After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Since returning to the Marquisate, Liu Yixin had originally thought she would enjoy a life of luxury and wealth. However, as time passed, the affairs of the Chen family gradually faded from public view. Meanwhile, the Marquisate of Jingyang made a surprising decision: they married Liu Yixin off to a traveling merchant from the north. This merchant was already in his thirties and had a rather fierce appearance.

It turned out that this merchant had brought a large amount of gold, silver, and jewelry to the imperial city. At this time, the Jingyang Marquis's residence had long been strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Seeing these treasures, he became greedy and without hesitation sent Liu Yixin, who had just returned from her divorce, away, hoping to squeeze every last bit of profit from her.

Although publicly declared her a co-wife, everyone knew she was merely a concubine. A merchant traveling so far might have mistresses everywhere. To gain more benefits, they sent Liu Yixin away and allowed the merchant to keep her with him, even promising her the birth of a son.

Liu Yixin was a distinguished woman, a daughter of aristocratic family, and her manners and words carried a unique aura. The merchant was very pleased with her beauty and aura, and was secretly delighted.

The day after the marriage, or rather, the day after the delivery, the merchant could not wait to embark on a trade journey north with his new wife and a group of his men. Their purpose was to transport the specialties purchased in the imperial city to the Xiongnu region north of Youzhou, to trade with the local tribal leaders in exchange for more precious jewels and wealth.

However, something unexpected happened to the merchant. Shortly after leaving the imperial city, Liu Yixin lost her temper due to the fatigue of the journey, the poor food, and the poor accommodations. Her constant complaints were a real headache for the merchant. Despite his best efforts to persuade her, Liu Yixin remained stubborn and refused to compromise.

As time went on, the merchant's patience wore thin. He began to question whether he really needed such a spoiled, difficult-to-please wife. In his eyes, Liu Yixin was merely a beautiful woman lacking in inner qualities. So, after an argument, the merchant made a surprising decision: he sold Liu Yixin and her maid to a brothel.

At first, the maids were loyal to Liu Yixin. After all, they all came from the Marquis's mansion and had been with her for years. But life in the brothel became unbearable for them. Every day, Liu Yixin had to face those fat, big-eared men, and she was filled with anger and resentment. She became increasingly irritable, often beating and scolding the maids. Over time, the maids began to resent her.

Unable to bear this life any longer, the maid resolutely approached the madam and requested permission to become a prostitute. Her delicate face, from helping Liu Yixin copy homework, had developed a rather impressive handwriting. Furthermore, she was diligent and eager to learn, and with the guidance of experienced prostitutes at the brothel, she had mastered the other four arts, becoming adept at handling various clients.

In a brothel, a courtesan held a higher status than a courtesan. Seeing someone who had once been respectful and submissive now surpass her, Liu Yixin found life incredibly difficult. Her former rivals had become untouchable, and even the maids were more impressive than her. She finally stopped arguing and fussing, and began to reflect on her actions.

Now that things have come to this, what should she do next? Liu Yixin reflected on herself. The storybooks all said that no matter how filthy the body, as long as the soul was pure, it was pure and flawless. But did she really still have a pure soul? She had fallen to this point, yet she still held on to the hope that someone would see the good in her and save her. Of course, that person had to be powerful; otherwise, how could she guarantee her future?

So, Liu Yixin began to set her sights on those courtesans. She knew that clients who could afford to order courtesans were usually wealthier and had higher expectations of women. She felt that although she was degenerate, she still had some beauty. If she could snatch these clients, perhaps she could change her fate.

Liu Yixin began to frequently appear in the courtesans' rooms, trying to steal their customers. Sometimes, she would even deliberately create misunderstandings, making the customers think the courtesans were not enthusiastic or professional enough. She was even more ruthless towards the maid and the other courtesans, competing in talent shows. Of course, the courtesans could not match her, and the losers would be kicked out, and she would take their place.

After several successful attempts, Liu Yixin finally caught the attention of the madam. However, rather than scold her, she smiled and said, "This little girl is really getting better and better!" It turns out the madam didn't care who received the clients; as long as she could make money, that was all that mattered. Furthermore, Liu Yixin's behavior put pressure on the other prostitutes, prompting them to work harder, which was a good thing for the brothel.

As time went by, Liu Yixin's reputation spread, and she became a rising star in the brothel. Although her actions caused some to resent her, others admired her courage and determination. However, Liu Yixin knew that this was only superficial, and the pain and loneliness within her remained. She didn't know if she could truly find the person who could save her, nor did she know what her future held...

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, five years have passed. One day, exciting news suddenly arrived from the capital: Chen Junjie led the vanguard army to a victory on the frontier, defeating a larger force with fewer men! This news set the entire capital ablaze with excitement, and people began to sing the praises of Chen Junjie's heroic deeds. Unknowingly, Chen Junjie had grown from a young boy to a renowned and formidable general. Meanwhile, Liu Yixin remained trapped in this small brothel, unable to extricate herself.

Time flies, and the years pass by like a shuttle. Liu Yixin is no longer the innocent young lady of the Marquis's mansion. Over the years, she has experienced too much hardship and endured too much suffering. Now, she has lost her former radiance, leaving only a weary body. Yet, when she hears Chen Junjie's name, a ripple still wells up in her heart. She knows that the distance between her and Chen Junjie is growing, and she is no longer worthy of standing by his side.

That year, a down-and-out scholar arrived at a brothel. He asked if anyone needed help writing letters, offering a small income. Liu Yixin saw this as a chance to change her fate. Without hesitation, she struck up a relationship with the scholar, giving him all the money she had saved over the years, hoping he would achieve success in the imperial examination and return to marry her.

She even fantasized about becoming the noble daughter of a marquisate again, the scholar's legal wife. However, reality was always cruel. Liu Yixin's fantasy ultimately vanished, and it was all just a false hope. After the scholar obtained the money, he disappeared without a trace. He was not some impoverished scholar, but a con man who made a living.