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

1. 101 穿 Reborn as a Wicked Foster Mother: I Raised the Villainous Tyrant All Wrong 穿成恶毒养母：把反派暴君养歪了 Blue Sky over Mountains and Rivers山水蔚蓝天Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [No romance + teaching + adorable kids + farming + building wealth + infrastructure] A warm, slice-of-life story Zhang Ziruo transmigrates into the role of the evil adoptive mother of a tyrannical villain, destined for a tragic end. She plans to win the villain’s favor while he is still young, only to discover that he has been reborn... Taking stock of her new circumstances, she decides to open a school and become a teacher! She’ll raise the villain to be a virtuous, capable, open-minded, and po 15.3kReads9.5Score2.1kShelves

   Reader note

   These four books are highly recommended! Entering officialdom through the imperial examinations leads to service to the country and its people! A scholar who achieves the highest rank brings glory to his entire family! "A scholar who doesn't pursue an official career rarely has the opportunity to showcase his talents, develop his creativity, or bring honor to his family and clan. Therefore, while a person's success in the imperial examinations may seem superficially the result of their intelligence and hard work, it is often underpinned by the frugality of their parents, the self-sacrifice of their widowed mother, and the arduous care of their virtuous wife."

2. 102 穿 Transmigrated as a Spoiled Prodigy? I'll Happily Take the Top Scholar Title 穿成被养废的神童？状元我笑纳了 Nine Seven One Note九七一音Historical438k WordsOngoing One moment he was a powerful modern official; the next, he had transmigrated into Fang Xuan, a poor-born prodigy who could compose poetry at five but was ruined by his family by the age of ten. He opens his eyes to a disastrous start: his parents are dragging him around, making him recite poetry and perform for money. He turns the situation to his advantage, reciting a perfect poem at a banquet and catching the eye of a powerful patron. At last, he has a chance to turn his life around! When it c 87Reads8.6Score—Shelves
3. 103 扶 Supporting Qin with Poverty Relief: The Sky Screen Names Me the Greatest Female Chancellor of All Time 扶贫大秦：天幕盘点我是千古女相 Thoughts, Not Poetry思不诗Ancient Romance621k WordsCompleted [Qin Shi Huang] [Strong Female Lead, No Romance] [Political Intrigue] [Infrastructure] [Ensemble Cast] [Sky Screen Reveal] Song Ye was a dedicated grassroots official who devoted herself to serving the people. She worked tirelessly all her life, eventually dying of stomach cancer. After death, she unexpectedly became bound to the "Save the World and Protect the People" System. The System told her: As long as she completed designated missions and accumulated countless merits, she could transcend 68.4kReads8.7Score13.1kShelves

   Reader note

   The female protagonist is a time traveler; in her previous life, she was likely an official. When the Heavenly Curtain appeared, Qin Shi Huang discovered Song Ye, who was still in the county, and later promoted him. Song Ye and Qin Shi Huang unified the Baiyue region… It's amazing!!! Absolutely fantastic! As a discerning woman, I can only say this book is worthy of praise!

4. 104 林 Lin Daiyu Takes the Imperial Exam and Becomes an Official, and Madam Wang Regrets It 林黛玉科考做官，王夫人她后悔了 Fu Yuan'er福圆儿Female-Channel Fanfiction922k WordsCompleted The book was just rated, so the score isn't high yet. It'll gradually go up! [Dream of the Red Chamber-inspired] + [Imperial Examinations] + [Reborn] + [Power Fantasy with a Romance, Though Romance Takes a Back Seat] (Anti-Xue and Anti-Jia Family). Don't read if that bothers you. Hmph! Lin Daiyu has no interest in so-called fated matches or romantic pledges. Brother Bao and Sister Bao would only slow her sword arm. Reborn, she is determined to pursue the imperial exams. She takes the Lin fam 2.4kReads6.8Score207Shelves
5. 105 吃 Trying to Inherit My Family's Wealth? I Disguised Myself as a Man and Took the Imperial Exams, Winning All Six Honors 吃绝户？我女扮男装科举六元及第 Jiang Suiwan江岁晚Ancient Romance605k WordsOngoing [Imperial Examinations + No CP + A Woman Disguised as a Man (She Reveals Her Identity Once She Holds Great Power) + Political Intrigue + Ensemble Cast] Reborn into an ancient farming family as its only “son,” she is so despised by her entire clan that they wish she would die soon so they can seize the Lu family's estate. Lu Ming: That's no problem. So what if they try to trip her up and stop her from taking a master? She'll walk the road to success no matter what! After observing mourning for t 1.2kReads8.6Score224Shelves

   Reader note

   Both books are by the same author; the second one is new, and both are very good. (Not by the same author as Xu Yue, please don't misunderstand.)

