Looking for a Story That Goes From Child Scholar to Scholar, Provincial Graduate, Palace Graduate, and Beyond, All the Way to Sainthood 求，童生，秀才，举人，进士……到圣人

1. 51 朝 A Farmer's Son at Dawn, an Emperor's Courtier by Dusk 朝为农家郎，暮登天子堂 Lantern Festival Revelry闹花灯Historical2.6M WordsOngoing (There's family drama, petty squabbles, rural life, outrageous oddballs, life in government, and much more.) After spending nearly ten years in a daze as an idiot, Tang Wenfeng fell into the water one day and finally came to his senses, now with a modern mind inside him. To avoid taxes, make a fortune, lie flat and enjoy himself, and secure a carefree life for the future, Tang Wenfeng decided to sit the imperial examinations. Who knew that an unexpected turn of events would put him on the 6.4kReads8.4Score437Shelves

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   It features everyday family life, trivial matters, rural life, eccentric characters, and official careers, among other things. After nearly ten years of living like a fool, Tang Wenfeng, with the mind of a modern person, finally wakes up after a fall into the water. To avoid taxes, to make a fortune, to enjoy a life of leisure, and for a future of carefree living, Tang Wenfeng decides to take the imperial examination. Unexpectedly, he embarks on an official career by chance, and from then on, he worries endlessly about the country and its people. His body is in the officialdom, but his heart is in the countryside. While vigorously developing infrastructure and navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, Tang Wenfeng occasionally misses his rural life. The later stages focus heavily on court politics. The setting is fictional, and various systems are pieced together and fabricated; please don't take it too seriously. The author said that the romance wasn't well-written and there's no female lead; the unfinished story is already 170 words long.

2. 52 宋 The Struggles of a Poor Family in the Song Dynasty 宋代寒门的奋斗史 De Boerba德波尔巴Historical1.1M WordsCompleted In the blink of an eye, a history PhD from the 21st century becomes the second son of a farming family outside Bianliang City. His family is dirt poor, the elders are shortsighted, and they even have a “precious heir” whom the whole family must support. As the second son of a branch family whom no one takes seriously, watch how Chen He works his way up, crosses class boundaries, and leaps from the farm into a new life. 1.9kReads7.6Score145Shelves
3. 53 种 Farming Didn’t Work Out, So I Made My Fortune Through the Imperial Examinations 种田不成，只好科举发家 Artemisia蒿菜Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted After being transmigrated into a womb, Song Yingzhi was reborn too. In his previous life, Song Yingzhi had been born into the body of a child in a dirt-poor farming family. During the day, he worked in the fields with the men of the household. At night, he slept in the pigsty. When he was sixteen, his grandmother decided to sell the family’s pigs so Song Yingzhi could marry a wife, then cleaned out the pigsty and turned it into his bridal chamber… After getting married, Song Yingzhi became even 3.9kReads7.4Score455Shelves

   Reader note

   These are all good, especially the second and fourth ones.

4. 54 科 The Imperial Exams: From a Duke’s Bastard Son to a Powerful Official 科举！从公府庶子到权臣的青云路 Zhou Shusen周树森Historical4.2M WordsOngoing [Not a BL novel! Not a male-male romance! One male lead, little to no romance, and a plot-focused story.] [Transmigration + Illegitimate Son of a Duke’s Estate + No System + Imperial Exams + Political Intrigue] He transmigrates, and the good news is that he’s now an illegitimate son of the Duke of Wei’s household, with food and clothes taken care of and no need to worry about making a living. The bad news is that he’s not only unloved, but also mocked and looked down upon. Heh. Never look down o 48kReads8.9Score4.3kShelves

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   These books are all great! [Heart emoji][heart emoji][thumbs up emoji][thumbs up emoji]

5. 55 理 A Top Science Student Takes the Imperial Exams? His Majesty Is Stunned by His Brilliance 理科状元考科举？强到朕傻眼 Lucky Lin招财林Historical2.2M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + court politics + farming + alternate history + daily life + lighthearted + no romance] Li Su had barely had time to savor becoming the top scorer in the national college entrance exam when he transmigrated as the youngest son of the Li family. His whole family doted on him, even though they lived on coarse grain and vegetables, and supported his studies. The original owner had been led astray by his classmates. Selfish and only interested in having fun, he had ruined him 88.6kReads8.9Score8.7kShelves
6. 56 这 This Top Scholar Plays by His Own Rules 这个状元路子有点野 The Foundation of One's Life立身之本Historical2.3M WordsCompleted [Farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + lighthearted] My Parents Flipped the Table and Quit, So I Want to Take the Imperial Exams Too Just as Wang Xuezhou was about to reach the peak of his life, he transmigrated. The good news: in this life, his parents were loving, and his siblings got along. The bad news: the whole family was pinching pennies to fund his eldest uncle's studies. They had next to nothing and were living on coarse grain and wild greens. But before he could flip t 51.6kReads8.9Score6.4kShelves

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   The writing is excellent; it avoids overly sentimental or melodramatic plots, and the protagonist progresses step by step, which is quite good.

