The first day at the academy.
“Hey, you fool! If you keep dawdling, you’ll blow your cover!”
The mechanical voice of the system in her mind seemed to have glitched again, suddenly blurting out a Sichuan dialect.
‘Shut up!’
Murong Yun viciously complained about the system that had bound itself to her just a week ago.
She, Murong Yun, had been a modern worker trapped in the relentless 996 grind. A month ago, she had been extraordinarily “lucky” to be selected by a system and transmigrated into an Imperial Exam Novel.
In her previous life, she worked nonstop, fixing countless bugs for her company. As the saying went, if you are willing to endure hardship, there will always be more hardship waiting. After three years of effort, she had earned herself dark circles, a herniated disc, a hunched back, chronic sleep deprivation, neurasthenia, and a whole list of other ailments.
For others, transmigration might be a problem, but for her, it was a kind of release.
Besides, after watching so many short videos before bed and absorbing all that transmigration “knowledge,” she finally had a chance to put it to use. Just thinking about it was thrilling.
With her quick mind and a bit of effort, combined with her vague memory of the novel’s main plot, she was certain she could thrive in this world, like a fish in water, as if aided by the heavens.
But this system had made her a woman…
At this point, Murong Yun could still grudgingly forgive it. Being female and disguising herself as a man, playing the role of a Hua Mulan of ancient times, was something she could tolerate.
However, upon recalling the story more carefully, she quickly realized that the character she had transmigrated into was cannon fodder.
Before long, the entire Murong family would be exterminated after being implicated in a wrongful corruption case tied to the imperial examinations.
Ha. Ha.
After a three-day cold war with the system, she finally disguised herself as a man and fled from home.
She would take the imperial examinations and step into the game herself.
She would become a court official, speak up for herself, and save her own life.
The original novel was titled Transmigrating into an Imperial Exam Novel.
Just listening to that domineering title, it was clear that everyone in the story longed for the imperial examinations.
Becoming an official was difficult, but no matter how difficult, surviving came first.
Her thoughts snapped back as the sound of a wooden clapper echoed outside the window, dong, dong, dong.
Murong Yun tightened the binding cloth around her chest, straightened her clothes from head to toe, and finally finished washing up.
Her reflection shimmered on the surface of the copper basin. The youth staring back had refined features. Her delicate brows had been darkened slightly, giving her face more definition, her lips thin, her eyes carrying a faint smile.
“Murong, are you up yet?”
It was Song Qi, her dorm mate. His folding fan tapped against the doorframe.
“Just got up—”
The door creaked open. Murong Yun brushed aside her bangs and stepped aside, revealing her messy room.
“Your room… is way too manly!” Song Qi chuckled.
“…Thank you.”
Murong Yun had stayed up all night. It was her first day at the academy, and she wanted to leave a good impression on the teachers.
She had crammed hard the night before. Her copy of The Four Books with Annotations was filled with notes. She wasn’t used to writing with a brush, and it had exhausted her hands, eyes, and mind.
“Quick, go eat breakfast. If we delay any longer, we’ll miss morning class. Master Xu said yesterday he’d be testing recitation,” Song Qi urged, pushing her forward.
They had known each other for less than two days, yet Song Qi was already quite attentive, occasionally sharing bits of academy gossip.
The morning bell rang slowly, dong, dong, dong. Murong Yun stuffed a flatbread into her mouth and ran while eating.
She never thought there would be a day when she had to rush to an early morning class again.
Ahead, the lecture hall echoed with loud recitations. Master Xu stood in the corridor, holding a rosewood ruler, silently watching her.
“You must be the new student?” Master Xu stroked his beard, his brows furrowed sternly.
“Yes, Master. This student is Murong Yun.”
Murong Yun lowered her head, set down the flatbread, and behaved with utmost respect.
Master Xu sized her up. The jade pendant at her waist and her fine clothing made her look like a wealthy young master.
“Since you’ve entered Qingshan Academy, no matter your background, if you fail the exams, you will be punished.”
“Weekly quizzes, monthly exams.”
“Do you understand?”
Murong Yun bowed deeply, her posture perfectly proper. “This student will remember your teachings.”
Master Xu’s expression softened slightly. At least this student showed respect.
As he turned away, Murong Yun quickly picked up her flatbread again, intending to finish it.
But the stone pavement was damp with dew, and she slipped slightly. The books in her back basket scattered across the ground.
