High-Quality Ancient-Era Imperial Examination Novels Worth Rereading Again and Again 高质量文，古代，科举，N刷

1. 51 让 You Asked Me to Ghostwrite a Love Letter, So Why Did My Words Make a Great Scholar Weep? 让你代写情书，你落笔惊哭大儒？ Miss Yu 1瑜大小姐1Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams] [Poor Family] [Love Letter Ghostwriting] [Farming] [Ensemble Cast] [Political Intrigue] Gu Ci, a PhD in Chinese Language and Literature, opens his eyes to find himself transmigrated into the body of a nine-year-old boy in the Great Feng Dynasty. His family is destitute from the start! His father and uncle have both failed the county exams. His little sister is crying for food, while his mother and older sister toil away weaving cloth! With nowhere else to turn, Gu Ci grabs a wri 104.8kReads8.5Score8.3kShelves
2. 52 开 From the Start, I Was a Lowly Illegitimate Son, but the Imperial Exams Carried Me to Success 开局低贱庶子，我靠科举步步青云 Big Inkstone大砚子Historical1.5M WordsOngoing Transmigration, imperial examinations, illegitimate son, political intrigue, court politics, play the pig to eat the tiger, male-oriented, historical, one female lead When Lin Yan transmigrated, he became an inconspicuous illegitimate son of the Lin family. He harbored no deep-seated hatred and had never endured relentless bullying. All he knew was how to keep his talents hidden, guard his heart, and live quietly. While others studied hard for the imperial examinations, he already had a firm gr 17.3kReads6.7Score1.5kShelves
3. 53 开 Sold into Slavery from the Start, I Rise to Grand Secretary Through the Imperial Exams 开局卖身为奴，我靠科举登顶首辅 Blazing Fire Dragon冲天爆火龙Historical2.1M WordsOngoing After waking up, Wang Wei, a modern university student majoring in Chinese, transmigrated into Wang Gou'er, a young servant who had been sold by his own clan. He thought his life was over before it had even begun, but his new master turned out to be a wealthy provincial graduate. Even more unexpectedly, a twist of fate made him the young master's lifesaver, and he was assigned to work in the study. While the other servants were still struggling to memorize the rules, Wang Gou'er had already set 43.2kReads7.9Score3.8kShelves
4. 54 一 I Woke Up to Find That My Great Ming Had Only Ten Days Left? 一觉醒来，朕的大明只剩十天了？ Crumble to Pieces土崩瓦解Historical1.7M WordsOngoing Original title: I Woke Up, and My Great Ming Has Only Ten Days Left? In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the countdown to the fall of the Great Ming begins. (No System) While lying unconscious on the dragon throne, Zhu Youjian had a long, vivid dream. In the dream, he became a child and studied centuries in the future. He opened The History of Ming, a book filled with the humiliating end that awaited him. In the end, he became a hardened soldier, tempered by modern military training. After twe 280.2kReads9.0Score39.6kShelves

   Reader note

   Read it when you have time.

