Looking for Historical Exam Stories Full of Classical References 求引经据典的科举文

1. 1 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 10.5kReads8.3Score91214d adds

   Reader note

   ✨The first book features a writer with strong language skills and no awful family members, making the whole story very heartwarming. ✨The second book features a vividly portrayed male protagonist, with each character clearly defined, making readers want to know more about them. The protagonist has positive values, a harmonious family, and no strange relatives.

2. 2 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
3. 3 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: The Concubine-Born Heir's Rise to Power 女穿男，庶房嫡子的逆袭 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Now available as an audiobook with a full cast. [Alternate history] + [Woman transmigrates as a man] + [Born into this world] + [Imperial exams and business in the early story] + [Court politics later on] + [One female lead, with a relatively small role] + [A touch of ensemble cast] + [No golden finger] Xie Chengxi was born into another world as the sixth son of the Xie family, a minor family in Bianjing's Grain Transport Guild. His father was the clan's rejected son, kept under pressure for yea 33.5kReads8.3Score3.6k14d adds

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   This book is super good!

4. 4 穿 Transmigrate to a Farming Family, Aim for the Imperial Exams 穿越农家，科举为上 Tang Qinghan唐轻寒Ancient Romance305k WordsCompleted Wang Xi had a heart condition as a child and was abandoned at an orphanage. He worked odd jobs to put himself through college and finally landed a pretty good job. After three years of working diligently, just as he was finally able to give something back to the orphanage where he grew up, he suddenly died while working overtime one night. Reborn into a farming family, Wang Xi is now a little boy named Li Shuanzi. He knows all too well that if he wants a better life, passing the imperial exams i 3.5kReads8.9Score22014d adds
5. 5 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
6. 6 寒 A Scholar from a Humble Home 寒窗读书人 Ding Kai, Who Loves Pepper-Salt Rice Dumplings爱吃椒盐豆粽的丁凯Historical1.2M WordsCompleted Bystanders: Xu Sandan’s life is over (watching the drama unfold…) Family: What’s going to become of Sandan? (worrying…) Xu Heng (Xu Sandan): My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven’s (striving…) A story about Xu Heng, who transmigrates into a desperate situation from the start. With a disabled body and a poor family, he fights against a cruel fate step by step through his own efforts, ultimately turning his life around. An uplifting story about farming, cozy everyday life, and hard work. P.S. Ther 4.2kReads8.6Score33114d adds
7. 7 科 Rising Through the Imperial Exams: Changing My Family's Fate 科举兴家：带着全家改换门庭 Fei Tu斐涂Ancient Romance2.4M WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + transmigration + farming + no golden finger] [Romance included. The male lead is devoted to one woman. The heroine appears less often, and romance is not the main plot.] [The male lead is talented, but he still has to work hard. He climbs the ranks one step at a time.] A top student who had just graduated suddenly transmigrates into the body of a farmer’s son in ancient times. Determined not to spend his whole life farming, he embarks on the long road to the imperial exa 9.7kReads6.9Score71914d adds
8. 8 说 They Called Me Sickly, So I Turned Around and Made a Name for Myself in the Imperial Exams 说我病殃子，我转身科举争光 King Smile笑笑大王Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Farming + Alternate Ancient Setting, Imperial Exams, but Not a Conventional Exam Novel, Romance] My new book, [Reborn with the Appearance of an Eighteen-Year-Old, While My Children Are Already Twelve], is now updating. Please give it your support. Wang Erxiao was in the prime of his life when he transmigrated, born into the body of a farm boy named Wang Erxiao in the Great Liang dynasty. The Wang family now has three generations living under one roof. Counting his biological and cousin sisters, 24.6kReads7.2Score2.3k14d adds
9. 9 全 My Clan Raised Me to Greatness, So I Gifted Them Purple Robes 全族扶我青云志，我赠族人朱紫袍 Uncle Jianghe江河大爷Historical2.2M WordsOngoing After dying suddenly from overwork, workaholic Chen Yan is reborn as the only son of a newly born provincial graduate in the Great Liang Dynasty. His father is successful, so Chen Yan promptly decides to lie flat and enjoy the good life, with food brought to him and clothes laid out for him. But when he learns at the age of six that he was switched at birth with a farmer's child, his life takes a turn. The day the fake young master returns to the Chen family, he goes out to work in the fields an 216.4kReads9.3Score21.7k14d adds

