Can Princes and Generals Really Be Born with Money?

Ling Xiao transmigrates into an imperial-examination novel.

The characters before him are so dazzling, he can hardly take them all in.

Candidate 1: A brilliant scholar from a humble family, unmatched in scholarly grace.

Candidate 2: The marquis's illegitimate son, who has kept his talents hidden for ten years, shrewd and reserved.

Candidate 3: The prime minister's legitimate son, noble by birth and arrogant about his talents.

Candidate 4: A young master from an old aristocratic family, aloof and ethereal as an immortal.

Candidate 5: A dashing playboy from a military family, a libertine with a way with women.

Each has his own charms and his own claim to fame.

That's right, this is an ensemble-cast novel too.

Ling Xiao is an essential plot device in an imperial-examination novel: some rich merchant.

His role is to shower money and kindness on the future top scholar, sponsoring every aspect of his food, clothing, lodging, and travel, and paving his way to success.

Good news 1: Merchants aren't eligible to take the exams, so he doesn't have to endure five years of practice tests and three years of accompanying someone to exams.

Good news 2: He's bound to a Tycoon System, so he'll never run out of sponsorship money.

Ling Xiao asks excitedly: So, who's the top scholar?

System: Guess.

Ling Xiao falls silent for a moment, then waves a hand.

No big deal. It's not like I'm short on cash, so I'll just sponsor them all indiscriminately.

But as he continues handing out sponsorships, he discovers that the candidates are getting harder and harder to deal with.

Candidate 1, the brilliant scholar from a humble family, clutches the winter clothes Ling Xiao gave him, his gaze restrained. "We shared a bed and talked all night on the day of the Start of Autumn. We were both such good company. So why haven't you come to visit me since we parted, Brother Ling?"

Candidate 2, the marquis's illegitimate son, corners him in a banquet hall, eyes red. "Why do you only have eyes for my legitimate older brother, Brother Ling? Are you just another toady, coveting his power?"

Candidate 3, the prime minister's legitimate son, coldly knocks over the fine ink sticks Ling Xiao brought him, sulking. "I hear every talentless nobody at the academy has one of these. You're really trying to fob this off on me?"

Candidate 4, the young master from an old aristocratic family, still treats him like he doesn't exist. But though the family's gates used to be open to him, one day he suddenly gets turned away. The gatekeeper glances at the red marks on his neck and says only, "Our young master doesn't like people who are promiscuous."

Only Candidate 5, the carefree playboy, remains easygoing. "Why wear yourself out fawning over them? I'll show you what real living is like today."

A moment later, Ling Xiao, now the one being fawned over, flees in a panic, clutching his collar.

He is shocked to discover that this is actually a novel wearing the trappings of an imperial-examination story, but really it's...

A pure-love battlefield.

*

Because of the candidates' fierce competition for his affection, this year's top-scholar exam becomes the toughest, most prestigious, and most cutthroat in history.

Ling Xiao trembles in fear as he hides away in Jiangnan, nursing his kidneys and liver.

Little old me, a mere plot device, somehow managed single-handedly to make...

The System cuts him off coldly: Don't flatter yourself.

A System bug accidentally merged several imperial-examination novels. Every one of them has its own top scholar. Of course things get explosive when immortals clash.

Ling Xiao: Damn it (a kind of plant), then why are they making me part of their little game?

System: Because you're rich.

As the ancients said: Can princes and generals compare with the rich?

Theme: Hard work makes you better