How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

As dawn broke, Madam Liu, who had been feeling uneasy at Madam An's house, returned with Luanqin.

Ever since Liu Yin was startled awake by the dream, she hadn't been able to sleep. So even though Madam Liu and her entourage moved very quietly, she still heard them. She didn't pretend to be asleep anymore and got up to open the door.

Seeing that she was up so early, Madam Liu greeted her with some concern: "What's wrong? Did that person send someone over yesterday?"

Liu Yin shook her head, quickly stepped forward to support her, and comforted her, "No, Mother, why did you have to rush back so early? It must have been quite a bumpy ride."

"Alright, it's not far, it's not going to be bumpy. Since no one is bothering you, you're up quite early. I can tell you didn't seem to be sleeping very soundly. Go and get some more sleep," Madam Liu said, touching her face with some concern.

"Alright, then I'll pay my respects to Mother later." Liu Yin was indeed feeling a bit sleepy at this point, so she didn't refuse. She exchanged a few more words with Luanqin before being urged repeatedly by the two of them to return to her room to rest.

Around noon, Liu Yin finished washing up and had some breakfast before going to sit with Madam Liu in her room.

Just then, Madam Liu handed her an invitation: "Whose invitation is this?"

With a puzzled look, Liu Yin peeled back the poster, then her face lit up with surprise: "Is it my aunt's family who moved in?"

Madam Liu hugged her and said with a smile, "Your aunt said that once things are settled in the next couple of days, she will invite us to her home for a gathering. It just so happens that you don't have any playmates of the same age. Your aunt's family has a son and a daughter who are about your age and have good personalities. You are also cousins ​​with them, so you should get along well with them."

Liu Yin couldn't help but feel happy after hearing this. In fact, she had been here for almost a year, and so many things had happened that occupied her energy. But sometimes she felt very lonely. The people around her were either elders, servants, or girls from brothels. It wasn't that Liu Yin looked down on them, but that they were unwilling to cross that threshold. For example, Zhang Yueniang used to be quite close to her, but ever since Liu Yin became more and more famous, Zhang Yueniang only showed her awe.

"I've almost finished writing all my other stories. I'll send them to my aunt and uncle later. I think the first collection of stories will be out soon." Liu Yin thought of the thick stack of manuscripts on her desk and the influence of "Candy" on the minds of the people in Qinhuai City. She felt excited and looked forward to the new book shining brightly here.

Just as the mother and daughter were enjoying their tender moment, Aunt Qian strode in, her face grim. She bowed to them and said, "Madam, Miss, Lady Yue Ling from Qingyin Hall has sent someone to inform you that Young Master Cui has sent two male prostitutes and specifically requested that you go and train them."

Liu Yin immediately stood up and exchanged bewildered glances with Madam Liu, hardly believing what she had just heard. She looked at Aunt Qian with a slight frown and asked in confusion, "What? You want to train me?"

Aunt Qian nodded and repeated the letter that Xu Yueling had sent over. Liu Yin was both amused and exasperated. She really couldn't understand what Prince Cui was thinking and complained, "Is he out of his mind? I'm just an instructor who teaches musical instruments, not servants. How am I supposed to train them?"

Madam Liu patted her hand, feeling somewhat annoyed: "This Prince Anle is becoming more and more outrageous. Even when he needs to discipline his concubines in the mansion, he asks the matrons specially raised in the mansion to do it. I've never heard of him going to brothels to poach teachers."

Liu Yin fell into deep thought. She felt that the young master's order was a bit strange. Thinking of Yuan Mingyou last night, she felt that the young master Cui was deliberately testing her or Yuan Mingyou to see if he would protect her.

Thinking of this, she immediately realized that the matter of training might not be so simple. She looked up at Aunt Qian and asked, "What kind of people are those two prostitutes?"

Aunt Qian was taken aback, then shook her head: "I don't know. That lady didn't say, she only said that Lady Yueling sent a message asking you to come over today."

