From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The dark figure shuddered in surprise and froze on the spot.

Moonlight streamed through the window into the study, illuminating the visitor—it was Yan Ruyu.

A cold smile played on her lips, her eyes sharp as knives. "What brings you here so late at night?" The figure stammered, his eyes darting around, not daring to look directly at Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu snorted lightly, "Not going to talk? Then don't blame me for being impolite."

The following morning, various rumors about Yan Ruyu began to circulate in the palace, ranging from how she "bewitched the emperor" to how she "formed cliques for personal gain," with all sorts of versions of the rumors flying around.

As Yan Ruyu walked along the palace path, she could clearly feel that the gazes of the palace servants around her had changed, from the previous awe to the whispers and pointing.

She stopped in her tracks, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, a cold smile playing on her lips. These people, they really put on a show!

Inside the imperial study, several senior officials sat upright, reporting something to the emperor with solemn expressions.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Miss Yan has been frequently in contact with men outside the palace recently, and I fear she may have ulterior motives!" the senior minister said with great distress.

The emperor frowned, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Is that really true?" he asked in a low voice, carrying a hint of authority.

The old minister quickly echoed, "We saw it with our own eyes! That man's behavior was suspicious, and he was definitely not a good person!" The imperial study was silent, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Yan Ruyu stood outside the Imperial Study, listening to the conversation inside, and sneered inwardly. These old guys really are persistent!

She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and entered. "Your Majesty, I have something important to report!"

Yan Ruyu pushed open the door and entered, her posture upright and her expression calm, showing no sign of being disturbed by the rumors.

She moved gracefully to the center of the hall, bowed deeply, and said, “Your Majesty, I have always acted uprightly and sat properly, and have absolutely no ill intentions.” Her voice was clear and crisp, carrying an undeniable firmness, like a sharp blade breaking through the ice in winter, piercing the frozen air in the imperial study.

The old ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. They thought they had caught Yan Ruyu red-handed, but she was so calm and composed. This was not how things were going to go!

The senior minister at the head of the group had beads of sweat on his forehead and cursed inwardly: This witch has such a thick skin!

The emperor raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Yan Ruyu with a hint of inquiry and a touch of admiration.

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying an imposing air: "Oh? Then how do you explain those rumors?"

Yan Ruyu smiled knowingly and calmly recounted recent events, including how she helped Lord Yang clear his name and how she uncovered the spies hiding in the shadows.

Each one is supported by conclusive evidence and is convincing.

She also used a bit of a "Versailles" tone to recount her contributions to the Great Xia, which made the conservative old ministers present turn green with embarrassment.

Lord Yang stepped forward at the opportune moment, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, everything Miss Yan said is true, and I can testify to it!"

The emperor looked at the confident and composed woman before him and admired her even more.

He waved his hand, signaling the old ministers to step down, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "I am already aware of this matter. Those rumors are pure nonsense. Miss Yan, you have done an invaluable job in relieving my worries."

The veteran officials slunk away, but felt as if they had swallowed a fly.

Meanwhile, at the Xu family home, the male protagonist sat upright, arguing with a group of elders.

"Uncles and elders, Yan Ruyu's contributions to the Great Xia are evident to all. Her abilities and character are trustworthy! Now is the time for our Xu family to support her!" The male protagonist of the Xu family spoke firmly, his eyes piercing, showing none of his usual gentle and refined demeanor, but rather like a fierce lion protecting its cubs.

"How dare you! Do you know what you're saying?! You are the heir of our Xu family!" An elder slammed his hand on the table and roared.

“Of course I know! Everything I’ve done is for the Xu family! For the Great Xia!” The male protagonist, Xu, refused to back down.

When Yan Ruyu learned from Xiao Shunzi that the male lead Xu had been working tirelessly for her within his family, a warm feeling welled up in her heart. Her eyes softened, and a sweet smile appeared on her lips.

She knew she was not alone.

At night, the moonlight, as clear as water, shone on Yan Ruyu's window.

She clasped her hands together and silently prayed to the moon: "May everything go well for him, may he return safely."

A gentle breeze blew by, and the window frame creaked softly.

A dark figure flashed past the window, accompanied by an eerie whisper, before disappearing into the night. "Heh, things aren't over yet..."

Several old men gathered together, their wrinkled faces beaming with laughter.

They held thick rosters in their hands, the result of their overnight "visits," which recorded a list of opportunists in the court.

"Hmph, I don't believe we can't get rid of that little vixen this time!" The leading old minister stroked his beard triumphantly, as if he could already see Yan Ruyu being isolated and helpless.

The air was filled with a sour, pungent smell of a "successful conspiracy," which was truly unpleasant.

Yan Ruyu looked at the empty palace corridor in front of her and a cold smile appeared on her lips.

Oh?

Is this some kind of isolationist strategy?

She raised an eyebrow, calmly straightened her sleeves, and thought, "Is that all you've got?"

How naive and young!

The palace servants who used to be quite polite to her now avoid her like the plague.

Occasionally, a few people who couldn't avoid it would simply give a quick bow and then flee as if escaping.

Even the palace maids who usually loved to join in the fun were all silent today, as if she had something unclean on her body.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and even the wind carried a slight chill.

"Heh, what a grand display!" Yan Ruyu chuckled, secretly plotting how to wipe out these old guys in one fell swoop.

Inside the Imperial Study, Yan Ruyu stood calmly in the center, holding a file in her hand, which Xiao Shunzi had risked his life to deliver to her.

Her eyes flashed like knives as she swept over the upright old ministers below, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Gentlemen, have you not been sleeping well lately?"

The old ministers looked at each other, wondering what she was up to.

The senior minister, feigning composure, coughed lightly and asked, "Miss Yan, what do you mean by this?"

"What do you mean?" Yan Ruyu sneered. "Of course, I'm here to give you a surprise!" She slammed the dossier in her hand to the ground, the crisp sound particularly jarring in the quiet imperial study. "Take a look for yourselves, see what good deeds you've done all these years!"

The case file recorded numerous pieces of evidence of the conservative forces' corruption, bribery, and factionalism over the years. Each one was shocking, making the veteran officials turn pale and break out in a cold sweat.

They panicked, some even collapsing to the ground like a flock of plucked quails.

The surrounding officials gasped in astonishment, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Yan Ruyu.

This girl is really amazing!

No wonder she's the one who can win the heart of the young master of the Xu family.

Yan Ruyu looked at the group of trembling old men in front of her, her mind clear.

A female protagonist in a wish-fulfillment novel should be this carefree!

Night fell, the moonlight was desolate, and Yan Ruyu stood by the window, her brows furrowed.

She did teach those old guys a lesson today, but she still felt that things weren't that simple.

This palace appears calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging beneath. There's always a feeling that something is lurking in the darkness, ready to devour everything at any moment.

She took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. The once clear sky was now shrouded in dark clouds, heavy and seemingly about to press down.

“My lady,” Xiao Shunzi appeared behind her unnoticed and whispered, “something’s been off lately…” Before he could finish, a sudden gust of cold wind interrupted him, leaving only a faint, almost inaudible murmur: “Those people… they’re all dead…”