5. 55 大 The Great Song’s First Minister: My Years as an Official in the Northern Song 大宋第一臣：我在北宋当官那些年 Qing Suisui卿岁岁Historical171k WordsOngoing Shen Xi was the top speechwriter at the provincial government office. He worked through the night writing reports, died suddenly, and woke up as a county commandant in the Northern Song’s Yuanyou era. No System, no golden finger, and no powerful patrons at court: he was a transmigrant with none of the usual advantages. His superiors tried to dump their problems on him, while his colleagues waited for him to make a fool of himself. Shen Xi sighed. “Fine. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I’ll pl 92Reads—Score151Shelves
6. 56 带 Taking My Little Farmhouse Along to Take the Imperial Exams 带着农家小院考科举 Even Equation偶数方程式478k WordsOngoing [Modern Farmhouse Courtyard + Transmigration + Pocket Dimension + Imperial Exams + Business + Political Intrigue + Golden Finger] Chen Xuyu, a literature graduate, had a rough time in the workplace. After suddenly losing his job, he became a food delivery driver. He wanted to work hard and pay off his mortgage, but one misfortune followed another, and too many complaints got his account suspended. Grinding his teeth and stamping his foot, Chen Xuyu simply sold his city home and spent a fortune 650Reads6.1Score104Shelves
7. 57 小 The Delicate Young Wife Is Actually from a Future Special Forces Unit 小娇娘竟来自未来特种部队 Around the Corner陌路转角Ancient Romance214k WordsCompleted This is the story of a modern female special forces soldier who uses her overwhelming advantage on an ancient battlefield of cold weapons. It is also a story about using a modern mindset to compete for favor in the imperial court, and, above all, about someone who, after being abandoned by the entire world, relies on no one and climbs step by step to the top. 14.4kReads8.9Score1.7kShelves
8. 58 痞 The Rogue Scholar and the Farmer's Old Man 痞子秀才田家翁 Three Make Cheng三人成澂Historical452k WordsCompleted A border defense special forces officer was killed by shellfire during a counter-narcotics operation. He was reborn in a remote mountain village in the fictional Great Qian dynasty, in an alternate history, into a family with generations of scholarly tradition. Starting out as a poor young hunter, he gradually worked his way up, passed the county-level scholar exam, and eventually became the head of a household. Settling in one corner of the world, he lived a rich and colorful rural life. 1.7kReads8.5Score126Shelves
9. 59 北 The Great Song Dynasty Medicine Merchant 北宋大药商 Xing De杏得Ancient Romance1.9M WordsOngoing Who says transmigration stories have to come with a System, a pocket dimension, or cheat-level cultivation? After a dreamlike brush with a life that felt like a mirage, Lu Sheng returns from the modern world of concrete and steel to the Northern Song dynasty. Drawing on years of experience working with medicinal herbs, he learns to identify hundreds of plants, make pills, process medicinal ingredients, develop herbal cosmetics, and cook medicinal dishes. More than two hundred Chinese medicina 18kReads8.8Score2.5kShelves
10. 60 重 Reborn as a Treacherous Official in Great Ming 重生大明当奸臣 Longlong Bao笼笼包Historical829k WordsCompleted (Historical ancient setting + Ming Dynasty history + Political intrigue + No System + Officialdom + One heroine) I am no loyal minister, but a treacherous one. I only lay bricks for the Great Ming. A modern college student is unexpectedly reborn as Yan Shaoqing, grandson of Yan Song, Grand Secretary during the Jiajing reign of the Great Ming. From the undercurrents of political intrigue during the Jiajing reign, to tentative reforms under Longqing, and then the deepening reforms of the Wanli rei 5kReads8.5Score372Shelves
11. 61 除 The Disgraced Concubine-Born Son Takes the Hanlin Exam, and the Duke's Estate Is Reduced to Ruins 除谱庶子考翰林，国公府夷废墟 Leather Makes Me Happy皮使我快乐Historical242k WordsCompleted [Transmigration] + [imperial examinations] + [wits and strategy] + [never forgiving] + [no redemption] + [farming] + [court intrigue] Su Lingyun is reborn in the body of a concubine-born son in a duke’s mansion. With his father’s indifference, his grandmother’s neglect, his stepmother’s hatred, and his legitimate elder brother’s beatings, he has no choice but to do everything he can to escape. He studies hard and takes the imperial examinations, facing endless obstacles and attacks from the duke 423Reads8.4Score—Shelves
12. 62 陛 Your Majesty! The Duke's Uncle Passed the Palace Exam in Third Place! 陛下！国舅爷他中了探花！ The Pig Who Hates Hiking不爱爬山的猪Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Civil Service Exams and Officialdom] [Court Intrigue] [Plenty of Romance] [A Slice-of-Life Leaning] People in the capital say that after taking a thorough beating, the young imperial uncle has finally gotten his old self back, and even passed the exam as a third-place laureate. But no one knows that he has lived two lives, or that he once had a miraculous encounter across time and witnessed the flourishing civilization of a thousand years in the future. Jiang Yan has never understood how he los 48.2kReads8.9Score5kShelves

    Reader note

    [Rebirth][Imperial Examination][Daily Life][Political Intrigue][Single Female Lead] Everyone in the capital says that the young imperial uncle, who was thoroughly beaten, has finally changed his ways again. But no one knows that he not only lived two lives, but also experienced a miraculous time-travel encounter, witnessing a prosperous civilization a thousand years later. Jiang Yan still can't understand how he could have been so foolish as to plot against the crown prince, his own nephew, only to be sent to his death by his sister's poisoned wine. In this life, he only wants to protect his family, have a loving marriage, and incidentally, cling to his nephew's coattails. But how did he end up as a high-ranking official…?

