Imperial Exam Novels, But Not About a Farmer's Son 科举文但不要是农家子

1. 1 此 This Road Leads Straight to the Azure Clouds 此去直上青云路 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical603k WordsCompleted Li Yu, courtesy name Zixuan, originally named Shen Dakui, was from Shunqing Prefecture, Sichuan, and his ancestral home was Huangzhou Prefecture, Huguang. He ranked twenty-sixth in the second-tier examination in the second year of Xing'an. A politician, financier, firearms expert, hydraulic engineer, military strategist, educator, and more in the early years of the Dayong dynasty... Li Yu lost his father at an early age and followed his mother when she remarried Li Gang, the patrol inspector of 25.7kReads8.6Score2.4kShelves

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   The male protagonist can't be entirely considered a farmer's son. After his father's early death, he moved with his mother to the home of a ninth-rank inspector, where he began his journey to take the imperial examinations. [Top post][Top post]

2. 2 陛 Your Majesty! The Duke's Uncle Passed the Palace Exam in Third Place! 陛下！国舅爷他中了探花！ The Pig Who Hates Hiking不爱爬山的猪Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Civil Service Exams and Officialdom] [Court Intrigue] [Plenty of Romance] [A Slice-of-Life Leaning] People in the capital say that after taking a thorough beating, the young imperial uncle has finally gotten his old self back, and even passed the exam as a third-place laureate. But no one knows that he has lived two lives, or that he once had a miraculous encounter across time and witnessed the flourishing civilization of a thousand years in the future. Jiang Yan has never understood how he los 47kReads8.9Score5kShelves

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   Everyone in the capital said that the young imperial uncle, who had been soundly beaten, had finally changed his ways. But no one knew that he had not only lived two lives, but also experienced a miraculous time-travel encounter, witnessing a prosperous civilization a thousand years later. Jiang Yan still couldn't understand how he, in his previous life, dared to plot against the emperor's eldest son, his own nephew, only to be sent to his death by his sister with a cup of poison. In this life, he only wanted a peaceful life, protecting his family, a warm bed with his wife and children, and incidentally, clinging to his nephew's coattails. But who would have thought that he would rise to such a high position...?

3. 3 穿 I Was Reborn in a Farming Novel, but I Don't Want to Pass the Imperial Exams on Talent 穿进种田文里，我不想靠才华科举 Autumn Has Always Been Here丛来是秋Historical1.6M WordsCompleted Su Congli transmigrated. To stay alive, he studied day and night and threw himself into the imperial examinations. Who could have guessed? At the provincial exam: “What are you staring at, chief examiner?” At the metropolitan exam: “Why do these examiners all seem so strange?” At the palace exam: “Oh! Isn’t that guy sitting in the throne hall the one who stares at me every night?” Emperor Qiyuan prided himself on being a wise ruler of his age, blessed with extraordinary fortune. Who knew he’d ru 11.3kReads8.9Score949Shelves

   Reader note

   It's a story about the imperial examination system, but the protagonist isn't from a peasant family. He gets recognized as soon as he takes the exam because he looks so much like his father! [Laughing]

4. 4 穿 I Became a Marquis's Illegitimate Son, and the Imperial Exams Won Me a Wife and Glory for My Descendants 穿成侯府庶子，我靠科举封妻荫子 Zhuang Sheng Mi庄生迷Ancient Romance530k WordsCompleted A sickly modern-day man transmigrates overnight into Su Yiheng, the illegitimate eldest son of the Marquis of Ningyuan's household. Born prematurely and frail, he lost his mother young, leaving his little sister without a protector. Their stepmother is sweet-tongued but wicked at heart. If he wants a peaceful life, the military path is out of reach, so he'll pursue a career as a civil official through the imperial examinations! After two lifetimes of being weak, Su Yiheng looks at the graceful y 13.3kReads8.8Score1.6kShelves

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   These two books are very good.