   Reader note

   This is so good! 🥺 Putting the people first is the fundamental principle of all dynasties. Chen Yan speaks for the people and is entrusted by them, doing the impossible. Every time I read it, my blood boils and my eyes well up with tears. The imperial examination is described in such detail, did the author participate in it? The balancing act between the emperor and the court is even more interesting than palace dramas! 🥰 Dignity is only on the edge of a sword, truth is only within the range of cannons! This story is so enjoyable to read! I hope the author keeps updating as long as they breathe! 😜

10. 10 侯 The Marquis's Son Takes the Imperial Exams 侯府子科举 Clear Wind, River and Stream清风川溪Historical620k WordsCompleted When fortune’s winds are fair, I’ll seize their strength and climb the ladder above the crowd. Before the palace gates, whips crack; the road to the clouds is lined with seven beams of purple jade. I have mastered the Four Books and Five Classics, and trained with blades, spears, swords, bows, and halberds. If I will not give myself to the realm, then what was the point of all my self-cultivation? A single-heroine story. Many thanks to all my readers. 422Reads7.1Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book truly demonstrates excellent literary skill, but the ending is rushed; the author seemed to lack the motivation to continue. "If a favorable wind were to blow, it would propel me straight to the top." "The sound of whips echoes before the palace gates; a path to high office and purple robes awaits." "Having mastered the Four Books and Five Classics, honed my skills in swordsmanship and spear fighting, if I do not sacrifice myself for the nation, would my self-cultivation be in vain?" This is a female-centric story; thank you, readers.

11. 11 阿 Sister, I Passed the Imperial Examination! 阿姐，我中举了！ The Mantis Loves to Dance螳螂爱跳舞Historical647k WordsCompleted Scholar Chen studied hard all his life but never passed the provincial examination. Before he died, he told his eldest daughter, “You must make sure your younger brother studies and earns an official title. Otherwise, I won’t be able to rest in peace!” An elder brother is like a father, and an elder sister is like a mother. Bearing her father’s final wish, Chen Zhaodi resolutely laid down her terms: “If you want to marry me, you must send my little brother to school.” While everyone else in the 4.7kReads8.6Score34414d adds

    Reader note

    It's very realistic, depicting the process of becoming an apprentice and studying, unlike other imperial examination essays that only briefly mention it.

12. 12 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
13. 13 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

    I still really like this one.

14. 14 我 I, Sun Shan, and the Imperial Examinations 我，孙山，科举 Ximen Qizi西门七仔Ancient Romance4.7M WordsOngoing “Imperial exams + transmigration + farming + exams + no space System” “Romance included, devoted male lead. The female lead is his childhood sweetheart, but she appears infrequently. Romance is not the main plot.” “The male lead rises step by step through hard work and good luck.” “The male lead is no good at scheming, but he gets things done and has technical skills.” “The imperial examination system is based on the Ming and Qing dynasties.” After an accident, he is transmigrated into the womb 47.4kReads8.8Score3.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    These few are more logical.

15. 15 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

    These two books are interesting and logical. The author understands the imperial examination system and writes about the characters' courtesy names and the procedures and levels of the imperial examination in a very reasonable way.