13. 63 权 The Powerful Chancellor: From Humble Adopted Son to Ruler of the Realm 权相：从卑微养子，到权倾天下 Xingzhi Is Not an Apricot醒枝不是杏子Historical128k WordsCompleted Meng Wuji, a business tycoon who had just weathered the hardships of starting a company, unexpectedly transmigrates to an alternate dynasty and becomes an adopted son of a powerful family whose future is far from secure. Survival, duty, family, friendship, the nation and the realm... After cutting through layer upon layer of mystery, he discovers that he can only march toward a fated showdown. When two rivals meet on a narrow road, neither can escape. If the emperor must be replaced, so be it! 52Reads—Score—Shelves
14. 64 科 The Imperial Exams: Top Scholar at Fourteen, and My Whole Family Is Stunned 科举：十四岁案首，全家都懵了 Someone Surnamed Ling, Who Loves Mandarin Fish Slices爱吃贵妃鱼片的凌某Historical202k WordsCompleted [Everyday life + imperial examinations + lighthearted power fantasy + warmth + coming-of-age] Xiao Yunzheng transmigrates into another world and becomes the “bookworm” mocked by the entire village. His father spent his whole life trying to pass the lowest level of the imperial examinations and never succeeded. The villagers all say the Xiao family is doomed to die out and will never rise again. His mother worries herself gray-haired, his eldest sister protects him with a cleaver, and his little 6.8kReads7.5Score634Shelves
15. 65 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 2.6kReads7.9Score193Shelves
16. 66 地 A Cellar Opens into the Great Ming: The Carpenter Emperor's Good Brother-in-Law 地窖通大明：木匠皇帝的好妹夫 Surviving in the Deep Sea深海求生Historical183k WordsCompleted In the cellar of his rented apartment, Lu Tian discovers a time portal leading to the Tianqi era of the Great Ming. From then on, his life changes completely. Blue-and-white porcelain? Xuande incense burners? Chicken cups? He trades lighters and cheap white liquor for them until his hands are full. What? His good buddy in the Ming dynasty wants to marry his younger sister to him? And says he can make Lu Tian a high-ranking official if he agrees? Lu Tian will have to think it over... 2.6kReads8.0Score221Shelves
17. 67 东 A Bastard Son in the Eastern Jin: From Dowry Servant to Rising Star 东晋庶子：从陪嫁仆从开始逆袭 Xingdong's Banhuan Longbing兴东的板桓龙兵Historical1.1M WordsCompleted The comic adaptation just came out. If you’re interested, go check it out. No System + political machinations + comeback + reform + aristocratic clan power struggles + plotting from behind the scenes In the first year of Jianwu, Sima Rui declared himself emperor, while the Langya Wang clan held the court in the palm of its hand. Under the Nine-Rank System, those from humble families had no way forward, as aristocratic clans monopolized the court generation after generation. Lu Heng, a tomb raide 5.3kReads7.8Score420Shelves
18. 68 穿 I Transmigrated to the Han Dynasty and Made a Fortune with My Gambling Tricks! 穿越大汉，我靠千术赢麻了！ Three Jin and Eight Liang三斤八两Historical234k WordsCompleted [No System + Alternate History + Supreme Gambling Skills + Scheming + Overwhelming Firepower] Chen Qian transmigrates to the Han Dynasty as a down-and-out young master. Keeping up the playboy facade, he quietly builds his strength with his unparalleled gambling skills. While secretly investigating the mastermind behind the Chen family’s downfall, he becomes entangled in a shocking scheme. An ordinary man may be blameless, but possessing a treasure invites disaster. But Chen Qian doesn’t just pos 2.6kReads8.0Score189Shelves
19. 69 兵 The Soldier's March East 兵痞向东 Li the Old Gun李老枪Urban238k WordsCompleted In his previous life, special forces king He Xiangdong was killed fighting criminals. When he opened his eyes again, he had been transported to a parallel world in 1978. Here, the three great powers of Xia, Qiu, and Dong battled for global dominance, while war clouds gathered along the southwestern border. All-out war was only six months away. Yet the 215th Division, where he was stationed, was still working the fields on a farm. What he found even harder to accept was this: a twelve-man infantr 705Reads6.8Score109Shelves
20. 70 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 17.6kReads8.2Score1.7kShelves
21. 71 我 I'm a Qing Dynasty Tycoon 我在大清当财阀 A Wild Man野人壹枚Historical170k WordsCompleted Shen Yi, an elite investment banker, opens his eyes to find he has become Yin Qi, the Kangxi Emperor's fifth son! Faced with the bloody struggle among the nine princes for the throne, he grins. “Fight for the throne? What a headache! Wouldn't it be better to become a financial magnate in the Qing Dynasty?” With The Maritime Power Strategy in one hand, he opens ports and promotes trade. With the Great Qing Huitong Bank in the other, he turns finance into a game. His rouge shop uses limited-editio 214Reads—Score101Shelves
22. 72 斩 I Begin by Slaying Demons, Then Attain Sainthood Through the Flesh 斩妖除魔开始，肉身成圣 The Moon in My Arms, Mountains and Rivers in My Dreams明月入怀山河入梦Eastern Fantasy422k WordsOngoing [Ancient setting, high martial arts and high fantasy + wish fulfillment + no romance + female lead + strong heroine] [Wuxia jianghu, suspense, the uncanny, and horror] The mountain path lay under a thin veil of mist in the early morning. The sound of suonas and a noisy crowd drifted through the fog, lively and boisterous, drawing closer and closer. A red procession slowly emerged from the mist. The four people at the front played suonas, singing and dancing. Behind them came a line of bearers ca 1.2kReads8.7Score115Shelves

