From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Ruyu repeatedly stroked the warning letter; the scarlet handwriting seemed to carry a chilling aura, constantly eroding her nerves.

The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows on her face, revealing the determination and coldness in her eyes.

This imperial harem is indeed a place fraught with danger; a single misstep can lead to utter ruin.

She took a deep breath, gently placed the letter on the candle flame, and watched it slowly turn to ashes, as if she wanted to burn away all her fear and unease.

The room was completely silent, with only the occasional sound of wind coming from outside the window, which added to the oppressive atmosphere.

The male protagonist, Xu, stood quietly to the side, gazing intently at Yan Ruyu. His presence was like an invisible barrier, protecting her safety and silently giving her strength.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind..." Yan Ruyu repeated the words from the letter in a low voice, the image of the Empress flashing through her mind. Could it be that she was the one manipulating all of this behind the scenes?

But what is her purpose?

Is it simply because of jealousy?

She was puzzled.

Suddenly, she remembered that there seemed to be some dirt on the envelope, this kind of dirt...

It is extremely similar to the soil in the northwest corner of the Imperial Garden!

There's a secret passage leading out of the palace, could it be...?

With that thought in mind, Yan Ruyu no longer hesitated and got up to walk outside.

The palace, shrouded in night, appeared particularly eerie. The wind rustled the leaves, making a sound like the whispers of ghosts.

Following her memory, she arrived at the northwest corner of the Imperial Garden and found the entrance to the hidden passage.

The secret passage was dark and damp, filled with a musty smell that made one want to vomit.

Yan Ruyu walked forward cautiously when suddenly, several dark figures darted out from the darkness and surrounded her.

The assassins all had ferocious faces, held sharp blades, and exuded a strong killing intent.

Yan Ruyu was startled, but she quickly calmed down, her gaze sweeping coldly over the assassins before her, and she asked coldly, "Who sent you?"

One of the assassins sneered and said, "Miss Yan, when we get to the underworld, King Yama will tell you everything! Make your move!"

The assassins pounced on Yan Ruyu like hungry wolves, their blades flashing in the narrow passageway, the air thick with a chilling aura.

At the critical moment, a figure appeared like a ghost, blocking Yan Ruyu's path.

It's the male lead, Xu!

Dressed in black, with sharp eyes, he brandished his longsword, unleashing a torrent of sword energy that instantly repelled several assassins.

"Perfect timing, saves me the trouble of searching for them one by one!" Yan Ruyu sneered, drew a dagger from her sleeve, and joined the battle.

The two worked together seamlessly, one focusing on offense and the other on defense. Their coordinated attacks and defenses forced the assassins into a series of retreats.

The narrowness of the secret passage became their advantage in defeating a larger force.

Yan Ruyu moved with agility, navigating the cramped space with ease. Her daggers were like the spitting tongues of a venomous snake, each strike deadly.

The male protagonist's swordsmanship is fierce, his sword energy is like a rainbow, and every move carries the force of thunder.

The assassins were cornered, caught between a rock and a hard place. Their initial ferocity vanished instantly, leaving only fear and despair.

They fled like stray dogs, abandoning their armor and weapons in a sorry state, wishing they had two more legs.

"With such meager skills, you dare to assassinate me? You're really asking for trouble!" Yan Ruyu sneered, dusting off her hands with an air of nonchalance, as if she had just finished a game.

The male protagonist sheathed his sword, walked to her side, and hugged her tightly.

"You scared me to death, Yu'er, are you alright?" His voice was still tinged with fear, and his heart was racing. The scene just now was truly terrifying.

Yan Ruyu nestled in his warm embrace, feeling his strong heartbeat, and her tense nerves gradually relaxed.

"I'm fine, thank goodness you arrived in time." She looked up at his concerned eyes, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

The cold, damp air in the secret passage seemed to gain a touch of warmth from their embrace.

The two embraced quietly, feeling each other's body heat, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them.

Suddenly, the male protagonist's hand touched a hard object; he had retrieved a jade pendant from an assassin's body...

"This is..." Xu, the male protagonist, said with a hint of doubt in his voice, handing the jade pendant to Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu took the jade pendant and examined it carefully.

The jade is warm and lustrous, and the carving is exquisite. A lifelike phoenix is ​​carved on the front, while the character "兰" (lan) is carved on the back.

The character "兰" has a sharp and distinctive style, and it is the very font commonly used in the Empress's bedroom, "兰若殿"!

"Empress..." Yan Ruyu uttered the two words slowly and deliberately, her knuckles white as she gripped the jade pendant tightly, as if she wanted to crush it.

This jade pendant is irrefutable evidence of the Empress's involvement in the assassination!

This woman is really haunted!

The male protagonist Xu also saw the character "Lan" on the jade pendant, and his face instantly darkened.

"What a blatant Empress! How dare she attack you so openly!" He would never allow anyone to harm Yan Ruyu, not even the Empress!

Yan Ruyu took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger in her heart, and a sly smile appeared on her lips.

"Since she wants to play, then I'll play along!" She deliberately spread the word that she had obtained key evidence of the Empress's conspiracy and was just waiting for the right moment to bring the Empress down!

The news caused an uproar throughout the entire harem.

Upon hearing this news, the Empress's face turned deathly pale, and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground and shattered.

She never expected that Yan Ruyu would escape unscathed and even find evidence!

Consort Li was terrified. She had always thought that the Empress just wanted to teach Yan Ruyu a lesson, but she never expected it to cause such a commotion!

Inside and outside the palace, everyone was talking about it, speculating about what evidence Yan Ruyu had in her possession. The Empress's position was in jeopardy, and the power structure of the harem was beginning to become unstable.

The atmosphere inside the Empress's palace was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The empress paced back and forth, restless and anxious, like an ant on a hot pan.

"What should I do? What should I do?" she murmured to herself, her heart filled with fear and unease.

"Your Majesty, why don't we strike first and eliminate Yan Ruyu!" Eunuch Zhang said sinisterly.

The Empress took a deep breath. "Alright! Go and contact General Zhao. Tell him..." Her voice trailed off until it disappeared into the air, leaving only the scent of conspiracy in the air.

Just then, a palace maid rushed in and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor... the Emperor summons Miss Yan to an audience!"

Yan Ruyu looked at the imperial edict in her hand, her brows furrowed, her heart filled with doubt.

Why did the emperor suddenly summon her?

Is it a blessing or a curse?

"Yu'er, don't be afraid, I will always be with you." The male lead held her hand, giving her strength.

Yan Ruyu took a deep breath, carefully put away the imperial edict, and got up to walk outside...