How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

"The Sixth Prince's Consort did not commit any major offenses during her reign, so the Emperor bestowed upon her the title of Noble Consort. He even issued an edict stating that she was originally the principal wife of a prince, and was granted the title of Noble Consort upon entering the palace. He specially granted her ceremonial regalia that was higher than that of a Noble Consort but slightly lower than that of an Empress, and even allowed her to manage the affairs of the six palaces." The Duchess of Baoguo also had some reservations about the Emperor's actions back then.

"Well, he wants to save face for the He family, but he can't lose either." Although Liu Yin's words were harsh, they were also the words that displeased the nobles in the capital at the time.

After all, the He family's daughter had always gone to Huguo Temple to offer incense without incident, but on that particular day, she was robbed by bandits. Not only that, but she was also rescued by the emperor who was about to ascend the throne. It was a simple and crude method.

"How did Auntie die?" Having learned how Auntie He entered the palace that day, Liu lost interest in the other marriages and only had doubts about the Empress's death.

"We don't know either. Ever since Empress He entered the palace, she has been quite favored, but she has never had a child. It wasn't until a few years ago that the Empress gave birth to a little princess. After that, the Empress's health was not very good, and she passed away two years ago. There have always been rumors in the palace that the little princess and the Empress's fates were incompatible, so the Emperor has never paid any attention to her." The Duchess of Baoguo looked at Liu Yin with a sad expression.

"Young Princess, I suppose you already know," the Duchess of Baoguo said after a moment's hesitation, "the little princess has been sent out of the palace."

"What happened at Chang Le Palace that day? Why was Princess Duan'an sent out of the palace?" Liu Yin wondered, recalling what she had overheard at the banquet.

"A prophecy has appeared in Chang Le Palace: 'The phoenix's shadow obscures the sun, and the golden branches are fraught with danger.'" The Duchess of Baoguo's expression was not good.

Liu Yin's expression was also not good. The first sentence could still be attributed to other concubines, but the second sentence was directly aimed at Princess Duan'an, since she was the only princess left in the harem.

Liu Yin suddenly thought of Yuan Mingyou and the others' elaborate scheme to send her to the capital: 'Could it be that they did it? But what good would that do them? Shouldn't they be standing with me and the little princess?'

Seeing that she remained silent, the Duchess of Baoguo continued, "Originally, it wouldn't have been so bad for the princess to be sent to the Huguo Temple for quiet contemplation, since being in the palace isn't necessarily better than being outside, but..."

"What's wrong?" Liu Yin asked, urging her when she saw her hesitation.

“But a few days ago, a letter came from the border, and it seems that the He family is doomed. At this time, the little princess is being sent out of the palace, I’m afraid… I’m afraid…” The Duchess of Baoguo couldn’t quite bring herself to say it.

“No, Duan’an is a princess and is not involved in the struggle for the throne. Who would attack her?” Liu Yin shook her head and looked at her suspiciously. “Moreover, Madam of the Duke of Baoguo, you are hiding something from me. Why do you feel guilty towards me, and why are you afraid of my face?”

Hearing Liu Yin's bluntness, the Duchess of Baoguo's face turned pale. She lowered her head and pondered for a long time before slowly raising her head and saying, "Little Princess, I can only say that I have no ill intentions towards you and the little princess. I don't know why people in the palace have repeatedly attacked the little princess. I only know that people have already been placed in Huguo Temple, and within a year, news of the princess's death will spread from the temple."

"Died of illness?" Liu Yin squinted, staring intently at the Duchess of Baoguo, trying to discern something from her expression. Unfortunately, apart from that brief change in demeanor, the old woman before him showed no further signs of distress. "I cannot agree to your request."

"Princess?" The Duchess of Baoguo seemed quite surprised.

"I cannot agree to your request for now. I will investigate what forced Princess Duan'an to leave the royal family. Until then, I will not get involved in any trouble in the capital." Liu Yin was unwilling to budge.

"She is your cousin," Lady Baoguo could only try to persuade her again and again.

"I lost my memory in my childhood and almost ended up in prostitution. After regaining my memory, I learned that my family was destroyed and I had experienced the most tragic things. It is impossible for the Duchess of Baoguo to ask me to take such a risk with just a few words." Liu Yin remained unmoved.

"I know I'm still hiding some things, which is why you don't believe me. You should investigate. Fortunately, the princess needs to stay at my Duke Baoguo's residence for a while. However, the young princess is pressed for time, so I hope you can make arrangements as soon as possible." The Duchess of Baoguo looked sorrowful, her words filled with humility and pleading.

However, Liu Yin had been living in the red-light district for ten years and still had memories of her past life. No matter how pitiful she appeared, Liu Yin remained wary. After all, as she said, she had too many unfinished business with her, and there were too many strange things about this matter.

Lady Baoguo did not try to persuade her any further. Seeing that she had been out for quite some time and worried about being discovered by others, she took her leave with her entourage.

After everyone left, Liu Xuemei entered the private room and saw Liu Yin with her brows furrowed and her eyes full of worry. She couldn't help but ask, "Miss, has something happened?"

Liu Yin was worried about how to investigate. Although she had boasted to the Duchess of Baoguo, she knew her own family's affairs. She was just a slightly famous poetess with no status or money, and she was involved in court affairs. How could she possibly find out the truth?

As for why the Duchess of Baoguo believed she could find out the truth, she had figured it out by now. Of course, the other party didn't care. It would be good if she had a solution, but if she didn't, she could just ask her to agree to the matter.

But as Liu Yin looked at Liu Xuemei, she remembered something else: "Xuemei, you came from the Guining Escort Agency that day. I asked you if your agency had a branch in the capital?"

"Yes, miss." Liu Xuemei hesitated for a moment, but still nodded in agreement.

"I see..." Liu Yin tapped the table with her hand, pondering for a long time.

"Miss?" Liu Xuemei was a little surprised. Seeing that she hadn't spoken for a long time, she had to ask carefully.

"It's nothing." Liu Yin waved her hand before standing up. "It's nothing, let's go back first."

All the way there, Liu Yin kept thinking about how much the Guining Escort Agency had been involved in this matter, or... whether it was the Guining Escort Agency that did it?

Moreover, Yuan Mingyou... she always felt that the name was too familiar and too repulsive to her from the bottom of her heart. However, she was too young at the time, and because she was a reincarnation, the soul of an adult was placed in the body of a child. Her young body could not bear it and she was always dull and stupid. She did not remember the events of that time very clearly.

It wasn't until she returned to the inn that Liu Yin came to her senses. After thinking about it, she decided to trust him for the time being, since she could always find someone else.

"Mei Wu, deliver one of these two letters to Cui Heng, the head of Shengyuan Trading Company, and the other to Yuan Mingyou of Guining Escort Agency." Liu Yin finished her instructions and then waved for everyone to leave.

Mei Wu hesitated for a moment: "Miss, what if the person isn't here?"

“No, they will be there,” Liu Yin replied confidently.

Seeing this, Mei Wu didn't press the matter further; she always trusted any decision her daughter made.

Liu Yin was so certain because she felt that since these two people were so determined to send her to the capital, and then never contacted her after she arrived, and then the incident involving Princess Duan'an happened, then sending her to the capital must be related to Princess Duan'an. As the driving force behind this matter, they would definitely be stationed in the capital to prevent any accidents from happening.

Meanwhile, Yuan Mingyou of the Guining Escort Agency and Cui Heng of the Shengyuan Trading Company, just as she had said, were stationed in the capital and were discussing the matter of the little princess together...