Is Xu Yue the Only Legend of Imperial Exam Fiction? 科举文的神话只有许玥了吗？

1. 51 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 3.3kReads8.6Score347Shelves

   Reader note

   This is a female-transmigrated male-examination imperial examination novel, and it has no romantic pairing.

2. 52 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 5.4kReads6.9Score478Shelves

   Reader note

   Personally, I think all of these novels are quite good, and the writing style is decent, but I personally think the first five are the best. I'd recommend them all.

3. 53 科 The Imperial Exams: A Genius by Day, Studying Myself to Death by Night 科举：白天装天才，夜里卷到猝死 Golden Broth Beef Rice Noodles金汤肥牛米线丫Historical496k WordsCompleted (Imperial examinations + ensemble cast + political intrigue + showing off + lighthearted comedy) After transmigrating into the lowest-ranked student at the Imperial Academy, he spends the day pretending to be a born genius who “just glances at the books and comes first,” then studies till he nearly goes bald by night. He'll grit his teeth and walk this show-off's path through the imperial examinations all the way to the palace exam. 396Reads5.9Score106Shelves

   Reader note

   Just watch it, it's pretty good, but it's still ongoing. I've already caught up with it.

4. 54 惊 What?! I Transmigrated into a Farmer's Son from the Start, and Now He Wants to Take the Imperial Exams 惊了！开局穿成农家子，他要科举 Luo Yi落矣Historical802k WordsCompleted [Famine + transmigration + System + farming + imperial examinations + daily life] Shen Yu woke up one morning to find that he had transmigrated. It was bad enough for a science student to end up in ancient times, but he’d arrived in the middle of a famine, with his family having nothing to their name. Luckily, he unlocked a red packet group. Without it, how could he possibly survive in this strange world? The Shen family had one daughter after another. At last, the third son’s family had a bo 1.4kReads8.3Score107Shelves
5. 55 穿 Transmigrate to a Farming Family, Aim for the Imperial Exams 穿越农家，科举为上 Tang Qinghan唐轻寒Ancient Romance305k WordsCompleted Wang Xi had a heart condition as a child and was abandoned at an orphanage. He worked odd jobs to put himself through college and finally landed a pretty good job. After three years of working diligently, just as he was finally able to give something back to the orphanage where he grew up, he suddenly died while working overtime one night. Reborn into a farming family, Wang Xi is now a little boy named Li Shuanzi. He knows all too well that if he wants a better life, passing the imperial exams i 3.5kReads8.9Score227Shelves
6. 56 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 786Reads—Score111Shelves

   Reader note

   Super beautiful and heartwarming ancient daily life

7. 57 科 I Take the Imperial Exam Seriously 科举我是认真的 Lemon Loves Milk柠檬爱吃奶Historical614k WordsCompleted Overnight, he transmigrates and becomes a poor farm boy in the Great Jiang Kingdom, with nothing but the bare walls of his home. His only “golden finger” is the arsenal of skills he learned in his previous life through exam prep and working his way through school. Looking at the thin porridge in his bowl, clear enough to see his reflection, Li Pingbao decides to break through by pursuing an official career through the imperial examinations… 14.8kReads8.2Score1.4kShelves
8. 58 奸 Before the Treacherous Chancellor Died, the Sky Screen Revealed She Was a Woman 奸相惨死前，被天幕扒出女儿身 Writer from Flower Fruit Mountain花果山笔者Ancient Romance387k WordsCompleted [Sky screen descends + woman disguises herself as a man + serves in the imperial court + beautiful, powerful, and tragic + clears her name] Su Yandong is the most treacherous minister in the Great Yu Dynasty. Relying on her handsome looks, she builds a faction for personal gain, embezzles without restraint, carries on illicit affairs with imperial consorts, and frames loyal officials with fabricated charges. Everyone in court despises her to the core. When the new emperor purges the old regime, 3.1kReads7.3Score354Shelves

   Reader note

   Mingyue Lang is forever the top-ranked essay in the imperial examinations (in my personal opinion).

