A Noble Scion Preparing for the Imperial Exams 世家子科举

1. 1 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

   Reader note

   Born into a noble family, a grand-disciple of a Grand Secretary! 🌈 Unlike other imperial examination novels, this one isn't filled with trivial family matters, and even two hundred chapters won't delve into 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 swift and decisive, incredibly satisfying and without any lingering resentment! (Template: Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty)

2. 2 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
3. 3 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

   1. The male protagonist transmigrates into the body of an illegitimate son in a Duke's mansion. The original owner loved all kinds of delicious food from a young age and was disliked by his family, except for his mother. After transmigrating, the male protagonist wants to take the imperial examinations to help his mother obtain a noble title, and during this time, he also makes many friends. Highly recommended. 2. The male protagonist transmigrates into the body of the heir of a Marquis's mansion, but is disliked by his stepmother and almost harmed. However, he is rescued by a farming family, and the male protagonist recognizes his saviors as his parents, thus beginning his journey through the imperial examinations.

4. 4 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

   Reader note

   It's a good read; it tells the story of a group of scions of prominent families who study hard and eventually become officials.

5. 5 名 A Name in the Unofficial Histories: The Young Prince's Unorthodox Path to Office 名留野史，小世子的另类为官路 Born on April Fools' Day四月一号生辰日Historical292k WordsOngoing An unconventional farming-and-imperial-exams story: transmigration and rebirth, with no pocket dimension, no System, and no golden finger. He's simply absurdly lucky. In his previous life, Jiang Ruyan was bedridden and paralyzed for fifteen years. He never imagined that after closing his eyes and opening them again, he would transmigrate. He spent twelve years wandering the world with his parents, who were always chasing poetry and distant horizons, before they finally sent him off to school. 893Reads—Score110Shelves

   Reader note

   Son of a Noble Family [Bookshelf Added] [Bookshelf Added] [Bookshelf Added]

6. 6 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 17.8kReads8.2Score1.8kShelves

   Reader note

   This book, "Born into a Noble Family, But a Son of an Illegitimate Child," is very good!

7. 7 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

   This book is about the sons of aristocratic families taking the imperial examinations. It is rich in content, well-written, and easy to read.

8. 8 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 1.2kReads8.4Score106Shelves

   Reader note

   A scion of a noble family, unparalleled in talent and learning, he begins his studies in three chapters and enters the academy for the entrance exam in ten. There are no awful characters among the male leads; he's the darling of the group.

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 48.9kReads9.3Score6kShelves

   Reader note

   "First place in the first class—Xie Qingfeng, prefect of Quanyong!" Before the last word had even faded, His Majesty's guards relayed the name to the palace gates: "Xie Qingfeng—" "Xie Qingfeng—" "The top scholar." Xie Qingfeng's lips curled into a smile, his heart pounding in his chest. He had won the top science score in Province A. (This moment was incredibly exhilarating [you savor it])

10. 10 布 The Commoner Chancellor, Xia Ren 布衣宰相虾仁 Floating Life Returns to the Void浮生归墟Historical920k WordsOngoing After a sudden car accident, Xia Ren, a double PhD in history and literature, transmigrated as a dying seven-year-old peasant child in the Great Jing Dynasty, a realm never recorded in history. His family had nothing, but that couldn't diminish the knowledge and experience he had accumulated over two lifetimes. His memories of poring over ancient texts in his previous life remained crystal clear. The classics, historical records, institutions, and lessons of dynastic rise and decline were all at 336Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

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

11. 11 穿 Transmigrating to an Unmanageable Life in Ancient Times 穿越之躺不平的古代生活 Mi Wangwang米旺旺Ancient Romance2.5M WordsOngoing [The rating has just been posted and will rise] Ancient life + Slow-burn story + Studying and imperial exams + Devoted love + One heroine + Gradual pacing Chen Wen'an grew up in an orphanage and worked his way through college, graduating while holding down a job. After joining the workforce and becoming one of the office drones, he was walking home from work when he got distracted by a phone call and failed to notice a truck running a red light. Just like that, he became one of the transmigratio 25.5kReads7.3Score1.6kShelves
12. 12 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

    This one also has an imperial examination section that's quite interesting.

