How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

Zuo Mingyuan never expected that the other party would still remember what happened back then, so he couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Wasn't it confirmed back then that the entire Prince Anning's family was executed? How come there are still people alive?"

“Who knows?” Prince Cui smiled before continuing, “I’m just speculating. Back then, after the entire family was ordered to be executed, their remains were burned to ashes in a huge fire. The number of bodies was correct, but I don’t know if any loyal servants took them away. After all, none of us have ever seen what my little cousin looks like.”

"Since it was a loyal servant who took it away, how could it have ended up in a brothel?" Zuo Mingyuan felt a surge of hatred in his heart, but he still suppressed his anger and continued to speak.

“That’s true, my little cousin isn’t in very good health.” Prince Cui then smiled in relief.

Just then, Steward Zhao knocked on the door and came in: "Young Master, Master Zuo, Lady Liu has arrived and is waiting at Lancao Pavilion."

Prince Cui's interest had already been dampened by the news about Zuo Mingyuan, so he was somewhat disgruntled. But when his eyes darted around, he saw Zuo Mingyuan and said with a smile, "Brother Mingyuan, would you like to see our Lady Liu?"

Zuo Mingyuan hesitated for a moment, then said with some interest, "Alright, then I'll take him back to my residence."

Prince Cui was taken aback by this remark, but then burst into laughter, slapping his thigh repeatedly: "Good, good, good! A talented woman paired with a chivalrous hero, that's enough, that's enough!"

Zuo Mingyuan seemed genuinely interested and said, "Is this Lady Liu so wonderful? If so, I will arrange a marriage proposal when I get back."

"She's just a woman from a brothel, why bother giving her face?" Prince Cui said with a hint of disdain.

Zuo Mingyuan didn't respond to that, but was worried about Liu Yin outside. When Cui Shizi saw that he didn't answer, he assumed that he was too shy to speak, so he stopped teasing him and said to Steward Zhao: "Since Master Zuo is interested, let Master Zuo send that Liu Jianniang back, so that our Master Zuo can have a good time with her."

Butler Zhao naturally bowed his head in agreement, and then said to Zuo Mingyuan, "Master Zuo, why don't we leave now?"

Zuo Mingyuan got what he wanted and helped Liu Yin. He felt much lighter at this moment, so he didn't chat anymore. After bidding farewell to Prince Cui, he left with Liu Yin.

After he left, Prince Cui nodded at his retreating figure, squinted slightly, and instructed Steward Zhao, "Have someone keep an eye on him, especially regarding his relationship with Liu Jianniang."

"This..." Butler Zhao was a little puzzled, but when he saw the cold and sinister look in Prince Cui's eyes, he immediately shut his mouth and bowed his head in agreement.

Zuo Mingyuan had no idea that Prince Cui was probing into his relationship with Liu Yin, but he was already wary of Prince Cui's keen observation. He approached Liu Yin and put on a deliberately cold and hard expression, saying, "Miss Liu, Prince Cui has asked me to escort you back."

When Liu Yin saw him, she couldn't help but curse Cui Shizi for making trouble in her heart, but on the surface she still nodded and agreed as usual. She didn't care whether the other party was sick or not, as long as she could get out of this hellhole as soon as possible.

Zuo Mingyuan immediately took her out of the Prince's mansion, but when they reached the gate, he realized that he had come on horseback and it was really not appropriate to take Liu Yin back with him. However, before he could say anything, Steward Zhao greeted them with a smile: "I'm sorry, Lady Liu, the young master suddenly has something to attend to today. See you later."

He then said to Zuo Mingyuan, "Master Zuo, the young master has arranged for a carriage to come over. Thank you for your trouble." With that, he waved his hand, and a finely decorated carriage arrived.

Liu Yin did not hesitate and got into the carriage. She then heard Zuo Mingyuan outside say to her, "Master Liu, I will follow on horseback."

Liu Yin naturally didn't want to go with him, so she politely agreed.

The two remained silent the entire way until they turned into an alley. The carriage immediately stopped, and Zuo Mingyuan gave the driver a look. The driver immediately ran to the alley entrance to wait. Liu Yin was wondering what was going on inside the carriage when she heard Zuo Mingyuan knock on the window from the outside: "Lady Liu, may I come out and meet you? I have something important to discuss with you."

