Novels like Ashes Return at Dusk
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Ashes Return at Dusk, best match first.
- 101 The Imperial Tutor Cast Me Aside After Taking My Heart 当朝帝师他始乱终弃 The Emperor’s tutor, Su Wangzhen, was ambushed and left hovering between life and death. Unexpectedly, he lost his memory and became the concubine of Fu Yuanjin, the young lord of Xizhou, who doted on him night after night. With an inept emperor on the throne, the capital was thrown into turmoil. Ambitious men vied for power over the court, while influential ministers waited for a chance to switch sides. Just as the emperor lay near death, the Emperor’s tutor suddenly returned to court and set t 849Reads8.6Score10014d adds
- 102 The Prince Reborn: His Shadow Guard in His Arms 王爷重生：影卫入怀 (Two male leads | Ancient setting | Equally matched | Reborn | No fixed top or bottom) A letter brings him rushing back from the frontier. Waiting for him is an imperial decree stripping him of his military command, along with an accusation of colluding with the enemy. Forced into prison, he discovers that it was all a plot. When he is powerless to fight back, the young shadow guard he once drove out of the prince's manor comes to his rescue. But everyone else around him has already been dealt w 432Reads8.1Score10114d adds
- 103 Reborn: After the Frail Hostage Failed to Assassinate the Tyrant 【重生】柔弱质子刺杀暴君失败后 The story is complete. A sick, crazy, scheming emperor as the top x a clever, tearful but resilient hostage prince as the bottom Both leads inexperienced, one-on-one, so sweet it'll make your teeth fall out. Trust me! Qiao Ye, the sixth prince of Chu, never imagined that after being reborn, he would become the white moonlight of Chen Jinian, the tyrant he was supposed to be at odds with. In his previous life, his father used him to assassinate the tyrant. After the attempt failed, the tyrant imp 299Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 104 The Prince and His Shadow Guard Consort 王爷和他的影卫王妃 A tale of love and hate between a prince and his bodyguard. Well, just love, really. The bodyguard is hopelessly clueless about romance, so the prince tries everything and puts all his effort into winning him over. At last, he gets his beloved. 496Reads8.8Score10514d adds
- 105 Yan Huai: A Historical Romance Between Two Men, the Prince of Yan and His Royal Consort’s Guard 《燕淮》古风双男：燕王爷与王夫侍卫 Yan Huai: A Period-Style Male-Male Romance About Prince Yan and His Consort's Guard 27Reads—Score114d adds
- 106 Twin Jades: Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers 双璧，山河故人 [Ancient-style political intrigue + two equally matched leads + mad emperor + loyal guard] A hostage prince’s guide to making a comeback: first, get yourself a guard with a hopeless crush! Xiao Junli spent his life calculating people and seizing the throne. The one thing he never anticipated was that the man who swore to protect him would die saving him, leaving him with a beautiful empire and no one to share it with. I’m a new author, so please be kind~ 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 107 What? My King's Bodyguard Was Reborn Too? 什么？本王的暗卫也重生了？ [Both leads reborn] There are only three ways for a broken mirror to be mended: it wasn’t broken, there was no mirror, or it wasn’t mended. Chu Xingyun was born of the imperial house, blessed with extraordinary looks and talent. Clever from childhood, he was skilled at reading people’s minds. The late emperor favored him, and his elder brother cherished him. His life seemed smooth sailing, and he ought to have wanted for nothing. But who could truly live a life of ease and wealth in the imperia 1.6kReads6.4Score11314d adds
