Any Good Imperial Exam Novels? The More, the Better 有没有好看的科举文，多一点的

1. 151 科 The Imperial Exams: From Poor Scholar to Shocking the Entire Court 科举：从寒门书生到惊爆满朝文武 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical166k WordsOngoing (Imperial examinations + farming + no System + transmigration) (Has a CP; the male lead is devoted and never flirts around) Though Landowner Lin's family is fabulously wealthy, every member of the clan is short, plump, and sturdy, looking like they were born lucky! But his son, Lin Bei, is strikingly handsome, tall and elegant, and stands out in any crowd. Gazing at his reflection in the water, Lin Bei couldn't help sighing: A man who isn't charming in his youth has wasted it. His wet nurse 728Reads—Score111Shelves

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   That one is a must!

2. 152 穿 Transmigration: The Daily Life of an Ancient Imperial Exam Candidate, Son of a Peddler 穿越：商贩之子的古代科举日常 Bai Qiqi百柒柒Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations + Alternate History + Everyday Life in Ancient Times + Building Wealth + Slow-Burn + Coming of Age] In his previous life, Lin Xiang’an lost his parents at a young age and grew up dependent on others. After getting into college, he took a leave of absence to serve as a conscript. When he returned from the military and resumed his studies, he started a few businesses and gradually made his fortune. He achieved success at a young age, and his business kept growing. Then, one 2.5kReads7.9Score183Shelves

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   1⃣️‼️Imperial Examination + Alternate History + Daily Life in Ancient Times + Getting Rich + Slow and Steady Growth + Coming of Ages‼️ In his previous life, Lin Xiang'an's parents died early, and he lived with relatives from a young age. He dropped out of university to serve in the army. After his discharge, he returned to university, did some business, and gradually became wealthy. He achieved success at a young age, and his business grew larger and larger. However, he encountered a madman on the street, and while trying to help him, an accident occurred. When he woke up again, he had transmigrated to an alternate dynasty and become a child selling tofu in a small town. Fortunately, in this life, both his parents were alive and well, and their relationship was harmonious, so life was relatively stable. He studied for the imperial examinations and learned martial arts, intending to become a successful candidate in the provincial examinations, become a wealthy and leisurely gentleman, accompany his parents, and live a peaceful life. However, things are unpredictable. His official position rose higher and higher, his fame grew, and unknowingly he was pushed to the pinnacle of power.

3. 153 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 11.3kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves
4. 154 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

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   Of all the imperial examination novels by Tomato, this one is truly the best. Honestly, it's quite outstanding in certain aspects! Many others are written by female authors, and the dynasties are completely fictional. Why? Because these female authors lack basic common sense. They write about the Ming and Qing dynasties' imperial examination systems, yet illogically include things like powerful vassal kings who bully men and women, and they lack gunpowder, yet it's a Qing dynasty setting from the Age of Exploration. Basically, they just write nonsense. Since it's fictional, they don't care about logic; they just make things up!

5. 155 科 The Imperial Exams? Just Another Way to Take the Civil Service Exam! 科举？不过是换个地方考公罢了！ Braised Braised Pork红烧红烧肉Historical196k WordsOngoing [Civil Service + Imperial Exams + Humble Origins + Transmigration + Slow-Paced + Historical + No System + Not Brain-Dead] Lin Shuheng spent years grinding away at an entry-level civil service job. He had just passed his evaluation and was about to be promoted to deputy section chief. While imagining how he’d climb the ranks step by step, he died suddenly from overwork and transmigrated into the body of a poor scholar in ancient times. With the imperial exams looming, the original owner had been —Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Highly recommended, it's absolutely gorgeous!

6. 156 寒 A Poor Scholar’s Rise Through the Exams: My Father in the First Volume, Me in the Next 寒门科举，上卷老爹下卷儿 Mobei Zhou漠北舟Historical469k WordsCompleted A rise from poverty + imperial examinations + farming + political intrigue After transmigrating to ancient times, Gu Suifeng, a single man who just wants to lie flat, becomes the deadbeat father of three children. How can he keep living a quiet, carefree life with a family this poor? Huh? His father and all three children are pretty clever! Hahaha, then he'll just rely on them. Push them to work hard and have them back him up! 793Reads8.8Score105Shelves

