Novels like Zhu Yan, the Female General
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Zhu Yan, the Female General, best match first.
- 1 Young Master Pingxu 凭虚公子 One calamity brought the Chu Kingdom to ruin, leaving her with no family and no kin. She was tormented by madness, while he bore a crime condemned for all eternity! Five years passed in the blink of an eye. He rose from a forest of white bones and returned to the Jianghu with the strength of the Void-Pacing Gentleman. But she! On the very day he was to be married, she sent him a coffin! * * (This book is told from the male lead's perspective. An old work, so enter at your own risk, and please go 0Votes3.7kRecs2.3kFans
- 2 The Proud Legitimate Daughter 嫡女骄 Reborn, Situ Jiao is determined to take her fate into her own hands: get rid of her father's concubine, protect her mother, help her brother, guide her half-sister, and win a lifetime of doting love. 0Votes94.2kRecs38.6kFans
- 3 A Phoenix’s Rise, Step by Step 步步凤华 Born beautiful, with a knack for attracting wolves: The first was a young silk merchant, cold and heartless; The second was a dashing young official, lecherous and shameless; The third was a commandery princess's only son, who coveted her wealth; The fourth was the Prince of Lu's heir, and the fifth a powerful prince of the commandery. Just as she was losing all faith in the men of this world, the Wolf King appeared... The historical record states: “...From childhood, she was bright and percepti 0Votes116.3kRecs44.8kFans
- 4 Reborn in Xiaxi Village 重生下溪村 Qin Zhi had been sick her whole life, and at last she died in bed. She had expected her own death, but never imagined that after dying she would transmigrate to another world. Though she had no wealthy family in this life, she had a healthy body. Farming, doing business, and making a fortune would be no problem at all. The only flaw was that her second uncle’s family kept causing trouble. Qin Zhi had had enough. If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll really think I have no temper! 0Votes6.6kRecs8.6kFans
- 5 A Sweet Garden of Blessings 甜园福地 A Yuan falls from the modern world of plenty into an ancient farming household in the middle of nowhere. Not only are they poor, she also has several little siblings clamoring to be fed. Fortunately, she meets a loyal husband who dotes on her. Reborn as the eldest sister-in-law, she resolves to shoulder her responsibilities and sets out on a wonderfully heartwarming road to prosperity! 0Votes126.1kRecs186.6kFans
- 6 Slay the Hua 诛华 The Seventh Prince suddenly died, the Chengde Hall caught fire, and the collapse of Yong'an Mountain crushed hundreds of households of villagers. With the nation on the brink of ruin, Chang Jiyao was buried alive as a sacrifice to Heaven. Thirteen days later, she crawled out from the dark earth, but had forgotten the most agonizing year of her life. That was the year her father died horribly, her mother withdrew from the secular world, and swore that mother and daughter would never meet again! B 0Votes19.1kRecs6.7kFans
- 7 A Second Spring 第二春 A disaster sends the Lin family to prison. The married daughters of the Lin family are caught up in the misfortune too. Even if they keep their heads down and behave, being sent to a separate Buddhist hall is unavoidable, and a letter of divorce is nothing out of the ordinary. In her grief, Lin Yijia feels a little relieved, because her husband has become even more attentive to her. But after drinking the calming tonic her husband personally brings her, she wakes up to find she has suddenly retu 0Votes38.6kRecs112.8kFans
- 8 The Palace of the Emperor 宸宫 After many years, Mu Fei has returned to the starting point. Her new book, Jade Steps of Blood, is currently being serialized: After dreaming of a future in which her country fell, she was forced to become a concubine, stripped naked in a wedding prank by everyone in her clan, then forcibly abducted, violated, and tortured to death by Emperor Yan of the Murong clan, Li Yan completely lost her mind. She borrowed boundless power from the evil entity Grandmaster Tie and decided to wrestle with fate 0Votes83.4kRecs348.4kFans
- 9 Ten Patterns 十样锦 She transmigrates into the role of a concubine brought in to bring her sickly husband good fortune. While she doesn't have to contend with a complicated web of wives and concubines, she does have difficult sisters-in-law. Her elders play favorites, and the servants scheme for their own benefit. She vows to make the most of her life and find a whole new kind of happiness! 0Votes51.1kRecs324.6kFans
