From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

As night fell, moonlight poured down on the Imperial Garden like water, and beneath the seemingly tranquil scene, a turbulent undercurrent was brewing.

Yan Ruyu strolled alone, her slender figure appearing particularly frail under the moonlight, but the light shining in her eyes was brighter than the stars in the sky.

The heated debate in the Golden Palace today flashed through her mind like a movie replay: the palace maid's betrayal, Eunuch Zhang's framing—what kind of conspiracy was hidden behind all of this?

She always felt that something was being overlooked, as if a crucial piece of a puzzle was missing.

"Oh, isn't this Miss Yan? Why are you here alone admiring the moon? Could you be plotting some new conspiracy?" A sarcastic voice broke the silence of the night. Consort Li, accompanied by a group of palace maids, walked over arrogantly, a fake smile on her face, but her eyes were full of disdain and provocation.

Yan Ruyu sighed helplessly. This palace really is a place of trouble and intrigue; there's no escaping it.

She looked up at Consort Li, her expression calm. "Your Highness is too kind. I just came out for a stroll."

"Relax? I think you're just feeling guilty!" Consort Li sneered, her gaze sweeping over a withered peony in the Imperial Garden. "These flowers in the Imperial Garden are His Majesty's favorites, and now you've ruined them like this. What is your punishment?"

Yan Ruyu frowned slightly. This peony had clearly withered naturally, so when did it become her doing?

"Your Highness, these flowers are not mine..."

"You still dare to argue!" Consort Li interrupted her sharply. "Guards, take Yan Ruyu to the Empress and let her deal with her personally!"

The surrounding palace maids looked at each other, but none of them dared to step forward.

They all knew that Consort Li was deliberately picking a fight, and Yan Ruyu was likely to suffer again.

Yan Ruyu took a deep breath, struggling to suppress her anger. "Your Highness, if you're determined to frame me, you'll always find a reason! The withering of these flowers was not my doing, I..."

"Take her away!" Consort Li waved her hand impatiently, giving her no chance to explain.

Two palace maids walked timidly to Yan Ruyu and reached out to pull her away.

"Wait!" an aged voice suddenly rang out, "This flower... I know what's going on..."

An old gardener, his back hunched and clutching a small shovel tightly in his hand, walked out shakily, his cloudy eyes shining with sincerity.

"Your Highness, this peony was not damaged by human intervention. It was due to my negligence. The weather changed suddenly a few days ago, and I was careless and failed to take timely precautions, which caused the peony to wither." The old gardener said, sighing deeply, his face full of guilt, like a wilted eggplant.

Consort Li's previously confident expression instantly froze, as if she had swallowed a fly.

She never expected that a shrewd person would suddenly appear and ruin her plans.

"You...you're talking nonsense! I clearly..."

“Your Highness, please calm your anger,” the old gardener interrupted her respectfully. “I have tended to the flowers and plants in the palace for many years without ever making a mistake. This time it was indeed my negligence. I beg Your Highness to investigate.” As he spoke, he took out a yellowed booklet from his robes. “This is my record of the growth of the flowers over the years. It clearly records the growth of this peony and its recent unusual changes.”

Consort Li was so angry that her face turned ashen, but she couldn't find any reason to refute it.

She glared at Yan Ruyu fiercely, then turned and left, leaving behind the words, "Consider yourself lucky!"

Yan Ruyu watched Consort Li's furious back and chuckled inwardly. This counterattack was so satisfying!

She breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted from her chest.

Just then, a warm hand gently took her hand.

She turned her head and saw Xu, the male lead. He looked at her gently with a smile in his eyes, "It's alright."

Yan Ruyu's cheeks flushed instantly, and her heart beat a little faster.

The palace maids and eunuchs around them were busy watching the commotion and did not notice their little interaction.

"Thank you," Yan Ruyu said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

The male protagonist smiled slightly, gently squeezed her hand, and then released it imperceptibly. "Be careful, the palace is not like the outside world." A subtle, profound meaning flashed in his eyes.

Yan Ruyu nodded, watching Xu Nanzhu's departing figure, a feeling of unease suddenly welled up in her heart.

Consort Li's actions today seem a bit too deliberate...

Could there be a deeper conspiracy behind this?

“Wait a minute…” Yan Ruyu suddenly spoke up.

Yan Ruyu watched Xu leave, but she did not feel relieved even though the previous crisis had been resolved.

She keenly sensed that Consort Li's behavior today was too deliberate, as if she was trying to impress someone with her performance.

There must be a bigger conspiracy hidden behind this.

Her gaze swept back and forth in the Imperial Garden, as if she could see through the flowers, trees and shrubs to the invisible threads of conspiracy.

"The Cold Palace..." A thought suddenly flashed through Yan Ruyu's mind; it was indeed the best place to hide secrets.

She quickly gathered her thoughts and decided to go to the Cold Palace to find out what was going on.

Xu's figure had disappeared into the night, but his concern still lingered in her heart.

She took a deep breath and walked resolutely toward the Cold Palace.

The Cold Palace, a forgotten corner, is filled with an atmosphere of decay and coldness.

Moonlight streamed through the dilapidated windows, casting dappled shadows that seemed to tell the story of this place's former glory and present decay.

Yan Ruyu's footsteps echoed in the empty hall, each step sounding exceptionally heavy.

She clenched her fist, feeling the warmth of the jade pendant in her hand. It was a token given to her by the male protagonist, Xu, which gave her immense courage.

"What secrets are hidden here?" Yan Ruyu muttered to herself, her eyes scanning her surroundings.

Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to a pile of tattered fabric, on which bloodstains could be faintly seen.

As she approached, she discovered an exquisite jade pendant engraved with General Zhao's family crest.

Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up, and the doubts in her heart became clearer.

How could General Zhao, a military commander of the imperial court who holds great power, be involved in this slanderous conspiracy?

"Could it be..." Various possibilities surfaced in Yan Ruyu's mind, and she felt that she was getting closer and closer to the truth.

She became excited, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

However, at that moment, a strange sound came from the shadows, like someone whispering or the growl of some wild beast.

Yan Ruyu's heart began to race. She looked around warily, clutching the jade pendant tightly in her hand.

"Who's there?" Yan Ruyu whispered, her voice echoing in the empty, cold palace, but she received no response.

She slowly walked toward the sound, each step as if treading on thin ice.

Suddenly, a mouse darted out of the darkness, startling her so much that she gasped.

Yan Ruyu looked warily into the darkness of the Cold Palace, a sense of unease rising within her. She felt that something unusual was about to happen.

She took a deep breath, preparing to face the unknown challenges ahead.