Recommend Good Imperial Exam Fics With a Morally Upright Male Lead, Whether He Comes From a Poor or Aristocratic Family 求好看的科举文，男主三观很正，寒门，士族，都可

1. 151 正 A Proper Exam Candidate, and You Want Me to Have More Children, More Blessings? 正经科举人，你让我多子多福？ Little Cabbage Treasure小白菜宝Historical126k WordsOngoing Imperial exams + System + Brother Cao + Comedy + Court politics + Struggle for supremacy Gu Zhengchuan had it rough. He was a delivery driver who got hit while rushing to finish his orders, and transmigrated to ancient times. He soon discovered that this was a society that valued civil officials far more than military ones, and the imperial exams were the only way for an ordinary person to rise in the world. But how was a vocational-school graduate like him supposed to pass the imperial exams? T 62Reads—Score—Shelves

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   This book is great, I really enjoy reading it!!

2. 152 这 This Scholar Is Filthy Rich, Yet Everyone Is Fighting Over Him 这个书生，满身铜臭却人人疯抢 A Lenovo Legion from the start开局一个联想拯救者Historical116k WordsOngoing Su Liuyun, son of a wealthy Jiangnan merchant, was born into this world and bound to the [Tenfold Profits: Imperial Exam Investment System] at the age of five. Other people studied by hanging themselves from a beam and pricking their thighs. He studied by “arbitraging emotions.” Other people passed the imperial exams through genuine talent. He passed by “making precise bets.” Other people made friends by offering sincerity in return for sincerity. He made friends through “venture investing in co —Reads—Score—Shelves

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   My new book isn't written by someone from a poor background, so I don't have the worries of making money. It's actually quite well-written.

3. 153 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: The Concubine-Born Heir's Rise to Power 女穿男，庶房嫡子的逆袭 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Now available as an audiobook with a full cast. [Alternate history] + [Woman transmigrates as a man] + [Born into this world] + [Imperial exams and business in the early story] + [Court politics later on] + [One female lead, with a relatively small role] + [A touch of ensemble cast] + [No golden finger] Xie Chengxi was born into another world as the sixth son of the Xie family, a minor family in Bianjing's Grain Transport Guild. His father was the clan's rejected son, kept under pressure for yea 34.6kReads8.3Score3.9kShelves

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   This book is super good!

4. 154 工 The Engineer Emperor 工科大明 Drinking Chinese Medicine Every Day天天喝中药Historical1.4M WordsCompleted Lu Ren, an engineering professor, unexpectedly transmigrated into the body of a baby in a farming family in Henan during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty. He first entered the imperial examination arena to compete against the greats, then used his engineering knowledge to advance technology and improve people's lives. As he steadily expanded his influence, he wrote an extraordinary legend in the Great Ming. 3.7kReads8.8Score455Shelves
5. 155 异 A Long Journey in Another World 异界旅途漫漫 The Mountain Moon Knows Not of You山月不知君Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsOngoing [No System + Original Story + Ensemble Cast + No Brain-Dead Characters + Fast-Paced + Pure Romance] I’m dedicated to creating a different kind of world and bringing everyone a fresh new thrill, along with a more realistic experience! The rain fell without letup, day after gloomy day. Beneath the curtain of rain... Travelers from another world, I’d like you to finish this terrible game of chess for me. Anyone can be a chess piece, anyone can be sacrificed. All living beings are players in this ga 5.8kReads—Score325Shelves

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   How about this one? Absolutely divine! It gets more and more exciting as you read on! Every beginning and character introduction is intricately connected by a powerful causal system. I highly recommend this isekai (another world) novel to everyone—it's incredibly good, with a thrilling plot, logically sound plot twists, and exquisite aesthetics. It's definitely the most worthwhile novel to read this year.

6. 156 胎 Born into Ancient Times: A Farmer’s Son Takes the Imperial Exams 胎穿古代，农家子的科举之路 Lamb Ribs Stewed with Green Beans豆角炖羊排骨Ancient Romance781k WordsOngoing I wake up as Han Yinji, the fourth son of the Han family's third branch. His family is dirt poor, and he has a crowd of siblings. I thought I'd be stuck eking out a living in the fields, but unexpectedly, I came into this world with a modern knowledge database as my golden finger. I planned to keep my head down and survive, but my relatives were constantly up to something, and there was no peace in a poor household. So I had no choice but to breeze through the imperial examinations, improve farm 25Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 157 赤 A Pure Heart Climbs the Ranks 赤子登阶 A Youngster Riding the Wind稚子乘风Historical551k WordsOngoing [Alternate World + Reincarnated as a Baby + Imperial Exams + Martial Arts + Everyday Life + No Golden Finger] Yang Yuan never imagined he’d wake up one day as a swaddled baby in ancient times. He never imagined that in this strange world, with no System, no pocket dimension, and no golden finger of any kind, he’d have to rely on himself, one step at a time: rolling over, crawling, standing, then memorizing the Thousand Character Classic. He began his studies at three, learned martial arts at fou 14Reads—Score—Shelves

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   This is a classic reincarnation story about taking the imperial examination. There are no cheat codes, no system, no superhuman talent, and no repetitive elements like salt making or cement manufacturing. The protagonist relies entirely on his hard work day and night to pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom.