13. 13 寒 A Humble Scholar’s Rise Through the Imperial Exams [Female to Male] 寒门科举崛起路【女穿男】 Yan Xiyao晏曦瑶Ancient Romance611k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + woman transmigrates into a man + farming + food + making a name in history] In her previous life, Mu Suyan had worked her hardest just to become an ordinary university graduate. In this life, from the start, she became a penniless boy from a poor scholar’s family. His ancestors had once enjoyed great glory, but he had been born at the wrong time. The entire Mu family eagerly hoped he would restore their former greatness. He summoned the resolve to study through every har 219Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist's senior brother comes from an official family and achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. The story unfolds along two parallel timelines. Xie Suyan, a son from a poor family, transmigrates and awakens his powers at the age of three. He diligently studies the Four Books and Five Classics, progressing step by step through the imperial examinations. Fortunately, he encounters a benefactor senior brother who supports his lofty ambitions. He inquires about Xie Suyan's life daily, assuring him that his family is not a burden and that his heart is set on his future. The male protagonist's senior brother, his "white moonlight" (ideal), Li Yanzhi, comes from an official family and is the prodigy of the Li clan. He studies under Grand Secretary Mu and has been acquainted with great scholars since childhood. He is unparalleled in the world, achieving the highest rank in the imperial examinations and deeply trusted by the emperor. He shares a youthful friendship with Xie Suyan.

14. 14 古 A Guide to the Imperial Examinations in Ancient Times 古代科举考试指南 Little Rain's Rain小雨小的雨Historical442k WordsCompleted This story is slow to get going and has no System. Enter with caution. I love wuxia, so I’ve added some wuxia elements. If that’s not your thing, please don’t flame me! Li Chang’an transmigrates into the Great Yan Kingdom and becomes the son of a wealthy family in ancient times. He had planned to enjoy a comfortable life as a rich young master, but in a world where Confucianism reigns supreme and all other pursuits are considered inferior, he resolutely throws himself into the imperial examinati 8Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Intelligent, based on the traditional imperial examination system, with elements of martial arts.

15. 15 落 The Fallen Noble Scion 落魄贵子 Person Among Things物中人Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Reborn in a duke's household on the verge of ruin, with everyone despising her and her stepmother suppressing her! She must first survive if she hopes to become the noble benefactor who rebuilds a great family from the ruins! 368Reads7.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book's protagonist is reborn into a fallen duke's mansion, as the third master Rong, disliked by his stepmother. When he falls seriously ill, his stepmother refuses to call a doctor, instead instructing a maid to find any old man to treat him, saying he's nearing death. The second book's protagonist is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, skilled in swordsmanship and spear fighting, and possesses exceptional literary talent! (Reading time less than 10 minutes)

16. 16 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
17. 17 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
18. 18 咸 The Imperial Examination Path of a Lazybones in Ancient Times 咸鱼古代的科举路 Bright Moon over the Nine Provinces九州明月Historical539k WordsOngoing In the modern world, Gu Qin spent every day exhausting himself over work, slaving away for his company until one day he suddenly died at his desk. But what he never expected was that he would be reincarnated. In his new life, his grandparents doted on him, his parents cherished him, and his older sister looked after him. Gu Qin only wanted to lie flat. Luckily, his family was well-off, so he figured he could just take it easy this time. Unfortunately, misfortune can strike at any moment. To avoi 127Reads6.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The latest and most captivating time-travel/alternate universe/ancient historical/imperial examination novel: ① Night has fallen, and the lanterns are lit. In Zhenjiang County, inside a courtyard house with blue stone tiles, servants and maids bustle about, and every now and then a young maid carries out a basin of water stained with blood from a room. Gu Qin is a modern person who died suddenly and was reincarnated as an infant. In this life, he comes from a wealthy family, is pampered by his grandparents, loved by his parents, and cared for by his sister. He originally wanted to live a carefree life. Unfortunately, misfortune can strike at any time. In order to avoid being bullied, he embarks on the path of the imperial examination in this ancient world to obtain fame and fortune for protection.

