From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The empty hall was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

Yan Ruyu withdrew her gaze, her fingertips caressing the jade pendant. A cool sensation seeped into her skin, but it could not dispel the lingering unease in her heart.

This harem is like a bottomless stagnant pool; the surface is calm, but beneath lies a turbulent undercurrent that could swallow her up at any moment.

She narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp as if trying to see through the conspiracies and schemes behind the layers of palace walls.

"What are you worried about?" A deep voice sounded from behind, carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

The male protagonist appeared out of nowhere, standing behind her, his deep gaze reflecting her image.

Yan Ruyu turned her head and met his concerned gaze, feeling slightly relieved. "This palace is too peaceful, which makes people uneasy."

The male protagonist held her hand, the warmth of his palm dispelling the chill from her fingertips. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Queen's palace was completely different.

The Empress sat upright on the phoenix throne, her face terribly gloomy, and the anger in her eyes seemed about to burst forth.

"I've tolerated her for so long, am I just going to stand by and watch her get smug?"

A group of concubines knelt below, each with their heads bowed and eyes lowered, not daring to utter a sound.

Consort Li spoke first, her tone charming yet laced with malice, "Your Majesty, this Yan Ruyu is far too arrogant. If we don't bring her down, our future will be bleak!"

The other concubines echoed their sentiments, each adding their own comments as if Yan Ruyu were some heinous criminal.

As the Empress listened to their words, a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Don't worry, I have my own ways of dealing with her."

When the news reached Yan Ruyu's ears, she was taking a walk in the Imperial Garden with the male protagonist, Xu.

She listened, then simply smiled faintly. She reached out and plucked a red plum blossom, sniffing it lightly, her tone as calm as if she were discussing a trivial matter. "Then play with them." She paused, her eyes suddenly sharpening. "Where are the palace maids?"

Yan Ruyu's lips curled into a confident smile. The system beeped in her mind, and the Empress and others' plans were laid bare before her like a peeled egg.

Ha, trying to trap her?

Don't you even know who she is?!

At this moment, in the Empress's palace, the Empress, Consort Li, and others were plotting how to ruin Yan Ruyu's reputation.

They were immersed in the joy of impending success, completely unaware that Yan Ruyu had already seen through their plans.

The Empress picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and a sinister glint flashed in her eyes: "This time, I will make sure she suffers eternal damnation!"

"Yu'er, you are truly a prophet." The male protagonist Xu looked at Yan Ruyu's confident demeanor with admiration in his eyes.

He gently put his arm around her slender waist and whispered in her ear, "As expected of the woman I've set my sights on, you're truly amazing!"

As the sun sets, hundreds of flowers bloom in the Imperial Garden, filling the air with fragrance.

Yan Ruyu nestled in Xu's arms, a blush rising on her face.

"Ugh, all you do is sweet talk to me." She playfully punched his chest, her eyes full of sweetness.

A gentle breeze blew by, and petals fluttered down, as if blessing them.

"Yu'er, meeting you in this life is my greatest fortune." The male protagonist gazed at her with deep affection, her image reflected in his eyes, as if he wanted to etch her into his heart.

“Me too…” Yan Ruyu’s voice was as soft as a feather, drifting in the air.

"Cough cough..." An untimely cough broke the pleasant atmosphere.

Consort Li swayed gracefully towards Yan Ruyu, a fake smile playing on her lips. She said in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, isn't this Miss Yan? What, now that you've cleared your name, you're out here parading around? Aren't you afraid of hurting your back?" She deliberately emphasized the words "cleared your name," as if hinting at something.

Yan Ruyu's expression remained unchanged. She glanced at her indifferently, her tone as calm as still water. "Consort Li is joking. I have acted uprightly and honestly; how could I be making a scene? It is Your Highness who has come here for no reason. Could it be that you have some shady business to be involved in?" A slight smile played on her lips.

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs held their breath, curiously observing the two, afraid of missing this good show.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if a fierce conflict could erupt at any moment.

Consort Li's face stiffened. She hadn't expected Yan Ruyu to be so sharp-tongued. Speechless for a moment, she said angrily, "You...you're being insolent!"

Yan Ruyu chuckled lightly, her tone tinged with disdain, "Me, presumptuous? Your Highness seems to have forgotten who the true master is in this harem."

Consort Li was so angry that she trembled all over, but she couldn't find any words to refute her. She could only glare at Yan Ruyu fiercely, then turn away and leave in a disheveled state.

The palace maids and eunuchs around her lowered their heads, concealing the smiles on their lips, and looked at Yan Ruyu with eyes full of admiration.

Back at her residence, Yan Ruyu was about to rest when she found a letter on the table.

The envelope was unsigned, with only a few words written in blood: "Beware of the Empress."

Yan Ruyu's face darkened. She opened the envelope and found only one sentence inside: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." Her eyes were sharp, and her fingertips gently caressed the letter, a chill running through her.

"It seems the harem is more dangerous than I imagined..." Yan Ruyu murmured to herself.