清初話本《鴛鴦鍼》是第一篇以揭露科場弊端為主題的中篇儒林小說，在中國小說史上可說是《儒林外史》的先驅。作者對科舉態度不同於《儒林外史》冷嘲熱諷下的絕望、虛無與蒼涼；而是有所批判，亦有所肯定。肯定科舉制度存在的合理性，反對考官的貪婪昏聵與考生的暗通關節等科舉弊端。他認為國家之病在士風墮落，士風墮落之因在科舉弊端，無法任用真才。只要杜絕科舉舞弊，士人既能夠突破困境得到救贖，同時也能經世致用，解決國家衰亡的危機。《鴛鴦鍼》反映明清士子的觀點—他們所期待的其實並不是廢除此一制度本身，而是希望透過弊端的革除，回復科舉制度原初之精神。作者透過道德思維與宗教勸懲雙管齊下，作為療癒科舉弊端的藥方。雖然有道德勸懲目的和思維，但由於能保有將故事說得精彩之才氣和高明的駕馭文字能力，敘事結構設計巧妙，人物形象書寫細膩深刻，以通俗小說標準而言，必須承認《鴛鴦鍼》有其藝術性。它是一部好的話本小說，不能以所謂「誥誡連篇，喧而奪主」、「明人擬作末流」視之，或視為一本「道德教科書」，否定其文學價值。

The huaben in Early Qing Dynasty, ＂Yuanyang Zhen＂(《鴛鴦鍼》), is the first novel in ＂The Scholars＂(《儒林外史》)that reveals the malpractices of the imperial examination. It can be said that it is the pioneer of ＂The Scholars＂(《儒林外史》). Different from ＂The Scholars which shows an attitude of despair, emptiness and desolation toward the imperial examination, the author of this novel is partially judgmental and partially appraisal. He agrees with the advantages of the imperial examination and the reasonability of the existence of it; however, he disagrees with the malpractices of the imperial examination which were gradually formed; that is to say, the greediness of the examiners and the bribery committed by the examinees. He believes that the problem of the country comes from the malpractices in the imperial examinations as no true talents could be hired. Once the malpractices were terminated, the true literati could be redeemed and have real uses by solving the problems of the state. ＂Yuanyang Zhen＂ (《鴛鴦鍼》)reflects the points of views of the literati at early Qing Dynasty: they expect that not only can this system be annulled but also restore the spirit of the imperial examination through the reform. Moralistic thinking and religious persuasions are the remedies for the malpractices. Although the novel uses moral persuasion, it still keeps the talent and outstanding storytelling ability with a fantastic narrative structure and impressive character descriptions. ＂Yuanyang Zhen＂ (《鴛鴦鍼》)certainly has its artistic feature. It is a good huaben rather than ＂admonished talking or losing its original spirit＂. Nor shall it be considered as an ＂ethical textbook＂ neither denying its literary values.