A Male Lead Who Takes the Imperial Exams and Serves at Court, No CP, No Female Lead, and No Woman Disguised as a Man 男主科举朝堂文，无cp，无女主，不要女扮男装

1. 1 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

   There's no romantic pairing. The author's writing is absolutely superb. The protagonist doesn't have any so-called system; he was already a PhD in Classical Chinese before transmigrating. He doesn't look down on ancient knowledge, but instead dedicates himself to studying for five years to enrich his knowledge base. He passes the imperial examinations based on his own abilities. There are also many original poems; the writing is truly excellent.

2. 2 名 A Name in the Unofficial Histories: The Young Prince's Unorthodox Path to Office 名留野史，小世子的另类为官路 Born on April Fools' Day四月一号生辰日Historical292k WordsOngoing An unconventional farming-and-imperial-exams story: transmigration and rebirth, with no pocket dimension, no System, and no golden finger. He's simply absurdly lucky. In his previous life, Jiang Ruyan was bedridden and paralyzed for fifteen years. He never imagined that after closing his eyes and opening them again, he would transmigrate. He spent twelve years wandering the world with his parents, who were always chasing poetry and distant horizons, before they finally sent him off to school. 893Reads—Score11014d adds

   Reader note

   While the imperial examinations were underway, his power later became immense, influencing both the court and the public.

3. 3 异 A Different Ming Dynasty: I Became a Saint with a Hundred Lives 异世大明：我用一百条命成圣 Zi Yang紫炀Historical1.5M WordsOngoing Alternate-history Ming Dynasty / Fighting for the People / The Art of Toppling Dragons / Loyal Ministers Who Risk Their Lives to Remonstrate / Rules Horror Lately, the atmosphere at court in the Fengtian Hall has grown rather grim. For several days in a row, officials from one particular residence have been risking their lives to remonstrate, and they really do die on the spot. “I stake my life on this remonstrance!” Here we go again. But Emperor Zhu Chongba has changed his approach, too. “Do yo 9.6kReads9.2Score75914d adds

   Reader note

   After looking around for ages, sigh, I guess I have to step in myself. Our male lead is something else entirely; he possesses a system, a super-powerful cheat code. This story has no female lead; the male lead carries the entire weight of the plot. There's just one minor flaw: the update speed is as slow as a snail's pace. Look at the ones I recommended before—they were a complete mess, none of them can compare to our male lead's story.

4. 4 这 This Top Scholar Plays by His Own Rules 这个状元路子有点野 The Foundation of One's Life立身之本Historical2.3M WordsCompleted [Farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + lighthearted] My Parents Flipped the Table and Quit, So I Want to Take the Imperial Exams Too Just as Wang Xuezhou was about to reach the peak of his life, he transmigrated. The good news: in this life, his parents were loving, and his siblings got along. The bad news: the whole family was pinching pennies to fund his eldest uncle's studies. They had next to nothing and were living on coarse grain and wild greens. But before he could flip t 50.9kReads8.9Score6.3k14d adds

   Reader note

   This is a popular imperial examination novel, highly recommended! ✨① Just as the protagonist was about to reach the pinnacle of his life, he transmigrated to the Great Qian Dynasty. Seeing his parents' tantrums and empty promises, and the protagonist's family of three, Old Man Wang reluctantly agreed to send the protagonist to school. The protagonist passed all three levels of the imperial examinations with flying colors, only missing first place once. When he finally achieved the highest rank, the entire city was deserted as everyone flocked to see him, the new emperor's first student. Riding high on his success, he saw all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day. Like a roc soaring ninety thousand miles high, he led his family to new heights.

