As a model of humble origins, Song Yuxing passed the imperial examinations while still young and rose to the rank of one of the Nine Ministers.
Perhaps because of this, he was terrified of taking even the smallest wrong step and letting down those born to humble families. In time, he developed a temperament that was calm and free of worldly desires.
But no one knew that, in the middle of the night, he often dreamed of the woman his student loved.
Bright and radiant, this year's top scorer, Shen Mingyang.
In the first dream, she smiled at him and waved. He paid her no mind.
In the second, she was celebrating her wedding to his student.
The bride was charming and radiant, her eyes alight with joy. Just as she was about to exchange bows with his student and become husband and wife,
Song Yuxing forced his eyes open. Even with sweat soaking his clothes and his heart pounding like a drum, he could still hold himself in check.
In the third dream, on their wedding night, she smiled as she spoke and called him "husband" in a hoarse voice.
Song Yuxing was lost in the dream and did not want to open his eyes.
He willingly sank into depravity and replaced the groom with himself.
Whenever Song Yuxing saw her with his student, he dreamed of stealing the top scorer Shen away.
At last, one day, the knot in his heart came undone.
The top scorer Shen was a noblewoman, as brilliant as spring blossoms. His student came from a low-ranking family and had little influence. He was not worthy of her.
In all the world, only he was worthy of the top scorer Shen, who came from the Marquis's household.
He would make everyone who got in his way and irritated him disappear from her side!
[Reading Notes]
1: Both men and women can take the imperial examinations in this story, which is set in an alternate world.
2: Happy ending. Xing in Yuxing is pronounced with the second tone.
3: The female lead is a transmigrator.
4: The main story is told from the female lead's perspective.
5: Blurb written on September 16, 2025, revised on October 12, 2025.
6: The male and female leads are nine years apart.
7: The female lead really did love someone else before. The male lead is pure in both body and heart.
Here's a preview of my upcoming historical transmigration novel, My Love Died a Thousand Years Later, launching in April.
Zheng Yunwei was born into a family of physicians. She and Crown Prince Zhou Yunguan joined the military camp together. She was a physician, and he was a general. Childhood friends, they fell in love.
After the war ended and the Lanling Empire was founded, they were about to marry.
But just as the ceremony was complete, the world spun around her, and the crown princess vanished before everyone's eyes.
When she awoke, she found herself in a land torn apart by war. A kind stranger beside her told her, "Miss, run! The enemy has breached Lanling City."
Dazed, she got to her feet and ran in the opposite direction from the crowd.
Then she encountered a man dressed in a plain white mourning robe. His features were as clear and gentle as jade. He was none other than the man she loved, Zhou Yunguan.
She cried out his name.
But the joy on his face at finding her again vanished at once. He gripped her arm tightly and said in a low voice, "My name is Zhou Qingyu, not Zhou Yunguan!!!"
Later, bewildered, she searched for traces of the past and came across her own name in the history books, along with the Lanling Empire of those days.
Yet she had arrived a thousand years in the future, at the time of Lanling's fall.
Theme: Be yourself.