- 10 A Peaceful World 安乐天下 She died at sixteen and was reborn at ten. Ji Xiaotang has only one simple wish: to live a long, peaceful, and happy life. However, she gradually discovers that a shocking secret lies buried beneath it all. Her simple wish turns out to be an impossible dream. “Perhaps you could consider marrying me.” “Now you have no choice but to marry me.” 0Votes75.8kRecs39.5kFans
- 11 The Chronicle of Ronghua 容华录 The notorious Xu Qirong uses despicable means to marry into a wealthy family. Her husband is a gifted scholar of impeccable character. As expected, the match is ill-suited, and even Heaven can’t stand it: she’s branded a runaway and dies a tragic death in front of a ruined temple. What? She has to do it all over again? No problem. Watch her take on the most awful people, earn a good name, expose conspiracies, settle old scores, and carve out a life of wealth and glory! 0Votes29.7kRecs35.8kFans
- 12 The Retired Palace Maid 退役宫女 To escape the Xuanwu Gate Incident, she served eight years in the deep palace before returning home. Now she is an unmarried woman past her prime. At long last, she meets him and comes to like and trust him deeply, promising to be with him, and him alone, for the rest of their lives. She refuses to become a concubine, and he is determined to marry her as his wife. But their stations are worlds apart. She does not want to waste his youth, and he cannot bear to watch her beauty fade. Still, can ha 0Votes206.9kRecs59.1kFans
- 13 The Noblewoman’s Scheme 贵女谋 Su Jiu had always known how terrifying the inner-house struggle could be. But it wasn't until she transmigrated that she realized even useless allies and ruthless opponents were nothing compared to a wolf in sheep's clothing who was supposed to be on her side! How was she supposed to deal with that? 0Votes271.4kRecs51.3kFans
- 14 The Wicked Daughter of a Noble House 朱门恶女 Perhaps her time had not yet come, because Ye Kui died and came back to life. She awoke in a strange world, as a young lady of a wealthy and powerful family. But the people in that grand household wanted nothing more than her life. She thought it over and couldn’t see another way. If I don’t give you all a beating today, you’ll never learn what it means to “come to your senses.” 0Votes20.3kRecs112.1kFans
- 15 A Joyful Household 喜盈门 She firmly believed good people would be rewarded, but was driven to the end of her rope. At last, she understood: kindness is always wasted on the wicked. So what if she had the label of “cursed to bring misfortune to her parents” and “fated for a life of hardship”? So what if her mother was dead, her father despised her, and she had a little sister to care for? So what if her marriage prospects were “extremely” disappointing? Happiness must be fought for and defended! A declaration: You should 0Votes167.6kRecs378.9kFans
- 16 The Siren 祸水 People say it's better to be a shattered piece of jade than an intact roof tile. That's what a gentleman would do. Why should I be the jade that gets broken, ground to dust, and trampled underfoot? I'd rather be an ugly roof tile, standing firm at the very top, fearless in wind and rain, scorching heat and bitter cold, looking down on all of you as you become the mud beneath my feet. Her: “Whoever wants me dead, I'll make their life worse than death!” Him: “With three thousand beauties as al 0Votes189.3kRecs85.7kFans
- 17 A Splendid Marriage 华嫁 Mother said the greatest glory for a woman was a wedding procession stretching ten miles, a grand wedding in a golden age, and a radiant bridal departure... That was why Song Jinyu married into the Sheng family, becoming the second wife of its eldest son, a man nearing thirty. In the end... when she was forced to swallow that fatal bowl of broth, she thought: If Heaven gave her another chance, even if her mother and her entire clan forced her, she would still shake her head. Thr 0Votes20.9kRecs37kFans
- 18 A Noblewoman's Schemes in a Spatial Realm 空间之贵女谋略 Blurb: After transmigrating, she fights her legitimate mother and sister, then marries a fine young nobleman. That's what a transmigrated concubine-born daughter does. After being reborn, she fights her father's concubines and half-sisters, then marries a fine young nobleman. That's what a reborn legitimate daughter does. As for Mujin, she's just a lowly maid. All she wants is to finish her ten-year term of service without a hitch, go home, and find herself an honest, taciturn husband. That woul 0Votes32.1kRecs21.1kFans