- 108 Reborn: Where Can the Little Shadow Guard Run? 重生之小暗卫哪里逃 “Yingchen, if there’s another life, I swear I won’t let you down.” That was He Yiting’s final thought before he breathed his last. The cold edge of a sword pierced his chest, and he felt only relief. For three years since ascending the throne, he’d been tormented by nightmares every night. They always showed the same mangled face: Yingchen, the young leader of his personal guard, the trusted confidant he had personally ordered to be executed by a thousand cuts. On the day the rebels stormed the 1.7kReads8.7Score24414d adds
- 109 When Rivals Reveal Their True Identities 当冤家掉马后【双男主】 [Male Leads] When the Rivals' True Identities Are Revealed 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 110 The Prosecutor’s Proposal: The Follower 检察官的提案：追随者 The Prosecutor's Proposal: The Follower 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 111 Planting Time: A Flutter of the Heart Beneath the Umbrella 植时：伞下的心动 When Plants Bloom: A Heart Flutter Beneath the Umbrella 42Reads—Score—14d adds
- 112 Reborn: The Shadow Guard Becomes a Sweet Little Tease! 重生后暗卫变成了绿茶小可爱！ Nangong Yi never imagined he would spend his life trusting the wrong people. Even less did he expect Chen Fan, the man he held dearest, to have been secretly involved with his good-for-nothing younger brother, Nangong Ye, all along. As he lay dying, he learned that everything before had been a conspiracy between the two of them, and that they had framed the person he, too, had once held dear. When he saw An Wu shielding him with his life, and the smug expressions on Chen Fan and Nangong Ye's fac 834Reads8.7Score13914d adds
- 113 Ashes of Frost Return to Dust: The Reborn Prince Dotes on His Shadow Guard 霜烬归尘：重生王爷宠暗卫 Ashes of Frost Return to Dust: The Reborn Prince Dotes on His Shadow Guard 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 114 Yu Hou Bids Farewell and Returns Home (Modern-Day House Slave) 煜候辞归（现代家奴） Yu Hou Resigns and Returns (Modern House Slave) 273Reads—Score—14d adds
- 115 Reborn: After Slacking Off as a Shadow Guard, I Became the Prince’s Consort 【重生】暗卫消极怠工后，成王妃了 367Reads6.5Score10514d adds
- 116 The Devoted Secret Guard Secretly in Love with the Demon Lord 暗恋魔尊的忠犬暗卫 [Two male leads + mutual devotion + pure love + bittersweet romance + top-focused + happy ending + beautiful top and strong bottom] [Powerful, indulgent Demon Lord who doesn't realize he's in love × repressed, insecure bodyguard who doesn't dare reveal his feelings] The cold-hearted Demon Lord's jealousy boils over, and he forcibly binds himself to the leader of his bodyguards, only to discover that the other man has always been obsessed with him! A bodyguard as lowly as mud dares to fall for hi 1.9kReads8.9Score27014d adds
- 117 Who Says a Prince Can’t Fall for His Shadow Guard? 谁说王爷就不能喜欢暗卫了 “My lord, if I remember correctly, today’s event is the Shadow Guard selection, isn’t it?” Uncle Fu narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the tall, imposing guards, but his gaze settled on the most eye-catching one. “How did a beauty pageant contestant sneak in?” “Does being pretty mean you can’t kill?” Yan Qi crossed his legs and spun his teacup between his fingers. A smile tugged at his lips. “What if he makes it hurt even more?” On the day Shadow Seven was selected, Yan Qi had a mask made overnigh 916Reads—Score10014d adds
- 118 The Prince’s Beloved Little Shadow Guard 王爷独宠他的小暗卫 The Prince's Shadow Guard Is His One and Only 81Reads—Score—14d adds
- 119 The Emperor's Consort, the Emperor Has Called for You Again 男后，皇上又翻你牌子了 He was a male fox who had cultivated for a thousand years and devoted himself to becoming human. He endured thirty-three bolts of heavenly tribulation, but failed. His soul was blasted out of his body and, quite unexpectedly, swept into a rift in time and space. When he opened his eyes again, he had become the male empress of the Tiansheng Kingdom. Everyone said he was merely the youngest son of the chancellor, appointed empress by the new emperor out of necessity to win the chancellor’s support 854Reads8.8Score10114d adds
