From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The smoke from the battle in the Golden Palace had not yet dissipated, and Yan Ruyu felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

She rubbed her aching temples, her slender fingers trembling slightly.

What good would it do to defeat Prime Minister Wei?

Even within this deep palace, wolves and tigers still lurk.

She felt as if she were caught in a giant spider web, where one wrong step could lead to utter ruin.

At the victory celebration banquet, toasts were exchanged and songs and dances were performed.

However, in Yan Ruyu's eyes, this bustling and prosperous scene was as illusory as a mirage.

She keenly sensed that the gazes cast upon her at the table were no longer simply expressions of admiration, but rather scrutiny, inquiry, and even...

greedy.

Prime Minister Wei has fallen from power, but the power vacuum he left behind has become the focus of contention among various factions.

Lord Yang appears upright, but there is a strange glint in his eyes; Consort Li has been banished to the Cold Palace, but the forces behind her are still active in the shadows; even General Zhao, who has always been neutral, has been frequently trying to curry favor with her, hinting at an alliance in his words.

Yan Ruyu picked up her wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. The spicy liquor slid down her throat and into her stomach, but it couldn't dispel the chill in her heart.

She felt like a lamb that had strayed into a pack of wolves, and could be torn to pieces at any moment.

Xiao Shunzi quietly walked up to her and whispered, "Your Majesty, General Zhao requests an audience."

Yan Ruyu nodded slightly, indicating that he should lead General Zhao to the side hall.

As soon as General Zhao entered, he went straight to the point: "Your Majesty, now that Prime Minister Wei has been eliminated, the situation in the court is turbulent. If Your Majesty does not have reliable allies, I'm afraid..."

Yan Ruyu listened quietly, her face expressionless.

Seeing that she remained unmoved, General Zhao added fuel to the fire: "Your Majesty, I command a large army. If Your Majesty agrees, I will certainly..."

“General Zhao,” Yan Ruyu suddenly spoke, interrupting him, “I am tired and would like to rest for a while.”

General Zhao was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to react this way.

He had expected Yan Ruyu to cling to him like a lifeline, but he hadn't expected her to be so calm, even somewhat...

indifferent.

Undeterred, he continued, "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance..."

“Xiao Shunzi,” Yan Ruyu interrupted him again, her tone tinged with impatience, “Show him out.”

General Zhao wanted to say something more, but Xiao Shunzi forcibly asked him to leave.

Inside the main hall, everyone looked at Yan Ruyu's actions with surprise.

She actually rejected General Zhao's overtures?

Is this a ploy to lure the prey into a trap, or is there another plan?

Yan Ruyu slowly stood up, her gaze sweeping over everyone, a meaningful smile playing on her lips: "My lords, let's call it a day. I'm tired."

She turned and left, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

"What...what does she mean by this?" Lord Yang muttered to himself.

“Perhaps she’s waiting for a better opportunity.” The male protagonist, Xu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. “An opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop…”

Yan Ruyu's "showing weakness" worked as expected.

In the following days, those forces that had been eager to make a move gradually quieted down, as if they were all watching and waiting for the best opportunity.

Little did they know, this was exactly what Yan Ruyu wanted.

What she needed was this moment of peace so she could secretly investigate and find out the real mastermind behind it all.

That day, Yan Ruyu was taking a walk alone in the Imperial Garden.

The sunlight shines through the branches and leaves, casting mottled shadows.

She walked seemingly casually, but her eyes were sharp as she scanned everything around her.

Suddenly, she discovered an exquisite jade pendant under a cluster of peonies.

The jade pendant is carved with a coiled dragon, so lifelike that it is obviously very valuable.

Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up, and she quickly picked up the jade pendant and examined it carefully.

She felt like she'd seen the design of this jade pendant somewhere before…

correct!

She remembered that this jade pendant was exactly the same as the one worn by the personal maid of Consort Li!

Consort Li was banished to the Cold Palace, so how did her personal maid end up in the Imperial Garden?

Moreover, this jade pendant is clearly a man's possession...

Yan Ruyu was overjoyed. This jade pendant was very likely the key clue she had been searching for!

She discreetly put the jade pendant away, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

Meanwhile, Lord Yang and the others, who were observing her from the shadows, were completely unaware of her unusual behavior and remained immersed in their self-satisfied smugness.

"Ha, she's just a greenhorn girl, yet she dares to fight us!" Lord Yang sneered, his eyes full of contempt.

However, what they didn't know was that Yan Ruyu had already seen through their every move.

All she had to do was wait for the right moment to wipe them all out!

Meanwhile, in the Cold Palace, Prime Minister Wei was plotting with Consort Li.

"It seems we all underestimated Yan Ruyu," Prime Minister Wei said with a sinister smile.

He took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Consort Li: "Tomorrow, you will give this letter to the Emperor..."

Yan Ruyu returned to her palace, but her unease grew stronger.

She always felt that something was about to happen...

"Your Majesty," Xiao Shunzi suddenly entered, looking flustered, "This servant has just received news that Prime Minister Wei..."

"Shh—" Yan Ruyu made a shushing gesture, her gaze fixed on the window. The night was as dark as ink, and deep within the palace, countless secrets seemed to lie hidden, waiting to be revealed...

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The real show has only just begun..."

Yan Ruyu raised an eyebrow; the news Xiao Shunzi brought was exactly as expected.

Even after being banished to the cold palace, that old fox, Prime Minister Wei, is still restless and actually tried to frame her for treason with a forged letter!

Ha, a trivial skill.

"Xiao Shunzi, go..." Yan Ruyu whispered a few words in Xiao Shunzi's ear, a sly smile playing on her lips.

In the imperial palace, the emperor was furious. Prime Minister Wei, seemingly heartbroken, presented "evidence," waiting to see Yan Ruyu's reputation ruined.

Unexpectedly, Yan Ruyu calmly produced another letter, which was a personal letter from Prime Minister Wei about colluding with an enemy country!

This letter was forged by Xiao Shunzi overnight based on the secret he overheard in the Imperial Study, using the enemy's own methods against him!

Prime Minister Wei's face turned deathly pale instantly, as if he had swallowed a fly, and he watched helplessly as the emperor ordered his execution.

"Impossible...this is impossible..." Prime Minister Wei collapsed to the ground.

The way the court officials looked at Yan Ruyu changed again, from initial contempt to later admiration, and now mostly fear.

This woman is truly unfathomable!

In the dead of night, a dark figure flashed over the palace wall and silently arrived at Yan Ruyu's bedchamber.

It's none other than the male lead, Xu!

He overcame numerous obstacles from his family, just to see her once.

"Ruyu!" The male protagonist Xu pulled her into his arms, his voice trembling slightly.

Yan Ruyu was startled at first, then her eyes reddened slightly, and she hugged him tightly.

"How did you come?"

"I miss you, I can't wait a moment longer." The male protagonist looked at her with deep affection, his eyes full of tenderness.

The two embraced tightly, as if they were the only two people left in the world.

Just then, a sharp sound shattered the momentary tranquility.

"Oh, what a loving couple!" Consort Li appeared at the door at some point, a mocking smile on her face and flames of jealousy in her eyes.

The two were startled and quickly separated.

The air froze instantly, and all was silent except for the eerie laughter of Consort Li...

"It seems I've come at the wrong time." Consort Li approached step by step, her gaze sharp as a knife, fixed intently on Yan Ruyu.