Highly Rated Imperial-Examination and Historical Novels, Reborn Stories Are Fine, Completed Works Only 求高分文科举，历史文，重生都可以完结文

1. 1 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

   Reader note

   Highly recommend the author—The Other Side of the Mountain!!! Her writing on the imperial examination system is superb; she has an unparalleled understanding of history, from the Four Books and Five Classics to exam questions and everyday details, all written with exceptional skill. I highly recommend "My Dad Can Do Everything Except Study," and her other works are also excellent. The earlier books are mostly about male candidates taking the imperial examinations, while the last one, about a woman taking the third-highest rank, is also very well-written. Highly recommended!!!

2. 2 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
3. 3 一 A Poor Scholar of Noble Character 一品寒士 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Single heroine, semi-fictionalized Tang Dynasty] In an era when the great aristocratic clans looked down on the imperial family, Zhao Quan was born to a farming family and entered school carrying the hopes of his parents and six older brothers. Farming was out of the question: even the village head’s family had no food to spare… So he had no choice but to take the imperial exams and become an official. 10.2kReads9.3Score888Shelves
4. 4 我 I Turned My Superstitious Father into the Chief Councilor 我把神棍老爹卷成首辅 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.7M WordsCompleted [Ensemble cast + imperial examinations + daily life + farming + court politics later on] Father and son join forces to build a Ming dynasty on which the sun never sets. Yan Xun transmigrates to the Ming dynasty and discovers that his father can do everything except study. His dad has so many secret identities, like an onion with layer after layer to peel back. Huh! If I push Dad hard enough to make him Grand Secretary, can I become a Junior Grand Secretary? The filial son Yan Xun sells everythin 22.8kReads9.5Score2.7kShelves
5. 5 我 I Find the Top Scholar So Charming 我见探花多娇媚 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Jing Bao has three wishes: First, protect the family estate of the main branch; second, enter the Imperial College, place third in the palace examinations, and bring honor to the family; third, keep living as a man in disguise until the end. Lord Gu has three wishes too: First, help someone protect their family estate; second, help that someone place third in the palace examinations; third, bring the disguised top scorer home and make her the mistress of the household. 4.1kReads9.4Score756Shelves
6. 6 农 A Farm Boy's Imperial Exams: My Dad Turns Out to Be the Ultimate Study Machine 农家考科举：我爹竟是最强卷王 Long, Long, Long, Long Hair长长长长头发Ancient Romance847k WordsOngoing [Farming + imperial examinations + building wealth] A gifted student who hated studying transmigrates into the son of a peasant family in ancient times. As he chases chickens and dogs around the village, gathering friends and preparing to make a fortune so he can afford meat, someone calls out, “Ergouzi, your dad passed the provincial exam and became the top graduate! The county magistrate awarded him fifty taels of silver!” When he resolves to study so he can avoid going bald before turning ten 62.4kReads9.2Score7.9kShelves

   Reader note

   Both books have a relatively slow pace, making them suitable for reading when you're experiencing a reading plateau. Personally, I think the first one is better than the second.

7. 7 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

   Reader note

   Many might consider the first book to be filler, but I particularly enjoy its detailed depiction of daily life and dialogue. The protagonist lives in a rural mountain village in Guangdong, with an aunt who married into the provincial capital and a cousin who is a genius at the imperial examinations. He eventually becomes a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). He then moves to Hunan to become a county magistrate. The protagonist's "golden touch" is his agricultural background, which slows his promotions—precisely what I love about the book. He actively promotes the county's local specialties, leading everyone to prosperity, and currently, the county is also getting rich. The second book features a protagonist who was a cartoonist in his past life. It involves the imperial examinations, battling powerful officials, opening up maritime trade, robbing the rich to help the poor, vying for the throne, and more. The plot is full of twists and turns, intricately linked. The reason the protagonist's life isn't going smoothly is because the supporting characters have different interests and stances, which is part of its charm. The protagonist's power struggles and dialogues with various factions are written with exceptional detail.

