Beijing-Weihai Canal.
It starts from Beiwei Mountain and ends at Jingyu River.
Going downstream at an extremely fast speed.
It would take at most three days to reach the outskirts of Kyoto.
At this time, at the riverside dock, many porters were carrying goods and loading them onto the cargo ships anchored on the shore.
In addition to cargo ships, there are also large and small passenger ships moored on the riverside.
For safety reasons, Qin Wen Zheng decided to take everyone in the Qin family on a large ship.
After all, there are many female volunteers and no guards.
Compared to those small boats, big ships are definitely more regular and safer.
In addition to Qin Wenzhen and his wife, Qin Chuan, Miss Qin and Luo Qingzhou, those who moved to Kyoto this time included seven maids and housekeeper Zhou and his family of three.
The other maids and the wet nurses were unwilling to leave their hometown, so they all stayed in Mo City and went to the residences or manors of the Second and Fourth Master Qin.
In this move, in addition to people, we also took some other things with us.
All the valuable things were put into Qin Chuan's storage bag.
In order to conceal their tracks, they also carried some clothes and food with them.
If you put everything into the storage bag, it will naturally arouse other people's suspicion.
After all, with so many people traveling, how could they all come empty-handed
Qin Wenzhen and Zhou Tong walked to the riverside, carefully observing and selecting the passenger ships.
As they were observing, several scholars in Confucian robes and holding folding fans ran past them in a panic and boarded a cruise ship.
The cruise ship was beautifully decorated, with colorful lights and flowers hanging on the outside. It had two floors and looked quite majestic and spacious, similar to the pleasure boats on the Mo River.
At the same time, melodious sound of piano was heard from the boat.
From time to time, guards in white tights would walk out from the upper and lower railings.
Qin Wenzheng and Zhou Tong looked at each other and said, "It looks like there are only scholars and artists on this cruise ship. There are no other quacks or merchants. There are also guards, so it should be relatively safe. Let's go and ask them where they are going."
The two men walked over and just as they stepped onto the steps, two burly men in tight clothes guarding the side of the boat immediately shouted, "What are you doing? This boat doesn't carry outsiders, leave immediately!"
Qin Wenzheng hurriedly stopped and bowed, saying, "I want to go to Kyoto with my family. I wonder if you can help me. The boat fare is not a problem."
One of the big men waved his hand impatiently and said, "I told you that this ship doesn't carry outsiders. Didn't you hear me? We don't need your fare. The people on this ship are all important people. We can't afford to offend them."
Another big man said, "There is a passenger ship over there, let's go take it."
Seeing that the two men were determined and had no room for maneuver, Qin Wenzhen had to turn around and leave with Zhou Tong.
Just after taking a few steps, a woman's crisp voice suddenly came from the boat: "What's going on?"
One of the big men hurriedly said respectfully: "Miss Yuan, those two people took their families to Kyoto and wanted to take our ship, but we sent them away."
Qin Wen Zheng looked back and saw a woman in a green dress, who was graceful and pretty, looking up at them.
Qin Wenzheng turned around quickly and said, "Miss, we are from Mo City and want to go to Kyoto. Since most of our team are women, we are afraid that the passenger ship may be mixed with good and bad people and it may not be safe, so we want to ask if your ship is carrying people. No offense."
Seeing that he had an extraordinary demeanor and did not look like an ordinary citizen, the woman in green smiled apologetically and said, "Sir, I am truly sorry. All the people sitting on our cruise ship are scholars from various places, and there are also a few talented people who are going to Kyoto to participate in the next spring imperial examination. They were all invited by my young lady herself, so it is inconvenient to accept outsiders."
Qin Wenzheng was moved when he heard this. He hesitated for a moment and said, "My dear lady, my son-in-law is also a scholar. I wonder if he can take a few female students on your boat?"
The boat is full of scholars, and there are also candidates going to Beijing to take the imperial examinations. It is definitely safer than any other passenger ship. If Qingzhou can take Jianjia and a few others on it, their pressure will be reduced a lot.
