Spring Rises in the Phoenix Pool Chapter 4

The air above the lake was far fresher than the air in it.

That Hua Momo actually wanted to drown her? What a joke.

Since she was a child and could eat on her own, she had been handling all the household chores.

Climbing the mountains to pick mushrooms, chopping firewood, collecting tea seeds, diving for fish and turtles—those were all her specialties.

Xu Yinyin raised her face above the surface, sensing that Hua Momo’s struggles were growing weaker and weaker, until they stopped completely.

A breeze blew in from the shore. She sneezed and was just about to dive back down to retrieve Hua Momo’s body, planning to stage a dramatic “heroic rescue” for everyone to witness.

But as she lifted her eyes, she suddenly spotted a pair of cold, watching eyes from the branches of a banyan tree on the shore.

In that instant, her blood boiled and her mind buzzed.

White jade crown, peach blossom eyes, his pale golden robe glowing faintly under the sunlight—he looked like a deity descended to earth.

Jing Wang, Xiao Yunting!

She knew him.

In her past life, after her leg had been broken, she was thrown into a brothel.

But she refused to accept her fate. On her first night receiving a customer, she killed the man. The madam had wanted her dead, and it was Xiao Yunting who stepped forward, saved her, and asked if she was willing to follow him.

She had nothing left at the time, death just a step away—what reason did she have to refuse?

From then on, she entered Jing Wang’s residence and became one of his death soldiers.

Come to think of it, her proficiency in killing was all thanks to the man before her.

Only this time, they were meeting much earlier than in her past life—and in such a dramatic fashion. It took her a while to steady her emotions.

She calmly met Xiao Yunting’s gaze from the tree branch.

He had seen her kill swiftly and decisively, then panic when she realized there was a witness, and then instantly regain her composure. A glimmer of interest passed through his eyes.

What a promising talent. To find such a ruthless character in a remote village—how rare.

“According to the Great Zhou law, murder must be repaid with life.” Xiao Yunting looked at her with a mocking smile. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

Xu Yinyin sank slightly back into the water, then suddenly smiled faintly at him. “Is that so? If you saw it, then go ahead—report me to the authorities and have me arrested.”

As she spoke, the sound of galloping hooves approached from afar. Xiao Yunting’s expression darkened.

The sound drew rapidly closer.

A horse came to a sudden halt at the lakeside. The rider, a man cloaked in black, scanned the water.

With his whip, he pointed toward Xu Yinyin. “Hey, girl—have you seen a young man in pale gold robes around here?”

Xiao Yunting’s mocking smile vanished. His right hand subtly curled, a hidden weapon at the ready, prepared to slice the girl’s throat if needed.

Killing intent flared—the line between life and death was razor-thin.

Xu Yinyin didn’t even glance at the tree. She shook her head with innocent confusion. “No. I’ve been here all morning. Didn’t see any gentleman.”

The horseman studied the plainly dressed girl—she looked just like any dull-witted village lass.

He quickly made his judgment: a girl like her wouldn’t dare lie. He continued down the road.

Xiao Yunting slowly lowered his right hand, gazing at the girl in the lake with a complicated expression. “Who are you?”

Such boldness. Such sharp instincts.

How could a backwater village produce someone like this?

“Excuse me, move aside!” Xu Yinyin had already dived underwater and was dragging Hua Momo’s body to shore.

Almost there, she paused and looked at Xiao Yunting. “You caught me killing someone; I helped you hide your tracks. We’re even.”

“Now, you can leave. If you stay and someone sees you, you’ll have a hard time explaining.”

Xiao Yunting gave her a deep look. Before leaving, he asked, “What’s your name?”

Xu Yinyin hesitated briefly.

Memories of her past life surfaced. The man before her was like the moon in the sky, a flower in the water—not someone she could ever reach.

They likely wouldn’t cross paths again, either.

She answered firmly, “Just a passing stranger—no name worth remembering.”

Xiao Yunting didn’t press. He left decisively.

As soon as he was gone, people from the Yongping Marquis’ residence and villagers arrived.

Xu Yinyin had already dragged the soaked, pale Hua Momo to a spot closer to shore.

Seeing the others arrive, she started yelling for help while continuing to drag Hua Momo’s body.

Everyone rushed over to assist.

As they pulled Hua Momo onto the bank, a gaudily dressed maid immediately shouted at Xu Yinyin, “Young Miss, you killed Hua Momo!”

It wasn’t a question—it was an accusation.

Xu Yinyin, soaked and shivering from being in the water so long, sneezed several times in a row.

She looked at the maid’s indignant expression and gave a faint smile. “Call the authorities, then.”

…

The people from Yongping Marquis’ household looked at each other in confusion. Why was the young miss reacting so unusually?

They accused her of murder, and she said—go ahead and call the authorities?

The daughter they’d raised for over ten years wasn’t the biological one, and the real one hadn’t even been brought home yet—and already there was a murder case?

If this reached the capital, the Marquis’ household would be a laughingstock.

And the servants wouldn’t be spared either.

That gaudy maid clearly understood this too, eyes wide in disbelief. “Miss, even if you’re the master, you can’t just kill a servant without cause!”

Xu Yinyin gave her a skeptical look. “I haven’t even said anything yet, and you’ve already declared me a murderer. So I said—let’s call the authorities.”

“Now you don’t want to call them, but still insist I’m the killer?”

“You’re more impressive than the Emperor himself! Why are you even working as a servant here? You should be a magistrate!”

The maid was so enraged she could barely speak. “Hua Momo went out with you—then was found dead…”

“Yes.” Xu Yinyin swept her gaze across the servants. “The Village Chief Madam can vouch for me. A maid came running to tell me Hua Momo was looking for me.”

“When I got there, Hua Momo pushed me into the lake from behind.”

“Then she slipped and fell in too. I tried to save her, but she fought like mad.”

The gaudy maid’s face grew uneasy.

Xu Yinyin calmly stared her down. “That’s why I want an investigation. I had no feud with her. Why did she try to kill me? Where did a servant get the nerve to do that?”

So it was Hua Momo who tried to kill Xu Yinyin?

The people of Yongping Marquis’ household had varied expressions.

Xu Yinyin turned to the silent village chief. “Village Chief, please call the authorities. I don’t know who’s trying to keep me from returning to the Marquis’ residence—”

“But these servants? I don’t trust any of them.”

Come on, she thought. They don’t want me going back?

Well then—I’m going back grandly, whether they like it or not!