9. 59 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 14.6kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves
10. 60 科 The Imperial Exams Are No Easy Feat, So I’ll Take My Whole Family to the Azure Sky 科举不易，我携全家共青云 Ye Jizi of Cangmang City苍忙城的叶姬子Historical870k WordsCompleted Lin Shu opened his eyes and found himself reborn as a newborn in a farming family in Xiaolin Village, Great Yong. In his previous life, he was alone, bedridden and sick. In this life, his family gathered around him, their home warm with lamplight. His frail mother embroidered money for books by lamplight. His silent father used his own back to open the way for him to study. His gentle older sister poured her girlhood into the soup she made for him. Even the eggs his grandparents secretly slipped 17.4kReads8.8Score1.5kShelves
11. 61 求 Stop Overthinking! I'm Really a Treacherous Minister Who'll Ruin the Country! 求别脑补了！我真是祸国奸臣啊！ Cold Pit冷坑Ancient Romance260k WordsOngoing [Woman Disguised as a Man + No CP + Faux Political Scheming + Pure Brain-Off Wish Fulfillment + Corrupt Official System] Qiu Xiangyi transmigrates into a book. She becomes the son of a disgraced minister in a political intrigue novel, whose entire family has been executed. At this moment, she is disguised as a man and being exiled in her older brother's place. From the start, she's in a dead end. Looking at the shackles in her hands, Qiu Xiangyi wonders how to die with dignity. System: No, Host, 9Reads5.9Score—Shelves
12. 62 准 A Future College Girl Poses as the Top Scholar: She Really Went Too Far This Time 准女大冒充状元：这把真是玩大了 With the Bridge与桥Ancient Romance964k WordsOngoing The main story is complete; extras are ongoing. [Transmigration + Lighthearted + The Heroine Takes the Throne] [Content warnings in Chapter One] At eighteen, Liu Cangyue transmigrated to ancient times and unexpectedly took the place of the top scholar, who had been exiled to the borderlands to serve as a county magistrate. A secure government job. She's in! Before she could even get comfortable in her seat, her superior led a rebellion. Liu Cangyue: ...Who can relate? * Bonus Scene After a manif 13.5kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is incredibly good! The female lead is highly intelligent, sickly, gentle, and there's a small ensemble cast. She's like a white moonlight to me, and many of the plot points are very interesting. The author is very cultured.

13. 63 只 I Just Want a Bite of Meat, So Why Make Me Take the Imperial Exam? 只想吃口肉，非要让我考科举 Luoluo Feathers洛洛羽毛Ancient Romance835k WordsOngoing A lighthearted, humorous slice-of-life story. Shen Qingyun transmigrates into the body of a poor farm boy in Qingshan Village, Great Qian, whose family can barely keep food on the table. Instead of using his adult wisdom to turn his life around, he devotes it all to figuring out how to get meat to eat. He tricks his cousin and schemes with the neighbor kids. Other people get beaten up, while he gets to satisfy his cravings. When Grandpa suggests sending a grandson to school, Grandma shows her “k 45kReads8.5Score4.1kShelves

    Reader note

    You guys are all recommending the fast-paced kind, but this one is good. It's an ensemble piece about a group of teenagers striving for their own goals in scientific expeditions. The protagonist isn't the most powerful, but he's the central figure. The middle part is very detailed and leans towards realism. Although I hate to admit it, yes, they did consider giving up, but they persevered because of each other.

14. 64 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 18.8kReads8.8Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Li Su, Xu Yue, and Su Run are my three favorite protagonists in imperial examination novels.

