Ancient-Era Imperial Exam Stories, No System 古代科举考试的，不要系统

1. 1 穿 Transmigrated to the Countryside: A Young Farmer's Road to the Imperial Exams 穿越之农家独苗苗的科举之路 Zhang Rubai张如白Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted [Born into the Past + Farming + Imperial Exams + Fleeing Famine + Warfare] The slow-paced everyday life of a boy from a rural family in ancient times! Zhang Ping'an gets a new lease on life when he transmigrates to an ancient farming family. Fortunately, they are fairly well-off, so no one has to go hungry. He has six older sisters, and he is the only boy his parents had long hoped for. His parents favor sons over daughters, and all six sisters are fierce. He thought he was in for a story about 29kReads8.7Score2.8kShelves

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   This novel is very realistic. If you want to read about a male protagonist who passes the imperial examination with top honors, this one won't satisfy you. The male protagonist has six older sisters, and his sixth sister is his twin sister. Before the male protagonist was born, his parents were ashamed because there were no boys in the family. When his sixth sister was born, the male protagonist's mother knew that it was another girl and was already resigned to death. Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better and they became twins.

2. 2 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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   The first book features a handsome protagonist whose academic journey is fraught with hardship, primarily due to his family background. However, he encounters a relatively enlightened examiner. Furthermore, the protagonist values ​​family ties, and anyone who harms his family will face dire consequences. The second book's protagonist's educational experiences are more fantastical, but precisely because they are so fantastical, everyone of any standing he encounters gives him face. However, the plot twists where these people change their attitudes are quite interesting.

3. 3 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
4. 4 苏 Su Chen'an's Journey Through the Imperial Exams 苏辰安的科举之路 Dream of Nine Hundred Million Girls九亿少女的梦梦Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Su Chen'an, a master of Chinese painting, had finally wrapped up an exhibition. Just as he walked out of the building, a flowerpot full of sunflowers came flying at him. He died on the spot. When he woke up again, he was almost starved to death inside his mother's womb. Every day, he teetered on the brink of starvation. He felt that if he absorbed even a little more nourishment from the amniotic fluid, his mother might die. But if he absorbed even a little less, the embryo that was him would pro 10.2kReads8.3Score877Shelves

   Reader note

   The male protagonist transmigrates to ancient times, a reincarnation, without any special abilities; he relies entirely on his intelligence, which is quite high. [Thinking]

5. 5 穿 I Was Reborn in a Farming Novel, but I Don't Want to Pass the Imperial Exams on Talent 穿进种田文里，我不想靠才华科举 Autumn Has Always Been Here丛来是秋Historical1.6M WordsCompleted Su Congli transmigrated. To stay alive, he studied day and night and threw himself into the imperial examinations. Who could have guessed? At the provincial exam: “What are you staring at, chief examiner?” At the metropolitan exam: “Why do these examiners all seem so strange?” At the palace exam: “Oh! Isn’t that guy sitting in the throne hall the one who stares at me every night?” Emperor Qiyuan prided himself on being a wise ruler of his age, blessed with extraordinary fortune. Who knew he’d ru 11.3kReads8.9Score949Shelves

   Reader note

   This novel is very interesting, with a light and cheerful writing style. The male protagonist's fate takes a turn after he has a lookalike, and it's worth reading!

6. 6 过 With a Photographic Memory, Isn’t It Only Natural I Came First in the Imperial Exam? 过目不忘，我中状元正常吧？ Mountaineer登山客Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Lu Chengan forgot to drink Granny Meng’s soup. One day, he transmigrates to a remote mountain village in the Great Zhou dynasty and becomes the second son of the Lu family’s second son. To take the imperial examinations, Lu Chengan has no choice but to urge his father to better himself. Before he knows it, his father becomes an official. Lu Chengan: Does he still need to work hard? 47.9kReads8.6Score5.1kShelves

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   The first book is about a peasant boy taking the imperial examinations; the male protagonist is a transmigrator who is reborn, and he's a bit cunning. The second book is about a transmigrated son of a noble family taking the imperial examinations; the male protagonist was so cute as a child. The third book is also about a peasant boy taking the imperial examinations; after the family splits up, he takes the exams with his father and brother.

