Can We Get Some Normal Imperial Examination Historical Novels? 能不能来点正常的历史科举文

1. 201 废 So What If I’m the Deposed Crown Prince? I, Yinreng, Will Ascend the Throne! 废太子又怎样？我胤礽要登基！ Huang Xiaozhao0黄小招0Historical224k WordsCompleted A struggling Hengdian movie extra had an accident while on a wire rig. When he opened his eyes, his soul had transmigrated into the body of Yinreng, Crown Prince of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. He had only just woken up, with Zheng Chunhua lying beside him, when Kangxi stormed through the palace gates in a fury. The fate of the deposed crown prince seemed about to repeat itself. Fortunately, he awakened a strange power! Kangxi wants to depose me? The First Prince wants to use witchcraft against m 1.9kReads—Score102Shelves
2. 202 我 My Grandfather Is Zhu Yuanzhang 我祖父是朱元璋 Time Thief岁月神偷Historical6.5M WordsCompleted I have the most illustrious name: Zhu Yuntong. I am the legitimate grandson of the founding emperor of Great Ming, and the legitimate son of Crown Prince Zhu Biao. My mother is the daughter of Chang Yuchun, and my maternal granduncle is Lan Yu. I am the most illustrious imperial grandson in Great Ming, and the most influential and legitimate heir to the throne. I will usher in a different Great Ming, magnificent beyond compare, its sun and moon shining bright. It will embrace all rivers and welc 236.3kReads9.4Score27.6kShelves
3. 203 风 Hong Xiuquan, the Charismatic Heavenly King 风流天王洪秀全 Yu Songhan郁松寒Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Hong Xiuquan, an impoverished scholar in the late Qing, was quite the extraordinary man. He struck out on a new path, launched the Jintian Uprising, rose from humble beginnings, captured Nanjing, founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, dominated eighteen provinces, and ruled for fourteen years over half the realm. He was insatiably greedy, consorting with courtesans and surrounding himself with beautiful women. He gathered beauties from across the land, keeping 2,300 women in his harem to serve hi 11.4kReads8.6Score869Shelves

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   This is exactly right! Hong Xiuquan rose from humble beginnings to success after failing the imperial examinations!

4. 204 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 786Reads—Score111Shelves

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   Here comes the heartwarming daily life of ancient times.

5. 205 卷 An Ordinary Life for a Workaholic in Ancient Times 卷王在古代的普通人生 Chi Chi, Keep It Up尺尺加油Historical525k WordsCompleted Chen Rui, an agriculture student in the modern era, transmigrates to the fictional Great Xia Dynasty and becomes the great-grandson of Chen Wang, a former company commander who has retired from military service to farm. With his family’s help, he enters officialdom through the imperial examinations and uses his knowledge to make sure the people under his jurisdiction have enough to eat. A heads-up: this isn’t a conventional power fantasy. It has a laid-back, slice-of-life feel, and the male lead 1.9kReads8.3Score145Shelves

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   Sun Shan consistently ranked last on the list, but he remained steady and progressive because he had Sunjia Village behind him and his fellow villagers who eagerly hoped for his meteoric rise and triumphant return home.

6. 206 农 The Noble Son of a Farming Family 农门贵子 Orchid Seed兰花子Historical1.5M WordsCompleted He never imagined that one day he would transmigrate into the body of a fifteen-year-old peasant boy who had died in an examination hall. To take control of his own fate in this dynasty, all he can do is study hard. Studying changes one's fate, and can pave the way to success… 52Reads7.4Score103Shelves
7. 207 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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   Look at this book, it's normal, without a systematic book introduction. A double PhD in history and literature, Xia Ren, after a sudden car accident, his soul transmigrates to the Great Jing Dynasty, a dynasty never before recorded in history, reborn as a seven-year-old child on the verge of death in a farming family. His family is destitute, his humble abode unable to hinder the knowledge and insight accumulated from his two lifetimes. His memories of deeply studying classical texts in his previous life are as clear as yesterday; classics, history, philosophy, literature, institutions, and the principles of governance, chaos, rise, and fall are all within his grasp. From a child studying by lamplight to a promising scholar, he overcomes obstacles on the path of the imperial examinations with his vision and talent far beyond his time. He excels in the provincial examinations, gains fame in the metropolitan examinations, and astounds the emperor in the palace examinations. He enters the court as a commoner, only to find the officialdom treacherous and the factional struggles surging beneath the surface. Beset by treacherous officials within and surrounded by border troubles without, he must contend with both open and covert attacks while fulfilling his aspirations to govern the world 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.