15. 65 沈 Young Master Shen, You Shine as Both a Man and a Woman 沈世子，您真是做男做女都精彩啊 Still Haven't Eaten My Fill Today今天也没吃饱Ancient Romance804k WordsCompleted [One heroine, multiple male leads, all devoted to her + romantic rivalry + secret identities exposed + absurd humor] [Not a political power struggle] [Gentle, dignified young emperor + sinister, unexpectedly tender regent + aloof, cool-headed Left Chancellor + clever, foxlike imperial merchant] Shen Zhezhi transmigrates into a book. To inherit the Marquis’s estate, she disguises herself as a man and takes the place of her elder brother, who died on the battlefield, becoming the heir to the title 113.1kReads9.4Score23.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The Thunder is incredibly good.

16. 66 山 Peace Across the Land 山河无恙 Minced Meat and Fried Egg肉沫跑蛋Ancient Romance511k WordsCompleted A companion volume to The Alluring Minister, also known as The Female Emperor’s Tutor. Political intrigue + a woman disguised as a man + battles of wits at court! He was a dashing, romantic top scorer in the imperial examinations, famous throughout the land! He was also a brilliant strategist who stepped up when the nation was in peril, planning far ahead. A master of both letters and arms, his genius astonished the world, and his elegance was unmatched. He left countless legends and stories beh 468Reads8.9Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    The first two are absolutely amazing, okay? I like the second one the most, but both of them are very good. I've also read Xu Yue's book, but I feel it's not as good as these two.

17. 67 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: A Concubine-Born Son's Guide to Getting Rich 女穿男：庶子暴富手册 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Woman transmigrates into a man's body + transmigration + one-on-one romance + marriage before love + slow-burn + farming and business] [Sweet-talking, ruthless rent collector vs. theatrical holdout who refuses to break off the engagement] When Zhao Wenduo opens his eyes, he's become the disowned illegitimate son of a duke's household. A vast fortune? None of it is his. A houseful of servants? They've all gone to the legitimate son. All he has left are two crumbling alleys, a marriage contract, 1.2kReads7.0Score134Shelves

    Reader note

    The first of these three books is quite long; chapters 2 and 3 both involve the protagonist being expelled from their clan by their stepmother. Later, the male and female leads rise to power, and their former family members deeply regret their actions.

18. 68 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 7.2kReads8.9Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all so good! The first story is told from the perspective of a female official who eventually becomes an empress. The second story features an entire class that time-travels together—I've never seen so many people time-travel before. They're all about the imperial examinations. So good!

19. 69 大 The First Female Chancellor of Dayue 大越第一女丞相 Three Thousand or So三千几许Ancient Romance653k WordsCompleted [Also known as: Me, the Female Supporting Character, the Sky Screen Says I Am an Everlasting Celebrated Stateswoman] [Alternate history, no romance, feel-good story, ensemble cast, transmigrates into a book as a female supporting character, golden finger, sky screen trope, heroine is a celebrated stateswoman] When she opened her eyes again, Pei Zhiyue had become the vicious female supporting character in a novel, driven mad by love. In her previous life, burdened with a gravely ill body, all sh 6.6kReads8.8Score594Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book, featuring Xu Yue as the protagonist, boasts a high score of 9.7, Needless to say. From a pampered young lady living under someone else's roof to achieving the highest rank in the imperial examinations at 18, leaving her mark on history. The second book, about Yu Zhao, doesn't require her to disguise herself as a man; women can also serve as officials. Later, discovering the emperor's desire to suppress female officials, she becomes an empress with the help of other female officials and loyal followers. The third book features a female protagonist who transmigrates into a novel (with a system). Not wanting the original ending to unfold as she did, she witnesses human suffering and volunteers to become a female official. The system also involves a mysterious figure and helps her successfully cultivate new rice varieties and other food crops. She becomes the teacher of the holy grandson, who later ascends the throne as empress, changing the original ending. In conclusion, it's a good book.

