**[Triggered Hidden Quest: Trial of the Plaything]**
**[Quest Content: As a Demon Concubine who charms all living beings, how can you not make good use of the obsession of those around you? Please use the props provided by Xiao Tao to carry out a punishment befitting a plaything. Requirement: Cause at least minor pain, and maintain your dignity as a Demon Concubine.]**
**[Quest Reward: Assistance Points: 5, Game Coins: 50, Special Item: Discipliner’s Pity (Using this will slightly increase the obedience of specific NPCs).]**
**[Failure Penalty: Xiao Tao’s favorability will drop significantly, potentially losing her as a helper; the Demon Concubine’s dignity will be damaged.]**
‘Five assistance points, fifty game coins!’
Luo Tiantian’s eyes sparkled. ‘I’ll do it!’
“Ahem…”
Luo Tiantian cleared her throat. “Since you seek punishment so sincerely, I shall grant your wish.”
Xiao Tao breathed heavily, as if she had received some grand blessing. She held the props out even further, her body trembling slightly with excitement.
Luo Tiantian reached out and first picked up the short leather whip.
It felt flexible, and the whip itself was very thin. ‘If I hit her once, it shouldn’t hurt too much, right?’
She then looked at the thick, short red candle.
‘How do I use this? Do I light it and drip the wax?’
Whatever, she would start with the whip.
“Lie down.”
Xiao Tao obediently turned around and lay prostrate on the ground, leaving her back completely exposed. Beneath the thin fabric of her maid uniform, the silhouette of her slender spine was faintly visible.
She even went as far as pressing her cheek against the cold, rough ground, looking completely submissive.
Luo Tiantian gripped the whip tightly and whispered to herself, ‘This is for points, for game coins, for Mother Si, and for survival…’
She raised her hand and brought the whip down on Xiao Tao’s back without much force.
*Snap!*
A soft sound rang out.
Xiao Tao’s body trembled slightly, and she let out a short, muffled groan. Her breathing became noticeably more rapid.
**[Demon Concubine’s dignity is being maintained…]**
“Does it hurt?” Luo Tiantian asked, feigning indifference.
“It doesn’t hurt… Your Highness is too merciful…” Xiao Tao’s voice sounded almost disappointed. “Please, Your Highness… hit me harder…”
Luo Tiantian’s lip twitched.
‘This NPC has quite high standards.’
She raised the whip again, this time adding a bit more strength.
*Snap! Snap!*
Two more strikes.
Xiao Tao’s body tensed. This time, the sound she made was more distinct, carrying a hint of pain mixed with satisfaction.
Luo Tiantian stopped the whipping and leaned over to pick up the red candle from the ground.
“How is this used?”
Seeing the red candle in Luo Tiantian’s hand, Xiao Tao’s cheeks grew even redder. She averted her eyes and replied, “To answer Your Highness, it needs to be lit… and then… dripped…”
Luo Tiantian understood, her own cheeks flushing a deep red. She felt around in her robes—it turned out the game character actually carried a Fire Starter Stick.
With trembling hands, she attempted to light the red candle.
However, she was too nervous.
Her hand shook, and the sparks from the Fire Starter Stick missed the wick, brushing against her own finger instead.
“Yipe!”
Stung by the pain, Luo Tiantian let out a soft cry and instinctively loosened her grip.
The lit red candle, now carrying a small flame, fell straight down.
By some freak coincidence, it landed right near Xiao Tao’s upturned buttocks.
“Ahhh!!!”
A blood-curdling scream erupted!
Xiao Tao sprang up from the ground like a cat that had its tail stepped on. Clutching the area burned by the candle, tears streamed down her face as she hopped and screamed in place.
“It’s hot! It’s so hot! Your Highness! I’m on fire! I’m on fire, ahhh!”
The unlucky candle rolled onto the floor, its flame quickly extinguishing, but it left a charred mark on the thin fabric of the maid’s uniform.