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   1. I just finished reading this book and saw this entry, "Fate," so this is my first recommendation! Perhaps because it's a new book, the rating isn't high yet. It's a rare find since it's a casually selected book, and I finished it in one go during a period of boredom. It's less tedious and monotonous than many other imperial examination novels. The characters are more relaxed and interesting. It has elements of time travel, farming, imperial examinations, political intrigue, and infrastructure development. The male protagonist is a widower with no romantic partner, focusing solely on his career. His main goal is to make money so his father and children can become officials and provide him with support, allowing him to travel freely. His "golden finger" is probably his excellent memory and extensive reading, making him incredibly powerful in creating essential time-travel products, thus attracting many benefactors but also enemies. 2. "The Poor Scholar" – I downloaded Tomato Book a long time ago and read some interesting imperial examination novels for a few days. Most of them focused on how officials governed their regions, with a lot of infrastructure development, including the construction of Taiwan and a small archipelago with silver mines. It was too long for me, and I was drawn to other genres, so it's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. I haven't finished it yet. 3 And 4 are also good. I've forgotten the specific content and my impressions, but the first two books left a deep impression on me when talking about the imperial examination system 🤔. Both 3 and 4 are in my 'favorites' list, and according to my records, I've read to the last chapter of both, so they must be good, and I've added them here. 5. By the way, I recommend "A Woman Disguised as a Man Taking the Imperial Examination." It's too long for me and not that interesting; it's rather conventional, but the writing is good, and the score is high. It's just not my cup of tea, so I only read half of it before adding it to my favorites. I'll still recommend it though. [Learned something new]

7. 157 农 The Beloved Child of a Farming Family: A Fu's Road to the Imperial Exams 农家团宠：阿福的科举之路 Three Gold Pieces三块儿金子Two Male Leads215k WordsOngoing [Farming + Imperial Exams + Childhood Sweethearts] Chen Qingsheng, who had been bitten to death by zombies, was reborn in peaceful Chen Family Village. He was fair-skinned, adorable, and utterly cherished by everyone in the Chen family. His eldest brother was good at carpentry, his second brother was a skilled merchant, his third brother knew how to farm, and his fourth brother would find himself a wife. As the youngest, Chen Qingsheng planned to be a lazy salted fish, lie flat, and let everyone 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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   ✨Here it comes~ Here it comes~ The newbie is here! 🌲④ [Rebirth + Imperial Examination]🌸The male protagonist is reborn into a rural family. At the age of three, he was pushed and fell, regaining his memories. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants can only change their fate through the imperial examination [Note]... The male protagonist, who has both high IQ and EQ, uses his wisdom and interpersonal skills to navigate the officialdom and power struggles, step by step reaching the pinnacle of life!

8. 158 农 A Farmer’s Son’s Daily Struggle to Succeed in the Imperial Exams 农家子科举奋斗日常 A Cluster of Roses一簇蔷薇Historical474k WordsOngoing Born into a farming family in an unknown dynasty, Zhao Jue looked at his tiny arms and legs and thought, Farming was out of the question. In this age where scholars ranked above farmers, artisans, and merchants, and learning was considered the noblest pursuit, he’d better work hard at his studies… 226Reads7.3Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Those who are interested in the imperial examination system can check out these books; they are all quite good.

9. 159 拒 After Refusing to Rejoin My Clan, I Became a Great Scholar Through the Imperial Exams 拒绝认祖归宗后，我靠科举成文圣 Lonely Lamp in the Night Rain夜雨孤灯Historical482k WordsCompleted (Transmigration + wish fulfillment + imperial examinations + court politics + face-slapping + no System) He transmigrates to ancient times, only to find himself an illegitimate son who has never been acknowledged by his family. Su Shijin wants to change his fate through knowledge, but despite having mastered high school Chinese and graduated in applied mathematics, he can barely make sense of classical Chinese. Then he obtains a writing brush. From that day on, he earns the red mark on his foreh 2.2kReads9.0Score186Shelves
10. 160 重 Reborn as a Young Scholar in a Farming Family 重生之农家小书生 Smiling Dove笑白鸽Historical1.5M WordsCompleted Xiao Han transmigrated to ancient times as a little boy. He had planned to coast through life, eating his fill and waiting to die, but the System, desperate to meet its performance targets, tried every trick to tempt him, from sweet-talking him to feeding him poisonous motivational slogans. Xiao Han gradually veered onto a path no one had planned for. He had only wanted to help his family achieve a comfortable life, but he aimed too high and accidentally reached the pinnacle of success. Xiao San 1.9kReads8.7Score126Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all good books; they're not childish or illogical, and they all score over 9 points.