- 19 The Golden and Jade Bride 金玉娇妻 After transmigrating, she botched her opening act? No problem. Fortunately, she has a good boss to hold the stage together. Fang Caiwei, the heir's wife who considers herself part of the gold-collar class, works diligently to run the rear courtyard of the Marquis's Residence, this “company,” while accumulating capital in preparation for “going independent” in the future. When the winds of change rise, I will leave in style and make my mark in the vast world. There is even a handsome man who refu 0Votes102.7kRecs30.5kFans
- 20 The White Lotus Strategy 白莲攻略 Bai Lian said: "When it comes to men who want me to be their strategist, I rely on my brains." Bai Lian said again: "When it comes to the man I will marry in the future, I rely on my face." Someone asked: "What about me?" Bai Lian replied helplessly: "My whole heart and soul!" Someone: " 0Votes108.5kRecs52.5kFans
- 21 A Joyous Match 喜良缘 Reading people's expressions and getting along with everyone? That's our strong suit! Playing dumb and pretending to be a fool while secretly outsmarting everyone? That's our specialty! So what if I transmigrated into the body of a lowly, unloved concubine's daughter? I'll borrow the east wind, secure a match as precious as gold and jade, and live a life of glory and freedom! 0Votes236.1kRecs197.3kFans
- 22 Flowers Flourish in Spring 花繁春正茗 She is a tea ceremony prodigy renowned throughout the world. When the new emperor ascends the throne, she is forced to become a palace official and has nowhere left to escape. The new emperor is arrogant and domineering, and he also has a burden in tow. Most importantly, he is actually her second senior brother, the very man she abandoned in the past... 0Votes80.5kRecs61.1kFans
- 23 Huajin Lane 华锦里 Let’s see how she carves out a life of splendor amid the brocade and finery. 0Votes45.2kRecs57.9kFans
- 24 A Promise for a Lifetime 一世诺 That year, a great fire lit up half the sky over Luoyang. She stumbled out of the city. From then on, kin were no longer kin, and enemies were no longer enemies. When she returned, she was clad in blue, her eyes cold. Nine years of hardship had long since taught her to endure frost, wind, and bitter trials. She could evade blades, spears, swords, and halberds, and she could guard against hearts as venomous as poison. But in the end, she couldn’t escape that distant glance from the crowd. After f 0Votes105.1kRecs22.5kFans
- 25 The Lord Has Returned 君归矣 This book began in May 2017 and was rewritten in April 2025. A note: This book has no romance pairing, no female emperor, a huge cast, and many long-running clues and plot threads. It's an unconventional, eclectic fantasy with a high barrier to entry...and all kinds of potentially frustrating elements rolled into one book. Also, the book is set against the backdrop of the Two Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties. The events and characters are all drawn from old records that Xiao Xian dug up. 25Votes705.6kRecs89.7kFans
- 26 The Chronicles of the Boudoir 闺华记 Xie Han decides to stay away from those things called male and female cousins. She only wants to protect the family estate her father left behind and raise her frail younger brother for him! 0Votes105.4kRecs79.6kFans
- 27 The Treacherous Minister's Beloved Wife 佞臣宠妻 In her previous life, she was blinded by wealth and privilege, and ended up beheaded. Reborn, Zhuo Nan swore she wanted no riches or glory, only happiness, good health, and a peaceful death in old age! Zhuo Nan lived boldly and shamelessly. Even if it earned her a reputation as a wicked woman, she would cast aside wealth and glory! Yet fate eerily pushed her back along the path of her previous life. Just when she was losing hope, she finally discovered the hidden hand behind it all! Zhuo Nan gla 0Votes61.9kRecs58.4kFans
- 28 A True Record of Nurturing Worthy Ministers 贤臣养成实录 The story of a modern girl who transmigrates into the past as the son of an official family, and strives to cultivate herself, manage her family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. [Female-to-male transmigration, no BL. Read it or don’t, but don’t attack the author.] 0Votes76.8kRecs50.2kFans