7. 57 农 A Farm Boy's Imperial Exams: My Dad Turns Out to Be the Ultimate Study Machine 农家考科举：我爹竟是最强卷王 Long, Long, Long, Long Hair长长长长头发Ancient Romance847k WordsOngoing [Farming + imperial examinations + building wealth] A gifted student who hated studying transmigrates into the son of a peasant family in ancient times. As he chases chickens and dogs around the village, gathering friends and preparing to make a fortune so he can afford meat, someone calls out, “Ergouzi, your dad passed the provincial exam and became the top graduate! The county magistrate awarded him fifty taels of silver!” When he resolves to study so he can avoid going bald before turning ten 62.4kReads9.2Score7.9kShelves
8. 58 卖 Selling Vegetables and Studying, Then Becoming the Top Scholar 卖菜读书，结果高中状元 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.1M WordsCompleted After Shen Qingfeng dies alongside the Zombie Emperor in the apocalypse, he transmigrates to an alternate dynasty called Great Chu and becomes a child in Ning'an Village. The boy, nicknamed Dog Egg, is frail from birth, suffers from heart disease, and has a lowly name. Luckily, his proper name is Shen Yu'an. After studying for a few months with the elders, Shen Yu'an decides to take the imperial examinations, only to discover that his ancestors were exiles, and the descendants of exiles for thre 5.5kReads8.9Score573Shelves

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   It's so good! Don't miss it!

9. 59 皇 The Emperor's Gold Medal County Magistrate 皇家金牌县令 Noodle King Zai板面王仔Historical2.7M WordsCompleted [Farming + lighthearted fun + transmigration] Fang Zhengyi transmigrates to the Great Jing dynasty and becomes a county magistrate. After seven years of work, he has created his own earthly paradise. He’d planned to live out his days as a carefree little emperor. In the thirteenth year of the Jinghe era, the emperor of Great Jing travels incognito and accidentally wanders into Taoyuan County... The moment the emperor enters the county, he is astonished! The many strange and wondrous things leave 228.3kReads9.5Score28.1kShelves
10. 60 名 You Abandoned Me When I Failed the Imperial Exam, So Who Are You Now That I’ve Swept the Boards? 名落孙山你不陪，连中六元你是谁 Dragon in the Wind龙行风Historical1.3M WordsCompleted [The short drama is now available, and the print edition is in publication.][Slow-burn, warm, and humorous][Alternate history + business + imperial examinations + one female lead + no System] Su Run transmigrates into the body of a disgraced scholar who has lost both his parents, failed the imperial exams, and earned a notorious reputation as a lovesick doormat. When he opens his eyes, his fiancée is publicly putting him down and emotionally manipulating him, even threatening to break off their 18.3kReads8.8Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    ① The male lead has supernatural abilities. ② The male lead dies young. ④ The male lead was summoned by the emperor. ⑤ The writing style is humorous. ⑥ The male lead has a photographic memory.

11. 61 我 I Was Already Eight When Grandpa Finally Passed the Provincial Exam 我都八岁了爷爷才中举 The Sixth of Madam Six六夫人的老六Historical1.5M WordsCompleted The transmigrator has a smaller role in the early chapters. The protagonists are Liu Lin and the transmigrator Liu An. I, Liu An, have been transmigrated for eight years, and only now has Grandpa passed the provincial civil service examination! In the thirteenth year of the Wanli era of the Great Ming, forty-two-year-old Liu Lin passes the provincial examination. Years later, Liu Lin gazes at the plaque reading “Four Jinshi from One Family” and falls into deep thought. Follow the protagonist’s g 2.8kReads6.9Score221Shelves

    Reader note

    This novel is of the highest quality and is truly amazing.

12. 62 通EN The Netherworld Scholar Immortal 通幽小儒仙 You Zi Yin油子吟Eastern Fantasy2.0M WordsCompleted “Where is this?” “Perhaps... the River of Forgetfulness...” “Who are you?” “Wuchang...” “I've never heard of anyone called Wuchang in this world.” “From now on... that's who I'll be!” The soul crosses the River of Forgetfulness, while its thoughts remain on the other shore. What is gained from all beings must be returned to all beings. When Su Mo woke up, he was no longer in his former life. He went to the capital to sit the imperial examinations, but accidentally stumbled into an immortal schem 63.7kReads9.4Score6.7kShelves

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    ① He used the blood of the Netherworld as a guide to draw a teleportation array in the mortal realm. In an instant, countless evil spirits surged out of the array. "The immortal sects pride themselves on being righteous, yet they cannot tolerate a scholar from the Netherworld like me. Then let the tide of Netherworld ghosts engulf your lineage!" A storm that overturned the landscape of Xianxia suddenly swept in.

13. 63 科 Imperial Exam Triumph: The Strongest Female Grand Secretary 科举逆袭：最强女首辅 Dressed in Splendor宝妆成Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted After finally becoming the first female heir in her family, she opens her eyes and finds herself back before the revolution. Her father is dead from the start, leaving her with a frail mother and three beautiful older sisters. She is the only son who can carry on the Cheng family line... Cheng Qing looks down at her slightly developed chest, wondering what on earth went wrong. Surrounded by scheming wolves, Cheng Qing, now with a new soul in her body, sets herself two small goals: First, keep pr 8.5kReads9.5Score1.3kShelves

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    Here comes the imperial examination novel! [Upvote][Upvote][Upvote][Please follow][Please follow][Please follow] ①② These two are male-oriented, but the male lead is devoted to his love interest and doesn't philander. He focuses on farming and taking the imperial examinations in the early stages, and later works in the imperial court. The emperor and his officials dote on him. The emperor enjoys the monthly surprises from his ministers, and the officials love working with him because promotion is only possible with him. ③ This is a female-oriented novel. The female lead disguises herself as a man and is forced to take the imperial examinations for her family. She uses her solid knowledge to enter the court and helps the common people. Her reputation is renowned in ancient times. This is a novel with profound themes of family and country, making it irresistible.