11. 161 科 The Imperial Exam: Top of the Six Tests, Reshaping the Workplace 科举，六元及第整顿职场 Cangbai Beneath the Moon月下苍柏Historical1.6M WordsCompleted (No System, no golden finger, one female lead) (A slow-burn story) In the 21st century, the only person in Tianhai University’s history to earn master’s degrees in both the arts and sciences suddenly transmigrates into the body of a poor farmer’s son in ancient times. Looking at the bare walls of his home and the family who place all their hopes in him, Wang Ping can only gaze at the heavens in speechless resignation. Since all other pursuits are inferior and only scholarship is esteemed, he wi 944Reads7.5Score107Shelves

    Reader note

    Both are good-looking and recommended.

12. 162 回 Going Back to Ancient Times to Take the Imperial Exams 回到古代考科举 Song Muyu宋暮雨Historical279k WordsOngoing [Imperial exams] + [officialdom] + [getting rich] + [sweet romance] Jin Yu had always been the kind of student other parents pointed to as an example. He studied straight through to a postdoctoral degree, finishing at the age of twenty-five. Books had always been his companions. Fortunately, he didn't dislike studying. In fact, he loved it. One day, he transmigrated into the body of an ordinary farm boy. He was too weak to carry a shoulder pole or lift a load. In the end, he still had to rely on 15Reads6.8Score—Shelves
13. 163 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

    The male protagonist studies and takes the imperial examinations with his father. There is no female protagonist. The male protagonist is a demon lord who is reborn into the body. He is obsessed with his father.

14. 164 发 Build a Fortune and Pass the Imperial Exams 发家致富考科举 Eat It in One Bite一口吃完Ancient Romance310k WordsCompleted [No System or golden finger, one heroine, not a wish-fulfillment story, realistic] Xie Fan is a hopelessly single exam nerd, a useless graduate of a top university, and a slacker at a major organization. He enjoys a carefree life of choosing to lie flat. After an unexpected death, he returns to a parallel world in the Ming Dynasty, reborn as the son of a landlord. But life in a landlord’s household turns out to be no easier. To make ends meet, he sets out on the path of the imperial examinations 1.1kReads8.6Score103Shelves
15. 165 前 I Bled My Family Dry in My Past Life, Now Six Yuan Makes Me a God 前世吸光全家血，今生六元来封神 A Really Big Piece of Candy Right Here这里一颗好大的糖Historical680k WordsCompleted [Farming]+ [Imperial examinations]+ [Making a fortune]+ [Power fantasy]+ [Lighthearted comedy] Lin Yunzhou spent half his life working his way up to the rank of interstellar marshal. He never expected to transmigrate to an ancient era with not a trace of technology... The good news: He went from being an orphan to the most doted-on youngest son in the family, and fell in love at first sight with a young lady. The bad news: His parents play favorites, his brothers are blindly filial, and his olde 5.9kReads8.0Score423Shelves

    Reader note

    I'm reading the second book (the short drama has been released), and I've already finished the other three! The cheat system isn't that big, time travel is the biggest cheat system, plus some photographic memory!

16. 166 我 I Find the Top Scholar So Charming 我见探花多娇媚 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Jing Bao has three wishes: First, protect the family estate of the main branch; second, enter the Imperial College, place third in the palace examinations, and bring honor to the family; third, keep living as a man in disguise until the end. Lord Gu has three wishes too: First, help someone protect their family estate; second, help that someone place third in the palace examinations; third, bring the disguised top scorer home and make her the mistress of the household. 4.1kReads9.4Score756Shelves

    Reader note

    I've found all the books I've read and am currently reading for you. There are both male-led and female-disguised-as-men imperial examination books. If you want something more exciting, then there's the first, third, and fourth books; the writing is quite good.

17. 167 被 Forced to Disguise Myself as a Man, I Take the Imperial Exams and Become Chief Councillor 被迫女扮男装，我参加科考做首辅 Soybeans Sprouting黄豆生芽Ancient Romance463k WordsCompleted [Disguised as a man + gradual character growth + everyday life + imperial examinations] The gentle, everyday life of a farmer's son in ancient times. PS: This is a fictional setting! Just as genius doctor Song Xiaoxiao was stepping into the working world, a sneeze sent her transmigrating. When she opened her eyes, she had gone from the present to the past, arriving in a dynasty unrecorded in history. She had just grumbled about being a little kid when her whole family dealt her another heavy blo 602Reads8.4Score101Shelves
18. 168 开 Sold into Slavery from the Start, I Rise to Grand Secretary Through the Imperial Exams 开局卖身为奴，我靠科举登顶首辅 Blazing Fire Dragon冲天爆火龙Historical2.2M WordsOngoing After waking up, Wang Wei, a modern university student majoring in Chinese, transmigrated into Wang Gou'er, a young servant who had been sold by his own clan. He thought his life was over before it had even begun, but his new master turned out to be a wealthy provincial graduate. Even more unexpectedly, a twist of fate made him the young master's lifesaver, and he was assigned to work in the study. While the other servants were still struggling to memorize the rules, Wang Gou'er had already set 49.8kReads7.9Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This is not merely a novel, but a slowly unfolding historical panorama. The writing is refined and beautiful, the narrative pacing is well-balanced, making it a truly captivating and unputdownable work. It genuinely portrays the hardships faced by a peasant boy striving for success in the imperial examinations; it's very realistic, worthy of careful reading, and is a very enjoyable read. The plot is ingenious, the story is tightly woven, and it's an excellent novel.