8. 8 北 A Northern Song Dynasty Guide to Climbing the Official Ladder 北宋升官手册 Retired Artist 04退役艺术家04Historical514k WordsOngoing The ratings just opened. They'll go up later. [Historical Transmigration] [Imperial Examinations] [Officialdom] [Political Intrigue] [Farming] [No System] What were the regrets of the Northern Song Dynasty? Was it that Liu Yong's lyrics were sung throughout the land, while he himself spent half his life in disappointment? Was it that Fan Zhongyan cared deeply for the realm, yet his Qingli Reforms were abandoned halfway through? Or was it the unfulfilled ambition to pacify the Rong, amid the nort 1.3kReads7.2Score137Shelves

   Reader note

   I'm recommending a book; interested readers can take a look.

9. 9 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

   Reader note

   I highly recommend this book! It's a civil service exam novel with clear and logical thinking—truly excellent. The male lead isn't a plagiarist; he learned all the ancient knowledge bit by bit and passed the exams himself. Every step of his journey is traceable. I really love it, it's just not finished yet [crying emoji].

10. 10 被 The Abandoned Heir Places First in the Imperial Exam, and Ten Thousand Riders Storm the Marquis’s Mansion 被弃世子中状元，万骑踏平侯府门 Jun Moyu君陌玉Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations + Reborn in the Womb + Court Politics + Revenge + System] Shen Shufan was reborn in the womb as the heir to a marquis’s estate, only to be knocked unconscious and thrown into a river. No problem: ever heard of the Proficiency System? The impoverished Shen family, a humble family of scholars, found a poor child in a freezing river. Little did they know he was an imperial-examination genius! Other families considered it a blessing from their ancestors if even one person pass 22.6kReads8.7Score2.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist of the first book embarks on the path of imperial examinations through his own wisdom and hard work. [Cool] The protagonist of the second book is the heir of a marquis's family, but he is hit on the head and thrown into the river by the marquis's stepmother. Fortunately, he is rescued by the family that adopts him, and his adoptive parents support his schooling. The protagonist then embarks on the path of imperial examinations to seek revenge.

11. 11 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

    Reader note

    The Imperial Examination novel is now complete. Both stories involve the imperial examination, but the experiences are different.

12. 12 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
13. 13 胎 Born into a Mission: From Struggling to Survive to Achieving Greatness 胎穿任务：从艰难求生到功成名就 Huachao Baiyu花朝白榆Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (System + space + golden finger + quick transmigration + transmigrate + Qing dynasty transmigration + Ming dynasty transmigration + Song dynasty transmigration + period piece + little ones + cannon fodder + modern person in ancient times + comeback + punishing scumbags + supporting female characters + ...) “Congratulations, Mistress. It's a little prince!” Hearing the delighted announcement, Wan Fu felt as though she had been struck by lightning. She shrieked, “System, get out here! Explain why 4.4kReads8.3Score249Shelves
14. 14 古 A Guide to Surviving as a Lowborn Son in Ancient Times 古代庶子生存指南 Ms. Cabbage包菜女士Ancient Romance412k WordsCompleted [The male lead transmigrates without a golden finger; domestic family life; studying for the imperial examinations; the female lead appears late; fictional historical setting] After transmigrating as the concubine-born son of a civil official in an unknown dynasty, Huaize planned to take life easy and be a contented freeloader in the ancient world. But Huaize had hoped to keep to himself, only to discover that in an age when collective punishment was common, everyone in a prominent family had 7.8kReads8.4Score594Shelves

    Reader note

    These are all highly rated imperial examination texts, each with a different specific focus, enough to keep you entertained until after the New Year.

