The Purple Star's Chief Scholar [Imperial Exams]

A homebody and top student, a certain Yin, unexpectedly transmigrates into the body of a dying young palace maid in an unknown ancient dynasty.

The brilliant future she had in her previous life is gone, and in this life, she has nothing to her name. The only thing she still has is her sharp mind, just as capable as it was in her previous life. She uses her greatest strength, taking exams, to turn her fortunes around.

The imperial court of this era has a special group that seems tailor-made for her. By passing a series of imperial examinations held within the palace, she can join this special group as a female official in the Secretariat of the Inner Palace.

At its pinnacle, the Secretariat's Chief Secretary wields immense power and is known as the Inner Chancellor. Together with the chief ministers of the outer court, she assists the Emperor and oversees the affairs of the realm.

The Emperor's chief secretary? That's worth taking a chance on the imperial court for. She won't waste what she learned in her previous life or this precious second chance at life.

Her rise is marked by both splendor and hardship. After reaching the heights of power, Yin Shenhui gains not only overwhelming influence and lasting renown, but also friendships with mentors and peers that transcend blood ties, as well as a secret, tender affection that lingers in her heart. In this vast world, across all lands and amid the mortal bustle, there are always people and ideals worth yearning for and protecting. So she will never stop moving forward.

Watch as a lowly palace maid claims the highest rank beneath the Pole Star, shifts the stars and palace gates, and shakes the Big Dipper, singing her way along a brilliant road to success.

Zhu Xi's Classified Conversations: Our Dynasty II, Laws and Institutions:

"There is an Inner Secretariat in the palace, in charge of documents. All documents pass through it, and the Emperor treats its members with considerable courtesy, sometimes even inviting them to sit. They are not consorts. They also manage the seals and often write imperial replies on the Emperor's behalf. Documents issued from the palace only go as far as the Three Departments."

This is a story about a brilliant young woman growing into a powerful figure at the pinnacle of the court, with all the satisfaction of watching her come of age. It is also about changing her fate, assisting the Purple Star Emperor she believes in, and helping move the times forward.

The opening of the Good Older Sister trilogy.

Like the Good Older Brother trilogy, this is an inspiring story of court politics and imperial examinations.

There is romance, but not much.

There is farming, but not much.

There is daily life, mostly as a change of pace.

There is one adorable male lead.

The main focus is her career, personal growth, and realizing her own ideals.

Of course, you could also read this as a competitive story about taking imperial exams and becoming an official in ancient times. That's a fun way to approach it.

Reader's Guide:

1. This is pure fantasy, not historical fiction. Please don't confuse it with real history or real historical figures.

2. The systems of government and imperial examinations combine features from many dynasties. Overall, it's a big mixture of the Tang and Song dynasties, with no single historical model as its standard. Friendly discussion is welcome, but please don't force historical research onto the setting.

3. At heart, this is a wish-fulfillment story, so some plausibility may be sacrificed for the plot. I'm letting you know in advance.

4. I'm trying a new style and subject matter, so there may be shortcomings. I hope my lovely readers will forgive me.

5. The female lead is not an imperial consort, and the male lead is not the Emperor.

6. This story was inspired by Professor Deng Xiaonan's lecture, Female Officials in Charge of Documents: A Glimpse into the Song Dynasty Secretariat of the Inner Palace. I'm not a professional historian, and my knowledge is limited. I was only inspired by the premise and let my imagination run wild for the sake of the story. I have no intention of conducting any in-depth research into real history. This is simply a completely fictional story. If you're interested in real history, you can find the lecture video on the National Library of China website. You only need to register, which is very convenient.

Theme: Don't assume your words don't matter just because your position is humble. Everyone has a responsibility.