19. 19 农 A Farm Boy’s Journey to the Imperial Exams 农家娃的科举生涯 Cai Xincheng蔡欣程Historical434k WordsCompleted Li Shan is born into ancient times with memories from before, but he has amnesia. Even so, the belief that he must study, despite growing up poor, is etched into his bones. In the end, this impoverished family, mocked by everyone, really does produce an official. He brings prosperity to the community and grows into a great figure renowned throughout the history books... A heads-up: The author came up with many of the settings, systems, and so on on the spur of the moment. Readers who care about 233Reads6.5Score—Shelves
20. 20 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

    Reader note

    💞💞The protagonist, Cui Xian, holds a doctorate in Chinese Language and Literature, possessing a vast and profound knowledge of classical texts. He can effortlessly compose poems, lyrics, and essays, and write essays in the eight-legged essay style with ease. He has mastered the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and is well-versed in the essentials of the Four Books; he understands Zhu Xi's investigation of things and is familiar with Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind. He is thoroughly familiar with the *Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art*, *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*, and *Compendium of Materia Medica*, and has studied *The Art of War* and *Discourses on Salt and Iron* with great depth. Although currently facing difficulties, his vast knowledge will surely allow him to carve out a niche for himself in this ancient dynasty!

21. 21 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

    The Imperial Examination: A Fun and Interesting Experience

22. 22 全 My Clan Funded My Exams, So I Won My Dog an Imperial Title 全族供我科举路，我赠族犬诰命身 Househusband煮夫Historical2.9M WordsOngoing In her previous life, Fang Ziqi was a PhD in science at one of China’s top five universities. In this life, she transmigrates into a farming family in the Great Liang dynasty! A poor household, a father who secretly studies, a biased grandfather, and an uncle who has failed the exams ten times… In an age when everything is inferior to studying, Fang Ziqi has no choice but to tighten her belt and embark on the imperial examination path! She begins her studies at six! Takes the exams at eight! Pas 22.3kReads7.8Score2.2kShelves
23. 23 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 18.3kReads8.8Score1.6kShelves
24. 24 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
25. 25 回 Back in Ancient Times to Become the Top Scholar 回到古代当状元 Ling Xiaobai Wants to Fly想飞的凌小白Historical373k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations in the early chapters, everyday life, then court politics] After accidentally transmigrating to an ancient, fictional dynasty, he discovers that he has a photographic memory and fights his way up through the imperial examinations. With a way of thinking unlike that of the people of the past, how will he find a way of life that suits him in this ancient world? 596Reads7.7Score107Shelves
26. 26 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

    Reader note

    It's so good, you all have to watch it! [Crying][crying]