20. 70 做 The First Thing I Did as a County Magistrate: Feed the Whole County 做女县令第一件事：让全县吃饱饭 Jasmine Milk Tea茉莉牛乳茶Ancient Romance3.0M WordsOngoing [Farming + infrastructure development + improving people’s livelihoods + System + a female magistrate’s rise to power] Shen Zheng opens her eyes to find she’s become a newly appointed female magistrate. The county office is so poor that plaster is crumbling off the walls, and the granary is so empty even the mice stay away. Everyone knows that the poorest county in all of Liuyang Prefecture is this very county, Tong’an. Just as she thinks she’ll have to waste three years in Tong’an before retiri 17.7kReads9.2Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    I've noticed that many novels featuring female protagonists taking the imperial examinations involve them disguising themselves as men. However, these two are truly unique in that they both feature women participating in the examinations. I absolutely adore the first one, though it's unfortunately still ongoing. It's incredibly good; the female protagonist helps develop various fields, including education, agriculture, military affairs, and technology. She's a transmigrated soul. The second novel features a reborn female protagonist who focuses on her imperial examination journey. It's also quite good, but I didn't read much of the content after the examinations. I highly recommend the first one; it's truly excellent. The female protagonist is currently an orphan, but she has many wonderful friends and confidants who consistently care for her, making up for the loss of her family. The emperor in this story is also wonderful, always supporting her.

21. 71 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 35kReads9.0Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This is really beautiful, and it's completely free of any negative feelings.

22. 72 学 The Way of Learning: A Transmigrator's Unconventional Path to the Imperial Examinations 学而致道：穿越之非主流科举路 Light Rain Soaking the High City细雨湿高城Historical752k WordsCompleted A high school student transmigrates into the household of a gentry family in an imaginary dynasty, studies under his father and tutors, and takes the imperial examinations. The teachings of Song Learning and Han Learning, the schools of Cheng-Zhu and Lu-Wang, the essays of Su and Han, and the histories of Ban and Ma gradually seep into a young man’s heart. He studies from childhood through adolescence, taking in ideas that will never change for the rest of his life. Across a thousand years, he m 1.3kReads8.4Score134Shelves

    Reader note

    An author who truly understands Neo-Confucianism and classical texts, an ancient world emerging from historical snapshots, a pure novel about the imperial examination system, a protagonist filled with reverence, and a story of wandering among sages.

23. 73 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 9.8kReads9.0Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The first novel, "The Imperial Examination," is quite refreshing—it's a female-to-male transmigration story! Yet, the protagonist manages to live a fulfilling life and excels in the imperial examinations, avoiding the rote memorization of the usual methods. Furthermore, the story doesn't just focus on the protagonist's examination preparations; it also includes the emotionally nuanced portrayal of his travels and studies. Secondly, in this novel, reading the protagonist's preparation for the examinations reveals his seriousness, talent, and dedication. He is supported and upheld by his entire family. Even after becoming an official, he maintains his original aspirations, serving the people wholeheartedly and earning the emperor's trust. The protagonist's values are very upright. The stories are also quite interesting.

24. 74 冒EN Impostor of the Langya Clan 冒姓琅琊 Eastern Zhou Young Master Nan东周公子南Historical1.6M WordsOngoing (Also known as “The Matter of Me Pretending to Be a Nobleman of the Southern Dynasties”) To transmigrate isn’t a dinner party. It’s a deadly game at every turn. The south is beautiful, yet lofty ambitions often fade away. Since ancient times, the Southern Dynasties have been weak, their heroes short-lived. No golden finger, no System, and no second chance at life. Everything starts from zero! Original owner’s memories: none! Identity: none! Supplies: none! When transmigration becomes reality, ho 494kReads9.7Score70.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This one is good, but it's for male audiences, so it might be a different experience.

25. 75 农 A Farmer's Son Places First in All Six Exams 农家子六元及第了 Li Datou李大头啊Historical341k WordsCompleted Father and son, both top scholars; imperial exams; transmigration; an alternate world; satisfying wish fulfillment; one-on-one romance; sixfold top honors. After a car accident, Shen Ce, Henan’s top college entrance exam scorer, transmigrated into the Great Yan Dynasty. Unwilling to take up farming, he used the imperial exams to steadily climb the road to success… 230Reads—Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    This college entrance exam-themed novel is very good.