5. 5 为 To Avoid Planting Rice, I Work Hard to Pass the Imperial Exams 为了不插秧，努力考科举 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [The short drama adaptation is now streaming] A modern SSS-rank researcher dies suddenly and transmigrates to the Great Xing Dynasty. His health is so poor that he's not allowed to pick rice in the fields until he's six. Sunstruck and light-headed, Li Jing decides that farming with this body is a risky business, so he immediately resolves to study for the imperial examinations. That's what he's good at; the transplanting can be left to the professionals! The following year, now named Li Yiqing, 22.8kReads9.3Score2.2k14d adds
6. 6 穿 Reborn as a Marquis's Bastard Son? Then I'll Take the Imperial Exams! 穿成侯门庶子？科举！科举！科举 Jin Rizhuhui晋日灼晖Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [Imperial Exams + Feel-Good Story + Business + Child Prodigy + Everyday Life + Political Intrigue] Song Mingyuan dies in a car accident and wakes up as an illegitimate son in the Marquis of Great Zhou's household. The good news: he has plenty to eat and wear, and maids to look after him. The bad news: his adoptive mother is his father's principal wife. Now that she has a son of her own, she sees Song Mingyuan as a thorn in her side and wants him dead! Song Mingyuan, who has transmigrated into t 17.7kReads8.2Score1.7k14d adds

   Reader note

   This book is good and worth reading.

7. 7 过 With a Photographic Memory, Isn’t It Only Natural I Came First in the Imperial Exam? 过目不忘，我中状元正常吧？ Mountaineer登山客Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Lu Chengan forgot to drink Granny Meng’s soup. One day, he transmigrates to a remote mountain village in the Great Zhou dynasty and becomes the second son of the Lu family’s second son. To take the imperial examinations, Lu Chengan has no choice but to urge his father to better himself. Before he knows it, his father becomes an official. Lu Chengan: Does he still need to work hard? 45.5kReads8.6Score4.8k14d adds

   Reader note

   I recommend these two books; they're both very good imperial examination novels, neither with romantic pairings, and both are completed!

8. 8 穿 I Was Reborn in a Farming Novel, but I Don't Want to Pass the Imperial Exams on Talent 穿进种田文里，我不想靠才华科举 Autumn Has Always Been Here丛来是秋Historical1.6M WordsCompleted Su Congli transmigrated. To stay alive, he studied day and night and threw himself into the imperial examinations. Who could have guessed? At the provincial exam: “What are you staring at, chief examiner?” At the metropolitan exam: “Why do these examiners all seem so strange?” At the palace exam: “Oh! Isn’t that guy sitting in the throne hall the one who stares at me every night?” Emperor Qiyuan prided himself on being a wise ruler of his age, blessed with extraordinary fortune. Who knew he’d ru 11.3kReads8.9Score94914d adds
9. 9 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

   Reader note

   The male protagonist in this book is a lazy bum, but incredibly ambitious, busy preparing for the imperial examinations to become the top scholar. There's no romantic pairing, so rest assured there's no female lead. The emperor highly values the male protagonist in court. He comes to court as the top scholar after passing the imperial examinations, and he too passes with the emperor's favor. This book is truly exceptional. Before his transmigration, the male protagonist was single-mindedly focused on becoming the top scholar, lacking conscience and treating his family poorly. After transmigrating, he understands who treats him well and that kindness will be rewarded.

10. 10 魔 The Demon Venerable Is Reborn as a Baby and Helps His Father Pass the Imperial Exams 魔尊胎穿崽，陪爹考科举 Show-Off with the Hazard Lights On显眼包开双闪Ancient Romance663k WordsOngoing [Reborn and reincarnated from infancy; farming in the early stages; imperial exams in the middle; officialdom later on; warm family bonds; no romance; adored by everyone] The Demon Lord Shen Yan got a fresh start one day, only to be reborn by mistake as a child born to a cuckold. His cheap father had been cuckolded so badly that his head was practically green-black. So what? At least he had a father now! His father was in poor health? No problem. Three-year-old Shen Yan dragged over a big stool, 1.2kReads9.0Score10314d adds