6. 106 女 Disguised as a Man: I Started My Career as an Advisor 女扮男装：当官从幕僚做起 Zha Wei紮尾Ancient Romance460k WordsCompleted [Soul transmigration, alternate world, woman disguised as a man, rise to power and riches, no romance, political intrigue, no System] Wang Qian transmigrated to the Great Zhao Dynasty. To survive, she assumed the identity of a successful candidate in the imperial examinations named Wang Qingyun and entered a prince's residence as an adviser. Once there, she discovered that the prince was plotting to become heir to the throne. The risk was too great. She had to make a run for it. Wang Qingyun: As 1.5kReads9.0Score253Shelves

   Reader note

   This is a very good book; the female protagonist steadily and diligently climbs the ranks of an official.

7. 107 快 The Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder Won't Play by the Rules 快穿炮灰她不走寻常路 Traveler in Misty Rain一蓑烟雨客Ancient Romance1.7M WordsOngoing No fixed pairing, Qing-dynasty setting + historical eras + other worlds, with a pocket dimension Note: The heroine is a hedonist and a self-serving perfectionist. Her motto is that she can eat anything but hardship and endure anything but suffering. She tries to live comfortably in every world. After more than twenty years of bad luck, college student Shen Anning finally catches a break, only to die the day before her fortune is due to arrive. Perhaps her resentment is too great: just before sh 66.2kReads9.4Score2.8kShelves

   Reader note

   The third story is particularly enjoyable. The female lead is incredibly intelligent. The typical story of a wife working hard while her husband succeeds in the imperial examinations doesn't exist. Instead, she chooses to succeed on her own. If she can't take the imperial examinations, she teaches her younger brother. When her brother passes, she marries into a respectable family, raises and cherishes her husband, and ensures that her son becomes a top scholar. In the end, even the emperor admires her and seeks her advice. Because of her, her entire family is blessed, and her husband's family is transformed from a merchant family into a prominent one.

8. 108 金 After I Handed My Golden Finger Over to the State, I Got a Government Job 金手指上交国家之后我有编制了 Add Three Lines to the Door门加三行Modern Romance773k WordsCompleted The rating just came in, but it'll go up later. A story about strengthening the nation, with a heroine who's basically a tool. After a car accident, Luo Ying was not only unharmed, but suddenly gained a golden finger that let her travel between different planes. Only after actually traveling to another plane did she confirm it was real. The first thing she did was contact her country. The things she brought back from different planes helped her country soar to new heights. 732Reads6.4Score102Shelves
9. 109 簪 The Flower-Pinned Young Man 簪花少年郎 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted When they first met, Qiao Yanan mistook the young man's sex, taking the breathtakingly beautiful youth for a girl. Thinking they were both fellow sufferers in this world, she treated “her” with great warmth, stirring the young man's heart. Once his identity was revealed, Qiao Yanan asked him to pose as her fake fiancé for her own safety. Having fallen for a beautiful young woman, the boy's heart beat faster and faster. He gladly accepted his new fiancée and did everything he could to turn their 10.4kReads9.6Score1.6kShelves
10. 110 黛 Daiyu Has a Younger Brother, and the Red Chamber Is in Chaos 黛玉有弟红楼乱 Gu Lala顾拉拉Female-Channel Fanfiction1.2M WordsCompleted Lin Jingyan, the eldest son of the Lin family, returned to the age of three. After lying unconscious in bed for two years, he woke just before his elder sister left for the Rongguo Mansion. In his previous life, after he died, he stayed by his sister’s side and shared her entire life. He saw that even the Lin family’s immense wealth could not keep their only daughter safe. So this time, I’ll do it myself! But don’t cry, Sis. My head hurts. 30kReads9.0Score3.5kShelves

    Reader note

    They are all examination papers.