    Reader note

    You can try something different and see...

23. 73 秀 A Scholar Turns Soldier: Right or Wrong, You’ll Have to Listen 秀才变成兵，有理没理你都得听 I'm Wang Dake我是王大可Rural Life726k WordsOngoing [No System + Transmigration + Alternate Setting + Farming + Face-Slapping + Devoted Husband and Father + Everyday Life + Slow Pace] A battle-hardened soldier transmigrates into the body of a spineless scholar. After the original owner passed the county-level imperial examination, he divorced his virtuous wife and insisted on clinging to the village beauty, a two-faced green tea. Who could have guessed that he would drink himself to death and become a laughingstock throughout the village? Just as 36.1kReads8.4Score3.5kShelves
24. 74 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 35.9kReads8.9Score3.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist transmigrates into the body of a teacher at an academy, taking on six disciples. He teaches his students using modern knowledge of civil service exams, employing a differentiated teaching approach. It's an ensemble piece, and the political intrigue is brilliantly written.

25. 75 因 I’m So Rich, the Emperor Won’t Even Pay My Salary 因为我太有钱陛下就不给发俸禄 Lin Xuan from Niuqian Village牛牵村的林煊Historical846k WordsOngoing Yang Jingyun was born into the Great Qian dynasty. He never expected to find himself in a family packed with brothers, where every day was a struggle of schemes and calculations. Hoping to build a better life for himself, Yang Jingyun began setting up workshops to make sugar, brew liquor, and produce candles and soap, leading his clan to prosperity. Unexpectedly, he caught the emperor’s attention and earned the emperor’s favor. Not only was he granted noble status, but his whole family was ennob 541Reads7.0Score135Shelves

    Reader note

    Read it first, then decide. I highly recommend the second book, *Li Su*.

26. 76 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

    You can always believe in the exhilarating feeling of time-traveling through an imperial examination novel! Shen Ce, the top scorer in the Henan college entrance examination, is a farm boy who is transported to the Great Qian Dynasty.

27. 77 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 imperial examinations, featuring a genius top scholar who starts studying at the age of three and a half and progresses to the top academy in Jiangnan.

28. 78 带 Taking the Imperial Exams with a Chip 带着芯片考科举 Willows in Deep Green Shade杨柳绿阴浓Historical216k WordsOngoing (Imperial examinations + rise to prominence + political intrigue + transmigration + family) Liu Ke, a modern-day overworked intern, transmigrates into the body of a six-year-old boy in the Great Qi Dynasty. He had hoped to live a quiet life by passing the imperial examinations, but before the county exam, he offends the Xie family, the only family in the county with a successful candidate. “This child will never pass the county exam!” He had only wanted to focus on his studies, but now he has —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A more authentic collection of imperial examination texts, providing insight into the scholars of that era.

