Looking for Imperial Exam Novels with No Romance! 求无CP科举文！！！

1. 1 魔 The Demon Venerable Is Reborn as a Baby and Helps His Father Pass the Imperial Exams 魔尊胎穿崽，陪爹考科举 Show-Off with the Hazard Lights On显眼包开双闪Ancient Romance663k WordsOngoing [Reborn and reincarnated from infancy; farming in the early stages; imperial exams in the middle; officialdom later on; warm family bonds; no romance; adored by everyone] The Demon Lord Shen Yan got a fresh start one day, only to be reborn by mistake as a child born to a cuckold. His cheap father had been cuckolded so badly that his head was practically green-black. So what? At least he had a father now! His father was in poor health? No problem. Three-year-old Shen Yan dragged over a big stool, 1.2kReads9.0Score10314d adds

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   This is a novel about imperial examinations, with no romantic pairing. It features rebirth/reincarnation, early farming, mid-stage imperial examinations, late-stage officialdom, a heartwarming family story, and the protagonist being the beloved Demon Lord Shen Yan. Shen Yan fails his tribulation and is reborn as a cuckold. His cheap father is undeniably cuckolded, but so what? He has a father now. His father is in poor health, so he cooks for him and provides acupuncture. He takes care of his father and takes the imperial examinations with him. Though not blood-related, their bond is stronger than blood; father and son depend on each other, and the villagers are kind to them. However, one day, Shen Yan notices that his father looks strangely familiar. His father is also bewildered: why does his son look more and more like him? Father and son stumble and struggle together, eventually rising from a small mountain village to the capital for the imperial examinations. After more than a decade of arduous study, they both achieve top honors in the examinations, riding horses together through the imperial streets. The theme is relatively novel, the author's writing is good, and there is some cultivation element, though not much. It's worth reading. "What I seek is not what you desire. Knowing it is wrong, yet you do not change your greed." "We should encourage each other and go to the palace together on the same day."

2. 2 科 The Imperial Exams: I Conquered the World with Poetry 科举，我靠诗文名动天下 Whose Great Sage Is This?谁家大圣Historical674k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + no romance + alternate world + poetry and prose + fortune-telling by characters + sixfold honors in the imperial examinations + infrastructure + political intrigue] An imperial-examination story. Sheng Yu transmigrates to ancient times as a three-and-a-half-year-old child. He begins his studies right away, enters the finest academy in Jiangnan, then advances through the prefectural school and a tribute recommendation to the Imperial Academy. Step by step, he grows up and 1.1kReads8.4Score10214d adds

   Reader note

   No romantic pairing; the male lead is focused on passing the imperial examinations and building his career—a male-centric story.

3. 3 科 Rise Through the Imperial Exams to the Ninth Heaven, and Bring Peace to the World 科举拏云登九霄，应许世间太平年 Little Lamb Doesn't Know Leaves小羊不识叶Historical117k WordsOngoing [Imperial Examinations + Political Intrigue + Ensemble Cast] What is it like to be the son of a prominent Guangling family? Lu Bu replies: That's not something a son of a concubine from a collateral branch needs to worry about. (smiles) [About how my great-great-great-grandfather was from a collateral branch] [Having clean sleeves is a matter of circumstance] A father who scrambles for every advantage, a principal wife who looks on from the sidelines, a legitimate elder brother who constantly ta 61Reads—Score10414d adds

   Reader note

   These two books are great. The first one is a new find, and it's very well written. The second one I've been following closely; the Imperial Examination section is a very authoritative source.

4. 4 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 216.4kReads9.3Score21.7k14d adds

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   This book is incredibly good, very intellectually stimulating, the main character is incredibly resourceful, it's so good, I beg you, it's really good, the whole family is wonderful.

