Ancient Political Intrigue and the Imperial Examinations, Please Recommend a Few! 古代权谋，和科举的，来几本看看！

1. 1 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

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   It's absolutely amazing!! The main character is incredibly intelligent, the story unfolds along two parallel storylines: imperial examinations and political intrigue, and the author's writing is superb!!

2. 2 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

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   Take a look at this newly released novel. The synopsis describes Xia Ren, a double PhD in history and literature, whose soul is transported to the historically unrecorded Great Jing Dynasty after a sudden car accident. He is reborn as a seven-year-old child on the verge of death in a peasant family. Despite his impoverished circumstances, his knowledge and experience accumulated over two lifetimes remain undiminished. His memories of his previous life's deep study of classical texts are vivid; he possesses a profound understanding of history, philosophy, literature, institutions, and the principles of governance, chaos, rise, and fall. From a child studying by lamplight to a promising scholar, he overcomes numerous obstacles on the path of the imperial examinations with his vision and talent far beyond his time. He triumphs in the provincial examinations, gains fame in the metropolitan examinations, and astounds the emperor in the palace examinations. Entering the court as a commoner, he finds the bureaucracy treacherous and rife with factional strife. Beset by treacherous officials and threatened by border troubles, he must contend with both open and covert attacks while simultaneously fulfilling his aspirations to govern and benefit the people. He promoted agriculture and sericulture, benefited industry and commerce, rectified officialdom, and brought peace to the four borders... Step by step, he rose from a poor scholar to the position of prime minister, writing a legend of "shrimp" and leaving a strong mark on the history books of the Great Jing Dynasty for this unexpected soul.

3. 3 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

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   🥭This is a very good historical fantasy novel about time travel and the imperial examinations. The protagonist is killed by a falling object and transmigrates into the body of Qi Wenyu. His father is a scholar who injured his hand during a dynastic change and can no longer take the exams. He always hoped his son could become an official to protect his family. The protagonist's mother is a hunter who catches game. He also has a younger sister. The protagonist comes to study for the imperial examinations. On his journey, he saves a child, and the child's uncle becomes the protagonist's teacher. The protagonist becomes the top scholar at the age of 16. The imperial examinations don't take up much space, and he naturally becomes the top scholar. He also has three classmates. Then he is sent to the north to fight and make achievements. He grows cotton and brings benefits to the people of the north. He is promoted and returns to the capital to develop firearms and glass ammunition in the Ministry of Works. He becomes a Grand Secretary and a First-Rank Tutor. At the age of 60, he retires and travels with his wife. In the end, the Qi family prospers. The extra chapter takes place in the modern era.

4. 4 守 On the Day of the Wake, My Sisters-in-Law Put Me on the Throne 守灵当天，我被众嫂嫂推上皇位 Kitchen God of the Wood Stove柴火灶王爷Historical724k WordsOngoing [Alternate Dynasty + Transmigration + War + Political Intrigue + Ensemble Cast + The Golden Finger Has Been Cut in Half] A high school boy named Tian Shu wakes up one morning in an ancient funeral hall. His widowed sisters-in-law swarm around him, showering him with care. In a feudal age of chaos, the powerful clans hold sway. The System is practically useless, and each sister-in-law has her own agenda. Born into a poor family, can he defy fate, change his destiny, command a vast empire, and mak 4.6kReads8.8Score183Shelves
5. 5 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

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   It's great, highly recommended!

6. 6 歹 Even Bad Bamboo Can Grow Good Shoots, An Ge Got into High School! 歹竹出好笋，安哥高中了！ Forgetting Alt忘却阿尔特Historical568k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations + family life + bringing glory to the family + single heroine, appearing later] In the modern world, Li Xing'an was just a struggling comic artist who had never achieved much. He worked himself to death from exhaustion. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself reborn as a poor boy in a remote backwater. The ramshackle mud-brick house leaked whenever it rained. His unreliable father was a useless layabout, and his mother was so furious she stood with her hands on her 2.1kReads7.3Score133Shelves
7. 7 科 The Imperial Exam Path to Success 科举助吾上青云 Glory Returned荣归Historical1.0M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a family of farmers who also valued education, Bai Zimu had grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts to support, as well as seven older sisters whose dowries had to be prepared. To escape the fighting on the border, the entire family moved back to their hometown. Along the way, they lost two of his sisters, and he himself nearly died. He wasn't strong enough to carry heavy loads or even lift much. In this underdeveloped world, Bai Zimu thought it over and realized that 3kReads9.0Score229Shelves