29. 79 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

    So pretty! So pretty! 😋

30. 80 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
31. 81 寒 Poor-Born Child Prodigy: At Five and a Half, I Face-Slap My Entire Clan in the Imperial Exams 寒门神童：五岁半科举打脸全族 Feast 3盛宴3Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [Genius child from the start, satisfying comeback, putting every skeptic in their place!] Xu Fei is a five-and-a-half-year-old farm boy who was born into an ancient era, yet is treated as a “nobody” by his family. His biased grandmother makes him work and feed the chickens, while every egg goes to his thirty-year-old uncle, a licentiate who has yet to pass the imperial exams, and his “child prodigy” cousin! Xu Fei is furious: Pretend to be a prodigy? I can do that, too! He recites poetry in publ 4.8kReads8.0Score350Shelves
32. 82 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
33. 83 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!

34. 84 穿 I Became a Farm Girl, and My Son Is a Top Imperial Exam Scholar 穿成农家小娘子，儿子是科举大佬 Better to Step Back and Cast a Net不如退而结网Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (Dual transmigration, farming, the imperial examinations, family life, building wealth, and a warm, happy life) (No System, no pocket dimension, no golden finger. Both the female lead and her son have transmigrated.) (The female lead is hardworking, clever, beautiful, and capable. The male lead seems honest on the surface, but is actually hopelessly devoted to her, fiercely protective of his family, and scrupulously faithful. Their son is a prodigy who never forgets anything he reads, and he’s r 15kReads8.5Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    A story about a mother and son both time-traveling to ancient times, focusing on the imperial examination system and the family's efforts to help each other achieve success. It's a story I found engaging.

35. 85 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

    No cheat codes, and no ambiguous relationships so far.

36. 86 开 From the Start, Disguised as a Man, I Rose to First Rank Through the Imperial Exams 开局女扮男装，我靠科举官居一品 I Want to Make Money爷要赚钱Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Disguised as a man + imperial examinations and court intrigue + rises to the highest office + one heroine, focused on her career] When Xie Qingfeng opens her eyes, she's handed a nightmare of a life: a house with bare walls, and a woman forced to disguise herself as a man. In an age when everything is considered inferior to scholarship, if she doesn't fight for her place, she'll be crushed to pieces. Since she's here, she'll give it everything she's got! As a woman, she enters the imperial cour 50.3kReads9.3Score6.1kShelves

    Reader note

    I desperately want to read the author's extra chapters and reviews! This book is absolutely amazing!!! The protagonist conquers everyone with his charm, especially the mutual trust between the ruler and his subjects, who are wholeheartedly devoted to the country and its people! There's a kind of trust between ruler and subject that makes me want to have your child and give you the throne!!! The entire story features no romantic relationships, no romantic entanglements, and the protagonist has extremely high emotional and intellectual intelligence. He conquers everyone with his talent, his strategies, and his patriotic heart!! [Already recommended][Masterpiece by Que Shi][Added to bookshelf] Xie Qingfeng opened her eyes to find herself in a hellish script: "a family in dire poverty, a woman disguised as a man." In this era where all other professions are considered lowly and only studying is noble, if she didn't strive, she would be utterly destroyed. Since she was here, she would do her best! As a woman, she entered the imperial court, stirred up storms, and brought peace and stability to the country. In the imperial examinations, her pen strokes were powerful, and she won first place! In the court, she debated with scholars, promoted new policies, and pacified the borders. This prosperous era was as she wished. History records: "Xie Qingfeng, a triple champion in the imperial examinations, served three emperors, and is the greatest minister of all time. In my life, Xie Qingfeng seeks not glory or wealth, but only to have my name etched proudly in history." [Mini-drama] In the Golden Palace, the ministers were furious: "Xie Qingfeng's actions are perverse, she has disrupted and disrespected ancestral rules, she should be executed!" The man, dressed in a scarlet official robe, stood in the center of the hall, his back straight as a pine tree, and smiled calmly: "You gentlemen read the books of sages and cultivate your own schools of thought; while I cultivate policies to enrich the nation and practice laws for all ages! What is wrong with that?!"

