Top of the Imperial Exams

[Complete Rewrite in Progress]

Only after Tang Mingke died did he learn that a transmigrator had stolen his destiny.

He was supposed to have learned to read at three, written poetry at five, passed the county-level examination at seven, and become the youngest top scholar in the dynasty at sixteen.

He would have married a princess and become her consort, then smoothly risen to become the dynasty's chief minister, living the life of a winner who stood above everyone but the emperor. He was The Outcast.

But everything changed when his father brought home an illegitimate eldest son born to his mistress.

The year Tang Mingke was supposed to pass the county-level examination, he fell ill and was bedridden, while his half-brother Zhou Wenyuan passed. Tang Mingke remained feverish for three days.

The year he was supposed to become top scholar, a famous courtesan from Qinhuai hanged herself at his family’s doorstep, claiming he had seduced and abandoned her.

His half-brother produced evidence that he had cheated in the imperial examinations. Tang Mingke could not defend himself, and his academic honors were stripped away, leaving him a commoner.

Though he had been the legitimate son, someone accused him of being the swapped child.

And so his former illegitimate half-brother became the legitimate son, passed the highest imperial examination, married a princess, and became her consort...

While Tang Mingke became a disgraced child born to a mistress, driven from his home and left destitute on the streets. He died of hunger and cold in the first snowfall of winter in the capital.

At the moment he was reborn, he happened to see the young man following close behind his father.

This time, he would never foolishly treat him as an elder brother and let him steal his literary talent and destiny.

Even if he left this marquis's residence and lost the support of his family and status,

only his name would appear on the list of successful candidates.

Theme: Only one's own strength is the foundation for making one's way in the world