8. 158 科 Gone Mad on the Road to the Imperial Exams? Watch Me Make a Fortune! 科举路上疯了？看我发家致富！ San Lengzi三棱子Ancient Romance138k WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams + Business + Daily Life] [A light romance, mainly plot-driven] The day before the college entrance exam, Xu Qingfeng woke up as the Xu family's beloved third son. Unable to accept that all his hard studying had gone to waste, Xu Qingfeng wanted to go back and did everything he could to die. Everyone in the village thought he had studied himself crazy. To help him regain his senses, his parents arranged a marriage for him, hoping it would bring him good luck. Once he accepted real —Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   It's a good watch, and the male lead has strong moral values.

9. 159 天 The Farm Girl Who Turned Things Around After a Terrible Start 天崩开局的农家女她逆袭了 Tang Qinghan唐轻寒Ancient Romance559k WordsCompleted [Native-Born + Everyday Family Life + Imperial Examinations + Court Politics + No Romance] Xia Jiang was born into a farming family. She has always loved reading and is gifted at it, too. With her uncle-in-law's help, she reads many books, copies them to earn money, and even invests in a shop owned by Xia Chan, a transmigrator. One day, Xia Chan brings her some news. There's actually a girls' school in the capital that teaches the Six Arts of the Confucian scholars. Xia Jiang packs her things an 1.5kReads8.4Score179Shelves

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   That's definitely the one! No system, no cheat codes, she relies entirely on herself. She goes to the capital alone to study, and later assists the Empress in the imperial examinations. Only the chapters about the imperial examinations involve her disguised as a man; the rest of the book features her in women's clothing.

10. 160 科 Imperial Exams: The Qilin Son of the Liu Family Shines 科举，柳家的麒麟子发光啦 Hua Lianyu華涟雨Eastern Fantasy294k WordsCompleted Liu Yu was a modern man from the 22nd century. After an accident, he found himself in the Fengliang Dynasty, a kingdom that had never existed in recorded history. Hu Jiu: This great king is in the middle of a heavenly tribulation! Don't come any closer, or I'll blast you to bits!!! Liu Yu: If I don't come, how am I supposed to save you? When are you going to repay my kindness? Hu Jiu: Meow~ What are you talking about? This king doesn't understand. The imperial examination road that followed 42Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    She started studying at age 7, passed the imperial examination at age 12, and became a scholar. There's no female lead. Do you want to try it?

11. 161 儒 The Great Sage of Confucianism: My Literary Aura Can Slay Demons 儒道至圣：我的文气能斩妖 Let's Collect Seashells Together一起捡贝壳Ancient Romance548k WordsCompleted A top modern university student, excelling in both history and physics, transmigrates to a parallel world resembling the Tang and Song dynasties, but inhabited by demons and monsters. In this world, scholars can cultivate “literary aura,” and poetry and prose can channel the power of heaven and earth to slay demons and monsters! 2Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Reborn into another world, rising from humble beginnings as a poor scholar, he defies fate to become a saint, slaying demons with his literary prowess and shaking mountains and rivers with his righteous spirit.

12. 162 农 The Imperial Examinations of a Farming Family 农门科举 Mu Mu Qiao木木乔Historical507k WordsCompleted [Turbulent Court, Speaking Up for the People] After an accident, Zhang Ping transmigrates to an impoverished farming family in ancient times. Scene One “To establish a path for the people, preserve the lost teachings of the sages, and bring peace to all generations: this is our mission. Even if we die nine times, we shall have no regrets.” Zhang Ping asked, “Teacher, isn't this the original aspiration of us scholars?” Scene Two He never forgot his original aspiration. After great hardship, Zhang 102Reads6.5Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The content of this book is quite novel. It has some slice-of-life elements in the beginning, but it gets better and better as you read on.

13. 163 青 Above the Azure Clouds: Great Xia’s First Grand Secretary 青云之上：大夏第一首辅 A Lifetime of Longing Painted on Canvas一世相思入画Historical84k WordsOngoing Modern-day corporate drone Lin Jin is transported into the body of a penniless scholar who can barely afford to eat. With his vast knowledge, he passes all three levels of the imperial examinations with top honors. He had hoped to coast through life, but the young emperor steadily pushes him into the position of Grand Secretary. He clears wrongful convictions, builds waterworks, reorganizes farmland, and strengthens the military, using two thousand years of wisdom to usher in a golden age. But w 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    How about this one? It starts from childhood, the female lead doesn't hold anyone back, and she has a strong personality.