19. 169 穿 I Became a Farm Girl, and My Son Is a Top Imperial Exam Scholar 穿成农家小娘子，儿子是科举大佬 Better to Step Back and Cast a Net不如退而结网Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (Dual transmigration, farming, the imperial examinations, family life, building wealth, and a warm, happy life) (No System, no pocket dimension, no golden finger. Both the female lead and her son have transmigrated.) (The female lead is hardworking, clever, beautiful, and capable. The male lead seems honest on the surface, but is actually hopelessly devoted to her, fiercely protective of his family, and scrupulously faithful. Their son is a prodigy who never forgets anything he reads, and he’s r 14.1kReads8.5Score1.5kShelves
20. 170 启 Your Majesty, the Top Scholar Is Slacking Off Again and Again 启禀陛下，状元郎他又又又开摆了 Fang Jinxi方锦溪Historical2.8M WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams and Farming]+ [Family Matters]+ [Building Wealth]+ [Scheming]+ [Alternate Ancient Setting] Lu Qilin, a modern enthusiast of intangible cultural heritage, unexpectedly transmigrated. When he woke up, he had become an eight-year-old village boy with a dim mind, whose mother had died young and whose father had disappeared. Fortunately, his grandparents and uncle and aunt truly loved him, and his two older cousins genuinely cared for him. It wasn't the worst start imaginable. Unfortu 12.8kReads8.5Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Every single one of them is a gem; just look at my total reading time to know. I would never recommend anything subpar.

21. 171 本 I Only Wanted to Get By, but I Passed the Imperial Exams Six Times in a Row and Shocked the Emperor 本想混口饭，科举连中六元惊陛下 Moonlight in Motion月色流光Historical3.0M WordsOngoing (Alternate history + imperial examinations + heartwarming + everyday family life + one heroine) He Mingfeng transmigrated. The good news: The knowledge in his head was his golden finger. The bad news: He’d become the village idiot. His family was dirt poor, and his grandmother looked at him like he was a burden. A hellish start? No worries! The village idiot suddenly “came to his senses,” leaving the whole village stunned. He caught fish and set up a stall, and had just started making a little m 6.3kReads8.2Score572Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all good and worth recommending. I highly recommend the first and fifth books.

22. 172 穿 Wherever I Go, I’m Taking the Civil Service Exam 穿到哪里都要考编 I'll Go Hunting Tigers in the Mountains Next Year明年上山打老虎Ancient Romance307k WordsCompleted A low-ranking clerk worked overtime until he dropped dead, only to transmigrate into the body of a young master from a prestigious family. Back when I was in government, I had to grovel and scrape. Now, I'm frighteningly powerful. I can thrive without any cheats. 57Reads5.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Well, these are all the imperial examination novels I've read. Some are about women disguised as men, some have a female lead, and some have no female/male lead.

23. 173 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 2.8kReads6.9Score224Shelves

    Reader note

    Let me recommend my own family, three generations of which passed the imperial examinations.

24. 174 科 The Imperial Exam System: The First Female Chancellor 科举系统之第一女相 Yun Yao云夭Ancient Romance624k WordsCompleted At long last, she had finished her postgraduate entrance exams. Who knew she’d suddenly die and wake up bound to the imperial examination System? Her father was dead, her mother was weak, and she was sickly. From the very start, her clan bullied her. At least she was a man, so getting things done would be convenient. Wait, why was she a woman? Never mind. Dressing as a man wasn’t a problem. Just watch her outwork all her classmates! 145Reads5.9Score—Shelves
25. 175 穿 I Transmigrated into a Book About the Imperial Exams and Brought Home a Fussy Little Wife 穿书科举，娶了个小作精回家 Zhou Zijin舟子衿Ancient Romance910k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations + sweet romance + face-slapping + infrastructure development and rising through the ranks: a scheming, smug transmigrated playboy x a spoiled, somewhat crafty but not too calculating troublemaker] Xie Zi'an is a spoiled young master who transmigrates into a book, becoming the husband of the villainess. In the original story, the man he replaces is framed and found alone with the unconscious Xu Nansong. The two are forced to marry, but after the wedding, he discovers that X 23kReads8.7Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The father and son complement each other, and they time-travel together. Before the time travel, the father was a professor, and the male protagonist was a bookworm. After the time travel, the story is mostly told from the male protagonist's perspective. He has a photographic memory. The plot is good and recommended. The second story is a simple imperial examination novel with a spoiled and somewhat difficult wife. It's also recommended and enjoyable.

