From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Rugo and the male protagonist Xu held their breath and tiptoed closer to the source of the sound.

Through a crack in a carved window, they glimpsed the scene inside: a burly, mysterious man with a scar on his face sat upright, while his several subordinates stood meekly to the side, the atmosphere gloomy and oppressive.

The dim candlelight flickered, casting their shadows on the wall, twisting and deforming them like ghostly figures baring their fangs.

A faint musty smell permeated the air, mixed with the aroma of unknown spices, making one feel nauseous.

"Have you taken care of everything the master asked you to do?" The scarred man's voice was low and hoarse, as harsh as sandpaper.

"Reporting to you, sir, everything has been arranged according to your instructions, and we are just waiting for the right time..." a subordinate replied with a bow, his tone tinged with obsequiousness.

“Hmm,” the scarred man nodded in satisfaction, “This time we must be absolutely certain, otherwise…” He paused,

Just then, the scarred man seemed to sense something, abruptly raising his head and scanning the window with piercing eyes. "There's someone outside!"

Yan Rugo and Xu, the male protagonist, were startled and quickly hid in a corner filled with clutter.

The two were pressed tightly together, almost able to feel each other's heartbeats.

The small space was filled with a faint scent of perfume, which emanated from Yan Rugo.

The male protagonist felt somewhat uneasy, but dared not move, for fear of making the slightest noise.

Yan Rugo's cheeks flushed slightly, and her heart pounded like a drum. She secretly glanced at Xu, the male lead beside her, and found him staring intently out the window with a serious expression.

"Go check it out!" the scarred man ordered.

One of his men stepped forward, cautiously pushed open the door, and looked around warily.

The dimly lit corridor was deserted, save for the howling wind that wailed and howled like ghosts.

"Reporting to my lord, nothing unusual has been found." The subordinate returned to his room and reported back to the scarred man.

The scarred man frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. "Am I being paranoid?"

Hiding in the corner, Yan Rugo and the male protagonist Xu didn't dare to breathe, for fear of being discovered.

The male protagonist gently placed his hand on Yan Rugo's shoulder, seemingly to comfort her, or perhaps to encourage himself.

Suddenly, the male protagonist's eyes sharpened, and he whispered, "Not good..."

Xu's eyes narrowed, and seizing the opportunity, he swiftly leaped out, grabbed the subordinate by the throat, and cleanly dislocated his jaw.

His movements were fluid and seamless, leaving Yan Rugo speechless. She thought to herself, "His boyfriend power is off the charts!" He searched his subordinate's body and found a letter. He quickly glanced at it and his expression changed drastically.

"Let's go!" Xu, the male protagonist, grabbed Yan Rugo, and the two rushed into the room like arrows released from a bow.

"Who are you people?!" The scarred man was shocked and stood up abruptly, the teacup in his hand falling to the ground and shattering.

"Who we are is unimportant. What matters is that your conspiracy has been exposed!" The male protagonist, Xu, threw the letter in his hand in front of the scarred man. "Take a look for yourself!"

The scarred man picked up the letter with trembling hands, read it quickly, and his face instantly turned deathly pale, as if covered with a thick layer of white ash.

His lips trembled; he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

"Trying to run? Too late!" The male protagonist Xu took a step forward and blocked the scarred man's path, as impenetrable as an iron wall.

Yan Rugo calmly walked to the front of the crowd and presented the letters and other evidence they had collected, explaining in a clear and logical manner the scarred man's conspiracy—to frame Madam Li in order to seize the family's property.

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and condemned the scarred man's despicable behavior.

At this moment, Madam Li arrived after hearing the news. Upon seeing the scene before her, she immediately understood the whole story.

Her face turned ashen, and she ordered that the scarred man and his accomplices be severely punished.

The scarred man slumped to the ground, his face ashen. He knew he was finished.

Yan Rugo became a great contributor to the mansion for exposing the conspiracy, and everyone admired her greatly.

Her smile was enchanting, her eyes sparkling, as dazzling as a blooming peony.

The male protagonist looked at her, his eyes filled with love and pride.

As night fell, the mansion returned to its usual tranquility.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, bathing Yan Rugo in a silvery glow.

The male protagonist, Xu, walked up to Yan Rugo, took a deep breath, and slowly began to speak…

Xu, the male protagonist, took a deep breath, his gaze tenderly fixed on Yan Rugo, and slowly began to speak: "Rugo, from the first moment I saw you, I was deeply attracted by your intelligence and kindness. You are like a shining star, illuminating every corner of my life. I know I've been pretending to be innocent all along, but in truth, my heart has already been occupied by you. Today, I want to muster the courage to express my love to you in front of everyone." His voice was deep and magnetic, as melodious as a cello.

He knelt on one knee, took out an exquisite jade pendant from his robes, and presented it to Yan Rugo with both hands. "Rugo," he said, "are you willing to accept my heart and spend your life with me?"

Yan Rugo's cheeks instantly turned crimson, as luscious and ripe as a ripe apple.

She lowered her head slightly, a happy smile appearing on her lips.

She reached out her slender hand, gently took the jade pendant, and softly said, "I do." Her voice was gentle and sweet, as tender and moving as a spring breeze brushing against the willow branches.

Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, and everyone offered their blessings.

Madam Li grasped Yan Rugo's hand with great emotion, her eyes filled with love and relief.

The entire mansion was filled with joy and excitement, just like celebrating the Lunar New Year.

However, just as everyone was celebrating, Madam Li suddenly mentioned the upcoming aristocratic poetry gathering, "Ruge, you must also participate in this poetry gathering. Perform well and don't embarrass our manor."

Upon hearing the words "poetry gathering," Yan Rugo's smile froze slightly.

She recalled that in the original book, the original owner was ridiculed by everyone at the poetry gathering because of her lack of talent and knowledge, and ultimately lost face and became the laughing stock of the whole city.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel uneasy, thinking to herself, "Is the poetry gathering going to be a disaster again? This poetry gathering is probably a trap..." Her originally bright eyes were also clouded, as dim as the moon obscured by dark clouds.

The lively atmosphere around them froze instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on Yan Rugo, waiting for her response.