From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

As night fell, a thick, inky darkness enveloped the capital. An inconspicuous carriage silently stopped in an alley not far from Prime Minister Wei's residence.

Dressed in night clothes, Yan Ruyu leaped lightly off the carriage, her figure nimbly blending into the night.

She cautiously approached the Wei residence, taking each step with utmost care, like an elegant cheetah lurking in the darkness.

The Wei mansion was surrounded by high walls, topped with sharp iron caltrops. Inside, the mansion was brightly lit, with patrolling guards moving about, making it as secure as an iron barrel.

Yan Ruyu hid behind a dense tree, her eyes sharp as she carefully observed every move of the Wei family.

She took a deep breath, a determined glint in her eyes. Tonight, she was determined to uncover the truth and dispel the layers of mystery!

Suddenly, a soft sound of footsteps broke the silence of the night.

Yan Ruyu felt a chill run down her spine and quickly turned around, only to find that several black-clad guards had surrounded her at some point.

"Who goes there?!" the leading guard shouted sharply, his long sword pointing directly at Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu sneered and met their gazes without fear, "Doesn't your Prime Minister Wei have any idea what he's done?"

Before he finished speaking, the guards pounced on him like tigers descending a mountain, their swords flashing and their killing intent palpable.

Yan Ruyu moved nimbly through the flashing swords, her moves sharp and merciless.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, with only the clanging of swords and the heavy breathing of the guards echoing in the night sky.

Darkness enveloped everything, and the swaying shadows of the trees added to the eeriness.

One of the guards seized the opportunity and swung his sword at Yan Ruyu's chest.

At the critical moment, Yan Ruyu dodged to the side, the sword blade grazing her clothes and leaving a shallow mark.

"Heh, is that all you've got?" Yan Ruyu's lips curled into a mocking smile, her eyes filled with coldness. "It seems that the dog that Prime Minister Wei keeps is nothing special."

The leader of the secret guards' face darkened, and he roared, "Go! Take her down!"

More guards joined the battle, surrounding Yan Ruyu and launching an even fiercer offensive.

Yan Ruyu gradually felt powerless, and several wounds appeared on her body.

Just then, a cold voice rang in her ear: "System prompt: Use 'Invisibility Talisman'?"

Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up. "Use!" A white light flashed, and Yan Ruyu's figure instantly disappeared into the night, leaving only a faint fragrance in the air.

The guards looked at each other, their faces filled with shock and confusion.

"Where is he? Where did he go?" The leader of the secret guards rubbed his eyes in disbelief, wondering if he was seeing things.

Using the invisibility talisman as cover, Yan Ruyu quietly left the Wei residence.

She moved with the agility of a swallow, darting through the night, and soon arrived at a secluded grove on the outskirts of the city.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Yan Ruyu leaned against a large tree, breathing softly. The fight had exhausted her.

Suddenly, she sensed movement behind her.

She turned around abruptly and saw a familiar figure standing there.

"Young Master Xu?" Yan Ruyu exclaimed in surprise.

Xu Mobai slowly walked up to her, his eyes filled with worry. "Are you alright?"

Yan Ruyu shook her head. "I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

Xu Mobai smiled and said, "I was worried about your safety, so I sent people to protect you secretly."

Yan Ruyu felt a warmth in her heart, a sweet feeling welling up inside her. "Thank you."

Xu Mobai gently pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "Silly girl, you are the most important person to me. How could I let you go into danger alone?"

Yan Ruyu hugged him tightly, feeling his warm embrace, her heart filled with emotion.

The two embraced in the quiet woods, as if everything around them had disappeared, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats.

“This time, Prime Minister Wei’s conspiracy is no small matter. We must find a way to deal with it as soon as possible,” Yan Ruyu said softly.

"I know." Xu Mobai gently stroked her hair. "I've already arranged for someone to contact Lord Yang. Let's go see him together."

"Okay." Yan Ruyu nodded.

The two held hands and disappeared into the night.

"Lord Yang, we've arrived."

Yan Ruyu and Xu Mobai arrived at the Yang residence, only to find the atmosphere inside heavy and the servants looking flustered.

Lord Yang looked haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and his former majestic demeanor was gone. At this moment, he looked like a defeated rooster, sitting dejectedly in his chair.

"Lord Yang, what has happened?" Yan Ruyu's heart sank, and an ominous premonition surged into her mind.

Lord Yang gave a wry smile and recounted the whole story in detail.

It turns out that Prime Minister Wei used some unknown means to fabricate evidence of Lord Yang's embezzlement and bribery. Now the Emperor is furious and has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

"Outrageous! This is clearly a frame-up!" Yan Ruyu was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end, and her delicate features twisted, making her look like a cat with its fur standing on end.

Xu Mobai gently patted her shoulder, signaling her to calm down. "Lord Yang, do you have a solution?"

Lord Yang shook his head helplessly, "Now that the witnesses and evidence are all there, I have no way to defend myself."

Yan Ruyu made a decisive decision: "This matter is of great importance. We must go to the palace as soon as possible to meet the Emperor and expose Prime Minister Wei's conspiracy!"

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

Prime Minister Wei stood to the side, a sinister smile playing on his lips, as if victory was assured.

Lord Yang, on the other hand, was pale, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

Some of the surrounding officials looked worried, some gloated, and others seemed indifferent. Their complex gazes created a tense atmosphere in the hall.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!" Yan Ruyu's clear voice rang out in the hall, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

She stood in the center of the hall with composure and unwavering determination, her voice steady as she recounted Prime Minister Wei's conspiracy in a clear and logical manner, with irrefutable evidence.

Prime Minister Wei's expression gradually turned grim; he hadn't expected Yan Ruyu to be able to find such crucial evidence.

He tried to remain calm and argue back, but Yan Ruyu defused his arguments one by one.

Some officials who had initially remained neutral began to waver, whispering among themselves and expressing their admiration for Yan Ruyu's courage and wisdom.

Seeing that the situation was turning against them, Prime Minister Wei and Consort Li exchanged a glance.

After the court session ended, Yan Ruyu felt a vague unease in her heart, sensing a powerful force surging in the shadows.

"It seems an even bigger storm is coming..." Xu Mobai said in a deep voice, gazing at the dark, cloud-covered sky in the distance.

"Pass down the order to prepare the horses!" Yan Ruyu's eyes sharpened, and her tone was resolute.