8. 208 六 Top Scholar in All Six Exams, but I Just Want to Slack Off 六元及第，只想摆烂 Youlong莜茏Historical167k WordsCompleted Su Yan transmigrated and became a frail farmer’s son, sickly since birth. Faced with a poor family and a body that seemed ready to collapse at the slightest breeze, he planned to pass the imperial examinations, secure an easy official post, and live comfortably on his salary. Instead, after placing first in all six rounds of the examinations, he found himself busier than ever. 24Reads—Score—Shelves

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   A top scholar who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations six times, from a sickly man to a regent...

9. 209 穿 Reborn as a Wicked Foster Mother: I Raised the Villainous Tyrant All Wrong 穿成恶毒养母：把反派暴君养歪了 Blue Sky over Mountains and Rivers山水蔚蓝天Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [No romance + teaching + adorable kids + farming + building wealth + infrastructure] A warm, slice-of-life story Zhang Ziruo transmigrates into the role of the evil adoptive mother of a tyrannical villain, destined for a tragic end. She plans to win the villain’s favor while he is still young, only to discover that he has been reborn... Taking stock of her new circumstances, she decides to open a school and become a teacher! She’ll raise the villain to be a virtuous, capable, open-minded, and po 15.2kReads9.5Score2.1kShelves
10. 210 崇 Chongzhen: My Life Has Been on Thin Ice 崇祯：我这一生如履薄冰 The Clear Breeze Chases Dust, Leaving No Common Souls Behind清风逐尘不留俗人Historical2.0M WordsOngoing (An immersive experience of Zhu Youjian's life and the true nature of the chaos at the end of the Ming dynasty! Not a power fantasy!) At the end of the thirty-eighth year of the Wanli reign, a report that Liaodong postal couriers had frozen to death was being used by a eunuch to prop up a table leg. The rice wasted at banquets by wealthy gentry in Jiangnan was worth more than three years of disaster relief in Shaanxi. Nanmu timber for the construction of the three great halls in the Forbidden Ci 668Reads6.4Score103Shelves

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    Five-star recommendation! The writing is sharp and incisive, depicting the turbulent political landscape, vividly portraying the power struggles and intrigues of the emperors, showcasing the rich historical context, and employing rigorous logic to fill in the gaps in dynastic history. It takes you on a journey through time to explore the legends of emperors, and the masterful pen creates a masterpiece! In particular, each character is fleshed out, experiencing joy and sorrow, scheming and calculating, swept along by the tides of time, no longer merely a plot device. The story is grand in scale and the scenes are incredibly vivid.

11. 211 我 I Debate the Classics with Great Scholars in the Embroidered Uniform Guard 我在锦衣卫跟大儒辩经 A Grain of Rice in the Vast Blue Sea沧海茫茫粒米身Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Yang Zhi, a top salesman and philosophy graduate student in his previous life, transmigrates to the end of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Through a twist of fate, he joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard, passes the imperial examination, enters the Hanlin Academy, and debates the classics with the great scholars at court! 5kReads8.8Score354Shelves

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    The most realistic novel about the imperial examinations and political intrigue! A historical novel revealing the downfall of the Han dynasty! My novel features vivid character descriptions, a dramatic and suspenseful plot, and a completely authentic historical background. It unfolds like a stream flowing into the sea, making it impossible to put down!

12. 212 新 The New Dynasty's Turmoil Begins with a Poor Scholar in Yuezhou 新朝风云，从岳州寒门开始 Mr. Seems to Understand似懂先生Historical1.5M WordsOngoing Lin Yue, a graduate student and a battle-hardened special forces king, dies in the line of duty and awakens in a war-torn era reminiscent of the late Yuan. He is now a poor young man on the verge of death in Yuezhou. In his previous life, he excelled in both letters and arms; in this one, he has nothing. He studies ancient characters and goes into business; he recites the classics and strengthens his body. Drawing on both his knowledge and his own abilities, he rises through the county, prefectu 36Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The Great Qian Dynasty was so harsh on the imperial examinations that it almost cut off all avenues for people from the south. Yet, relying on the classics from his previous life, he made his way from the county level to the prefectural level, becoming famous in the state for his extraordinary talent. But no one knew that behind this glory was the poverty of his humble origins, where he used every bit of knowledge to earn a living and protect his family.