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   Here, I'll get you seven books at once, see if you like them. 1. I transmigrated and became the apple of my family's eye, the only son, with seven older sisters and grandparents who doted on me like my own little darling. Looking at this large family, and being powerless to help, I had no choice but to study hard and pass the imperial examinations to save money for my sisters' dowries. 2. I died at 23 in my previous life and transmigrated into the Huang family, becoming Huang Wenzhi, the son of my mother. As the saying goes, "Birds must flap their wings before they can fly high, and people must study before they can advance." The Huang family was harmonious, and seeing Huang Wenzhi's talent in school, they didn't want such a gifted child to be wasted. The whole family scrimped and saved to support his education. 3. A female college student transmigrated into this fictional dynasty. During this time, she constantly worked to get along with him. At first, she wanted to take care of her family, but later she wanted to make people human. She would rather eat coarse food herself than let everyone in the world go hungry or cold. 4. A top student in the computer science department in his previous life, he transmigrated to a place where he was penniless and had nothing. Well, he did have something, though: his wife and children. His wife had a little daughter, and looking at that timid little girl who was reluctant to get close to him, he didn't want her to suffer.

8. 8 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
9. 9 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

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   I highly recommend reading the first three books on the imperial examination system.

10. 10 寒 A Poor Scholar's Step-by-Step Rise Through the Imperial Exams 寒门科举之步步青云 Za Ya砸吖Historical354k WordsOngoing This is not only a story about power and status, but also one about “staying true to your original aspirations” and “making choices.” Watch the protagonist use wisdom beyond his time and a pragmatic spirit to forge a unique path between upholding what is right and fulfilling his ambitions. 4Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 11 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

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    This book is very interesting. There is no romantic pairing. The male protagonist is working hard to pass the imperial examinations at the beginning. After entering the palace, he discovers that the Emperor Emeritus is his biological father. It's very interesting. The writing is good and the quality is high. It's already completed!

12. 12 穿 I Transmigrated to Ancient Times, but My Brother Seems Even More Like a Transmigrator Than I Do 穿越古代我哥比我还像穿越者 Pavilion by the Pond池上楼台Historical1.4M WordsCompleted Alternate World / Ancient Era / Farming / Imperial Exams After a plane crash, Chen Jingming transmigrates to ancient times and becomes a farmer's son. His family is split up because they need to pay for his medical treatment, and his older brother goes missing. Later, the eldest brother returns from a long journey and sends him to school. Eldest Brother: “Little brother, our family's honor rests entirely on you!” But later, as he watches the family estate grow, Chen Jingming realizes that the 15.2kReads9.0Score1.9kShelves

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    Making a fortune through the imperial examination is incredibly satisfying.

13. 13 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

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    Reborn as an abandoned child? When the top scholar led ten thousand cavalry to kick down the gates of the Marquis's mansion, the entire capital knelt in awe! The Marquis's heir was thrown into an icy river by his stepmother the moment he was born? Adopted by a poor family, he awakened a skill proficiency system! Signing in daily to obtain divine skills, studying diligently for three years to stand out from the crowd, the top scholar paraded through the streets, pointing directly at the Marquis's mansion: "What you owe me, I will repay a hundredfold today!" Ten thousand cavalry lined up before the gates, the stepmother was filled with remorse, and the biological father knelt and begged for mercy. He coldly laughed and threw down the imperial edict: "From abandoned child to top scholar, this immense wealth and honor, you are not worthy to touch!"