    Reader note

    No female lead, imperial examination novel

11. 11 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
12. 12 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
13. 13 科 The Imperial Exams: I Conquered the World with Poetry 科举，我靠诗文名动天下 Whose Great Sage Is This?谁家大圣Historical674k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + no romance + alternate world + poetry and prose + fortune-telling by characters + sixfold honors in the imperial examinations + infrastructure + political intrigue] An imperial-examination story. Sheng Yu transmigrates to ancient times as a three-and-a-half-year-old child. He begins his studies right away, enters the finest academy in Jiangnan, then advances through the prefectural school and a tribute recommendation to the Imperial Academy. Step by step, he grows up and 1.1kReads8.4Score10214d adds

    Reader note

    The male protagonist is a three-and-a-half-year-old child who transmigrates and takes the imperial examinations step by step, eventually passing the exams and entering the academy. There is no romantic pairing or female lead. Apart from its short length, it perfectly meets your requirements.

14. 14 朝 A Farmer's Son at Dawn, an Emperor's Courtier by Dusk 朝为农家郎，暮登天子堂 Lantern Festival Revelry闹花灯Historical2.6M WordsOngoing (There's family drama, petty squabbles, rural life, outrageous oddballs, life in government, and much more.) After spending nearly ten years in a daze as an idiot, Tang Wenfeng fell into the water one day and finally came to his senses, now with a modern mind inside him. To avoid taxes, make a fortune, lie flat and enjoy himself, and secure a carefree life for the future, Tang Wenfeng decided to sit the imperial examinations. Who knew that an unexpected turn of events would put him on the 6.2kReads8.4Score41514d adds
15. 15 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

    It's good, no romantic pairing.

16. 16 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

    They are all uncouples.

17. 17 大 The Great Traitor Is Reborn: What’s the Point of Becoming the Top Scholar in the Imperial Exams? 大奸臣重生后，科举当状元算什么 Shi Yuhuan时渝欢Historical274k WordsOngoing [Alternate Universe] [No Female Lead] [Book Transmigration] [Reborn] [Villain] [Slow Burn] [Not a Wish-Fulfillment Novel] [Light Ensemble Cast] [Early: Imperial Exams] [Middle: Infrastructure] [Late: Political Intrigue] Content warning: There is no female lead, but there is a political marriage. It involves no romantic entanglement, only an alliance of interests, and the person I marry will die. (For details, see the author’s note at the end of Chapter One.) [The blurb is in first person; the 37Reads8.2Score—14d adds
18. 18 你 You’re a Civil Service Exam Tutor, So How Did You Become the Imperial Preceptor? 你一个公考讲师，咋成国师了？ Know a Woman by Her Scent闻香识女Historical2.1M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations] + [Mentor-and-student ensemble] + [Political maneuvering] Chen Wen, a top civil-service exam instructor, transmigrates to Great Xia and becomes a teacher. From the start, he has a dilapidated academy and three troublesome students. Chen Wen says, “No problem. This is what I do.” He uses logic to deconstruct the eight-legged essay, policy-analysis techniques to write policy papers, and interview skills to ace the palace exam. From topping the county exams to earning top ho 34.2kReads8.9Score2.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    Sometimes it's really confusing, do you guys even understand that it's a no-romance story? 😦

19. 19 隐 I Lived in Seclusion in the Mountains, Yet Somehow Became the Emperor’s Teacher 隐居山林的我竟成了帝师 West Lamp, South Fire西灯南火Historical752k WordsCompleted Across ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains, the realm is swept into turmoil; armored cavalry and flashing spears usher in a time of chaos. (No System, no womanizing, political intrigue and court power struggles. Nine years as a full-time author, with a reputation you can trust.) Han Yu, a professor of economic history, dies and transmigrates into the body of a scholar in the Wu Dynasty who shares his name. Having worked himself to death in his previous life, Han Yu decides that in this on 1.6kReads7.6Score10514d adds