13. 213 水 Water Margin: More Children, More Blessings, Winning Heroes and the Realm 水浒多子多福收好汉争霸 Stop Making Up Names for Me乱给我起名Historical225k WordsCompleted [More Children, More Blessings] [Recruiting Water Margin Heroes] [Conquest on the Battlefield] Emperor Huizong of Song: Make him a prince? And throw in a princess, too? Li Zhu: Boss, I’m a strategist. Why do you keep making me lead troops? Wen Huanzhang: Some pig just trampled my precious little cabbage? Emperor of Liao: I just took the throne, and Yanjing is already gone! Wanyan Zonghan: This kid’s ruthless! Wanyan Zongwang: He’s not playing by the rules. This is so unfair! Wanyan Wushu: Forget 1.2kReads6.2Score105Shelves

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    Officially approved historical fantasy novel → Multiple female protagonists → Cavalry battles → Capital established in Ili!! No system → No airplanes or artillery → Cold weapon combat → Strategic planning → Tactical combat → Sneaky ambushes #

14. 214 青 The Scholar's Robe Rises from the Dust 青衿起微尘 Ink Crossing Into the Azure Clouds墨渡青云Rural Life310k WordsOngoing Shen Wenyuan, a modern graduate student in history, suddenly transmigrates into the Great Zhou Dynasty and becomes the eldest son of a poor farming family. His grandparents favor his second uncle's family and mistreat and exploit his own. His father finally grits his teeth and splits from the family. A few acres of poor farmland and a dilapidated hut are all they have. Though mired in hardship, Shen Wenyuan refuses to accept his fate. Drawing on what he learned in his previous life, he studies t 35Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Each step of the imperial examination process is described in great detail.

15. 215 长 Snow in Chang'an, Spring in Luoyang 长安雪逅洛阳春 Qinwei Ink Scholar溱洧墨客Historical69k WordsOngoing As snow fell over Chang'an, concealing the bloodshed, two stars had already quietly strayed from their paths. One would shine upon a fleeting new dynasty, while the other would eventually become the dawn of Emperor Guangwu... Deep in the Shiqu Pavilion, the blood-soaked Discourses on Salt and Iron silently watched history's crossroads. —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    This book is really good; it's so captivating you can't put it down...

16. 216 大 The Ming Dynasty: A Picturesque Realm 大明之江山如画 A Little Bit Vulgar小小俗气Historical171k WordsCompleted Flying-fish robes, embroidered-spring sabers. Those who betray the country: kill! Those who embezzle and take bribes: kill! Those who disrupt the court: kill! Those who form factions for personal gain: kill! The splendor of a flourishing age is like willow fluff drifting in the wind. Currents churn beneath the court, treacherous officials lie in wait, and threats loom at the borders. Clad in a flying-fish robe and armed with an embroidered-spring saber, Xue Zhenyue serves as a Jinyiwei guard, w 7Reads—Score—Shelves
17. 217 万 The Tenth Year of Wanli: Taking Up My Post in Liaodong 万历十年：就藩辽东 A Little Bit Vulgar小小俗气Historical1.4M WordsCompleted The tenth year of the Wanli reign was a watershed moment for the Ming Empire. A host of upheavals converged that year, sending the dynasty down a path wholly different from the one laid out by history. Zhang Juzheng, the “Duke of Jiangling,” passed away. With the reformer who had upheld the “Wanli Renaissance” gone, a pillar of the empire collapsed. His unfinished reforms came to an abrupt halt, and old abuses in the bureaucracy returned. Ma Fang, a renowned general on the northern frontier, die 3kReads7.5Score194Shelves
18. 218 寒 A Proud Son of a Poor Family 寒门骄子 Swallow's Nest Eagle燕窝鹰Historical1.1M WordsCompleted “Transmigrated to ancient times? Don't panic. I was a chemistry PhD in my previous life. Surely I can invent a few things this era has never seen and make a fortune, right?” Watch as the hero puts his knowledge from his previous life to good use, amasses an astonishing fortune, earns the title of top scholar, marries a beautiful heiress, reaches the pinnacle of life, and changes the entire world... 14.9kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    🌵①My personal understanding is that "normal" means not too exciting or excessive, and not detached from the realities of life. This historical novel doesn't have any cheat codes, advanced technology, or a system. The protagonist's abilities are showcased through accumulated knowledge from later generations. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up] There's no ambitious or exaggerated starting point. [Laughing][Laughing]

