Chapter 1: The Zhuangyuan Makes a Brilliant Entrance

In the Da Feng Dynasty, inside the inn where the newly appointed Jinshi of the Hanlin Academy were staying.

Jiang Mingyu opened his eyes, and the scene before him filled him with surprise and confusion.

He found himself in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by antique furniture and decorations, dressed in coarse linen clothing and straw sandals.

He also smelled a damp, earthy scent of wood and some unfamiliar spices.

He scrambled to his feet in panic, nearly falling over. “Where the hell is this?” Jiang Mingyu cried out—only to realize his voice had changed. “What the fuck is going on with my voice?”

He touched his hair and found it long and jet-black, nothing like his original short cut. Jiang Mingyu’s heart froze—he understood completely.

“Could it be… I’ve really been transported?”

Jiang Mingyu was an ordinary college student who enjoyed reading transportation novels, but he had never imagined such a thing could happen to him.

He always thought transportation was an escapist fantasy, and he was a practical, grounded person.

He had clear plans for his future: take the graduate entrance exam, land a stable job, and live a simple, happy life.

Yesterday, he borrowed a book from the library titled “Transported to a Fictional History,” which described a poor scholar named Jiang Mingyu who, after topping the imperial examination, was selected for the palace and became a renowned minister.

Since the protagonist shared his exact name, Jiang Mingyu found the book intriguing and took it back to his dorm to read that night.

That evening, lying in bed, he opened the book. After reading just a few pages, his vision went black and he lost consciousness.

He didn’t know what happened—only that he felt as if a powerful force had sucked him away. He struggled, tried to scream—but no sound came out.

At that moment, fear and confusion filled his mind.

What on earth was going on?

Had he really been transported?

Was he now the Jiang Mingyu from the book?

Then what of his original identity and life?

What about his parents and friends?

Would they worry about him?

As he sank into confusion, a man calling himself “Gao Yicheng” pulled back the curtain and entered.

Seeing Jiang Mingyu awake, Gao Yicheng beamed with joy. “My lord, you’re finally awake! You’ve been unconscious for three days—we all thought you were dying!”

Jiang Mingyu’s heart jolted—three days?

Had he been comatose here for a full three days?

He tried to sit up, but found himself utterly weak, with no strength at all.

Gao Yicheng hurried forward to support him. “My lord, don’t rush. You’ve just regained consciousness—your body is still frail.”

“Why am I here?” Jiang Mingyu asked, bewildered.

Gao Yicheng then slowly explained: three days ago, Jiang Mingyu had topped the imperial examination, returned to the inn where the new Jinshi were lodged, and suddenly collapsed. Everyone panicked and summoned a physician.

The physician said it was due to excessive excitement combined with prolonged exhaustion, and that he needed quiet rest.

Thus, everyone had been tending to Jiang Mingyu—and thankfully, he had finally awakened today!

Through the window, Jiang Mingyu could see the street outside, people hurrying past in simple clothing.

On either side of the street stood rows of dilapidated shops, their owners busy at work.

From a distant alley came the sound of folk songs and children’s laughter, as if he had stepped back into an ancient, bustling era.

A strange emotion rose in Jiang Mingyu—he had to accept reality, understand that he was now trapped in this new time.

“My god, is this all real?” Jiang Mingyu stared wide-eyed at the bustling crowd outside the window. “Have I really come to ancient times?”

A flood of memories surged into him, offering no time to react—forcefully flooding his mind and racing through it.

Surname Jiang, given name Mingyu, courtesy name Xingqiu, from Niping Dao, Dongzhou.

Age twenty-seven, the newly crowned Zhuangyuan of the Da Feng Dynasty.

His thoughts began to recall the history known to the transported Jiang Mingyu: this world was ruled by a feudal dynasty, devoid of human rights; for a poor scholar to rise was no easy feat.

Seeing Jiang Mingyu lost in thought, Gao Yicheng whispered gently, “My lord, you should rest more. You are now the newly crowned Zhuangyuan. If you need anything—any service or request—just tell me. We will do our utmost to fulfill it.”

Jiang Mingyu snapped back to awareness and gave a slight nod.

Gao Yicheng, seeing this, withdrew from the room, leaving Jiang Mingyu alone to think.

Jiang Mingyu lay on the bed, his mind swirling with countless thoughts.

How should he face this sudden change?

How could he establish himself in this new era?

How could he avoid altering the course of history?

How could he return to his original timeline?

Question after question came rushing at him, leaving him overwhelmed.

“Sigh… what should I do?” Jiang Mingyu frowned. “What if I can never go back?”

But reality was cruel—Jiang Mingyu knew he was now lost in this ancient era; returning seemed impossible.

“System?”

After a moment of silence, Jiang Mingyu’s tentative voice echoed in the quiet room.

The system ignored him.

“System… System Dad, come out!” Jiang Mingyu’s voice was urgent.

Silence.

No system. There was no system at all!

Fuck, no cheat skill—what the hell am I supposed to do now?

“At least I didn’t start as a beggar. At least it’s not hell mode.”

Jiang Mingyu sighed softly, trying to comfort himself—his new life had quietly begun at the most unexpected moment.

From today on, he would play the role of this poor scholar who had become Zhuangyuan, and forge his own legend in this brand-new world.

Jiang Mingyu understood: his new journey had officially begun!

It all seemed fated.

Though fear still filled his heart, Jiang Mingyu realized he had only one path: accept reality and fight to survive.

He must play this new identity well, carve out a future in this ancient era—only then might he find a way back to his own time.

Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath—starting today, he would begin anew here!

“Zhuangyuan Jiang Mingyu,” make your entrance!