11. 111 谈 Explosives Under the Negotiation Table: The Young Lady Storms the Imperial Court 谈判桌下埋火药，大小姐入朝杀疯 Yu Fu余弗Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [The heroine’s creed: Power and money are what let a woman live freely and boldly!] [Strong heroine + satisfying story + vying for the finest men in the realm] Jiang Yu thought she’d be content with a modestly comfortable life. But when she turned eighteen, one ridiculous twist after another came her way. First, the husband she had supported with her own money for years passed the imperial exams at the top of his class, then demanded a divorce so he could marry a noblewoman. Then the Duke’s mans 37.9kReads9.2Score5.5kShelves
12. 112 我 I Find the Top Scholar So Charming 我见探花多娇媚 Yi Ran怡然Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Jing Bao has three wishes: First, protect the family estate of the main branch; second, enter the Imperial College, place third in the palace examinations, and bring honor to the family; third, keep living as a man in disguise until the end. Lord Gu has three wishes too: First, help someone protect their family estate; second, help that someone place third in the palace examinations; third, bring the disguised top scorer home and make her the mistress of the household. 4.1kReads9.4Score756Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead was raised from a young age to be the pillar of the family, and she became the Grand Secretary after passing the imperial examination. [Admiration] 🌈✨ Jingbao has three wishes: first, to protect the family's wealth; second, to enter the Imperial Academy, pass the examination, and bring glory to the family; and third, to disguise himself as a man and become a pillar of support for his sisters.

13. 113 科 The Top Scholar and Grand Secretary Keep Carrying Me in the Imperial Exams 科举：状元首辅又带飞朕了 Silly Chicken Feather鸡毛呆Historical624k WordsOngoing (The rating just came out, so it will rise later) In his previous life, Shen Zhiyan was an engineering PhD at one of China's top five universities. In this life, he transmigrated to a peasant family in the Great Sheng dynasty. A poor household, a grandmother who played favorites, a taciturn father, and a third uncle who failed the imperial exams time and again... In an era when everything was inferior save for studying, Shen Zhiyan edged out his third uncle and set out on the path of the imperia 155.6kReads8.7Score14kShelves

    Reader note

    The first and second books are really good. I'm still following the first one, and the second one is really, really, really good. I also really like the third one.

14. 114 真 The Real Heiress Is Disowned and Has Her Engagement Broken, Then Tops the Imperial Exams 真千金被退婚断亲，科举六元及第 Everflowing River Lord长流水君Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Real heiress + family regrets favoring the impostor + civil-service-exam journey + top honors in all six exams + System + pocket dimension + spirit spring] Lu Zhao, the real heiress of the Marquis’s household, was switched at birth. She spent thirteen years as a beggar without ever eating her fill, and disfigured herself to avoid being violated by hooligans. Lowborn and ugly, she was hated by everyone. The fake heiress, Lu Wanwan, spent thirteen years in luxury. She was the capital’s most celeb 3kReads7.4Score320Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book has a male protagonist, but it's still quite good.

15. 115 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 12.2kReads8.9Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    These two books are quite well-written, with good prose, and both are already completed!

16. 116 我 I Build Infrastructure in Ancient Times 我在古代搞基建 Chi Mitang池米唐Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Woman Disguised as a Man + Infrastructure Building + Career-Focused + Fiercely Protective + Clear-Eyed Heroine] Original title: Building Infrastructure in Ancient Times Tang Yixuan, a brilliant engineer, transmigrates into the body of a woman who has taken her brother’s place as the new magistrate of Qingchuan County. To stay alive, she racks her brains and exhausts every resource at her disposal. She builds waterworks, raises tall buildings, paves roads with concrete, and constructs a city. Be 4.4kReads9.1Score572Shelves

    Reader note

    These are some of the more classic works. The last one isn't about the imperial examinations; it's about being a teacher, but the female lead brings ancient times to life. You might want to check it out.

