The Exam Novel's Cannon Fodder Mistakes the Tyrant for a Poor Little Thing

A shou who thinks he's the husband, works himself to the bone for his wife's happy life x a mentally ill, brooding tyrant gong

Lin Zhou transmigrates into an also-ran character in an imperial-examination novel. According to the story, even though this also-ran is the eldest legitimate son of a minor official's family, he's lazy and useless, serving as a foil for his younger half-brother. In the end, his grandparents and father send him and his mother to the family's old home in the countryside, where they live in poverty and disgrace.

Having worked himself to the bone in modern life all the way to a master's degree, Lin Zhou has no interest in working that hard again. He figures that as long as he doesn't go out of his way to make life difficult for the male lead, he can take it easy.

But then he sees a handsome young man standing by the riverbank in the rain, looking as if he's about to fall apart. Lin Zhou slaps a hand over his own chest. "I might as well work hard. A man without ability can't win a wife! My wife would never love a good-for-nothing!"

He immediately draws up a three-month cram plan that will show results in a year, and buys an oil-paper umbrella. Holding it over the young man's head, he says, "Sir, where do you live? It's pouring. Please take this umbrella."

After escorting the young man home, Lin Zhou realizes that his wife seems to be a fallen nobleman. The house is in a prime location, but the interior is so decrepit it's hard to look at, and he has only one servant, who looks rather dim-witted.

His heart breaks. That very day, he buries himself in his study and vows to pass the exams and earn an official title, so his wife will never have to live in hardship!

When he discovers that his wife is also a scholar, he immediately tidies himself up and goes to explain the classics to him!

The brave get to enjoy life first, and only a good man deserves perfect love. On the day they both sit the spring imperial examination, he takes his wife's hand and gives him careful instructions: "The hot water is in the insulated porcelain bottle. Unscrew it and let it cool before you drink it. I marked the meat buns with a scallion on the outside, and left the vegetable buns unmarked. Once you're inside, don't panic at all. Imagine the examiners and the other candidates are all big steamed buns."

Yuwen Ji, who ascended the throne at fourteen and has ruled for ten years, is regarded as a tyrant by the officials and people of the capital. He looks into the young man's catlike eyes, bright as glass...

Theme: You don't get it. I'm not working myself to the bone for my career, but to win my wife's love!