How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

Duan'an's ascension to the throne was far more peaceful than Liu Yin had imagined, at least to the extent that Liu Yin knew. As for the bloody methods used after the debate with the Confucian scholars in the main hall, no one told Liu Yin about them.

Does Liu Yin know?

She knew, though she didn't know what kind of bloodshed was behind it, but she knew that what followed would definitely not be the peaceful thing that everyone said.

However, since no one wanted to tell her, fearing she wouldn't be able to handle it, she could only pretend not to know.

"Is this your new book?" Wen Shuyun asked, holding the book and looking at her.

"Yes, it's a gift for Duan'an as a congratulatory present," Liu Yin said with a smile.

Two days ago, she caught a cold because she was exposed to the cold and didn't cover herself properly with the blankets at night. It's been seven or eight days now, and she still hasn't gotten better.

"Very good," Wen Shuyun said with a smile as she flipped through the book.

"Then I'll trouble you to help me distribute it." Liu Yin said in a hoarse voice, clearing her nose with the snuff bottle.

Wen Shuyun handed her a cup of ginger tea, nodded with a smile, and then looked at her with concern: "Leave it to me, you should get some rest."

Liu Yin nodded, but after taking a sip of ginger tea, her brows furrowed. Just as she was about to say something, Wen Shuyun handed her a candied fruit, which she ate without a second thought.

Seeing that her complexion had improved a lot, Wen Shuyun pulled the blanket up a little and said, "Alright, you should rest now. I won't come to see you later."

Liu Yin nodded indifferently.

Wen Shuyun walked to the gate, about to take the manuscript to the shop, when she saw the shop assistant hurrying over.

"What's wrong?" Wen Shuyun stopped him and asked curiously.

The waiter wiped his sweat, and seeing him breathe a sigh of relief, said, "Young Master Wen, a letter has arrived from the capital."

Wen Shuyun nodded and said with a smile, "Then leave it to me."

The clerk often saw him delivering letters, so he trusted him and handed the letters over to him.

Wen Shuyun took the letter, then handed the manuscript to the shop assistant, instructing him to carefully protect it before leaving. Only then did she take the letter and head back.

The letter contained only a few words, yet it caused his expression to change drastically. He frowned deeply, staring at the words on the letter with an extremely grim face.

His eyes darted around several times, he took a few deep breaths, crumpled the letter into a ball, held it tightly in his hand, and walked back with a heavy expression.

After walking only about ten steps, he stopped, turned around, and continued walking out the door.

Around the time he was to return with the book, he slowly came back carrying some snacks, the letter in his hand long gone.

Liu Yin's new book was published at a very opportune time, almost immediately after the end of the late emperor's funeral and on the eve of Duan'an's ascension to the throne. The book was then completely distributed.

The book, titled "Female Aristocratic Clan," immediately sparked heated discussions upon its release.

The book directly names ancient matriarchal tribes, which is even more unbelievable to many.

However, Liu Yin had already collected enough information during her years of studying abroad to leave them with no room for argument and they had no choice but to accept it.

If the matriarchal tribes are the subject of much discussion, there is no evidence to refute it.

According to the book, a thousand years ago, the Xin Dynasty, in order to establish its influence, concealed the goddess's gender and used subtle writing techniques to mislead the world into believing that she was a man. They even arranged for the goddess to marry a wife, thus completely erasing the status of women.

Such things are even more unacceptable.

However, after they searched through local folk tales and consulted the records in the book, every word proved that what Liu Yin said was true.

The book concludes by highlighting the advantages of a woman becoming empress.

The fact that women became emperors and officials simply increased competition among people, but it also allowed for the selection of officials who were better suited to serve the people.

Such remarks were met with immediate opposition from small and medium-sized aristocratic families.

Obtaining one or two court positions from powerful families is already difficult enough, and men fight over them relentlessly. Now, women are also vying for them, which is unacceptable to them.

She had intended to refute him from an unrealistic angle, but Liu Yin countered with the seven cities in the Northwest, especially Yancheng, which had become a sacred place in the hearts of women.

With such a well-prepared book containing both facts and evidence, it was already an impenetrable fortress, leaving them with no room for rebuttal.

Meanwhile, news of Princess Duan'an's ascension to the throne had spread throughout the land, and the date of her coronation had been set. They were just waiting for the auspicious day to arrive. Princess Duan'an had already taken up residence in the Taiji Palace and was handling state affairs in the name of the new emperor.

So when they saw that the powerful families hadn't said anything, they had no choice but to shut up and force themselves to accept the news.

For ordinary people, it doesn't matter who the emperor is; a good emperor is one who treats them well.

But what makes a good emperor?

They didn't know either, but Liu Yin's book told them that a good emperor is one who cares about the people, and they believed that too.

In her new book, Liu Yin talks about her background and admits that she is Cui Yinrong, the last surviving daughter of the Prince of Anning. She even uses her status in the hearts of the people to endorse Duan'an.

The common people did not understand the changes in the court, let alone how to govern the country, but their simple understanding told them that the hermit was on their side. They were willing to give her their trust and believe in the emperor that the hermit believed in.

The common people trusted them, and the upper-class families remained calm; only the middle and lower-class families and wealthy merchants were in turmoil.

But nobody cared about that at the moment.

They all turned their attention to the capital.

In the capital, however, the ministers were extremely busy with the matter of the Empress's ascension to the throne.

This unprecedented event left them somewhat perplexed.

Even amidst his busy schedule, Duan An instructed them: "Just follow the precedent. What difference is there between women and men? Just make a slight change to the emperor's crown."

These words finally put the ministers at ease, and they proceeded with the enthronement ceremony in an orderly manner.

These events had already spread to the various princely mansions.

The eldest prince was the first to be unable to accept it, but he was also the first to disappear without a trace.

"Mother!" The eldest prince glared at Consort Wen, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Consort Wen looked at her beloved child, whom she had cherished for many years, but her face was extremely cold.

“I am not your mother. I gave birth to a stillborn child. As for you... I don’t know where you came from. I suppose they found you among the common people.”

"What! This is impossible!" The eldest prince was so shocked that he almost fell to the ground.

"I have loved you for many years, and I will not take your life. From now on, you can stay in the manor and live a good life."

"Mother Concubine! Mother Concubine!"

Seeing her turn and leave without hesitation, the eldest prince's eyes were filled with despair.

The Crown Prince's wife hugged him tightly, her heart aching: "Husband! Husband!"

Looking at his wife and panicked children, the eldest prince finally regained his composure. He closed his eyes and said to his wife, "That's it. I'm sorry..."

Seeing that he had regained his senses, the Crown Princess breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It is my greatest fortune to have met you in this life. To be able to grow old with you is my greatest wish. I have no regrets and no resentment."

Seeing her like this, the eldest prince sighed and hugged his wife. Looking around the now desolate princely residence, he said, "Very well, at least... you don't have to live a hard life with me anymore..."

What happened to the eldest prince soon spread to the residences of the other three princes.

Unfortunately, they were powerless to resist this powerful army and could only surrender, obediently acknowledging Duan'an's legitimacy and staying obediently in their residences, while their children were sent to the palace one after another.

Whether they can become new emperors or become leverage to coerce them remains to be seen.