16. 16 冒EN Impostor of the Langya Clan 冒姓琅琊 Eastern Zhou Young Master Nan东周公子南Historical1.6M WordsOngoing (Also known as “The Matter of Me Pretending to Be a Nobleman of the Southern Dynasties”) To transmigrate isn’t a dinner party. It’s a deadly game at every turn. The south is beautiful, yet lofty ambitions often fade away. Since ancient times, the Southern Dynasties have been weak, their heroes short-lived. No golden finger, no System, and no second chance at life. Everything starts from zero! Original owner’s memories: none! Identity: none! Supplies: none! When transmigration becomes reality, ho 497.6kReads9.7Score72.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    These are all books I personally found enjoyable, along with some recommendations from friends and family: 1. I'm currently reading this one; the plot is quite exciting, and the male lead has a "my fate is in my own hands" vibe, haha. 2. I've rarely read such a satisfying face-slapping and imperial examination novel. The male lead is transported to ancient times and overcomes one obstacle after another solely through his knowledge, without any memories or preparation. I could call this book a new kind of male-centric masterpiece, in terms of thought and cultural depth, haha. Having grown accustomed to male leads being the best in martial arts, I really love this kind of intellectually stimulating story. 3. This one is also good. I'm a fan of female-centric stories, and seeing the female lead grow stronger step by step is especially enjoyable. The female lead has a very calm and composed personality. 4. I feel this one is even better than the previous one. The female lead is almost identical to a male lead except for her biological sex, which feels natural and makes it even more enjoyable. 5. This one is similar to the one I'm currently reading; the male lead is super handsome, highly intelligent, and fights against relatives, with some farming elements! 6. This one was recommended by a friend; I haven't started reading it yet but have already added it to my reading list. It involves traveling between modern and ancient times, which is quite unique. 7. This one is quite enjoyable; the male lead has a huge cheat ability. A friend highly recommends it. 8. This one is truly excellent. The author has put a lot of effort into traditional culture, and the writing is very powerful, giving it a serious imperial examination feel.

17. 17 女 A Woman Transmigrates as a Man: A Farmer’s Road to the Imperial Exams 女穿男：农家子的科举青云路 Shang Xinghe裳星河Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Female-to-male transmigration + imperial examinations + romance later on + remembered in history + founding the family tree] In her previous life, Qin Huan grew up in an orphanage and worked her way into a university degree. She landed a job at a major company and was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of success. Her only regret was never having much family to speak of. When she opened her eyes again, she had traveled from modern times to the past, and from a woman to a man. She had become 9.4kReads9.0Score1k14d adds
18. 18 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 10.8kReads8.9Score88914d adds
19. 19 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
20. 20 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
21. 21 穿 Transmigrated to the Countryside: A Young Farmer's Road to the Imperial Exams 穿越之农家独苗苗的科举之路 Zhang Rubai张如白Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted [Born into the Past + Farming + Imperial Exams + Fleeing Famine + Warfare] The slow-paced everyday life of a boy from a rural family in ancient times! Zhang Ping'an gets a new lease on life when he transmigrates to an ancient farming family. Fortunately, they are fairly well-off, so no one has to go hungry. He has six older sisters, and he is the only boy his parents had long hoped for. His parents favor sons over daughters, and all six sisters are fierce. He thought he was in for a story about 28.6kReads8.7Score2.7k14d adds
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
23. 23 穿 Transmigrated as the Fake Young Master in an Imperial Exam Novel 穿成科举文里的假少爷 Years of Rivers and Mountains江山岁月Ancient Romance127k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + fake and real young masters + alternate dynasty + transmigrate + transmigrate into a book + everyday life] [Male protagonist's perspective, no CP, no female lead, and the true heiress has little page time] Yuan Kunyu transmigrated after a celebration banquet for getting into a 985 university's gifted youth program. The good news: he had become a young master from a prestigious family. The not-so-bad news: he was the fake one. So, at the age of ten, Yuan Kunyu returned to 54Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This one! This one!