37. 87 苏 Su Chen'an's Journey Through the Imperial Exams 苏辰安的科举之路 Dream of Nine Hundred Million Girls九亿少女的梦梦Historical1.1M WordsCompleted Su Chen'an, a master of Chinese painting, had finally wrapped up an exhibition. Just as he walked out of the building, a flowerpot full of sunflowers came flying at him. He died on the spot. When he woke up again, he was almost starved to death inside his mother's womb. Every day, he teetered on the brink of starvation. He felt that if he absorbed even a little more nourishment from the amniotic fluid, his mother might die. But if he absorbed even a little less, the embryo that was him would pro 9.8kReads8.3Score838Shelves
38. 88 为 To Avoid Planting Rice, I Work Hard to Pass the Imperial Exams 为了不插秧，努力考科举 Three Layers of Belly Fat三层肚腩Historical1.0M WordsCompleted [The short drama adaptation is now streaming] A modern SSS-rank researcher dies suddenly and transmigrates to the Great Xing Dynasty. His health is so poor that he's not allowed to pick rice in the fields until he's six. Sunstruck and light-headed, Li Jing decides that farming with this body is a risky business, so he immediately resolves to study for the imperial examinations. That's what he's good at; the transplanting can be left to the professionals! The following year, now named Li Yiqing, 23kReads9.3Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    These novels about the imperial examinations are all excellent! The author's writing style is superb, definitely worth reading. [Already hooked][A masterpiece by Que Shi]

39. 89 寒 A Poor Scholar's Step-by-Step Rise Through the Imperial Exams 寒门科举之步步青云 Za Ya砸吖Historical354k WordsOngoing This is not only a story about power and status, but also one about “staying true to your original aspirations” and “making choices.” Watch the protagonist use wisdom beyond his time and a pragmatic spirit to forge a unique path between upholding what is right and fulfilling his ambitions. 4Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 90 寒 The Road to the Imperial Examinations for a Poor Scholar 寒门科举之路 Moon Glutinous White月糯白Historical821k WordsCompleted After surviving alone in the apocalypse for three years, Yang Han is betrayed by his teammates and scratched by a zombie. Unwilling to turn into one and get his head blown off, he takes his own life. To his surprise, he transmigrates into the body of a farm boy, the only son of a family with a thousand acres of fertile land. He can't handle the backbreaking work in the fields, and since all professions are inferior to studying, he has no choice but to set out on the path to the imperial examinat 193Reads8.6Score114Shelves
41. 91 全 My Whole Family Supports My Imperial Exams, and I Rise to Great Heights 全家供我科举，而后青云直上 Flying Cow 98会飞的牛98Historical337k WordsCompleted One heroine + no System + lighthearted pacing A bird must flap its wings before it can soar; a person must study before they can get ahead. Huang Zhiwen unexpectedly gets another chance at life, bringing the memories of his previous life with him as he slowly adapts to this new world. Here, he finds new people to care about and a new family. The Huang family is warm and close-knit, and they will do everything they can to support Huang Zhiwen in the imperial examinations. That leaves all the pres 740Reads8.4Score—Shelves
42. 92 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 61.8kReads9.2Score7.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Both father and son are scholars who took the imperial examinations, and both are geniuses who rose from peasant families to achieve success through the examinations. The protagonist, being a child, doesn't face as much pressure, and learning is fun and engaging. The protagonist's father has more life experience than the protagonist and seems to be a guide on his path. The character portrayals are excellent.

43. 93 科 Imperial Examinations: Reborn, She Took Her Ex-Husband's Steady Job 科举：重生后她抢了前夫的铁饭碗 Rabbit Lord's Chitchat兔君闲谈Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Heroine Does Not Disguise Herself as a Man | Civil Service Exams and Government Career | A Name in the History Books | A Strong Heroine Who Grows] In her previous life, Jiang Ruchu was a fallen noblewoman. Her father was faithless, her mother weak. Carrying a keepsake, she married into the prominent local Huo family to repay a debt of gratitude. When her husband entered school, Jiang Ruchu quietly supported him through his studies... She kept a low profile and fulfilled her duties, hoping only 7.3kReads9.1Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! It features a very small amount of romance. The main focus of the story is the imperial examination system.