26. 176 布 A Commoner Conquers the Nine Provinces 布衣镇九州 Cai Bibi菜比比Historical2.3M WordsCompleted Zhao Ce transmigrates to the Ming Dynasty, becoming an impoverished scholar with a terrible reputation. He also discovers that he borrowed money to get married, then squandered it all, and ended up buying a pitiful little cripple on the way back to make up the numbers. The little cripple has mismatched eyes and is treated like a monster. Zhao Ce: What kind of miserable life is this? A disastrous start? But when he takes another look at the little cripple, so tiny and thin, blinking those big eye 25.9kReads9.2Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The male lead is very calm, intelligent, and resourceful. The description of his journey through the imperial examinations is also excellent. It's a single-female lead story, and the male lead acts like a guiding lover, helping the female lead become a better person as well. Their interactions are incredibly sweet. [Full][Full] I've already watched it twice! [Heart][Heart]

27. 177 爹 My Dad's Taking the Imperial Exams on My Dime, and Somehow He Became a Grand Chancellor 爹去科举啃我老，不知不觉成阁老 Crazy Honest Man疯狂的老实人Historical1.9M WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams + Court Politics + Farming + Alternate History + Feel-Good Power Fantasy + Daily Life + Lighthearted + Role Reversal + More Comedy Early On + Political Scheming in the Middle] The early chapters are all about the laughs. After that, the story gradually shifts toward political scheming. Rich kid Fang Yan and his Chinese literature professor father transmigrate together in a two-person package. Fang Yan figures he can coast on his father's vast knowledge and become a successful off 45.7kReads8.4Score5.2kShelves
28. 178 跛 The Lame Farmer's Rise to Power 跛脚农家子的权臣之路 Wan Shu绾淑Historical274k WordsOngoing Reborn as a lame peasant boy in ancient times, in an era when no one believed in him, Gu Cichuan overcomes one obstacle after another to claim the position of The Outcast. He seeks no great power, only to stay true to himself and do right by the world. 2Reads—Score—Shelves
29. 179 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 18.5kReads8.9Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book features a single female protagonist and no system. The second book is about a protagonist who transmigrates into the body of a five-year-old child. Relying on his cheat system and his own efforts, he passes the imperial examination before the age of ten and becomes the top scholar, rising to become a prominent civil official in the Ming Dynasty.

30. 180 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 21.6kReads8.7Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    🌈Ancient Chinese romance novel with elements of imperial examinations, rebirth, court politics, revenge, and a somewhat unpredictable but powerful cheat ability. Shen Shufan, reborn as the heir of a marquis's family, initially intends to live a life of leisure. However, he is betrayed by his stepmother and scumbag father, knocked unconscious, and thrown into a river. He is rescued by the fourth son of the impoverished Shen family and adopts him as his parents. Thus begins his journey as a genius in the imperial examinations. 🌈🍀The second book is more novel. The male protagonist transmigrates from a post-apocalyptic world to a third-generation family exiled to the north who are barred from taking the imperial examinations. Shen Yu'an happens to be the fourth generation. Looking at his nearly blind grandmother, his mother who is treated like a man, his beautiful sister, and his family burdened with debt, Shen Yu'an resolutely embarks on the path of the imperial examinations, achieving the highest score and becoming the top scholar. 🍀The novel is relatively lighthearted, 🌻without too many awful characters, the Shen family is quite united, and the male protagonist is reasonably handsome. Recommended.