- 120 The Shadow Guard Who Came Out of a Game 从游戏里穿出来的影卫 Newly opened for ratings / Modern master-servant romance / Loyal dog-like bottom / Includes a secondary couple, with the underling on top Black-bellied, wildly possessive top & loyal dog-like bottom who obeys only his master Jiang He happened to download an ancient-style management game, but somehow turned it into a raising simulator. It was all the fault of that little shadow guard who was so obedient and willing to give his life for him. Bad news: after the game went down for maintenance, he c 627Reads7.6Score—14d adds
- 121 Forced Possession: His Loyal Puppy Likes It Rough 强制占有，他的忠犬喜欢玩硬的 Beautiful and seductive, with a sweet face and a dark heart x his loyal guard dog of a bodyguard [two male leads + equally matched + only ever each other + beautiful, strong, and tragic] Xie Qinian was reborn. In his previous life, a single imperial decree sent his father, despite his many military achievements, straight to prison. His elder sister married off to another country for the sake of peace, only to die a gruesome death in enemy territory. Barely twenty, Xie Qinian was ordered to t 191Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 122 About My Master: He's the One I Raised 关于我的主子，是养成系这件事 [Two male leads + both pure + true love + historical ABO + raising a child + younger top + handsome top and muscular bottom + happy ending] [The seemingly cold but actually clingy and self-pitying Qianyuan young master top × the steady, tolerant, Zhongyong, loyal-dog bottom] Shen Nianfeng had always believed he was an orphan, until the year he turned twelve, when A Qi, who had raised him, told him he was the last survivor of the Cangjian Manor, burdened with the duty of avenging his family. A Q 2.2kReads8.6Score56914d adds
- 123 The Young Lord Says He Only Wants His Shadow Guard 少主说他只要影卫 A double-standard Shadow Guard who obeys only his young master's orders × a young master who is gentle, patient, and doting only toward his own Shadow Guard After losing his memory The Shadow Guard: I'm your fiancé. You fell off a cliff while gathering herbs on the mountain, hit your head, and lost your memory. The young master: ...Why does something about this feel off? The Shadow Guard said solemnly: You used to treat me so well. You wouldn't take advantage of losing your memory to have yo 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 124 Reborn: The Crazy Prince Is Claimed by His Loyal Shadow Guard 【重生】疯批王爷被忠犬暗卫独占了 “I stand atop countless bloodied blades and exalt you as a god.” [Outwardly arrogant, inwardly ruthless and unhinged prince × aloof, devoted, unhinged hidden guard] [Hua Qiluo × Lin Su] Reborn, Hua Qiluo calculates every move, focused only on avenging the wrongs of his previous life and killing those he failed to kill back then. He never expects to meet someone on the very first day of his new life whom he never encountered in his past one, and to suffer endless threats at this person's hands. 225Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 125 Young Master! How Can You Pamper Your Shadow Guard Like This? 少主！您怎可娇养影卫？ [Not reborn + sweet romance + a little angst + both leads are each other’s first and only + happy ending] Flirtatious, carefree young master top, Ruan Xiao & sweet, gentle, adorably naive shadow guard bottom, Zhu Qiyao ★ Here’s the story: Ruan Xiao’s ruthless father sent a shadow guard to stay by his side and keep an eye on him. Ruan Xiao never went out of his way to torment people, but he certainly never treated them kindly, either. ★ Yet this shadow guard repeatedly put himself in danger and 2.5kReads8.2Score45914d adds