- 29 The Tyrant Official 霸官 The tyrants of the Sang family: five dead, one left. People say their downfall was only a matter of time. The one left is certainly not going to accept her fate. She'll keep being a tyrant and see who's tougher, Heaven or her. But after she kills her enemy with her own hands and leaves Dawang Ridge, she thinks she'll settle for a modestly comfortable life from then on... Little does she know that the game of Dawang Chess has only just begun. One master after another makes their move alongside he 0Votes215.2kRecs41kFans
- 30 The Crown Prince’s Substitute Bride 替嫁太子妃 My new book, “Drunken Joyful Sleep,” is now available. Since being alive itself was a conspiracy, she had no choice but to use every means possible to end her own life as quickly as she could. --- Yet the fake-death pill she had painstakingly prepared was intercepted by her little sister. Seeing that the person lying in the coffin was not herself, she had no choice but to become the substitute bride. But can someone explain why the groom has turned into her junior grand-uncle in the sect? 0Votes1.5MRecs337.9kFans
- 31 The Young Lady of the Yamen 千金小衙内 As the descendant of a court official and a textbook young master, Xu Youran has spent her whole life strolling around and living the life of a spoiled dandy. She has a whole host of childhood friends who could become her future husband, and from then on she expects to live the life of her dreams. Then one day, her mother delivers the dreadful news: "Daughter, it's time for you to get married!!!" Heroine profile: Name: Xu Youran. Gender: Female. Description: A highly dangerous little girl. Threa 0Votes86.1kRecs50kFans
- 32 The Brocade Spring 折锦春 Qin faces spring, but spring turns away from Qin. In her previous life, the entire Qin family was executed. Qin Su was covered in filth and endured humiliation for half her life. She always believed that was fate. Only after being reborn did she understand: it wasn’t fate, but a trap. Can she break free and survive, turning the spring she has broken into a tapestry of beauty? In a nutshell: This is a story about redemption. A special note: This is a 3Votes241.4kRecs137.1kFans
- 33 Married Under Heaven 嫁冠天下 She was cautious and always planned ahead. A favorite of the Empress Dowager and a rare noblewoman in the Wu Dynasty, she was still schemed against and killed. She has returned, but all she wants is to live for herself this time. Transmigrating into the body of a woman of poor character? No matter. She never wanted to be a virtuous wife anyway. If she doesn't make a glorious mess of things and ensure that those who harmed her get no peace, how can she do justice to the life Heaven has given her? 3Votes570.8kRecs109.9kFans
- 34 Splendor in the Palm of Her Hand 覆手繁华 She was blind, and had lived in darkness for twenty years. In the end, she was framed for adultery and killed. When she opened her eyes again, she saw a world full of color. With a turn of her hand, she could summon desolation; with another, she could bring forth splendor. Everything depended on a single thought. P.S. He knew that to marry that decisive woman, he would have to snatch her away, make a scene, and shamelessly refuse to take no for an answer. Still not enough? Then he could only pla 7Votes1.1MRecs620kFans
- 35 The Slow Passage of Time 韶光慢 (Published in simplified and traditional Chinese, and Thai) Qiao Zhao married one of the capital’s most distinguished young noblemen. But just after the wedding ceremony, her husband was ordered to war. When they met again, he pinned her to the city wall with an arrow. She opened her eyes in the body of a girl riding a donkey, racking her brains over how to get back to the capital. 0Votes1.2MRecs697.6kFans
- 36 Second to None 不二臣 The daughter of a madman and a sycophant. Qi Taiwei fled an arranged marriage, set fires, killed people, and died alone in a foreign land, with nowhere to call home. The person she had loved with all her heart was nothing more than a beautiful dream. Now that she has woken from that dream and gotten a second chance, she wants no more of these men who bow at her feet. “Take my hand, and you can live.” “Like hell I will.” There’s just no damn point in being alive… 0Votes238.8kRecs125.3kFans
- 37 The Sparrow Immortal Bridge 雀仙桥 What should I do if my husband is plotting a rebellion? Xiahou Yu figures that since she and Xiao Huan were joined in a political marriage, they should each mind their own affairs, take what they need, and keep up the appearance of marital harmony. But at the brink of life and death, Xiao Huan gives her the chance to survive... Returning to Jian’an Year Three, Xiahou Yu can’t help studying her newlywed husband, Xiao Huan, with curiosity. That one look is all it takes to land her in a trap... 1Votes719.4kRecs182.9kFans