    Reader note

    Calculate the court documents,

20. 20 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 14.6kReads9.5Score1.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    [🔥How does a woman transmigrate into a man and rise from frail body to become a renowned minister throughout history?] In the chaotic Warring States period, Zhang Yuanqing transmigrates into the body of a fallen noble in the Chu Kingdom. She starts with a "renowned minister system," but is a sickly woman who coughs every three steps and faints every five! Facing her covetous relatives, she decisively sells her family property and joins the Qin Kingdom, embarking on a hardcore career under Ying Zheng— ✨No romance, pure career storyline|A novel 9.4-rated masterpiece with a unique female-to-male transmigration setting|Over 19,000 readers follow this story. See how a frail body ignites ambition to shake up the era. A 460,000-word completed masterpiece. Click to unlock the epic of a "frail but virtuous minister's" rise to power for free! (Focusing on the core contrast of "female transmigration into a man + frail body + system-based rise to power," highlighting the differentiated highlight of "career-focused without romance," using data to enhance quality, and providing guidance for free reading at the end)

21. 21 科 Imperial Exams: The Qilin Son of the Liu Family Shines 科举，柳家的麒麟子发光啦 Hua Lianyu華涟雨Eastern Fantasy294k WordsCompleted Liu Yu was a modern man from the 22nd century. After an accident, he found himself in the Fengliang Dynasty, a kingdom that had never existed in recorded history. Hu Jiu: This great king is in the middle of a heavenly tribulation! Don't come any closer, or I'll blast you to bits!!! Liu Yu: If I don't come, how am I supposed to save you? When are you going to repay my kindness? Hu Jiu: Meow~ What are you talking about? This king doesn't understand. The imperial examination road that followed 41Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    No female lead, imperial examination... She'll definitely stir up trouble in the imperial court later.

22. 22 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

    Both of these are very good.

23. 23 我 I Turned My Superstitious Father into the Chief Councilor 我把神棍老爹卷成首辅 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.7M WordsCompleted [Ensemble cast + imperial examinations + daily life + farming + court politics later on] Father and son join forces to build a Ming dynasty on which the sun never sets. Yan Xun transmigrates to the Ming dynasty and discovers that his father can do everything except study. His dad has so many secret identities, like an onion with layer after layer to peel back. Huh! If I push Dad hard enough to make him Grand Secretary, can I become a Junior Grand Secretary? The filial son Yan Xun sells everythin 22.8kReads9.5Score2.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    🔥Imperial Examination Novel: Superbly good! The plot unfolds gradually, full of twists and turns, making it incredibly captivating. 🔥Part 1: An accident transports a modern youth to the Great Qian Dynasty. Looking at his dilapidated brick house, Qi Wenyu ponders how he will make a living... 🔥Part 2: Child Prodigy! Becoming the Number One Scholar in the Central Plains!

24. 24 举 Your Whole Family Hopes You'll Pass the Scholar Exam, but You Top All Six? 举家盼你中秀才，你六元连中？ A Little Green Ear一只绿耳Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [Imperial examinations in the early chapters + farming + everyday life + lighthearted + court politics later on] In his previous life, Shen Zhou was in poor health and cultivated himself through a quiet, disciplined lifestyle, becoming rather indifferent by nature. Then he transmigrated to an ancient peasant family. The entire Shen family pooled their resources to support the original owner’s studies, hoping only that he would pass the county-level examination and become a licentiate. Sadly, the 14.7kReads8.7Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    The male protagonist died suddenly at a research institute and transmigrated to ancient times. He was sickly from a young age and was only allowed to work in the fields at the age of six. Even so, he was dazed by the sun. Other children could plant rice at the age of six. The male protagonist's mother had no choice but to send him to school. The male protagonist lived up to his potential and passed the imperial examinations six times.