After all, they were short of manpower and there were too many female volunteers. The passenger ship was full of people from all walks of life from all corners of the world, and there were even many bad guys hiding among them. If something happened, they might not be able to take care of them.
The woman in green still politely refused after hearing this: "Sorry, my lady..."
"Hsinchu, this gentleman just said, where are they from?"
At this time, a girl in a light yellow dress came out of the boat with two maids.
The woman in green bowed quickly, thought for a moment, and said, "It seems to be Mo Cheng."
The girl's expression slightly changed. She looked at Qin Wenzheng on the shore and asked crisply, "Is this gentleman the Mo Cheng who sang "Song of Water Melody"?"
Qin Wenzheng said quickly: "That's right."
The girl's eyes lit up, and she said politely, "This gentleman just said that your son-in-law is also a scholar. Can you let him come over and say a few words?"
Qin Wen Zheng looked at Zhou Tong behind him.
Zhou Tong hurriedly said, "Wait a moment, girl!"
After saying that, he immediately ran away.
Not long after, Luo Qingzhou followed behind him and walked over.
It was dusk and the setting sun was shining on the pier.
Bathed in the golden sunset, he walked gracefully to Qin Wen Zheng's side.
When the girl saw him in a Confucian robe, with a tall figure, a handsome and elegant appearance, and a gentle manner, she couldn't help but say in her heart: What a handsome young man!
The girl immediately said, "Sir, since you are from Mo City, have you ever heard of the poems that have spread from Mo City? For example, "Song of Water Melody", "Ode to the Plum Blossoms at the Broken Bridge Outside the Post Station", and "The Clouds Think of Clothes and the Flowers Think of Face"? "
Luo Qingzhou bowed and said, "Of course I have heard of it?"
The girl asked quickly, "Sir, do you know their author?"
Luo Qingzhou said: "I have never seen it."
The girl was a little disappointed when she heard this, but she still smiled and said, "Since you are a scholar and are going to Kyoto, you can naturally board my ship. It just so happens that I have something else to ask you."
Luo Qingzhou took a look at the ship, then turned and asked, "Father-in-law, do we want this ship?"
Qin Wenzheng showed a trace of embarrassment on his face. Just as he was about to speak, the girl apologized, "There are not too many guest rooms on the ship. You can only bring two people up at most."
Qin Wenzheng immediately whispered, "Qingzhou, take Jianjia and Xiachan up. Xiachan can protect you. Your mother-in-law and I will take the passenger ship. Without you, your second brother and I will have less pressure."
Luo Qingzhou hesitated for a moment, looked at the girl in the yellow skirt on the boat and said, "Miss, can we take a few more people with us?"
Seeing him getting too far, the girl felt unhappy and shook her head, apologetically saying, "Sir, I'm so sorry. I've already said that there aren't many guest rooms on the ship, and you can only..."
"Luo Jieyuan!"
At this moment, three scholars suddenly walked out of the cabin, and one of them shouted with surprise on his face.
The girl was stunned when she heard this, and was secretly shocked: Jie Yuan
The scholar quickly introduced: "Miss Tang, this is Luo Jieyuan whom I told you about. He is the first place winner in Mo City in this imperial examination."
A hint of surprise appeared on Tang Yan'er's face, and she looked at the young man on the shore again.
Luo Qingzhou found the thin scholar familiar. After thinking carefully, he realized that he was one of the people who went to visit him at Qin's house after passing the imperial examination that day. His name seemed to be Kong Zhe.
"Brother Kong, what a coincidence."
He also bowed and greeted.
Kong Zhe said enthusiastically, "Brother Luo, are you also going to Kyoto? That's right, come on board quickly, there are quite a few candidates from our state on this boat."
Tang Yan'er asked quickly, "How many people are there in Young Master Luo's family?"
Luo Qingzhou cupped his hands and said, "Seventeen people."
When these words came out, even Kong Zhe was surprised: "Brother Luo, why did you bring so many people?"
Luo Qingzhou replied: "I am planning to move to Kyoto to live with my relatives."
Kong Zhe suddenly realized, "So the whole family is moving, which is good news. But this boat..."
He glanced at Miss Tang next to him, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, and he didn't dare to say anything more.