5. 5 大 The Great Zhou’s Number One Villain Raises a Top Scholar 大周第一奸臣，养出了个状元郎 Little Cow Goes Online小母牛上网Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [Transmigration] [Imperial Examinations] [Court Politics] [No Golden Finger] The short drama is now streaming on Fanqie under the title The Playboy Takes Up His Brush to Protect the Realm (Season 1). After transmigrating to Great Zhou, Gu Chang'an finds himself the son of a treacherous minister, reviled by everyone. His father, Gu Mingyuan, wields immense power at court. He purges the court and suppresses the scholars, earning the condemnation of the realm's literati as a traitor to the nation 113.5kReads8.6Score13kShelves

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   It's mainly about being a bit silly; it's enjoyable and feels quite realistic. Aside from the somewhat abrupt transition from a lazy, aimless start to a serious student, and the astonishing pace of his studies, there's nothing else particularly noteworthy. However, this is probably a common flaw in this type of story. Overall, I'd highly recommend it.

6. 6 女 A Woman in a Man’s Body: Lord Fuguang Goes on a Killing Spree 女穿男：扶光君他杀疯了 Shi Yi蒔宜Ancient Romance814k WordsOngoing [Female-to-Male Transmigration + No Romance + Literary Plagiarism + Jinx + Aristocratic Scion’s Exam Success Story] Also known as: The Azure Luan Chronicles Song Hezhen was a brilliant academic in the 22nd century, a top student who graduated from Cambridge with two doctorates. After completing her studies, she was just about to return home and contribute to her country’s development. But life is unpredictable: the plane she was on crashed, and just like that, Song Hezhen kicked the bucket! When 4.7kReads7.4Score516Shelves

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   A woman transmigrates into a man's body, the eldest grandson of a prestigious family, doted on by everyone, popular with both men and women, a legendary figure, a story of imperial examinations, and a satisfying read. The female protagonist is reborn as a boy, the eldest grandson of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, starting at the peak of her life. Moreover, her father has fertility issues, making him her only son. She's pampered by the whole family. She's also the last disciple of a renowned Confucian scholar. Having graduated with two PhDs from Cambridge in her previous life, her memory in this life is photographic, allowing her to plagiarize. She has androgynous features, and her cheat ability is a jinx—while she can't directly kill people, she easily brings them great misfortune.

7. 7 科 The Imperial Exams! After Ten Years of Study, I Pass and Take Down the Nobility 科举！寒窗十年，上岸就斩勋贵 Zhuoran卓燃Historical1.7M WordsOngoing “The autumn wind howls in August, sweeping three layers of thatch from my roof!” The moment Mei Cheng'an opened his eyes, he found himself facing a catastrophe. Framed and cast out of the marquis's household by his own father, he was now being hunted, with his life hanging by a thread. He chose to fake his death and flee south to seek refuge with family friends. On the way, however, he ran into an imperial inspector investigating a case. From the inspector, he learned that his family friends had 9.3kReads8.1Score475Shelves

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   Son of a noble family, grand-disciple of a Grand Secretary! 🌈 Unlike other imperial examination novels, this one isn't filled with mundane family dramas, and even two hundred chapters won't get to the court. This one progresses quickly; the protagonist becomes a child prodigy at age 6, and at 16, he tops the Millennium Dragon and Tiger List, achieving the highest rank of six. Right there in court, he avenges his mother—his father is demoted, his stepmother is executed—revenge is served without hesitation, super satisfying and not frustrating at all! (Template: Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty)

8. 8 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

   Reader note

   These are all examination essays, but none of them are from peasant families.

9. 9 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
10. 10 我 I Conquer the Imperial Exams in a Male-Oriented Novel 我在男频科举文里大杀四方 A Little Fish Roe一只鱼籽Ancient Romance341k WordsCompleted After dying, Lin Muwei transmigrates from her former life as an office worker into the body of the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an. With powerful enemies outside and schemers within, the beautiful young woman has to pass herself off as a man, disguising her gender to fool everyone! Pampered beyond measure, Lin Muwei sets her sights on becoming the capital’s number-one wastrel! Who could have guessed that the marquis’s household would suddenly fall from favor, and Lin Muwei would turn t 254Reads6.2Score—Shelves

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    These!! ① A woman dressed as a man, the eldest grandson of a noble family, achieving the highest rank in the imperial examinations, serving three emperors, and becoming famous throughout history. ② A woman disguised as a man, the youngest daughter of a noble family, achieving the highest rank in the imperial examinations.