As she reached out to catch them, sesame seeds from her flatbread fell onto someone.
“Sorry,” Murong Yun said softly.
As soon as she spoke, she looked up and met a pair of deep eyes.
The young man was strikingly handsome, with a small mole at the side of his neck.
She frowned at the sesame seeds on his collar, yet hesitated, worried Master Xu would think her slow. She struggled internally for a moment.
“It’s fine.” His voice was gentle, like polished jade.
It sounded so pleasant.
Murong Yun sat in front of Song Qi, who kept whispering introductions of the other students, as if afraid she wouldn’t fit in.
“The one who spoke to you just now is Shangguan Xuan. Like you, he has a double surname, but his family isn’t as wealthy as yours…”
Shangguan Xuan?
That name had appeared in the original novel.
He was exceptionally intelligent and hardworking, a Child of Fortune from a humble background. Through his own efforts, he achieved the rare feat of placing first in all three levels of the imperial exams, becoming the top scholar at seventeen.
A once-in-a-millennium genius. The author clearly favored him. Aside from his somewhat tragic background, his path was smooth. With a smile that concealed sharp schemes, he navigated the political factions and eventually rose to the position of prime minister, second only to the emperor.
His brilliance had once overshadowed the novel’s male lead, and readers had criticized the author harshly for it.
Master Xu swept his gaze across the students.
“Yesterday I said I would test your recitation of the first volume of On Governing the State. Those who fail will copy it ten times.”
He paused, his eyes passing over Murong Yun. “New students are no exception.”
Song Qi muttered, “We’re done for… Zheng Yuan clearly told me it was The Four Books…”
Zheng Yuan sat in the front row, upright, his book placed neatly, looking completely confident.
Murong Yun held her forehead. All the material she had crammed overnight was useless.
The system’s mechanical voice returned.
[Sleep for two hours in Master Xu’s class. Reward: first volume of On Governing the State.]
Murong Yun, holding her brush, trembled at the sound, splattering ink across the paper.
[Host, I malfunctioned. The original task was diligent studying…]
[But! Knowledge gained as a reward will never be forgotten!]
Murong Yun set down her brush, a gleam flashing in her eyes.
Oh? Who would have thought such a good deal existed.
If she could slack off and still gain knowledge, why not use it?
‘Let’s test it first.’
Soon, a strange sensation flowed through her body. Her head felt warm and itchy, as if something connected her mind from front to back.
After a while, it returned to normal.
Master Xu struck the desk with his ruler, producing a crisp sound.
Murong Yun lowered her gaze, staring at the patterns on her sleeve, while gasps rose around her. The question this time was difficult.
“The opening of On Governing the State says, ‘Taxes are like the lifeblood…’” Master Xu pointed to a student. “Zhao Mingyuan, continue.”
The boy in blue robes stood up unsteadily. “Taxes are like the lifeblood… one must…”
He stammered for a long time, unable to finish.
“Sit down. Copy it ten times and submit it tomorrow,” Master Xu said coldly.
Murong Yun stared at the spreading ink blot on her paper. The scent of pine drifted in from outside, and her eyelids grew heavy.
She propped up The Four Books and slowly let her head fall forward.
“Murong Yun!
Recite the thirty-seven opening lines of On Governing the State.”
Murong Yun opened her mouth instinctively, and a flood of text appeared in her mind.
“Livelihood is sparse; transport must be prioritized.
Blockage brings hardship, excess brings chaos.
Thus, the way of governance begins with weighing priorities…”
She recited the entire passage in one breath.
The entire passage. Song Qi’s eyes widened in shock, nearly dropping his jaw.
The other students looked at the newcomer in fine clothes, clearly from a wealthy family.
Rich and capable. Was there any room left for ordinary people?
Master Xu narrowed his eyes. “Good. Very fluent. But exams require application, not mere memorization.”
“Sit.” Murong Yun sat down awkwardly, still dazed.
The knowledge had simply entered her mind so effortlessly?
Then what was the point of her all-night study?
The system replied calmly: [Proof that you can endure hardship.]
After that, Murong Yun’s eyelids drooped, and she fell asleep at her desk.
…
“Murong Yun! Wake up!”
When she opened her eyes again, Song Qi was calling her.
“You’ve got some nerve, sleeping through the entire class! Two full hours!”
“Two hours?” Murong Yun blinked, still dizzy. “Where’s Master Xu?”
