Imperial Examination Stories 科举文

1. 1 穿 Reborn as the Legitimate Eldest Grandson in an Imperial Exam Novel 穿成科举文里的嫡长孙 MM BeanMM豆Romance940k WordsCompleted Li Nian unexpectedly transmigrates into an imperial-examination novel called The Charming Son of a Concubine, becoming Pei Shaohuai, the legitimate eldest grandson of the Earl of Jingchuan. In the original story: The male lead, Pei Shaojin, is born to a concubine, but he is brilliant and diligent. He rises steadily through the imperial examinations and places first in the palace examination, winning unmatched glory. By contrast, the legitimate eldest grandson, Pei Shaohuai, is a playboy who squ 287.4kFavorites586.7kClicks/ch618.1kGifts

   Curator note

   It's very well written, and the exam section is very detailed.

2. 2 大 A Great Nation, A Humble Scholar (Imperial Exams) 大国小鲜（科举） Little Sweet Potato少地瓜Romance1.3M WordsCompleted From having nothing to standing above everyone. (Power struggles, officialdom, and the civil service examinations) (The story of an official's rise, not a guide to essay writing) Qin Fanghe, who fought his way through the national civil service exam in a province known for its brutal college entrance exams, had spent years earning his superiors' esteem and his colleagues' envy. Everyone thought his future was limitless, until his life ended in an overwork-induced death. At the same time, Qin Fan 119.9kFavorites199.2kClicks/ch405.3kGifts

   Curator note

   A lighthearted novel about imperial examinations and gourmet food; the male protagonist has a somewhat maternal feel; the factional struggles are engaging; and the romance is decent.

3. 3 夫 My Husband Comes from the Apocalypse 夫君来自末世 Jue Jue决绝Romance1.4M WordsCompleted Li Qingzhi lived alone in the apocalypse for many years. After starving to death, he transmigrates into the body of a pitiful man from ancient times who was forced to haul rocks, barely made it home alive, and then died of an illness. This world is full of food! And this man even has a wife and two children! Li Qingzhi shoves anything he sees into his mouth and clings to his wife without letting go. She is a real, soft, warm person! Goodness, his wife is so beautiful and gentle! And his two grub 113.3kFavorites254.1kClicks/ch325.2kGifts

   Curator note

   It's not a pure imperial examination novel; it interweaves plots of the male lead making money and building connections with the female lead, and the male lead having a business advantage. It features a protagonist with special abilities, and the male lead's family is heartwarming. The ending is incredibly satisfying and unique among imperial examination novels.

4. 4 庶 The Concubine's Son's Road to Success (Imperial Examinations) 庶子的青云路（科举） Ting Jinkan听金坎Romance683k WordsCompleted Jiang Yunkang transmigrated into a book. He became a concubine-born son of a marquis's household, with an outstanding legitimate elder brother and an adorable younger brother. He was the least remarkable of them all, and his father had even casually betrothed him to someone as repayment for a favor. He had no title to inherit, and couldn't inherit the family's vast fortune either. In his previous life, Jiang Yunkang had been admitted to a master's program all the way through the recommended tra 79.4kFavorites194.6kClicks/ch35.7kGifts
5. 5 罪 A Minister in Disgrace's Eldest Son Enters Officialdom Through the Imperial Exams 罪臣长子科举入仕记 Wu Qiao乌鞘Romance1.1M WordsCompleted On the first day the gaokao results came out, Zhuo, who had just become his province's top science student, died. He died, but not completely. He transmigrated into the Zhuo clan, a scholarly family, as the six-year-old eldest grandson of the senior branch. It sounds pretty good, but the family patriarch had backed the wrong side in a succession struggle and been beheaded. His three sons, each with a bright future and a degree to his name, had been exiled to the far northern Shuo Prefecture alon 76.7kFavorites143.8kClicks/ch102.7kGifts

   Curator note

   It's more of a political drama, featuring a large ensemble cast of supporting characters. The male lead acts as a powerful figure, taking on younger brothers and sisters. He's a charismatic and decisive character, adept at navigating complex situations. The romance and the female lead's character development are rather average.