25. 25 拒 After Refusing to Rejoin My Clan, I Became a Great Scholar Through the Imperial Exams 拒绝认祖归宗后，我靠科举成文圣 Lonely Lamp in the Night Rain夜雨孤灯Historical482k WordsCompleted (Transmigration + wish fulfillment + imperial examinations + court politics + face-slapping + no System) He transmigrates to ancient times, only to find himself an illegitimate son who has never been acknowledged by his family. Su Shijin wants to change his fate through knowledge, but despite having mastered high school Chinese and graduated in applied mathematics, he can barely make sense of classical Chinese. Then he obtains a writing brush. From that day on, he earns the red mark on his foreh 2.2kReads9.0Score18614d adds
26. 26 布 The Commoner Chancellor, Xia Ren 布衣宰相虾仁 Floating Life Returns to the Void浮生归墟Historical920k WordsOngoing After a sudden car accident, Xia Ren, a double PhD in history and literature, transmigrated as a dying seven-year-old peasant child in the Great Jing Dynasty, a realm never recorded in history. His family had nothing, but that couldn't diminish the knowledge and experience he had accumulated over two lifetimes. His memories of poring over ancient texts in his previous life remained crystal clear. The classics, historical records, institutions, and lessons of dynastic rise and decline were all at 336Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is worth reading.

27. 27 科 The Imperial Exam Path to Success 科举助吾上青云 Glory Returned荣归Historical1.0M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a family of farmers who also valued education, Bai Zimu had grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts to support, as well as seven older sisters whose dowries had to be prepared. To escape the fighting on the border, the entire family moved back to their hometown. Along the way, they lost two of his sisters, and he himself nearly died. He wasn't strong enough to carry heavy loads or even lift much. In this underdeveloped world, Bai Zimu thought it over and realized that 3kReads9.0Score23614d adds

    Reader note

    📜 [Male Lead Imperial Examination and Court Romance]🔥Rich second-generation heir Lu Yang transmigrates into the body of the youngest son of the Lu family, transforming from a selfish scholar into a lazy scholar dreaming of passing the imperial examinations.🐟 He understands who is good to him, and works hard on the examinations, just to be a lazy scholar.🎣 Years later, the Emperor👑 looks at him: "My dear minister, your talent is overflowing, do not waste your talent." Lu Yang: "I have already sent someone to make arrangements." Emperor: "Go." Lu Yang: "I am busy." Emperor: "Busy with what?" Lu Yang: "... I am busy using my brain."🧠

28. 28 农 The Imperial Tutor's Road to the Civil Service Exams 农门帝师的科举之路 Ju He雎禾Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Imperial Examination, One-on-One Romance After an accident, a young man from the modern era transmigrated into the Great Qian Dynasty. Looking at his family’s dilapidated brick house, Qi Wenyu wondered how he would make a living from then on... 21.8kReads9.2Score2k14d adds
29. 29 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, 34.6kReads9.1Score3.4k14d adds
30. 30 苏 Eunuch Su's Road to the Imperial Exams 苏公公的科举之路 Singing Alone for Joy笙歌独欢Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Chief eunuch Su Weisheng had finally endured his way to retirement, only to die unexpectedly. When he opened his eyes again, he had become a five-year-old child a century later, and all his enemies were dead! His relatives were unkind, and his parents were weak. Su Weisheng consoled himself: At least in this life, I won't have to be a eunuch. I can live with that! He takes on the worst of the family, manages the household, and studies for the imperial examinations. Only after achieving fame and 9kReads9.0Score1.1k14d adds
31. 31 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
32. 32 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. 40.2kReads9.2Score3k14d adds

    Reader note

    🌈A male protagonist's imperial examination and court intrigue novel is here! He transmigrates into the body of a poor farm boy, a complete academic failure. To improve his living conditions, he begins to study diligently, embarking on the long road of the imperial examinations. Watch as he rises to prominence! 🌈Find Ji Bai to read, follow him so you don't get lost!

