The cruise ship docked.
The sky is full of sunset glow and the flowers on the river are like fire.
At the ferry crossing where the setting sun was shining, a delicate girl in a white dress stood conspicuously at the front, protected by everyone.
A young man in a Confucian robe came down from the boat and walked straight towards her.
The two looked at each other, as if they had thousands of words to say.
But at this moment, I couldn't utter a word.
The girl seemed to want to run towards him, but when she saw the figure behind him, she held back.
She stood there, supported by her maid, her face was pale and bloodless, but her eyes were bright as stars.
"Second Miss."
The boy stopped in front of her.
"Brother-in-law..."
She whispered softly, her eyes tender and affectionate.
The two looked at each other with deep affection. Just as they were about to hold each other's hands, a young woman suddenly came out from behind the boy and reminded him, "You can't call me brother-in-law anymore."
The girl was startled, and looked at the snow-white figure not far behind the boy. She was silent for a moment, and said softly: "Brother Qingzhou."
In the end, she did not reach out her hand and place it in his palm, nor did she throw herself into his arms and give him the most passionate kiss as she had imagined countless times before.
"Let's go. I'm tired."
Seeing that the two men were still standing there stupidly, Song Ruyue was afraid that they could not help but do something impolite. She was also afraid that her eldest daughter behind them would feel embarrassed, so she hurriedly urged them to leave.
Qin Wenzheng also said: "Let's go, if you have anything to say, let's talk about it when we get back."
Just as the group was about to leave, an anxious and tender voice suddenly came from the boat: "Master Luo, wait a moment!"
A young girl in a pale blue dress ran out of the cabin with a piece of rice paper in her hand, looking anxious. She was only wearing silk stockings and didn't even have time to put on shoes. She panted and said, "Master Luo, can Huayue say a few words to you?"
"Painting the moon?"
"Miss Huayue, the courtesan of Kyoto Tianxiang Pavilion?"
The people who were getting off the ferry or picking up other people all had expressions of surprise and excitement on their faces, and they all looked over there.
There are big stars in every era, and in Kyoto, this Miss Huayue is one of them.
Even many unmarried women regard her as an idol.
In this era, not all women in brothels sell their bodies, they also support many popular artists.
Those who are chosen as the oiran all possess absolute talent and charm.
In addition to her high attainments in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, Huayue was also able to dance and act on stage, and had performed at royal banquets many times.
Even in the aristocratic circle, he is very popular.
At this time, the cruise ship suddenly appeared at the ferry, which naturally attracted the attention and excitement of many people.
Tang Yan'er and Bai Yulou, who were talking at the railing outside the cabin, heard the voice and hurried over.
Huayue was holding up the hem of her skirt, holding a piece of rice paper in her hand. She was barefoot and looking anxiously at the crowd on the ferry. She seemed to want to chase after them on the step, but was stopped by two maids behind her.
There were too many people at the ferry, and they didn't dare let her go on.
After hearing her cry, Mr. Luo just looked back and walked away quickly, with no intention of stopping at all.
Huayue stood at the stepping stone leading to the shore, staring blankly at the figure walking away quickly, as if wondering if she had shouted too softly just now and the other party might not have heard her.
Tang Yan'er hurried over and asked, "Huayue, what's wrong?"
Huayue came back to her senses and quickly grabbed her hand and asked, "Did you keep the address of Mr. Luo?"
Tang Yan'er was stunned and asked, "Which Mr. Luo?"
Then he realized, "Oh, are you talking about Mr. Luo from the Qin family in Mocheng? Oops, I forgot. I was just talking to Mr. Bai."
Huayue was stunned.
Bai Yulou came up quickly and saluted, saying, "Miss Huayue, I am Bai Yulou from Jiangnan. I have admired you for a long time. The poem I wrote last night..."
"Mr. Bai, I'm going to go back and put on my shoes first."
Huayue was in no mood to listen to him continue. She lowered her head slightly and turned to go into the cabin.
Bai Yulou's expression froze for a moment before she asked, "Miss Tang, who is that Mr. Luo?"
Tang Yan'er was full of confusion and said, "The son-in-law of the Qin family in Mocheng. Strange, why is Huayue so excited all of a sudden? Mr. Bai, excuse me, I have to go in and take a look."
After saying that, he hurried into the cabin.
Bai Yulou stood alone at the railing, frowning and lost in thought.
Everyone in the Qin family got on the carriage.
There were four carriages in total.
Luo Qingzhou, Miss Qin II, Song Ruyue, as well as Nangong Meijiao and Zhuer Meier were sitting in the same carriage.
Miss Qin and Bailing and others took the initiative to sit in the carriage at the back.
Qin Wenzhen, Qin Chuan and others sat in the third carriage.
In the last carriage sat the maids.
Four carriages were lined up in front and behind, driving towards the city.
Not long after they started driving, Qin Weimo couldn't help but ask, "Sister... Brother Qingzhou, was that Miss Huayue just now? I often hear people talking about her in Kyoto. How did you provoke her again?"