14. 64 侯 The Marquis's Son Fails at Lying Flat 侯府郎君躺平失败记 Pi Xiaobai皮小白Historical791k WordsOngoing Just after Feng Yanchu transmigrates, he hears a series of smacks before feeling a stinging pain on his butt. How embarrassing! His pants have been pulled down and he’s being spanked! Then he hears several children wailing. Three other kids are getting beaten nearby, too. Looks like they got into trouble. At least he isn’t the only one being punished, which makes it a little less embarrassing. The male lead transmigrates into the body of an illegitimate son in a marquis’s household. He expects t 70.7kReads8.5Score5.5kShelves

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    Unlike other novels about the imperial examination system, this one isn't filled with mundane family dramas, and even after two hundred chapters, the story doesn't delve into court politics. The plot moves quickly; the protagonist becomes a child prodigy at age 6, and at 16, he achieves the highest rank on the Millennium Dragon and Tiger List, immediately avenging his mother in court—his father is demoted, his stepmother is executed—and he retaliates without hesitation. It's incredibly satisfying and not at all frustrating! (Template: Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty)

15. 65 穿 Reborn as a Farmer’s Son, I’m Doted on by an Apocalypse Tycoon 穿成农家子，末世大佬宠夫郎 Milk Mochi奶麻薯Two Male Leads919k WordsOngoing After two years in the apocalypse, Ji Zhenli had finally built a base of his own, only to be ambushed by an ordinary zombie and transmigrate into the body of a child in the Hua Dynasty. Fine! If he'd transmigrated, then so be it. But… to make life better, Ji Zhenli decided to show the people of the Hua Dynasty the power of an overachiever. With the mindset that if he wasn't worked to death, he could work even harder, Ji Zhenli passed all four imperial examinations in a row. In the capital, he me 1.6kReads9.2Score132Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonists of these two books start as farmers and work their way up through the ranks, eventually rising to high positions!

16. 66 穿EN Transmigration: The Endless Road to Pampering My Husband 穿越：宠夫之路无尽头 Clouds Shift and Stars Turn云移星转Two Male Leads376k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + farming + raising kids + doting on his husband + imperial exams + sweet romance + devoted couple + one-on-one romance + cozy daily life] Rong Zheng, heir to a family of ancient martial artists, wakes up to find that his soul has transmigrated into the body of a down-and-out scholar with the same name. While he's still standing there in confusion, a handsome young man with delicate features offers him a bite to eat. Rong Zheng falls in love at first sight, and is completely smi 6.1kReads9.3Score795Shelves
17. 67 布 The Commoner Chancellor, Xia Ren 布衣宰相虾仁 Floating Life Returns to the Void浮生归墟Historical920k WordsOngoing After a sudden car accident, Xia Ren, a double PhD in history and literature, transmigrated as a dying seven-year-old peasant child in the Great Jing Dynasty, a realm never recorded in history. His family had nothing, but that couldn't diminish the knowledge and experience he had accumulated over two lifetimes. His memories of poring over ancient texts in his previous life remained crystal clear. The classics, historical records, institutions, and lessons of dynastic rise and decline were all at 336Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A farm boy, watching the imperial examinations, gradually entered the imperial court, assisting the country and establishing a good reputation.

18. 68 玄 Xuanhuan: Living Off Others from the Start, I Emerged as a Confucian Sage 玄幻：开局吃软饭，出世即儒圣 Yao Ren尧人Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsCompleted [Slice of life + not a power fantasy + the Hundred Schools of Thought + empress + Confucian cultivation] Shen Wuming transmigrates to Northern Han, with an unbelievably fortunate start. His wife is devastatingly beautiful: "May all be well with you, my husband!" His father-in-law is powerful and influential: "My brilliant son-in-law!" Though surrounded by comfort and luxury, Shen Wuming has no intention of living off his wife. With his heaven-defying insight, he becomes a Confucian Sage. [Y 2.3kReads7.9Score241Shelves
19. 69 夫 A Couple Transmigrates: My Easygoing Husband Takes the Exams While I Raise the Kids 夫妻穿越：咸鱼老公科举我养娃 A Little Ball of Rice一团小丸子Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Completed] [No pocket dimension, no System + lighthearted comedy + everyday family life + slow pace] A modern couple transmigrates to ancient times and finally fulfills their dream of having a son and a daughter. Their daughter, reborn into a new life, wants nothing more than a loving father and mother. Professor Zhang: “Even though I transmigrated, I don't want to take the imperial exams. I just want to laze around.” Manager Li: “Even though I came along too, I can't exactly make my husband wo 4.4kReads9.2Score493Shelves

    Reader note

    Both are excellent. One involves a husband and wife who both transmigrate to ancient times, with their daughter being a reincarnation. The other features a male protagonist who transmigrates through time and experiences the imperial examinations...