26. 76 女 Matriarchy: The Villainous Wife and Lord Will Never Repent 女尊：反派妻主永不悔改 Wine Seller沽酒户Ancient Romance809k WordsOngoing The comic adaptation of The Villainess: The Antagonist Wife Will Never Repent is now available (Virtue-centered society + all men are pure + beloved by all + villainess + a tiny bit of mooching) Jiang Nianzhi had always known that she was a bad person. Her child husband served her from childhood and sold the token proving his lineage so she could attend school, yet she refused to give him a title. To marry her principal husband, she even drove him out of the house. Her principal husband severed 42kReads8.8Score6.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is also very good; the female lead has a very charming personality.

27. 77 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 978Reads9.2Score124Shelves

    Reader note

    Very beautiful, even better.

28. 78 寒 The Scholar from a Poor Family 寒门状元 Gentleman of the Green Mountain青山君子Historical2.1M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the family of a common farmer, Ye Xuanmo arrives just as his paternal cousin passes the imperial examination. To revitalize the clan, his cousin invites a teacher to the family to educate the children. In an age when “all trades are base, and only studying is noble,” Ye Xuanmo wants nothing more than to pass the exams and change his family’s circumstances… 3.7kReads8.9Score346Shelves
29. 79 穿 I Transmigrated as the Villainous Tycoon's Son, So I Joined Him in His Evil Ways 穿成反派大佬之子，我同流合污 A Prosperous Opening开市大吉Ancient Romance639k WordsCompleted [Complete] [No romance × woman disguised as a man × strong heroine × transmigrate into a book] [Pure antagonist's perspective × no unnecessary romantic entanglements × ruthless and merciless] [No situation where the male lead is stronger than the strong female lead] When Zheng Luoqi wakes up, she discovers that she has transmigrated into a romance novel as the daughter of its main villain. Step by step, Zheng Luoqi watches her father become a great corrupt official. Then the male and female lead 2.7kReads9.0Score311Shelves

    Reader note

    Look, look, look! Xu Yue is truly a legend, it's incredibly good, I've already read it three times! Those who haven't read it shouldn't miss it! It's the first book! [Already hooked][Already hooked][Already hooked][Already hooked] She has a loving grandfather (Xu the Landlord) who hides her identity for her, and a sister who doesn't hold her back. The fifth book is also quite good, but the author updates too slowly; the beginning is really exciting. The female lead is a decisive and efficient person, not wishy-washy or a saint. The father and daughter fight their way through the court to avenge their mother.

30. 80 我 I Debate the Classics with Great Scholars in the Embroidered Uniform Guard 我在锦衣卫跟大儒辩经 A Grain of Rice in the Vast Blue Sea沧海茫茫粒米身Historical1.2M WordsOngoing Yang Zhi, a top salesman and philosophy graduate student in his previous life, transmigrates to the end of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Through a twist of fate, he joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard, passes the imperial examination, enters the Hanlin Academy, and debates the classics with the great scholars at court! 5kReads8.8Score355Shelves

    Reader note

    A 100% accurate recreation of the Ming Dynasty's imperial examination system, revealing the historical novel about the Han people's downfall! My novel features vivid character descriptions, a thrilling plot, and a completely authentic historical background, unfolding like a stream flowing into the sea—you won't be able to put it down!

