Reborn into a poor farming family crowded with siblings, the future seemed bleak. So I chose the arduous path of the imperial examinations, determined to change my fate. If the mountain will not come to me, then I shall go to the mountain. The imperial exams await, and I, Xie Chuliu, have arrived!.

Gou Ye, a struggling web novelist, died suddenly at his desk after yet another sleepless night spent writing. He awoke to find himself in an alternate ancient world, reborn as an orphan bearing his own name, once again trapped in a life of poverty and hardship. Determined not to resign himself to misery, Gou Ye chose to return to his old craft—writing—to improve his circumstances. With wealth soon within his grasp, he dreamed only of living out his days as a prosperous gentleman. Yet a series of events made it clear: in this era, to truly rise above others, one must pursue the path of officialdom. Born into humble origins, Gou Ye set his sights resolutely on the highest seat of power, second only to the ruler himself, and began his relentless quest for the position of Grand Chancellor..

Lin Shiya disguised herself as a man to take the imperial examinations. Gifted with extraordinary talent and intelligence, she navigated the intricacies of the ancient court, overcoming obstacle after obstacle and deftly maneuvering among various factions. Driven by a single-minded determination to investigate the injustice that befell her family, she found herself, as the newly appointed top scholar, crossing paths with Emperor Murong Fu, who was traveling incognito. Guided by a sense of righteousness and relying solely on her own abilities without any supernatural aid, she unraveled the mysteries before her, thwarted the schemes of treacherous villains, and set out to advance the cause of women’s rights, stirring up a storm within the imperial court..

[Imperial Examinations + Court Politics + Farming + Alternate History + Slice of Life + Lighthearted + No Romance] Li Su had just become the top scorer in the national exams when he was suddenly transported into the body of the youngest son of the old Li family. The entire family doted on him, scrimping and saving, enduring coarse food so they could support his studies. The original owner of this body, however, was led astray by his classmates—selfish and pleasure-seeking, he squandered his potential and met an untimely end. After Li Su arrived, he wanted to do something for the family. Yet after a single exhausting day in the fields, he decided it was best to stick to what he excelled at: studying. Advancing through the ranks of the imperial examinations, Li Su achieved first place in all six rounds, ultimately becoming the top scholar and a rising star highly favored by the emperor. The new emperor was ambitious for industrial progress and placed great trust in Li Su. Emperor: “Beloved minister, the noble clans are running rampant.” Li Su: “Your Majesty, I have a plan. I know a thing or two about papermaking. With cheap paper, even poor scholars can rise, challenging the power of the aristocracy.” Emperor: “Beloved minister, foreign enemies threaten our borders.” Li Su: “Your Majesty, I have a plan. I know a thing or two about gunpowder. This will make our enemies quake with fear and keep them at bay.” Emperor: “Beloved minister, the treasury is empty.” Li Su: “Your Majesty, I have a plan. I know a thing or two about refining salt and sugar. We can swiftly draw wealth from rich merchants and neighboring states to fill the national coffers.” Emperor: “Beloved minister…” Li Su: “I have yet another plan…” The ministers: “Is this even reasonable? Don’t we all have the same brain?” … With one ingenious plan after another, Li Su ushered in an era of peace and prosperity, where the people lived contented lives. The emperor, overjoyed: “Beloved minister, your name will go down in history!” The ministers were dumbfounded: “Prime Minister, how did you accomplish all this?” Prime Minister Li replied: “Master math, science, and chemistry, and you can walk the world unafraid.”.