11. 11 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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    These books all have high ratings; they're enjoyable, with fast-paced plots, engaging storylines, and a fresh feel. They also avoid any incongruous historical settings or overly dramatic or pretentious scenes, maintaining a gentle tone. The first book tells the story of Li Yu, who lost his father at a young age and moved with his mother to Yingshan County after her remarriage to Li Gang, the county inspector. Li Gang treated him like his own son, personally attending to his needs and showing genuine concern. Li Yu, in turn, worked hard and rose to a high-ranking official position. The second book features a protagonist from a peasant family who improves his family's circumstances through his own efforts and diligent study. After becoming an official, he is known for his diligence and service to the people. The third book features the son of a fallen duke, whose mother is extremely wealthy. The fourth book features a father who is a scholar...

12. 12 古 A Young Master's Daily Life as a Scholar in Ancient Times 古代少爷读书日常 Linlin Loves You for Ten Thousand Years琳琳爱你一万年Ancient Romance327k WordsCompleted Also known as Back to the Days of Youth at Yuzhang and The Eldest Legitimate Grandson’s Code The everyday life of a young nobleman in ancient times, a favored son of heaven (school + family life, etc.) Yuzhang’s spirited yet chaotic student life at the Imperial Academy! P.S. He transmigrates into a book, with no golden finger and no CP, though he does have a wife who serves as a tool and whom he feels no affection for. The male lead will take the imperial examinations and become an official. The 5.5kReads6.9Score493Shelves

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    One is a male-oriented novel, and the other is a female-oriented novel; both are good. Highly recommended! 👍🏻

13. 13 穿 Transmigrated as Su Zhe, I’m Getting Rich and Rising in Rank Just to Rescue My Brother 穿越成苏辙，升官发财只为捞亲哥 Autumn Clematis剪秋萝Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Su Shi speaks his mind and makes enemies; Su Zhe gets promoted, gets rich, and bails his brother out. Semi-alternate history, with respect for historical events and figures.] The ultimate ensemble cast makes its entrance in turn: Bao Zheng, Shen Kuo, Ouyang Xiu, Han Qi, Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong, Sima Guang, Emperor Renzong of Song, Emperor Yingzong of Song, Emperor Shenzong of Song, Emperor Zhezong of Song, Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Huaimin, Cai Jing, Li Qingzhao, and Yue Fei. A l 2.4kReads8.6Score708Shelves

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    🍃First book: The male protagonist transmigrates and becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination to survive and improve his life. He is the son of the retired emperor (this was unknown before, but he was discovered because he looks like him). He has a good relationship with his father and brothers and is skilled in martial arts.🍃Second book: The protagonist transmigrates into the posthumous son of a county magistrate and takes the imperial examination to protect his family's wealth.🍃Third book: The male protagonist transmigrates into Su Zhe, and there is an imperial examination plot. He is outspoken and offends people like Su Shi, but he also helps his brother Su Zhe get promoted and make money. It's a semi-fictional story.🍃Fourth book: The female protagonist transmigrates with a system that requires her to take the imperial examination. She disguises herself as a man and comes from a wealthy family. She is elegant and refined. I love this one!