14. 14 开 From the Start, I Snatched the Embroidered Ball: Will Becoming a Live-in Son-in-Law Stop Her From Taking Power? 开局抢绣球，入赘影响她当权臣吗 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance749k WordsCompleted [Female-Supremacist World + Court Intrigue + Women Stronger Than Men + One-on-One Romance + Sweet Doting] [Refined Scoundrel, Scholarly Imperial Tutor × Lively, Proud Heiress to a Wealthy Merchant House] Before Lou Yushen became a live-in son-in-law, the standard for a good one was simple: don't covet the family's wealth, and don't take anyone's life. Lou Yushen thought, The people who came before me sure made the path easy! One day, while coaxing someone, she said, “Since the world is so lenien 16.8kReads9.4Score2.1kShelves

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    The female ruler schemes, plotting step by step, and seizes power.

15. 15 灯 When the Lanterns Fade, the Calamity Ends 灯明劫尽 Rui Xuan睿暄Ancient Romance859k WordsOngoing [Two strong leads, brilliant strategists, devoted only to each other, revenge, dual identities, dual personalities, an alternate world not based on any historical dynasty, plenty of witty flirting] She is the eldest princess, rumored to be cherished by all, yet she witnessed her mother spend her life being manipulated by the man she loved. Gentle and composed on the surface, she excels at reading people and understands human nature. To stir up the court, she will stop at nothing. She will destro 1.9kReads9.3Score270Shelves

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    Ancient Chinese political intrigue, two powerful figures

16. 16 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! 💕💕👍👍

17. 17 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
18. 18 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
19. 19 双 Bound Together Across Two Lifetimes, We’ll Grow Old Together 双世缱绻，与君共白头 Dreamer Dadao爱做梦的大道Ancient Romance727k WordsCompleted [Two powerful leads who rise to greatness | Complete souls | Extreme contrast | Love across two lifetimes | Sweet romance and court intrigue] A modern married couple are reborn as babies in the Tianqi Dynasty. He becomes an iron-fisted Crown Prince, commands the Xuanhuo Army, and plots to industrialize the realm. She becomes a queen of commerce, controls trade routes along three borders, and holds the lifeblood of the people in her hands! Toward their enemies, he presides over the execution of t 5.5kReads8.1Score646Shelves

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    This story features a childhood sweetheart couple who were deeply in love for 55 years in their past lives, both protagonists are reborn, and the male lead is a UI designer. The plot is meticulously crafted (implementing new policies and navigating court intrigue), while the emotional arc is delicate (daily interactions and tender moments). Modern skills are applied in practical situations (double-entry bookkeeping and design applications). This well-balanced story combines elements of sweet romance, political intrigue, strong-willed co-governance, a strong bond from a past life, a deeply affectionate time-travel relationship, and a profound connection between romance and court politics.

20. 20 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
21. 21 我 I, Sun Shan, and the Imperial Examinations 我，孙山，科举 Ximen Qizi西门七仔Ancient Romance4.7M WordsOngoing “Imperial exams + transmigration + farming + exams + no space System” “Romance included, devoted male lead. The female lead is his childhood sweetheart, but she appears infrequently. Romance is not the main plot.” “The male lead rises step by step through hard work and good luck.” “The male lead is no good at scheming, but he gets things done and has technical skills.” “The imperial examination system is based on the Ming and Qing dynasties.” After an accident, he is transmigrated into the womb 47.9kReads8.8Score3.2kShelves
22. 22 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
23. 23 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
24. 24 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

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    🌵🌵Imperial Examination + Daily Life + Relaxed Life + Imperial Court: Shen Zhou, who has a congenital illness, transmigrates into the body of a peasant boy. Good news: Healthy body, all limbs intact. Bad news: Burdened with debt, failed the exam three times. Shen Zhou: A bad start. His teacher tells him to go home and think things through before returning to school. Shen Zhou understands. He returns to school, but becomes his classmates' nightmare. "Family members, who understands? This guy's efforts are sporadic." The most infuriating thing is, he actually passed the exam! His classmates weep. Shen Zhou helplessly shrugs: "I don't care about passing the imperial examination; I'm not a scoundrel."