17. 117 我 I Played the Rat Race in Ancient Times and Rose to Marquis and Minister 我在古代搞内卷，一路封侯拜相 Yu Tiantian Ya遇田田呀Ancient Romance604k WordsCompleted [Strong heroine, no romance, nation-building, career-focused, light political intrigue, few top-quality men] After transmigrating into the backward Great Kang, a place where people slept on the floor and got nothing but soup for meals, Jiang Hui could only describe herself as numb. Completely numb. To make sure she could survive, she joined the army and earned distinction. Then the emperor sent her off to become magistrate of a godforsaken county. Luckily, she held two doctoral degrees. Building 1.4kReads9.2Score171Shelves
18. 118 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 22.6kReads7.8Score2.3kShelves
19. 119 夺 You Stole My Military Merits, So Why Panic When I Take Top Honors in the Imperial Exams? 夺我军功，科举六元及第你慌什么 I'm Little Qiqi我是小七七Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations + Transmigration + No System + Everyday Life + Lighthearted] Jiang Yan, heir to a family of physicians and top science-track scorer in the national college entrance exam, transmigrates into the life of an abandoned son whose military achievements were stolen by the Marquis's household. His life is a disaster from the start! His grandparents favor the other children, his father is mentally disabled, his mother is spineless, and the whole family leeches off them. Jiang Yan s 22.7kReads8.6Score2.1kShelves
20. 120 卖 Selling Vegetables and Studying, Then Becoming the Top Scholar 卖菜读书，结果高中状元 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.1M WordsCompleted After Shen Qingfeng dies alongside the Zombie Emperor in the apocalypse, he transmigrates to an alternate dynasty called Great Chu and becomes a child in Ning'an Village. The boy, nicknamed Dog Egg, is frail from birth, suffers from heart disease, and has a lowly name. Luckily, his proper name is Shen Yu'an. After studying for a few months with the elders, Shen Yu'an decides to take the imperial examinations, only to discover that his ancestors were exiles, and the descendants of exiles for thre 5.6kReads8.9Score584Shelves

    Reader note

    In the first book, the female protagonist transmigrates into a man's body. As a powerful figure in the post-apocalyptic world, passing the imperial examinations is relatively easy for her. [Kissing emojis] In the second book, the female protagonist transmigrates into an older widower in ancient times, with children, grandchildren, and more. Wow, her life is perfect from the start! Hahaha! [Admiring emojis] Follow Feifei, so you won't get lost when you're looking for something to read! [Shy emojis]

21. 121 女 A Woman Transmigrates as a Man: An Unwed Father’s Journey to the Imperial Exams 女穿男，未婚成爹我要科举考状元 Good Little Sea Bream鲷鱼乖乖Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted She was a bona fide college student, and transmigrating into another body was one thing, but becoming a woman in a man's body and suddenly a father was another. And as if that weren't enough, they expected her to find them wives. She was utterly speechless. She didn't even have a wife herself. “I... Your dad's chest hurts. Help me to my room so I can lie down.” On the first day, her eldest son, Li Qingzhou, asked her that night, “Dad, why do you take a lamp to the latrine?” “...Can’t I go look 1.1kReads8.8Score108Shelves
22. 122 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 324Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    And then there were those who came after.

23. 123 集 We All Transmigrated? The Powerful Families of the Capital Beg Me for Help 集体穿越？京圈勋贵哭着抱我大腿 Morning Clouds Purple朝云紫Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Jiang Zhen, a top academic prodigy and the rock her elders rely on, is a specialist at whipping underachievers into shape. Then she transmigrates to ancient times and becomes the discarded wife of a poor scholar who passed the highest imperial exam. But the underachievers who used to give her headaches have become influential figures in the capital. The shut-in: Transmigrated as a spoiled young wastrel, he’s forced to eat, drink, and visit brothels, wearing an expression of pure misery every day 110.6kReads8.8Score11.9kShelves

    Reader note

    These four books are absolutely fantastic!!! You can confidently jump into any of them!! They're truly top-tier works, all four are about the imperial examination system, but the plots are quite different!

24. 124 我 I Turned My Superstitious Father into the Chief Councilor 我把神棍老爹卷成首辅 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.7M WordsCompleted [Ensemble cast + imperial examinations + daily life + farming + court politics later on] Father and son join forces to build a Ming dynasty on which the sun never sets. Yan Xun transmigrates to the Ming dynasty and discovers that his father can do everything except study. His dad has so many secret identities, like an onion with layer after layer to peel back. Huh! If I push Dad hard enough to make him Grand Secretary, can I become a Junior Grand Secretary? The filial son Yan Xun sells everythin 22.7kReads9.5Score2.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Yan Xun's book is also good; the son makes his father the Grand Secretary, and the father makes his son the Imperial Tutor. The ensemble cast is also exceptionally well-developed.

25. 125 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 14.2kReads9.5Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    No romantic partners, everyone's focused on their careers.