14. 14 穿 After I Transmigrated, My Husband and I Were Nothing Like Each Other! 穿越之我和夫郎才不是对照组！ Oh, Autumn, Autumn Swordfish秋呀秋刀鱼Two Male Leads1.0M WordsCompleted By a twist of fate, Yan Tianze accidentally transmigrates into a political intrigue novel about household infighting that he once happened to read, becoming the Yan Tianze who shares his name! He and his newlywed husband are the antagonistic foils to the book's two protagonists, a pair of wicked cannon-fodder villains who obstruct them at every turn. The original book portrays his new husband as petty and vindictive, always going against the protagonists. But the protagonists have the halo of ma 4.3kReads8.4Score433Shelves
15. 15 侯 The Marquis's Son Takes the Imperial Exams 侯府子科举 Clear Wind, River and Stream清风川溪Historical620k WordsCompleted When fortune’s winds are fair, I’ll seize their strength and climb the ladder above the crowd. Before the palace gates, whips crack; the road to the clouds is lined with seven beams of purple jade. I have mastered the Four Books and Five Classics, and trained with blades, spears, swords, bows, and halberds. If I will not give myself to the realm, then what was the point of all my self-cultivation? A single-heroine story. Many thanks to all my readers. 430Reads7.1Score—Shelves
16. 16 状 The Top Scholar Is Real, and So Is the Beggar 状元是真的，乞丐也是真的 Half a Steamed Bun半片馒头Historical171k WordsOngoing Shen Mo, a Peking University history professor, wakes up one day as a nameless beggar. No household registration, no food, no shoes, and only a yellow dog so thin its skin clings to its bones. He spent thirty years studying the imperial examinations in his previous life, yet in this one he cannot even get near an exam hall. From a ruined temple to the Golden Throne Hall, from eating tree bark to earning top honors. The top scholar is real, and so is the beggar. 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    2. The only realistic imperial examination on the entire internet! While others start with the God of Literature, I relied on begging for paper and pens, and after more than ten years of hard study, I finally reached the top. The number one historical novel on Tomato!

17. 17 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
18. 18 小 The Daily Life of a Minor Official's Son Preparing for the Imperial Exams 小官之子科举日常 Ninth Day of the First Month良月初九Historical377k WordsCompleted [Woman Transmigrates into a Man + Imperial Exams + Farmer's Son + No Problematic Family Members + No Pocket Dimension + No Golden Finger] Lin He, a graduate student in history, transmigrates into the Great Qi, a dynasty that never existed in history, and goes from being a woman to a man. His family has nothing to its name: his father is a catlike academic prodigy, his mother a tigerlike farmer, and Lin He's life is a constant struggle. Fortunately, his father earned the jinshi degree early on, a 1.8kReads8.8Score130Shelves
19. 19 穿 I Became a Farm Girl, and My Son Is a Top Imperial Exam Scholar 穿成农家小娘子，儿子是科举大佬 Better to Step Back and Cast a Net不如退而结网Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (Dual transmigration, farming, the imperial examinations, family life, building wealth, and a warm, happy life) (No System, no pocket dimension, no golden finger. Both the female lead and her son have transmigrated.) (The female lead is hardworking, clever, beautiful, and capable. The male lead seems honest on the surface, but is actually hopelessly devoted to her, fiercely protective of his family, and scrupulously faithful. Their son is a prodigy who never forgets anything he reads, and he’s r 14.6kReads8.5Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    ① The female lead transmigrates into the body of a child, and later the male lead transmigrates into her womb as well. He's an adorable mama's boy, and the story is very heartwarming. ② The male lead lives with his mother after she remarries, so he has no worries about food or drink and can focus on his studies. His stepfather's family is also very kind.

20. 20 退 After Breaking Off the Engagement, the Foolish Princess Marries the Ninth Lord with Her Four Maids 退婚后，傻妃携四大丫鬟嫁九千岁 Clingy Little Tomato粘人小番茄Ancient Romance1.8M WordsOngoing [Palace Intrigue + Household Intrigue + Historical Romance + Princess Consort + Legitimate Daughter + Medical Skills + Two Powerful Leads + Cunning + Playing the Fool + Reborn + Fiercely Protective + Political Scheming] 99% of the comments are positive! Read with confidence! Su Qian, once the leader of a special forces unit in the apocalypse, died unexpectedly while carrying out a mission. With her portable medical space, she transmigrated to ancient times and into the residence of a great gener 22.8kReads8.1Score3.8kShelves