“He left after class!” Song Qi pulled her up. “Come on, let’s eat!”
The dining hall was filled with the aroma of steamed buns. Murong Yun rubbed her stomach.
She wanted meat.
But Qingshan Academy mostly served vegetarian food. Not ideal for someone preparing for the imperial exams…
She had chosen Qingshan Academy for a reason. Other academies could be bribed, but here, if you failed the basic assessment, you were expelled.
The teachers were generally tolerant.
Except Master Xu. He was fierce.
Murong Yun took a big bite of her bun. She had fought hard to get one with meat filling.
“He didn’t punish me?” she asked.
“No! He probably saw you studied too hard last night.”
Song Qi leaned closer. “I didn’t expect you to have read On Governing the State in just one night.”
Then he scratched his head. “But why did Zheng Yuan get the book wrong? Sitting in the front row, he shouldn’t have made a mistake…”
Murong Yun took a deep breath.
It was a miracle Song Qi had survived this long.
Zheng Yuan had clearly set him up!
As she ate, someone in rough clothes sat across from her.
It was the same young man she had dropped sesame seeds on earlier. Shangguan Xuan placed his tray down, calmly picking at vegetables and tofu.
“Brother Shangguan!” Song Qi lit up.
“His exam results are excellent, Murong!”
Murong Yun had eaten two buns and was barely full. She stroked her chin, studying Shangguan Xuan.
He was indeed more handsome than her, clearly the studious type, with a different kind of temperament.
“Not at all. Today, Murong’s recitation before Master Xu was clear and fluent. It’s evident you study diligently. Let us learn from each other in the future,” Shangguan Xuan said sincerely.
He was slender, his wrist pale, veins faintly visible as he set down his chopsticks.
Murong Yun recalled his character.
Outwardly, he was refined and gentle, getting along well with everyone, but in truth, very little of that warmth reached his heart.
“Did you hear that, Brother Song? Learn from me,” Murong Yun glanced at him.
Song Qi gulped down his soup, eating as if starved.
“This food is worse than what I eat at home.”
“…”
In the afternoon, the academy head, Scholar Zhao from the Hanlin Academy, gave a lecture. He had compiled the annals of the fictional dynasty Daying, knowing its three hundred years of history thoroughly.
As soon as Murong Yun sat down, the system spoke again.
[Skip class, climb over the wall, go out to stroll and play with birds, then return to sleep…]
Murong Yun: ‘What are you trying to do? This is the headmaster’s class!’
[Reward: complete Chronicle Annals.]
The complete version…
That required serious consideration.
Murong Yun tapped her forehead and smiled.
“What are you grinning at?” Song Qi poked her with his brush.
She kept smiling and shaking her head like a lunatic.
Terrifying.
“Master…” Murong Yun clutched her stomach. “The bun earlier upset my stomach. May I be excused?”
The class burst into laughter.
Zhao Mingyuan did not laugh. His face was hidden behind his book, looking tense.
“Return early,” Scholar Zhao said in a hoarse, aged voice.
Murong Yun felt a bit guilty deceiving him.
In front of everyone, she walked toward the wall, clutching her stomach.
“Forgive me, Master!”
Before their eyes, she climbed a tree and leapt onto the wall in a few swift moves.
Her sixteen-year-old body was so light.
“Murong Yun, get down! It’s dangerous!”
Scholar Zhao’s expression darkened. “If you fail the assessment, you will be expelled! Come back to class!”
Murong Yun had no time to explain. As she turned, she met Shangguan Xuan’s gaze.
He still wore a faint smile, revealing nothing.
“No need to worry! I just want to go eat some meat. I’ll be back soon!”
With that, she jumped down steadily.
Song Qi muttered, “Didn’t Murong just tell me to learn from him? Why is he skipping class now?”
Murong Yun bought several packs of roast duck at the market, strolled around for a while, then returned to the academy.
At sunset, she knocked on the gate.
[Chronicle Annals reward has been granted!]
Murong Yun: Your broken system is finally useful.
…
During Master Xu’s test, Shangguan Xuan was writing intently when a few sesame seeds fell onto his paper.
He straightened and glanced at Murong Yun.
She was asleep, her breathing soft and steady.
Earlier, the sesame seeds from her flatbread had slipped into his collar…
Shangguan Xuan touched his collarbone. Beneath his rough clothes, his pale skin was faintly visible.
Once those sesame seeds had slipped inside, they had begun to roam freely…