From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

As night fell, the border military camp was completely silent.

Yan Ruyu stood at the entrance of the tent, her wary gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

She keenly sensed the hidden hostility lurking in Deputy General Zhang's heart and became secretly on guard.

On the surface, Deputy General Zhang was all smiles, but a barely perceptible hint of malice flickered in his deep eyes.

Every time their eyes met, Yan Ruyu felt uneasy.

"Master Xu, just you wait!" Deputy General Zhang muttered to himself, hiding in a corner of the tent, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh.

Yan Ruyu sensed a dangerous signal from his words, but she did not immediately complain to General Li or confront Deputy General Zhang directly.

She knew that direct confrontation would only escalate the conflict, and ultimately she and Xu would be the ones to suffer.

At this moment, the male protagonist was talking with the soldiers, with a gentle smile on his face, completely unaware that danger was quietly approaching.

A sense of responsibility arose in Yan Ruyu's heart, and she decided to resolve the crisis in an unexpected way.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the tents and onto the ground.

Yan Ruyu specifically sought out Deputy General Zhang, carrying a small basket filled with local specialties from her hometown—sweet candied fruit and mellow tea cakes.

She took a deep breath and walked forward with a smile.

“Deputy General Zhang, this is a specialty from my hometown. I hope you will try it. We are all fighting for the same goal. I hope we can unite as one and overcome these difficult times together,” Yan Ruyu said sincerely, her voice gentle yet firm.

Deputy General Zhang took the basket, a look of surprise and confusion on his face.

He hadn't expected Yan Ruyu to resolve the conflict in this way.

Her sincerity caught him off guard, and his hostility seemed to soften at that moment.

He paused slightly,

The curious gazes of the surrounding soldiers turned to them, some whispering among themselves, while others cast approving glances.

Yan Ruyu's actions not only dispelled Deputy General Zhang's hostility but also earned him respect and trust within the army.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Yan," Deputy General Zhang said, his voice stiff, but he still managed a forced smile. "I hope we can truly unite as one and work together to protect this land."

Yan Ruyu nodded slightly, but remained vigilant.

She knew this was just the first step; the real test was yet to come.

"Ruyu, come quickly!" Miss Zhao called out from not far away.

Yan Ruyu's heart stirred, and she turned to walk towards Miss Zhao, a feeling creeping into her heart that things might be getting more and more interesting...

Yan Ruyu followed Miss Zhao through a hidden path and arrived at a desolate canyon.

Deep within the canyon lies a huge cave, its entrance concealed by dense vines, making it difficult to spot without careful observation.

"This is it!" Miss Zhao pointed to the cave, her voice tinged with excitement.

Yan Ruyu parted the vines, and a musty smell wafted out. The cave was dark and damp, and piles of grain and supplies could be vaguely seen.

"My God! This is a treasure trove!" Yan Ruyu exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise, as if she had discovered a new continent.

These supplies are enough to sustain the army for several months, which is sufficient to solve the immediate crisis.

When the news reached the ears of corrupt officials, they were all terrified, their faces turning ashen and cold sweat pouring down their backs.

They originally thought they were getting away with it, but they never expected that Yan Ruyu, this "little girl," would discover them.

They were like ants on a hot pan, frantically running around in circles, not knowing what to do.

Yan Ruyu reported this matter to General Li, who was overjoyed and looked at Yan Ruyu with admiration.

"Miss Yan is truly a remarkable woman! We owe you so much this time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable," General Li said excitedly, his voice filled with gratitude.

Yan Ruyu smiled modestly, but secretly felt pleased with herself.

Meanwhile, Xu, the male protagonist, who was far away in the military camp, received a letter from Yan Ruyu.

He carefully unfolded the letter and read it word by word, a happy smile gradually appearing on his face.

In the letter, Yan Ruyu expressed her longing for him and offered him encouragement.

Xu, the male protagonist, seemed to be able to feel Yan Ruyu's gentleness and care, and his heart was filled with warmth.

He recalled the moments they spent together, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his face.

The soldiers around Xu cast teasing glances at him when they saw his appearance.

"Hey, Young Master Xu, are you missing your wife?" a soldier teased.

The male protagonist was not annoyed, but simply smiled and shook his head, then treasured the letter.

In the stillness of the night, General Li stood before the map, his brow furrowed, lost in thought.

"It seems our tactics need adjusting..." he muttered to himself, his gaze falling on a certain spot on the map, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes...

General Li's eyes were sharp as he stared intently at the winding mountain range on the map, his fingers tapping heavily on the table.

"Pass down the order: the entire army shall advance westward and strike straight at the enemy's stronghold!" His tone was firm and brooked no argument.

Sun, the strategist, frowned, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "General, the terrain to the west is complex, easy to defend but difficult to attack. I believe this move is too risky, perhaps..."

"No need for further discussion!" General Li rudely interrupted strategist Sun. "My mind is made up, there is no need for further discussion!" His tone was harsh, his face full of impatience, as if any objection would be an offense to him.

Sun, the strategist, sighed helplessly, his eyes filled with anxiety, but he dared not say anything more.

The surrounding generals looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound, for fear of angering General Li.

Seeing this, Yan Ruyu sighed inwardly, stepped forward, and gracefully bowed, saying, "General, what Strategist Sun said is not without reason. The terrain to the west is complex, and a hasty attack might be unwise. It would be better to send a small force to harass the enemy first, and then make a decision after we have ascertained their situation." Her voice was clear and her tone was neither humble nor arrogant. She skillfully combined the opinions of General Li and Strategist Sun, proposing a more prudent plan.

Upon hearing this, General Li's brows gradually relaxed. "Miss Yan is quite right. It was my oversight," he said with a hearty laugh, his anger dissipating considerably.

Sun, the strategist, glanced gratefully at Yan Ruyu, and the surrounding generals nodded in approval, admiring Yan Ruyu's wisdom and courage.

Just as the army was preparing to conduct drills according to the new tactics, a dark mass suddenly appeared on the horizon, surging in like a tide.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" Deafening shouts of battle shattered the brief silence.

The enemy's strength and equipment far exceeded expectations; their banners blotted out the sun, and their weapons were like a forest, as if they were about to devour everything.

Without hesitation, Xu drew his sword, mounted his horse, and shouted, "Soldiers, follow me to kill the enemy!" His gaze was firm and he was brave and fearless as he charged into the battlefield like a bolt of lightning.

Yan Ruyu stood on the high ground, watching the departing Xu male protagonist, her heart filled with worry.

"You must come back safely..." she murmured to herself, clutching the handkerchief in her hand tightly until her knuckles turned white.

In the distance, dust billowed and battle cries shook the heavens; a great battle was about to erupt...

The drums thundered, warhorses neighed, and banners fluttered in the wind...

Yan Ruyu gazed at the distant battlefield shrouded in smoke, silently thinking, "Everything will be alright..." Her voice was soft, yet full of strength.