- 126 The Vile Young Master Doesn’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite 恶毒小少爷不想当万人迷 [Two male leads + mind-reading and face-slapping + from universally hated to universally adored + both are devoted to one another + forced love] A sweet-looking, innocent yet secretly scheming, love-struck top × a vindictive villainous bottom What does it feel like to become everyone’s darling overnight? Excitement? Blushing? Being the center of attention? Wild nights of revelry? The person in question, Ci Yian, says: Annoying! Stupid! Shameless!! They won’t leave no matter how much he drives th 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 127 She Sets the Rules by Day, Then the Powerful Man Holds Her by the Waist at Night 白天立规矩，夜里大佬掐腰宠 Two male leads / older man-younger man / happy ending / devoted couple Lu Chengyan, the twenty-eight-year-old business legend of Beijing’s elite circles, is a cold-blooded king of hell who always gets his way in the eyes of outsiders. Yet late at night in his study, one little menace has him rubbing his temples in frustration! Su Nianyu: “I’m not drunk! I can still drink! What gives you the right to boss me around?” Lu Chengyan lets out a cold laugh. “What gives me the right? You nearly got sold 3.4kReads6.6Score43414d adds
- 128 Jade Clouds on a Verdant Isle 云珩菀渚 [Cloudborne “top” Yu and the gifted “bottom” Heng] [Frontier guard dog and cool, reserved physician] [Proud prince and aloof zither player] [A marriage alliance between generals and merchants, from marriage to love] He is Yu Heng, aloof as a jade in the clouds; I am Shen Wan, an unknown soul by the water's edge. Our meeting was both fate and calamity. Hao Mianheng, the most dazzling scion of power in Chang'an, lives with a heart like a cage beneath his brilliance. Hao Wan, the impoverished scho 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 129 Ailing Bones, Rusted Spring 病骨锈春 [Dual male leads + loyal shadow guard bottom + sweet rebirth romance + a touch of ensemble cast] Ten years after ascending the throne, Zhao Tuyun finally learned all the secrets of the young shadow guard who had died helping him claim the imperial throne. That same day, he died from blood loss and was reborn. Given another chance, he would take good care of the young shadow guard. The pampered shadow guard: Why does being a shadow guard feel so different from how it used to? Reborn Emperor Zhao 993Reads8.7Score13114d adds
- 130 The Fallen Young Master and His Cold-Hearted Sugar Daddy 【双男主】落魄少爷的阴鸷金主 [Male-Male] The Fallen Young Master’s Sinister Sugar Daddy 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 131 After I Was Reborn, the Beautiful One Wouldn't Leave Me Alone 重生后，漂亮美人不放过我了 Reborn, the beautiful woman won’t let me go anymore 19.6kReads—Score80814d adds
- 132 Reborn: My Lord Dotes on Me Fiercely 重生之主上狠狠疼宠 Rumor has it that Xiao Yuanhan is cold-hearted, ruthless, and cruel. Yet everyone knows he bears Heaven’s Mandate, has spies across the Nine Provinces, and may one day unite the realm, with all beneath the heavens bowing to him. He founded the unfathomable Han Ning and commands the loyal, formidable Han Ying, yet he was cruelly ambushed before Huaqing Palace and died with regret… His little shadow guard’s humble love ran deep, through bone and heart, but he never dared to overstep… “On the road 5.8kReads8.9Score54814d adds
- 133 Your Majesty, Please Don’t Hit Me! Your Little Shadow Guard Doesn’t Want a Spanking 陛下别打，小暗卫不想挨板子 [Two male leads, emperor, imperial guard, pure love, mild angst] “Tell me, what do you want to be whipped with? A heavy whip or a ruler? Pick your favorite.” “Waaah, I don’t like either! Brother Zhong Yin, I won’t get jealous for no reason again. Please believe me, okay?” “No. You’ve said that plenty of times before.” “If you don’t behave, I really will lock you in the Qianqing Palace. Do you believe me?” “Brother Zhong Yin, even the imperial guards can unlock doors. I just don’t want to make t 2.4kReads6.5Score14414d adds