25. 25 快 Quick, Let Duke Zhou Eat Some Meat 快让周公吃肉 Back to Yunnan归云南Historical1.3M WordsOngoing I transmigrated one day and became the famous Duke of Zhou, Ji Dan. Everyone praises me, saying, “The Duke of Zhou spits out his food to welcome worthy men, and all under Heaven turn to him.” But who knew I wasn’t practicing humility, I really just can’t stomach meat! The shadows of the blood sacrifices at Zhaoge haunt me. Just one bite of meat and I’m back in that slaughterhouse in my dreams. Within, scheming ministers watch like tigers; without, the rebellion of the Three Guards bears down. Th 68Reads—Score—Shelves

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    How about trying this? It's finished.

26. 26 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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    Warm and fun

27. 27 选 You Chose Me as Censor, Li Shimin, So Why Are You Crying? 选我当御史，李世民你哭什么 Zhang Invincible张无敌Historical4.1M WordsOngoing [Hilarious, satisfying, lighthearted, historical, ancient China] Cheng Jun transmigrated to the third year of the Zhenguan era in the Tang Dynasty, becoming the son of the military officer Cheng Yaojin. As it happened, Li Shimin was recruiting imperial censors! Years later, Li Shimin said to the Crown Prince, “Cheng Jun is a peerless sword of our Great Tang. Only a virtuous person can wield him. You're young, so I'll leave him to you.” The Crown Prince burst into tears. “I don't want it anymore! 45.3kReads9.0Score3.1kShelves
28. 28 书 Master Calligrapher? Poet Immortal? Chief Minister? That's Right, I'm All of Them 书圣？诗仙？首辅？没错，都是我 Sunlight on the River日照前川Historical834k WordsOngoing In his previous life, Cui Xian was a PhD in Chinese Language and Literature at a top-tier university. In this life, he transmigrated to ancient times, into a poor family with no connections: A destitute home, a pregnant mother, young siblings, an uncle who had failed the exams six times and was hopeless at studying, a grandmother so obsessed with imagining her son placing high in the imperial examinations that she had become delusional, and Cui Xian, who was only eight years old. Cui Xian: This 28.3kReads9.4Score2.7kShelves

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    The imperial examination, a child prodigy, and the continuation of the dynasty's life. It's still ongoing despite not yet reaching a million views. The imperial examination is currently underway; the political intrigue hasn't been covered yet, but it's incredibly captivating. Give it a try! Cui Xian transmigrates and becomes part of the once-prosperous Cui family. His grandmother constantly pressures him to pass the imperial examination, shrouding the family in gloom. Wanting to do something for his warm family, Cui Xian cleverly uses a non-material "Mohou Luo" (a type of magic potion) to befriend his elder brother, earning a small fortune for the family. He also successfully enters his brother's family school, cultivating a prodigy persona that attracts the attention of the teacher. Some, filled with resentment and jealousy, covet the Cui family's land. Cui Xian, along with his grandmother and friends, cleverly sets a trap, leading to the destruction of the perpetrators. Cui Xian also makes an impression on the emperor. His prodigy reputation attracts his future master. After becoming his apprentice, Cui Xian dedicates himself to his studies. Having achieved some success, he invites the entire world to a debate. Cui Xian's ambition is far-reaching; he not only wants to win the debate but also to change the landscape of literature. He embarks on a path destined to be difficult. Cui Xian opened the debate, and countless pedantic scholars could not find a counter-argument. The headmaster of Yuelu Academy asked Cui Xian to take over the academy. Cui Xian held the Qiuzhen Jade, a symbol of his status as headmaster, and was filled with great ambition, determined to change the status quo of the imperial examination.

29. 29 乱 After Fleeing the Chaotic Era, I Became the Founding Empress 乱世逃亡后，我成了开国女帝 Nan Wanxu南婉徐Ancient Romance4.1M WordsCompleted [Publication rights signed] [Strong heroine + political intrigue + turbulent times + power struggles + ensemble cast] She’s fleeing from the start, a female warlord in a chaotic age. Lin Zhihuang, originally named Lin Zhihuan, transmigrates as a county magistrate’s daughter, only to find tens of thousands of refugees attacking the city from the start! While others transmigrate into palace or household intrigue, she transmigrates straight into a chaotic age and a desperate flight from famine. The 95.8kReads9.4Score13.2kShelves
30. 30 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

