How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

"Fu'an, go and tell Madam that I will be setting off for Qinhuai on official business in three days, and I need to bring some people with me." After seeing off the two retainers, Li Linfeng sat in his study and pondered for a long time before instructing his servants to make the arrangements.

Fu'an, who was outside the door, did not come in. He only responded from outside before turning around and going to the backyard.

The main courtyard where Madam Li lived was not too far from the study. In no time, he arrived at the main courtyard, but before he could enter, he was stopped by the head maidservant who served Madam Li: "Madam is worshipping Buddha and is not receiving guests at this time."

Fu'an frowned and said politely to the head maid, "Please inform Madam that Master said he will be setting off for Qinhuai on official business in three days and needs to bring people with him."

Hearing Fu'an's words, Qingque showed no expression, only nodding politely at the door: "Thank you for informing me. I will tell you after Madam finishes her Buddhist rituals."

"Well... then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Qingque." Fu'an knew that if he waited here, he would probably have to wait at least an hour or two, so he smiled and said to Qingque.

Qingque said nothing, only bowed and then returned to her original position to guard it.

Just as Fu'an had expected, it wasn't until more than an hour later that Madam Li's door opened, and a head maidservant appeared inside. She quickly walked up to Qingque and said, "Qingque, Madam wants you to come in and give her a report."

"Alright, then Qingluan, you stay here and keep watch." Qingque nodded and stepped aside.

Qingluan didn't say anything, just nodded in agreement, and went to the spot where Qingque had been, cautiously watching the outsider.

Qingque carefully walked to the door and gently knocked a few times until she heard a sound from inside before pushing the door open and going in.

"What brings you here, Fu'an?" The room was extremely empty. Apart from an embroidered bed, a dressing table, and a wardrobe, there was nothing else. The remaining space was arranged into a small Buddhist shrine.

"Reporting to Madam..." Qingque recounted what had just happened.

"Heh, I understand." Madam Li knelt before the Buddhist hall, a mocking look on her face. After a moment's thought, she said, "Go to Lan Garden and have the fifteenth and sixteenth girls get ready to go with the master."

When Qingque saw that she closed her eyes and began reciting Buddhist scriptures after she finished speaking, she knew that she had nothing more to say, so she nodded and went to Lanyuan to inform her.

After the sound of her footsteps faded away, Madam Li stopped turning the prayer beads in her hand, opened her eyes and looked at the Guanyin statue in front of her. Countless struggles flashed in her eyes before she sighed deeply and murmured, "Forgive me, forgive me."

As usual, Qingque went to Lanyuan with her clothes on.

The Orchid Garden mentioned by Madam Li is located in a courtyard quite far from the main courtyard. The Orchid Garden is not large, but it is crammed with about a dozen courtyards of various sizes.

When Qingque came in carrying the things, the old woman guarding the door hurriedly came up to greet her: "Oh dear, Miss Qingque has come to bring people. How many are you taking this time?"

Qingque glanced at her and said with a half-smile, "Mother Wu is talking too much. I am here on Madam's orders to ask the fifteenth and sixteenth girls to leave."

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Wu's mother's face after she said that, and she hurriedly went inside to call for help after she explained her purpose.

Qingque stopped her, saying, "Alright, Mama Wu, I'll go and talk to her myself this time."

Seeing her say that, Wu's mother had no choice but to reluctantly push the door open and step aside, as she was about to step inside.

Qingque didn't say much to her and went straight into the Orchid Garden. An old woman was already standing in the courtyard. When she saw Qingque, she respectfully stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, Miss Qingque. May I ask what instructions the Madam has for you?"

"Grandma Liu, Madam has asked Miss Fifteen and Miss Sixteen to go out with Master. These are their clothes and jewelry." Qingque also bowed respectfully and handed over the clothes in her hands.

"Then I'll go tell the two young ladies to get ready." Granny Liu took the clothes and was about to leave.

After delivering the gifts, Qingque turned and left. Before leaving, she didn't forget to tell Grandma Liu, "Grandma Liu, please take good care of the two young ladies. They will be setting off in three days."

Grandma Liu readily agreed, and Qingque turned and left without saying anything more.

The next day, another nanny from Lanyuan sent word that the fifteenth young lady had suddenly developed a rash on her face and was probably unable to accompany them. As a last resort, Madam Li had to send Qingque to personally select a new girl.

Qingque readily agreed. She brought the medicine to Lanyuan early in the morning. By then, the gatekeeper had been replaced by a more honest old woman. The old woman didn't dare to say anything and went into her room after opening the door.

Qingque entered the courtyard and said directly to Grandma Liu, whose face was cold and hard, "Please let the girls come out and meet us, Grandma."

"Yes." Granny Liu nodded without hesitation, then walked to the covered walkway and rang a copper bell.

As the bell rang, about twenty girls emerged from the room one after another. They ranged in age from seven or eight to seventeen or eighteen, with the fifteen- and sixteen-year-old girls mentioned by Madam Li being the most beautiful.

Seeing that the young ladies had all come out, Qingque relayed Madam Li's instructions and carefully repeated them: "The fact that you young ladies have such good days is a blessing from the master. I hope you will take good care of yourselves and not get injured or sick before going out again, otherwise I will not be able to explain to the master."

After Qingque finished speaking, she saw the fear in the eyes of the older girls and sighed inwardly, but still said, "Since the fifteenth girl has contracted rubella and cannot go out, then..."

Several older girls stared at her expectantly, their eyes full of rejection, hoping that someone else's name would come out of her mouth.

After thinking carefully for a moment, Qingque said to a girl whose appearance was slightly less attractive, "Fourteenth Miss, you can go then."

Upon hearing this, Fourteen's eyes dimmed instantly, and her face betrayed her refusal and fear. However, this was something she could not refuse, so she could only sadly agree, "Yes, thank you, sir, thank you, Miss Qingque."

"Which ones from Lanyuan are going with us?" Li Linfeng sorted through the documents he needed to take before remembering to ask about his previous arrangements.

“Madam originally selected two girls, the fifteenth and the sixteenth, but…” Fu’an hesitated.

"What?" Li Linfeng asked.

“Yesterday, the Fifteenth Miss developed hives on her face, so the Madam has replaced her with the Fourteenth Miss,” Fu’an said.

"Okay, I understand," Li Linfeng said nonchalantly, then added as if he had just remembered something, "Go back and tell Madam that I've arranged a marriage for Fifteen, and she'll make the arrangements later."

"Yes, sir." Fu'an respectfully withdrew.

When Lan Yuan's fifteenth daughter saw that Qing Que had chosen the fourteenth daughter, she breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered the bed curtains, carefully looked at the medicine bottle in her hand, and murmured with some guilt, "I'm sorry, fourteenth sister, I didn't mean to."

That very evening, however, the wedding dress delivered by Qingque filled the fifteenth girl with despair. She looked at Grandma Liu in disbelief and asked, "Grandma, how can I get married looking like this? Please tell Madam."

Grandma Liu looked at her coldly, her lips twitching slightly: "Fifteenth Miss, don't worry, the physician has examined her, she'll be fine in two days. Although she won't be able to go to Qinhuai in time, she can still get married. Miss, please prepare yourself, you will be married in seven days."

Ignoring the fifteenth girl's despair, she put down her wedding dress and ornaments, then turned and left.

Looking at the so-called wedding dress, which was nothing more than a red dress without any decorations and not very well made, Fifteen knew in her heart what her so-called marriage would be like...