- 134 Reborn: How Could the Master Ever Be Unable to Live Without His Shadow Guard? 重生，哪有主上离不开暗卫 [Two male leads + reborn + extra sweet romance + plot twists and face-slapping] In his previous life, Yun Shi ruined the reputation of Youxu Palace, and Mu Xuanzhao flew into a rage and cast him out. Seven years later, Mu Xuanzhao was framed and driven into a corner. At the critical moment, Yun Shi appeared, rescued him, and took him back to his own home. Mu Xuanzhao recuperated there, spending every day with the stiff, taciturn Yun Shi. Mu Xuanzhao looked down on Yun Shi, believing he was only 1.1kReads8.2Score14514d adds
- 135 A Soul-Tethered Shadow, Reborn to Begin a New Chapter of Devotion 魂牵影十一，重生开起宠溺新篇 A tsundere, clingy, affectionate prince who loves to be pampered meets Ying Shiyi, who always responds with warmth. Ultra-sweet, with plenty of heartfelt dialogue. Both are devoted only to each other. They say what they mean instead of bottling things up, and their words are incredibly sweet. Things went wrong in their previous life, so this time he makes it up to him twice over. “Carry me.” “I’m willing. I’ll go with you.” “I’m scared. Protect me.” “Don’t leave me, okay?” What should you do whe 597Reads6.3Score10514d adds
- 136 False Phoenix 假凤 [Political Intrigue + Male-Male Romance + Rebirth + Dual Systems + Everyone's Favorite + Powerful Leads + Ensemble Cast + Tragic Fate] Two stars chase the moon; the nation is doomed. A prophecy in Great Xiao declared: If twin princes are born into the imperial house, the dynasty is bound to fall. So the elder brother, Xiao Xuanshu, was raised as a prince, while the younger, Xiao Yuxian, was concealed as a princess. At nineteen, Xiao Yuxian was married off to the Northern Di. Only then did he le 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 137 Prince, Help! Your Little Bodyguard Is Kneeling Again 王爷快扶！你家小暗卫又跪下了 My lord, help! Your little shadow guard is on his knees again 1.1kReads—Score—14d adds
- 138 After Being Reborn, His Majesty Visits the Cold Palace Every Day 重生后陛下每天往冷宫跑 Never forget. That was the promise Zhong Xiao made to someone. But not only did he fail to keep it, he also betrayed and used that person. “Don’t let him die. Not until he weeps tears of blood.” The woman beloved by the Emperor of Great Yan suffered from a chronic illness and needed merfolk blood and tears as medicine. Unable to find any merfolk, the Emperor turned his attention to his disgraced Crown Princess, who had merfolk blood in her veins. Zhong Xiao went to Ming Lang, treated him tenderl 1.9kReads8.2Score12114d adds
- 139 The Disabled Young Master I Rescued From the Mass Grave Turned Out to Be My Long-Lost Beloved 乱葬岗捡回的残废少主竟是多年白月光 The Crippled Young Lord He Rescued from the Mass Grave Turned Out to Be His Beloved from Years Ago 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 140 Reborn as the Jianghu's Biggest Fool, I Cling to the Villain's Coattails 穿成江湖第一傻，抱紧反派大腿 (A dark, scheming villain who spouts nonsense with a perfectly straight face VS a cunning, scene-stealing schemer who plays the fool. Two shameless scoundrels join forces and head home.) The chosen unlucky soul transmigrates into a wuxia world and becomes a famous... idiot! Xiao Yan's mission is to cling to the villain's coattails and pass all his bad luck on to him. The mighty Helian Xingfeng, leader of the foremost evil sect, is so tormented that he wants to run whenever he sees Xiao Yan. But 165Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 141 After the Little Shadow Guard Faked His Death, the Prince Went Mad 小暗卫死遁后，王爷疯了 [(The rating will rise once it’s just been posted) Steadfast, patient, loyal-dog-type secret guard bottom VS obsessive, unhinged prince top + forced love + groveling pursuit] At first, Prince Ning, Xiao Jue, planted his foot on Ling Chen’s head, his voice cold as iron: “Lick it clean.” “Remember your place. You’re not my secret guard. You’re a dog I keep.” “Your life, your breath, even every beat of your heart belong to me. Without my permission, you’re not allowed to die, and you can forget abo 639Reads8.8Score10014d adds