20. 70 被 The Abandoned Heir Places First in the Imperial Exam, and Ten Thousand Riders Storm the Marquis’s Mansion 被弃世子中状元，万骑踏平侯府门 Jun Moyu君陌玉Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations + Reborn in the Womb + Court Politics + Revenge + System] Shen Shufan was reborn in the womb as the heir to a marquis’s estate, only to be knocked unconscious and thrown into a river. No problem: ever heard of the Proficiency System? The impoverished Shen family, a humble family of scholars, found a poor child in a freezing river. Little did they know he was an imperial-examination genius! Other families considered it a blessing from their ancestors if even one person pass 22.6kReads8.7Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    [Sparrow Food Goddess] Born in a poor family, he took the exam for the young master, and accidentally fell in love with the top prize

21. 71 走 You Pulled Strings to Make Me a Scholar, and I Passed All Three Exams? 走后门让你成秀才，你连中三元？ Cai Bibi菜比比Historical2.0M WordsCompleted The print edition of A Match Made in Heaven is now available. Search for the author's name, Cai Bibi, on major platforms to buy a copy. Su Yu transmigrates to ancient times. On the day he fails the imperial exam for the fifth time, he marries the Princess of Changle, who has disguised herself as an ordinary girl. Before Su Yu can roll up his sleeves and earn a living to support his lovely wife, news of an imperial exam result that had been overlooked suddenly arrives. From then on, the good news 28.5kReads8.7Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    [Sparrow's Masterpiece] Born into a poor family, he took the exam for the young master and accidentally fell for the top scholar.

22. 72 寒 A Poor Scholar’s Rise Begins with Meeting the Miserable Crown Prince 寒门崛起，从遇上苦逼太子开始 Zuo Lan佐蓝Historical2.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Imperial Exams for the Poor + No System + Lighthearted + Wits and Strategy] After transmigrating to ancient times, Tang Yin was completely dumbfounded. He'd gone to sleep and woken up as a seven-year-old kid? He lived in Peach Blossom Village, Qingzhou Prefecture, in the Great Ming, and came from a poor family? It was a disastrous start. He had to fight heaven and earth, and even deal with his awful relatives. Determined to escape the mountains, Tang Yin secretly studied at the 6.2kReads7.9Score543Shelves
23. 73 百 A Top Scholar Hailed by a Hundred Sages! And You Call Him a Sour Confucian Scholar? 百圣齐鸣的状元郎！你管这叫酸儒秀才？ Pretending to Be a Fish, Playing in the Water扮鱼戏水Eastern Fantasy2.7M WordsCompleted Also known as: I Became a Sage Through Reading [Transmigration] [Feel-Good Wish Fulfillment] [The Way of Literature] A masterpiece of Confucian cultivation: [Takes off at Chapter 89, explodes at Chapter 93] “If you, Lin Yi, had not been born, the literary path would have languished in darkness for ten thousand years!” This is a world where reading grants literary talent. Lin Yi reads Earth’s Classic of Poetry, Songs of Chu, Han fu poetry, Tang poetry, and Song ci poetry, cultivating a noble spir 822Reads8.8Score143Shelves

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    [Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up]

24. 74 全 My Clan Funded My Exams, So I Won My Dog an Imperial Title 全族供我科举路，我赠族犬诰命身 Househusband煮夫Historical2.9M WordsOngoing In her previous life, Fang Ziqi was a PhD in science at one of China’s top five universities. In this life, she transmigrates into a farming family in the Great Liang dynasty! A poor household, a father who secretly studies, a biased grandfather, and an uncle who has failed the exams ten times… In an age when everything is inferior to studying, Fang Ziqi has no choice but to tighten her belt and embark on the imperial examination path! She begins her studies at six! Takes the exams at eight! Pas 22.3kReads7.8Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This one's alright! The main character is quite funny.

25. 75 老 My Dad Is Su Dongpo, My Wife Is Li Qingzhao, and My Bro Is Emperor Huizong 老爹苏东坡老婆李清照老铁宋徽宗 Wen Qingru文卿如Historical1.4M WordsOngoing Tags: No System, not a mindless power fantasy, meticulous historical research, slow burn, personal growth, one heroine An utterly ordinary art student transmigrates as Su Dun, the prematurely deceased youngest son of the legendary Su Dongpo. A quick calculation tells him When his father goes to Huizhou to eat lychees, he’ll be eleven. When his father goes to Hainan Island to eat clams, he’ll be fourteen. When his father is pardoned and dies in Changzhou, he’ll be seventeen. When Cai Jing erects 11.4kReads8.5Score1.1kShelves