7. 7 论 On the Imperial Exams, Who Knows Who'll Be the One Sweating? 论科举，谁卷谁还不知道呢 Corn Breakdance玉米扒舞Historical648k WordsOngoing In his previous life, he was visiting Dujiangyan with his mentor to draw up reinforcement plans when one misstep cost him everything. When Zhang Shi’an opened his eyes again, he was holding a little stick, facing a golden field of rice. The rice looked unusually small, though. Before he could figure out what he was doing, he spotted several sparrows feasting on the rice. His hands reacted even faster than his mind. He raised the stick and swung it at them. The thieving sparrows soon flew up into 489Reads7.7Score—Shelves

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   They're all about the imperial examinations, and I think they're all alright, but my favorite is still the first one I read, "Zhu Ping'an's Rise from a Humble Beginning." I love the braised pork, and I love Li Shu.

8. 8 赵 The Zhao Family's Rise to Fortune 赵氏发家记 Pingping, the Peaceful One平安的平平Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing [Ensemble cast + farming + everyday life] As the most promising man in the village, Zhao Laosi’s greatest pride in life isn’t the good fortune he was born with, but the wonderful wife he married. She’s not only literate and virtuous, but has also given him several exceptionally bright children. The twins Zhao Jia and Zhao Rong have been inseparable since childhood. When they heard that the academy wouldn’t admit girls, the siblings clung to each other and wept bitterly, while the whole Zhao fami 20Reads7.2Score—Shelves

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   The first book is about a young couple making money and their son passing the imperial examinations; the second book is about a father who is very good at making money, a mother who is the daughter of a scholar, and their children are all very successful; the third book is about an illegitimate son who is neglected in his family and then starts to become rich; the fourth book is about a farmer's son making money and passing the imperial examinations; the last book has a very high rating, is very well written, and most importantly, it is already completed and can be read at will.

9. 9 宋 Song Dynasty Crossover: From Scholar to Ruler, Calling a Deer a Horse 宋综：从秀才宰执天下，指鹿为马 Yang Xian杨弦Male-Channel Fanfiction761k WordsOngoing [TV adaptations and Song-era settings: Story of Minglan + A Dream of Splendor + Destined + Love Like the Galaxy + Song Dynasty + Imperial Examinations + Chancellor] Good news: I transmigrated to ancient times and became a scholar. Bad news: I'm the scholar from the story “My Son Is a Scholar.” Sun Zhigao is at his wit's end! He's become a useless freeloader! Living off others feels great, but you can't do it forever! All he can do is work hard, pass the imperial exams, enter officialdom, and cli 1.6kReads8.3Score101Shelves

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   🍅Imperial examination novels? Not too many! The first one is really good. The male lead first marries the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, living off her, and after passing the imperial examination, he becomes very successful in the court. At a young age, he wields great power and influence. He is a bit ruthless and strong!

10. 10 科 The Road to Success Through the Imperial Examinations 科举之青云路 A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.2M WordsCompleted In his previous life, Lu Sheng was a spoiled rich kid. After being born into a farming family, he regains his memories at the age of three when his cousin pushes him to the ground over two pieces of pork crackling. Among the four paths of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, working for someone else is out of the question. With his poor knowledge of farming, he couldn't even support himself, so it looks like the imperial examinations are his only way to change his fate. From then on, Lu S 1.8kReads7.7Score130Shelves
11. 11 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
12. 12 寒 From Humble Official to Mountain Immortal 寒门仕途到山中真人 Ladle with Chilled Tofu水瓢凉拌豆腐Historical248k WordsOngoing Water conservancy engineer Wang Zhiming opens his eyes again and finds himself a newborn farmer’s son in Wangjia Village, Li Country. His family has only six mu of poor farmland, owes two dan of autumn grain, and his father has been put on the roster for winter river works. Forget studying for the imperial examinations. It is questionable whether the family can even make it through the winter! He has no System and no pocket dimension. All he can rely on is the knowledge he gained over thirty- 3Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Please save my new book.