33. 33 农 A Farm Boy's Imperial Exams: My Dad Turns Out to Be the Ultimate Study Machine 农家考科举：我爹竟是最强卷王 Long, Long, Long, Long Hair长长长长头发Ancient Romance847k WordsOngoing [Farming + imperial examinations + building wealth] A gifted student who hated studying transmigrates into the son of a peasant family in ancient times. As he chases chickens and dogs around the village, gathering friends and preparing to make a fortune so he can afford meat, someone calls out, “Ergouzi, your dad passed the provincial exam and became the top graduate! The county magistrate awarded him fifty taels of silver!” When he resolves to study so he can avoid going bald before turning ten 60kReads9.2Score7.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    🎈A highly intelligent genius who was manipulated in his past life is reborn in ancient times as a simple-minded boy who aspires to be a mud-covered creature. However, with guidance from his grandfather and the deliberate manipulation of his cunning father, he becomes someone who surpasses even his master.

34. 34 卖 Selling Vegetables and Studying, Then Becoming the Top Scholar 卖菜读书，结果高中状元 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.1M WordsCompleted After Shen Qingfeng dies alongside the Zombie Emperor in the apocalypse, he transmigrates to an alternate dynasty called Great Chu and becomes a child in Ning'an Village. The boy, nicknamed Dog Egg, is frail from birth, suffers from heart disease, and has a lowly name. Luckily, his proper name is Shen Yu'an. After studying for a few months with the elders, Shen Yu'an decides to take the imperial examinations, only to discover that his ancestors were exiles, and the descendants of exiles for thre 5.4kReads8.9Score57914d adds
35. 35 病 A Sickly Powerful Official's Guide to Lying Flat 病弱权臣的躺平指南 Socially Anxious Bandit Chief社恐悍匪头目Historical2.0M WordsOngoing [Transmigration] + [Alternate History] + [Imperial Court] + [Wits and Strategy] + [Imperial Examinations] My name is Xiao Yi, and my dream is to be a lazybones who can lie flat. I just want to take it easy. I have only one annual KPI: sleep a total of 8,760 hours. So I can sleep in peace, I plan to give the family ledgers a quick once-over. I casually point out three loopholes, hoping they'll leave me alone. The result: the old bookkeeper falls to his knees and begs for mercy, and I'm forced to 10.8kReads7.7Score1.2k14d adds
36. 36 布 A Commoner Boy: Disciple of the Son of Heaven 布衣少年：天子门生 smilyAncient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing The novel finally received its rating on July 5. The rating has just opened, so it will rise later. [Young political intrigue | Redemption for all | Reform for the people | Women's awakening | Passionate ensemble cast | Imperial examinations | Xu Zhiyan] The Great Jing court was rigidly stratified. For a hundred years, no commoner from a humble family had risen to the top overnight and caught the emperor's attention. Xu Zhiyan was the first. He came from Xu Family Village in Huzhou, Zhejiang. 4kReads8.1Score29214d adds
37. 37 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 15kReads9.0Score1.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    🔥🔥A rich, laid-back young man wakes up one day to find himself transported to ancient times. He works hard on the imperial examinations, hoping to one day become an even bigger couch potato. The Emperor: How can he look more relaxed than me? No way, I have to find him something to do!

38. 38 迎 After Marrying a Sweet Young Wife, I Worked Hard and Took the Imperial Exam 迎娶小娇妻后，我奋发图强考科举 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical1.1M WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A thorough understanding of the world is knowledge, and social savvy is good writing. Ren Junjie, a history graduate, suddenly finds himself in an unfamiliar world as the eldest legitimate son of the richest family in Xinchang County. A former wastrel, he turns over a new leaf and marries a lovely young wife. He rests every other day and works on the days in between, studying harder and striving to improve. With his deep knowledge of history, he purs 8.9kReads8.8Score70314d adds

    Reader note

    🌿I don't know why, but when I read novels about the imperial examinations, I only enjoy the part where the protagonist is taking the exams; I lose interest after that. Maybe it's because I like the way the protagonist works hard for me! I get caught up in the characters' struggles.