5. 5 举 Your Whole Family Hopes You'll Pass the Scholar Exam, but You Top All Six? 举家盼你中秀才，你六元连中？ A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations in the early chapters + farming + everyday life + lighthearted + court politics later on] In his previous life, Shen Zhou was in poor health and cultivated himself through a quiet, disciplined lifestyle, becoming rather indifferent by nature. Then he transmigrated to an ancient peasant family. The entire Shen family pooled their resources to support the original owner’s studies, hoping only that he would pass the county-level examination and become a licentiate. Sadly, the 14.7kReads8.7Score1.4k14d adds

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   🐣🐣 Imperial examination + daily life + lightheartedness + imperial court: Shen Zhou, who has a congenital illness, transmigrates into the body of a peasant boy. Good news: healthy body, all limbs intact. Bad news: burdened with debt, failed the examination three times. Shen Zhou: an unfavorable start. The teacher tells Shen Zhou to go home and think things through before returning to school. He does understand. He returns to school, but becomes his classmates' nightmare. Family, who understands? This person's efforts are sporadic. The most infuriating thing is, he actually passed the examination! His classmates shed tears. Shen Zhou helplessly shrugs: He doesn't care about passing the imperial examination; he's not a scoundrel.

6. 6 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 28kReads9.4Score2.7k14d adds

   Reader note

   My lack of education was my downfall.

7. 7 宋 The Struggles of a Poor Family in the Song Dynasty 宋代寒门的奋斗史 De Boerba德波尔巴Historical1.1M WordsCompleted In the blink of an eye, a history PhD from the 21st century becomes the second son of a farming family outside Bianliang City. His family is dirt poor, the elders are shortsighted, and they even have a “precious heir” whom the whole family must support. As the second son of a branch family whom no one takes seriously, watch how Chen He works his way up, crosses class boundaries, and leaps from the farm into a new life. 1.7kReads7.6Score14714d adds

   Reader note

   I've been reading this recently, and so far it's a no-romance (no romantic pairing) imperial examination novel! The author is still updating it. The protagonist's journey isn't entirely smooth sailing; the story is quite pragmatic and follows the rules, but I find it very realistic. The protagonist is a PhD in modern times, truly a prodigy, but in ancient times, where heroes are as numerous as fish in a river, he has to grovel and is completely outmatched. He needs to work incredibly hard just to even get close to the imperial examinations. Plus, the policy essays and other related content are quite interesting.

8. 8 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 11.3kReads8.9Score94914d adds

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   ☀Personally tested🌹 The male lead transmigrates back to his past life and takes the imperial examination to change his tragic fate. He tries hard at first, but later gives up after getting a powerful backer. In short, he wanted to rely on his talent but ended up living a life of luxury because of his looks. No romance, super sweet.

9. 9 开 From the Start, Disguised as a Man, I Rose to First Rank Through the Imperial Exams 开局女扮男装，我靠科举官居一品 I Want to Make Money爷要赚钱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Disguised as a man + imperial examinations and court intrigue + rises to the highest office + one heroine, focused on her career] When Xie Qingfeng opens her eyes, she's handed a nightmare of a life: a house with bare walls, and a woman forced to disguise herself as a man. In an age when everything is considered inferior to scholarship, if she doesn't fight for her place, she'll be crushed to pieces. Since she's here, she'll give it everything she's got! As a woman, she enters the imperial cour 48kReads9.3Score5.9k14d adds

   Reader note

   The last two books are not about the imperial examinations (no romantic pairing).

10. 10 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 14.1kReads8.8Score1.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is super good! No romance, no ambiguous relationships, the main characters are dedicated to the people, the logic is sound, and everyone is a normal person. Three chapters a day.

