I'm Tired of Poor Scholar Stories. Any About Scions of Great Clans Taking the Imperial Exams? 看惯了寒门状元，有没有世家大族子弟科举的?

1. 1 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 46.6kReads8.9Score5k14d adds

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   This book is so incredibly good! It's a 1v1 romance, and the author's writing is superb. It really brought tears to my eyes. I was reading it while slacking off at work, and I was wiping away tears [crying]. The love of parents for their children [crying] remains unchanged, no matter if the person is good or bad.

2. 2 只 I Just Want to Live Off Others and Wait to Die, but My Dad Tricked Me Onto the Dragon Throne 只想混吃等死，却被亲爹坑上龙床 Life Killed Me生活杀了我Two Male Leads521k WordsCompleted [Two male leads x both virgins x 1v1 x mostly serious x older man x ruler and subject x forced love] [Content warnings: 1. The top is a real tyrant who kills people. 2. This is not a palace-intrigue story. 3. Try reading ten chapters first. If it's not for you, we can move on.] Word has it in the capital that the third son of Minister Lin was born with extraordinary wisdom, possesses peerless grace, and is the most dazzling man in the city. Unfortunately, he is rarely seen because of his frail h 40.8kReads9.0Score6.1k14d adds

   Reader note

   It's super good, but it's a serialized story. Those who mind should not read it.

3. 3 大 On My Wedding Night: My Concubine-Born Husband Is a Transmigrator 大婚夜：庶子夫君是穿越的 Beer Egg Fried Rice啤酒蛋炒饭Ancient Romance725k WordsCompleted [Female-audience novel + Male Lead’s Perspective + One-on-One Romance] [The female lead is extremely possessive, spoiled, and willful. Please don’t read if that bothers you.] After a stroke of luck, Wen Zongji transmigrated into the body of a marquis’s illegitimate son. The story opened on his wedding night with a county princess. The original owner had married Anhe, the princess and daughter of the eldest princess, despite being only an illegitimate son of a marquis, entirely thanks to an incre 107.9kReads8.3Score11.8k14d adds

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   [The two characters complement each other—the male lead (who doesn't show his emotions and is highly intelligent) transmigrates into the body of a concubine's son in a marquis's household, and his first step is to marry the daughter of the eldest princess, Princess Anhe. The female lead is extremely possessive, spoiled, willful, petty, and naive.]

4. 4 红 The Red Chamber's Illegitimate Son Rises to Greatness 红楼庶子青云 Teacher Big Dog大狗老师Historical830k WordsCompleted Zhou Xuan wakes up one day to discover that he has become Jia Huan, the most downtrodden character in Dream of the Red Chamber. Above him, Lady Wang suppresses him and Grandmother Jia ignores him. The women of the household all favor Baoyu, while the servants look down on him and the maids and matrons sneer at him. Anyone else would have swallowed their anger and looked for a chance to flee this wretched place. But not him. The Jia family belongs to Lady Wang and Grandmother Jia, but it also bel 42.3kReads8.5Score5.3k14d adds

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   What was the Jia family like in *Dream of the Red Chamber*? They were definitely a prominent family! The author's pacing is so satisfying; I stayed up all night reading it and finished this afternoon. It's so enjoyable! The author's portrayal of the ruthless decisiveness and political intrigue is truly exhilarating.

5. 5 魏EN The Wei Clan's Cursed Son Becomes Grand Secretary—Now They Beg Me to Return 魏家孽种成首辅，全族跪求我认祖 A Salted Fish in Everyday Life生活中的咸鱼Historical1.6M WordsOngoing (Also known as The Wei Fox) [Political Schemes][One Female Lead][Ensemble Cast][The Wei Faction] Condemned from birth, I was given the name Niesheng. On the day I was born, my mother died in childbirth, and my grandfather mourned before the ancestral hall. The whole household looked at me askance, all calling me a disaster star who had stolen another's fate. My biological father hated me like an enemy, my elder half-brother regarded me as an omen of bad luck, and my stepmother hid a knife behind 652.8kReads9.2Score91.7k14d adds

   Reader note

   Although these two families are not aristocratic clans, they are not peasant families either; their fathers were all officials in the imperial court!

6. 6 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 109.7kReads8.6Score12.4k14d adds
7. 7 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Historical296k 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. 952Reads—Score11014d adds

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   The eldest princess's son, a truly noble family.