31. 81 全 The Grand Justice of the Court of Justice, Courted by Every Brothel, Is a Woman 全青楼都在攻略的大理寺卿是女的 An'an Tianya鞍安天涯Ancient Romance489k WordsCompleted [Female-led + no romance + strong heroine + political intrigue + mystery solving] After the emperor decreed that their children were to be betrothed from birth, the Duchess of Zhenguo disguised her daughter as a boy. She kept up the act for over twenty years. As the Duke's “second son,” she could not inherit the title, so she took the imperial examinations and entered the court. Everyone said Lord Gu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was a heaven-sent genius. No one knew that beneat 610Reads8.1Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a female-centric story combining political intrigue and crime-solving, with no romantic pairing. The female lead disguises herself as a man, achieves the highest honors in the imperial examinations at the age of 18, and becomes the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. She is aloof, composed, and unyielding. She is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and her martial arts prowess is exceptional. The author clearly loves female characters. After her disguise is exposed, she speaks out for women, advocating for women to take the imperial examinations, establishing women's academies, revising laws, and promoting fairness and justice. After her disguise is revealed, she is stripped of her official position, retakes the examinations, and again achieves the highest honors. Ultimately, she returns to the Court of Judicial Review and is promoted to the even higher Ministry of Justice. When I first started reading, there was no rating, and while the current rating isn't very high, perhaps due to it being a new book and having a smaller readership, the content is excellent, the author's writing is superb, and her knowledge is substantial. "Heaven rewards the humble and punishes the proud"—I hope more people will get to know Gu Yiqian, whose courtesy name is Yiqian. I really love this character! [Heart emojis]

32. 82 望 Longing for the Remaining Snow 望余雪 Ji Xin稷馨Ancient Romance338k WordsCompleted Cui Jinzhi was a member of the Time Administration, and she had one final mission. She had to uncover why a small world had fallen into chaos and why its plot had collapsed. After observing it for a long time, she discovered only that the people were suffering because of their ruler's incompetence. So she disguised herself as a man and worked her way up to become the world's prime minister. Using her own efforts, she stabilized the chaot 1.2kReads9.3Score127Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend these novels about women disguised as men entering the imperial court! (4 And 5 are the first and second parts.)

33. 83 七 From Seventh-Rank Official to the Top: The Strongest Female Chief Minister 七品逆袭：最强女首辅 Fine Night良宵Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (A woman disguised as a man in an ancient political intrigue story) Qin Yuan first met He Lin in the summer of Jingli Year 29. The cicadas shrilled in the trees, and the heat was suffocating. In a dark, filthy prison cell, she sat in a corner, her face smeared with blood. Without a word, he left her a handkerchief to wipe the blood from her forehead. When they met again outside the prison, she was no longer in such a wretched state. Dressed in a vivid red official robe, her bright eyes blazing, 3.7kReads9.1Score483Shelves
34. 84 大 Ming Dynasty Imperial Exams: From the Start, I Became the Father of Five Children 大明科举，开局成了五个孩子的爹 Little Zhang Under the Night Lamp夜灯下的小张Historical393k WordsCompleted (Farming + daily life in ancient times + imperial examinations) A reassuring read. Shen Lin'an inexplicably finds himself reborn in ancient times in the body of a widower, with four sons and a daughter to care for, as well as a mother in her fifties. The original owner was a scholar, but he had never even earned the title of licentiate. He was too weak to shoulder a load or lift a hand, knew nothing of farming, and spent every day in drunken stupors, letting the years slip by. Let's see how Shen 2.1kReads7.0Score157Shelves

    Reader note

    This heartwarming ancient slice-of-life book is sure to be a hit.

35. 85 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 10.6kReads8.1Score533Shelves

    Reader note

    How could this track be complete without our beloved Mei Cheng'an?

36. 86 苏 The Su Family's Castoff Tops the Imperial Exams, and the Whole Clan Begs for His Protection 苏家弃子中状元，全祖哭求我庇佑 Sending You a Smile送你一个微笑Historical1.1M WordsOngoing [Historical fiction + humble beginnings + imperial examinations + power plays + satisfying revenge + intellectual duels + high-IQ protagonist + cunning + ruthless] On a snowy night, I, Su Yan, was cast out of the family and expelled from the grand estate, abandoned like a pawn. I was an illegitimate son who should never have been born, a thorn in my legitimate mother’s side and dirt beneath my elder brother’s feet. They thought I would freeze and starve to death that winter. Little did they know 79Reads6.7Score111Shelves

    Reader note

    Go read this book, The Myth of the Imperial Examination

37. 87 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 Romance778k 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 23.6kReads8.9Score2.8kShelves

    Reader note

    She's also a woman taking the imperial examinations, but she doesn't disguise herself as a man. Her personality is quite different from Xu Yue's; Xu Yue is like the bright moon, so is the female lead a mudslide? She climbs the ladder step by step with hard work, without any major advantages.

