From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The majestic palace walls stood silently before Yan Rugo, like a giant beast.

The vermilion palace gates seemed to her like a bottomless abyss, ready to devour anyone who dared to approach, inspiring fear in everyone.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the unease in her heart, and stepped into the palace gate step by step.

The floor was made of smooth white marble bricks, and each step made a crisp sound that echoed in the silent palace, making it seem even more spacious.

The ornate carvings and painted rafters, the magnificent gold and jade decorations, did not bring her joy. Instead, they made her even more nervous, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her palms.

She looked around.

Upon arriving at the Shangyi Bureau, a faint sandalwood scent filled the air, yet it couldn't mask a sense of oppression.

Granny Sun stood before the group of young ladies-in-waiting, her face stern, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes as deep as if carved by a knife, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Yan Rugo, her tone cold and hard: "Miss Yan, I've heard you're quite famous in the capital, so you must be an expert in etiquette. Why don't you demonstrate how to perform the Wanfu salute first?"

Yan Rugo's heart sank; this was clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.

She observed her surroundings discreetly and, sure enough, saw a barely perceptible sneer curl at the corner of Lin Xiunü's lips.

She took a deep breath and was about to step forward when Granny Sun spoke again: "I heard that Miss Yan comes from a family of military officers. I suppose her manners as a young lady of a prominent family are a hodgepodge? If she offends someone important, she could lose her head!"

That old woman has a really sharp tongue!

Yan Rugo cursed inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, only smiling slightly: "Granny is right, Rugo will do her best." She bit her lip, but her eyes were unusually firm.

A spirit of never giving up ignited within her.

“Very well,” Granny Sun said with a forced smile, “let me take a good look.” Her sharp eyes were fixed on Yan Rugo, as if trying to see right through her…

Yan Rugo curtsied, her lotus-like steps light and graceful, every gesture exuding elegance.

She meticulously completed the Wanfu ceremony following the system prompts.

Every movement was just right, neither deliberate nor perfunctory, but as natural and fluid as if it were innate.

After finishing, she stood there calmly, her eyes sparkling and a faint smile playing on her lips, awaiting Granny Sun's evaluation.

Granny Sun, who had been waiting to see a joke, was so surprised that her jaw almost dropped.

Even a concubine who had been immersed in the palace for many years might not have been able to make this set of auspicious gifts so perfectly.

This girl was clearly faking it before!

She stared wide-eyed, as if trying to see right through Yan Rugo.

The surrounding women were stunned. The whispers that had been going on instantly disappeared, replaced by gasps of astonishment.

Lin Xiunü was so jealous that her face turned green. She pinched her palms so hard that her nails almost dug into her flesh.

"Perfect!" A crisp voice broke the silence.

The young women looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman dressed in gorgeous clothes walking slowly towards them with an appreciative smile on her face.

"Your Majesty the Empress!" Granny Sun hurriedly bowed, and the other young ladies-in-waiting also knelt down.

"I am very satisfied with Miss Yan's manners." The Empress walked up to Yan Rugo and carefully examined her. "Raise your head."

Yan Rugo raised her head as instructed, her gaze clear and neither humble nor arrogant.

"What a beautiful young woman!" The Empress nodded in satisfaction. "Reward her!"

Meanwhile, outside the palace, in a secluded teahouse, the male protagonist, Xu, was anxiously awaiting news.

He paced back and forth, sometimes looking towards the palace gate, sometimes bowing his head in thought, his slender fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

"Ge'er, you must be safe and sound." He murmured softly, his mind filled with memories of his time with Yan Rugo.

The fleeting glimpse of beauty at first sight, the laughter and joy shared while together, the reluctance to part...

He stood up abruptly, his eyes fixed firmly on the direction of the palace. "Wait for me, I will definitely come out for you!"

As night fell, the young women returned to their rooms to rest.

In the palace where the imperial concubines resided, Lin Xiunu looked at the sleeping Yan Rugo, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes...

She slowly reached out her hand...

It was late at night, and all the other young ladies-in-waiting had fallen asleep, except for Lin, who was still awake, her eyes darting around.

She tiptoed to Yan Rugo's bedside, like a cat in the dark, without making a sound.

Lin Xiunü took a handkerchief embroidered with orchids from Yan Rugo's pillow. This handkerchief was a token of love given to Yan Rugo by the male protagonist Xu, and Lin Xiunü naturally recognized it.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips as she turned and walked towards the door.

In the corridor, dim yellow lanterns swayed, casting dappled light and shadow.

After confirming that no one was around, Lin Xiunü casually tossed the handkerchief at the entrance of Consort Li's palace.

The handkerchief fluttered to the ground, appearing particularly jarring in the quiet night.

"Oh dear, whose handkerchief is this?" The next morning, a palace maid serving Consort Li discovered the handkerchief and exclaimed in surprise.

The surrounding young women came running at the sound, and when they saw the handkerchief embroidered with orchids, they immediately erupted in a frenzy.

They had all seen Yan Rugo use this handkerchief before, and its appearance at the entrance of Consort Li's palace now carried an unspoken meaning.

"Yan Rugo, how dare you!" Consort Li stormed up to Yan Rugo, pointing at the handkerchief on the ground. "You actually tried to seduce the Emperor!"

Yan Rugo feigned surprise: "Consort Li, I didn't put this handkerchief there on purpose."

"If it wasn't you, then who else could it be but me?" Consort Li sneered. "This handkerchief is clearly yours; are you still trying to deny it?"

Yan Rugo smiled calmly and pointed to an orchid by the window: "Your Majesty, please look, the orchid on this handkerchief is exactly the same as this one. It must have been the windy night before that blew my handkerchief off the window and it just happened to land at the entrance of Your Majesty's palace."

Consort Li followed her gaze and indeed saw an orchid by the window, exactly the same as the one on the handkerchief.

She was skeptical, but unable to find any other evidence, she could only snort coldly: "I'll let you off this time, but if this happens again, I will not let you off lightly!"

Lin Xiunü hid in the crowd, stamping her feet in anger. How could Yan Rugo be so lucky!

As night fell again, Yan Rugo returned to her room, ready to rest, when Eunuch Zhao brought her a snack.

"Miss Yan, this is a gift from Her Majesty the Empress," said Eunuch Zhao with a smile.

Yan Rugo looked at the exquisite pastries, but a hint of doubt arose in her heart.

Why did the Empress suddenly bestow snacks upon them?

She took the pastry, sniffed it gently, and a peculiar aroma wafted towards her...

“This…” Yan Rugo paused, “Thank you, sir.”

After Eunuch Zhao left, Yan Rugo looked at the pastries, her gaze flickering uncertainly...

The room was silent, save for the soft sound of her breathing…

"system……"