After all, it's someone else's boat and he has no say in it.
Tang Yan'er said with embarrassment: "Master Luo, seventeen people are really too many, how about..."
Qin Wenzheng said quickly: "Miss, don't worry. Let Qingzhou take the five girls up. What do you think?"
Tang Yan'er heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "If you bring five people, there will be no problem."
Qin Wenzheng immediately whispered, "Qingzhou, take Jianjia and the other two, as well as Xiaodie and Qiu'er with you. You are on a cruise ship, so it may be slower. We will wait for you at the dock."
Luo Qingzhou thought that it would not be safe for seventeen people to take a passenger ship, so he nodded and agreed.
Qin Wen Zheng immediately took Zhou Tong and left in a hurry.
Not long after, he came over with Miss Qin and a few others, and there was another person following behind them.
Qin Wenzheng came closer and said awkwardly: "Qingzhou, your mother-in-law is worried about Jianjia and wants to stay with her."
Luo Qingzhou glanced into his eyes and heard him complaining in his heart: What a fool, at this time, you are still afraid that this kid will run away. You are about to meet Wei Mo, even if you whip him with a whip at this time, do you think he will run away? Will he be willing to do it
Luo Qingzhou: “…”
Song Ruyue glanced at him guiltily and said, "Qiu'er said she wanted to take a passenger ship, so she took the initiative to switch with me..."
When Luo Qingzhou saw that Qiu'er didn't follow him, he understood what was going on. Without saying anything more, he stepped onto the steps.
Qin Wenzheng hurriedly whispered, "Bai Ling, Xia Chan, I leave it to you."
Bai Ling smiled and said, "Master, don't worry. Chanchan and I promise to complete the task and won't let them lose a single hair."
"Mr. Luo, please!"
Tang Yan'er smiled widely and glanced at the girls behind him.
Miss Qin was wearing a veil, so her true appearance could not be seen, but the two girls behind her were both first-rate beauties.
Even that young woman was extraordinary beautiful and full of charm.
Kong Zhe and the other two scholars were also stunned, secretly envious in their hearts: "So many pretty girls, I'm afraid they are all the wives and concubines of Luo Jieyuan. Such good fortune is really enviable!"
Tang Yan'er personally led them into the cabin, went up to the second floor, and assigned them rooms first.
"Mr. Luo, there are two guest rooms connected. The beds are quite big, so it's no problem for three people to sleep in each room. Do you think it's enough? If not..."
As he said that, he opened the door and let him take a look.
Luo Qingzhou was about to speak when Bailing quickly said, "That's enough, that's enough. It's good enough to have two guest rooms to sleep in. I dare not trouble my sister again."
Tang Yan'er smiled: "It's not a big deal. If it's not enough, I'll ask the maid to make another room. But there may be more people getting on board later. If it's not enough, let them squeeze in with the others."
After hearing her say this, Luo Qingzhou felt embarrassed to ask for more and just bowed to thank her.
Tang Yan'er smiled and said, "I guess you are tired too, right? Then I won't bother you. You can go back to your room and rest for a while, and then come down for dinner. There will be performances in the lobby on the first floor tonight. Mr. Luo, there may also be a poetry gathering. When the time comes, I will be very happy to see Luo Jieyuan's talent."
Luo Qingzhou didn't say much, just bowed and thanked him again.
Tang Yan'er smiled and retreated with her maid.
Song Ruyue suddenly asked in a low voice: "How much is the fare? The master didn't tell me. This ship is so luxurious, it probably won't be cheap, right?"
Bai Ling laughed and said, "Don't worry, Madam. With the son-in-law here, you may not have to spend a penny."
When Song Ruyue heard this, she looked at her suspiciously, then looked at someone else, and suddenly a hint of vigilance appeared in her eyes.
Luo Qingzhou didn't dare to stay any longer, so he walked into the room and said, "I'm a little tired, let's take a rest."
Xiaodie followed in naturally.
After entering the room, she suddenly came to her senses, turned around quickly, looked at the four people outside, and blinked.
It seems that one room can only sleep three people.
The four of them stood outside and suddenly fell silent.