31. 181 农 A Farm Boy's Road to Turning His Life Around Through the Imperial Exams 农家少年科举翻身路 Cherry on the Hillside半山樱桃Historical459k WordsOngoing In his previous life, Hang Yan had always been a top student, but he never managed to make anything of himself. He went from being a beloved prodigy to a wage slave everyone pitied. People said good grades were useless, but then he was reborn in the womb and returned to an era when studying could change your fate. A dilapidated home, a doting family, I, a genius boy, will pass all six imperial examinations and rise to power over the whole court. Go ahead and tell me studying is useless again. I 129Reads8.6Score—Shelves
32. 182 方 Fang Jin Passes the Imperial Examination 方进中举 Blooming Prosperity, Beautiful as Fragrance花开富贵美如香Historical369k WordsOngoing [The new book has just received its rating, so it will be low at first. It will rise later.] Fang Jin is a poor scholar with an empty house who has failed the imperial exams nine times. His parents are elderly, and his younger siblings depend on him. His several older brothers have bent their backs working to pay for his studies, and on top of that, he has a butcher for a father-in-law who comes to his door every day to call him a “good-for-nothing”! Then one day, memories of his past life awake 7Reads7.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I'm looking at exam essays, come and see!

33. 183 重 Reborn in Officialdom: I Really Don't Want Another Promotion 重生官场：我真的不想再升职了 Ink as a Blade以墨为锋Urban2.4M WordsCompleted In 2003, Liang Weishi never wanted to enter government service. Yet through a series of fortunate coincidences, from the day he passed the civil service exam, he rose rapidly through the ranks... 125.5kReads9.1Score13.9kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend two new books. The author's writing style is witty, humorous, and seasoned. A seasoned bookworm's recommendation: 9.5 Stars. The other 0.5 Is because I can't read enough serialized novels—one is a political novel, and the other is a scholar's examination novel.

34. 184 科 The Road to the Imperial Examinations Begins as a Student 科举之路从童生开始 Hardworking Chicken-Raising Expert努力赚钱的养鸡专家Historical407k WordsOngoing Lin Ying transmigrates. He had been researching the history of the imperial examination system at a research institute, but one careless moment sends him to ancient times, where he becomes the son of a farming family on his way to sit the exams. What else can he do? For the sake of a better life, he can only give it everything he’s got! On the long road to success in the imperial examinations, Lin Ying sets himself a small goal: first, pass the entry-level exam and become a student! 452Reads9.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    🍐The protagonist transmigrates into the body of Su Run, a peasant boy in the Great Yan Dynasty. His family treats him very well. When he was eight, they sent him to school and he got engaged. However, the original owner was obsessed with love and focused on pleasing his fiancée, neglecting his studies and being expelled by his teacher. Su Run comes to break off the engagement. His parents are deceased, and he has two older brothers and sisters-in-law. His uncles and aunts are all kind to him. The protagonist starts by selling a recipe for soy milk and then buys bean sprouts. Later, he researches tofu for a long time and opens a mill. His family starts to prosper and becomes wealthy. The farming tools he develops are noticed by the higher-ups, and his eldest brother is given a ninth-rank agricultural official position. The protagonist goes back to school, and his friends at the academy are also very good to him. The protagonist studies very hard, and then all the students at the academy study hard. The protagonist and his six friends become close and pass the county-level imperial examinations together, eventually entering the prefectural academy.

35. 185 大 Ming Dynasty: My Years as Zhu Yuanzhang's Heckler 大明，我给老朱当喷子的那些年 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical1.4M WordsCompleted If there’s anything you think could be improved, please point it out gently. I’ll make changes. Thank you. The protagonist’s official career: Investigating Censor, Supervising Censor, County Magistrate, Inspecting Censor and Deputy Censor-in-Chief, Censor-in-Chief, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Cautious Diligence and Minister of Personnel. Gu Chen opens his eyes and finds himself in the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, as a low-ranking remonstrance official. He ha 49.1kReads9.1Score3.4kShelves

    Reader note

    No cheat codes or special abilities in the imperial examinations.

36. 186 为 To Avoid Getting Beaten, I Started Studying for the Imperial Exams 为了不挨打，开始考科举 Yu Su鱼素Historical1.4M WordsOngoing One day, Shen Qingyun becomes the youngest son of a farming family and thinks he can spend his whole life as a freeloader. But then disaster strikes, and he faces a dire predicament: His eldest brother went off to take a temporary job, but came back dead, wrapped in a straw mat; Other families in the village have several sons, but the Shen family has only him, their sole heir; His shrewish, favoritism-prone mother, his mistreated nieces, and his stooped, adopted father all depend on him; Bearing 1.4kReads8.6Score149Shelves
37. 187 野 A Wild Monk and a Stinky Cook? No! He's the New Top Scholar 野和尚臭厨子？不！他是新科状元 Peach Youyou桃幽幽Rural Life154k WordsOngoing [Family life] [Imperial examinations] [Farming] [Lighthearted] Jiang Zhuo transmigrates and becomes a young monk kicked out of the monastery by the abbot. With no other choice, he returns home and resumes secular life. But the moment he steps through the door, he’s confronted by an entire family of oddballs. A spineless father, a meek mother, grandparents who play favorites, and a brother who loves to show off... Jiang Zhuo: Fine, fine! This messed-up transmigration life boils down to one t 21Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A very good imperial examination novel, lighthearted and heartwarming, focusing on everyday family life. The male protagonist has a stable core and climbs the ranks step by step.