27. 27 长 My Sister-in-Law Paid for My Exams, So I Repaid Her with Top Honors 长嫂供我科举路，状元及第报恩情 Wind Rises at Banqiao风起板桥Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Imperial Exams + Daily Life + Rags-to-Riches + A Sister-in-Law's Boundless Kindness + Ming Dynasty + Court Intrigue + Wish-Fulfillment] Modern civil servant Tan Jinqian transmigrates into the Great Sheng Dynasty as a penniless orphan from a poor family. Faced with a frail body, a young nephew, and a steadfast sister-in-law who has sacrificed everything to keep the household afloat, he clenches his fists. The imperial examinations! They are the only way to change his fate and re 163Reads7.5Score105Shelves
28. 28 理 A Top Science Student Takes the Imperial Exams? His Majesty Is Stunned by His Brilliance 理科状元考科举？强到朕傻眼 Lucky Lin招财林Historical2.2M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + court politics + farming + alternate history + daily life + lighthearted + no romance] Li Su had barely had time to savor becoming the top scorer in the national college entrance exam when he transmigrated as the youngest son of the Li family. His whole family doted on him, even though they lived on coarse grain and vegetables, and supported his studies. The original owner had been led astray by his classmates. Selfish and only interested in having fun, he had ruined him 88.6kReads8.9Score8.7kShelves
29. 29 五 A Five-Year-Old from a Poor Family: Six Top Exam Honors Shake the Court 五岁寒门，科举六元震朝堂 Lan An An岚桉按Historical256k WordsCompleted A PhD in Chinese language and literature transmigrates into the body of Gu Yanzhi, a destitute five-year-old boy. After three days without food, when his third uncle tries to seize their grain, Gu Yan recites the Classic of Filial Piety and puts the clan chief in awe. At seven, he takes the exam for child scholars. The examiner berates him for writing too little, then spends the night verifying his answers before kneeling to present them to the prefect. The five words "Establish the heart for He 20Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 30 寒 The Imperial Exam Routine of a Poor Butcher's Son 寒门屠户之子的科举日常 Diki DaddyDiki粑粑Historical3.3M WordsOngoing The Wang butcher family is full of burly men, all tall, broad, and muscular, like a whole den of reincarnated black bears! But their youngest son, Wang Sanniu, is the odd one out: frail, delicate, and liable to fall over in a breeze. Standing beside his family, he looks like a little fox that wandered into a bear’s den. Butchering pigs? The moment pig’s blood splashes over him, he faints! Farming? The hoe is taller than he is! With the family fearing he’ll become a good-for-nothing, his mother m 188.1kReads9.0Score24.1kShelves
31. 31 谁 Can You Believe It? The Fake Young Master Fights His Way Back to the Capital Through the Imperial Exams 谁懂啊！假少爷他靠科举杀回京了 Million Creek Crossing百万溪越Historical253k WordsCompleted Lu Zhao transmigrates into the fake young master in the mix-up between the real and fake heirs of the Yongning Marquis's household. He arrives just as the dust settles, when the fake young master is sent away with nothing and returned to his birth parents. Looking at the drafty walls of a genuinely shabby shack, at his father and brothers, hunched over as if carrying a mountain on their backs, and at the little kids, skinny as bandits from Mount Emei, Young Master Lu, whose pockets once held onl 2kReads8.3Score210Shelves
32. 32 拒 After Refusing to Rejoin My Clan, I Became a Great Scholar Through the Imperial Exams 拒绝认祖归宗后，我靠科举成文圣 Lonely Lamp in the Night Rain夜雨孤灯Historical482k WordsCompleted (Transmigration + wish fulfillment + imperial examinations + court politics + face-slapping + no System) He transmigrates to ancient times, only to find himself an illegitimate son who has never been acknowledged by his family. Su Shijin wants to change his fate through knowledge, but despite having mastered high school Chinese and graduated in applied mathematics, he can barely make sense of classical Chinese. Then he obtains a writing brush. From that day on, he earns the red mark on his foreh 2.3kReads9.0Score185Shelves
33. 33 科 The Imperial Exams: They All Say I'm the Star of Literature Reborn 科举，他们都说我是文曲星下凡 Lin Tong林桐Historical1.1M WordsOngoing (This book blends elements of the imperial examinations, romance, court politics, bureaucratic intrigue, warfare, and more.) Zhao Lin was the youngest professor of classical Chinese literature in Huaxia. After transmigrating, he becomes a young scholar in the Great Zhou, celebrated as a “star of literary talent” and a “child prodigy.” But the Grand Examiner declares him “frivolous by nature, destined to achieve nothing.” With his reputation on the verge of collapse, he draws on the extraordinary 1.5kReads8.7Score161Shelves
34. 34 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
35. 35 遗 Life in Ancient Times as a Posthumous Child 遗腹子的古代生活 Cheng Shu Ju程书橘Historical2.2M WordsCompleted [No golden finger + farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + court politics in the later stages + everyday family life] He wakes up as the posthumous son of a county deputy in the Great Zhou dynasty. He may not be born into an official family, but surely the assets his father left behind are enough to make this only child rich. So he happily decides that in this life, he’ll coast to success. Things don’t go as he expected. His father died young after only a few years in office, leav 11.5kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves
36. 36 本 I Only Wanted to Get By, but I Passed the Imperial Exams Six Times in a Row and Shocked the Emperor 本想混口饭，科举连中六元惊陛下 Moonlight in Motion月色流光Historical3.0M WordsOngoing (Alternate history + imperial examinations + heartwarming + everyday family life + one heroine) He Mingfeng transmigrated. The good news: The knowledge in his head was his golden finger. The bad news: He’d become the village idiot. His family was dirt poor, and his grandmother looked at him like he was a burden. A hellish start? No worries! The village idiot suddenly “came to his senses,” leaving the whole village stunned. He caught fish and set up a stall, and had just started making a little m 6.6kReads8.2Score591Shelves
37. 37 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

    A very inspiring book

38. 38 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'd pay to watch this on any other platform!

39. 39 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

    Landlords who took the imperial examinations had no worries about money. (A phrase implying a bright and clear mind, like a gentle breeze and a bright moon.)