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    The female lead, a master of slapping faces, starts by announcing her engagement and humiliating her, drawing massive hatred from the start. Her four maids come to the rescue, instantly turning the tide and delivering an exhilarating experience. On the surface, she appears to be a foolish and useless legitimate daughter, but in reality, she's a cunning and ruthless post-apocalyptic special agent and leader. [Cool]

21. 21 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

    Even I, a woman, love this book, hehehe! It's a pity I can't finish it all at once, as it's still being serialized. The storyline is excellent; it's about a male protagonist who transmigrates into a family with six older sisters, becoming their support. Later, he encounters war, flees his hometown, and after the war ends, he passes the imperial examinations... It's not finished yet, but it's good, exciting, and worth recommending!

22. 22 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

    Reader note

    Ren Junjie, a history major, became the eldest son of the richest man. With his knowledge from his previous life and his hard work, he shone brightly in the imperial examination and became the sixth-ranked scholar.

23. 23 首 The Chief Minister's Road to the Imperial Examinations 首辅的科举之路 Adoring You at Dawn and Dusk朝暮倾卿Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + No pocket dimension + Heartwarming family + No ridiculous characters] [The male lead works hard and climbs the ranks one step at a time through his own efforts] [The male lead is devoted; the female lead appears fairly late. The story begins with the imperial examinations and later moves into officialdom] [No forced stupidity, no self-righteous saint, and no fake innocent heroine] Xu Xingfeng, a county-level civil servant in a twenty-first-century town, suddenly finds himself 6.7kReads8.9Score616Shelves
24. 24 探 The Top Scholar Is a Woman! 探花郎，她是女儿身！ I'm Not a Heroine我不是女侠Ancient Romance743k WordsOngoing [Disguised as a Man + Transmigrate + Imperial Examinations and Court Intrigue + Ensemble Cast + Infrastructure Building + Equally Matched Couple + Beloved by All + Daily Life] A sensation swept through Jiangnan: the Jiang family, wealthy merchants for generations, had produced a scholar. Rumor had it that supporting this scholar cost the Jiang family enough in a year to sustain an ordinary household in Pingjiang Prefecture for three generations. A curious onlooker counted it all on his fingers, 166.1kReads8.9Score33.4kShelves

    Reader note

    1. Super good-looking, the writing is very delicate.

25. 25 朕 I Was Turned Gay, and Now You're Telling Me You're a Woman? 朕都被掰弯了，你说你是女儿身 Nong Yu弄玉Ancient Romance606k WordsCompleted (Not a wish-fulfillment story, and no golden finger.) Zhao Xuanye is an emperor who commands the realm. He could have any beautiful woman he wanted, yet he falls for one of his ministers. This outrageous thought, so unworthy of his ancestors and their legacy, takes root in his mind and refuses to go away. He used to despise the spoiled young nobles in the capital who kept pretty boys as companions. He had ordered countless male brothels closed. Now he has become the very sort of person he once h 41.3kReads8.8Score6.6kShelves
26. 26 我 I Passed the Palace Exam, and You're Telling Me I'm a Princess? 我都中状元了，你说我是公主？ Give Me a Little Star给我一颗小星星Ancient Romance579k WordsOngoing [No romance, female emperor] Yun Zhao is reborn into the family of a wealthy merchant in ancient times. At first, she thinks a life of comfort, with everything she needs and someone to look after her, sounds pretty good. Then she learns that being single is actually a crime in the Da Ning Dynasty! Any unmarried woman aged sixteen or older, or man aged nineteen or older, must pay a fine of two taels of silver each year. Unmarried women aged twenty or older, and men aged twenty-two or older, will 38.1kReads8.8Score4.7kShelves
27. 27 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

    The first book is about Wei Yunzhou, the illegitimate son of the Duke's family, taking the imperial examination. It also includes other content and is really good. The second book is about the entire clan supporting Qin Siqi's education. After his father's death, he was raised by his mother, Liu. His uncles and brothers are all very kind, and the book also includes content about a drought. It's also quite good.