13. 13 努 I Strive for the Imperial Exams, But My Slacker Dreams Never Change 努力考科举，咸鱼梦想从未改变 A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Imperial exams + everyday life + lighthearted] Lu Yang, a rich second-generation heir, wakes up one day as the youngest and most cherished son of the Lu family. This youngest son is a scholar, yet selfish and self-centered, turning a blind eye to his family's sacrifices and caring only about his own future. Lu Yang may be a slacker with little conscience, but he knows who's good to him. He keeps his dream of being a slacker tucked away and works hard to pass the imperial exams, hoping to become 17.8kReads9.1Score1.8kShelves
14. 14 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
15. 15 步 Rising Higher With Every Step 步步高飞 Canghu Fang藏狐方Two Male Leads269k WordsCompleted The entire novel was written by hand, with absolutely no AI ghostwriting. Just after graduating from university, Nan Shi dies unexpectedly and is reborn. Forced to start over from the very bottom of society, he sells crawfish, builds heated brick beds, installs flush toilets, and opens a cake shop. But for the love of his life, he decides to leave business for literature and climb his way up from the lowest ranks of the bureaucracy. 1.4kReads9.3Score197Shelves

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    Both of them relied on themselves and focused on their own efforts.

16. 16 为 To Avoid Planting Rice, I Work Hard to Pass the Imperial Exams 为了不插秧，努力考科举 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [The short drama adaptation is now streaming] A modern SSS-rank researcher dies suddenly and transmigrates to the Great Xing Dynasty. His health is so poor that he's not allowed to pick rice in the fields until he's six. Sunstruck and light-headed, Li Jing decides that farming with this body is a risky business, so he immediately resolves to study for the imperial examinations. That's what he's good at; the transplanting can be left to the professionals! The following year, now named Li Yiqing, 23kReads9.3Score2.2kShelves
17. 17 首 Lord Grand Secretary, Your Wife Ran Away! 首辅大人，你老婆跑啦！ Real Jurchen Translator真·女真翻译Two Male Leads325k WordsCompleted Gu Mingzhou was ruthless. Even in life, he had risen to the highest ranks of the court and was unbeatable. After being reborn, he found it hard to face his old enemies. He was stubbornly proud to the very end, never willing to say a kind word to the one he loved, right up until he died. Reborn, he put every enemy and political rival aside. This chief minister only wants to spoil his beloved. A mutually doting romance, with a little angst. 782Reads9.1Score104Shelves
18. 18 寒 The Commoner Who Became Chief Minister 寒门首辅 Nangong Chenchen南宫沉沉Historical1.5M WordsCompleted When Gu Changliu wakes up, he has become a country scholar. He has no grand ambitions: he just wants to pass the provincial examination, become a minor official, put down roots, and spend his life in harmony with the woman he loves. But the officialdom is no easy place to get by. He had hoped to be a lazy nobody, but the political infighting leaves him no choice but to press forward with all his might. If he can't be a carefree salted fish, then he will take flight like a great roc, rising ninet 3.1kReads8.6Score215Shelves
19. 19 科 The Imperial Examinations: Rising to the First Rank of Officialdom 科举之官居一品 Nine Jin of Fat九斤肥肉Historical826k WordsCompleted Synopsis: A scholar in the morning, admitted to the imperial court by night. The protagonist begins as a young scholar from a farming family and rises step by step through the imperial examination system. In the end, he earns a place on the honors list, becomes a jinshi, and enters the ranks of officials. After becoming an official, he works his way up through the bureaucracy until he reaches the highest rank and governs the realm as chief minister, guiding Chinese civilization to become the mos 2kReads7.6Score101Shelves
20. 20 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
21. 21 举 Your Whole Family Hopes You'll Pass the Scholar Exam, but You Top All Six? 举家盼你中秀才，你六元连中？ A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations in the early chapters + farming + everyday life + lighthearted + court politics later on] In his previous life, Shen Zhou was in poor health and cultivated himself through a quiet, disciplined lifestyle, becoming rather indifferent by nature. Then he transmigrated to an ancient peasant family. The entire Shen family pooled their resources to support the original owner’s studies, hoping only that he would pass the county-level examination and become a licentiate. Sadly, the 14.7kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves
22. 22 寒 The Ruthless Minister from a Humble Family 寒门枭臣 Sturgeon鲟鱼Historical3.1M WordsCompleted Li Mao transmigrates into the Northern Song dynasty as a down-and-out scholar from a poor family. In an age when everything is inferior except studying, and the realm is on the brink of ruin, he changes his fate step by step through hard work, rises to the pinnacle of life, and brings peace to the world for generations to come. This story has not only clashes of steel and the thunder of battle horns, but also beauty and romance, alongside the struggles and striving of ordinary people. 1.6kReads8.4Score169Shelves
23. 23 首 The Chief Minister's Road to the Imperial Examinations 首辅的科举之路 Adoring You at Dawn and Dusk朝暮倾卿Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + No pocket dimension + Heartwarming family + No ridiculous characters] [The male lead works hard and climbs the ranks one step at a time through his own efforts] [The male lead is devoted; the female lead appears fairly late. The story begins with the imperial examinations and later moves into officialdom] [No forced stupidity, no self-righteous saint, and no fake innocent heroine] Xu Xingfeng, a county-level civil servant in a twenty-first-century town, suddenly finds himself 6.7kReads8.9Score616Shelves
24. 24 苏 Eunuch Su's Road to the Imperial Exams 苏公公的科举之路 Singing Alone for Joy笙歌独欢Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Chief eunuch Su Weisheng had finally endured his way to retirement, only to die unexpectedly. When he opened his eyes again, he had become a five-year-old child a century later, and all his enemies were dead! His relatives were unkind, and his parents were weak. Su Weisheng consoled himself: At least in this life, I won't have to be a eunuch. I can live with that! He takes on the worst of the family, manages the household, and studies for the imperial examinations. Only after achieving fame and 9kReads9.0Score1.1kShelves
25. 25 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
26. 26 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