11. 11 胎 Reborn in the Womb, I Play at Revenge in an Imperial Exam Novel 胎穿后我在科举文里玩复仇 Ants Love Climbing Walls蚂蚁爱爬墙Historical345k WordsCompleted [Humble Origins + Daily Life + Revenge + Imperial Examinations + Political Scheming + Cunning + No CP + Small Pocket Space (Though I guess a dozen cubic meters still counts)] The orphan Chen Zhijing is born into another life and becomes Chen Shijiu. At last, he has a grandmother who loves him more than life itself, along with parents and an older brother. Just when he thinks he can spend this life happily with his family, working together toward a comfortable life, he is forced onto the path of 302Reads7.3Score—14d adds
12. 12 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Historical4.3M 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 46.6kReads8.9Score4.1k14d adds
13. 13 女 After Reincarnating as a Man, She Studies Her Way to Restore Her Family's Honor 女穿男后，靠读书为家族改换门楣 Little Meatball Is Super Skinny小肉丸子超级瘦Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted A 38-year-old office drone transmigrates into the body of a little boy, working hard to act cute by day and studying himself to death by night. He, Jiang Mingfei, is the sole heir in four generations of the Jiang family, and he’s determined to lead them all to a better life. “Grandpa, your fifties are the perfect age to strive for success. How about taking a look at past provincial examination questions?” “Father, I heard that passing the provincial-level imperial exam qualifies you for an offic 3.3kReads8.6Score36214d adds
14. 14 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 119.8kReads9.6Score11.5k14d adds
15. 15 重 Reborn as a Man: Feng Qiansui Rules the Court 重生女扮男装：凤千岁权倾朝野 A Duo Guli阿朵古丽Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Completed. Villainess + woman disguising herself as a man + reborn + strong heroine + no romance The heroine is a true villain: greedy, ruthless, highly skilled in martial arts, and sharp-tongued! Scene One: Asking the Emperor for money Emperor: “I appoint you imperial inspector for the south. Investigate the affairs in Xuzhou thoroughly. If you find anyone committing crimes and undermining the state, and verify the evidence, punish them according to the law! I grant you this golden badge. Whoev 986Reads9.2Score13214d adds
16. 16 当 The Daily Life of a Government Official 当官日常 Sixteen Notes十六音Ancient Romance1.5M WordsOngoing (I’m a novice writer, and writing is just a hobby for fun. Please read this for a laugh. My writing is average, and I write purely for enjoyment. If you don’t like it, feel free not to read it, but please be kind.) Xu Yanzhi: a woman who isn’t blinded by love and cares only about building her career. Xu Yanzhi has both brains and brawn. As the emperor’s trusted aide, she enters the imperial court disguised as a man by imperial decree. “Xu Yanzhi, would you become my consort?” Xu Yanzhi drops to 96Reads8.5Score—14d adds
17. 17 拼 I Worked My Way to the Top Scholar in the Imperial Exams, and Now You Say I Have a Powerful Identity 拼命科举成状元，你才说我有身份 This Fish Wants to Eat Cats Now这鱼想吃猫了Historical1.6M WordsCompleted (A cathartic power fantasy: the protagonist never takes anything lying down, and never lets a grudge wait until tomorrow!) No romance + nation-building + imperial examinations + farming + alternate history + court intrigue A no-holds-barred power fantasy, with a decisive, ruthless protagonist!! If there's no justice in this world, then I'll carve it out with blood! If the great clans leave everyone with nowhere to turn, then I'll cut a path through them. The county magistrate's son toys with peo 33.1kReads9.0Score4k14d adds

    Reader note

    Both books are romance-free; those who enjoy fast-paced, action-packed stories should read the first one.

18. 18 科 The Imperial Exam Path to Success 科举助吾上青云 Glory Returned荣归Historical1.0M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a family of farmers who also valued education, Bai Zimu had grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts to support, as well as seven older sisters whose dowries had to be prepared. To escape the fighting on the border, the entire family moved back to their hometown. Along the way, they lost two of his sisters, and he himself nearly died. He wasn't strong enough to carry heavy loads or even lift much. In this underdeveloped world, Bai Zimu thought it over and realized that 3kReads9.0Score23614d adds

    Reader note

    The imperial examination novels on my bookshelf are highly recommended!