28. 28 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

    Reader note

    The concubine's son of the Marquis's family, the mistress is quite nice.

29. 29 在 I Had a Fiancée in Ancient Times 在古代有个未婚妻 Reincarnation转生Ancient Romance271k WordsCompleted After three years of high school, Xiao Yansheng sets off on a graduation trip. A tsunami strikes, and a towering wave sends him flying. When he opens his eyes again, he has become an eight-year-old boy in ancient times. And as if that weren't enough, he somehow has a fiancée! And so the story begins... 11.4kReads8.8Score973Shelves

    Reader note

    I've read this book twice!

30. 30 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

    Reader note

    Look here!!! The first book: When Xu Yue was born, the system created a dream for her landlord grandfather, saying that she was a literary star reincarnated, but accidentally reincarnated as a girl. Later, she even achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations and became a powerful minister! The female lead is also extremely beautiful, with one chapter focusing on her looks. Her personality is gentle and polite; she can be considered the white moonlight of a prosperous dynasty! The second book: Adapted from *Dream of the Red Chamber*, the male lead is Lin Daiyu's younger brother. He achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations at a young age, is humble and polite, but is actually a bit of a darkie. This book also presents a different Lin Daiyu; it's really good, I suggest reading a few chapters first!

31. 31 黛 Daiyu Has a Younger Brother, and the Red Chamber Is in Chaos 黛玉有弟红楼乱 Gu Lala顾拉拉Female-Channel Fanfiction1.2M WordsCompleted Lin Jingyan, the eldest son of the Lin family, returned to the age of three. After lying unconscious in bed for two years, he woke just before his elder sister left for the Rongguo Mansion. In his previous life, after he died, he stayed by his sister’s side and shared her entire life. He saw that even the Lin family’s immense wealth could not keep their only daughter safe. So this time, I’ll do it myself! But don’t cry, Sis. My head hurts. 30kReads9.0Score3.5kShelves
32. 32 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

    🔥①The most-read novel about the imperial examination system: Loving parents, harmonious brothers, and biased grandparents—but before he could even throw a tantrum, his parents were the first to object! ②A reborn younger brother with almost supernatural wisdom, and a brother who was tricked onto the path of the imperial examination system.

33. 33 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
34. 34 在 Life as a Kept Man in Ancient Times 在古代吃软饭的日子 Uncle Chen Who Loves Honeycomb Egg Yolk Pastries爱吃蜂巢蛋黄角的陈伯Ancient Romance529k WordsCompleted Someone asked Lu Chao how he became the youngest Minister of Works in the empire. What was the secret to his success? Lu Chao glanced at the person beside him and smiled. “First, you need to have a general for a wife.” The story of Lu Chao, a modern-day corporate drone who accidentally transmigrates to ancient times. He originally plans to lie flat, but ultimately becomes a wise minister of his generation. 5.5kReads8.8Score413Shelves

    Reader note

    This story isn't about a farmer's son; the male protagonist is from an official family and is also taking the imperial examinations. The plot is quite good.

35. 35 飞 After Failing to Ascend, I Became the Little White Emperor 飞升失败后成了小白皇帝 Wine God, Green Grape酒神葡萄绿Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted A male-lead, no-romance, ancient-world kingdom-building story with a golden finger: he’s the only cultivator in the world Synopsis: After transmigrating to the cultivation world and failing to ascend, I’m reborn as a prince in an ancient kingdom. The good news is that this world has spiritual energy, so I can keep cultivating. The bad news is that the throne somehow falls into my lap. I have to be a good emperor and cultivate the Dao properly. My dream of ascending hasn’t changed. You people nee 11kReads9.3Score877Shelves

    Reader note

    This person doesn't need to take an exam to become emperor.

36. 36 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

    Reader note

    These novels all feature hardworking and resilient male protagonists, without any special advantages or systems. There's no cooking or buying sons, no family infighting, and no clan discord.