    Reader note

    The first book was exceptionally good; the story was fast-paced and engaging, and I especially loved the male lead's character—it was so satisfying to read! The second book was a dual-male lead imperial examination novel; the male lead was vengeful and fiercely protective of his own!

27. 27 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
28. 28 命 A Long, Long Life 命长长岁悠悠 Listening Freely肆意听Two Male Leads685k WordsOngoing [Transmigration + a slow-paced story + uplifting + lighthearted and funny + imperial examinations in the early story, court politics later + fictional setting] Yun Wu, the most beautiful and best-built young man for miles around, is getting married. He is marrying a well-known scholar from the surrounding villages. They say his future husband is refined and handsome, with boundless prospects. Xi Yun, a university student majoring in Chinese language and literature, is about to graduate when he s 1.4kReads9.2Score122Shelves

    Reader note

    This has to be it! The male lead is a time traveler, but he doesn't have a system; he relies entirely on hard work to achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations, surpassing all others in the capital. His life with his husband is also incredibly sweet and loving. It's guaranteed to be a great read! 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

29. 29 穿 Transmigrate: The Cool Guy's Little Immortal Doctor Husband 穿越之酷哥的仙医小夫郎 Wu Yan乌言Two Male Leads956k WordsOngoing [Two male leads + sweet romance + happy ending] [Quiet, cool guy at first, jealous top later x reserved, gentle bottom with a slightly devious streak] During a battle to the death with the Zombie King, Tang Ren was dragged into a mutual demise. He thought he was sure to die, but instead woke up in another world. There was no apocalypse here, no zombies or other mutated monsters, but there was someone with whom he was willing to spend the rest of his life. Jun Qing found a man while gat 762Reads8.8Score121Shelves