26. 126 穿 Reborn as a Cannon-Fodder Man in a Broken Engagement Face-Slapping Story 穿成退婚打脸文里的炮灰男 Empty Mountain Fish空山鱼Ancient Romance263k WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams, One-on-One Romance] [Not a Power Fantasy] (The rating just came out, so it might go up later?) At first, Lu Heming thought he had transmigrated, or perhaps there had been water in Granny Meng’s soup, allowing him to be reborn with memories of his past life. It wasn’t until he turned six that he realized he had transmigrated into a women’s novel about a broken engagement and face-slapping revenge. But he was neither the male lead who would join hands with the heroine and reach th 664Reads8.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The most similar one I've ever seen [shy]

27. 127 寒 The Poor Scholar's Rise 寒门贵子 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical2.1M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the body of a penniless scholar, Jiang Feng thought about how his computer science degree from his previous life was utterly useless here… Then it occurred to him: “Of all pursuits, studying is the noblest. I’ll just have to grit my teeth and take the imperial exams!” He kept going, and when he suddenly looked back, he had risen to the highest offices, expanded the empire’s borders, and built an unprecedented legacy! P.S. The new book, A Poor Scholar of the First Rank, 33.7kReads9.1Score3.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Recommended order: 34125

28. 128 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 69.9kReads8.5Score6kShelves

    Reader note

    Feng Yanchu had just transmigrated when he first heard the sounds of 'slap slap slap,' followed by a sharp pain in his buttocks. How humiliating! He'd been stripped of his pants and beaten! Then he heard several wailing cries, and saw three other children being beaten alongside him. Hmm, it seemed he'd gotten into trouble; he wasn't the only one being punished. His humiliation lessened slightly. The male protagonist transmigrated into the body of a concubine's son in a marquis's mansion. He initially thought he'd be a pitiful little thing, but life in the mansion turned out to be quite comfortable, with no one causing him trouble. He originally wanted to live a peaceful life in this wealthy haven, but fate is unpredictable, and misfortune can strike at any moment. To survive, he had to work hard and carve out his own path!

29. 129 状 Top Scholar: I Blundered Into the Imperial Court, and Now I Rule the Realm 状元我误闯天家，少年郎权倾朝野 Little Bear Egg小熊蛋蛋Historical478k WordsOngoing [Transmigration + Imperial Examinations + Officialdom + Political Scheming + No Romance + Clever Wish Fulfillment] After dying suddenly, economics master Qi Yu becomes the emperor of the Great Yong dynasty’s young nephew, who had been lost among the common folk and raised by a farming family surnamed Li. His adoptive grandmother has no idea that his late father was the emperor’s own elder brother. She plays favorites to an absurd degree, forcing the six-year-old boy and his widowed mother to sup 8.3kReads8.4Score916Shelves
30. 130 开 From the Start, I Snatched the Embroidered Ball: Will Becoming a Live-in Son-in-Law Stop Her From Taking Power? 开局抢绣球，入赘影响她当权臣吗 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance749k WordsCompleted [Female-Supremacist World + Court Intrigue + Women Stronger Than Men + One-on-One Romance + Sweet Doting] [Refined Scoundrel, Scholarly Imperial Tutor × Lively, Proud Heiress to a Wealthy Merchant House] Before Lou Yushen became a live-in son-in-law, the standard for a good one was simple: don't covet the family's wealth, and don't take anyone's life. Lou Yushen thought, The people who came before me sure made the path easy! One day, while coaxing someone, she said, “Since the world is so lenien 17.3kReads9.4Score2.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Powerful ministers are also very attractive in matriarchal worlds.

31. 131 六 Top Scorer in All Six Exams, the Emperor Begs Me to Become Chief Grand Secretary 六元及第，皇帝追着当首辅 Ming Chong明虫Historical1.6M WordsOngoing Chen An was born into another world, where he became the son of a farming family that couldn't even afford a proper meal. His life plan was simple: study hard, earn an official degree, make sure his family could eat white rice, marry a hardworking wife, have two children, and live out his days in peace. To avoid taking unnecessary detours, he casually apprenticed himself to an old scholar who sometimes acted crazy at the village entrance. To earn some good karma, he casually rescued a down-on-hi 5.4kReads8.0Score378Shelves

    Reader note

    Slow-paced imperial examination novels are really enjoyable to read.

