From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Rugo walked out of the banquet hall. The night breeze brushed against her cheeks, bringing a touch of coolness, but it couldn't dispel the lingering unease in her heart.

Just when I thought the farce was over, I heard a series of suppressed whispers as soon as I turned the corner of the corridor.

"Do you think Yan Rugo really didn't do it on purpose? I have a feeling she deliberately set up Aunt Zhao so she could get away with it."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! She's a celebrity now, what if she hears us..."

"What are you afraid of? We didn't say anything wrong! Aunt Zhao has always been arrogant and domineering, so why did something happen to her today? And why did Yan Rugo have to find out? What a coincidence!"

These words pierced Yan Rugo's ears like needles. She took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in her heart.

Really speechless!

Is it possible that my good intentions have backfired and I've been labeled as scheming?

This generation of netizens is so hard to please!

Just as she was about to turn around and leave this place of trouble, she saw Guard Wang walk over with a serious expression and block her way.

“Miss Yan, there are still some doubts about Aunt Zhao’s matter. Could you please come with me again?” Guard Wang’s tone was businesslike, devoid of any emotion.

Yan Rugo felt a headache coming on; how could the plot have such a twist?

She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and forced a smile: "Guard Wang, I've explained this many times today..."

“I know, but there are some details that you need to explain in more detail, young lady.” Guard Wang remained unmoved, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Yan Rugo sneered inwardly. It seemed that someone behind this was trying to make things difficult for her!

She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and said in a calm tone, "Alright, Guard Wang, please lead the way."

The two walked one after the other in the silent corridor, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed to drip water.

Reaching a secluded corner, Guard Wang suddenly stopped, turned to look at Yan Rugo, and said in a deep voice, "Miss Yan..."

Just as Guard Wang was about to speak, a series of clear footsteps approached from afar, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Xu Linfeng walked slowly, holding a book in his hand. The moonlight cast a soft halo on him, making him look even more handsome and dashing, like a celestial being descended to earth.

He smiled slightly, handed the book to Guard Wang, and said with a hint of mockery, "Guard Wang, you should take a close look at this evidence."

The guard, puzzled, took the document. It detailed Zhao Yiniang's movements on the night of the banquet, as well as the testimonies of her maids. Each item was clear and pointed directly to the truth that Zhao Yiniang had orchestrated the whole thing.

The evidence is conclusive and beyond dispute.

Guard Wang's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red. He scratched his head awkwardly, glanced at Yan Rugo, and quickly clasped his hands in apology: "Miss Yan, I was impetuous and misunderstood you. Please forgive me."

Yan Rugo looked at Xu Linfeng and felt a warm current surge in her heart. This kid is quite reliable in critical moments.

She gave Xu Linfeng a grateful look, a slight smile playing on her lips, and thought to herself: You've got a conscience, kid.

Just when Yan Rugo thought the storm was finally about to pass, a pair of shifty eyes gleamed in the shadows. It was Zhao Yiniang's trusted maid, Xiao Cui. She crouched low, moving like a ghost through every corner of the mansion, muttering to herself and spreading unsettling rumors: "Have you heard? That jinx Yan Rugo killed her own parents, and now she's coming to bring misfortune to our household! She's a cursed person; sooner or later she'll bring us disaster!"

These words spread like wildfire. The servants in the mansion began to whisper among themselves, and their gazes toward Yan Rugo became complicated, filled with fear and suspicion.

Hearing these slanderous words, Yan Rugo was so angry that she almost spat out a mouthful of blood. This Aunt Zhao is truly a persistent ghost!

She clenched her fists, ready to roll up her sleeves and have a good argument with them.

At this moment, she noticed that the little maid beside her was looking at her with a terrified expression and had quietly taken a few steps back, as if she were a plague god.

Yan Rugo felt a chill run down her spine. She took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart.

Instead of rushing to defend herself as usual, she turned and walked toward Madam Li's residence.

Yan Rugo walked straight to Madam Li's courtyard. As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Madam Li sitting upright, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, with a solemn expression.

Hearing footsteps, Madam Li looked up, her gaze falling on Yan Rugo with a hint of doubt, a hint of inquiry, and even more so, a sense of unfathomable surprise.

She put down her prayer beads, picked up her teacup, her movements elegant and slow, as if waiting for Yan Rugo to continue.

Yan Rugo straightened her back, her clear eyes sparkling with determination, and a confident smile appeared on her lips.

“Madam,” her voice was clear and firm, as if it could pierce through the fog, “though I am of humble birth, I have a sincere heart. I disdain to argue with those rumors and gossips; I would rather prove my worth with my actions. I wish to do something great for the manor to set the record straight!”

Upon hearing this, the surrounding maids exchanged bewildered glances, their whispers abruptly ceasing, their curious gazes enveloping Yan Rugo like an impenetrable net.

They couldn't understand why this usually unremarkable maid was suddenly so confident.

So bold?

Yan Rugo smiled calmly and took out an account book from her sleeve. This was a small trick for managing the mansion's accounts, which the system had simulated and calculated in her mind.

She handed it to Madam Li and said sincerely, "Madam, these are some suggestions I have compiled regarding the financial management of the mansion. I can try them out for a period of time. If they are not effective, you may decide what to do with them."

Madam Li took the account book and carefully flipped through it.

At first, she had a hint of doubt on her face, but as she read on, her surprise was gradually replaced by delight.

She looked up, her eyes filled with admiration.

“Ruge,” her voice softened, “your method of managing accounts is truly ingenious! If it can be applied, it will surely bring many benefits to the manor.”

The servants who had been gossiping behind his back were now dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at what was happening before their eyes.

They never expected that Yan Rugo, whom they regarded as a jinx, was so unassuming. Not only was she not defeated by the rumors, but she also took this opportunity to rise to power.

From then on, Yan Rugo's status in the mansion began to undergo a dramatic change.

The servants no longer dared to underestimate her; instead, they felt more awe and curiosity towards her, as if she were shrouded in a mysterious halo that made people hesitant to approach her.

Just when Yan Rugo thought she was gradually taking control of the situation, an anonymous letter folded into a paper crane suddenly appeared on her dressing table.

She unfolded the letter and saw a line written in delicate handwriting: "Your identity is about to be revealed. Be careful."

Yan Rugo was startled, a chill running from her feet to the top of her head. She looked up sharply and looked around warily. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and even the sound of the wind rustling the leaves seemed particularly jarring.

She clutched the note tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white, her mind in turmoil, yet she dared not reveal a word of it.

She didn't know who this mysterious person was, nor what his purpose was.

But she knew that a new crisis was quietly approaching, and she had to deal with it carefully.

Yan Ru, the singer, clutched the anonymous note tightly, her heart pounding with panic...