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    In the Song Dynasty, there were no "Tongsheng" or "Xiucai," only "Juren" and "Jinshi." Su Dun surveyed the crowd, his gaze intense: "Confucius clearly stated—'One who can 'generate widely to the people and help the masses' is a sage!'" "A sage is a sage not only because of his high virtue, but also because of his ability, competence, and capacity to help the masses!" He looked directly at the student, his voice like a bell: "You quoted this yourself, so let me ask you—" "If you only know how to sit in your study, talking empty words about morality, without investigating things to understand principles, without increasing your skills—" "How can you 'generate widely to the people'? How can you 'help the masses'?" He raised his hand, pointing to the distant fields faintly visible outside the city: "The world is starving, you have the heart to help the masses, but you don't understand farming, you don't know how to make the fields yield more grain—can you help them?" He then pointed to the faint lights of the pharmacies in the city: "Everyone in the world is sick, you have the heart to help the masses, but you don't know the properties of medicine, you don't know which medicine can cure which disease—can you help them?" He then pointed to the eaves of the distant government office: "Government affairs are corrupt. You have the will to help the people, yet you lack practical skills. You don't know how to allocate funds and grain, or how to manage river works—can you really help them?" The three questions were met with a deathly silence. The scholar stood there, his face turning from red to white, then from white to red again, finally settling into a deathly gray. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. His proud questioning, shattered by the very words of the sages he had quoted, was now completely undermined. Those who had initially harbored resentment exchanged bewildered glances, none uttering a single rebuttal. Su Dun watched him quietly, his gaze warm, but devoid of victor's triumph, only a serene tolerance. After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice low but each word clear: "The Way of the Sage is like the sun and moon. The sun and moon hang in the mid-sky, illuminating all things. Have they ever asked whether they shine on scholars or farmers? Have they ever said that only certain types of people deserve their light?" He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, over the students with complex expressions, over the Confucian scholars lost in thought: "The Master established his teachings, for all are equal. He traveled throughout the states, taking in three thousand disciples, including the incredibly wealthy Zigong, and the humble Yan Hui; the noble Meng Yizi, and the lowly Zizhang. Did he ever say—that this principle can only be taught to you, and that listening to it will make you superior?" His voice rose: "If someone reads the books of the sages, but turns the books into shackles, the Way into a threshold, and isolates themselves—"then what they are reading is not the books of the sages, but demonic possessions! "If someone reads the classics but doesn't think about how to practice loyalty and forgiveness, how to help the people, but only thinks about using the book to elevate themselves and trample others down—" "If they don't think about how to let more people enter this door, but only think about how to close the door tightly and build high walls—" "Then all the books they read have gone to waste!" The last sentence pierced people's hearts like a sharp sword. The scholar in the blue robe turned pale and his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word. Those behind him who had been dissatisfied also lowered their heads, not daring to meet Su Dun's gaze. The night wind swept across the city tower, the lanterns swayed, and the light and shadow flowed across everyone's faces. Some stared at their hands, lost in thought. Some moved their lips slightly, as if they had understood something. Some had tears welling up in their eyes, as if something had struck their hearts. Su Dun quietly looked at the crowd, and only after their expressions calmed down did he slowly speak, his voice calm yet powerful: "The learning of the sages is meant for practical application in governing the world!" "Where is it applied?" "It can be used to manage one's family, to govern the state, and to bring peace to the world!" "Investigating things and extending knowledge is the first of the eight categories, precisely because—" "This study of investigating things, which grasps the principles of all things, is the fundamental knowledge that can be applied in practice!" Everyone nodded in agreement, offering no further objections. Seeing their expressions, Su Dun knew the time was right. He paused, then his tone suddenly shifted: "However—" Everyone held their breath, awaiting his next words. Tonight, wave after wave of theoretical attacks had already overwhelmed them. Now, Su Dun's "However," everyone's hearts leaped—what else was he going to say? Su Dun didn't speak immediately. The night wind ruffled his robes, the red fabric fluttering in the moonlight. His heart, too, was churning with waves known only to himself. Over the years, he had read many books, countless books. The original Confucian classics were actually quite simple, teaching people to be good, to be human, and how to interact with the world. The problem had never been the classics themselves, but rather the interpretations of later generations. Han and Tang dynasty Confucian scholars focused solely on textual exegesis, rigidly adhering to the literal meaning, turning the living teachings of the sages into lifeless textual analysis. Therefore, Buddhism and Taoism rose, and Confucianism declined. In this dynasty, insightful individuals finally couldn't sit still any longer. Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, Wang Anshi, and of course, my father and uncle… Every great scholar was reinterpreting the classics in their own way, trying to find a new path for Confucianism. He raised his head, looking at those expectant faces. This was the worst of times for Confucianism—Buddhism and Taoism flourished, Confucianism declined, and the Way of the Sage was obscure. Yet it was also the best of times for Confucianism—old commentaries were broken, new interpretations had not yet been established, a hundred schools of thought contended, everyone could claim to be a successor to Confucius and Mencius, everyone could annotate the Six Classics! His gaze deepened. In the end, the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism prevailed. And the final result—empty talk of principles, rigid dogma, intellectual decay, and utter silence. But now, he had arrived! A surge of pride welled up in Su Dun's heart. The predecessors had narrowed the path, I will widen it! The predecessors had strayed from the path, I will correct it! I will join this debate, I will become the ultimate victor! I will become the sole spokesperson for Neo-Confucianism! As long as I establish this interpretation and seize the right to interpret it—I will be a great Confucian scholar! The future of this land will be changed because of it!

26. 76 不 If I Don’t Take the Imperial Exams, Should I Just Farm? 不科举，难道种地？ You Suo有所Historical1.5M WordsCompleted The new novel Sequence: Creator is currently being serialized. Give it a read! It's a story about surviving the apocalypse. Thank you 🙏. [Alternate History] [Imperial Examinations] [Plagiarist] [Political Scheming] [Farming] [No System] The barbarians on all four frontiers: anyone who dares invade will see their nation destroyed, their people wiped out, and their descendants cut off. I want this golden age to be exactly as I envision it. History is long, but I need only make the slightest effort 5.5kReads8.6Score398Shelves

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    [Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up]

27. 77 穿 Reborn as a Marquis's Bastard Son? Then I'll Take the Imperial Exams! 穿成侯门庶子？科举！科举！科举 Jin Rizhuhui晋日灼晖Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [Imperial Exams + Feel-Good Story + Business + Child Prodigy + Everyday Life + Political Intrigue] Song Mingyuan dies in a car accident and wakes up as an illegitimate son in the Marquis of Great Zhou's household. The good news: he has plenty to eat and wear, and maids to look after him. The bad news: his adoptive mother is his father's principal wife. Now that she has a son of her own, she sees Song Mingyuan as a thorn in her side and wants him dead! Song Mingyuan, who has transmigrated into t 17.8kReads8.2Score1.8kShelves
28. 78 农 An Ambitious Country Boy's Life in Ancient Times 农家小子的古代上进日常 The Hibernating Donkey冬眠中的驴Historical6.2M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the body of a farmer's son in ancient times, a poor student had no choice but to embark on the long road of the imperial examinations to improve his family's life. He sought neither wealth and status nor a high salary or lofty office in this life. All he wanted was to protect his family and give them a peaceful life. 40.7kReads9.2Score3kShelves

    Reader note

    These books are all quite good; they all talk about the imperial examination system.