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    Highly recommended!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 I found these two books when I was looking for something to read, and once I started, I couldn't put them down! 1️⃣🍅🍅 Xi Yun is a Chinese Language major who transmigrates to another world. After transmigrating, Xi Yun continues her original path of taking the imperial examinations, passing all the tests and eventually becoming the top scholar in the capital! Xi Yun and her husband, Yun Wu, advance and retreat together. You pursue your studies, and I learn Suzhou embroidery. In the end, you become the top scholar, and I achieve great success, each shining in my own field. 🌶🌶 2️⃣🥝🥝🥝 Tang Ren perished together with the Zombie King, thinking he was doomed. Unexpectedly, he awoke in another world. Looking at this world, so different from the apocalypse, and the person he was willing to succumb to before him, Tang Ren said he was very satisfied with his current life. Junqing rescued a man out of kindness, intending to let him recover and leave immediately. However, he didn't expect that this man, who seemed as cold as ice, was actually as thick-skinned as a city wall and refused to leave once he got attached to him. Helpless, Junqing had no choice but to keep him as a guard. But after he unknowingly exposed all his secrets to the man, he suddenly realized that he had become inseparable from him.

30. 30 全 My Clan Raised Me to Greatness, So I Gifted Them Purple Robes 全族扶我青云志，我赠族人朱紫袍 Uncle Jianghe江河大爷Historical2.2M WordsOngoing After dying suddenly from overwork, workaholic Chen Yan is reborn as the only son of a newly born provincial graduate in the Great Liang Dynasty. His father is successful, so Chen Yan promptly decides to lie flat and enjoy the good life, with food brought to him and clothes laid out for him. But when he learns at the age of six that he was switched at birth with a farmer's child, his life takes a turn. The day the fake young master returns to the Chen family, he goes out to work in the fields an 214.1kReads9.3Score21.3kShelves

    Reader note

    All are high-scoring, top-tier novels, without any system elements, and the plots are logical and engaging. I'm currently following the first one, and I highly recommend it! I couldn't resist reading it in one go; it combines the imperial examinations with court intrigue and wit, and the plot is intricately woven together. The second book is 1v1, the third has no romantic pairing, and the fourth is also 1v1.

31. 31 农 The Imperial Tutor's Road to the Civil Service Exams 农门帝师的科举之路 Ju He雎禾Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Imperial Examination, One-on-One Romance After an accident, a young man from the modern era transmigrated into the Great Qian Dynasty. Looking at his family’s dilapidated brick house, Qi Wenyu wondered how he would make a living from then on... 21.3kReads9.2Score2kShelves
32. 32 手 With the Notable Ministers System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man in Ancient Times 手拿名臣系统，我在古代女扮男装 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Xu Yue transmigrates into a book. She becomes the delicate, vulnerable cousin of the male lead in an examination-themed novel: her mother died young, she has no brothers and no one to rely on, and her family won't take her in, so she is awkwardly forced to live in the male lead's home. In her previous life, Xu Yue rose from being an orphan to earning a doctorate. She never believed in fate, and even though it was hard for women to get by in ancient times, she never stopped thinking about how to 118.2kReads9.6Score11.4kShelves
33. 33 此 This Road Leads Straight to the Azure Clouds 此去直上青云路 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical603k WordsCompleted Li Yu, courtesy name Zixuan, originally named Shen Dakui, was from Shunqing Prefecture, Sichuan, and his ancestral home was Huangzhou Prefecture, Huguang. He ranked twenty-sixth in the second-tier examination in the second year of Xing'an. A politician, financier, firearms expert, hydraulic engineer, military strategist, educator, and more in the early years of the Dayong dynasty... Li Yu lost his father at an early age and followed his mother when she remarried Li Gang, the patrol inspector of 25.7kReads8.6Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The plot is fast-paced, the characters are well-developed, and the logic is strong; it doesn't insult the audience's intelligence.

