After I Became the Top Scholar, the Entire Court Could Hear My Thoughts

The moment Shen Shixu was named the top scholar in the imperial examinations, his cheat ability finally arrived-eighteen years late. In his previous life, he had died young while saving a drowning child. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in Great Qian, a dynasty that had never existed in recorded history. Now he had doting parents and an older brother who spoiled him rotten. Determined to repay his family's love, he devoted himself to his studies, hoping to earn a respectable rank in the examinations and bring honor to the family. He never expected to take first place.

His cheat ability arrived right after his triumph. He thought it would be a system that helped him soar through the ranks. Instead, it turned out to be a gossip system.

His very first scoop? The previous top scholar had abandoned his wife and child, passed himself off as single, and caught the eye of the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, becoming the minister's prized son-in-law. With his father-in-law's backing, he had climbed steadily through the court ranks. Now, with a flourishing career, a beautiful wife, and a beloved son, he paid no mind to the wife and daughter suffering back in his hometown. He had not even returned when his own mother died.

Shen Shixu happily devoured the gossip, completely unaware that the entire imperial court could hear his thoughts. Even the emperor, the crown prince, the other princes, and the royal lords heard every word loud and clear. At first, no one believed him. But when they saw the Vice Minister of Revenue looking ready to collapse, they realized that everything running through his mind was true.

From then on, Shen Shixu gossiped his way up the ranks, while the civil and military officials delighted in their daily dose of scandal. Today, it was the eldest princess being betrayed by her husband. Tomorrow, it was some official being cuckolded. The day after, it was enemy agents planting a spy in the emperor's own harem...

But then Shen Shixu stumbled upon a truly earth-shattering scoop: How could that cold-faced God of War possibly be in love with him...?