29. 79 农 A Farmer's Son's Road to the Imperial Exams, His Achievements Shining Across the Land 农家儿郎科举路，勋名耀山河！ August in July七月的八月Historical852k WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations] [A Farmer’s Son Changes His Fate Through the Exams] Zhou Xu opens his eyes and finds himself in another era! Determined to make his mark in this new age, he looks down at his patched trousers and the endless fields stretching to the horizon. Zhou Xu decides he’d better study. Education can change your fate! His eldest aunt spits and says, “A country bumpkin thinks he can study?” Zhou Xu passes the county-level examination. His second aunt says enviously, “That’s as far as 28.9kReads8.5Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Imperial examination➕rural areas➕children➕have brains➕photographic memory. There is a large collection of imperial examination papers, and the amount is large and the management is full. Come and see. In the morning he was a farmhouse man, and in the evening he ascended to the Emperor's Hall. In the first book, after passing the national examination, I asked my sister for a title of Haoming. The second book talks about the daily imperial examination life of ancient peasant boys. The third book talks about ancient farmers changing their fate against the will of heaven. Won six dollars in a row. …

30. 80 一 A Poor Scholar of Noble Character 一品寒士 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Single heroine, semi-fictionalized Tang Dynasty] In an era when the great aristocratic clans looked down on the imperial family, Zhao Quan was born to a farming family and entered school carrying the hopes of his parents and six older brothers. Farming was out of the question: even the village head’s family had no food to spare… So he had no choice but to take the imperial exams and become an official. 10.2kReads9.3Score888Shelves

    Reader note

    Imperial examination + rural life + child + intelligent + photographic memory. A large collection of imperial examination texts, plentiful and satisfying. Come and see. From a humble farmer in the morning to a high-ranking official in the evening. The first book tells the story of how, after passing the imperial examination, he petitions for a title for his sister. The second book describes the daily life of a farm boy taking the imperial examinations in ancient times. The third book tells the story of an ancient farm boy defying fate and achieving the highest rank six times in a row. …

31. 81 遗 Life in Ancient Times as a Posthumous Child 遗腹子的古代生活 Cheng Shu Ju程书橘Historical2.2M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + court politics in the later stages + everyday family life] He wakes up as the posthumous son of a county deputy in the Great Zhou dynasty. He may not be born into an official family, but surely the assets his father left behind are enough to make this only child rich. So he happily decides that in this life, he’ll coast to success. Things don’t go as he expected. His father died young after only a few years in office, leav 11.5kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves
32. 82 大 Great Ming: From the Imperial Exams to Absolute Power 大明：从科举到权倾天下 Deep at Dusk日暮沉沉Historical2.1M WordsOngoing Li Ji accidentally transmigrates back to the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty, becoming the illegitimate son of a minor gentry family in Jiangnan! For ten years, no one knows he exists. His father dislikes him, and his elder half-brother and the servants bully and beat him at will. What a miserable life! No System, no inherited memories, just a completely new life... In the Great Ming, where everything else is beneath contempt and only scholarship is worthy, Li Ji originally only wanted to study, p 12.8kReads8.1Score1.1kShelves
33. 83 胎 Born into a Farmer's Family as Their Late-Born Son, I Change Our Fortunes Through the Imperial Exams 胎穿农家老来子，靠科举改换门庭 Tu Yi凃扆Historical1.1M WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations + Daily Life + No Golden Finger] Just after passing the civil service exam, Song Xi was sent by a cement truck trying to meet its quota to an ancient dynasty called Great Qi. He was reborn as a farmer's son, and his mother gave birth to him at an advanced age, drawing plenty of ridicule from those around them. His family owned nothing but four bare walls, and they could afford meat only once or twice a year. Fortunately, his family loved him, and he had something to look f 19.7kReads8.3Score1.8kShelves
34. 84 穿 The Long Road to the Imperial Exams as a Farmer's Son 穿成农家子的漫漫科举路 Yuedi月棣Ancient Romance3.7M WordsOngoing He dies unexpectedly, but by Heaven's grace, Zhang Ze is given a new life and born into the womb of a peasant woman. At just five years old, Zhang Ze solemnly tells his parents, “Father, Mother, your little Ze wants to go to school...” Living a decent life in ancient times is incredibly difficult. A simple chill can take your life, not to mention the crushing taxes and forced labor. Zhang Ze understands better than anyone that only earning an official degree can improve his family's life. Even t 2.6kReads7.3Score143Shelves

    Reader note

    [Heart] Born into a commoner family, he rose from a student to a scholar, then to a provincial graduate, and finally to a metropolitan graduate! The protagonist transmigrates to ancient times. He has six older sisters and is the only child, the most favored one. To ensure his parents and sisters can hold their heads high and his family can live well, he embarks on a long and arduous journey through the imperial examinations. [Admiration]