14. 164 苏 Eunuch Su's Road to the Imperial Exams 苏公公的科举之路 Singing Alone for Joy笙歌独欢Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Chief eunuch Su Weisheng had finally endured his way to retirement, only to die unexpectedly. When he opened his eyes again, he had become a five-year-old child a century later, and all his enemies were dead! His relatives were unkind, and his parents were weak. Su Weisheng consoled himself: At least in this life, I won't have to be a eunuch. I can live with that! He takes on the worst of the family, manages the household, and studies for the imperial examinations. Only after achieving fame and 9.2kReads9.0Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Chief eunuch transmigrates into the body of a 5-year-old child to make a living.

15. 165 我 I Debate the Classics with Great Scholars in the Embroidered Uniform Guard 我在锦衣卫跟大儒辩经 A Grain of Rice in the Vast Blue Sea沧海茫茫粒米身Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Yang Zhi, a top salesman and philosophy graduate student in his previous life, transmigrates to the end of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Through a twist of fate, he joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard, passes the imperial examination, enters the Hanlin Academy, and debates the classics with the great scholars at court! 5kReads8.8Score355Shelves

    Reader note

    My debut novel, a testament to my strong moral compass and the most wholesome imperial examination system! My writing is excellent, the historical background is authentic, the characters are vividly portrayed, and the plot is driven entirely by real historical events—you won't be able to put it down!

16. 166 买 I Bought a Bookboy to Take the Imperial Exam for Me. Now I'm Accused of Stealing His Honors? 买书童替本少科举，告我偷功名？ Stray Bullet流弹Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Transmigrated into a Book as a Cannon-Fodder + Embroidered Uniform Guard + Imperial Exams + Officialdom + Rooting Out Treacherous Ministers + Fighting the Tartars + Empress] Also known as: The Young Master Strikes Back Against His Fated Bookish Servant, Passes the Imperial Exams, and Saves China After transmigrating into the book as Lin Zhi, a young master destined to be cannon fodder, he finds himself caught in a ridiculous plot where his servant uses the young master as a stepping-stone in th 1.3kReads7.6Score147Shelves

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    The young master defeats the destined pageboy and saves China from invasion by foreign races!

17. 167 文 Crowned by the Way of Letters: A Sage from Humble Beginnings Subdues the Heavens 文道冠冕：寒门至圣镇诸天 Pavilion of Listening to Thunder听雷阁Eastern Fantasy711k WordsOngoing This is a world of literary cultivation, where poetry can slay enemies and essays can bring peace to the realm. The Holy Academy controls the ranks of literary scholars; ten kingdoms vie for power, the barbarians threaten the borders, and the demon race runs rampant. With no new Sage in a hundred years, the way of literature has fallen silent. Su Mo, an orphan from a poor family, unexpectedly binds himself to the Literary Inheritance System and unlocks the poems and timeless essays passed down t 35Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A refreshing ancient-style novel with a system element, showcasing the perfect way to experience the literary and imperial examination system! Su Mo's literary and imperial examination system is incredibly appealing! Unlocking the Analects of Confucius can soothe the people's hearts, comprehending Sun Tzu's Art of War allows him to deploy a grand literary and imperial formation, and writing the Tao Te Ching can suppress the Demon Emperor! He advances step by step in the imperial examinations, rising through the ranks from Xiucai (scholar), Juren (provincial graduate), Jinshi (metropolitan graduate), to Hanlin (a high-ranking scholar), resolving the Holy Academy's conspiracies, the invasion of barbarian demons, and the power struggles of the Ten Kingdoms all through his literary and imperial examination system! The stubbornness of a poor scholar's rise to power + the solemnity of the ancient-style imperial examination + the exhilarating feeling of a system-driven novel offer new highlights in every chapter, making it impossible to stop reading.

18. 168 笔 A Pen That Shapes the Nation: From Township to Provincial Government 笔定山河：从乡镇到省府 Pavilion of Listening to Thunder听雷阁Urban851k WordsOngoing Lin Chen, a talented student from a poor family in southern Hunan, brings his gift for writing to a remote township in the north and begins his career as a grassroots civil servant. The confusion of living in a strange place and the infighting at work never dim his original ideals. With his solid writing skills and practical sense of responsibility, he distinguishes himself through challenges such as flood relief and rural revitalization, earning the support of benefactors like Zhao Deshan and L 31Reads—Score—Shelves

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