15. 15 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
16. 16 穿 Transmigrate to a Farming Family, Aim for the Imperial Exams 穿越农家，科举为上 Tang Qinghan唐轻寒Ancient Romance305k WordsCompleted Wang Xi had a heart condition as a child and was abandoned at an orphanage. He worked odd jobs to put himself through college and finally landed a pretty good job. After three years of working diligently, just as he was finally able to give something back to the orphanage where he grew up, he suddenly died while working overtime one night. Reborn into a farming family, Wang Xi is now a little boy named Li Shuanzi. He knows all too well that if he wants a better life, passing the imperial exams i 3.6kReads8.9Score224Shelves
17. 17 全 My Whole Family Supports My Imperial Exams, and I Rise to Great Heights 全家供我科举，而后青云直上 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical337k WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A bird must flap its wings before it can soar; a person must study before they can get ahead. Huang Zhiwen unexpectedly gets another chance at life, bringing the memories of his previous life with him as he slowly adapts to this new world. Here, he finds new people to care about and a new family. The Huang family is warm and close-knit, and they will do everything they can to support Huang Zhiwen in the imperial examinations. That leaves all the pres 761Reads8.4Score—Shelves
18. 18 穿 The Laid-Back Life of a Marquis’s Bastard Son 穿成侯府庶子的摆烂生活 April Thirty-Three四月三三Historical600k WordsCompleted [Transmigration + historical setting + non-virgin male lead + ordinary protagonist with no golden finger] Chen Heyu, a fine young man of the modern age, transmigrates into the body of a good-for-nothing ancient playboy. He is a middle-aged widower with children, a low-ranking son born to a concubine, and not a single money-making skill to his name. He does, however, have plenty of ways to spend money and a mountain of debts from his romantic escapades. To avoid another beating from his father, 35.8kReads9.3Score3.8kShelves
19. 19 贞 The Leisurely Prince of Zhenguan 贞观小闲王 Enlightenment on the Way悟途Historical7.7M WordsOngoing [No System]+ [Lighthearted]+ [Farming] Have you ever wondered what you’d do if you transmigrated to ancient times with no System and no golden finger? You’re not a physicist, chemist, or historian, just an ordinary person from the future. Everything you know comes from movies, TV, short-video platforms, and the media. How would you survive? Follow an ordinary person who transmigrates into Li Shen, Li Shimin’s tenth son at the beginning of the Tang dynasty. With nothing but his limited knowledge 117.7kReads9.2Score6.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Books I've read and can't bear to delete, books I want to read even late at night—they're so addictive!

20. 20 成 What on Earth Is This? Complete in Two Volumes (The Original Novel Behind the Hit Drama Starring Wang Churan and Cheng Lei) 成何体统：全二册（王楚然、丞磊主演热播影视剧原著） Qi Yingjun七英俊Anime Fanfiction314k WordsCompleted What is it like to transmigrate into a web novel and become the tyrant's bedmate? After a few simple calculations, Yu Wanyin reached a conclusion: she would have to find another way. In this story full of villains, if she wanted to carve out a path to survival, she had to become the biggest villain of all. First, help the tyrant take down Prince Duan, then take down the tyrant and become empress herself. But when she met the tyrant and carefully considered the strange sense of familiarity in his 40.3kReads9.7Score6.3kShelves
21. 21 大 Great Ming: Emperor Zhu Secretly Reads My Diary and Can't Keep a Straight Face 大明：老朱偷看我日记，绷不住了 An Qianjun of Lu Heshan陆河山的安千君Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Lin Hao transmigrates to the Hongwu era and becomes a low-ranking official in the capital. All he has to do is write in his diary every day and record his daily life to receive rewards. It’s a pretty sweet deal, lazing his days away so easily. But Zhu Yuanzhang has a copy of Lin Hao’s diary, too, updated in real time. [My official rank is so low, yet I still have to attend court every morning. This old Zhu is really making life miserable!] [It’s just the imperial examinations, so why have a Sout 5.7kReads8.3Score447Shelves
22. 22 逍 The Carefree Imperial Son-in-Law 逍遥驸马爷 Drunk from a Flick of the Finger弹指一壶醉Historical3.0M WordsCompleted (Set in a fictional world, drawing mainly on the Ming and Tang dynasties and the Three Kingdoms era) Qin Feng, a doctor skilled in every field, transmigrates into the body of an unwanted illegitimate son in the Grand Tutor's residence. He only wants to become a secret tycoon in this dynasty and find a chance to establish his own household. Unexpectedly, he becomes a royal son-in-law, entering a sham marriage with a princess. Each gets what they want from the arrangement, and Qin Feng only has hi 21.5kReads8.8Score2.1kShelves
23. 23 我 My Wife Is Always Trying to Kill Me 我家娘子总想弄死我 A Little Frozen Li一只小冻离Historical1.1M WordsCompleted “Gu Chuan, are you plotting a rebellion?!” “Your Majesty, I’ve been wronged!” “Then why are the commander of the Xuanyue Army, the White Lotus Sect’s Holy Maiden, the Shadow Guards, the Queen of Jialan, and the Daoist Sect’s itinerant cultivator all with you?!” Gu Chuan swears that all he wanted at first was to lie flat. But the longer he lay low, the more people gathered around him. He had no choice but to mount his horse and take up arms to bring peace to the land! In the first year of the Wuh 14.1kReads8.8Score1.4kShelves
24. 24 皇 The Emperor's Gold Medal County Magistrate 皇家金牌县令 Noodle King Zai板面王仔Historical2.7M WordsCompleted [Farming + lighthearted fun + transmigration] Fang Zhengyi transmigrates to the Great Jing dynasty and becomes a county magistrate. After seven years of work, he has created his own earthly paradise. He’d planned to live out his days as a carefree little emperor. In the thirteenth year of the Jinghe era, the emperor of Great Jing travels incognito and accidentally wanders into Taoyuan County... The moment the emperor enters the county, he is astonished! The many strange and wondrous things leave 228.3kReads9.5Score28.1kShelves
25. 25 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

