A Brilliant Scholar from a Humble Family (Imperial Exams)

Xiao Jingyao had no parents, but with his astonishing intelligence and business instincts, he rose to become the richest man in the country. Then, after transmigrating, everything was reset to zero. Just after Xiao Jingyao was born, his biological father held him and sobbed uncontrollably. "My son, the family will be counting on you from now on. You absolutely mustn't grow up to be a spendthrift like me!" Xiao Jingyao: ??? This seems a little too ominous. The Xiao family had once been a prominent household in Nanchuan, but after several generations of spendthrift heirs, their fortunes had plummeted. Just as everyone thought the family was finished and its current wastrel would drag them all to their doom, they were astonished to discover that the young master of the Xiao family was extraordinary. At just six, the young master was praised by his tutor as a prodigy as soon as he began his studies. He passed the scholar examinations at ten, then went on to top the imperial examinations, earning the rare distinction of passing all six levels and becoming the youngest chief grand councilor in Great Qi! Everyone finally understood: after three generations of wastrel heirs, the Xiao family had at last welcomed a peerless genius! Content warnings: 1. The setting is very loosely based on history, with systems from different eras blended together. 2. Everything serves the plot. Please add my upcoming novels to your reading list! "The Imperial Examination Journey of a Commoner's Son" After transmigrating into the body of a farmer's son, he finds himself in a home with nothing, with both parents dead, carrying a reputation for bringing death to his relatives, and about to have his family's property seized. The rich second-generation Pei Ye breaks down: What kind of hellish start is this? Fortunately, his late father had been a scholar and left behind plenty of books. Pei Ye, who had spent his past life eating, drinking, and waiting to die, rolls up his sleeves through tears: Study, open the books, and take the imperial examinations! With one bout of studying, Pei Ye turns himself into the youngest powerful chancellor in Great Zhou. "Is the Heir Plotting Rebellion Today?" His father is Duke Cheng, and his mother is the emperor's cousin. Xie Xingjian thinks he can coast through life in comfort. But the emperor is suspicious and ruthless. The Duke's household is constantly on edge, and one misstep could see the entire family executed. Halfway through coasting along, Xie Xingjian jolts upright on his deathbed: This court is hopeless. I'd better keep my head down. With two rice harvests a year, advanced urban drainage systems, and thriving agriculture and handicrafts, Dingzhou under Duke Cheng's rule is flourishing. Xie Xingjian builds high walls and stockpiles grain... Wait, how did he end up claiming the throne? Is the young lord plotting rebellion today? Xie Xingjian: Thanks for asking. I'm in the capital, getting ready to ascend the throne. "Rescuing Big Brother After the Imperial Examinations" Fu Yuzhang transmigrates into a book as the foolish, vicious younger stepbrother of the male lead in an imperial-examination novel. The male lead is the eldest legitimate son of the Marquis of Changping, exceptionally clever and hailed as a child prodigy from a young age. After the examinations, he rises steadily through the ranks and becomes a celebrated minister. The original body's owner is determined to kill the male lead and inherit the marquisate. After making several attempts on his life, he is finally driven from the family by the male lead, who can no longer tolerate him, and meets a tragic end. After transmigrating, Fu Yuzhang looks at his little legs and decisively clings to the male lead: Big brother, help, teach me. Why pick a fight with the male lead? The real way forward is to study and earn a future of his own! And so, the Fu family produces two top scholars, becoming the envy of everyone in the capital. The emperor is delighted: I've found two pillars of state for the crown prince! * Fu Yuzhang thinks he can keep relying on his big brother after the imperial examinations. But Fu Huaian gets thrown in prison? Fu Yuzhang tries to pull some strings. Fu Huaian is demoted, so Fu Yuzhang works hard to rise through the ranks and rescue his big brother again. And then things go like this: Fu Huaian: Little brother, help me out. Little brother, help me out again. Fu Yuzhang, who works so hard to save his big brother that he becomes chancellor himself: I'm working on it, I'm working on it! If you keep causing trouble, big brother, I'll have to sit on the throne before I can save you! PS: The inspiration came from the running joke about Su Zhe rescuing his big brother. I'm only borrowing the joke and absolutely would not dare to base the characters on those two great men. The setting and official system are blended from different eras, but lean more toward the Song dynasty. Theme: Keep striving as long as you live.