How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

The next morning, just as Liu Yin had guessed, the Lin family's steward arrived with a carriage and knocked on the inn's door.

"Dong dong dong."

A few knocks woke Liu Yin from her writing. She put her pen on the pen holder, opened the door, saw the official she had met yesterday, raised an eyebrow, and said nothing.

When the butler saw her open the door, he quickly bowed and said, "Young Master Cui, my master has sent me to invite you to his home."

Liu Yin nodded: "Wait a moment."

The butler hurriedly bowed his head and agreed.

Noble families always have many rules. Whether going out to meet guests or at home, they always prepare different clothes. The steward always thought that Liu Yin came from a noble family, so he understood her changing clothes before going out and didn't say much. He just waited at the door.

Not long after, Liu Yin changed into suitable clothes and opened the door.

The steward said nothing more, and led Liu Yin into the carriage, arriving at the Lin family's residence.

Lin He, Miss Zhou, and Master Zhou sat together in the main hall, waiting for Liu Yin's arrival.

Old Master Zhou looked at Lin He with a hesitant expression: "Son-in-law, is what you said true? What if he saw that you are rich now and deliberately came to deceive you? There are too many swindlers in this world."

Miss Zhou also looked at her husband with concern.

Lin He took her hand and patted it reassuringly before saying to Master Zhou, "Father, I heard from the steward that the man has an extraordinary bearing. I think since that's the case, we should meet him. If it's true, we won't have any regrets later."

Seeing that he said that, Master Zhou had no choice but to nod: "Since that's the case, and it involves your background, I'll shamelessly listen to your side of the story."

Lin He hurriedly said, "It's my blessing to have my father's eyes to see."

Hearing his daughter's compliment, Mr. Zhou couldn't help but feel relieved and happy.

They discussed how to inquire and probe later, when they heard the steward say that the person had arrived, so they hurriedly called the person in.

Liu Yin entered the room, first handing the cloak to the maid, then turned the corner to the main hall, cupped her hands to Master Zhou and said, "This humble student, Cui Yinrong, greets Master Zhou."

When Master Zhou saw that her demeanor was indeed extraordinary, just as the steward had said, and that she was also quite charming in her manners, with clear eyes and eyebrows, it was obvious that she was a child raised in a wealthy family. He was already somewhat convinced of her abilities.

"Young Master Cui, please have a seat." Master Zhou hurriedly offered him a seat with a smile, and then said, "Judging from what my son-in-law said, Young Master Cui and my son-in-law are relatives?"

Liu Yin nodded: "I dare not say that he is your son-in-law directly, but I had some doubts because he looks kind."

Master Zhou asked, puzzled, "Oh? Young Master Cui didn't confirm it?"

Liu Yin hurriedly explained, "I hope Master Zhou understands that I have never met my cousin. I only know that my uncle has this cousin. He disappeared several years ago, and I only learned about his appearance from my uncle. That's why I suspected that your son-in-law is him."

Master Zhou nodded knowingly, but his brows furrowed, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Before he could ask any further questions, Miss Zhou spoke up, "Since you've never seen him, how can you assume he is my husband?"

"Firstly, my cousin looks very much like my aunt, and I also look very much like my aunt, which is why I made this guess. Secondly, my cousin has a jade pendant on him, which was given to me by my elders when my child was born." Liu Yin pointed to the two people's appearances and then pointed to the jade pendant on Lin He's waist.

Lin He remained silent, his head bowed as he pondered something ever since Liu Yin entered.

Hearing her say this, he looked up, wanting to see what this person who claimed to look just like him looked like, but he couldn't see anything.

The Zhou father and daughter looked back and forth between the two men's faces. Seeing that there was a resemblance between them in their eyebrows and eyes, they couldn't help but believe it a little more.

However, the Zhou family girl still questioned, "Although you two look somewhat alike, your faces are quite different. As for the jade pendant, everyone in the county knows what my husband's jade pendant looks like, so it can hardly be considered evidence."

Liu Yin thought for a moment before saying, "In that case, could you please have someone bring a basin of water?"

Miss Zhou looked puzzled, but said nothing, nodding to instruct the servants to prepare.

Before long, the servants brought out a basin of warm water.

Liu Yin stepped forward, steamed her face with water vapor, and then carefully wiped her face with a handkerchief dampened with water.

The Zhou family father and daughter, along with Lin He, all watched her actions with curiosity.

They didn't have to wait long before Liu Yin lifted her head from the steam, tidied herself up a bit, and then looked up at the three of them.

Lin He's pupils dilated when he saw her face.

The Zhou father and daughter were so surprised that they didn't know what to say for a moment.

At this point, they not only believed a little of what Liu Yin said, but they believed it completely.

After all, Liu Yin's face and Lin He's face are practically twins. One has soft features, while the other has strong features. Although Liu Yin has a terrifying knife scar, you can tell they are brothers just by looking at their eyes and brows.

However, after looking at her for a while, Miss Zhou asked hesitantly, "You...you're a woman?"

Master Zhou glanced at his daughter in surprise before looking at Liu Yin.

Liu Yin wasn't surprised that the other person could tell. After all, the sideburns of men and women are quite distinct, and her face was more delicate than Lin He's, with a hint of coquettishness in her eyes. Even if she had a man's face, people would suspect she was a woman, let alone the fact that she was a woman.

"Yes." Liu Yin naturally did not refute it.

Miss Zhou paused for a moment before looking at the knife scar on her face, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.

She never voiced this regret, and Liu Yin knew it too. After all, everyone who saw her face would have that expression; even a beautiful jade has its flaws, it's understandable.

"Your face is fake, and your name is fake too? What about my background that you mentioned?" Lin He stared blankly at her face.

"My face is fake for convenience, but the stories and names I tell are real." Liu Yin thought for a moment and took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it over.

This jade pendant was given to her by her uncle He from the frontier after they were reunited. Along with the pendant came a letter from her aunt He. It was in that letter that she learned that her cousin looked just like the Empress. It was then that she became curious about her long-lost cousin.

But I never expected to run into my cousin in this small county town.

Liu Yin's jade pendant spun around in the hands of the three people before returning to Lin He's hand.

With trembling hands, he untied the jade pendant from his waist and placed it together with the jade pendant in front of him.

Upon comparison, the group discovered that there were differences in the details of the jade pendants. The jade pendant in Lin He's hand was engraved with bamboo on the front and cranes on the back, with the four characters "the spirit of the crane" written next to it.

Although Liu Yin's coin also features bamboo on the obverse, it has three roses, two of which are half-withered. The reverse also features a crane, with the inscription "Crane's Delicate Orchid" next to it.