39. 39 手 With the Notable Ministers System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man in Ancient Times 手拿名臣系统，我在古代女扮男装 Tianyang Peak, Who Loves Handmade Wheat Dumplings爱吃手工麦饺的天阳峰Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Xu Yue transmigrates into a book. She becomes the delicate, vulnerable cousin of the male lead in an examination-themed novel: her mother died young, she has no brothers and no one to rely on, and her family won't take her in, so she is awkwardly forced to live in the male lead's home. In her previous life, Xu Yue rose from being an orphan to earning a doctorate. She never believed in fate, and even though it was hard for women to get by in ancient times, she never stopped thinking about how to 119.8kReads9.6Score11.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    The second book, although it features a woman disguised as a man, is really good. It has a system to conceal her true gender, and there are no scenes of her becoming mentally challenged.

40. 40 一 A Poor Scholar of Noble Character 一品寒士 Beyond the Mountain山的那边Historical1.6M WordsCompleted [Single heroine, semi-fictionalized Tang Dynasty] In an era when the great aristocratic clans looked down on the imperial family, Zhao Quan was born to a farming family and entered school carrying the hopes of his parents and six older brothers. Farming was out of the question: even the village head’s family had no food to spare… So he had no choice but to take the imperial exams and become an official. 10.4kReads9.3Score91714d adds
41. 41 我 I Turn My Life Around Through the Imperial Exams 我靠科举逆袭人生 Corn Breakdance玉米扒舞Historical808k WordsCompleted When Li Jingxing wakes up, he finds himself in an unfamiliar place. Around him are crude huts and shabby furniture, and the air carries a faint smell of straw. Looking down, he sees that he is wearing ragged clothes and a pair of straw sandals. All of it leaves him utterly confused. “How did I end up here?” Li Jingxing wonders. Just then, a burst of noise breaks through his thoughts. 2.9kReads8.8Score21914d adds
42. 42 科 I Came First in the Imperial Exams and Became a Just Official in Ancient Times 科举成状元，我在古代当青天 The Crown Prince Who Loves Radish Meatballs爱吃萝卜肉圆的王储Historical1.2M WordsCompleted An ordinary female college student is reborn in an imaginary ancient dynasty, where she becomes a man. As he struggles to adapt to this era, he sees the hardships of the common people, the extravagance of the powerful elite, the integrity of scholars, and the opportunism of politicians. This is a society ruled by a brutal class system. Unluckily for him, he has been reborn here, and all he wants is to live with dignity. Study, take the imperial examinations, become an official. At first, he only 1.2kReads8.5Score10114d adds
43. 43 科 Starting My Civil Service Exam Journey After Being Kicked Out of My Home 科举从被赶出家门开始 Naisitu奶思兔Historical622k WordsOngoing An accident turned Gu Yuan into the third son of the Gu family in ancient Qing Shui Village. His father had died young, and his mother showed him no affection. His family was reasonably well-off, but he didn’t get a single cent of it after being kicked out. Just as he had finally found hope for life, a System suddenly appeared and told him he’d die if he didn’t take the imperial examinations. Fine, then: he’d sit the exams and make a living. Let’s see how he builds a future for himself, one step 240Reads7.9Score—14d adds
44. 44 农 The Old Country Scholar: Reborn as the Father of Four 农门老童生:穿成了四个娃的爹 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical833k WordsCompleted One heroine, no System An old book never tires the reader, even after a hundred readings. Read it closely and ponder it, and its meaning will reveal itself. Lin Mingyuan transmigrates to Great Chu, just over a decade after its founding, and becomes an old licentiate in a small mountain village. At the ripe old age of thirty-five, he is the father of four, with a beloved wife he thinks of constantly. The imperial examinations, suspended amid the wars at the end of the previous dynasty, are now be 3.8kReads9.0Score27014d adds