37. 37 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
38. 38 科 The Imperial Exams: A Bookish Son in a Clan of Illiterates 科举：九族文盲出了个读书郎 I'm a Pighead我是猪头Historical1.3M WordsCompleted [Complete] [Imperial Examinations] [Transmigration + No System] [No heroine in the early story; there may or may not be one later, and if there is, she won't get much page time] Not a single person in the Gu clan, spanning nine generations, could read or write. Even the family genealogy had been written by the clan chief through a mixture of guesswork and asking around. Then, all of a sudden, this family produced a scholar. At first, the villagers and the Gu clan relatives had little faith in Gu 80.6kReads8.7Score9.1kShelves
39. 39 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
40. 40 科 I Came First in the Imperial Exams and Became a Just Official in Ancient Times 科举成状元，我在古代当青天 The Crown Prince Who Loves Radish Meatballs爱吃萝卜肉圆的王储Historical1.2M WordsCompleted An ordinary female college student is reborn in an imaginary ancient dynasty, where she becomes a man. As he struggles to adapt to this era, he sees the hardships of the common people, the extravagance of the powerful elite, the integrity of scholars, and the opportunism of politicians. This is a society ruled by a brutal class system. Unluckily for him, he has been reborn here, and all he wants is to live with dignity. Study, take the imperial examinations, become an official. At first, he only 1.2kReads8.5Score101Shelves
41. 41 纨 The Playboy Won Me a Noble Title, and the Reborn Matriarch Went on a Killing Spree 纨绔为我夺诰命，重生主母杀疯了 Folded in the Mist折雾里Ancient Romance905k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication] [Clear-headed, independent true heiress x play-the-pig-to-eat-the-tiger fake wastrel] [Female-oriented fiction + heroine reborn + hero transmigrates + political intrigue] After more than ten years as the wife of the Ningyuan Marquis's heir, managing the household and dutifully serving her parents-in-law, Shen Tangning believed she had done nothing wrong. Not until the usually distant heir began an affair with her half sister, now married to his younger brother, and they 58.8kReads9.2Score7.8kShelves

    Reader note

    This one is about a transmigrated man and a reborn woman.

42. 42 大 Ming Dynasty: My Years as Zhu Yuanzhang's Heckler 大明，我给老朱当喷子的那些年 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical1.4M WordsCompleted If there’s anything you think could be improved, please point it out gently. I’ll make changes. Thank you. The protagonist’s official career: Investigating Censor, Supervising Censor, County Magistrate, Inspecting Censor and Deputy Censor-in-Chief, Censor-in-Chief, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Cautious Diligence and Minister of Personnel. Gu Chen opens his eyes and finds himself in the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, as a low-ranking remonstrance official. He ha 50.4kReads9.1Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Having transmigrated to the Ming Dynasty, I was forced to work diligently under Zhu Yuanzhang. Every day I hoped for Zhu Yuanzhang's abdication and Zhu Yuanzhang's ascension, fearing that one wrong move would wipe out my entire family. I lived a life of quiet desperation, witnessing the rise of the Ming Dynasty to become the world's strongest power.

43. 43 状 The Top Scholar Becomes a County Magistrate: An Unusual Road to Success 状元当县令，不一样的青云路 Luo Wuwu落五五Ancient Romance2.1M WordsOngoing [Alternate History + Nation-Building + Farming + Court Politics + No Romance] The main story is complete, and bonus chapters are still being updated~ The rating is low because so few people have rated it. Come give it a look! ₍˄·͈༝·͈˄*₎◞ ̑̑ Warnings: This is a brainless power fantasy!!! Please don't post opinions like how modern people would act, how ancient people would act, or how the protagonist's actions make no sense. If you think a modern person sent back in time couldn't do anything, feel 14.3kReads8.8Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    He's from a prestigious family, and he starts as the top scholar in the imperial examinations. The political intrigue is well-written, and he has family support, so he's not fighting alone. If you're interested, you can check it out!