38. 88 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 49kReads8.9Score4.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This is one of the books I'm currently reading. All I can say is that the male lead is someone I've known since childhood; he has a certain level of logical thinking. The author handles the details very well. It's a long novel, so if you can't stand the wait, don't bother reading it.

39. 89 参 After Enlisting, She Became the Dream Lover of Noble Ladies 参军后，她成了贵女们的梦中情郎 Warm Moon暖月Ancient Romance639k WordsCompleted [Invincible Style + Golden Finger + Transmigration and Rebirth + Female General Enfeoffed as a Marquis + No Romance] Shen Jiang was once the marquis’s eldest legitimate daughter, but when her mother was demoted from wife to concubine, Shen Jiang became an illegitimate daughter. Her innocent birth mother died unjustly. Driven to despair, Shen Jiang awakened memories of her past life. Only then did she notice something lodged in her mind. In her previous life, she was an exceptional special forces 3kReads9.0Score350Shelves

    Reader note

    This book about military commanders is similar; although I feel it's not even half as good as that one, it's still about 30% similar.

40. 90 农 An Ambitious Country Boy's Life in Ancient Times 农家小子的古代上进日常 The Hibernating Donkey冬眠中的驴Historical6.2M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into the body of a farmer's son in ancient times, a poor student had no choice but to embark on the long road of the imperial examinations to improve his family's life. He sought neither wealth and status nor a high salary or lofty office in this life. All he wanted was to protect his family and give them a peaceful life. 41.3kReads9.2Score3.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I've been following and reading every single one of them; they're all of high quality.

41. 91 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, 1.3kReads9.0Score110Shelves

    Reader note

    The library is truly enchanting, who can rival it? A single breath connects to the divine, possessing its own spirit. ✨✨ 🥀 Shen Yan, the Demon Lord, and Shen Zhiwu, the Immortal Lord, have unexpectedly become father and son. Most importantly, Shen Yan deeply loves his father. To protect him, he truly goes wherever his father goes.

42. 92 到 In Another World, I Use Taoist Arts to Empty My Enemy's Warehouse 到了异世，我用道术搬空仇人仓库 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Modern Romance913k WordsCompleted An alternate history setting. Please do not compare this story with real history! Gou Yunshu, a modern Daoist exorcist, was betrayed by her best friend during an exorcism. She was struck down by heavenly retribution, killed by a bolt of lightning. She transmigrated into the body of a young girl in the Great Xia Kingdom of the Republican era and discovered that her grandfather had been captured by the Japanese army. To rescue him, she took her younger siblings, bought a house, and left Laolongtan 1kReads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Ghost-Catching Little Master Goes to Town and Does Whatever He Wants

43. 93 新 Jilted on My Wedding Night, I Bond with the Grand Agricultural Official System 新婚夜被鸽后我绑定了大司农系统 Zucchini Is on the Pumpkin Team西葫芦是南瓜派Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Women in government + farming and infrastructure + satisfying revenge with light comedy + career-focused with a little romance + male lead in a supporting role + beloved by everyone + romance after an arranged marriage] Lin Ran transmigrates to a fictional dynasty and gains a grandmother obsessed with chanting sutras, a father who brings bad luck to his wives, a bookish second younger brother, a wastrel third younger brother, an influential family by marriage, and a misfit System that hounds he 9.7kReads9.4Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    If you haven't read the first three books about the imperial examinations, you're like this: ▽･ｪ･▽

