeing her breathtaking beauty and hearing 111Reads6.7Score2414d adds
- 13 History's Greatest Femme Fatale: The Unmatched Beauty Xia Ji 千古第一红颜祸水：美丽无双夏姬 Born with a vermilion mark between her brows, she was said to be the kind of woman who could bring a kingdom to ruin. Her half-brother died for her, her husband perished because of her, her son killed a ruler for her, and a king lost his kingdom over her. In the official histories, she was branded a seductress who “killed three husbands, a ruler, and a son, and brought down a kingdom and two ministers.” But she knew the truth. She had never set out to hurt anyone. Men slaughtered one another o 151Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Snowbound in the Capital 风雪京华 Disaster strikes the border town. After losing both her parents and enduring countless hardships, an orphaned girl travels to the capital to seek refuge with relatives, only to be driven from their home. A face resembling her birth mother's brings old secrets to light, and a pair of Buddhist prayer beads entwines their fates. Second Young Master Gu: “I watched her grow up!” General Xiao: “Love doesn't come with first dibs.” 2.2kReads7.0Score13714d adds
- 15 Help the Villain Steal the Heroine 帮助反派抢女主 ✔️ Wang Yan'er × Han Wen (mutual love) couple ↑ Liu Yun (villain) breaks up the couple Xiyao helps him do it ✔️ Liu Yun × Xiyao ✔️ Secondary couple: Chaoxuan × Xiyao She (Xiyao) actually helps the villain (Liu Yun) steal the female lead! She only does it because he once saved her, and she wants to repay him. (Male lead: Sorry about this!) Don't assume she's just an ordinary maid. She's exceptionally eloquent, and the villain really likes her personality. She always stands up fo 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Song in the Mirror: The Female Regent’s Beloved Slave Husband 镜中歌：女摄政王的奴隶宠夫 [Strong heroine + mutual devotion + powerful heroine + stunning twists + happy ending] In the Tianling Kingdom, women ruled, and one woman could have several husbands. She, Bai Jinghe, was the true power behind the Tianling Kingdom. Accomplished in both letters and arms, beautiful and talented, she held the court in her grasp. He, A Mo, was a slave offered as tribute to Tianling by Jingyan. He was dressed in rags, sickly and broken, with a shattered arm. Angry after a quarrel with her secondary 51Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Yangyang Can't Catch a Break, So the Marquis Gets Put Under House Arrest! 漾漾不得意，侯爷关禁闭！ [White Moonlight vs. Cinnabar Mole + Sweet and Angsty Romance + Political Intrigue + A Husband’s Long Road to Redemption] The legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household falls from grace and becomes a bonded, expendable assassin in the Marquis’s residence. The carefree young heir of the Marquis’s household bears the blood feud of his entire family and is forced to become an orphaned marquis! [Fallen Noble Daughter vs. Orphaned Marquis: They keep each other company and grow stronger tog 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Brother-in-Law, Lend Me Some Silver to Reopen the Case 姐夫，借点银子翻个案 [Both Leads Are Each Other’s First] [Sweet Romance + Traditional Historical Romance + Intense, Charged Push and Pull] On their wedding day, Pei Yu, heir to the Marquis of Yongan, prepared an extravagant bridal procession to marry the woman he loved. But the bride, Ye Fei, the eldest daughter of the Ye family, fled, turning him into a laughingstock across the capital and freezing his ardent love into bitter hatred. Two years later, the Ye family fell after being implicated in an arms-trafficking 867Reads7.2Score14614d adds
- 19 The Horse Slave's Wife Has a Special Skill 马奴之妻，有绝技 Wang Cenxi, the Earl’s legitimate daughter, is set up by her stepmother and stepsister, who arrange for her to sleep with one of the estate’s stable hands. There is a CP, and yet it seems like there isn’t. When everyone assumes she will choose to end her life with a strip of white silk, she calmly replies, “I choose to marry the stable hand and cut ties with the Earl’s household.” Not long after they marry, the stable hand goes off to war. Left on her own, Wang Cenxi makes a living with her exce 116Reads8.4Score10014d adds
- 20 Unblemished Radiance 昭质未亏 A sweet historical romance full of court intrigue, one-on-one~ ( ˘ω˘ ) Resilient young lady from a refined family × brilliant, free-spirited boy A story of a precocious, proud young princess who seems cold but is warm-hearted, and a handsome young man who can think of nothing but his beloved, as they dote on each other and stand by one another~ Until the age of twelve, Ye Zhao was a noble young lady of the marquis’s household, treasured like gold and jade. Then calamities came one after another, 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 The Long Days of Spring 春昼长长 [A Down-and-Out, Laid-Back Beauty vs. A Refined, Peerless Young Gentleman] Li Zhizhou was born into a wealthy family, but when it fell on hard times, she was cruelly jilted. After her parents died of illness, her former fiancé realized she had no one to rely on and coveted her beauty. He even tried to take her by force. With nowhere left to turn, Li Zhizhou had no choice but to flee alone. She escaped to the capital, violating curfew on horseback before seeking refuge in Yan Zhaoye’s residence. 267Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 22 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 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 Where My Heart Finds Peace, the Phoenix Jade Awaits 吾心安处凤凰珏 [Alternate history, palace intrigue, deep romance, transformation without rebirth, major twists] Yue was once an ancient nation of powerful aristocrats, but now it has fallen into decline, reduced to preserving the royal family's dignity by marrying its princesses off to foreign powers. Peiyun, once a carefree princess of Yue, suddenly loses her elder sister and younger brother to murder, and her mother dies unexpectedly of illness. Clinging to her dream of marrying a wandering swordsman, she ha 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 In Search of a Gentle Breeze 觅清风 [The maid only wants to make money. Sir, please leave her alone] [Coercive romance] Gu Mingyue was sold and given to Lord He as a gift! At first, Lord He said coolly, “You can stay, but only as an ordinary maid.” Gu Mingyue’s daily goals: do her duties, study, and save money. Later, Lord He roared, “Why won’t you give me so much as a glance?” Gu Mingyue fled to the capital, disguised herself as a man, and, through a twist of fate, became a court official. A major case 99Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 25 A Thousand-Gold Gamble: I’m Making the Crown Prince My Live-In Son-in-Law! 一掷千金：太子被我招赘啦了！ [No golden finger, no transmigration, no rebirth. A historical romance with business intrigue and mystery-solving] Su Rongyue, the daughter of Yangzhou's richest family, puts out a notice seeking a husband. And the man who shows up is the Crown Prince? Did they get the wrong person?! But that doesn't matter. After all, she fell in love at first sight, was struck by his breathtaking beauty, and was already thinking up names for their children the very next second! Miss this chance, and it may nev 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 Tales of a Phoenix’s Fateful Romance 凤鸣奇缘录 The Xue family's Eastern Courtyard had no male heirs. The matriarch lived with her two unmarried daughters and a concubine. The master of the Northern Courtyard bullied the widows and orphans of the East, and while no one was home, he cut down twelve camphor trees in their tea garden. That night, he got twelve blows to the head. Who was the culprit? Later, thanks to Xue Chengyue's intervention, a monk left. Why did he go? When refugees raided the Eastern Courtyard at night, Chen Siyuan led men t 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 The Mute Maid and the Blind General 哑巴丫鬟遇上瞎子将军 A scheming, powerful general with a tender heart × a kind and resilient mute girl hailed as a goddess Fantasy elements, devoted couples × sweet pampering × special affection Zhao Lu’er is a maid who accompanies her mistress as part of her dowry. In her mistress’s place, she cares for the blind and disabled Liao Qiyuan for three years, tending to his every need. Just when everyone believes that the once-mighty general Liao Qiyuan will remain a useless man for the rest of his life, he miraculousl 96Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Captive Phoenix in His Arms: The Ruthless Emperor's Prisoner 俘凰入罗帷，狠戾帝君掌心囚 When the Cangxuan Kingdom fell, its legitimate eldest princess, once revered and surrounded by every luxury, was cast from her heavenly heights into the deepest hell. Chu Yan had once been held hostage in Cangxuan. When he was being humiliated, the kingdom’s eldest princess, Fan Hua, came to his rescue. They grew up together and fell in love, but a conspiracy made Chu Yan hate the entire Cangxuan royal family. After years of plotting, he destroyed her kingdom, trampled on her dignity, and forced 285Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 29 The Belated Return of the Old Sword 迟归故剑 The Late Return of the Ancient Sword 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 After My Family Was Ruined, I Rose From Convict Slave to Palace Maid 被抄家后，我从辛者库罪奴往上爬 Ye Jianqing is the daughter of Ye Mingde, an official in the Imperial Household Department. She was betrothed to Bai Xingjian as a child, and the two fell in love. She had always thought she would marry the man she loved once she came of age, then support him and raise their children. But after her family was raided overnight, she went from a noble young lady to a palace maid. Dongfang Yu is the current emperor’s fourth son. Since his mother is lowborn and he is not favored, he is sent to the Im 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 Ashen Jade 烬玉 [Historical romance, court intrigue, wuxia, tragic love and redemption; strong female lead, pure-hearted male lead] [Beautiful, strong, and tragic career woman · revenge-driven beauty vs. angelic sweetheart · lovestruck, hapless richest man] She is a former princess of the previous dynasty, carrying a blood feud. Wearing a human-skin mask and disguised as a wandering Taoist, she gathers an army of volunteers amid the chaos. He is a wealthy merchant from Yangzhou, silly and rich but utterly since 40Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 32 After the Cousin Cast Him Aside After a Fling, the Mad Young Lord Came Knocking Late at Night 表姑娘始乱终弃后，疯批世子深夜找上门来了 Song Yining was unexpectedly caught up in a mysterious case. To save her own life, she latched onto Lu Shi’an, Deputy Commander of Hecheng. She went to great lengths to persuade Lu Shi’an to clear her name, and he kept her pampered at his side. “From now on, I belong to you, Lang. I’ll stay with you through life and death.” “You’re so impressive, Lang. I could never look at another man again.” Later, Lu Shi’an was framed and thrown into prison, his fate unknown. Song Yining immediately sold the 647Reads6.4Score10214d adds