44. 44 乱 Civil Service Exams in a Troubled Age: A Farmer's Son's Road to Glory 乱世科举：农家子的光耀门楣路 Tiger of the Year of the Tiger虎年的老虎Historical232k WordsOngoing The Li family had a young rogue who stole chickens, picked pockets, loafed around, and never learned a thing. After stealing a bellyband and making advances on a young woman, he was beaten to death. With no food at home and his father paralyzed, he faced a hopeless start. His weathered, stooped grandfather stood by as the young man picked up a book and entered the imperial examinations. Everyone in the village waited to laugh. The notorious Li Rogue passing the exams would be the biggest joke of 60Reads6.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    He transmigrates into the body of a notorious peasant ruffian, his family impoverished, his father paralyzed, and his grandfather old and frail. Faced with a disastrous start, he resolutely picks up his books and strives for success in the imperial examinations. From the universally ridiculed "Li the Ruffian" to a brilliant scholar who tops the list, he leads his family to rise again, only to be forced into the power struggles of a chaotic world. To protect his loved ones, the scholar takes up a gun, carving a path to heaven through thorns and brambles.

45. 45 农 A Farmboy's Guide to the Imperial Exams: I'm One Lucky Layabout! 农家科举子我是躺赢狗！ A Worthless Cow一文不值的牛Historical217k WordsCompleted Li Xuan opens his eyes and finds himself inexplicably transported to a dynasty called Great Qi. The country is in desperate need of rebuilding, and he is a farmer's son, the hope his whole family is counting on… 43Reads—Score—Shelves
46. 46 科 Rising Through the Imperial Exams: Changing My Family's Fate 科举兴家：带着全家改换门庭 Fei Tu斐涂Ancient Romance2.4M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + transmigration + farming + no golden finger] [Romance included. The male lead is devoted to one woman. The heroine appears less often, and romance is not the main plot.] [The male lead is talented, but he still has to work hard. He climbs the ranks one step at a time.] A top student who had just graduated suddenly transmigrates into the body of a farmer’s son in ancient times. Determined not to spend his whole life farming, he embarks on the long road to the imperial exa 10kReads6.9Score757Shelves
47. 47 卖 Selling Vegetables and Studying, Then Becoming the Top Scholar 卖菜读书，结果高中状元 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.1M WordsCompleted After Shen Qingfeng dies alongside the Zombie Emperor in the apocalypse, he transmigrates to an alternate dynasty called Great Chu and becomes a child in Ning'an Village. The boy, nicknamed Dog Egg, is frail from birth, suffers from heart disease, and has a lowly name. Luckily, his proper name is Shen Yu'an. After studying for a few months with the elders, Shen Yu'an decides to take the imperial examinations, only to discover that his ancestors were exiles, and the descendants of exiles for thre 5.5kReads8.9Score573Shelves

    Reader note

    This isn't a farmer's son; he's the son of a disgraced official! Hahahaha, who would have thought?

48. 48 她 She Held a Reunion Feast, and the Entire Court Showed Up? 她办个同窗宴，满朝文武都来了？ Little Su Mehmeh小素咩咩Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Group transmigration + ensemble cast + no System + imperial examinations + everyday academy life in the early story + political intrigue in the middle and later story] (Everyone is highly intelligent and career-driven; the heroine has no romance) An earthquake sent Zhu Lan and her entire class of top students into a book, where they became a notorious group of failures! How could they turn things around? Oh, apparently all they had to do was pass the highest-level imperial exam. What a relief! 10.5kReads9.1Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is set in a fictional dynasty, allowing female protagonists to take the imperial examinations and travel through time with their classmates. It features an ensemble cast of highly capable individuals, academies, imperial examinations, ensemble characters, political intrigue, and no romantic pairings.

49. 49 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

    Reader note

    This book doesn't really feature a peasant's son; it's just that his family has fallen on hard times. But right from the start, the protagonist takes a young master as his elder brother and becomes his page (without a contract of servitude!). Then the young master's whole family fawns over the protagonist, simply because the protagonist can tutor this academically challenged young master. It's hilarious!

50. 50 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

    It's beautiful, incredibly beautiful, I love it so much!

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