19. 219 大 Great Ming: Your Son Zhu Changluo Requests That Wanli Abdicate 大明：儿臣朱常洛，请万历退位 Exhausted Sheep力尽羊Historical1.7M WordsOngoing [Not a beginner-friendly read + historical power struggles + no farming + court factional battles. The author is a seasoned political operator who used to work in government, and knows power games inside out.] After transmigrating, he discovers he has become the most pathetic Crown Prince in the Ming Dynasty. For thirty-two years, he has been everyone’s punching bag. His court robes are patched, his mother has been imprisoned until she went blind, and his father lavishes forty thousand qing of f 43.9kReads8.5Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Here are a few highly recommended, addictive historical time-travel novels without a system. The first new book: Depicting the late Ming Dynasty, a time of frequent natural disasters, an incompetent court, an empty treasury, border unrest, and widespread poverty, beset by internal and external troubles. Witness how Emperor Zhu Changluo, in a single month, navigates the treacherous palace intrigues, ultimately turning the tide and ascending to the throne. The book's highlights include logical consistency, strategic planning, and a deep analysis of human nature, highlighting the author's hidden wisdom, self-reflection, and emotional restraint. It uses understanding as a weapon to dismantle inner demons and break through others' schemes. The second and third books: Written with profound and natural fluency, the plots unfold logically and meticulously, featuring vivid and intelligent characters. They fill in the gaps in the lineage of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, showing the simple yet profound relationships of three generations of the imperial family—grandson Zhu Xiong Ying, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Yuanzhang—each bearing their own imperial mission and carefully navigating the world. The fourth book: rich in historical depth, sharp in its writing, and rigorous in its logic, it explores the impermanence of fate and the ruthlessness of self-interest, depicting how the short-lived carpenter-emperor Zhu Youxiao schemed for the overall situation and the fate of the nation. The fifth and sixth books: battling the rebel leader Li Zicheng, defending the capital, attacking the Jurchens, stabilizing the borders, eliminating the bandit leader Xian Yuan, fighting against officials and gentry, and rectifying corruption… When natural disasters, war, and the barriers of officialdom become shackles of destiny, he uses wisdom to break through these shackles, risking his life; when the laws of survival intertwine with human weaknesses, he uses strategy to break through the web, using the game as a chess piece. Only those who can outmaneuver fate by half a move are true heroes. In short, the book depicts the turbulent political landscape, the power struggles and intrigues, the journey through time, the legends of emperors, the regrets of dynasties, and the allure of history, showcasing the rise and fall of dynasties as the wheels of history roll ever onward.