19. 19 不 If I Don’t Take the Imperial Exams, Should I Just Farm? 不科举，难道种地？ You Suo有所Historical1.5M WordsCompleted The new novel Sequence: Creator is currently being serialized. Give it a read! It's a story about surviving the apocalypse. Thank you 🙏. [Alternate History] [Imperial Examinations] [Plagiarist] [Political Scheming] [Farming] [No System] The barbarians on all four frontiers: anyone who dares invade will see their nation destroyed, their people wiped out, and their descendants cut off. I want this golden age to be exactly as I envision it. History is long, but I need only make the slightest effort 5.7kReads8.6Score39214d adds
20. 20 名 You Abandoned Me When I Failed the Imperial Exam, So Who Are You Now That I’ve Swept the Boards? 名落孙山你不陪，连中六元你是谁 Dragon in the Wind龙行风Historical1.3M WordsCompleted [The short drama is now available, and the print edition is in publication.][Slow-burn, warm, and humorous][Alternate history + business + imperial examinations + one female lead + no System] Su Run transmigrates into the body of a disgraced scholar who has lost both his parents, failed the imperial exams, and earned a notorious reputation as a lovesick doormat. When he opens his eyes, his fiancée is publicly putting him down and emotionally manipulating him, even threatening to break off their 18kReads8.8Score1.6k14d adds
21. 21 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 6.6kReads8.9Score60214d adds
22. 22 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 50.9kReads8.9Score6.3k14d adds
23. 23 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. 10.4kReads9.3Score91714d adds
24. 24 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 28.6kReads8.7Score2.7k14d adds
25. 25 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 22.8kReads9.5Score2.8k14d adds
26. 26 过 With a Photographic Memory, Isn’t It Only Natural I Came First in the Imperial Exam? 过目不忘，我中状元正常吧？ Mountaineer登山客Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Lu Chengan forgot to drink Granny Meng’s soup. One day, he transmigrates to a remote mountain village in the Great Zhou dynasty and becomes the second son of the Lu family’s second son. To take the imperial examinations, Lu Chengan has no choice but to urge his father to better himself. Before he knows it, his father becomes an official. Lu Chengan: Does he still need to work hard? 45.5kReads8.6Score4.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    Both books are quite well-written. The pairing only appears in the second book's epilogue. Both are already completed and worth reading!

27. 27 吃 Trying to Inherit My Family's Wealth? I Disguised Myself as a Man and Took the Imperial Exams, Winning All Six Honors 吃绝户？我女扮男装科举六元及第 Jiang Suiwan江岁晚Ancient Romance605k WordsOngoing [Imperial Examinations + No CP + A Woman Disguised as a Man (She Reveals Her Identity Once She Holds Great Power) + Political Intrigue + Ensemble Cast] Reborn into an ancient farming family as its only “son,” she is so despised by her entire clan that they wish she would die soon so they can seize the Lu family's estate. Lu Ming: That's no problem. So what if they try to trip her up and stop her from taking a master? She'll walk the road to success no matter what! After observing mourning for t 1.2kReads8.6Score24414d adds

    Reader note

    These are some well-written imperial examination novels from recent years. Don't be intimidated by the ratings; the author seems to have been hampered by the "ancient style and social commentary" genre, resulting in low exposure. The first book is by a previously completed imperial examination novel with a high rating, demonstrating good experience. It's a worthwhile read—the writing and plot are solid, insightful, and not mindless or simplistic. The second book is a new release this year, hence the lower rating, but it's safe and enjoyable to read.

28. 28 庶 The Concubine's Daughter Rises to Success: I Become the First Female Chief Minister Through the Imperial Exams 庶女青云：我靠科举成第一女首辅 Old Man Peach Blossom桃花老人Ancient Romance279k WordsOngoing The rating has just been posted; it will rise later. [No romance / Woman disguises herself as a man / Imperial examinations and official career / Later regains her female identity / Nation-building] Luo Qingyu transmigrated. A modern history PhD, she found herself in the body of a four-year-old girl. Her older sister was being forced to become someone's concubine, and her mother had smashed her head against a wall! The original owner had even been pushed into a lotus pond and drowned by the two 28Reads8.1Score—14d adds
29. 29 穿 Reborn as a Marquis's Bastard Son? Then I'll Take the Imperial Exams! 穿成侯门庶子？科举！科举！科举 Jin Rizhuhui晋日灼晖Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [Imperial Exams + Feel-Good Story + Business + Child Prodigy + Everyday Life + Political Intrigue] Song Mingyuan dies in a car accident and wakes up as an illegitimate son in the Marquis of Great Zhou's household. The good news: he has plenty to eat and wear, and maids to look after him. The bad news: his adoptive mother is his father's principal wife. Now that she has a son of her own, she sees Song Mingyuan as a thorn in her side and wants him dead! Song Mingyuan, who has transmigrated into t 17.7kReads8.2Score1.7k14d adds
30. 30 不 Wait, How Did a Family of Thugs Produce the Top Scholar? 不是，全家恶汉咋出状元了 Moonlight Turns to Dust惜月成尘Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Imperial Exams and Farming + Adorable Contrast + Ensemble Family Cast [His whole family looks like a band of cutthroats, yet somehow they have a celestial child destined to pass the palace exam!] Good news: Wang Xiaobao transmigrates, his parents are loving, and his three older brothers dote on him like he's the apple of their eye. Bad news: His father and brothers are nine feet tall and covered in bulging muscles. They can scare children into silence at night, and the county magistrate almost m 633Reads7.5Score10714d adds
31. 31 理 A Top Science Student Takes the Imperial Exams? His Majesty Is Stunned by His Brilliance 理科状元考科举？强到朕傻眼 Lucky Lin招财林Historical2.2M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + court politics + farming + alternate history + daily life + lighthearted + no romance] Li Su had barely had time to savor becoming the top scorer in the national college entrance exam when he transmigrated as the youngest son of the Li family. His whole family doted on him, even though they lived on coarse grain and vegetables, and supported his studies. The original owner had been led astray by his classmates. Selfish and only interested in having fun, he had ruined him 86.2kReads8.9Score8.3k14d adds
32. 32 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 5.4kReads8.9Score57914d adds