32. 132 弟 Little Brother, If I Call You Dad, Do You Dare Answer? 弟弟，姐叫你一声爹你敢答应吗？ Meow, No Salt喵不可盐Ancient Romance2.3M WordsOngoing [Transmigration + imperial examinations + martial world + farming + sister and brother + ensemble cast + playing the fool to catch the tiger off guard + feel-good + comedy + getting rich + transmigrating into a book] Transmigrated? Turned into a six-year-old little girl? Not bad. It’s like getting to grow young again. That troublesome little brother came along too? Not bad. At least I’ll have some company. My little brother turned into my dad? Not bad. I can accept that. Accept it, my foot! 38.6kReads9.1Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Although it's not strictly a story about the imperial examination system, the male lead (younger brother) does take that path. The sibling relationship is also very sweet and endearing. The female lead (older sister) is the most powerful person in the world.

33. 133 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 15.5kReads9.0Score1.9kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all good, the older brother in number 3 is really awesome.

34. 134 大 The Ming Dynasty's Princess Who Guarded the Nation 大明镇国公主 Li Hou黎侯Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [No Word Changes + Not a Power Fantasy + Slow-Burn + Aiming to Stay Close to History + Empress + Single Female Lead] [The above is a warning. As of October 30, 2026, the author earns 25 yuan per thousand characters from this book and has barely made any money. There is no reason to put up with unsolicited nitpicking from people who haven't paid for it. The author isn't your mother, after all.] [The person on the cover is Huanhuan, from artwork generously commissioned by a reader. Artist ID: Xi S 10.8kReads9.2Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    1-5 Are good stories about ancient times, either infrastructure or political intrigue; 6 is too short.

35. 135 穿 As the Only Son in a Farming Family, I Turned My Life Around Through the Imperial Exams! 穿成农家独苗，我靠科举逆袭！ Bunnies Can Fly兔兔会飞Historical130k WordsOngoing After finally clawing his way up to an executive position at his company, he opens his eyes and finds himself in ancient times, the only son of a farming family. His original self failed the county-level imperial exam and jumped into a river to end his life. When he transmigrates, his family is terrified. They even move the ancestral graves for his sake, only to bring disaster down on themselves. A guilt-ridden grandfather, a grandmother who favors her grandson. Uncles with few descendants, a sc 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book just came out, and I thought it was pretty good, but I don't know why nobody's reading it. The second book is good, really good!

36. 136 我 My Emperor Father Can Read Minds 我的皇帝父亲会读心 Bone-Leak Gua Wen骨漏呱闻Historical1.3M WordsCompleted [Infrastructure Building Focus ✚ Mostly Comedy ✚ Not Historically Accurate ✚ No Romance] Emperor Wei prided himself on being a wise ruler. His ministers served him well, his harem was harmonious, and his children were clever and filial. That is, until he was struck by lightning. Afterward, he gained the ability to read minds, and finally learned that everyone around him was two-faced, saying one thing while thinking another! Emperor Wei was devastated. So he had been such a failure as an emperor 57.6kReads9.3Score5.3kShelves
37. 137 前 I Bled My Family Dry in My Past Life, Now Six Yuan Makes Me a God 前世吸光全家血，今生六元来封神 A Really Big Piece of Candy Right Here这里一颗好大的糖Historical680k WordsCompleted [Farming]+ [Imperial examinations]+ [Making a fortune]+ [Power fantasy]+ [Lighthearted comedy] Lin Yunzhou spent half his life working his way up to the rank of interstellar marshal. He never expected to transmigrate to an ancient era with not a trace of technology... The good news: He went from being an orphan to the most doted-on youngest son in the family, and fell in love at first sight with a young lady. The bad news: His parents play favorites, his brothers are blindly filial, and his olde 6kReads8.0Score449Shelves

    Reader note

    I watched them all.

38. 138 都 Since I've Been Reborn, I'll Master Both the Pen and the Sword 都重来了，我当然要文武双全 Ximen Kun西门坤Historical1.6M WordsOngoing Set in an alternate early Ming Dynasty, this is a story about a science student who transmigrates. Simple middle-school physics experiments are enough to amaze everyone. He sparks a scientific awakening, founds a new school of thought, and brings materialism into Confucianism to accelerate social progress. You just need a little scientific knowledge. You can do it too, and there’s no golden finger!! 1.6kReads6.5Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    A science student transmigrates to an alternate early Ming Dynasty. The story is set in a highly rigorous industrial enlightenment period, requiring a foundation in physics and chemistry, making it a challenging read.