- 33 A Love Written on Paper 一纸情缘呐 [Historical romance + powerful leads + revenge + love that grows over time + happy ending] After being sold by human traffickers to a remote, impoverished village and enduring two years of hardship, Liu Wushuang finally made it home, only to find there was no place for her in the household anymore. The parents she had once been proud of now avoided her like the plague. The elder brother who had once doted on her now looked at her coldly. The foster sister who had once followed her every lead no 20Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 34 The Jade Palace Calamity 青宫劫 [Historical Romance + Nobility + Court Politics + Schemes + Ensemble Cast + Healing + Devoted Love] Schemes for the throne, blood on vermilion walls. Shattered shadows on jade steps, the moon like a bow; the unfinished game of chess, the funeral bells toll. The realm at stake, the Eastern Palace in peril. The candle-dragon bears its grudge, illuminating the deep shadows; night after night, ghostly lanterns glow in the inner palace. Does anyone with even the slightest connection to the Eastern Pa 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 The Fiery Second Madam Shen 泼辣沈二娘子 The Shen family of Tongji City is comfortably well-off. The family of seven should have been living happily together, but fate had other plans. Shen Muqing, the head of the household, suddenly passed away, leaving his widowed wife and young son and daughter to face a world full of predators... 37Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 The Regent's Secret Wife 摄政王的秘密夫人 [Traditional historical romance + both leads are virgins + doting romance] A cool and aloof heir to the marquis’s title, whose origins are shrouded in mystery and who is also a regent, + the lovely and charming eldest legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister’s household Both leads grow throughout the story. This is a slow-burn romance. Rumor had it in the capital that the aloof heir to the Marquis of Changning, who kept his distance from women, had been seen kissing a young lady who had not yet 40Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 The Princess Consort's Married Life 王妃的婚后日常 Neither the heroine nor the hero is reborn or transmigrates, and neither has a golden finger. A quiet, everyday story of love after marriage, set in a purely ancient setting. The heroine’s beauty is an asset. Her upbringing has made her cold and aloof, slow to warm up, and self-centered. The hero is taciturn and sharp-tongued, and his temperament becomes even harder to read after his leg is injured. Wei Zi is naturally beautiful and wants to marry into a powerful family so she can live a carefre 168Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 38 She Flirts and Runs, but the Heir's Wife Is Hard to Pursue 撩完就跑，世子妃难追 Scheming merchant heroine × cold-faced heir|possessive pursuit|intense push and pull|groveling redemption Ye Jin fled an arranged marriage and came to the capital, hoping only to marry into a powerful family and protect her younger sister. But she lost her virginity in an accidental encounter by a rockery, without even learning who the man was. She lowered herself and flirted with men everywhere, hoping to find a patron and live in peace. But Rong Xuan, the high-and-mighty heir, kept ruining her —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 After Using the Mad Prince, His Little Slave Girl Ran for the Hills 利用完疯批王爷小女奴撒丫子跑了 The difference between Shu Yao and Ji Yue is like the difference between heaven and earth. Shu Yao is a lowly female slave in a military camp, insignificant, humble, and beneath notice. Ji Yue, by contrast, is a lofty prince, handsome, noble, and proud. Yet even so, he insists on keeping her by his side, serving him at close quarters by day and warming his bed at night. But his damned possessiveness nearly breaks her completely. She thinks that if she can endure it long enough, she’ll eventually 149Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 40 Ode to the Journey Ahead 将行赋 At court, he is praised by all as a gracious gentleman, yet he insists on taking her as his wife. She is already married to another man, who cherishes her beyond measure and protects her with his life. But he refuses to give up. One scheme after another, one conspiracy after another, he vows to crush their marriage beneath the weight of imperial power. The Crown Prince watches them like a tiger stalking its prey, while the Third Prince conceals his sharp edge. The court is a storm of blades, whe 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 Chengning 承宁 [Historical romance / Love at first sight / Mutual devotion / Healing each other / A touch of court intrigue] Ning Chuchu: They all say I look like my elder sister, the Empress, but I have no desire to enter the palace. Above the clouds, untouched by the mundane world, with spirit in his eyes and beyond anyone’s reach: that is the kind of young man I like. One glance was all it took for me to fall. I’m rebellious to the core. I only pretend to be a delicate young lady so I can