I read up until the 'poking through the window' moment where MC and ML are on a date and the ML almost kisses the MC, because I didn't want to read the "but why can't we" scene at the time.

Yeah, the MC is very young at the time, but he should be considered a young adult by the time they're in the same town and the gift-giving ramps up into quasi-courting. The ML ends up not kissing the MC on their date because MC has a lot of potential and... more>> he doesn't want the smear of 'an affair with an official' to hinder the MC's career path. I can't really see that the MC doesn't know that they were courting all along, but this aborted kiss is really the first time it gets put in the open between them. (It's still cute, the ML was seduced by the MC's eyes, so he covers his eyes with his hand... and then instead of kissing him, ends up kissing the back of his own hand covering the MC's eyes. The MC is like ".... wait??!!")

This story really isn't about the romance though - the romance is definitely 'by the way'. This is a story that is mostly about the MC taking exams and making achievements. He also struggles because he didn't conveniently get the body's memories, so he doesn't actually know the life experiences of the OG. It makes it awkward sometimes, like when he comes back to the family house. <<less

This is a long and slow paced story but I liked it. It's mainly focused on MC study journey in ancient times as per the title of this book. There are many terminologies in the novels and a lot of explanations about Ancient China to give context. Personally, I really liked this story because it detailed historical, ethical and cultural backgrounds of the dynasty.

There are only few scenes of MC and ML which saddened me because they're cute together. I think the author focused on the MC's development as an... more>> ancient scholar than the love story. But that's good because the novel is about Imperial examinations. <<less

the author really loves to make their research, but it's fine, they're passionate about it at least! It's pretty good in pacing wise and the plot is also good. That death really didn't fit in with the later realism, but whatever it didn't really detract from it too much. I'm eager to see where it goes! The translation is also very good, I really liked the notes, I didn't read all of them but I liked them.

My only regret that I read this before the translation is completed. Now, I'm wailing waiting for chapters (read until chapter 87)..... Too bad. This feeling is only there for a while because I already couldnt help but wanting to tear this story and put it in paper shredder. I'm in chapter 200 now.

(It was a 4star before chapter 100ish, and 1star after 200 for me)

Truly, this is a story of ming dynasty's imperial exam. Kudos to translator for all the trivia and very detailed explanation of the... more>> system and all kinds of things we donot know and understand.

For a story with so many chapters, so detail background and big stage to play; a uni literature student transmigrated and can use his knowledge to conquer the literary and fame while taking out few modern skill to enrichen himself and to make it into the court's and becomes one of the emperor's right hand man. And there's also revenge and a whole families of old, young sick to be handled too. It should be good.

After coming home to the capital, why's the story become soo lagging and no interesting plot or even conflict to read is the factor I just got bored.

MC doesnt even care for political stuff since he already knows who the next emperor and when the old emperor will die. 'I dont want to put buterfly effect anymore'. Dude with you alive there is already a big butterfly!!

What mindboogling is the big official/ministers are not dealing with work but helping MC to write novel of the police's righteousness in that era and it goes on until forever. Dont they have work or political schemes to brew?? I think only MC father who has the rotten brain to be corrupt official. (MC lover, the ML is police, so MC wants to soften the police image and make it heroic). It's really pointless.

Yes, WHY?? until chapter 208, we dont see any corrupt officials, or some sort of politic play or even an elaborate back and forth revenge from the stepmother. No. I only read one bad guy (his father being demoted), or bad woman (the stepmother being punished) and all of that are done so short.

The whole thing with inventing those 'transmigrator cheat skill to rake fortune' is just not satisfying and might not be there anymore. There's just too much unnecessary writing of exam system, literature, novel (and those called movies) and all that but no story to tell. <<less

I can't help it. It a good history book. Manly ML. Cute scholarly MC.

But rather praise the book I wanna praise the translator. So many notes explanation, so I won't be lost. It's really academically challengeing.

I also wanna honor the writer. I feel like I'm also preparing for the imperial examination. With all the homework and verse and poems and essay. Halfway through I'm no longer sure it's a romance book anymore if the ML did not appear from time to time and tease MC.

It's quite a change. Usually it's... more>> emperor or general rank at least with MC as pair. But this is totally different. Perhaps I haven't touch all the book in the market, but this is a first for me.

A MUST READ🤩🤩⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ <<less

I truly enjoy this novel. The knowledges here about ancient china literature are very interesting that I read every sentence carefully... I even went to check Wikipedia about the topic

I don't learn chinese, but I really interested in their culture, this novel provide a bit of knowledges that is quite satisfiying in my opinion. I don't think that this is a boring reading material.

Great story so far and looking forward to how the MC progresses as a scholar and his relationship with the ML!!

I avoided this novel for quite a while, but in the end, I took a risk and jumped into it! It’s not exactly what I usually like to read, but it was an interesting perspective! That is... usually, in transmigration works like these (set in Ancient China) the MC avoids becoming a scholar at all costs! That kind of “burden” is left to younger people in their family lolol. Here, the MC was a Chinese Lit Major before transmigrating, so he goes all in. The author seems to be pretty... more>> enthusiastic about traditional literature as well, otherwise, IDK how they could bare putting so much detail in their work.

All in all? I think if you’re interested in learning more about those times — and getting a more in-depth view on what it would mean to actually study as a scholar back then (I seriously did not expect it to be so complicated and only now realized why it was so hard for characters in other novels to pass the exams lol) — then this is a good read! I wouldn’t say that it’s a fun read, but it has its merits, regardless. There’s a bit of a poor-to-rich development and slow burn romance to tide you ever when things get a bit too boring, so it’s definitely not a complete loss. It’s just a matter of whether or not you’re interested in learning. If not, then I suggest passing this over. Or skimming the “study” and “exam” scenes (which is not impossible to do, I honestly think that the story needn’t have been so detailed when it came to certain things, but I understand that the novel was studying this subject, so the detail wasn’t necessarily wrong, just over-the-top.)

I won’t be doing a full review because I didn’t make it even halfway, I won’t give it a rating for now either! I’ll have to come back and reread when the official TL is done because the MTL is not the most comprehensive (due to the use of old language and metaphors, readability is down to 65-70%. The general text is fine, so if you understand Chinese Language a bit, it’s still okay. It’s only when the topic is a little more specialized that the readability drops drastically.) <<less