From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Young Master Hua waved his folding fan and said in a sarcastic tone, "Miss Yan, your poem is quite good, but I feel like I've heard something similar before. Could it be... that you borrowed from the work of some famous author?" He deliberately emphasized the word "borrowed," his eyes full of sarcasm, clearly accusing Yan Rugo of plagiarism.

The whispers around her were like the buzzing of mosquitoes, and Yan Rugo felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She quickly glanced at Madam Qin not far away, only to find that the woman's originally gentle gaze now held a hint of inquiry.

You scoundrel, Young Master Hua, you actually dare to smear my reputation in front of Madam Qin!

Yan Rugo took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

She smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling with a clear light, as if she didn't take Hua Gongzi's provocation seriously at all.

“Young Master Hua is truly knowledgeable and erudite. May I ask which master I have ‘borrowed’ from? Why don’t you tell us and let everyone judge?” Her tone was gentle, yet it concealed a sharp edge, like a needle hidden in cotton, leaving Young Master Hua speechless for a moment.

The air seemed to freeze, and the surrounding guests held their breath, waiting to see what would happen.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Young Master Hua's forehead, his eyes flickered, and he stammered, "This... I can't quite remember right now, it just sounds familiar..."

At this moment, Master Bai, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke. He stroked his white beard, his eyes sharp: "Young Master Hua, without solid evidence, you shouldn't slander others so easily. Poetry is all about inspiration and talent; similarities are inevitable. Besides, Miss Yan's poem has a novel theme and perfect meter; it's definitely not plagiarism." Master Bai was a highly respected figure, and his words were undoubtedly a wake-up call for Young Master Hua.

Those around him nodded in agreement, making no attempt to hide their disdain for Young Master Hua.

Young Master Hua's face flushed red, like a punctured balloon, and he stood there awkwardly, caught in a dilemma.

Yan Rugo's lips curled slightly upward, and she was about to speak when she heard the melodious sound of bells ringing out...

The melodious chimes echoed throughout the poetry gathering hall, like heavenly music, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

Yan Rugo's heart tightened; she knew the final round of the competition was about to begin.

She took a deep breath and scanned her surroundings with a determined look, seeing Madam Qin, Master Bai, and the other nobles watching her expectantly.

"Young Master Hua, thank you for your reminder. It has made me pay more attention to every detail in this competition." Yan Rugo smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

She turned to face Master Bai and bowed gently. "Master Bai, please reveal the question for the final round of the competition."

Master Bai stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction: "Miss Yan, you are indeed clever. The topic of the final round of the competition is—to compose a poem on the theme of 'Autumn' within the time limit of one incense stick's burning. The content is not limited."

Yan Rugo calmly walked to the center of the room, picked up a piece of paper, and held up a pen, the pen tip dancing lightly on the paper.

In her mind, the knowledge provided by the system flowed out like a spring, each word seemingly radiating its own light.

Her fingers glide gently across the paper, as if creating a beautiful painting.

Before long, a poem appeared on the paper.

"The autumn wind rises, white clouds fly, grass and trees turn yellow and fall, wild geese fly south. Jade dew condenses into frost, the cold night is long, golden chrysanthemums bloom and fill clothes with fragrance. Mountains are high and waters are long, thoughts are endless, time is like a dream and feelings are hard to go against. I only wish that we may live long and share the beauty of the moon, even though we are thousands of miles apart." Yan Rugo's clear voice echoed in the hall, each word like pearls falling on a jade plate, intoxicating.

Upon hearing this, Master Bai's eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, "What a fine poem! What a fine poem! Miss Yan's poem is fluent in its meter and profound in its meaning. It is a masterpiece worthy of being passed down through the ages!" As soon as he finished speaking, applause rang out from all around, and everyone nodded in agreement, admiring Yan Rugo's talent to the point of prostration.

Miss Su's face was as gloomy as a dark cloud. She bit her lip, clenched her fists, and her eyes were full of jealousy and annoyance.

Hua Gongzi's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with resentment. He lowered his head, not daring to look directly into Yan Rugo's gaze.

The male protagonist, Xu, stood to the side, his gaze never leaving Yan Rugo.

His eyes were filled with pride and love, as if she were the only person in the whole world.

He stepped forward, took her hand, and said softly, "Ru Ge, I'm so proud of you." Yan Ru Ge smiled sweetly and leaned happily on Xu Nan Zhu's shoulder, while the surrounding guests cast envious and blessing glances.

Just then, Young Master Shao walked over with a smile and patted Xu on the shoulder: "Brother Xu, you are truly a match made in heaven! You two are a perfect couple!" Xu smiled slightly, but his gaze never left Yan Rugo.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Ruge, let's go see Madam Qin. Are you ready?"

Yan Rugo nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. She released Xu Nanzhu's hand and walked towards Madam Qin.

The glory and happiness she had just experienced seemed to transform into a driving force, propelling her towards a new journey.

Yan Rugo took a deep breath and walked firmly toward Madam Qin.

Her expression was sincere and earnest, her eyes sparkling as if she were proving her determination and courage to the whole world.

She approached Madam Qin, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Madam Qin, it is truly an honor to meet you at this poetry gathering today. Although Ruge's learning is shallow, her love for poetry is undiminished, and she hopes to receive your guidance."

Madam Qin smiled slightly, her eyes shining with a kind light, like a gentle spring breeze.

She nodded, her tone calm and friendly: "Miss Yan, your talent has truly impressed me. In the realm of poetry, sincerity and emotion are paramount. The poem you composed today is not only metrically perfect but also deeply moving. I would like to befriend you and hope to explore the wonders of poetry with you." After she finished speaking, she gently patted Yan Rugo's hand, appearing exceptionally kind.

The surrounding guests witnessed this scene and cast surprised and admiring glances at them.

Young Master Hua and Miss Su looked even uglier, like wilted eggplants, and stood there dejectedly, not daring to utter another word of provocation.

Yan Rugo was in an extremely pleasant mood. The glory and joy in her heart were like the spring sunshine shining on her, making her radiant.

After the poetry recital, Yan Rugo became the focus of everyone's attention.

Those who had previously made things difficult for her left in a sorry state, as if driven away by an invisible force.

She stood in the center of the hall, and everyone congratulated her, smiles on everyone's faces, filling the entire hall with a joyful atmosphere.

However, amidst this joy, Yan Rugo suddenly felt a note in her hand.

Her heart tightened. She opened the note and saw threatening words written on it: "Yan Rugo, don't be too smug. Your good days won't last long." A sense of unease welled up in her heart, but she quickly calmed down. She looked up and around. There seemed to be a gaze coldly staring at her from the crowd, but it quickly disappeared into the sea of ​​people.

"No matter who it is, I, Yan Rugo, will not back down!" Her gaze was firm, as if she were issuing a silent declaration of war against the hidden opponent.