8. 8 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

   Reader note

   The first one is really beautiful.

9. 9 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 22.1kReads7.8Score2.2k14d adds
10. 10 襄 The Marquis of Xiangyang's Leisurely Life in Story of Minglan 襄阳侯在知否的悠闲生活 Hot-Blooded Brave Man热血勇夫Male-Channel Fanfiction446k WordsCompleted In midsummer of the fourth year of the Jingyou era, at the Xiangyang Marquis's residence, follow a transmigrator born into wealth as he pursues his dream life, for himself and for the world, and makes the world of The Story of Minglan his own. 3.1kReads7.2Score10914d adds

    Reader note

    This exceeded my expectations.

11. 11 我 What Does My Living Off a Woman Have to Do with a Scholar's Integrity? 我吃软饭关文人风骨什么事？ Running Braised Fish奔跑的红烧鱼Historical225k WordsCompleted [Imperial Exams + One Heroine + Living Off a Woman + Feel-Good Story + Officialdom + Plagiarism] My name is Luo An. My teeth aren’t up to the job, so I can only live off a woman and enjoy her soft, delicious cooking. To get my hands on that meal, I didn’t hesitate to frame my classmate by claiming he was from Chengdu. Once I’d kicked him out and taken his place, I finally got my hands on a piping-hot bowl of rice. What? You say this shows a lack of scholarly integrity? Let me tell you, I’d do an 1.5kReads6.8Score11014d adds

    Reader note

    The story originally began with the male protagonist hooking up with a rich woman before the imperial examinations, and then his life took off like a rocket. "Young people don't know the value of a woman's company; old people yearn for wealth but find only regret."

12. 12 刚 I Just Passed the Top Scholar Exam, and the Nomads Surrounded the Capital 刚考上状元，胡人就包围了京城 A Thousand Tides Rise万潮生Historical232k WordsOngoing [Farmer's Son] [Daily Life] [Following the Army] [Not Wish Fulfillment] [Studying for the Top Scholar's Exam] [Grindset King] [Making His Dad Work Hard] Wang Tiedan swears he really never meant to rebel. All he wanted was to pass the imperial examinations and earn an official title. But he never imagined that after giving it everything he had and finally becoming the top scholar, the whole realm would descend into chaos. The northern barbarians are besieging the city, and refugees are flooding a 910Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a very good book.

13. 13 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 book is quite good, but the student who came first has already become the top scorer in the exam.

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

    Reader note

    The first book, *Ming Yue Lang*, is truly my absolute favorite! I'm rereading it on repeat!!! Highly recommended!!! The second book, *Xie Jia Shen Xian Zi*, is also amazing!!! Highly recommended!!! The third book is also very good, but the downside is that it's still being serialized, so I can't read it all at once.

15. 15 我 I Was the Top Liberal Arts Student in the College Entrance Exams, So Taking Three Top Honors Is Only Natural 我高考文科状元，连中三元很合理 Tang Shijiu唐十玖Historical888k WordsOngoing Shen Ping, the top liberal arts student in the national college entrance exam, accidentally transmigrates and becomes the wastrel heir of a marquis's estate. His elder sister is a favored consort of Great Chu, wielding power throughout the imperial harem. His father is the Marquis of Pingyang, a high-ranking official serving as Vice Minister of Revenue. His status and background could hardly be more illustrious, and Shen Ping is perfectly content with his life. He had planned to spend his days a 1.9kReads8.0Score23114d adds

    Reader note

    In this book, the male protagonist is the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang's family, and his sister is the current Imperial Concubine. However, the family is very frugal, and the male protagonist's parents and sister are all very kind. He also has a younger brother who studies martial arts.

16. 16 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
17. 17 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
18. 18 穿 I Transmigrated into a Book About the Imperial Exams and Brought Home a Fussy Little Wife 穿书科举，娶了个小作精回家 Zhou Zijin舟子衿Ancient Romance910k WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations + sweet romance + face-slapping + infrastructure development and rising through the ranks: a scheming, smug transmigrated playboy x a spoiled, somewhat crafty but not too calculating troublemaker] Xie Zi'an is a spoiled young master who transmigrates into a book, becoming the husband of the villainess. In the original story, the man he replaces is framed and found alone with the unconscious Xu Nansong. The two are forced to marry, but after the wedding, he discovers that X 23kReads8.7Score2.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    Transmigrated into the body of a cannon fodder second-generation rich kid, he's forced to marry a spoiled and troublesome female supporting character right from the start, and also gets targeted by the scheming female lead? To survive, he has no choice but to desperately take the imperial examinations. Unexpectedly, while battling tyrants and building infrastructure with his little troublemaker, he also rises from a failed scholar to a high-ranking official in the imperial court! A cunning second-generation rich kid x a spoiled little troublemaker's mutual pursuit, sweet and satisfying, juggling both the imperial examinations and the world of romance—it's simply irresistible! 😆😆😆