    Reader note

    ①② These two are male-oriented novels, but the male protagonists are devoted to their lovers and are not promiscuous. In the early stages, they focus on farming and preparing for the imperial examinations, while later they work in the imperial court. The emperor and his officials dote on them; the emperor enjoys the monthly surprises from his ministers, and the officials love working with him because promotion is only possible through their collaboration. ③ This is a female-oriented novel. The female protagonist disguises herself as a man and is forced to take the imperial examinations for her family's sake. She uses her solid knowledge to enter the court and helps the common people, earning a renowned reputation in ancient times. This is a novel with profound themes of family, country, and righteousness, making it captivating.

31. 31 伏 Ambush 伏杀 Mo Bai1莫白1Historical1.4M WordsCompleted [Original title: Ambush] Beneath the awe-inspiring might of Heaven, all living beings are mere ants. And yet he dares, with the strength of an insect, to turn the world upside down. For family, for friends, for the burning hatred in his heart, for the nightmares that haunt him year after year, for justice, and for fairness. This story is set in an imaginary world and has no connection to actual history. Everything in it is fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 14.8kReads8.3Score931Shelves

    Reader note

    I stayed up all night to catch up! The protagonist's forbearance and scheming are amazing, and the rhetoric and political maneuvering in the court is even more exciting than the clash of swords!

32. 32 科 The Imperial Exams: From Three-Year-Old Farm Boy to Imperial Tutor 科举：从三岁农家子到一代帝师 Flower Shadows Beneath the Lamp灯下花影Rural Life502k WordsOngoing Shen Hengzhi, a modern graduate student in history, died suddenly and was reborn as Shen Shitou, a farmer’s son. In this Great Qi, social rank was rigid, and it was difficult for those from humble backgrounds to rise above their station. The Shen family had barely enough to get by, surviving on three mu of poor farmland. They could not even afford paper and ink for practicing calligraphy. When he was three, Shen Shitou used a dry branch to write in the dirt beneath the old locust tree. He caught 62Reads—Score148Shelves

    Reader note

    There's no excessive copying of poems to show off; the protagonist values ​​practical knowledge, focusing on policy, agriculture, and people's livelihood, with an emphasis on applying knowledge to practical use.

33. 33 摄 Prince Regent, the Top Scholar Has Impeached You Again 摄政王，状元郎又弹劾你了 A Little A-Fei一只阿肥Two Male Leads283k WordsOngoing [Ancient setting + two male leads + two powerful leads + court intrigue + a touch of the martial world] Cool, frail beauty × arrogant, ruthless powerhouse In the dying years of the Great Qian dynasty, warlords carved up the land into five kingdoms. In the Central Plains dynasty, the sixth year of Shengzhao’s reign, the emperor was absurd and treacherous ministers held sway. Yan Ci rose to fame at a young age, placing first in the palace examination after taking top honors in all three rounds, on 34Reads—Score331Shelves

    Reader note

    A story of political intrigue and strategic mastery, without time travel, transmigration, or rebirth. The protagonist begins by embroiled in a scandal involving cheating on the imperial examinations, and a princess is nearly forced into a political marriage, lamenting that sending a concubine would secure the stability of the nation, leaving her wondering where a general could be found. The male lead proposes that a prince could also be sent for a political marriage, and the regent quickly follows suit, using his power and influence with officials to pressure the emperor into marrying a prince from another country.

34. 34 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 amazing!!! Imperial examination system!

35. 35 开 From the Start, I Cut Down My Kin, Top the Imperial Exams, and Slay My Way Through the Court 开局先灭亲，科举中状元杀穿朝堂 Yun Huang云凰Historical578k WordsOngoing [Historical fantasy + imperial examinations + transmigration + rebirth + court politics + power struggles] Zhao Jingyu, a screenwriter with a modest reputation in the entertainment industry, watched a video about ancient male entertainers and had the misfortune of transmigrating into the body of one. He has no intention of becoming a helpless victim for others to bully. Anyone who picks on him gets wiped out! His shameless grandfather covets his body? Wiped out! His corrupt second uncle aids and 343Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You absolutely must read this [Admiration] time-travel imperial examination novel! It's all about getting rich and intrigue – you can't miss a thing! [Laughs]