34. 34 我 Farming, Taking the Imperial Exams, and Becoming a King in Ancient Times 我在古代种田考科举称王称霸 Seventeen Young Master拾柒公子Two Male Leads969k WordsCompleted [Two Male Leads + Imperial Exams and Farming + Feel-Good Sweet Romance + Portable Dimension + Powerful, Devoted Couple + Little Kids Appear] [A Stunningly Handsome, Straightforward Gong Who Can Take on Ten Men with One Punch × A Beautiful, Thoughtful, Strong-Willed and Levelheaded Shou] The apocalypse arrives, and zombies and humans wage a massive war. In the end, both sides are wiped out. Xia Kuye is lucky enough to survive the battle, becoming the last person on earth. Exhausted and devastated 4.1kReads9.0Score529Shelves

    Reader note

    [Dual Male Leads + Imperial Examination Farming + Sweet and Satisfying Romance + Portable Space + Both Male Leads are Clean and Strong + Baby Appearance] [A stunningly handsome but straightforward top who can take on ten opponents with one punch + A beautiful, considerate, and highly opinionated bottom] The apocalypse has arrived, and a large-scale war has broken out between zombies and humans. In the end, both sides perish. Xia Kuye survives the war and becomes the last person on earth. Exhausted and deeply traumatized, Xia Kuye falls into a deep sleep. Unexpectedly, when he opens his eyes, Xia Kuye finds himself awake in a rural area of ​​a remote county in the Great Xia Dynasty. He wakes up with a wife and child?! The key point is, his wife is a man?! His wife is beautiful and considerate, and his son is cute and obedient. Xia Kuye asks, "Who else is there?!" Both male leads are clean, there are many personal interpretations, but it's definitely sweet. There is an adoption plot; those who dislike this should proceed with caution.

35. 35 大 The Great Qi Marquis of One Step 大齐一步侯 A Single Thought of Nothingness一念无Historical846k WordsCompleted [Alternate history, airtight logic, a treat to listen to, multiple heroines, lighthearted daily life, the jianghu and court politics, love and hate, national and family vendettas...] A modern-day criminal investigator transmigrates into the body of a minor official in the State of Qi. At first, his only dream is to stay alive. But when foreign barbarians invade the Central Plains, slaughtering and pillaging until the kingdom falls and families are torn apart, he has no choice but to enter the fr 16.3kReads8.2Score984Shelves

    Reader note

    A historical fiction novel of exceptionally high quality, perfect for both listening and reading. Clear logic, well-developed characters, rich plot, and tight writing. Not a formulaic, fast-paced read. Please enjoy! [Thumbs up]

36. 36 我 What Should I Do? My Husband Is a Vicious Cannon Fodder 我夫郎是恶毒炮灰怎么办 Jue Xin珏莘Two Male Leads1.0M WordsCompleted Lu Jingming never expected to survive a plane crash. Then, to top it off, he got himself a beautiful husband. But things soon started taking a strange turn. Could it be that my husband is the evil cannon fodder character???!!! A word of warning: This is a top-focused story, told mostly from Lu Jingming’s perspective. There won’t be any major setbacks. The author just wants to write a sweet little story and isn’t going to overthink it. 1.6kReads8.6Score143Shelves

    Reader note

    These are two books I particularly love. They don't have a systematic approach; they rely purely on skill!

37. 37 穿 Transmigrated to a Life of Spoiling My Pretty Husband 穿越娇宠俏夫郎 A Lovely Girl in the South南初有妤Two Male Leads800k WordsOngoing Transmigration + imperial examinations + dual male leads + top lead The poor scholar Shen Shiyan carried his family’s hopes on his shoulders, rising from top of the county exams all the way to the top of the imperial examinations, then becoming Grand Secretary. The first time he met the Gu family’s young master, Gu Qingqiu, the man was imprinted on his heart. People mocked the Grand Secretary for marrying a merchant’s son to get his hands on a fortune, but he turned the memorials accusing his 750Reads8.8Score104Shelves
38. 38 寒 The Imperial Exam Routine of a Poor Butcher's Son 寒门屠户之子的科举日常 Diki DaddyDiki粑粑Historical3.3M WordsOngoing The Wang butcher family is full of burly men, all tall, broad, and muscular, like a whole den of reincarnated black bears! But their youngest son, Wang Sanniu, is the odd one out: frail, delicate, and liable to fall over in a breeze. Standing beside his family, he looks like a little fox that wandered into a bear’s den. Butchering pigs? The moment pig’s blood splashes over him, he faints! Farming? The hoe is taller than he is! With the family fearing he’ll become a good-for-nothing, his mother m 188.1kReads9.0Score24.1kShelves