35. 85 逍 The Carefree Little Confucian Immortal 逍遥小儒仙 Red Star Dragon Fruit红星火龙果Historical2.0M WordsCompleted In this world, the literary path reigns supreme. Scholars command literary seals, cultivate literary energy, and open literary palaces. A Ninth-Rank Aperture-Opening Literary Seal lets you read ten lines at a glance and gives you a light, healthy body. An Eighth-Rank Body-Cultivating Literary Seal lets words cloak your body, as if aided by the divine. A Seventh-Rank Benevolent Scholar Literary Seal… “You know poetry, lyrics, songs, essays, calligraphy, painting, chess, and popular fiction?” “I k 309Reads8.6Score109Shelves
36. 86 儒 The Confucian Sword Immortal: Ten Years of Study, Righteousness Sweeps Across the Heavens 儒剑仙：读书十年，浩气荡青天 Mo Zhuzi墨竹子Eastern Fantasy302k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the body of a down-and-out scholar, Chen Ning studies diligently, determined to travel to the capital and sit the imperial examinations. It is only when he accidentally touches his maid's fox tail that he discovers this world is nowhere near as simple as it seems! Luckily, Chen Ning awakens the Confucian Sage System in time, allowing him to slay demons and study every day. [You studied the Analects and grasped a divine ability: Purple Qi at Your Side] [You recited The G 11.9kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    [Like][Like][Like][Like][Like]

37. 87 魔 The Demon Venerable Is Reborn as a Baby and Helps His Father Pass the Imperial Exams 魔尊胎穿崽，陪爹考科举 Show-Off with the Hazard Lights On显眼包开双闪Ancient Romance663k WordsOngoing [Reborn and reincarnated from infancy; farming in the early stages; imperial exams in the middle; officialdom later on; warm family bonds; no romance; adored by everyone] The Demon Lord Shen Yan got a fresh start one day, only to be reborn by mistake as a child born to a cuckold. His cheap father had been cuckolded so badly that his head was practically green-black. So what? At least he had a father now! His father was in poor health? No problem. Three-year-old Shen Yan dragged over a big stool, 1.3kReads9.0Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    This book features no romantic pairings, a family-oriented theme, and the main characters are pampered by their loved ones.

38. 88 科 The Imperial Exams: Daily Life of a Young Farmer in Ancient Times 科举：古代农家小子生活日常 A Few Taels of Silver for oo为了oo碎银几两Historical1.1M WordsCompleted [One Female Lead] + [No System] + [Farming] + [Everyday Life] + [Romance] + [Family Matters] The everyday life of a man from the bottom of society in ancient times. To avoid being bullied, wear silk, live in a big house, have a beautiful wife and concubines, own fine horses, and farm without paying taxes, he strives to pass the imperial examinations. And more… Of all pursuits, studying is the noblest. He had only just graduated, yet he threw himself into the imperial examinations. Though it was 1.1kReads6.2Score109Shelves

    Reader note

39. 89 大 Great Ming: The Village's Little Top Scholar, Whom Old Zhu Absolutely Adores 大明：乡村小状元，老朱贼稀罕我 Scholar Who Wins a Marquisate封侯书生Historical2.0M WordsCompleted During the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Qiniu, an ordinary four-year-old farm boy, accidentally comes across a silver bell. From then on, he dreams every night of entering a room filled with books: the Thousand Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, the Four Books and Five Classics, collections of successful candidates’ exam essays from every dynasty, and more. With his golden finger and relentless effort, he becomes the top scholar before the age of ten. Beloved by Old Zhu, Litt 18.8kReads8.9Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all rare examples of imperial examination stories, and they don't feel out of place. The protagonist is simply more hardworking than others, and of course, luck is also a part of his abilities.

40. 90 重 Reborn, I Study for the Imperial Exams in Another World 重生后，我在异世界读书科举 Lan Xiaoyi蓝小一Historical2.8M WordsCompleted (Transmigration) + (farming) + (daily life) + (imperial examinations) (no System) + (court politics) Chen Chuyi was reborn into a poor family in Beishui Village, carrying the memories of his past life. At first, he only wanted to earn a little money to improve his family's life. But in this unfamiliar ancient world, he was always afraid someone would take his family's money and eat their food. In the end, he embarked on the path of study and the imperial examinations. He knew that only by changi 6.9kReads8.3Score538Shelves

    Reader note

    While others transmigrate to fight monsters and level up, I transmigrate to bury myself in studying for the imperial examinations—an unconventional transmigration novel. The protagonist has no cheat codes, no superpowers, only a heart that refuses to be ordinary. Watch as he gains a foothold in the complex officialdom and becomes a wise and virtuous minister!

41. 91 侯 The Marquis's Son Takes the Imperial Exams 侯府子科举 Clear Wind, River and Stream清风川溪Historical620k WordsCompleted When fortune’s winds are fair, I’ll seize their strength and climb the ladder above the crowd. Before the palace gates, whips crack; the road to the clouds is lined with seven beams of purple jade. I have mastered the Four Books and Five Classics, and trained with blades, spears, swords, bows, and halberds. If I will not give myself to the realm, then what was the point of all my self-cultivation? A single-heroine story. Many thanks to all my readers. 430Reads7.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Imperial Examination History Ancient Literature

42. 92 我 Taking the Imperial Exams in Great Qian 我在大乾考科举 Red Bean Has a Dream红豆有梦想Historical410k WordsCompleted Kong Jin, a farmer's son, spends ten years studying and finally earns top honors in the imperial examinations. But after making too many enemies, he is framed by villains and his entire family is executed. Reborn, he is determined to turn the whole world upside down! 6Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Imperial Examination History Ancient Text

43. 93 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 60Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is great, it's really good!!