20. 220 洪 The Descendants of the Hongwu Emperor 洪武朝的子孙们 Bald Li San光头李三Historical1.6M WordsOngoing After an accident, his soul travels a century into the past. On an ordinary day in the seventh year of Hongwu, he is born in the imperial palace of Yingtian Prefecture. He is the most honored child in all of the Ming dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang’s beloved grandson. Zhu Biao’s eldest legitimate son. And yet, in the history books, he is merely a passing mention: Prince Yu Huai. Looking at the still-healthy Crown Prince Zhu Biao, at Hu Weiyong and the Blue Jade case, which have yet to unleash their blood 104.5kReads8.3Score7.5kShelves
21. 221 大 Great Ming: Zhu Biao Turns Evil, and the Jingnan Campaign Is No More 大明：朱标黑化，靖难没了 Other Shore Three-Seven彼岸三七Historical825k WordsOngoing History records that Crown Prince Zhu Biao died of illness in the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu. What history does not record: he died once, then came back to life. His soul wandered for three days, and he saw the entire fate of the Ming dynasty over the next 276 years: The Jingnan Campaign, the burning palace, Tumu Fortress, and the strip of white silk hanging from a tree on Coal Hill. When he opened his eyes again, he was in his sickbed in the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu. The charcoal fire blaz 50.3kReads8.8Score4.2kShelves
22. 222 大 Great Ming: If the Tianqi Emperor Lives, Great Ming Will Never Fall 大明：天启不死，大明不灭 Four Big Elephants四头大象Historical909k WordsOngoing [Rating just released, and it’ll rise later] [Handcrafted] + [No System] + [No mindless protagonist] + [Power struggles] + [Imperial court] + [Battle for supremacy] The soul of the Tianqi Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming dynasty drifted through four hundred years before he was reborn on the eleventh day of the eighth month of the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, just eleven days before his historical death. At this point, the Ming dynasty had just won the Battle of Ningjin. The Mongol tribes had 98.7kReads9.0Score13.2kShelves
23. 223 一 I Woke Up to Find That My Great Ming Had Only Ten Days Left? 一觉醒来，朕的大明只剩十天了？ Crumble to Pieces土崩瓦解Historical1.7M WordsOngoing Original title: I Woke Up, and My Great Ming Has Only Ten Days Left? In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the countdown to the fall of the Great Ming begins. (No System) While lying unconscious on the dragon throne, Zhu Youjian had a long, vivid dream. In the dream, he became a child and studied centuries in the future. He opened The History of Ming, a book filled with the humiliating end that awaited him. In the end, he became a hardened soldier, tempered by modern military training. After twe 282.6kReads9.0Score39.8kShelves
24. 224 崇 Chongzhen! Reclaim the Throne! 崇祯！重征！ Beef Meatballs牛肉丸吖Historical1.3M WordsOngoing After Zhu Youjian hanged himself at Coal Hill, his soul returned to the day his elder brother, the Tianqi Emperor, died in the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, just as Zhu Youjian was about to ascend the throne. He is not a transmigrator with modern knowledge. His only golden finger is the memory of the seventeen years he spent as emperor in his previous life: he knows which decisions led to the fall of the dynasty, whom he can trust, and whom he must not put to use. Every memory was bought wit 3.5kReads6.3Score276Shelves
25. 225 穿 I Became the Wanli Emperor's Crown Prince, So Whoever Wants the Red Pill Can Eat It 穿成万历太子，这红丸谁爱吃谁吃 Resting Cloud休息的云Historical2.3M WordsOngoing Reborn as an emperor who has only been on the throne for a month, he faces the Palace Coup and the Red Pill Incident, with treacherous officials within and bandits without. From crown prince to emperor, he plans every step. Great Ming, are you ready to welcome your Emperor Taichang? Nurhaci, are you ready to be put through the wringer? 7.4kReads7.3Score537Shelves
26. 226 百 The Centurion's Qilin Son 百夫长的麒麟子 Bamboo Bay Bay竹湾湾Historical599k WordsCompleted Chen Zhan, a newly graduated PhD in chemistry, was enjoying a vacation before starting work at a university when a glass walkway suddenly shattered. He then found himself occupying the body of Chen Zhan, the frail son of a centurion stationed at a border camp. From then on, a military family that could never find the right words and always lost arguments finally had someone who could speak for them. To stop his father from actually punching a civil official's head clean off, Chen Zhan swore: I'l 1.7kReads7.8Score196Shelves

    Reader note

    Lighthearted and enjoyable, a normal imperial examination, without any of those overpowered cheat codes like the "six top scholars passing the exam" (a reference to a specific exam in the imperial examinations).

27. 227 大 Great Ming: The Path to Becoming the Emperor's Teacher Begins with the Imperial Exams 大明：帝师之路，从科举开始 Dongfang Xiaoxiaosheng东方笑笑生Historical2.3M WordsCompleted Xu Wen transmigrates to the Ming dynasty just as his family falls on hard times. His parents die, and someone shows up to break off his engagement, stacking two major disadvantages on him at once. He takes the imperial examinations, makes a name for himself as a young man, and enters government service, serving through nine reigns: Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, Hongxi, Xuande, Zhengtong, Jingtai, Tianshun, and Chenghua. During the Hongwu reign, he is Zhu Yuanzhang’s sharpest weapon against corrupt of 14.6kReads7.9Score1.7kShelves

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    🎋🎋🎋In this book, the protagonist transmigrates to the Ming Dynasty and passes the imperial examination. 🍒🍒🍒After entering the court as an official, he becomes an imperial censor. In court, he constantly opposes the Jianwen Emperor, relentlessly criticizing him!