36. 36 第 The Number One Son-in-Law: I Really Don't Want to Rebel! 第一赘婿，我真不想造反啊！ Tangyuan2023丸子2023Historical4.5M WordsCompleted Historical fiction, a touch of ensemble cast, not mindless wish fulfillment, everyday interactions with the heroines, and family life. Also known as: My Wife Is a Grandmaster. Who Wouldn't Lie Flat? No one helps me reach for the clouds, so I tread through snow to the mountaintop alone. If fortune was never meant for me, I'll climb Kunlun by myself! The strategist risks everything by entering the game, all to bring Dongling back into the light! One vow: “I hunger to feast on the flesh of the nort 18.7kReads7.8Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    🔥🔥If you like high-IQ stories with political intrigue, you might want to check this out! 1️⃣🌠😄The protagonist starts out weak and easily bullied, but as he grows stronger, 🧸the story becomes increasingly profound. 🦄The harem isn't just filled with pretty faces; there are characters with both literary and martial skills, and strategic acumen. 👍

37. 37 一 I Woke Up to Find Myself a Son-in-Law 一觉醒来变赘婿 Tangyuan2023丸子2023Historical2.1M WordsCompleted Lan Yuheng dies suddenly from overwork at school and is ultimately dragged back to the underworld by Ox-Head and Horse-Face. The Judge discovers that he's a virgin for the ninth lifetime and takes pity on him, sending him to an ancient parallel world. Here, those so-called poets don't exist, and the Tang dynasty is not the prosperous era it once was. In the end, his fate is changed, granting him endless romantic encounters. But because something goes wrong with Granny Meng's soup, his soul trans 8kReads8.2Score698Shelves
38. 38 红 Secret Records Behind the Red Walls: A Complete History of China's Unofficial Past, Unabridged 红墙秘录：中国野史大全（无删节完整版） Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical2.7M WordsCompleted This complete collection is like a secret key unlocking the hidden chambers of China's imperial past, guiding readers into shadowy corners that official histories leave shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient legends of Unofficial History of the Xia and Shang to the imperial passions and court intrigues of The History of the Imperial Harem in the Song Dynasty, The History of the Imperial Harem in the Ming Dynasty, and Unofficial History of the Yuan Dynasty; from the extravagant excesses of The Ero 1.6kReads9.3Score256Shelves

    Reader note

    For historical intrigue and power struggles, look to China.

39. 39 中 Party Struggles Throughout Chinese History 中国历代党争 Wang Tongling王桐龄Historical151k WordsCompleted Chinese Factional Struggles Through the Ages is a history of power struggles between factions, between factions and imperial authority, and between individuals. Using strategy as its thread and history as its fabric, it recounts a host of tangled stories. Covering three thousand years of factional strife, from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods through the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the book details major events, rises and falls, triumphs and humiliations, and 302Reads7.7Score100Shelves
40. 40 中 Two Thousand Years of Chinese History 中华二千年史 Deng Zhicheng邓之诚Historical1.4M WordsCompleted A History of China Through Two Thousand Years was first published in 1934 as one of the University Series, then republished by Zhonghua Book Company in 1956. Written by Deng Zhicheng, it primarily recounts Chinese history from the Qin and Han periods through the Ming and Qing dynasties, while also presenting the author’s historical thought and commentary. 88Reads8.8Score—Shelves
41. 41 慈 The Tale of Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后演义 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical226k WordsCompleted This book offers a detailed account of Cixi’s life, from her birth and entry into the imperial palace to her rule from behind the curtain, her decades wielding power over the Qing dynasty, and her death. It is not only literary and highly readable, but also of some value as a reference for historical research. 12Reads9.4Score—Shelves
42. 42 明 Tales of the Sixteen Reigns of the Ming Court 明宫十六朝演义 Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical751k WordsCompleted The Romance of the Sixteen Reigns of the Ming Court delves into the imperial palace, recounting the love and enmity between emperors and their consorts, while ranging widely across history to survey the twists and turns of feudal dynasties. Understand this series, and you will understand the court; understand the court, and you will understand history; understand history, and the realities of the world will become clear to you. 72Reads9.4Score—Shelves
43. 43 历 The Complete Collection of Courtly Tales Through the Ages 历代宫廷演义全集 Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical2.0M WordsCompleted Xu Xiaotian brings the secret histories of the Ming, Qing, and Tang courts to life in the style of a novel: the bloodshed of the Nine Princes’ struggle for the throne, Wu Zetian’s political schemes, and the tragic final days of the Chongzhen Emperor... The book has the solid historical foundations of a meticulously researched account, enlivened with the colorful flesh and blood of historical fiction. More vivid than official histories, yet more rigorous than tales of the past, it is an ancient v 131Reads9.5Score—Shelves
44. 44 大 Ming Dynasty Imperial Exams: From the Start, I Became the Father of Five Children 大明科举，开局成了五个孩子的爹 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical393k WordsCompleted (Farming + daily life in ancient times + imperial examinations) A reassuring read. Shen Lin'an inexplicably finds himself reborn in ancient times in the body of a widower, with four sons and a daughter to care for, as well as a mother in her fifties. The original owner was a scholar, but he had never even earned the title of licentiate. He was too weak to shoulder a load or lift a hand, knew nothing of farming, and spent every day in drunken stupors, letting the years slip by. Let's see how Shen 2.1kReads7.0Score160Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is a must-have; it depicts the warm and everyday life of those involved in the imperial examinations.