45. 45 寒 The Commoner Who Became Chief Minister 寒门首辅 Nangong Chenchen南宫沉沉Historical1.5M WordsCompleted When Gu Changliu wakes up, he has become a country scholar. He has no grand ambitions: he just wants to pass the provincial examination, become a minor official, put down roots, and spend his life in harmony with the woman he loves. But the officialdom is no easy place to get by. He had hoped to be a lazy nobody, but the political infighting leaves him no choice but to press forward with all his might. If he can't be a carefree salted fish, then he will take flight like a great roc, rising ninet 3.1kReads8.6Score21514d adds
46. 46 科 The Imperial Examination: I’m from a Humble Family 科举：我是寒门子弟 Autumn Wu秋梧Historical675k WordsCompleted After an earthquake, modern college student Chen Xiao transmigrates to the fictional Great Zhou dynasty, becoming the son of a poor farming family. He has a widowed mother, a virtuous wife, and a child who is four months away from being born. Looking at his family’s utter poverty, Chen Xiao decides to take up the original owner’s ambition of passing the imperial examinations and lead the whole family toward a bright future... 1kReads7.7Score10514d adds
47. 47 穿 Transmigration: The Daily Life of an Ancient Imperial Exam Candidate, Son of a Peddler 穿越：商贩之子的古代科举日常 Bai Qiqi百柒柒Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Imperial Examinations + Alternate History + Everyday Life in Ancient Times + Building Wealth + Slow-Burn + Coming of Age] In his previous life, Lin Xiang’an lost his parents at a young age and grew up dependent on others. After getting into college, he took a leave of absence to serve as a conscript. When he returned from the military and resumed his studies, he started a few businesses and gradually made his fortune. He achieved success at a young age, and his business kept growing. Then, one 2.5kReads7.9Score18314d adds
48. 48 科 The Imperial Exams: They All Say I'm the Star of Literature Reborn 科举，他们都说我是文曲星下凡 Lin Tong林桐Historical1.1M WordsOngoing (This book blends elements of the imperial examinations, romance, court politics, bureaucratic intrigue, warfare, and more.) Zhao Lin was the youngest professor of classical Chinese literature in Huaxia. After transmigrating, he becomes a young scholar in the Great Zhou, celebrated as a “star of literary talent” and a “child prodigy.” But the Grand Examiner declares him “frivolous by nature, destined to achieve nothing.” With his reputation on the verge of collapse, he draws on the extraordinary 1.4kReads8.7Score16614d adds
49. 49 扮 Play the Pig to Eat the Tiger, Then Lure Your Archenemy Home 扮猪吃虎，将死对头拐回家 His Highness Xuan Yin玄音殿下Modern Romance374k WordsCompleted [Secret Identities, Two Powerful Leads, Cunning, Double Lives, Sweet and Docile Yet Vicious] Qian Si is an ace assassin, codenamed Death, and the uncrowned king of the underworld. In public, she is a delicate heiress who can barely take care of herself. In secret, she can stir up the world all on her own. Yan Li’s influence reaches across both the underworld and the legitimate world. He has secretly crossed paths with Qian Si for years, and through a twist of fate, he snatched something she had 12.9kReads9.3Score1.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    The male protagonist transmigrates to the second year of Yuanping, becoming the youngest son of the Lu family in Dahe Village, Xingyang County. To become a powerful but ultimately unambitious nobody, he diligently studies for the imperial examinations. Meanwhile, in court… the emperor, seeing his ministers' more carefree lives, tries every possible way to find him something to do… The main theme is: "I'm busy, so you can't be idle either!"

50. 50 绝 The Unrivaled Tang Sect: The Golden Crow Shines on the Sun 绝世唐门之金乌耀阳 San Si三愢Male-Channel Fanfiction345k WordsOngoing After that world-shaking battle of the gods, Douluo Dalu was left in ruins. After nearly ten thousand years of rest and recovery, the continent flourished once more. The world needed leaders, and so the Child of Destiny was born. But was this age destined to become a whetstone for the Child of Destiny? In this great age of competition, there can't be just one protagonist. I've already crossed the threshold of genius, and now I'll fight for my place in this grand era! 28Reads8.4Score—14d adds

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