6. 6 农 A Farmer's Son on the Road to Success 农家子，青云路 Yu Yue Yuan Fei渝跃鸢飞Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [A new novel is now out: "The Kid Sees Bullet Comments at Crime Scenes." Thank you to every reader who supports the official release!] Gu Zhang transmigrates. He goes from the fifty-fifth year of the apocalypse to a dirt-poor country family, as a premature baby born with a weak constitution. Born after the apocalypse, Gu Zhang thinks this world couldn't be better. Green mountains and clear rivers, fragrant rice fields, and endless food, all flavors he's never tasted before. Maybe he was destin 55.8kFavorites124.4kClicks/ch69kGifts
7. 7 贫 The Poor Scholar's Road to the Imperial Exams 贫家子的科举路 Granny Little Osmanthus小桂花婆婆Romance917k WordsCompleted This novel has entered the Growth and Comeback writing contest, themed "Leaping the Dragon Gate and Overtaking Those Ahead." Reason for entering: Courage brings good fortune, and hard work creates opportunities. In life, everyone encounters swamps and setbacks on the road to growth, to a greater or lesser extent. But once you've endured all the hardships and difficulties, you'll find that brilliant sunshine lies ahead. Like the male lead of this novel, when faced with a current running against h 50.5kFavorites121.4kClicks/ch137.6kGifts

   Curator note

   The early plot of this book was quite unique; the male protagonist's path to the imperial examinations wasn't smooth, and he wasn't always at the top of his class. However, the family was very warm, especially the father-son relationship, which was very well written. But later on, the second male lead's storyline felt more satisfying than the male lead's, and the female lead was too young when she first appeared, so I dropped it.

8. 8 穿 Transmigrating to Take the Imperial Exams 穿越考科举 Peach Blossom White Tea桃花白茶Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Ji Yuan transmigrates into an unknown dynasty and wakes up when a calf nudges him. Once he comes to his senses, he realizes that he's become an eight-year-old orphan who tends cattle. The sound of someone reciting lessons nearby brings him back to reality. Ji Yuan looks at the silly calf, then at the lively school nearby. From then on, the cowherd picks up a new hobby: auditing classes! His cousin at the village school laughs at him, and the village chief's grandson picks on him. A cowherd 47.5kFavorites69.6kClicks/ch132.7kGifts
9. 9 商 A Merchant's Son Takes the Official Path 商户子，走官途 July Plow七月犁Romance678k WordsCompleted Young county magistrate Yun Chongqing had just taken up a new post when he died in the line of duty. He was born into the womb of a merchant family in the ancient northern lands. His family had no vast fortune, but every branch was crowded with people, all of them shrewd. Only his small fourth branch lacked a bit of fire. His father was honest, his mother simple, and his sister was beautiful. Danger, danger, danger... At his first-birthday ceremony, the things laid out for him to choose from wer 25.6kFavorites51.6kClicks/ch20.5kGifts

   Curator note

   It's a good read. The male lead has a strong older man vibe, the plot unfolds slowly and is intricately linked. It might be a bit complicated at the beginning, but it gets really enjoyable in the middle. The romance is well-written.

10. 10 穿 Transmigrating Into a Farmer's Family to Take the Imperial Exams 穿入农家考科举 Leaning Jade Green, Serene倾碧悠然Romance1.8M WordsOngoing I update this story with nine thousand words a day. Please add my upcoming story "The Little Maid" to your favorites. It's in my author profile~ Meng Nan wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a scholar whom the entire family in Peach Blossom Village has been supporting. The scholar is a spoiled, dissolute rogue who squanders the family's money and offends the wrong people, then drops dead. Meng Nan can't afford to pick a fight, and revenge is out of the question. He decides to go 15.9kFavorites18.5kClicks/ch87.5kGifts

    Curator note

    Although it's long, it's a good read. The imperial examination plot is very exciting, and it also tells the stories of the different students the male protagonist encounters. There are quite a few everyday family stories, which will be very interesting for those who enjoy this genre. The romance is also well-developed.

11. 11 让 Making the Imperial Relatives Great Again 让外戚再次伟大 Wu Qiao乌鞘Romance604k WordsCompleted After suffering a sudden, tragic death just after passing the civil service recruitment exam, Liang Daoxuan, a top student from a prestigious school, received this compensation from fate: he would have a life to enjoy, spending his days surrounded by wealth and comfort. Raised in his aunt's home from childhood, Liang Daoxuan was showered with affection by his family. He spent twenty carefree years as a spoiled young master, never bothering to study hard and not even knowing which way the academy 15.9kFavorites32.5kClicks/ch15.6kGifts

    Curator note

    This is a novel with a rather unique setting, not purely focused on the imperial examination system. It's very male-centric, with the main plot revolving around factional struggles and balancing the imperial family and officials. The beginning and middle parts are quite good, but the ending is disappointing.

Other lists with Reborn as the Legitimate Eldest Grandson in an Imperial Exam Novel