A Scholar's Worthy Confidant (Imperial Exams)

Notice about removing the story from paid access: I'm very sorry. Work and back problems made it impossible for me to keep up with updates for a while. When I returned to writing, the story had become disjointed, and I couldn't find my rhythm anymore. I've recently contacted my editor to remove it from paid access. I'm truly sorry.

After passing the imperial exams, what do you do when it feels like the whole world is doomed?

Answer: Rather than patching things up amid the ruins, build a new order from the ground up.

A young man from modern times woke up as the youngest son of an earl. There was no family business for him to inherit, but he could count on a life of wealth. Next door lived a genius cousin said to have composed poetry at the age of seven. Shi Qing thought he had finally landed a life of carefree leisure.

Who could have guessed that the grand Earl's estate was like a bamboo fence daubed with lime: all shine on the outside, while it could barely make ends meet. Worse, most of its expenses went toward appearances.

It was magnificent on the outside, but empty as a snow cave within. In other words, all show.

Wen Shiqing: “...”

After more than a decade of grueling imperial exams, he was about to leap through the dragon gate and make a name for himself.

But inside, powerful maternal relatives held the reins of government. Outside, enemies coveted their territory. Lord Wen, who had been lying flat for less than half a quarter of an hour, sat bolt upright on his sickbed:

This world... is doomed to fall sooner or later!

Amid the chaos, Shiqing glanced at the childhood friend beside him.

“Cough, cough. When Heaven is about to entrust someone with a great task, it first tests their mind and wears out their body...”

His childhood friend, Xiao Heng, who only wanted to choose a fief and lie flat for the rest of his life: “...”

Divert waterways, graft better crops, develop technology, enrich the people and strengthen the army. Rather than worrying about the outside world, they would push themselves to the limit, and... push each other, too.

Many years later,

The new emperor and his newly appointed prime minister, Lord Wen, shared drinks beneath the moon, reminiscing about the “happy” days when the two of them climbed mountains, crossed seas, and hid among bandits counting heads.

Xiao Heng: “When future generations write the history books, I may not be remembered as a good ruler, but Shiqing will certainly be remembered as the best prime minister.”

P.S. The story begins with the imperial exams, followed by infrastructure projects. The male lead's focus is on his career. The female lead appears later and won't have many scenes.

This is an alternate world. The imperial examination system and social customs in the story are based on the Song dynasty.

It is the best of times, with brilliant stars and talented scholars as numerous as fish crossing a river. It is also the worst of times, with a chaotic government and a glittering facade concealing ruin and danger on every side.

For Shiqing, however, the good news was that those who shared his ideals never ended up on separate paths.

Next story to come: The Great Qing Physician's Daily Life

See also my completed stories: The Youngest Son's Path to the Imperial Exams

When I Copied the Kangxi Emperor's Face

The Qing Crown Prince Has Ascended to Immortality

Theme: We can weather hardship together and share in prosperity, too.