The morning sun filtered through the latticed windows, gilding the polished floorboards with pale light. The mansion stirred awake: servants bustling, porcelain clinking, distant voices rising.
Lin Xueya stood in line with the other maids, broom in hand, ears drooping in practiced meekness.
Head Maid Bai Ronghua paced before them, her fox tail swishing elegantly behind her, eyes sharp as daggers.
"Today," she announced, "the Madam will host the wives of two visiting officials. The halls must shine. The porcelain must gleam. And the servants—" Her gaze lingered on Xueya with deliberate slowness. "—must not embarrass this household."
The maids tittered softly. Mei Yun smirked behind her hand. Shu Ling gave Xueya an apologetic glance.
Xueya lowered her gaze. "Yes, Head Maid."
But Bai Ronghua wasn't finished.
"You." She flicked her finger at Xueya. "You'll polish the jade vases in the Master's study. Alone. If a single scratch appears, you'll be stripped of uniform and sent to the kennels. Understood?"
The room stilled.
Gasps escaped the other maids. Even Mei Yun's smile faltered for a heartbeat. The jade vases were priceless relics, said to be gifts from the sect elders. Polishing them was a responsibility entrusted only to the most trusted maids.
For Bai Ronghua to give that task to a new servant—it wasn't a reward. It was a snare.
Xueya bowed low, ears trembling just enough to look convincing. "Yes, Head Maid."
---
The Master's study was a cavern of lacquered wood and ancient incense, shelves groaning under scrolls and ornaments. In the center stood the vases: towering, carved jade vessels that shimmered faintly with spiritual luster.
Xueya approached with the cloth in hand, her breath slow, steady.
She wants me to fail. To panic. To show clumsy hands and shatter something irreplaceable.
Her lips curled faintly.
But I don't panic anymore.
She dipped the cloth into scented water, wrung it carefully, then began wiping the vase in slow, steady strokes.
The system chimed softly in her vision.
> [Task Generated: Polish the jade vase with care.]
[Reward: +1 Dexterity, +1 Grace.]
Her hand steadied, movements fluid. She varied her grip, polished in circles, then in long sweeps, testing.
> [+1 Dexterity.]
[+1 Perception.]
Perfect. Even here, progress.
She worked diligently, masking her satisfaction behind a face of nervous focus.
But she wasn't alone.
A faint creak behind her—Bai Ronghua, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, a sly smile tugging her lips.
"Well, well," she drawled. "The rabbit hasn't broken anything yet. Impressive. For someone with paws."
Xueya ducked her head. "I—I'm trying my best, Head Maid."
"Trying?" Bai stepped closer, heels clicking softly. "Trying isn't enough. Perfection, little rabbit. That's the standard here. If you falter, even once, the Madam will see to it personally that you're punished."
Her tone was sweet poison, designed to rattle.
Xueya bowed lower. "Yes, Head Maid."
But her hands never faltered. The vase gleamed brighter with every stroke, its carved patterns catching the sunlight like living jade.
Bai's eyes narrowed.
"Hmm. Perhaps I was wrong." She leaned closer, her fox ears twitching. "Maybe you do have some use, after all. Tell me—where did you learn such delicate movements? Surely not in the gutter where you were found."
The question was a knife.
The other maids had drifted closer, peeking curiously from the hall. Mei Yun's eyes glittered with amusement. Shu Ling bit her lip, nervous for Xueya.
All eyes pressed in.
Xueya paused, cloth in hand, then lifted her gaze just enough to meet Bai Ronghua's.
Her lips curved into the faintest smile.
"I suppose… rabbits are simply good at being gentle."
Laughter bubbled from the hallway—suppressed giggles at the meek but clever reply.
Bai Ronghua's smile froze.
Her fox tail flicked sharply, betraying her irritation.
She leaned down, voice dropping to a whisper only Xueya could hear. "Careful, little rabbit. Clever tongues get cut in this mansion."
Xueya bowed deeply, hiding her expression. "Of course, Head Maid."
Inside, her thoughts burned.
Strike me down if you can. But every cloth I move, every bow I make… brings me closer to the day when your fox tail won't be high enough to look down on me.
The vase shimmered, flawless, in the morning light.
And for the first time, Bai Ronghua felt the faintest prickle of unease.