19. 19 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

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    The top scholar recommended by a prestigious family 🤭🤭🤭🤭 Lu Yang, a rich second-generation, wakes up to find himself in the body of the selfish and aloof youngest son of the Lu family, a scholar who only cares about his future and never appreciates his family's kindness. Lu Yang's lazy, good-for-nothing nature remains unchanged, but he still has a conscience and knows who is genuinely good to him. Therefore, he buries his dream of "lying down and being a big lazy bum" deep in his heart and focuses on passing the imperial examinations—his goal is clear: to become a big lazy bum who can do whatever he wants as soon as possible. Years later, the emperor, looking at the even more dashing Lu Yang than himself, can't help but say wistfully, "My dear minister, your talent is overflowing; don't waste your talent. The road to the Hu people is smooth, don't you think?" Lu Yang calmly replies, "I have already arranged for people to go."

20. 20 开 Invisible from the Start: The Years I Led a Treacherous Minister’s Son Astray 开局隐身：带歪奸臣之子的那些年 Green Headband绿色发箍Two Male Leads736k WordsCompleted Wen Changning transmigrated, met someone, and went through a few things. Fortunately, he was never tamed by the ancient world. * Gu Changyan, as it happened, met someone and went through a few things. Fortunately, he spent his whole life learning how to love his partner. The serious version: Wen Changning wanted to be a Western doctor, but he transmigrated with a few medical books, a cell phone, a watch, two oversized surgical knives, and the clothes on his back. The bad news: he arrived in 2.3kReads9.3Score33714d adds

    Reader note

    The protagonist was originally the son of a prime minister, but his family was raided and his property confiscated. He eventually passed the imperial examinations, became an official, and brought prosperity to the people. It's incredibly, incredibly, incredibly good! Very original. [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

21. 21 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 63.5kReads8.5Score4.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    The top scholar recommended by a prestigious family [laughing][laughing][laughing][laughing] Lu Yang, a rich second-generation, wakes up to find himself in the body of the selfish and aloof youngest son of the Lu family. The original owner only cared about his future and never appreciated family favors. Lu Yang's lazy nature remained unchanged, but he still had a conscience and knew who was truly good to him. Therefore, he buried his dream of "lying down and being a big lazy bum" deep in his heart and focused on passing the imperial examinations—his goal was clear: to become a big lazy bum who could do whatever he wanted as soon as possible. Years later, the emperor, looking at the even more dashing Lu Yang than himself, couldn't help but say wistfully, "My dear minister, your talent is overflowing; don't waste your talent. The road to the Hu people is smooth, don't you think?" Lu Yang calmly replied, "I have already arranged for people to go."

22. 22 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. 30.4kReads9.0Score3.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    Although it's fan fiction, it's really good (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡ Lin Daiyu's younger brother is taking the imperial examination, so you can imagine he's from a prestigious family 😜😜😜. What kind of changes will occur in *Dream of the Red Chamber* when Lin Daiyu has a brother who schemes for her in everything? [Think about it carefully][Think about it carefully][Think about it carefully]

23. 23 要 The Real Heiress Is Going to Destroy My Family? I'll Take the Top Scholar Title Instead 要被真千金灭门？我反手状元及第 Sour Soup Beef Noodle酸汤肥牛面Historical662k WordsCompleted The rating just came out, so it may be low for now. (Ensemble cast + Imperial examinations + Political intrigue + Transmigrate into a book) (Whether there's a female lead is up to you, dear readers. There isn't one yet, but we can add one if enough readers want it.) He transmigrates into the second brother, a doomed extra in a women's domestic power-struggle novel whose family is fated to be destroyed. While the whole family frets over the real and fake heiresses, he takes his Imperial Examinati 127Reads6.9Score11714d adds

    Reader note

    It's super good! I was reading the second book when it was rated 6-something, and now it's 9. The first book feels just as good as the second. As long as it's not canceled, it can reach 9.0.