40. 40 大 Great Qin: My Frail and Delicate Worthy Minister 大秦：我那身娇体弱的贤臣 White Clouds, White Clouds白云朵朵白Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted Female transmigrates as a man + no romance + focused on building a career Zhang Yuanqing transmigrates into the body of a down-on-his-luck noble from the State of Chu during the Warring States period. “System for Great Ministers of the Ages activated. Host, work hard to become one of history's greatest ministers!” Wait, wait, wait. Having a System is a good thing, but what does it mean to become one of history's greatest ministers? It's a given that King Zheng of Qin will unite the six states. A 14.3kReads9.5Score1.6kShelves
41. 41 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

    Reader note

    🌸① What to do if abandoned by a noble family? Mei Cheng'an's choice is: to achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations and wield immense power. He solved a bizarre case at six, became the top scholar at sixteen, captured a barbarian king at twenty, and by twenty-eight, he was already shouldering the responsibility of governing the country. From a pawn who faked his death to escape, to a legend whose rulers bowed to him— 🌸② Su Chen'an had just finished his art exhibition when a flowerpot smashed into his mother's womb in ancient times! The first thing he did after birth was—to drastically rewrite "The Humble Abode," shocking everyone! The "Womb King" teaches online: how to win at the starting line when reincarnated! 🌸③ Transmigrated into the body of a concubine's son in the Duke of Wei's mansion, he lives a life of luxury but suffers constant cold stares. Since this world only values ​​fame and fortune, he will wield his pen as a sword and ink as a blade— Provincial examinations, metropolitan examinations, palace examinations—he tears apart the shackles of a concubine's son step by step. The court is turbulent, power struggles are like a game of chess, and he insists on being the one who holds the pieces. Who says a son of a concubine in a duke's mansion can't wield immense power? "A Humble Scholar from a Humble Abode," watch as this son of a concubine rises to prominence through the imperial examinations, stirring up a storm with a single hand! 🌸④ The moment I transmigrated, I heard a "smack, smack!" And felt a sharp pain in my butt—I'd been publicly flogged! Looking up, I saw three other kids beside me, also wailing and being beaten. Oh dear, I wasn't the only one embarrassed; I instantly felt better (?). I was just planning to lie back and live a life of leisure, but fate suddenly delivered a powerful kick—well, no more lying down, time to roll up my sleeves and get to work!

42. 42 穿 Transmigrated as the Fake Young Master in an Imperial Exam Novel 穿成科举文里的假少爷 Years of Rivers and Mountains江山岁月Ancient Romance127k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + fake and real young masters + alternate dynasty + transmigrate + transmigrate into a book + everyday life] [Male protagonist's perspective, no CP, no female lead, and the true heiress has little page time] Yuan Kunyu transmigrated after a celebration banquet for getting into a 985 university's gifted youth program. The good news: he had become a young master from a prestigious family. The not-so-bad news: he was the fake one. So, at the age of ten, Yuan Kunyu returned to 47Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is it! A noble family's son taking the imperial examination! [Imperial Examination + Real and Fake Young Masters + Fictional Dynasty + Time Travel + Transmigration + Daily Life] [This story is told from the male protagonist's perspective, with no romantic pairing, no female lead, and the real heiress has limited screen time] Yuan Kunyu time-traveled after the celebration banquet for being admitted to the gifted youth program of a 985 university. Good news: He's transmigrated into a noble young master. Not-so-bad news: It's fake. So, when Yuan Kunyu was ten years old, he returned to the Xu family. Unlike the previous stories of real and fake young masters, the fake young master was still loved by his family and exceptionally talented. No one expected that the pampered young master who was born into wealth would fall from grace and become a legend of the dynasty. The Xu family struggled to make ends meet, so Yuan Kunyu studied diligently and participated in the county examination without stopping, winning first place. He never wanted to be second to anyone, so he was always at the top of the list in the imperial examinations. From the top county scorer to the top scholar, it was a magnificent seven years for him. Throughout his studies and the imperial examinations, Yuan Kunyu was his teacher's prized student, the Yuan family's unfortunate prodigy, and a rare and auspicious son of the Xu family. In his official career, he was a trusted advisor to the emperor, a newly powerful official admired and envied by his colleagues, and a revered figure among the people. The *Qing Shi* records Yuan Kunyu as follows: "He possessed great talent from a young age, and had the appearance of a celestial being." Years later, the top-ranking scholar, riding through the streets, suddenly remembered: "When I was ten years old, they said I was a fake young master..."