44. 94 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 23.3kReads8.7Score2.6kShelves
45. 95 史 The Poorest County Magistrate's Wife in History Leads the Whole County to Prosperity 史上最穷县令夫人带全县百姓赚钱 Ling Ling Qi Xuan泠泠七炫Ancient Romance993k WordsCompleted Hang Ying, head of a reclusive modern-day clan, dies during an expedition and transmigrates into Yingzi, the wife of Xu Mengran, a penniless county magistrate in the Great Chu Empire. Who ever heard of a county magistrate being poor? Well, this one wears a patched robe, and his wife earns money washing and mending clothes to help him pursue a career in the imperial examinations. They have no maids or guards, the yamen runners look down on them, and a rich young lady even comes to their door to b 570Reads7.0Score—Shelves
46. 96 我 I Level Up on My Own in an Old-School Romance Novel 我在古早言情文里独自升级 I Really Am About to Cry我真的要哭了Ancient Romance2.3M WordsOngoing [Unconventional wish-fulfillment + woman disguised as a man + adored by men and women, with everyone harboring one-sided crushes, no romance + no System, progression through cultivation + ensemble cast] Shuo Li spent her whole life working for the Federation in an interstellar society, then died after eating too much cheap takeout. When she opened her eyes, she discovered she had arrived inside what might be a few-hundred-year-old fantasy romance novel for female readers. The heroine was kind 71.3kReads9.4Score7.8kShelves
47. 97 六 The Violent Woman of the Sixties Takes on Everyone 六零暴力女干翻全场 Ying Jinchuan, Who Loves He Tang Red Cranes喜欢鹤塘红的应金川Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Keywords: Strong Female Lead, Feel-Good Revenge, Rise to Success in the 1960s After a starship explosion sent her from a monster-infested interstellar world, Jiang Sidong opened her eyes in the body of a young girl in 1959. Her original self had been literally tormented to death by her paternal aunt’s family, and the three years of famine had only just begun. She looked at the cracked earth, and at people driven to sell their sons and daughters for a piece of tree bark... As she cultivated her p 8.4kReads8.4Score833Shelves
48. 98 群 Our Whole Class Transmigrated, and Every Day Is a Battlefield of Love 群穿后，我们班天天修罗场 TheraAncient Romance410k WordsOngoing The students in Class Two, Accounting, transmigrate together. On the way home from a class outing, their bus rolls over, transporting the entire class into the hottest political-strategy period novel of the moment. The System tells them that time and space are in disarray. They must follow the plot and complete their missions if they want to go home. General's daughter: So what can we even do with our major? Enemy crown prince: Take him down! The strongest secret guard: How about a rebellion? Ne 3.1kReads9.4Score351Shelves
49. 99 穿 I Became the Tycoon's Dark Moonlight 穿成大佬的黑月光 Three Demons三妖Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted What do you do when your husband commits murder right in front of you? Asking for advice online. It’s pretty urgent! Xu Ning wakes up in the body of a poor girl whose father doesn’t care about her, whose mother doesn’t love her, and who has been abandoned by a scoundrel. To get revenge on him, she uses a trick to marry a lame scholar from Qingshui Village. The moment she opens her eyes, she sees her husband, the one she married by mistake, smashing someone’s head with a rock, blow after blow. Re 71.4kReads9.2Score9.4kShelves
50. 100 我 I Only Wanted to Help Dad Pass the Imperial Exams, Not Become the Emperor's Tutor! 我只想教爹考状元，没想当帝师！ Huayu Ya花遇吖Historical1.1M WordsCompleted [Imperial exams, court politics, everyday life, alternate history, farming, lighthearted, no romance] In the Great Xia Dynasty, the Su family has failed the imperial exams for nine generations, becoming a laughingstock throughout the county! I’m a PhD in literature, yet I’ve transmigrated into the body of Su Chen, an eight-year-old prodigy from the Su family! My foolish father is still poring over dry textbooks, while Grandma is so furious she’s gone mad on the spot, and the whole clan is laughi 3.9kReads8.3Score540Shelves

    Reader note

    These books are a must-have; they're incredibly good, especially the first three. The author seems highly educated, and the writing style is perfectly balanced—both exciting and logical—and truly dedicated to the people and the nation.

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