- 142 Come On, Being a Shadow Guard Is Just My Side Hustle 拜托，做暗卫只是我的副业而已 [Two male leads, both strong, sweet and doting, lighthearted and funny, happy ending] Jiang Lingzhou, who transmigrates into the body of a noble heir, is sent as a hostage to the state of Yan, then inexplicably captured and made into a shadow guard × Pei Su, Yan's elegant and accomplished noble heir, skilled in both letters and arms but unloved by his family. Jiang Lingzhou transmigrates into the body of a noble heir. But His country has just lost a war. And he is the unlucky one sent to the ene 842Reads8.4Score22014d adds
- 143 One Hundred and Eight Ways for a Prince to Win Over His Shadow Guard Wife 王爷策反影卫老婆的一百零八式 The Ziwu Battalion in the eyes of the world: Brave and battle-hardened, secretive and unpredictable hounds of the late emperor! They wield immense power and are called the imperial shadow guards, but in truth they're a private army of highly skilled martial artists! The Ziwu Battalion in reality: They do the hardest, most exhausting jobs for shadow-guard wages. They work all year without a day off, and on top of that, the Wulin Guards and the Golden Pivot Envoys constantly pick on them... But no 2.2kReads8.7Score41114d adds
- 144 Why Did I Only Transmigrate Halfway into the Book? 为什么我穿书只穿一半 [Two male leads + transmigrate into a book + bickering enemies + political intrigue + devoted top + mutual devotion + doting husband + bittersweet romance + putting scumbags in their place] Xiao Binbin transmigrates into a book set in a world with many men, few women, and a third gender known as ge'er. He becomes the book's pampered young prince, who meets a tragic end. In the story, the young prince forcibly marries two breathtakingly beautiful secondary husbands and fawns over them at every t 435Reads8.2Score10614d adds
- 145 Reborn: The Possessive Prince Woos His Innocent Shadow Guard 重生：偏执殿下诱宠单纯暗卫 The rating just came out, so it should go up [reborn top + both are each other's only ones, 1v1 + sweet romance + happy ending + mutual devotion] A bottom who's cold-faced and ruthless to outsiders, but sweet, beautiful, and innocent in private A reborn top who's ruthless and cruel to outsiders, but gentle and possessive in private > Jiang Jiuci's life was full of hardship, and nothing he wished for ever came true. Until one day, he met a little fool who would secretly bring him food, blush 9kReads7.4Score1.4k14d adds
- 146 I’m Just a Restaurant Owner, So Why Does Everyone Keep Showing Up to Die? 我只是个酒楼老板怎么都来送人头 “I just want to run a restaurant! Why does everyone keep showing up to get themselves killed?” [One-on-One Romance + BL + Historical Fantasy + Political Intrigue + Mind Games + Two Powerful Leads + A Touch of Mystery + A Little Goofy + Dual POV, Mostly the Bottom’s] "This is a fictional historical setting, so don’t take it as fact!!" Sharp-tongued and proud on the outside, stubborn but soft-hearted beauty on the inside × A carefree playboy on the surface, but a clever, loyal wolf-dog underneat 33Reads—Score—14d adds
- 147 Aren’t They Supposed to Be Mortal Enemies? 【双楠】他们不是宿敌吗 [Male-Male] Aren’t They Supposed to Be Mortal Enemies? 40Reads—Score—14d adds
- 148 Diary of Raising the Heir 世子养成日记 A retro-style political intrigue novel about a loyal, devoted guard dog. The author loves cooking and good food. A scheming young heir with a devilish streak, the pursuer, × a cold-faced but adorable, utterly loyal guard seven years his senior, the pursued. I am a shadow guard in an era of darkness. He is my master, one of the most exalted people in all the world. I have been by his side since the day he was born. The sole meaning of my life is to protect him. In these dangerous times, raising a 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 149 Modern Houseboy: Yin Xuan 现代家奴之胤轩 Modern House Slave: Yin Xuan 205Reads—Score—14d adds
- 150 Prince Ninth, Your Little Shadow Guard Is Here to Apologize Again 九王爷你的小暗卫又来请罪啦 A new story is out! You can read my work on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 1.1kReads8.7Score10514d adds