45. 45 青 A Promise in Blue Robes 青裳一诺 The King Is Thirteen大王十三岁Ancient Romance398k WordsCompleted In their previous life, Qingshang (Heguan) and Duruo (Houpu) died together in a car accident, bound by death as they had been in life. In this life, Qingshang carries her memories of their past and journeys across mountains and rivers to reunite with him... But he no longer recognizes her, and love and resentment pull them in opposite directions... She practices medicine to save lives, solves one strange case after another, and uses her wisdom to stop a war between two nations and protect the pe 44Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A promise worth two lifetimes, a heart-wrenching romance set in a cycle of reincarnation! "A Promise of Destiny" + "Love Suicide in a Past Life" + "High-IQ Crime Solving" + "Atmospheric Chinese Style" In their past lives, they both perished, promising to stay together. Reborn into a chaotic world, she fights with everything she has to reclaim her lost love. #DestinedHeartWrenchingRomance #RebirthAncientRomance #MedicalDetective #PatrioticRomance

46. 46 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

    Reader note

    Try these. The first one is my favorite book these days.

47. 47 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
48. 48 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
49. 49 草 A Commoner Holds the Imperial Seal, So Let Me Be Rude 草民执玺，庶我无礼 Bread Fu Lu Wa面包福禄娃Historical1.1M WordsOngoing [Alternate history + political intrigue + factional strife + succession struggle + war] No System, no invincibility, no treasures, no special bloodline, no golden finger… nothing at all! From the start, all He Yan can say is “Ah!” He’s the unlucky soul who transmigrates into a book as a lowly slave on the frontier. Mired in the dirt, he’s caught in a time of chaos, with a life as cheap as an ant’s. When even a bowl of porridge and a meal of rice are no longer guaranteed, should he accept his fat 143Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A masterpiece of historical intrigue and meticulous research, this story follows a protagonist who transmigrates into a slave state and uses cunning and strategy to defy fate step by step, making it a textbook of political intrigue!

50. 50 我 I Hold Power in Eastern Wu 我在东吴当权臣 I'm the Laziest in Wu'an武安我最懒Historical220k WordsCompleted My soul transmigrated to the end of the Han dynasty, where I became a lowly soldier in the Jiangdong camp, likely to end up in a mass grave at any moment. In my previous life, I read history and laughed at “Sun of Ten Thousand,” mocked as he was chased by eight hundred of Zhang Liao’s men. I thought him incompetent. In this life, with a cold blade pressed against my neck, I finally understood: in these chaotic times, human lives are as worthless as grass. Since I’ve come here, I can’t let his 51Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient political intrigue

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