How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

After all the constables left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Yueling saw that Green Pearl was leaving after a private argument.

Thinking about what he had just seen, he frowned and stepped forward to stop Green Pearl: "I need to talk to you."

Green Pearl nodded knowingly, then gestured to Nongyue and the other two before turning around and following Xu Yueling up to the third floor.

"What did it mean when Jian Niang glanced at you before she left?" Xu Yueling asked anxiously, pulling her aside before she could even stand up straight.

"Before they left, they gave me nine words: 'Pretend to be innocent, stir up controversy, and pay a large ransom.'" Green Pearl didn't hide anything; she knew that she wasn't capable enough to help Liu Yin.

"What did it mean when she glanced at you from behind?" Xu Yueling thought about the nine words Liu Yin left behind, and she hadn't forgotten Liu Yin's last look.

Green Pearl thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps Lady Liu wanted me to help her clean up her dirty clothes. When she got up, she said that she wanted me to help her tidy up her room later."

"Clothes?" Xu Yueling frowned, quickly stood up, and hurried to Liu Yin's room next door.

She saw her clothes lying haphazardly on the bed. She quickly went over and turned the clothes over, but found nothing.

Just as she was wondering about it, she felt something was off about the clothes in her hands.

Thinking about it, he reached out and flattened the clothes, then ran his hand over them.

"Hiss." A sharp pain made her gasp softly. She then carefully touched it again and discovered that it was an embroidery needle.

Turning the clothes over, she discovered that a dozen or so embroidery needles were carefully fastened to the garment, and what was fastened by the needles was a handkerchief covered with writing.

She carefully pulled out the embroidery needle and then carefully read the plan on the handkerchief, finally feeling relieved.

"Green Pearl, go and run a errand for me to the Liu family." Xu Yueling put the handkerchief back into her bosom, looked at Green Pearl who had come with her, and carefully gave her instructions.

Green Pearl nodded in agreement, turned around and went back to her room to change out of her eye-catching, ornate dress, put on simple clothes, draped a black cloak, and quickly headed towards the Liu residence where Madam Liu was temporarily staying.

After seeing Lüzhu off, Xu Yueling thought for a moment, then called over a few helpers and gave them detailed instructions. She then took out a dozen silver notes and asked them to spread the word about Liu Yin being framed.

After the two groups were arranged, she looked at the night sky, thought for a moment, suppressed her anxiety, and decided to carry out Liu Yin's plan step by step.

The next morning, the Fang siblings and Madam Liu rushed over upon hearing the news.

"What happened? I heard that Jianniang has been captured again?" Madam Liu asked anxiously.

Seeing that she was sweating profusely with anxiety, Xu Yueling quickly stepped forward and stuffed the handkerchief into her arms.

Madam Liu was taken aback at first, then quietly stuffed the handkerchief into her pocket, pretending to be heartbroken, and was helped to Liu Yin's room to rest.

As for the Fang siblings, Xu Yueling looked at them and carefully explained everything, especially to Fang Ziping, saying, "Young Master Fang, you know many scholars and have a certain reputation. Please help me write a few articles."

"Don't worry, Master Liu saved our lives. I would gladly give my life in her place, let alone write a few articles." Fang Ziping nodded.

Having dealt with Fang Ziping, Xu Yueling breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at another unfamiliar guest.

This person was none other than Wen Shuyun. He originally wanted to come here to see Liu Yin, but he did not expect to hear such bad news, so he rushed to Qingyin Hall.

“This young master…” Xu Yueling hesitated for a moment.

"My name is Wen Shuyun. I am a close friend of Liu Jianniang. I came here to inquire after learning of her misfortune. Is there anything I can do to help?" Wen Shuyun looked at Xu Yueling with anticipation, unable to hide his anxiety.

"So it's Young Master Wen." Xu Yueling was somewhat surprised. She didn't know that Liu Yin had a relationship with this person, but she had heard of his name. He was a very famous and talented man. Not only that, his father and brothers were both officials in the court. Of course, she hadn't noticed that Wen Shuyun's father and brothers had been dismissed from their posts. At this moment, she regarded him as a golden thigh to cling to.

“Young Master Wen, the yamen runners wouldn’t allow us to eat or drink. They forced Master Liu to admit that he was a hermit. They were kind-hearted and agreed. I know that your family is also an official family. Please lend us a hand.”

"You're too kind, Madam Yue Ling. As a close friend of the Liu family, I will certainly do my utmost to help in this matter." Wen Shuyun didn't mince words and readily agreed, patting his chest. "I will go back immediately and have my father and brothers write to our family friends. We will ensure that the Liu family does not suffer any injustice."

Xu Yueling quickly bowed and thanked them. Only after seeing them off did she go into the room to see Madam Liu.

"How is it?" Madam Liu asked anxiously when she saw her come in.

“It’s all been arranged, Madam.” Xu Yueling sat down at the table with her help and reassured her, “Don’t worry, Madam. Jianniang is a lucky person and is being carried out according to plan. She should be sent out soon.”

"Alas..." Madam Liu sighed deeply, "I hope so. I'm still sorting out how much money you can use right now, and I'll send it to you as soon as possible."

"I've calculated it. After all these days of business, I have about ten thousand taels of silver." Xu Yueling had already calculated the money last night.

Madam Liu knew that this was almost all the cash Qingyin Hall had. After thinking for a moment, she said, "There's no need to take it all out. Keep six thousand taels for Qingyin Hall's daily expenses. The rest is our Liu family's responsibility. She is our Liu family's daughter, and it's our duty to take care of her."

After several rounds of refusals, Xu Yueling finally agreed, offering only four thousand taels and keeping the rest for future use.

Seeing that Xu Yueling had made proper arrangements, Madam Liu returned to the Liu residence with Zhu Mei with peace of mind.

"How is it?" Aunt Liu and her husband rushed over anxiously, asking before Madam Liu could even sit down.

After Madam Liu explained Xu Yueling's arrangements in detail, she asked, "Sister, brother-in-law, how much money does Jianniang have with you? Also, I'd like to ask who we can contact to help us?"

Aunt Liu carefully considered the matter before saying, "Jian Niang herself still has four thousand taels of royalties, and my Liu family has about twenty thousand taels of cash available in our accounts. Adding what you got from Qingyin Hall, we can easily raise thirty thousand taels."

"You don't need your money for now. I still have some savings that Liu Yin left me, which is about ten thousand taels." Madam Liu gently shook her head, declining their offer.

"How could I? Jianniang is my own niece. Can't I even lend a hand?" Aunt Liu rolled her eyes at her with some disdain.

Madam Liu quickly shook her head, took Aunt Liu's hand and said, "Sister, listen to me. If I really don't have enough money, I will come to your door without you having to tell me."

After several attempts to persuade her, seeing that Madam Liu was really insistent, Aunt Liu reluctantly agreed and asked the steward to get the money from the counter.