28. 228 买 I Bought a Bookboy to Take the Imperial Exam for Me. Now I'm Accused of Stealing His Honors? 买书童替本少科举，告我偷功名？ Stray Bullet流弹Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Transmigrated into a Book as a Cannon-Fodder + Embroidered Uniform Guard + Imperial Exams + Officialdom + Rooting Out Treacherous Ministers + Fighting the Tartars + Empress] Also known as: The Young Master Strikes Back Against His Fated Bookish Servant, Passes the Imperial Exams, and Saves China After transmigrating into the book as Lin Zhi, a young master destined to be cannon fodder, he finds himself caught in a ridiculous plot where his servant uses the young master as a stepping-stone in th 1.3kReads7.6Score145Shelves

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    The young master defeats the destined pageboy and saves the nation from destruction!

29. 229 键 Yang Tinghe on the Keyboard 键盘上的杨廷和 Little Bao Is So Nice小宝很奈斯Historical481k WordsCompleted [Yang Tinghe | Male-Centered Lead | Historical Epic | Romance and Marriage | Political Intrigue] Yang Tinghe, grand secretary of the Ming dynasty, recounts his romantic and political adventures in modern language, with a playful take on his own life. [Matchmaking Trip to Yunnan] Help Mu Cong put down the Xundian rebellion and bring the region under direct administration. [Wedding Night] My concubine climbed into my bed... [The Truth About Grain Transport] Men and women alike are beheaded. [The 14Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Yang Tinghe, Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty

30. 230 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 2.3kReads9.0Score185Shelves

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    ✨✨A keen understanding of the world is true learning; a mastery of human relationships is true literature. Ren Junjie, a history graduate, suddenly finds himself in a strange world, becoming the eldest son of the richest man in Xinchang County. He transforms from a prodigal son into a reformed one, marrying a beautiful young woman. He works only on alternate days, studying even harder and striving for excellence. A master of history, he dedicates himself to his ideal of "a small doctor heals the sick, a great doctor governs the country." After passing the imperial examination with flying colors, the young emperor, seeing Ren Junjie's shared ideals, exclaims with delight, "My dear minister, you possess extraordinary talent! Truly, Heaven blesses the Great Wei, sending such a virtuous person to my side!" Ren Junjie chuckles, "Your Majesty flatters me. This humble subject is unworthy of such extraordinary talent."

31. 231 寒 A Humble Scholar’s Rise Through the Imperial Exams [Female to Male] 寒门科举崛起路【女穿男】 Yan Xiyao晏曦瑶Ancient Romance611k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + woman transmigrates into a man + farming + food + making a name in history] In her previous life, Mu Suyan had worked her hardest just to become an ordinary university graduate. In this life, from the start, she became a penniless boy from a poor scholar’s family. His ancestors had once enjoyed great glory, but he had been born at the wrong time. The entire Mu family eagerly hoped he would restore their former greatness. He summoned the resolve to study through every har 219Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Xie Suyan, a son of a poor family, transmigrates into the world of the Four Books and Five Classics at the age of three. He studies diligently and takes the imperial examinations step by step. Fortunately, he meets a senior brother who helps him achieve his lofty ambitions. He asks him about his family daily and finds them to be without fault or burden, showing them his wholehearted concern for him. The male protagonist's senior brother, his white moonlight, Li Yanzhi, comes from an official family and is the prodigy of the Li clan. He studies under Grand Secretary Mu and has been acquainted with great scholars since childhood. He is unparalleled in the world, achieving the highest rank in the imperial examinations and gaining the emperor's deep trust. He and Xie Suyan share a childhood friendship.

32. 232 寒 A Poor Scholar's Road to the Top Scholar Title 寒门子弟的状元之路 I'm Not a Kid Anymore不是小孩啦Historical353k WordsCompleted He was an ordinary university student, but a chance encounter transmigrates him to ancient times. Follow his journey as he rises from humble beginnings, studies hard for the imperial examinations, earns the title of top scholar, and sets out on the path to becoming chief minister. 50Reads5.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    🌈 A modern college student who takes the imperial examinations travels back to ancient times and rises from poverty to success through the examinations. The story is set in a fictional dynasty, and there are no cheat codes; everything is achieved through hard work… The imperial examination system is relatively well-developed.