    Reader note

    These are all highly rated and very enjoyable imperial examination novels. They're incredibly addictive! I added these to my bookshelf after reading so many – they're definitely top-notch! [Shy][shy]

26. 26 娘 My Wife Is Actually a Female Demon Lord 娘子竟是女魔头 Toast Toast土司吐司Historical2.5M WordsCompleted After transmigrating, Wang You found himself married on the spot. Not only did he become a county magistrate, he also got to marry a beautiful bride... But on their wedding night, he was poisoned and carried away. His wife's family are a band of local tyrants, every one of them a peerless martial artist. In a tiny county yamen, there are more than ten people scheming against one another. The maid who is always smiling can take down more than a dozen burly men. His wife practices martial arts eve 35.4kReads9.0Score3.4kShelves
27. 27 玄EN Fantasy: Starting Blind, I Cultivate with an Erhu 玄幻：开局瞎子，从拉二胡开始 Howling Gale哀嚎的狂风Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsCompleted (The short drama is now streaming: Fantasy: Beginning with Two Springs Reflect the Moon) [Spending Life + Grinding and Lying Low] "Once a song breaks the heart, where in all the world can one find a kindred soul?" From the start, he transmigrated as a blind man and became a street musician. [Two Springs Reflect the Moon: LV2 (1/10000) Effect: Unblocks qi and blood, opens the meridians, dispels dampness, and warms the body] He is a blind street musician who wipes out an entire gang for 138.6kReads9.6Score14.4kShelves
28. 28 震 Shocking! The Prodigal Son’s Secret Stash Is Bigger Than the Imperial Treasury 震惊！逆子的私房钱比国库还多 I've Been Crazy Since I Was Little打小我就疯Historical2.1M WordsCompleted [The short drama of the same name is now streaming. Dear supporters, sit back and enjoy!] After transmigrating, he became the young duke of the Zhen Guo household, despised by everyone. At first, he only wanted to make a little money, stay out of trouble, and live a carefree life. But once he became engaged, everything changed. The emperor wanted him to inherit the throne, and the chancellor's daughter refused to marry anyone but him. Tibet wanted his head, while the Liao Kingdom wanted him dead 14.8kReads9.0Score1.5kShelves
29. 29 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

    This is an alternate history novel with no system, multiple female leads, clear logic, well-developed characters, a rich plot, and a mix of national and personal vendettas. It's a story with both laughter and tears. Welcome to read! [Admiration][Admiration][Please follow][Please follow]

30. 30 斩 Executed from the Start? One Poem Made Me a God! Defying Heaven to Change My Fate! 斩首开局？一诗封神！逆天改命！ Hua Nuo Huajingxuan花诺花靖轩Eastern Fantasy1.5M WordsOngoing In the Great Qian Dynasty, the literary path reigns supreme, and poetry can manifest the divine! From condemned prisoner to supreme Literary Sage, Lin Fan uses modern knowledge to reshape the literary path! “Let the literary path serve the people, and let all under heaven live as one! I will change this world with my poetry!” 1.7kReads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Look at it!

