Chapter 7: A Delicate Balance

The herbal storeroom was dimly lit, filled with the earthy scent of dried roots and faded parchment. Dust motes danced in the slivers of sunlight that filtered through the small window, casting long shadows over the cluttered shelves stacked with medicinal ingredients.

Xinya stood in the center of the room, her gaze sharp as she meticulously examined the state of the storeroom. The herbs were poorly stored, some spoiled beyond use, others mislabeled or carelessly tossed aside. It was no surprise—Bai Yue had been given the task because no one else wanted it. They thought it was a punishment, a way to keep her out of sight.

But to Xinya, this was an opportunity.

She reached for a bundle of dried ginseng, rubbing the brittle root between her fingers. The texture was wrong—old, degraded. Useless for proper treatment. A small smirk tugged at her lips.

They think I'm helpless. Let them think that for now.

"Miss Bai Yue," came a hesitant voice from behind her.

Xinya turned to see Ah-Liang standing at the door, holding a dusty old ledger in his hands. His round face was filled with nervous energy, as if he wasn't sure whether he should even be speaking to her.

"I found this in one of the back shelves," he said, offering her the book. "It looks like an old inventory record."

Xinya took the book and flipped through its pages. The entries were haphazard and inconsistent—supplies listed in excess when she knew for a fact they were running low. It didn't take long to notice the pattern. Someone had been taking advantage of the storeroom's disorganization to siphon off supplies unnoticed.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "This ledger has been tampered with."

Ah-Liang's eyes widened. "What should we do? Should we report it?"

Xinya closed the book and set it aside. "No."

He blinked in confusion. "But… isn't this important?"

She looked at him, her expression calm but firm. "If we report it now, they'll cover it up and find a way to pin the blame on me. Instead, we'll keep quiet and watch. Sometimes, it's better to let your enemies think they have the upper hand."

Ah-Liang nodded slowly, admiration flickering in his eyes. "You're really smart, Miss Bai Yue."

Xinya chuckled lightly. "People often mistake silence for weakness, Ah-Liang. That's their mistake, not mine."

Over the next few days, Xinya settled into her new routine, moving quietly through the storeroom, organizing the herbs, and taking note of the smallest details. She found discrepancies in the stock almost daily—expensive herbs going missing, while low-quality ones were left untouched.

She observed the movements of the servants carefully, noting who came and went. Some lingered too long, their eyes darting nervously, while others avoided the storeroom entirely. Slowly, a picture was forming in her mind.

Late one afternoon, she stood by the shelves, sorting through a batch of dried lotus seeds when she heard hushed voices outside the storeroom. She instinctively stepped back into the shadows, blending into the dim lighting.

"…the second mistress wants another batch," a voice whispered. "Take it tonight, when no one's watching."

Xinya's eyes narrowed. So it was the second mistress behind the missing supplies.

She listened carefully as the voices faded down the hallway. A plan was already taking shape in her mind.

If she could gather enough evidence, she could turn this to her advantage. She had no intention of exposing the theft outright no, that would be too easy. Instead, she would let them continue their game while she prepared to strike at the perfect moment.

With a quiet smile, she returned to her work. The Bai family thought they had given her a meaningless task. Little did they know, they had just handed her the perfect opportunity to weave her way into the household's affairs.

Patience was key.

And Xinya had plenty of it.