44. 94 皇 Ming Dynasty Natives Versus Transmigrators 皇明土著大战穿越众 Would You Dare Say Yes?叫你敢答应吗Historical3.7M WordsOngoing Current plot: A newcomer to officialdom enters the inner circle as a pawn, but refuses to settle for mediocrity and wants to break free of his constraints. By chance, he gets caught up in turmoil on the frontier, where three hundred battered soldiers rout thirty thousand northern invaders. Zheng Zhi, a household retainer of the Zhen Ding Guard under the Ming rear army's Governor's Office, dreams of himself sixty years in the future. From then on, the Ming Dynasty gains a peerless talent in both 128Reads8.2Score—Shelves
45. 95 云 The Legendary Story of the Yun Family 云老二一家的传奇故事 A Chilling Azure Cocoon一道森冷的天苍茧Historical2.6M WordsOngoing So what if he was kicked out with nothing? Yun Laoer, who had refused to accept his fate since childhood, lets loose completely. All he has left is a house full of sons, but he heads to the wilderness without a care in the world and settles down there. He insists on sending his sons to school and, through hard work and a generous helping of luck, gets into plenty of hilarious scrapes. In the end, he makes his fortune, his son succeeds in the imperial examinations, and they both reach the pinnacl 10.4kReads8.6Score633Shelves

    Reader note

    Slow-burner story, filled with everyday family matters and the imperial examinations, a family working together and striving for success...

46. 96 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

    Don't look at the ratings, my darlings! This book is a new one by the author, and it's in a newly opened category on Tomato, so the initial ratings are a bit low. However, the writing is excellent, the plot is rich and original!!! Although the female protagonist, Lu Ming, is a transmigrator from the future with a disastrous start, she never needs any cheat codes or system space assistance on her path to the imperial examinations and protecting her family!! The author's writing is superb; all the poems the female protagonist writes during her exams are entirely handwritten by the author! Completely handwritten! There is absolutely no plagiarism!!!

47. 97 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

    It's very realistic, containing many actual imperial examination questions. The logic is rigorous, and it uses a lot of classical Chinese, which might deter some readers. At least someone who has attended high school would find it enjoyable.

48. 98 开 From the Start, Everyone Mistook Me for the God of Literature 开局被当成文曲星 Bedtime Story Self-Proclaimed Author睡前故事自我编撰师Ancient Romance381k WordsCompleted [Woman Disguised as a Man + No Romance + System + Imperial Exams and Political Maneuvering + Building a Strong Nation] Xie Yichu is born into an ancient world, retaining her modern memories and accompanied by the “Imperial Exam God System.” Her grandfather, convinced that the God of Literature appeared to him in a dream, raises her as a boy from birth. She is driven by her determination to “have a page of her own in the family genealogy” and her ideal of “peace and prosperity for all.” From then 4Reads—Score—Shelves
49. 99 流 The Rogue Son-in-Law: The Empress’s Pretty Boy 流氓赘婿，女帝家的小白脸 Handsome Young Man俊俏少年Historical3.4M WordsCompleted He transmigrated to an alternate world and became a lowly live-in son-in-law. He had planned to drink tea, fish, flirt, watch opera, and live a carefree life, but... “Husband, help me!” “Dear son-in-law, help me!” “Young master, help me!” “My dear subject, help your emperor!” Fine, it seemed he wouldn't get to take it easy. The world would have to be protected by him after all. And so Zhou Yuan investigated major cases, cleaned up the bureaucracy, crushed rebellions, opened the seas, and expande 63.9kReads9.3Score7.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Ancient setting, fictional history, with quality beyond your expectations. It features imperial examinations, poetry, and modern knowledge that challenges the ancients, offering countless satisfying moments.

50. 100 震 Shocking! The Prodigal Son’s Secret Stash Is Bigger Than the Imperial Treasury 震惊！逆子的私房钱比国库还多 I've Been Crazy Since I Was Little打小我就疯Historical2.1M WordsCompleted [A short drama of the same name is now streaming on Hongguo. Dear readers, feel free to enjoy it.] After transmigrating into the despised young duke of the Zhenguo Manor, he planned to make a little money, stay out of trouble, and live a carefree life. But everything changed after he got engaged. The emperor wanted him to inherit the throne, and the chancellor's daughter refused to marry anyone else. Tibet wanted his head, and the Liao wanted him dead and buried. But Ye Xinghun only wanted to qu 14.6kReads9.0Score1.5kShelves

Other lists with You Asked Me to Ghostwrite a Love Letter, So Why Did My Words Make a Great Scholar Weep?