31. 31 科 The Imperial Exam: Top of the Six Tests, Reshaping the Workplace 科举，六元及第整顿职场 Cangbai Beneath the Moon月下苍柏Historical1.6M WordsCompleted (No System, no golden finger, one female lead) (A slow-burn story) In the 21st century, the only person in Tianhai University’s history to earn master’s degrees in both the arts and sciences suddenly transmigrates into the body of a poor farmer’s son in ancient times. Looking at the bare walls of his home and the family who place all their hopes in him, Wang Ping can only gaze at the heavens in speechless resignation. Since all other pursuits are inferior and only scholarship is esteemed, he wi 944Reads7.5Score107Shelves

    Reader note

    Here are six recommended novels [thumbs up]: 1. A top student, a master's graduate in both arts and sciences, unexpectedly transmigrated into a farmer's son [shocked]. Looking at his family and relatives [thinking], no, I need to study! 2. Suddenly transmigrated to another world and became a farmer's son, what to do? [Shocked] In this world where all other professions are lowly, only studying is noble, he started participating in the imperial examinations, advancing step by step, and finally passing with flying colors [laughs]. Go check them out! [Follow me]

32. 32 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
33. 33 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
34. 34 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
35. 35 朝 A Farmer's Son at Dawn, an Emperor's Courtier by Dusk 朝为农家郎，暮登天子堂 Lantern Festival Revelry闹花灯Historical2.6M WordsOngoing (There's family drama, petty squabbles, rural life, outrageous oddballs, life in government, and much more.) After spending nearly ten years in a daze as an idiot, Tang Wenfeng fell into the water one day and finally came to his senses, now with a modern mind inside him. To avoid taxes, make a fortune, lie flat and enjoy himself, and secure a carefree life for the future, Tang Wenfeng decided to sit the imperial examinations. Who knew that an unexpected turn of events would put him on the 6.4kReads8.4Score437Shelves
36. 36 重 Reborn as a Literary Champion in Ancient Times 重生古代当文魁 Southern Black Sesame Paste南方黑芝麻糊Historical1.0M WordsCompleted (Alternate history, romance, no System, multiple female leads, imperial examinations and officialdom, plenty of jade!) After Qin Fei transmigrated to ancient times, he discovered that from the start, he had not only a poor family to support, but also a considerate woman by his side... But he was just a penniless, struggling scholar. If he wanted to spend romantic evenings with her, he had no choice but to climb the ranks through the imperial examinations... But first, he had to make some money f 3.9kReads8.4Score260Shelves
37. 37 全 My Entire Clan! Supports My Imperial Exams 全族！供我科举 Yang Chan Who Loves Braised Yellow Mutton爱吃焖黄羊肉的杨婵Historical1.2M WordsCompleted Imperial exams + transmigration + imperial exams + no golden finger, no System. The story draws on the privileges enjoyed by scholars in the Ming dynasty! The clan elder was a licentiate, and that was the only reason Baihu Village was protected. Now the elder is gone, and no new licentiate has appeared. The entire clan can only pool its strength to support one child. Just one licentiate can improve life in the village, give the children a future, boost the village economy, and make officials thi 13.8kReads8.5Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    1️⃣ The male protagonist transmigrates to another world and becomes a poor young man. However, the world is still his to live. He works hard to improve his education and becomes a genius in his family, soaring to great heights in the imperial examinations. His family fully supports him.

38. 38 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

    Reader note

    1. The entire clan invests, achieving mutual success; Qin Siqi brings fame and fortune to the villagers, inspiring them to emulate his virtue. 2. A heartwarming story, very enjoyable.