24. 24 大 The Prince of Yongle of the Great Tang 大唐永乐王 Qiu Qingyi秋清逸Historical1.6M WordsCompleted (Slow burn: Late Sui to early Tang + Five Great Clans’ legitimate bloodlines + Three wives and four concubines) After a stroke of incredible luck, Li Jun opens his eyes once more to find himself a baby, born over a thousand years ago at the end of the Sui dynasty. He shares a name with the clan’s young leader. Follow him as he leads tens of thousands of clan members who love picking fights and are desperate for him to have lots of descendants, constantly pushing women at him, through their daily 10.2kReads7.9Score68114d adds

    Reader note

    This is a story about a super large family, and it's considered a very imaginative story in this genre!

25. 25 庆 Celebrating Dust 庆尘 The Doll Who Seeks the Soul追寻心灵的人偶Historical755k WordsCompleted He personally created an emperor for the ages, then personally sounded the death knell of an empire. In the history books of the Daqing Dynasty, he was both a sage and a treacherous minister, both the emperor’s teacher and a prisoner. Xu Chang'an: I came into this world for one reason alone: to prove that the sun over all the land does not bear the surname Lu. It bears the name of reason. 95Reads7.4Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend a niche political intrigue novel called "Qing Chen." It's set in an alternate history, and the court politics are portrayed very well. The protagonist is intelligent and strategic, neither naive nor overly idealistic. The pacing is tight, and it's already completed. If you're looking for something to read, this is a good option.

26. 26 归 Love Vanished with the Wind, Leaving No Trace! 归爱随风，无觅处！ World of Blossoms繁花世界27k WordsCompleted Love returns with the wind, but there's nowhere to find it! 204Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    121212

27. 27 科 The Imperial Exam: A Transmigrator's Road to Reversal 科举，穿越人的逆袭之路 Li Yunzi李运子Historical1.8M WordsCompleted [Everyday Farm Life | Exam-System Comeback | Court Intrigue | No System] After a car accident, a modern soul is reborn as Sun Dingyun, a two-year-old boy in an ordinary farming family in ancient times. The only grandson in the family, he is cherished by his parents and protected by his elders. His family is well-off, and there are no nasty relatives stirring up trouble. He has no System, no photographic memory, and no golden finger. He is just an ordinary person. With his whole family backing 3.5kReads7.8Score22514d adds

    Reader note

    These two novels about passing the imperial examinations are excellent. I read them both in one go and found them very interesting. The authors describe things in great detail. You should check them out! One is finished, and the other has over 800,000 words updated—it's got plenty of material to read! I think the stories about studying and passing the imperial examinations feel very realistic; it's not just about pure enjoyment!

28. 28 神 A Goddess Falls to Earth and Promises You a Lifetime 神落凡尘，许卿一生 World of Blossoms繁花世界25k WordsCompleted A god falls to the mortal world and promises you a lifetime. 33Reads—Score—14d adds
29. 29 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

    Reader note

    These books all have high ratings; they're engaging, with fast-paced plots, a sense of immersion, and relatively novel elements. There are no plot points that deviate from historical accuracy, nor are there any overly pretentious or arrogant scenes; they're all quite gentle. The first book tells the story of Li Yu, who lost his father at a young age and whose mother remarried Li Gang, the inspector of Yingshan County. 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 diligent in serving 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.

30. 30 开 From the Start, I Was a Lowly Illegitimate Son, but the Imperial Exams Carried Me to Success 开局低贱庶子，我靠科举步步青云 Big Inkstone大砚子Historical1.5M WordsOngoing Transmigration, imperial examinations, illegitimate son, political intrigue, court politics, play the pig to eat the tiger, male-oriented, historical, one female lead When Lin Yan transmigrated, he became an inconspicuous illegitimate son of the Lin family. He harbored no deep-seated hatred and had never endured relentless bullying. All he knew was how to keep his talents hidden, guard his heart, and live quietly. While others studied hard for the imperial examinations, he already had a firm gr 20.4kReads6.7Score1.7k14d adds
31. 31 颠 Upside-Down Dragon 颠阳倒龙 World of Blossoms繁花世界31k WordsCompleted Upside-Down Yang, Dragon Reversed 23Reads—Score—14d adds
32. 32 操 Controlling the Ancestors: Creating a Millennium-Old Clan from the Chu-Han Contention 操控祖宗：从楚汉争霸创千年世家 Just Pay Me给钱就行Historical2.0M WordsOngoing A story of a millennium-old clan and its ancestors After graduating from university, Chen Cheng gained the ability to travel through time, going back and forth across history to control his own ancestors! If he can't get rich in the present, he'll start in ancient times! He takes a leg from Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention, becomes Emperor Wen of Han's tutor amid the Lü Clan Disturbance, pushes through reforms in Emperor Jing of Han's era, and turns the tide in the late Eastern Han! The Ji 93.4kReads8.9Score7.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    4 I haven't seen it but it meets the criteria. 1, 2, And 3 are all good, but 2 is a bit weak.