Luo Tiantian: “…”
**[Hidden Quest: Trial of the Plaything — Completed.]**
**[Quest Evaluation: F (An extremely terrible accident, but it did cause pain and maintained the unpredictable, moody dignity of a Demon Concubine.)]**
**[Rewards Issued: Assistance Points: 5, Game Coins: 50. Special Item: Discipliner’s Pity (Effect: After use, the target NPC’s obedience will increase slightly, but it may be accompanied by fear and psychological trauma.)]**
‘This F evaluation… System, are you mocking me?’
“Your Highness…”
Xiao Tao finally managed to catch her breath. She looked at Luo Tiantian with teary eyes, her backside still throbbing with pain. “Your servant… your servant knows her mistake. I won’t dare to do it again… Please, Your Highness, spare me…”
The obsession and longing that had filled her eyes before were now replaced by genuine fear and lingering dread.
The candle had burned her senses back into her. She was a normal person now.
Luo Tiantian coughed awkwardly. “Ahem. It’s good that you’ve learned your lesson. This was… ahem, a small warning. Lead the way.”
“Yes… Yes!”
Xiao Tao didn’t dare mention rewards again. Clutching her smarting backside, she continued to lead the way with a limp.
Luo Tiantian followed, looking at Xiao Tao’s slightly comical figure as she limped along. She couldn’t help but press a hand to her forehead.
Making money really wasn’t easy. Especially this kind of “technical” work.
***
After walking for about fifteen minutes, the surrounding palaces became noticeably dilapidated and desolate.
Finally, Xiao Tao stopped before a Moon Gate covered in withered vines.
“Your Highness, it should be here.”
Luo Tiantian pushed the door open and entered.
The room was slightly cleaner than the Woodshed. There was a simple wooden bed where Mother Si sat, needle and thread in hand, seemingly mending an old garment.
Hearing the movement, she looked up. When she saw Luo Tiantian, her cloudy eyes brightened for a moment before being clouded by worry once more.
“Si’er, why are you here again!” She hurriedly put down her sewing and tried to stand, but she wobbled due to her weakness.
Luo Tiantian rushed forward to support her. “Mother, slow down. I came here secretly. The King isn’t here.”
“This is nonsense! It’s too dangerous! If someone reports this to the King, how will I live!”
Mother Si’s eyes were full of heartache and fear. She had seen the King’s forceful, possessive manner when he carried Bao Si away the day before. In this deep palace, her daughter was nothing more than a plaything in the palm of a monarch. One wrong step could lead to eternal damnation.
“Mother, I’m doing well. The King… he treats me quite well.” Luo Tiantian forced a smile, using the excuse she had prepared earlier. “See? Am I not perfectly fine? I can even come to see you. Just focus on recovering here. Getting your health back is more important than anything.”
She looked around. Although this room was better than the Woodshed, it was still cold and damp, which was bad for a patient’s recovery. The bedding was also thin and worn.
“Mother, wait a moment.” Luo Tiantian stood up and walked outside. She told Xiao Tao to prepare some firewood later, then found several relatively flat stones and returned to the room.
“Si’er, what are you doing?” Mother Si asked, puzzled.
“I’m going to make a fire pit. It’s too damp in here.” Luo Tiantian rolled up her sleeves and began stacking the stones and piling up dry branches.
When she lived in the countryside with her grandfather, she used to start the fire herself every morning using flint.
She struck the Fire Starter Stick and lit the dry branches. The dancing flames dispelled the chill in the room and illuminated Mother Si’s face, which was filled with worry and maternal love.
“Is it warmer now?” Luo Tiantian wiped the dust off her hands, a small look of pride on her face.
“You child…” Seeing Luo Tiantian’s cheeks slightly blackened by smoke and her dirty sleeves, Mother Si wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. Her heart felt both bitter and warm.
“Mother, don’t always think that you’re a burden to me. You are my mother, the person closest to me in this world. Only when you are well can I feel at peace. Once your health improves, I’ll find a way to ask the King to move you to a better place.”
Luo Tiantian smiled as she held Mother Si’s hand. Even though this was just familial affection within a game, her heart truly fluttered when she remembered Mother Si kowtowing for her and even being willing to die for her.
“Si’er…” Mother Si’s eyes overflowed with tears. She gripped Luo Tiantian’s hand tight, unable to speak for a long time.