- 38 Brocade Paulownia 锦桐 Li Tong was reborn and finally saw clearly. It turned out he had never loved her or cherished her... Jiang Huanzhang defies fate and returns. This time, he will climb even higher and become the true The Outcast, above everyone but one... Ning Yuan has come from a thousand miles away: Jiang Huanzhang, I make a living out of ruining people, and I never get tired of it... 1Votes1.7MRecs958.1kFans
- 39 A Good End 善终 The Du family had a daughter. Three months after their wedding, her husband received an imperial order, donned his armor, and set off for war. From then on, they spent more time apart than together. Five years after their marriage, her husband died on the battlefield, wrapped in his armor as his burial shroud. She wept away all her tears, adopted a clansman’s son, and devoted herself to the Buddha beneath a solitary lamp, earning a chastity 1Votes285kRecs274.8kFans
- 40 Too Rich to Be Silenced 富贵不能吟 Prince of Zhenbei Yan Tang was a paragon of propriety, chaste and virtuous. Then he slipped up, and his life didn’t just have a blemish on it. It turned into a whole ink-wash painting... 1Votes574.6kRecs238.5kFans
- 41 The Great Empress 大帝姬 After transmigrating, Xue Qing discovers she’s been pretending to be a man to trick someone into marriage. And that’s not all. She’s hiding an even bigger deception. This is the story of someone with many secrets. 4Votes5.4MRecs1.6MFans
- 42 Jun Jiuling 君九龄 In the winter of the third year of Taikang, a girl came to the Ning family in Beiliu Town, Yangcheng, claiming to be a long-lost relative; After her marriage proposal was rejected, the girl decided to prove her determination by dying in front of the Ning family home; When the girl who had died opened her eyes once again; The fates of many people were turned upside down. [Romance] 3Votes5.4MRecs1.8MFans
- 43 Destined to Be a Queen 天命为凰 Lu Mingshu has never believed in fate. Not when her father remarried and her family fell apart, nor when she was abandoned in a mountain valley to fend for herself. Not when she lacked the resources to cultivate, and even less when everyone turned against her. She clawed her way up from the dust, and in a single day soared to the clouds, drawing the world’s attention! If justice won’t come to me, I’ll take it for myself. If fate won’t grant me a way forward, I’ll carve one out. So what if fate h 0Votes1.3MRecs821.6kFans
- 44 Nirvana in Fire 琅琊榜 The Langya List, a tale of changing fortunes, gathers the realm’s extraordinary talents. It tells the story of Mei Changsu, the “Qilin Genius,” whose unmatched brilliance allows him, despite his frail health, to unravel layer upon layer of mystery and outwit treacherous villains. He seeks revenge to clear the name of those wrongfully condemned years ago and help a new ruler ascend the throne. From a resolutely masculine perspective, it reflects the profound loyalty and enduring bonds between men 1Votes1.5MRecs745.3kFans
- 45 Mu Nanzhi (Original Novel of The Story of Jianan) 慕南枝（《嘉南传》原著） In his previous life, Li Qian spent his whole life yearning for Empress Dowager Jiang Xian. In this life, Li Qian decides that having a beautiful woman in his arms beats longing for her from a thousand miles away. He’ll just abduct Princess Jianan, Jiang Xian, first... P.S. An important point bears repeating three times: this is a story about the female lead being reborn, this is a story about the female lead being reborn, this is a story about the female lead being reborn. 7Votes5MRecs1.3MFans
- 46 Ning Xiaoxian’s Record of Taming Gods 宁小闲御神录 (The new novel, Protect the National Preceptor, is currently being serialized. Ning Xiaoxian is being adapted into a comic, TV series, and game. Stay tuned.) Heaven: The God Lord Who Shakes Heaven is trapped in the Prison of Gods and Demons. Go rescue him. Ning Xiaoxian: All right, I'll save him! Heaven: An unprecedented evil creature is wreaking havoc among humanity. Go deal with it. Ning Xiaoxian: All right, I'll handle it! Heaven: The barbarian tribes have returned to the Southern 3Votes4.5MRecs2.1MFans
- 47 Entertainment Headlines 娱乐圈头条 From the cherished daughter of the Feng family, she is reborn as a newcomer from a poor family, wholly determined to enter the entertainment industry by relying on her beauty. 5Votes1.5MRecs584.7kFans