Luo Qingzhou replied: "I didn't provoke her. I haven't even seen her or spoken to her. If you don't believe me, ask my mother-in-law."
Song Ruyue rolled her eyes and said, "I asked you to write a poem so sloppily, why did you write it so well? Someone must have seen the poem you wrote."
Luo Qingzhou wanted to argue a few words, but after thinking it over, he gave up.
Qin Weimo chuckled and said, "With my brother-in-law's talent, even if he writes a mediocre piece, it will definitely be a top-notch masterpiece."
Then he deliberately asked, "Brother-in-law, someone just called you to talk, why didn't you answer him?"
Luo Qingzhou glanced at her and said, "I don't know her."
Qin Weimo smiled and said, "That Miss Huayue is very famous in Kyoto. She is the most famous courtesan in Tianxiang Pavilion. Many scholars in Kyoto want to meet her but are unable to do so. My brother-in-law actually refused. What a pity."
Luo Qingzhou knew that she was teasing him on purpose, so he said nothing.
Song Ruyue secretly remembered the name "Tianxiang Pavilion" and decided to stay away from there in the future.
"Cough... cough cough..."
Qin Weimo was about to speak when he suddenly started coughing again.
Zhu'er, who was standing by, hurriedly took out a handkerchief and put it in front of her mouth.
A trace of blood rushed to Qin Weimo's pale cheek. After panting for a while, he calmed down, took away the handkerchief, and said softly, "I'm fine."
Zhu Er said with tears in her eyes: "Miss, but you all..."
"Pearl."
Qin Weimo glanced at her.
Zhu'er bit her lip and said nothing more, tears welling up in her eyes.
Song Ruyue said with a worried look on her face: "Wei Mo, you don't look very good. Are you sick again recently?"
Qin Weimo smiled and said, "Mom, I'm fine. I just cough occasionally."
Zhu'er was crying silently.
It's not just an occasional cough. He's clearly coughing up blood frequently, and it's getting worse recently.
Luo Qingzhou suddenly asked: "Second Miss, have you finished taking the medicine?"
The medicine he was talking about was naturally the medicine he gave.
Qin Weimo said softly: "There are some others, I only take them when I feel really uncomfortable. The medicine is very effective. Every time I take it, Weimo feels much better."
At this time, Princess Nangong, who had been silent all the time, suddenly spoke up: "Recently, Wei Mo not only has to write books and run the store, but also has to look for a new house. He's been too busy and sometimes can't sleep all night. He has fainted twice this month."
As soon as these words came out, Song Ruyue's face suddenly changed, and she said in a trembling voice: "Wei Mo, fainted again? Why didn't you tell mother?"
Qin Weimo said softly: "It's okay, maybe it's just too tiring, I will go to bed early these few days."
Song Ruyue felt heavy in her heart.
She knew her daughter's condition very well; it was clearly getting worse.
Once in Mo City, the doctor said with certainty that she would not live more than a month, but she survived. She thought a miracle had happened and her daughter's condition might get better, but now it seems that it has only been delayed for some time and the disease is still there.
No telling when...
Her eyes turned red and her voice choked up: "Wei Mo, you should have a good rest and stop working so hard. This time our family moved here just to treat your illness. Don't worry, your father will definitely find a good doctor to cure you."
Nangong Meijiao said: "My father found an imperial physician from the palace to examine Wei Mo, and the situation is not optimistic. Aunt, the doctor may be useless, you need to find someone else."
Song Ruyue quickly asked: "Meijiao, do you know who you are looking for?"
Nangong Meijiao said, "I heard from the imperial physician that there is a senior monk in the Jinchan Temple who seemed to have treated this kind of disease. But the senior monk hasn't left the temple for a long time, and even the people in the temple haven't seen him for a long time. It is said that he has been in seclusion for decades. My father went to look for him last time, but unfortunately he didn't see him either."
Song Ruyue immediately said, "Is Jinchan Temple in Kyoto? We will go look for it tomorrow. No matter what the cost, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will never give up."
Nangong Meijiao nodded and said, "It's on Jinchan Mountain outside the city. I'll go with you tomorrow."
She sighed secretly in her heart.
In fact, there was no chance at all. The eminent monk couldn't even invite the late emperor out when he was ill, let alone them.
But she always had to give them some hope, and also give some hope to the sick girl beside them.
Only with hope can she have the motivation to continue living.
Song Ruyue held her daughter's cold little hand, looked at her pale face and thin body, and felt extremely distressed. She said softly: "Wei Mo, don't be afraid, mother will definitely invite that monk to come out and treat you. You will be fine, when you get better..."
She suddenly choked up and couldn't continue. She wiped her tears, looked at the boy next to her and said, "Luo Qingzhou, don't you have anything to say to Wei Mo?"
Luo Qingzhou was silent for a moment, then looked at the sickly girl beside him and suddenly said, "Second Miss, let's get married, shall we? Let your parents-in-law choose a good day, and we'll get married. I'll still marry into your family, and the family will listen to you from now on, and I'll always be with you, okay?"
Qin Weimo was stunned, and tears suddenly filled his eyes.