43. 43 开 From the Start, I Cut Down My Kin, Top the Imperial Exams, and Slay My Way Through the Court 开局先灭亲，科举中状元杀穿朝堂 Yun Huang云凰Historical578k WordsOngoing [Historical fantasy + imperial examinations + transmigration + rebirth + court politics + power struggles] Zhao Jingyu, a screenwriter with a modest reputation in the entertainment industry, watched a video about ancient male entertainers and had the misfortune of transmigrating into the body of one. He has no intention of becoming a helpless victim for others to bully. Anyone who picks on him gets wiped out! His shameless grandfather covets his body? Wiped out! His corrupt second uncle aids and 343Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This time-travel imperial examination novel is super good! Go for it! [Laughs][admiration]

44. 44 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

    Reader note

    Some of the essays written for the imperial examinations were inspiring, while others were simply about giving up.

45. 45 绝 The Unparalleled Illegitimate Son 绝代庶子 Light Rail轻轨Historical501k WordsCompleted [Alternate World + Transmigration + Ancient Setting] After transmigrating, he finds his mother brutally murdered and his younger sister unconscious beside her. When she wakes, she has developed a split personality. He heads to the capital to find his biological father, only to discover that his father's family is the source of all the hatred. Watch as a concubine-born son avenges his mother and drives his father into an inescapable corner, step by step. Once his revenge is complete, where will h 420Reads7.3Score—Shelves
46. 46 大 A Stick in the Tang Dynasty 大唐一根棍 My Name Is Wang Dabao我叫王大宝Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Comedy + Suspense + Brainy Wish Fulfillment + Historically Grounded Tang Dynasty] A farm boy with a serious lack of virtue gradually grows into the Tang dynasty's number-one troublemaker (no, wait, strike that). He grows into a pillar that holds up the sky, a beam that spans the sea. If I'm having a good time and you're not, I'll beat you until you are. If I can't reform you, I'll cremate you. I crush foreign kingdoms, dissect the aristocratic clans, discipline princes, and slap emperors I can' 3kReads8.7Score235Shelves

    Reader note

    A late Tang Dynasty novel that gathers major events such as Emperor Wuzong's persecution of Buddhism, the Niu-Li factional strife, the great battles against the Uyghurs and Tibetans, and rebellions by Tibetan governors. It features the rise of ordinary people, a group of amusing characters, and a male protagonist who is unscrupulous and constantly swindles others. The writing style is light and humorous, guaranteed to make you laugh until you cry. [Eating melon emoji]

47. 47 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: The Concubine-Born Heir's Rise to Power 女穿男，庶房嫡子的逆袭 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Now available as an audiobook with a full cast. [Alternate history] + [Woman transmigrates as a man] + [Born into this world] + [Imperial exams and business in the early story] + [Court politics later on] + [One female lead, with a relatively small role] + [A touch of ensemble cast] + [No golden finger] Xie Chengxi was born into another world as the sixth son of the Xie family, a minor family in Bianjing's Grain Transport Guild. His father was the clan's rejected son, kept under pressure for yea 33.9kReads8.3Score3.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is super good!

48. 48 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
49. 49 走 You Pulled Strings to Make Me a Scholar, and I Passed All Three Exams? 走后门让你成秀才，你连中三元？ Cai Bibi菜比比Historical2.0M WordsCompleted The print edition of A Match Made in Heaven is now available. Search for the author's name, Cai Bibi, on major platforms to buy a copy. Su Yu transmigrates to ancient times. On the day he fails the imperial exam for the fifth time, he marries the Princess of Changle, who has disguised herself as an ordinary girl. Before Su Yu can roll up his sleeves and earn a living to support his lovely wife, news of an imperial exam result that had been overlooked suddenly arrives. From then on, the good news 28.5kReads8.7Score3kShelves
50. 50 举 Your Whole Family Hopes You'll Pass the Scholar Exam, but You Top All Six? 举家盼你中秀才，你六元连中？ A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations in the early chapters + farming + everyday life + lighthearted + court politics later on] In his previous life, Shen Zhou was in poor health and cultivated himself through a quiet, disciplined lifestyle, becoming rather indifferent by nature. Then he transmigrated to an ancient peasant family. The entire Shen family pooled their resources to support the original owner’s studies, hoping only that he would pass the county-level examination and become a licentiate. Sadly, the 14.7kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves

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