How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

A few more days passed, and Fang Tianqiao continued to stay in Qingyin Hall as usual.

Although she didn't know why the promised apprenticeship hadn't proceeded as planned, nor why she had been suddenly moved to a different place and made to serve Liu Yin as an ordinary maid.

But she, who simply wanted to earn some money to support herself, couldn't help but feel fortunate that she didn't have to sell herself; at least being a slave was better than being a prostitute.

Liu Yin didn't tell the other party that her brother might be released soon, since she didn't know when Cui Heng would be able to send out the book, or whether the Huaicheng government would be willing to release him.

"Sword Maiden, have you heard? Our Huaicheng Prefect has been transferred to the capital." Xu Yueling had just seen off her patron when she came to her room looking exhausted.

"When did this happen?" Liu Yin asked, somewhat surprised.

"It seems like it's been a while," Xu Yueling replied.

"No wonder." Liu Yin thought of the group of unfamiliar soldiers she had seen, and the unfamiliar yamen runners who had been running rampant in the red-light district these days.

There was even this inexplicable order to investigate prostitutes and clandestine prostitutes, which finally provided a source of change.

"This gentleman must really dislike brothels," she murmured to herself.

“No, that’s not it.” Although she spoke softly, Xu Yueling heard her. “He doesn’t hate us courtesans; he hates us for not giving him money.”

A hint of mockery flashed across Xu Yueling's face. Then, remembering what her patron had told her, she gulped down a few mouthfuls of water before continuing, "Do you really think he's investigating these prostitutes and the hermit?"

"What? Is there something else involved?" Liu Yin raised an eyebrow and asked with some curiosity.

"It's all about that little bit of money. I've found out that those with money have no problem, while those without money can only rely on fate." Xu Yueling pouted and explained again in detail.

It turns out that ever since this new prefect arrived, especially after the emperor issued an order to arrest the hermit, he used the excuse that the hermit might be hiding in brothels to levy all sorts of exorbitant taxes and levies on the brothels, literally tearing off a layer of skin before he was satisfied.

As for those scholars, firstly, it was to give an account to his superiors, and secondly, since studying was not something ordinary people could afford, he could naturally collect money from the scholars' families. As for those who couldn't afford it, that was none of his business.

"Then... Fang Tianqiao's brother might be able to be redeemed." A hint of regret flashed through Liu Yin's mind.

If I had known better, I shouldn't have sent the manuscript over. Given Cui Heng's speed and her repeated instructions to expedite the process, the manuscript would probably have already been sent to the bookstore in the capital by now.

She sighed deeply, resigning herself to accepting it all as fate's arrangement.

"Yes, that way the child wouldn't have ended up like us." Xu Yueling clapped her hands, feeling happy for Fang Tianqiao.

"Quickly call that child over." Liu Yin felt that the sooner the better, so she went out to call Fang Tianqiao.

“Indeed.” Xu Yueling nodded repeatedly, then pressed Liu Yin down and said, “Alright, I’ll go.”

Before long, Fang Tianqiao followed Xu Yueling in with a beaming smile.

"Everyone, is what my wife said true? Is there really a way to save my brother?" Fang Tianqiao hadn't even stood up properly when she quickly stepped forward, grabbed Liu Yin's hand, and asked anxiously.

Liu Yin held her hand and patted it reassuringly twice before telling her her thoughts one by one.

"Then...then wouldn't that mean my wife and everyone else would have to spend money?" Fang Tianqiao heard her thoughts, but her face showed no surprise, only hesitation.

"It's alright, it's just some money. I've been to that prison before. Your brother is just a scholar, how could he endure such torture?" Liu Yin comforted him softly.

"No, no, I..." Fang Tianqiao was in a dilemma. She wanted to save her brother, but she didn't want Liu Yin and the other two to pay the price for her.

"Alright, alright." Xu Yueling stepped forward and put her arm around her shoulder. "Just do as Jianniang says. You can always pay her back later if you have the chance. Anyway, she's very rich."

Hearing Xu Yueling say this, Fang Tianqiao was still somewhat hesitant, but she was finally able to accept it a little. After all, she didn't need the other party to give her complete favor, and she could at least give her brother an explanation.

"Alright, then it's settled." After Xu Yueling's repeated persuasion, her brother's safety finally prevailed, and she had no choice but to accept the silver notes handed over by Liu Yin with a sense of shame.

"This... is too much." Looking at the five hundred taels of silver notes in her hand, her hand trembled slightly, and for a moment she didn't know whether to accept it or not.

"I don't know how big their appetite is. You take it first, and if it's not enough, you can come to me for more. It would be best if it's enough."

Upon hearing this, Fang Tianqiao's eyes reddened, and he looked at Liu Yin with a deeply moved expression, bending his knees as if to kneel before her.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so polite, go quickly." Liu Yin lifted her up and urged her to go redeem the person.

Fang Tianqiao nodded repeatedly in agreement, wiping away her tears as she was about to rush out, but was stopped by Liu Yin's shout.

"Change into some old clothes, wash off the rouge, remove all your jewelry, and exchange the silver notes for loose change," Liu Yin instructed after looking her over.

Fang Tianqiao looked at her somewhat bewildered, but Xu Yueling reacted quickly and gave her a push: "Alright, I'll take you to tidy up."

After giving Liu Yin a wink, he put his arm around Fang Tianqiao and went out.

Watching the two of them leave, Liu Yin sighed deeply.

The book has been sent to the capital and is expected to be printed in a while. She was worried that it wouldn't spread far enough, so she specifically instructed Cui Heng that this time the book would not be sold but given away. She didn't know what kind of trouble this would cause.

What she didn't know was that she wasn't the only one worried; Cui Heng was too.

Cui Heng flipped through the book written by Liu Yin, reading about how people like Xin Ji, Yue Ying, and others, young and old, paid various prices, sacrificing their humanity, relatives, and even themselves, in pursuit of a just and fair cause...

He seemed to see himself and Yuan Mingyou, the Prince of Anning from back then, the heir apparent from back then, and General He...

He saw countless comrades who had sacrificed themselves on this road, and thought of the last expectations of the Prince of Anning.

At that time, he risked his life to rush into the palace, and all he saw was crimson, blood and flames.

When he finally found Prince Anning, the prince was already on the verge of death.

Even so, when the dying Prince Anning saw him, he still smiled with relief.

Even his last words weren't to his beloved queen, nor to his cherished child, but simply: "I'm sorry..."

Cui Heng knew that the other party's apology was not only regret for dragging his family into this struggle for the throne, but also an apology to those who had always followed him, hoping to establish an equal and stable dynasty.

Because he knew they had failed and disappointed them.

But Cui Heng and his group never gave up and remained steadfast on that path, only lying low while searching for a new enlightened leader.