Hearing the distant hawking cries and footsteps outside, Liu Yin knew she was probably in some deep alley, and couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Zuo Mingyuan outside seemed to notice and said, "Don't worry, Ms. Liu, I'll take you back after I finish speaking."

Hearing this, Liu Yin had no choice but to carefully lift the carriage curtain. Just as she was about to take a look, she saw a hand reach out. She looked up at Zuo Mingyuan, who was reaching out to help her, but instead of helping him, she turned sideways and jumped off the carriage.

After jumping off the carriage, she realized that it was facing away from the alley entrance, which conveniently concealed her and Zuo Mingyuan. She glanced at Zuo Mingyuan and was about to ask a question when Zuo Mingyuan suddenly knelt down: "Your subordinate greets Your Highness."

Startled, Liu Yin took a few steps back before hurriedly saying, "Master Zuo... you've mistaken me for someone else...?"

Seeing that she was a little scared, Zuo Mingyuan stood up and quickly explained to Liu Yin, "Young mistress, you don't know how much you look like the Empress."

"You...you...what exactly are you..." Liu Yin heard the Empress's face turn pale. She was about to ask something when she heard footsteps behind her.

The coachman quickly walked up to Zuo Mingyuan and said, "Master Zuo, let's go quickly. I saw some people from the Prince's Mansion following us. They're probably worried about me."

Zuo Mingyuan frowned and had no choice but to give up explaining to Liu Yin. He quickly lifted the carriage curtain and said to Liu Yin, "I'm going to see Miss Liu tonight. Miss Liu, please get in the carriage. I'll take you back."

Liu Yin had a thousand questions in her mind, but seeing that the two of them were in a hurry, she didn't linger and got into the carriage.

She was filled with doubts, and so was Madam Xue.

Startled, she fell to the ground and it took her a long time to calm down. She looked at Commander Zhu with a puzzled expression: "Commander Zhu, what are you doing? Why...why..."

Commander Zhu sized her up, seemingly trying to see if she was pretending or genuinely unaware, but after a moment he coldly said, "Does Madam not know?"

"What is Commander Zhu saying?" Madam Xue stood up shakily, moved to the side to avoid looking directly at the crowd, and looked at Commander Zhu with a questioning expression.

"That note that asked the man surnamed Xu to change his plans." Commander Zhu continued in his icy demeanor.

"It really is him...?" Madam Xue maintained her surprised expression. In fact, she had already guessed it, after all, the handwriting on the note was too similar to the handwriting on the poetry collection that the person on the ground had given her. However, she didn't know why she wanted to hide this from Commander Zhu.

Commander Zhu seemed to believe that she was unaware of the situation, and nodded, saying, "I will investigate whose mole this person is. You should also re-examine the people around you. If the mission assigned by our master fails, we both bear responsibility."

Madam Xue, thinking of the consequences of her mission failing, paled again before asking, "What will happen then?"

"Stay put and await orders from your master." Commander Zhu looked at her terrified face and had no intention of comforting her, after all, he would also be punished for this failure.

"Yes," Madam Xue replied, then, as if she had thought of something, she said, "That Liu Jianniang is indeed formidable. I wonder if Master would be willing to let her serve as the Queen Bee of the Peaks Project."

"What do you mean?" Commander Zhu pondered for a moment, his eyes growing brighter. "What you said makes sense. I'll write to the master later, about Liu Jianniang...?"

"Leave it to me, I'll figure something out." Seeing that he agreed, Madam Xue naturally took the opportunity to make a contribution.

Commander Zhu didn't say much after seeing this. He picked up the head from the ground and was about to leave when he turned to look at Madam Xue and said, "Take some time these next two days to go to Shengyuan Trading Company and test that Cui Heng."

When Madam Xue, who was behind him, heard the words "Shengyuan Trading Company," her face changed instantly. She quickly lowered her head to cover her displeasure and agreed. Only after the other party disappeared did she breathe a sigh of relief and slump into her chair. When she caught sight of the blood on the ground, she couldn't help but look at it with disgust and muttered, "Useless thing."