24. 24 开 My Ancestors’ Graves Started Smoking from the Start: Disguised as a Man, I Take the Imperial Exams 开局祖坟冒青烟，女扮男装科举忙 Jiang Suiwan江岁晚Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Xie Yuheng transmigrates from the Apocalypse to a farming household, where a tyrant rules the land. With no other choice, she disguises herself as a boy. As she grows older, everyone in the surrounding villages comes to know that the Xie family's prodigy has an exceptionally clever mind. Too bad he's a sickly weakling who can't lift a finger or carry a load. Bystander: “You're so noble, so impressive! Your sickly family member just kicked someone through a wall!” The Xie family: “Does the head o 12.2kReads9.2Score1.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    Is this the kind of essay you're looking for, written for the imperial examinations?

25. 25 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 1.4kReads9.2Score17414d adds
26. 26 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
27. 27 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

    Reader note

    👍👍👍The first book, about Sun Shan who failed the imperial examination, features an ordinary person's journey through the examinations without any special advantages. Everything depends on his own efforts. The family members are generally kind, except for one or two who like to take advantage, but even they are easily fooled by the protagonist. 🤦🤦 The second book utilizes modern knowledge to make many beneficial inventions.

28. 28 启 Your Majesty, the Top Scholar Is Slacking Off Again and Again 启禀陛下，状元郎他又又又开摆了 Fang Jinxi方锦溪Historical2.8M WordsOngoing [Imperial Exams and Farming]+ [Family Matters]+ [Building Wealth]+ [Scheming]+ [Alternate Ancient Setting] Lu Qilin, a modern enthusiast of intangible cultural heritage, unexpectedly transmigrated. When he woke up, he had become an eight-year-old village boy with a dim mind, whose mother had died young and whose father had disappeared. Fortunately, his grandparents and uncle and aunt truly loved him, and his two older cousins genuinely cared for him. It wasn't the worst start imaginable. Unfortu 12.8kReads8.5Score1.3k14d adds
29. 29 我 I’m the Star of Literature Incarnate! You’re Selling Me Off to Fund Your Stepson’s Imperial Exams? 我文曲星下凡！你卖我扶持继子科举？ Wood and Fire木火Historical434k WordsCompleted [History + imperial examinations + book attendant + play the pig to eat the tiger + passionate power fantasy] Shen Yang, a PhD in literature, transmigrates to ancient times, only to become a book attendant sold into servitude. From the start, the difficulty is set to hell! An evil stepmother is waiting for him up front, and a tyrannical young master is on his heels. Worse still, every book attendant before him met a mysterious and untimely death! Fortunately, his mind holds the greatest treasure 273Reads8.0Score—14d adds
30. 30 玉 Yuxi Case Records 玉溪笔录 LuLu99Historical229k WordsOngoing Ensemble cast + farming + women taking the imperial exams without disguising themselves as men + everyday family life Most of the poems in this work are original. Everyone's welcome to discuss them! Serious synopsis: Follow Liu Yuxi as she records the chaos and laughter of the Liu family compound, the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, and their journey as they grow up. Most of the plot draws on historical precedents. The nine-year-old prodigy is based on Lin Youyu of the Song dynasty. Main pl —Reads8.7Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    You should take a look at this undergraduate examination essay; it's definitely well-researched.

31. 31 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 170Reads8.2Score—14d adds
32. 32 农 A Farmer's Son's Road to the Imperial Exams in Ming Hongwu's Reign 农家子在大明洪武科举之路 Dragon Battle at the Stone Cauldron龙战石鼎Historical156k WordsOngoing [Imperial examinations + transmigration + no System + one heroine] An engineer unexpectedly transmigrates to the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, taking over the body of a farmer's son from the Jiang family in Qingshui Village, De'an County, Jiujiang Prefecture. Looking at his family's dilapidated thatched hut, bare of all furnishings, Jiang Xiangwen quietly considers his options. In an age when "all pursuits are inferior to studying," how can he change his fate through education and achieve the 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    You should check out this book!

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