    Reader note

    💥💥💥The Wang family, butchers' household, is full of strong, burly men, each one tall and robust, like a litter of reincarnated black bear spirits! But the youngest son, Wang San Niu, is an anomaly—skinny, delicate, and so fragile he looks like a fox that's wandered into a bear's den. Slaughtering pigs? The moment the pig's blood is poured over his head, he faints! Farming? The hoe is taller than him! Seeing him becoming practically a "useless person" at home, his mother tearfully decides: "Son, the only way for you to make a living is through the imperial examinations!" Wang San Niu: This is too hard! Transmigrated into a sickly man, surrounded by a family of superhumanly strong men! Can't slaughter pigs, can't farm? Fine, he'll have to reluctantly take the imperial examinations. Who would have thought he'd pass through each stage—from child student to scholar, then to provincial graduate, and finally to the highest degree… a path he takes with flying colors! From a seventh-rank county magistrate to Minister of Rites, he carved his way to the top with his pen! In the imperial palace, the newly appointed Minister Wang, stroking his ancestral butcher's knife at his waist, smiled slightly: "Fellow colleagues, the son of a humble butcher is here—if you wish to engage in literary debate, I will gladly oblige; if you wish to fight… this knife has drunk the blood of a thousand pigs, and I wouldn't mind slaying a few more noisy individuals." The entire court, clad in their official robes, was drenched in sweat!

39. 39 被 Cast Out of the Marquis's Residence, I Rise from Poverty to Become the Top Scholar 被逐出侯府，我寒门崛起成状元 Yu Youxia鱼又夏Historical1.0M WordsCompleted The score was just posted, so it’ll gradually go up as the story progresses. [Imperial exams and farming] + [Fictional ancient setting] Jiang Huai unexpectedly transmigrated into a book and became the second young master of the Marquis of Yongning’s household. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the Marquis’s biological son, so Jiang Huai was sent along with the original owner to live in the impoverished countryside. His new home had nothing but bare walls. They were dirt poor. No matter. He wrote popular 2.3kReads7.8Score167Shelves
40. 40 被 The Fake Heir Was Cast Out of the Marquis's Estate, Then Rose to Power Through the Imperial Exams 被赶出侯府假世子靠科举逆袭权臣 Fuyu Ya浮玉呀Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Chen Yan worked himself to the bone as an office drone. After finally paying off his mortgage and car loan, he had 400,000 yuan in savings and was ready to lie flat in a small county town. Little did he know that disaster can strike at any moment. He transmigrated! The good news: he was still a man in this life, so he wouldn't have to experience period pain. He was born into a wealthy marquis's household, surrounded by fine clothes, delicious food, and his family's boundless affection. The bad n 53.8kReads8.6Score2.2kShelves
41. 41 穿 Rules for Transmigrators: I Become an Online Keyboard Warrior in Great Ming 穿越者守则：我在大明当键盘侠 Liu the Son of a Thousand Cutthroats刘杀千刀的Historical2.4M WordsCompleted (Alternate history + no System + no golden finger + imperial examinations and political intrigue + one female lead) Chen Ke, a transmigrator, enters the Jiajing era. From a boy who tended cattle to top scorer in the imperial examinations, from Hanlin compiler to Earl of Jinghai, he cuts a path through one challenge after another, navigating the treacherous court with care at every step. With a brush in his left hand and a sword in his right, he uses modern knowledge to maneuver among the uprigh 4.6kReads8.7Score299Shelves
42. 42 阿 Sister, I Passed the Imperial Examination! 阿姐，我中举了！ The Mantis Loves to Dance螳螂爱跳舞Historical647k WordsCompleted Scholar Chen studied hard all his life but never passed the provincial examination. Before he died, he told his eldest daughter, “You must make sure your younger brother studies and earns an official title. Otherwise, I won’t be able to rest in peace!” An elder brother is like a father, and an elder sister is like a mother. Bearing her father’s final wish, Chen Zhaodi resolutely laid down her terms: “If you want to marry me, you must send my little brother to school.” While everyone else in the 4.7kReads8.6Score350Shelves
43. 43 娘 My Wife Is Already the Richest, So Why Take the Top Scholar Exam? 娘子都首富了，还要考状元？ My Fans Are So Handsome我的粉丝超帅的Historical2.5M WordsOngoing [Whose husband is this? Whoever grabs him gets to keep him!] Xu Ye accidentally transmigrates while rescuing someone from drowning. When he reaches shore, he realizes he's holding the daughter of the richest man in the realm. He thinks he's landed himself a wealthy wife and can lie flat, living off her money, but then he sees his fiancée being schemed against... “Copy books to pay off your debts? Why not copy Battle Through the Heavens!” “The teahouse is empty? Let's get on the BBS!” The imp 62.2kReads8.2Score6.9kShelves
44. 44 名 Three Hundred Famous Poems Shake the Nations, but I Just Want to Get Rich! 名诗三百震诸国，我只想当富商！ Leaning on the Tower, Gazing at the Bright Moon倚楼望明月Historical1.6M WordsCompleted After transmigrating, Jiang Han finds himself in Great Yu. He is completely bewildered, but the original owner’s life story leaves him even more so: First he studied literature, but failed the exams for three years. Then he took up martial arts, shot an arrow at the training ground, hit the drum attendant, and was thrown out. So he studied medicine and eventually mastered it. He wrote a good prescription, took it, and died. Being transmigrated into the body of a hapless fellow would be bad eno 18.4kReads8.7Score1.8kShelves
45. 45 科 The Imperial Exams! After Ten Years of Study, I Pass and Take Down the Nobility 科举！寒窗十年，上岸就斩勋贵 Zhuoran卓燃Historical1.7M WordsOngoing “The autumn wind howls in August, sweeping three layers of thatch from my roof!” The moment Mei Cheng'an opened his eyes, he found himself facing a catastrophe. Framed and cast out of the marquis's household by his own father, he was now being hunted, with his life hanging by a thread. He chose to fake his death and flee south to seek refuge with family friends. On the way, however, he ran into an imperial inspector investigating a case. From the inspector, he learned that his family friends had 9.3kReads8.1Score475Shelves