    Reader note

    Dog Egg's Journey to the Imperial Examinations, hahaha! No romance, so enjoy!

33. 33 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 47.9kReads8.8Score3.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    These three books are excellent!

34. 34 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. 2.9kReads8.8Score21914d adds
35. 35 女 A Woman Transmigrates as a Man: A Farmer’s Road to the Imperial Exams 女穿男：农家子的科举青云路 Shang Xinghe裳星河Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Female-to-male transmigration + imperial examinations + romance later on + remembered in history + founding the family tree] In her previous life, Qin Huan grew up in an orphanage and worked her way into a university degree. She landed a job at a major company and was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of success. Her only regret was never having much family to speak of. When she opened her eyes again, she had traveled from modern times to the past, and from a woman to a man. She had become 9.4kReads9.0Score1k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is super good, Xu Yue Xu Yue Xu Yue Xu Yue

36. 36 科 Imperial Exam Triumph: The Strongest Female Grand Secretary 科举逆袭：最强女首辅 Dressed in Splendor宝妆成Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted After finally becoming the first female heir in her family, she opens her eyes and finds herself back before the revolution. Her father is dead from the start, leaving her with a frail mother and three beautiful older sisters. She is the only son who can carry on the Cheng family line... Cheng Qing looks down at her slightly developed chest, wondering what on earth went wrong. Surrounded by scheming wolves, Cheng Qing, now with a new soul in her body, sets herself two small goals: First, keep pr 8.5kReads9.5Score1.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    These are all non-CP (couple pairing) imperial examination novels, featuring men disguised as women taking the imperial examinations, and the characters possessing a system, though its presence is very low.

37. 37 开 My Ancestors’ Graves Started Smoking from the Start: Disguised as a Man, I Take the Imperial Exams 开局祖坟冒青烟，女扮男装科举忙 Jiang Suiwan江岁晚Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Xie Yuheng transmigrates from the Apocalypse to a farming household, where a tyrant rules the land. With no other choice, she disguises herself as a boy. As she grows older, everyone in the surrounding villages comes to know that the Xie family's prodigy has an exceptionally clever mind. Too bad he's a sickly weakling who can't lift a finger or carry a load. Bystander: “You're so noble, so impressive! Your sickly family member just kicked someone through a wall!” The Xie family: “Does the head o 12.2kReads9.2Score1.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    Both of these books are great! [Heart emoji][heart emoji][thumbs up emoji][thumbs up emoji]

38. 38 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 6.2kReads8.4Score41514d adds

    Reader note

    I absolutely love it, but you need to be a little patient.

39. 39 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... 21.8kReads9.2Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    The plot is good, the content is decent, and there aren't any major flaws.

