How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

"Madam, how is it?" Zhu Mei, who was waiting anxiously at home, rushed forward to ask when she saw Madam Liu return with people.

Madam Liu shook her head and sat down in the chair with a disappointed look on her face.

Zhu Mei's face turned pale. She hurriedly stepped forward and knelt in front of the madam: "Madam, the young lady is not in good health. This prison is dirty and damp. If the young lady gets hurt, we will regret it too late."

“How could I not know, but…” Madam Liu covered her face helplessly, sighed deeply, wiped away the tears in her eyes, and then said, “Zhu Mei, what is our status? To put it nicely, we are a moderately wealthy family; to put it bluntly, we are a brothel. What right do we have to interrupt?”

"Then..." Zhu Mei was about to speak anxiously when she was interrupted by Madam Liu.

“I know what you mean. I’ve been to the Shen family and the Zhang family, but they can’t do anything. The crime is just too serious. If they really investigate it, it could even be considered treason. The Anle Prince’s Mansion was raided, and many once wealthy families were implicated. But now, if you go and see, they’ve all been destroyed. Right now, the whole city is in a state of panic. We really have the will but not the power.”

"This... what should we do..." Zhu Mei slumped to the ground, her eyes filled with despair. Then, as if remembering something, she knelt and walked a few steps to Madam Liu. "Madam, why don't you let me go and say, say that I wrote the book and that the young lady published it for me?"

“How can that be?” Madam Liu immediately objected. “How can this be used to take the blame? Does she think her life is more valuable than yours? If Jianniang knew, she would definitely not agree to it.”

"Can……"

"Then I'll go!" Before Zhu Mei could finish speaking, another voice came from outside the door. Zhu Mei and Madam Liu looked up and saw Lan Yan and Mei Wu helping Luan Qin in.

It was Luanqin who spoke. She came into the room and said to everyone in a serious tone, "I'll go. I'll say that I corrected the book for you when I was proofreading it. This way, firstly, it won't make you look like Zhumei did, and secondly, it will save you from the blame."

“But…” Madam Liu was naturally unwilling and had to object.

"Madam!" Luanqin looked at her with tears in her eyes. "Madam, my life was saved by you, young lady. I was a cripple, but you allowed me to live and continue to learn to read and write. I know that the position of school secretary is not really necessary. It was only because you took pity on me that you gave me something to do so that I wouldn't be crippled. Your kindness to me is far beyond what a life can repay. Please grant my wish, Madam."

"No!" Madam Liu's eyes were also filled with tears. "I know your hearts, but I can't go against Jianniang's heart. She would rather die than use your lives to save herself. Don't worry, the Zhang family still has some resources. They have already sent a letter to the capital. I think... I think they should have a way."

Madam Liu sounded guilty, and everyone just took it as a consolation, especially Luanqin and Zhumei. Even Mei Wu offered to take her place, but she had one more reason than the others: she was in good health and could handle it.

During the argument, Aunt Qian, who had stayed at the Zhang family's house for a while, suddenly came in. She was taken aback by the scene and then hurriedly replied, "Madam, the heads of several shops in the city have suddenly come to the Zhang family. They said they admire the young lady's talent and they wanted to pool some money to make her more comfortable. The Zhang family asked us to come back and ask for our advice."

"This is a good thing. We should also contribute something. Go and see how much money you have at home and take it with you. Tell them that Madam Liu thanks everyone for their great kindness and will repay them in the future." Hearing Aunt Qian's words, Madam Liu realized that she should send some food and money in. Then she said to Zhu Mei and the others, "You don't need to mention your idea again. Go back and prepare some thick and soft bedding and clean clothes for your girls. That will be enough for you."

Mei Wuji and the others were naturally unwilling, but after Madam Liu's repeated refusal, they gave up the idea and had no choice but to go back to prepare things for Liu Yin.

The power of money is great. Liu Yin had only been in the cold and damp prison for less than a day when the jailers began to bring in soft bedding, delicious food, and even a dressing case.

In just one night, this shabby prison was transformed into a simple boudoir.

Therefore, Liu Yin became more and more certain of her guess. She was sure that the prefect had not sent her in just because of a few words, and there must be something else behind it.

"Master, the people in the capital clearly told us to suppress Liu Jianniang properly so that we could win her over later. Why are you sending things to her?" The prefect's steward, Sun, asked, equally puzzled.

"What's the state of that prison now?" Prefect Sun didn't answer him, but instead showed great interest in Liu Yin's current situation.

Steward Sun twitched his lips, thinking of the reply from his subordinates, and couldn't help but complain, "It's true that money can make the devil turn the millstone. That dilapidated place is now quite remarkable. Although it can't be called the residence of a lady from a prominent family, even an ordinary rich farmer's family couldn't create such a tidy boudoir."

"Then let them be." Prefect Sun continued with his official duties without a care in the world.

"What about the capital..." Butler Sun was still somewhat worried.

“What are you afraid of?” Prefect Sun glanced at him. “He told me to detain people, and I did. He ordered me to suppress Qingyintang, and I locked up all the mothers of Qingyintang. What else do you want? I am not his puppet.”

Upon hearing this, Steward Sun immediately sensed the dissatisfaction in the words and quickly lowered his head, saying nothing more. Seeing this, a strange look flashed in Prefect Sun's eyes, but he didn't say anything, only looking at the steward until he finally spoke after a long while: "Alright, Master, I know your loyalty, you may leave."

After hearing what he said, Steward Sun concealed the panic in his eyes, hurriedly bowed his head, knelt down to thank him, and repeatedly expressed his loyalty before retreating.

After he left, the prefect took out a letter that he had already written, called over the servant who had been running errands for him, gave him some detailed instructions, and then asked him to deliver the letter to Quanhe Trading Company.

The news from here had not yet reached the capital, where Li Linfeng was looking at the imperial edict with a troubled expression.

"My lord, why would His Majesty suddenly issue an edict ordering you to personally go to Qinhuai to select beauties? Didn't he say before..." His retainer looked at Li Linfeng with a puzzled expression.

"Mr. Zhang, which princes have entered the palace these past few days?" Li Linfeng didn't answer him, but instead asked another retainer.

“My lord, our men have been detected a lot, so the surveillance has been loosened these past few days. It seems that several princes have been inside. What do you think, my lord?” Zhang Menke hurriedly explained.

"This matter of violating literary taboos was originally a trap set by the First Prince for the Second Prince. But since the Second Prince has fallen into the trap and carried it out, and His Majesty has also issued an edict to me, then I should do my best," Li Linfeng pondered.

"What does Your Excellency mean?" another retainer pressed.

"You mean, sir, this is His Majesty's reprimand?" Zhang Menke understood at this moment.

“Our Emperor still prefers this kind of method.” Li Linfeng pointed at the imperial edict in his hand with some disdain, and then said meaningfully, “Since our Emperor thinks that I have not done a good job and wants to send me to Qinhuai to collect beauties for him, then I will go on this trip.”

"My lord, we finally managed to get it back..." The retainer's words were interrupted by Li Linfeng's gaze.

Li Linfeng looked at him and said, "Mr. Liu, our goal is real power, but our Emperor thinks that I am only suitable to be a plaything. Why not do as he wishes?"

"What does Your Excellency mean..." Liu Menke instantly realized.

“Yes, you can arrange it…” Li Linfeng smiled rather smugly.