get close to him w 47Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Still the Frost and Dust 定霜尘 Shen Shuang, the legitimate daughter of a distinguished family, was granted a marriage by imperial decree, making her the envy of everyone in the capital. But with the wedding fast approaching, her fiancé secretly kept a concubine and sullied her good name. Rumors spread, her family was disgraced, and trouble brewed beneath the surface. Everyone advised her to swallow her anger, accept her fate, and bow her head. But Shen Shuang refused to yield to the storm. She tore the corrupt schemers to pie 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 Crossing Paths with Xiao Chi 渡萧迟 Xiao Yanyan, a noblewoman of the Liao, and Han Derang, the son of a Han official, fell in love as children and pledged to grow old together. But an imperial edict selecting consorts tore them apart. She was sent to the palace and became Empress to Emperor Jingzong of Liao. Five years later, the emperor died, leaving her with their young crown prince. The imperial clansmen coveted power, and powerful ministers watched like hawks. The widowed empress and her son were in mortal danger. At the most 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Two Hearts in Tune, Our Longing Written in a Silk Letter 两心知，相思写锦书 Childhood sweethearts, an ancient-style romance about lifelong devotion to one person, set in a fictional Great Qi. Fourth Prince Heba Yiwei is the son of the Northern Qi emperor and a Han Chinese consort. As a boy, he lived temporarily in Tanzhou with his mother, where he saved Ye Beiying, the daughter of Tanzhou's garrison commander, from a bolting horse. Beiying was lovely, sweet-natured, and well-behaved, and Yiwei's mother adored her. Yiwei was aloof from a young age, but treated Beiying di 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 Wronged by Linlang 错琳琅 [Multiple male leads + classical court intrigue + unconventional romance]: The palace power struggles are brain-teasing, the romance refuses to follow the usual script, and the heroine is no silly, naive sweetheart. The heroine’s emotional journey is complete, from “seeking love” to “loving herself.” Princess Li Zhaotang of Jingzhao was born into luxury and raised behind vermilion palace walls. Married to a gentle, refined consort, she finds life too long and love too bland. At a tavern, she 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 After Her Ex-Husband Dies, the Ascetic Prince Starts Seducing Her 前夫死后，禁欲王爷疯狂引诱 [Both leads are devoted to each other + Happy ending, sheltered young lady + Abstinent, calculating prince, light political intrigue + revenge, historical romance] Qing Yue, the only daughter of the wealthiest family in the city, has come of age. But her marriage prospects are awkward. Suitors are lining up to marry into her family, yet they treat her as nothing more than a free bonus with a fortune of ten thousand strings of cash. When she first falls in love, the heir of the marquis’s househol —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Transmigrated Into the Mad Prince's Palm 穿成疯批王爷掌心宠 [Female protagonist transmigrates into another world, deranged prince, stubborn heroine, coercive possessive love, mostly angsty with a little sweetness (skip if you can’t handle angst), groveling pursuit] Su Tang falls from the sky and lands in Zhou Chengyu’s arms. …And from that moment on, she can never escape. At first, the heroine likes the hero, but his arrogance gradually wears away her affection. Eventually, all she feels for him is hatred. She’ll do anything and put on an act to get away 1.1kReads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Before the Camellias Fade 山茶未谢时 In his previous life, he lost the woman he loved. In this life, he plans every step with care. Three years after his beloved wife, Jiang Yurou, died of illness, Chu Jin, heir to the Marquis of Dingyuan, is unexpectedly reborn in the time before she married. Carrying the memories of his previous life, he vows to protect her, spare her pain and sorrow, and give her the very best love this world has to offer. Jiang Yurou thinks this young lord is acting very strangely. The first time they meet, he 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 May Peace Be Upon All Under Heaven 卿安天下 [Cool, calculating female lead ➕ court intrigue and political power struggles ➕ empress ➕ nation and family] A rich, satisfying read, pure historical fiction in an imaginary setting, with plenty of twists. The early chapters focus on her growth and daily life, along with romance, and there are clues planted throughout. The pace picks up once the Xie family arc begins. It leans toward an ensemble cast, and later features a possessive, obsessive love interest who forces himself on her (a subplot, 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 A Young Lady's Secret Longing 闺秀情丝 [Romance + Secret Crush + Everyone’s Favorite + Political Scheming + Palace Intrigue] Zhou Jingxi was the beloved jewel of the Marquis of Beiwou. She was breathtakingly beautiful, brilliant, and gifted in both letters and martial arts. She excelled at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was a renowned talent. Countless noble young men had sent matchmakers to her, only to be turned away. In the eyes of the world, she was haughty and arrogant, and not a single young nobleman in the capita 29Reads—Score—14d adds