33. 33 科 The Imperial Exams: From Poor Scholar to Shocking the Entire Court 科举：从寒门书生到惊爆满朝文武 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical166k WordsOngoing (Imperial examinations + farming + no System + transmigration) (Has a CP; the male lead is devoted and never flirts around) Though Landowner Lin's family is fabulously wealthy, every member of the clan is short, plump, and sturdy, looking like they were born lucky! But his son, Lin Bei, is strikingly handsome, tall and elegant, and stands out in any crowd. Gazing at his reflection in the water, Lin Bei couldn't help sighing: A man who isn't charming in his youth has wasted it. His wet nurse 728Reads—Score11114d adds

    Reader note

    Try this one.

34. 34 两 I Love You in Both Worlds 两个世界的我都爱你 World of Blossoms繁花世界Marriage & Romance15k WordsCompleted I Love You in Both Worlds 270Reads—Score—14d adds
35. 35 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

    Reader note

    It's absolutely amazing! This is the first time I've ever read a novel with over 1000 chapters, and I can't get enough! Also, this novel is divided into three volumes; the imperial examinations only start in the second volume, and the third volume is about becoming an official. The male lead is currently 16, just coming of age in ancient times. The Tangyuan and Yuanxiao couple (nicknames) are so sweet! It's a real shame it's not a dual-male-lead novel.

36. 36 忘 Twin Lotuses on the Wangchuan River (Part One) 忘川河上并蒂莲（上） World of Blossoms繁花世界Marriage & Romance25k WordsCompleted Twin Lotuses on the River of Forgetfulness (Part 1) 113Reads—Score—14d adds
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 28kReads9.4Score2.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    The top scholar in the imperial examination

38. 38 忘 Twin Lotuses on the Wangchuan River (Part Two) 忘川河上并蒂莲（下） World of Blossoms繁花世界Marriage & Romance27k WordsCompleted Twin Lotuses on the River of Forgetfulness (Part 2) 28Reads—Score—14d adds
39. 39 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 5.6kReads6.9Score49314d adds
40. 40 完 Oh No, Sun Wukong Has Fallen in Love with the Bone Demon 完蛋了，孙悟空爱上了白骨精 The World's Mightiest Little Fox宇宙无敌小狐狸Eastern Fantasy356k WordsCompleted Zhu Bajie: “Tell me, what is love? It makes this old pig pledge himself to another.” Sun Wukong: “The monsters are here. Bajie, you go first. I’ll cover the rear. Don’t worry: if you die, you’ll get a hundred million in underworld currency for compensation, deposited straight into your secret account at the Bank of the Underworld.” Tang Sanzang: “Bajie, your master is hungry. Hurry up and stew a pot of monk meat. Do you even want to keep your job? You’re so slow at everything, as dumb as a pig.” 205Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is so good.

41. 41 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
42. 42 臣 I Was Born a Commoner, So Why Are You Forcing Me to Become Emperor? 臣本布衣，为何逼我称帝？ Jiangnan Scenery江南山水Historical3.6M WordsCompleted On the day he transmigrates, he gets three shocks in a row: he has an engagement, his fiancée isn’t pretty, and all six of his brothers-in-law are bandits. “How can you call them bandits? They’re the six mighty generals who followed me in founding the empire and ascending the throne!” 21.3kReads8.6Score2.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    Do aristocratic families who take the imperial examinations need to read novels? Let me give you a real example. Search for Zhang Heng of the Northern Song Dynasty.

43. 43 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

    Does slaughtering powerful families count? 🤭A hilarious and satisfying novel with a super male protagonist—you won't regret reading it!