    Reader note

    Unlike other imperial examination novels, this one doesn't have a system or a lot of mundane family drama; 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 tops the Millennium Dragon and Tiger List, achieving the highest rank of six. Right there in court, he avenges his mother's death—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)

46. 46 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
47. 47 我 I Turn My Life Around Through the Imperial Exams 我靠科举逆袭人生 Corn Breakdance玉米扒舞Historical808k WordsCompleted When Li Jingxing wakes up, he finds himself in an unfamiliar place. Around him are crude huts and shabby furniture, and the air carries a faint smell of straw. Looking down, he sees that he is wearing ragged clothes and a pair of straw sandals. All of it leaves him utterly confused. “How did I end up here?” Li Jingxing wonders. Just then, a burst of noise breaks through his thoughts. 3kReads8.8Score230Shelves

    Reader note

    Both of these books are incredibly good. Even as a girl, I thoroughly enjoyed them. The male protagonists both transmigrate into ancient farming families and gradually bring glory to their families through the imperial examinations. Give them a try, they're really good.

48. 48 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 33.9kReads8.3Score3.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is very good.

49. 49 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

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! A must-read for any imperial examination novel! Superb writing, excellent prose, intelligent and not brainless protagonist, no cheat codes or systems.

50. 50 寒 The Poor Scholar's Rise 寒门贵子 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical2.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the body of a penniless scholar, Jiang Feng thought about how his computer science degree from his previous life was utterly useless here… Then it occurred to him: “Of all pursuits, studying is the noblest. I’ll just have to grit my teeth and take the imperial exams!” He kept going, and when he suddenly looked back, he had risen to the highest offices, expanded the empire’s borders, and built an unprecedented legacy! P.S. The new book, A Poor Scholar of the First Rank, 34.2kReads9.1Score3.4kShelves

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