33. 233 科 The Imperial Examination Is the Only Way 科举才是硬道理 Little You Won't Go Home小游不回家Historical304k WordsCompleted See how a scholar who dreams of the modern world turns his life around, step by step, in a feudal society where social ranks are rigidly enforced. I'm a novice author. In truth, I wanted to make up for things missing in my own life, so I gave the story a warm family and a united clan. Many of the characters in the book are based on my own relatives. What I don't have in my own life, I'll make happen in this book. 150Reads—Score—Shelves
34. 234 民 The Gentleman of the Republic 民国的先生 Starry Words星星语话Urban1.8M WordsCompleted The plot is reasonable, with no System. An ordinary person transmigrates to the Republican era. I hope readers can find a touch of Republican-era charm here. The narration is grounded, with no exaggeration whatsoever… 6.5kReads8.6Score380Shelves

    Reader note

    Uh... This is a novel that provides a basis for its fictional setting...

35. 235 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

    I'd like to recommend myself.

36. 236 嘉 The Splendor of the Jiajing Era 嘉靖风华时 The Invincible Ice Cream无敌的冰淇淋Historical92k WordsOngoing He enters the capital, ascends the throne, and takes power over all under heaven. He battles powerful ministers, breaks up factional struggles, reforms officialdom, boosts farming and commerce, strengthens border defenses, and pacifies the Japanese threat. He roots out a century of entrenched abuses and recruits talented people from across the realm. With the strategic vision of another world, he governs the four seas; with decisive force, he brings peace to the Nine Provinces. He reverses the M 7Reads—Score—Shelves
37. 237 大 A Stick in the Tang Dynasty 大唐一根棍 My Name Is Wang Dabao我叫王大宝Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Comedy + Suspense + Brainy Wish Fulfillment + Historically Grounded Tang Dynasty] A farm boy with a serious lack of virtue gradually grows into the Tang dynasty's number-one troublemaker (no, wait, strike that). He grows into a pillar that holds up the sky, a beam that spans the sea. If I'm having a good time and you're not, I'll beat you until you are. If I can't reform you, I'll cremate you. I crush foreign kingdoms, dissect the aristocratic clans, discipline princes, and slap emperors I can' 3kReads8.7Score235Shelves

    Reader note

    A story set in the late Tang Dynasty without a system, it follows a nobody who rises to power. It's both humorous and realistic, with a winding plot, father and son constantly betraying each other, lighthearted and funny, featuring a group of entertaining people, war, political intrigue, and loyalty. It's now complete.

38. 238 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

    Here it comes, heartwarming daily life in ancient times.

39. 239 寒 Humble-Born Prefect, Drinking Beneath Peach Blossoms at the Bamboo Pavilion 寒门郡守，竹亭桃花饮 Xyd521zbsdHistorical115k WordsCompleted An inspiring novel about a man from humble beginnings who enters public service, devotes himself to the people, and remains incorruptible. After an accident, he is transported to the era of a fellow traveler, the Great Xia Dynasty, and begins an extraordinary life. —Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 240 明 Getting By in the Late Ming 明末混日子 Swatting Mosquitoes in My Sleep睡觉打蚊子Historical1.2M WordsOngoing A little nobody arrived in a brand-new world. What path would he take here...? Perhaps he would change this place. Perhaps he would remain nothing more than a speck of dust, arriving quietly and leaving just as quietly. Perhaps he would try his hardest and still fail. Whatever happened, life would go on, and tomorrow would still come. He just wouldn't be that young man anymore. 290Reads5.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I organized it.

41. 241 假 Fake Eunuch: I Am the Ming Dynasty's Ninth-Thousand-Year Lord 假太监：我乃大明九千岁 Ninth Day, Tenth Month初九元十Historical7.1M WordsOngoing [Mythic Great Ming] [Alternate History] [High Martial] [Great Ming] [No System] Yang Fan transmigrates to the Great Ming Dynasty and becomes a lowly eunuch, witnessing with his own eyes the grand, turbulent age of humanity! A dynasty that has endured for millennia, immortal aristocratic families, heroes of the martial world, mighty commoners, and dragons and serpents rising together! If that's how it is, then I, Yang Fan, will become the greatest man under heaven! I'll shatter the clouds and bec 132.2kReads9.2Score12.9kShelves
42. 242 关 Tales of the Northern Song Dynasty 关于北宋的那些事 Can't Cry哭不得Historical2.0M WordsOngoing A new work is here! I hope you'll head over to Tomato Novel to read it. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 9.4kReads8.4Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is not a text for the imperial examinations, but the memorials to the emperor contained within are all well-reasoned, supported by evidence, and absolutely no less valuable than any book written in classical Chinese!

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