44. 94 大 Great Ming: From Book Boy to the Strongest Imperial Guard 大明：从书童到最强锦衣卫 Jinghai's Most Devoted Lover京海第一深情Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Zhou Chu transmigrated to the Zhengde era of the Ming dynasty. To survive, he was sold to the Lu family as a page. Just as Zhou Chu was helping the family’s second young master study and make steady progress, disaster struck the Lu family. Its members were thrown into prison. Zhou Chu took the Lu family’s only daughter with him, earning money while bribing the guards to make life in prison more comfortable for the family. Then Zhu Houzhao died, and Zhu Houcong took the throne, changing the era n 45.5kReads8.9Score5.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Wow, the male protagonist rises from a commoner, a pageboy, a merchant, to the top—the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—and becomes Tang Bohu's apprentice! 👨‍🏫

45. 95 科 I Came First in the Imperial Exams and Became a Just Official in Ancient Times 科举成状元，我在古代当青天 The Crown Prince Who Loves Radish Meatballs爱吃萝卜肉圆的王储Historical1.2M WordsCompleted An ordinary female college student is reborn in an imaginary ancient dynasty, where she becomes a man. As he struggles to adapt to this era, he sees the hardships of the common people, the extravagance of the powerful elite, the integrity of scholars, and the opportunism of politicians. This is a society ruled by a brutal class system. Unluckily for him, he has been reborn here, and all he wants is to live with dignity. Study, take the imperial examinations, become an official. At first, he only 1.2kReads8.5Score101Shelves
46. 96 穿 Transmigrate to a Farming Family, Aim for the Imperial Exams 穿越农家，科举为上 Tang Qinghan唐轻寒Ancient Romance305k WordsCompleted Wang Xi had a heart condition as a child and was abandoned at an orphanage. He worked odd jobs to put himself through college and finally landed a pretty good job. After three years of working diligently, just as he was finally able to give something back to the orphanage where he grew up, he suddenly died while working overtime one night. Reborn into a farming family, Wang Xi is now a little boy named Li Shuanzi. He knows all too well that if he wants a better life, passing the imperial exams i 3.6kReads8.9Score224Shelves
47. 97 替 I Enlisted in My Brother’s Place, but After My Triumph, They Called Me Illegitimate? 替弟从军，功成归来说我是庶出？ One Big Tomato一个大番茄Historical724k WordsCompleted (Historical power fantasy + decisive and ruthless + transmigration to ancient times + modern technology) Su Qin transmigrates to an ancient world and becomes the eldest son born to a concubine in the Marquis of Yan's household in the State of Ning. Because his mother was born a slave, he has endured nothing but hardship. Just as Ning is at war, the marquis orders him to enlist in place of his younger brother. Su Qin expects to die on the battlefield, but instead he uses modern knowledge to defea 317Reads7.6Score106Shelves

    Reader note

    This is beautiful, the rhythm is great!

48. 98 我 My Proud and Talented Lady of the Marquis’s Manor 我的侯府傲娇才娘子 When Bai Ze Arrives白泽来时Historical1.8M WordsCompleted Also known as: “I Just Transmigrated and Picked Up a Proud Marquis Household Heiress” and “One Female Lead” Food gives life continuity. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song give it charm. A little wealth, fame, and success give it grandeur. Gu Zhengyan transmigrated and unexpectedly won first place in a poetry competition. He even married a young lady from a marquis’s household, only for the furious marquis to throw them both out. Gu Zhengyan took his wife back to his impoverish 31.7kReads9.0Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    🍀Here are four novels that perfectly fit our criteria!✅ I'd call them the pinnacle!✅ Highly recommended by a seasoned bookworm with 3,000 hours of reading time!✅ Brothers, you can stay up all night to binge-read!

49. 99 朱 A Scholar from a Humble Family in the Zhu Household 朱门寒士 Catch Turtles and Embrace the Moon捉鳖揽月Historical317k WordsCompleted A family of scholars, but who deserves a bowl of chicken soup? Climbing out of poverty: how many can fit on that narrow path? During the Jiajing reign of the Great Ming, the Zhu family hall in Zhuhe Village hosted a silent contest every night. The chicken soup's oily sheen floated only in the bowl of the eldest grandson, Zhu Yawen. The whole family tightened their belts to support a promising young scholar who had struggled for more than a decade without even passing the county-level examinatio 215Reads6.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The writing is delicate and vivid, depicting the hardships of studying in a farming family. It's a book worth reading.

50. 100 从 Life in Ancient Times, Starting as a Cowherd 从放牛娃开始的古代生活 A Primordial Beast一只洪荒兽Historical1.6M WordsCompleted After transmigrating to ancient times, Zhao Xiaoshan doesn’t become a prince or a royal lord. Instead, he ends up a village boy tending cattle. He stares at the sky in dismay. Fine, if he can’t go back, he might as well roll up his sleeves and get to work. So what if they’re poor? He has his wits about him! See how he leads his whole family to earn money and make a fortune in ancient times! [Farming + business + lighthearted + everyday family life] No pocket dimension, no System, no golden finge 3.8kReads7.9Score258Shelves

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