39. 139 配 Worthy of a Place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple: I Disguised Myself as a Boy and Became a Treacherous Official 配享太庙，从女扮男装当奸臣开始 Jin Tuqiu金土秋Ancient Romance725k WordsOngoing [Court intrigue + no romance + backing a female emperor + woman disguised as a man + building a career + secret identity exposed] She transmigrated into a world where her father and brothers had died, and her clan was trying to seize the family estate. To protect the family fortune, Pei Shu disguised herself as a man, sought refuge with her maternal grandfather, and studied hard for the imperial examinations. After giving it everything she had for ten years, she finally passed... the lowest-leve 9.2kReads8.7Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this one; it's worth reading. I think it ranks in the top five among female-oriented imperial examination novels. There's no ambiguous romantic interest, she has friends and a mother, and her future boss is an empress (who hasn't shown up much yet). The court politics are a bit weak, but they're still well-written.

40. 140 科 The Road to Power Begins in the Red-Light District 科举，从勾栏开始的权臣之路 Remember to Add Plenty of Chili Peppers记得多放辣椒Historical859k WordsOngoing [Traditional imperial examinations + nation-building and court intrigue + technical-progression power fantasy] [An engineering-school punk transmigrates into a dim-witted child at a brothel, then shakes up the court with his blueprints!] Lin Fan, a modern civil engineer, gets smacked in the face with a brick at a construction site. When he opens his eyes, he's become a six-year-old, mentally disabled boy at the Yihong Courtyard in the state of Qi! Frail and beautiful, he's despised by everyone a 5Reads6.7Score—Shelves
41. 141 我 I Made My Way to Prosperity Through the Imperial Exams 我靠科举奔小康 Lemon Loves Milk柠檬爱吃奶Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted There are awful people. No golden finger (Though being a modern person who transmigrates might be the biggest golden finger of all!) After transmigrating, Song Zhixue wants only to change his life of toiling in the fields from dawn till dusk. 20kReads8.2Score1.9kShelves
42. 142 小 The Daily Life of a Minor Official's Son Preparing for the Imperial Exams 小官之子科举日常 Ninth Day of the First Month良月初九Historical377k WordsCompleted [Woman Transmigrates into a Man + Imperial Exams + Farmer's Son + No Problematic Family Members + No Pocket Dimension + No Golden Finger] Lin He, a graduate student in history, transmigrates into the Great Qi, a dynasty that never existed in history, and goes from being a woman to a man. His family has nothing to its name: his father is a catlike academic prodigy, his mother a tigerlike farmer, and Lin He's life is a constant struggle. Fortunately, his father earned the jinshi degree early on, a 1.8kReads8.8Score123Shelves
43. 143 女 Disguised as a Man, She Became a Powerful Minister and Made Her Entire Clan Dance on the Edge 女扮男装当权臣，九族头上蹦野迪 Bits of Ink墨墨点点Ancient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing [Wish fulfillment + nation building + comedy + ruler trusts his ministers + transmigration + secret identity revealed + woman disguised as a man + female-led story + powerful minister] Good news: Meng Qiw is transmigrated. Bad news: She’s stuck playing a frail heir who disguises herself as a man and could get her entire clan wiped out at any moment. OMG, can I apply to transmigrate again~~ A father who died young, a mother who cries all the time, and a brokenhearted her... Wait, scratch that. He 27.1kReads9.0Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    There's no need to elaborate on Meng Qiwu; although she didn't follow the path of the imperial examinations, her greatness needs no further explanation.

44. 144 官 Raising Daiyu as a High-Ranking Official 官居一品养黛玉 Xiao Yuanning笑苑宁Female-Channel Fanfiction2.3M WordsCompleted I transmigrated into Dream of the Red Chamber as someone never mentioned in the original novel. My only golden finger is the ability to choose one person to visit in a dream every ten years. After years of diligent study, Lin Dan, a humanities student, finally saves Daiyu and rises from a commoner to the highest rank of official. P.S. The male lead is Lin Dan, and the female lead is my adorable little Daiyu. But they are not a couple!!!! He’s just an uncle raising his niece!! The male lead will 12.6kReads8.5Score866Shelves

    Reader note

    I think this one looks pretty good too.