38. 188 彪 The Fierce Child Bride: Her Underachieving Husband Is Forced to Take the Imperial Exam 彪悍童养媳：学渣相公被迫考科举 Casually Busy随意小忙Ancient Romance391k WordsOngoing [Family Life + Getting Rich + Cozy Daily Life + Lighthearted, Slow-Burn] A laid-back heroine who’s no farming expert / A male lead who’s bad at school and takes the imperial exams unseriously She transmigrates as a child bride, and the System gives her a husband who’s supposed to take the imperial exams. And he’ll make money! Yan Yan: ??? Her husband is as pretty as a flower. He studies and earns money, while I spend it? What a sweet deal! Then she takes a closer look and realizes her husband is 70Reads7.2Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    A complete range of products

39. 189 重 Reborn, I Use the System to Find My Family, Redeem Myself, and Become a Chancellor 重生后，我靠系统寻亲救赎成宰相 The Xiahou Clan of Humengdao虎蒙道的夏侯族Historical861k WordsOngoing Shen Yan was reborn at the age of twelve, on the night his older sister went into a difficult labor. He activated the Family-Finding System, saved his sister, and received lavish rewards. He discovered that the relatives he had lost in his previous life were scattered across the land, all living tragic lives: A nephew whose identity had been switched, a sister humiliated in the palace, a younger sister reduced to a kept woman… Shen Yan rose through the ranks by passing the imperial examinations, 17Reads6.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Imperial examinations, searching for relatives

40. 190 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 27.9kReads8.7Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    🍅I haven't read this genre in a long time, but I recently came across a book that I really like! 🍀The male protagonist is reborn in ancient times. He fails the imperial examination five times. He meets a down-on-his-luck old man and, out of kindness, gets a wife in return. Little does he know that the old man holds power in the southeast, and his princess wife paves the way for his success in the imperial examination, opening the door wide for him. The male protagonist is completely unaware of this and lives off his wife!

41. 191 我 I Only Farm the Land, Yet My Merits Terrify the Gods and Buddhas 我就一种地的功德吓哭满天神佛 Twisted Cucumber扭曲的黄瓜Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted [Farming + Invincible + Slow Burn + System + No Female Lead] Xia Yuanyi transmigrates to a high-martial world. After being framed, he finds that he has no talent for cultivation and can only become a carpenter and farmer. But the arrival of the System gives him hope of rising to power. This high-martial world has low crop yields. With the System's help, Xia Yuanyi begins introducing one high-yield crop after another to this world. Decades later, The gods and Buddhas descend from the heavens to r 1.6kReads7.5Score106Shelves

    Reader note

    Super engaging imperial examination novels, no romance, all about changing lives and positive themes.

42. 192 穿 I Became a Scumbag, Then Fought to Marry a Husband 穿成渣男，奋起娶夫郎了 Big Home Superman Has No Big Home大居超人没有大居Two Male Leads415k WordsCompleted [Top's Perspective] [Ger] [Lighthearted Slice of Life] [Imperial Examinations] He wakes up one day transmigrated into the body of a total scumbag, along with a whole family of sweet, simple-minded people and a beautiful husband who's both fierce and coy! Lu Heguang can't believe life can be this spicy! His husband: "I want to be the husband of a provincial graduate!" Lu Heguang, brimming with confidence: "No problem!" His husband: "Then what about being the husband of a metropolitan graduate?" L 2.7kReads8.8Score315Shelves

    Reader note

    This is what I watched today, it was pretty good!

43. 193 卖 You Sold My Beloved Wife? I'll Rule the Court Through the Imperial Exams! 卖我娇妻？我靠科举权倾朝野！ Nameless Bright Moon明月无名Historical413k WordsCompleted [Transmigrator Reborn + No System + Imperial Examinations + Political Intrigue] “I'll kill them all!” That was Li Yu's first thought when he woke up. After transmigrating, Li Yu was betrayed by his parents and family. His newlywed wife was sold and disfigured. He used a transmigrator's knowledge, far beyond that of the ancient world, to build wealth, but was cruelly oppressed by the powerful. His whole life was a tragedy! But just when all seemed lost, he was reborn. The moment he opens h 346Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book, while ostensibly set in a fictional world, is actually set in Jiangnan during the late Ming Dynasty, and the protagonist has a clear objective. There are no idiotic scenes; the protagonist is intelligent and alert.