40. 40 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 17.6kReads9.1Score1.8k14d adds
41. 41 快 Quick Transmigration: I’m Here to Stand Up for My Mom 快穿：我来给我妈撑腰了 Gu Jinnian顾锦年Ancient Romance2.1M WordsCompleted [Male-lead quick transmigration; the small worlds may or may not have romance] 1. The son of a cannon-fodder crown princess (✓) According to historical records, Crown Prince Meng Zhang was exceptionally bright from a young age. He could write at three, fight at five, and was named crown prince at nine. He ascended the throne at just fifteen. Well-versed in history, he had grand ambitions. During his reign, he introduced a prefecture-and-county system at home, opened free schools, and established 12.9kReads8.4Score78514d adds
42. 42 农 A Country Girl’s Daily Life of Preparing for the Imperial Exams 农家女的科举日常 Panda Loves Life胖达爱生活Ancient Romance780k WordsOngoing [System + No CP + Women's Imperial Exams + No Cross-Dressing as a Man + Academy Life + Slow Pace + Alternate World] In her previous life, as an orphan with no family to support, Zhuge Yunshu lived an utterly carefree, lazy life. Perhaps even Heaven couldn't stand to see it anymore. It killed her with a piece of falling debris, and she was reborn as a farmer's daughter in ancient times. In this agrarian society, men and women alike had no choice but to work in the fields once they reached the app 21.6kReads8.9Score2.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a romance novel featuring Zhuge Yunshu, a former lazy bum who was killed by a falling object and reborn as a peasant girl. In the agrarian era, farm work was incredibly arduous, but fortunately, women had the opportunity to take the imperial examinations. To escape her fate of toiling in the fields, she binds herself to a system, pretending to be a scholarly genius, and races towards success in the examinations. Farming, system, and imperial examination elements are all present—come witness her rise to power!

43. 43 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 4.7kReads7.4Score51114d adds
44. 44 本 I Only Wanted to Pass the Civil Service Exams, but They Forced Her to Seize the Throne 本想科举做官，非逼她谋朝篡位 Autumn Farewell and the Lantern's Song秋辞与灯鸣Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted (The comic adaptation is now available) [No CP] [Strong Female Lead] [Female Empowerment] [Imperial Exams, No Disguise as a Man] [Political Scheming] [Reincarnated in the Womb] [A Light Ensemble Cast] Yu Zhao transmigrates. In her previous life, she grew up in an orphanage and worked herself to the bone, finally graduating at twenty with a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate. Just as she joined a research institute and was on the verge of a bright future, a sudden pebble struck her dead. When sh 7.9kReads8.9Score1.4k14d adds
45. 45 为 A Mother’s Strength: Reforming Medicine in Ancient Times 为母则刚：我在古代搞医疗改革 Huangpu Qingyu黄埔庆宇Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted #Transmigration #ImperialExaminations #Farming #NoRomance #MedicalReform #Protection Su Wanzhao, a modern agricultural sciences PhD, transmigrates into a fictional dynasty and becomes the third young lady of the Su household. Her father shows her no affection, and her vicious stepmother keeps her down. Her birth mother is gravely ill, medicine costs a fortune, and she has no money. On top of that, her stepmother plans to marry her off to a 62-year-old man. Driven into a desperate corner, she rev 93Reads8.1Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    No romantic pairing, imperial examination novel, no female protagonist dressed as a man, the protagonist embarks on the path of the imperial examination due to a loophole in the founding law, there are no cheat codes like a system, everything is done using 21st-century knowledge and skills.

46. 46 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 33.5kReads8.3Score3.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    This bag is nice.

47. 47 皇 Ming Dynasty Natives Versus Transmigrators 皇明土著大战穿越众 Would You Dare Say Yes?叫你敢答应吗Historical3.7M WordsOngoing Current plot: A newcomer to officialdom enters the inner circle as a pawn, but refuses to settle for mediocrity and wants to break free of his constraints. By chance, he gets caught up in turmoil on the frontier, where three hundred battered soldiers rout thirty thousand northern invaders. Zheng Zhi, a household retainer of the Zhen Ding Guard under the Ming rear army's Governor's Office, dreams of himself sixty years in the future. From then on, the Ming Dynasty gains a peerless talent in both 170Reads8.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The Ming Dynasty, the imperial examination system, and a growth-oriented system.

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