45. 145 科 The Road to the Top Scholar: A Farmer’s Daughter’s Imperial Exam Journey 科举之农家女的状元路 Tao Lulu陶陆陆Ancient Romance535k WordsCompleted This isn't a high-energy, over-the-top feel-good story, and the pacing is fairly slow. There are no dramatic showdowns with awful relatives or triumphant face-slapping moments. If that works for you, read on. On the eve of her graduate school graduation, young Liu Lu had just learned that her thesis had passed when a car accident sent her to the past. She woke up as a little farm girl. To make matters worse, her parents were out of favor and always did the most work for the least reward. What w 672Reads7.1Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    Imperial Examinations, Official Career, Imperial Physician ① The female protagonist transmigrates to a dynasty where women can take the imperial examinations. In a village that favors sons over daughters, she strives to break free for herself and her family, entering school and passing the examinations. ② The female protagonist grows up in a temple, cultivating Buddhism. From a young age, she is secretly trained in martial arts and literature, witnessing the injustices of the world. When she reaches the appropriate age, she begins to participate in the imperial examinations for female officials, with conspiracies and schemes unfolding behind the scenes. ③ ④ Also an imperial examination novel, with the female protagonist disguised as a man. ⑤ She impersonates a deceased scholar to enter the royal palace as a staff member, later becoming a county magistrate. She begins infrastructure construction and rises in rank; the pace is fast and it's very good. ⑥ The Life-Saving Chronicle of a Female Imperial Physician ⑦ The Diary of a Female Imperial Physician Disguised as a Man

46. 146 苏 Has the Second Miss of the Su Family Killed Anyone Today? 苏家二小姐今天刀人了吗 Dove or Not, Ge or Not鸽不鸽不戈Ancient Romance417k WordsOngoing (Loves power and money, exceptionally strong, an incredible memory, chants Buddhist scriptures by day but kills without mercy. Su Wuyan) (Political intrigue + strong female lead + taking down scumbags + no idiocy + no vile relatives + imperial examinations for women) The Grand Chancellor of the Great Liang Dynasty has a granddaughter who ranks second among the family’s children. Everyone calls her the Su family’s second young miss, Su Wuyan. She is also the subject of the kind of rumors the comm 3.8kReads8.2Score401Shelves
47. 147 女 A Woman in a Man’s Body: I Never Expected to Become a High Minister 女穿男，没想到我会位及人臣 Castle 2311城堡2311Ancient Romance497k WordsOngoing Reborn in ancient times, I became a peasant's son. To make matters worse, I went from being a thirty-something woman with a house and a car to a tiny child who couldn't even look after himself. And I became a boy, too. What am I supposed to do? What do I do if everyone says I'm cursed to bring misfortune to my father, mother, and the whole family? After going through countless hardships, I was finally about to embark on the imperial examination path, and then disaster struck. What do I do? It's 41Reads8.1Score103Shelves
48. 148 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 1.2kReads8.4Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    A time-travel novel about the imperial examination system, where the male protagonist is single-mindedly focused on passing the exams and building his career. He is a child prodigy with exceptional talent in poetry and prose.

49. 149 无 Infinite Save Slots: Imperial Physician Qiao Gossips Endlessly in the Harem 无限读档：乔太医在后宫不停吃瓜 A Fu阿阜Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted How is a low rating my problem when the content’s this good? Come on in! [Wild Imagination + Unconventional Palace Intrigue + Infinite Life Resets + Strong Heroine + A Touch of Mystery] Qiao Xi, a palace physician who only wanted to laze around in the imperial palace, hadn’t even had a chance to enjoy the latest gossip when disaster struck. She was killed for refusing to claim that the deranged Noble Consort was one month pregnant when she was actually three months along. No problem… Except, yea 950Reads7.4Score121Shelves
50. 150 侯 The Marquis's Estate Honors Class 侯府重点班 Passion Fruit百香果果Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted The print edition of The Marquis’s Elite Class is now available [adorable children + parenting + doting in-laws + lighthearted + healing] Xu Wan becomes a widow the moment she marries into the family. All she wants is to keep her head down and enjoy the freedom of being a marquis’s wife. But on the very day she arrives, her stepson, a notorious little menace throughout the capital, gives her two nasty surprises in a row. Xu Wan grabs a knife and charges out, making a name for herself across the 61.1kReads9.6Score8.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Instead of taking the imperial examinations myself, how about transforming a bunch of spoiled brats into child prodigies to take the exams? The Marquis's Mansion's elite class is now open!

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