44. 44 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 21.6kReads8.7Score2.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    Excellent! The author's writing is superb, the pacing is tight, and although it's still ongoing, the author is incredibly diligent!

45. 45 穿EN Reborn as the Firstborn of a Concubine: My Legitimate Brother Is an Immortal Emperor! 穿越庶长兄：嫡弟竟是仙帝转世！ Tonight, I'll Bask in the Moonlight今晚晒月亮Xianxia1.5M WordsOngoing [Signed for print publication | Brothers standing shoulder to shoulder, no romance, lighthearted and funny with a touch of ensemble cast, satisfying and never groveling, both brothers become top-tier powerhouses later on] After transmigrating, Yun Qing became the eldest son born of a concubine in one of the cultivation world's most powerful families. The good news: He possessed a Chaos Dao Embryo and an ancient double pupil. He could seize the sun and pluck the stars, with a boundless path to im 192.7kReads9.6Score15.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

46. 46 藏 Eighteen Years in Hiding, One Day to Outshine All the Geniuses 藏锋十八年，一朝压尽天骄 Woodcutter of the Back Mountain后山樵Eastern Fantasy1.6M WordsOngoing [Red Fruit Short Drama: Ten Thousand Paths Return to the Abyss] [Traditional fantasy, single heroine, young lord of an imperial clan, ensemble of geniuses, intelligent wish fulfillment, contention in a golden age, imperial path through the stars] On the day Gu Changyuan was born, all ninety-nine imperial lamps in the Gu ancestral shrine ignited together. The portraits of three emperors opened their eyes, all paths bowed, and the Mandate of Heaven Stele revealed these words: The Mandate of Heav 38.6kReads8.1Score3.2k14d adds
47. 47 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 1.7kReads8.8Score12514d adds

    Reader note

    The first book starts with the male protagonist's father passing the imperial examination and then being appointed to an official post in the capital after passing the palace examination. If you like that kind of story, feel free to read it! The second book is set within the framework of the TV series "The Story of Minglan," depicting the daily life of a peasant boy taking the imperial examination. The protagonist does business while taking the exam, making it a different kind of fan fiction. Feel free to read it!

48. 48 胎 Born into the Prince's Household: The Second Son's Journey Through the Imperial Exams 胎穿：王府嫡次子的科举征程 Lady Helena's Little Bird赫莲娜大人的小鸟Ancient Romance378k WordsCompleted Zhao Mingyu was born into the Northern Jing Prince’s household as its second legitimate son, with a noble title awaiting him from birth. The court’s aristocrats expected him to become another wastrel, while his elder brother, the heir, saw him as a harmless pawn to keep on the board. Instead, he chose the Analects during the childhood object-selection ceremony, began his classical education at three, and sat the imperial examinations at twelve. From the county exam to the provincial and metropol 35Reads6.8Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Who says aristocratic families lack talent? I'll shatter that societal prejudice!

49. 49 大 Great Ming: The Village's Little Top Scholar, Whom Old Zhu Absolutely Adores 大明：乡村小状元，老朱贼稀罕我 Scholar Who Wins a Marquisate封侯书生Historical2.0M WordsCompleted During the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Qiniu, an ordinary four-year-old farm boy, accidentally comes across a silver bell. From then on, he dreams every night of entering a room filled with books: the Thousand Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, the Four Books and Five Classics, collections of successful candidates’ exam essays from every dynasty, and more. With his golden finger and relentless effort, he becomes the top scholar before the age of ten. Beloved by Old Zhu, Litt 18.5kReads8.9Score1.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    A poor scholar who became the top scholar was later discovered to be related to the imperial family, having connections on both sides.

50. 50 热 The Hot-Blooded Hunter: God’s Assault 热血猎人神之袭击 Riding a Bull to Find You骑牛找你Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [Survival] [Hunting] [Fighting the Japanese invaders and looting their gear] [Cultivation] Wang Fei has just entered the world of cultivation when he's forced into becoming a live-in son-in-law. One blow shatters his dantian, setting him on a long road from staying alive to rising to greatness. Though he has lost his cultivation, he takes countless disciples. This novel was not written by AI. Every word was painstakingly typed out by the author, who only hopes readers will enjoy the story in its 27.5kReads9.0Score2.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    [OK][KISS][KISS][Thumbs up][Thumbs up]

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