39. 39 穿 Transmigrating to Ancient Times, I Lead My Entire Clan to Success Through the Imperial Exams 穿越古代我靠科举带飞全族 Blueberry Sauce Pancake蓝莓酱香饼Ancient Romance534k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations + Female transmigrates into a male body + Farming] [There is a romantic pairing, and the male lead is devoted to one person.] In the modern world, she was an overworked 996 employee with a degree from a top-tier university. In ancient times, she became a man! Born to a farming family, he doesn’t want to spend his whole life farming, nor become a low-ranking merchant’s apprentice. With no particular skill to rely on, the only path to changing his fate and his family’s fate 805Reads7.1Score120Shelves

    Reader note

    I've been watching this for the past few days, it's pretty good.

40. 40 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

    Reader note

    I highly recommend it! I've recently become addicted to reading imperial examination novels; they're so good! I haven't read the second one yet, but it's the most enjoyable one so far! [Drooling emoji]

41. 41 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
42. 42 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
43. 43 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

    Reader note

    Imperial examination essays, written by people from different backgrounds and origins

44. 44 迎 After Marrying a Sweet Young Wife, I Worked Hard and Took the Imperial Exam 迎娶小娇妻后，我奋发图强考科举 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical1.1M WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A thorough understanding of the world is knowledge, and social savvy is good writing. Ren Junjie, a history graduate, suddenly finds himself in an unfamiliar world as the eldest legitimate son of the richest family in Xinchang County. A former wastrel, he turns over a new leaf and marries a lovely young wife. He rests every other day and works on the days in between, studying harder and striving to improve. With his deep knowledge of history, he purs 8.9kReads8.8Score715Shelves
45. 45 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

    Reader note

    A highly-rated imperial examination novel that I've read twice. There are no cheat codes; the protagonist climbs the ranks step by step through his own hard work. Highly recommended.

46. 46 农 The Old Country Scholar: Reborn as the Father of Four 农门老童生:穿成了四个娃的爹 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical833k WordsCompleted One heroine, no System An old book never tires the reader, even after a hundred readings. Read it closely and ponder it, and its meaning will reveal itself. Lin Mingyuan transmigrates to Great Chu, just over a decade after its founding, and becomes an old licentiate in a small mountain village. At the ripe old age of thirty-five, he is the father of four, with a beloved wife he thinks of constantly. The imperial examinations, suspended amid the wars at the end of the previous dynasty, are now be 3.8kReads9.0Score266Shelves
47. 47 重 Reborn: From Stripped Scholar to High-Ranking Court Official 重生：从除名秀才到位列公卿 Busy Doing Something Worthwhile碌碌有为Ancient Romance806k WordsCompleted [Reborn + imperial examinations + solving cases + farming + daily life + rekindled romance] [An imaginary dynasty] In his previous life, Qin Yunhe angrily divorced his childhood sweetheart and wife. After that, his life took a sharp turn for the worse: his wife and children were gone, his mother died, and his brother passed away. He never recovered. Years later, he finally began to pull himself together with encouragement from an old friend, only to hear that his childhood sweetheart and former 1.6kReads8.8Score174Shelves
48. 48 穿 Transmigrated to Ancient Times to Take the Imperial Exams in a Farming Novel 穿越古代在种田文里考科举 Mu Zixi木子熙惜Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Rags-to-Riches Reversal + Political Intrigue + No System] He wakes up to find himself the son of a dirt-poor farming family. His parents are counting on him to change their fate through study, while the whole village waits to see him make a fool of himself! Wen You'an says, “What’s there to panic about? A top student is a top student anywhere! A scientific approach to exam prep? Coming right up! Targeted poverty alleviation to improve the family’s lot? Absolutely!” From the county exam to the p 425Reads6.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This looks great!

49. 49 我 I Made My Way to Prosperity Through the Imperial Exams 我靠科举奔小康 Lemon Loves Milk柠檬爱吃奶Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted There are awful people. No golden finger (Though being a modern person who transmigrates might be the biggest golden finger of all!) After transmigrating, Song Zhixue wants only to change his life of toiling in the fields from dawn till dusk. 20.2kReads8.2Score1.8kShelves
50. 50 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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