44. 194 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 33.5kReads8.3Score3.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book, "The Scholar's Journey Through Time," is still ongoing but is exceptionally good; the writing is excellent. It tells the story of Xie Xiaoliu, who manages both business and the imperial examinations, gradually rising through the ranks of officialdom. The second book is about a female teacher who transmigrates into a male imperial examination. The protagonist isn't inherently intelligent or capable; he succeeds through hard work and perseverance, emphasizing that the harder you work, the luckier you get.

45. 195 青 A Floating Life in Blue Robes [Female-to-Male Transmigration] 青衣浮生【女穿男】 Twin Jade Island双玉岛Ancient Romance314k WordsCompleted Reader’s note: A woman transmigrates into a man, marries, and there is one couple throughout. The story is low-key, with no major twists, no inner-courtyard scheming, and only basic political machinations. Please read only if you’re okay with all that. I was a modern-day overworked teacher who suddenly died and transmigrated into the lowly illegitimate son of the Marquis of Daqi’s household. The moment I opened my eyes, I was faced with the terrifying reality of having the wrong gender, and I’d 10.5kReads9.3Score1.4kShelves
46. 196 女 A Woman Reborn as a Man: I'm a Farmer's Son, and I'm Taking the Imperial Exams 女穿男：穿成农家子，我要考科举 Xi Liuer西流尔Ancient Romance406k WordsCompleted [No CP, no heroine + woman transmigrates into a man's body + born into a new body + farming + imperial exams + a little business + fictional setting] Song Huaiyu dozed off for a moment and transmigrated into the body of someone from a poor family. Fortunately, she grew up in the countryside in her previous life, so farming and foraging in the mountains came naturally to her. Song Huaiyu sold goods from the mountains and raised livestock, but the money she earned went only toward improving her 125Reads5.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Reincarnation, female transmigration into male imperial examination novel, no romantic pairing.

47. 197 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 3.8kReads7.4Score448Shelves

    Reader note

    I think this book is good! Why is the rating so low?! The theme is very novel, the male protagonist Song Yingzhi is a classic time-traveler, doesn't believe in fate, and thinks only by taking the imperial examination can one become rich and powerful. He focuses on farming, eventually dying from overwork, hahaha. Then he repents and embarks on the road to success—the imperial examination. His father doesn't love him, his mother favors him, his grandfather dotes on his eldest grandson, and he's practically invisible in the family [laughs].

48. 198 大 The Han Empire: Emperor Liu Hong 大汉帝国之大帝刘宏 Black Tortoise Immortal Tomb玄武仙墓Historical3.3M WordsCompleted Emperor Ling of Han was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty to wield real power. Though he could have changed the course of history, he instead became the root cause of the Han Dynasty's downfall. By a twist of fate, a modern-day top history student is reborn at the end of the Han Dynasty as Emperor Liu Hong. Watch as he gathers the greatest talents of the era and builds an unparalleled legacy. 19.9kReads9.0Score1.8kShelves
49. 199 寒 The Scholar from a Poor Family 寒门状元 Gentleman of the Green Mountain青山君子Historical2.1M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the family of a common farmer, Ye Xuanmo arrives just as his paternal cousin passes the imperial examination. To revitalize the clan, his cousin invites a teacher to the family to educate the children. In an age when “all trades are base, and only studying is noble,” Ye Xuanmo wants nothing more than to pass the exams and change his family’s circumstances… 3.4kReads8.9Score314Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend the first book, "My Beloved Bright Moon"! The last book is still being serialized, so you can wait until it's fully published before reading it. You can read the others without worry.

50. 200 穿 After Transmigrating, I Take the Imperial Exams, and the Emperor Wants to Retire as a Team 穿越后科举，皇帝竟想组队退休 Drunk Shadow in September九月醉影Historical1.3M WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations, transmigration, an alternate setting. No System, no pocket dimension. Focused on earning a living through the examinations and passing down family values. No harem, no womanizer protagonist.] Just as Xia Wenlou had finally achieved his dream of lying flat, a car accident transported him to ancient times. For the record, he had absolutely no desire to transmigrate. And to make matters worse, it happened just as he'd made a name for himself and was starting to enjoy life. N 4.7kReads8.1Score579Shelves

    Reader note

    They're all great, and the plots don't drag. The only downside is that, except for the last book, the others are still ongoing.

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