Liu Yin had a bad feeling. She glanced at the room where Luanqin was sleeping and felt a little flustered. Then she looked at Madam Liu and said to comfort her, "Mother, let me go and take a look first."

Madam Liu knew that the Anle Prince's Mansion was beyond the power of her and her daughter to contend with, so she had no choice but to nod in agreement.

When she brought Mei Wu to Qingyin Hall, she unexpectedly ran into Xu Yueling at the side gate. Liu Yin thought that the place was waiting for her there, but Xu Yueling looked at her with surprise: "Why are you here?"

Liu Yin was also stunned. She looked at Xu Yueling strangely and said, "Didn't you ask the maid to send me a message and tell me to come here?"

Xu Yueling's expression changed upon hearing this, and she instantly understood. Looking at Liu Yin, she gave a wry smile: "I was thinking of finding an excuse to decline this, so I had someone tell you to remember to avoid it, either by feigning illness or going on a long trip, but..."

Although she didn't say what she was going to say, Liu Yin had already guessed what was going on. She thought that either Xu Mama was afraid of the power of the Prince Anle's Mansion, or she had received a large sum of money and wanted to give her up in exchange for benefits. After thinking for a moment, she said with a cold smile, "I knew it. I'm afraid the Prince Anle's Mansion gave your mother a lot of money."

Xu Yueling didn't say anything, just looked on with a bitter smile, appearing helpless. But Liu Yin didn't quite believe her. In her memory, Xu Yueling had always been arrogant because she was Xu's mother's biological daughter, and had never shown any kindness to the sisters in the paternal aunt. She didn't believe that she had become so kind and friendly in such a short time. But she didn't say anything, just sneered at Xu Yueling and said, "Alright, I know your personality. Take me to see the person. I want to know how much wealth your mother has to deceive me like this."

What could Xu Yueling say but put on a helpless expression, and led Liu Yin with a wry smile. As they walked, she tentatively asked, "I wonder who is singing those songs of Teacher Liu now?"

Liu Yin glanced at her meaningfully and said, "Where would you give it away? These days, it's being sung everywhere, isn't it?"

"How can they be the same? Not to mention the melody, even the lyrics aren't exactly the same. I only memorized parts of them back then. Now it doesn't sound as good as when you sang it. I heard that all these brothels are waiting for you to speak up." Xu Yueling's face showed a hint of embarrassment. After all, not only other brothels, but even Qingyintang was being asked by Xu's mother to practice this new song.

“Your sense of smell has always been very keen, so it doesn’t really matter which family you give it to.” Liu Yin smiled and didn’t say anything more.

Xu Yueling didn't say anything more, but just smiled and talked about the grand occasion she had attracted yesterday. She also mentioned that Qingyintang's popularity had grown even more because of this. Liu Yin didn't ignore her, but just dealt with her indifferently.

When the two arrived at Xu Mama's room, they saw two children who looked no more than seven or eight years old standing there. Liu Yin was taken aback for a moment, but then assumed they were new courtesans that Xu Mama had bought. She just sighed inwardly and then put the matter aside.

"Oh dear, our Lady Liu has finally arrived! Please, please sit down. I must beg you now." Madam Xu rarely showed such a fawning expression, which made Liu Yin tremble involuntarily.

"Mom, just tell me straight, how much of a kickback did you receive?" Liu Yin raised an eyebrow after sitting down, looking at Xu's mother with a half-smile on her face.

Mrs. Xu blushed slightly, looking at Liu Yin who seemed embarrassed as she held up two fingers. Liu Yin raised an eyebrow: "Two thousand?"

“Gold.” Mrs. Xu covered her face with her handkerchief, trying to hide her barely concealed smile.

Liu Yin stared at her in shock, sneered, and said directly, "Impressive, impressive. As expected of the Anle Prince's Mansion, they are indeed generous. Now, where are they?"

Without hesitation, Xu's mother smiled and pointed to the two children when Liu Yin agreed: "Look, these are them."