Spring Rises in the Phoenix Pool Chapter 9

Xu Yinyin kept her head bowed low.

She had originally thought she wouldn’t have a chance to see Xiao Yunting again, but who would’ve expected to run into him again in less than a day.

A faintly amused expression crossed Xiao Yunting’s face.

When he’d first met this little girl, he’d been curious—how could such a place produce someone who could kill so decisively and cleanly?

He hadn’t expected her to be a daughter of the Yongping Marquis Manor.

He chuckled, half-sincerely: “So this is the one I’ve heard about—the little girl from Yongping Marquis Household who went missing?”

Then his smile deepened, a little more meaningful: “How did it end up escalating all the way to the county yamen?”

At the moment, Jing Wang was overseeing an investigation into corruption in the southern grain transport system, and had come to the county office to meet with the county magistrate of Daxing. Given his status, once inside the yamen, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t learn if he wanted to.

Qi Zhen dared not lie. “In response to Your Highness, a disloyal servant dared to act against her mistress and attempted to detain her. That’s why we had to make a trip to the county office.”

He didn’t directly mention that Xu Yinyin was the one who reported the case.

But Xiao Yunting already turned a meaningful glance toward Xu Yinyin.

Xu Yinyin pretended to be timid and kept her head low, refusing to meet his eyes—feigning ignorance of his implication.

Xiao Yunting didn’t mind, and simply said to Qi Zhen, “Is that so? A servant harming their master is a serious matter, Marquis. You mustn’t be soft-hearted—don’t follow in the footsteps of the Duke Ying’s household.”

Duke Ying had once indulged his servants so much that one of them, emboldened by the household’s influence, beat a local magistrate to death in Fujian.

The scandal exploded. The servant was sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, and the Duke’s family was stripped of its title and fell into ruin.

Given Xiao Yunting’s unique status, those words sent a chill straight through Qi Zhen’s body, making him shudder involuntarily.

He answered cautiously, “This subject thanks Your Highness for the reminder!”

Xiao Yunting’s gaze then landed on Xu Yinyin. “A dignified young lady of a marquisate, soaking wet and no one even noticed… It seems the servants of the Marquis Manor truly need to be properly disciplined.”

Xu Yinyin’s heart stirred slightly.

Was Jing Wang… speaking for her?

Qi Zhen’s smile grew even stiffer. “Yes, Your Highness is right. Once we return home, I will thoroughly clean up this group of unruly servants.”

Xiao Yunting didn’t say more. He nodded noncommittally. “In that case, I won’t delay the Marquis from taking your daughter home. I still have official matters to attend to.”

Qi Zhen let out a breath of relief and glanced at Zhang Mama.

This time, Zhang Mama’s attitude was completely different from before. Terrified that Xu Yinyin might stir up trouble again in front of the Wangye, she wore a fawning smile. “Young Miss, you’re all soaked through—what if you catch cold? Let’s hurry onto the carriage.”

Xu Yinyin had already achieved her goal. Knowing when to stop, she nodded and followed Zhang Mama into the carriage.

Qi Zhen stayed behind to watch Xiao Yunting enter the yamen before mounting his own horse.

Once inside the carriage, Zhang Mama finally relaxed. Her tone toward Xu Yinyin was now much more respectful. She took a fresh outfit from a bundle and said, “Young Miss, your clothes are drenched. It wouldn’t be dignified to return to the capital like this… and you might catch cold.”

She had finally realized—Xu Yinyin was someone who could be swayed with kindness but not pressure.

More importantly, Xu Yinyin had caught Xiao Yunting’s attention.

Now that even Jing Wang had personally asked about the missing-and-found daughter of the Yongping Marquis Manor, there was no way the family could just quietly take her back and pretend nothing happened.

If for no other reason than for the sake of Jing Wang—and Lu Shangshu as well—Xu Yinyin’s position as the legitimate daughter of the marquisate was now unshakable.

A wise person knows when to bend. Zhang Mama knew how to yield when needed.

The soaked clothes on her body were indeed uncomfortable, and since she had already accomplished her goal, Xu Yinyin didn’t want to return to the manor dressed like that. She nodded her agreement.

She had no illusions about Madam Wang or the so-called “family.”

She wasn’t naïve enough to think that coming back in such a pitiful state would earn her their sympathy.

No—it would only make them feel embarrassed and ashamed.

After she changed, Zhang Mama let out a breath of relief. She packed up the wet clothes and took out a warm thermos to pour tea for Xu Yinyin.

Xu Yinyin, calm-faced, held the teacup and casually asked, “Zhang Mama, how many years have you served in the Marquis Manor?”

Zhang Mama couldn’t make sense of the question and cautiously answered, “In response to Young Miss, this old servant has worked in the household for over twenty years.”

Xu Yinyin gave a quiet “oh.” “And how long had Hua Momo served?”

This sudden change of subject left Zhang Mama a bit bewildered.

Hearing her ask about Hua Momo, an inexplicable chill suddenly ran through Zhang Mama.

She forced herself to suppress her unease and answered, “Young Miss, Hua Momo had also been in the household for over ten years.”

“Over ten years…” Xu Yinyin murmured, then suddenly chuckled softly. “It’s not easy to climb to that position after so many years. A pity she followed the wrong master. Dead, just like that. What a waste.”

Then she turned her half-smiling gaze to Zhang Mama. “Don’t you think so too, Mama?”

…

Goosebumps prickled across Zhang Mama’s skin.

This young miss wasn’t just not simple—she was far too clever.

From the moment her background was discovered until now, no one in the household had been allowed to speak with Xu Yinyin.

No one had told her anything about the Marquis Manor.

There were many branches in the Marquis Manor, with over twenty members among the masters alone, let alone the complex web of relationships and factions among the servants.

And yet Xu Yinyin could just casually remark that Hua Momo had “followed the wrong master”?

Could it be she knew who had ordered Hua Momo to kill her?

Was she warning her? Telling her not to follow the wrong person and lose her life?

Zhang Mama opened her mouth to ask something, but when she looked up, she saw Xu Yinyin had already closed her eyes, seemingly asleep.

This young lady! Zhang Mama’s feelings were in turmoil.

She had originally thought that a girl raised in the countryside and abandoned by the entire household had no dignity worth respecting.

But now?

Was that truly the case?

And what exactly did Xu Yinyin’s words mean? Was she saying Zhang Mama could choose to follow her instead?

Xu Yinyin didn’t open her eyes—she didn’t need to. She knew Zhang Mama’s mind must be a mess right now. But she didn’t care.

Winning someone over for her own use was just the first step. If Zhang Mama couldn’t handle it, she’d find someone else.

In such a large Marquis Manor, there were bound to be some who recognized value when they saw it.