After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 606 Shocked
Jin Jiashu didn't think there was anything special about this question. He just thought he was chatting with Haitang.

His mind had just experienced a shock and was only beginning to calm down. He couldn't think of too much for the time being.

Therefore, he answered Haitang's question without thinking, "Brother Hai and you have always given me advice, and many of your ideas are very detailed and thoughtful. After hearing what I said, Mama kept praising you for your carefulness."

He gave an example. When he chose a room for Ma Shangyi, he gave up the more convenient south room because the south room had no sunlight and was very humid, which was not friendly to someone like Ma Shangyi who had lived in the palace for decades. Because the palace was also very humid, her waist and legs might have problems. If she continued to live in a humid room, she would have difficulty walking in a few years.

Jin Jiashu had not thought that there would be a problem with moisture in the south room, but the Hai brothers and sisters suggested it, so he arranged for Ma Shangyi to move to the east wing, which had better lighting and ventilation conditions, and added windows to the east wing. Ma Shangyi had been to the Jin family before and knew that the original house was not like this. Seeing that he had made so many changes to his own residence, she naturally asked why. After Jin Jiashu told her his considerations, she praised the Hai brothers and sisters for their thoughtfulness.

She also said, "I didn't expect that the Hai family's brother and sister could see that my legs and feet were not good and I had rheumatism for many years. I never showed it in front of others and I thought I had covered it up well. Now that I think about it, I'm not as good at covering it up as I thought. I've already revealed the flaws. I'm afraid that many people who have seen me know it well and have laughed at me privately for trying too hard, right?"

Jin Jiashu comforted her repeatedly at that time, saying that he didn't see any flaws at all. If Ma Shangyi hadn't admitted it herself, he would have thought that the Hai brothers and sisters' proposal was groundless. Who would have thought that they actually guessed it right?

Most people would think that the houses in the palace couldn't be better. Even if the houses of the palace servants were not as bright as those of the empress dowager, the emperor, and the concubines, there was no reason for a trusted palace servant and high-ranking female official like Ma Shangyi to live in a damp house for decades. Jin Jiashu didn't know how the Hai brothers and sisters came up with this idea. He thought that the cause of Uncle Ma's leg disease was the reason for them to have this idea.

But after hearing this, Ma Shangyi obviously had a different opinion.

Are the houses where the imperial ladies lived the same as the tents where the officers lived during the war in the northwest frontier? Even if the Hai brothers and sisters' great-uncle was Xie Wenzai, the top scholar who was demoted from the capital to the northwest more than 30 years ago, there was no reason for him to know about the buildings in the harem. How did they guess this?
Jin Jiashu only thought that this was evidence that the Hai brothers and sisters were extremely intelligent, but Haitang was secretly shocked when she heard it.

How did she know that the rooms where the ladies-in-waiting lived in the Cining Palace were very damp? Of course, it was because she had lived there before!

Although she had served the Empress Dowager instead of the Empress Dowager when she first entered the palace as a maid in her previous life, she had also seen the houses where the female officials and the senior maids lived. She had inquired with Wu Qiong and found that the layout of the Cining Palace had not changed much in the past fifty or sixty years, and only some houses had been renovated, so the residences of the female officials and the senior maids must still have the problems of poor lighting, poor ventilation, and heavy moisture.

As for the fact that Ma Shangyi was good at concealing her disease and did not show any symptoms of rheumatism...it was not like she had not seen the respectable old female officials in the palace who pretended to be healthy and walked normally, for fear that once they got old and sick, they would be sent out of the palace by their masters in the name of honor, and would never again be as glorious as before...Ma Shangyi's usual walking posture was very familiar to her.

Haitang sighed in her heart. She relied on the fact that Chang'an was far enough from the capital, and she did not expect the arrival of the palace ladies. She was too casual in her words and deeds. The flaws that were accidentally revealed could arouse Ma Shangyi's suspicion at any time. She had to think of a way to evade it...

Thinking of this, she lowered her voice and said to Jin Jiashu, "I corresponded with Sister Wu, and she told me that many of the rooms in the Cining Palace are damp. Her mother, Madam Gui, complained about this a lot, saying that during the years they lived in the palace, they were trapped in the small courtyard and couldn't move around. They had many illnesses, but couldn't see a doctor..."

Putting the blame on Madam Gui, Jin Jiashu understood immediately: "I've heard about this lady. She often complains, right? My aunt has always been respectful to her, but she has never taken my aunt seriously. Even though my aunt has been made a concubine, she always treats my aunt as a palace maid and never speaks to her with respect."

Jin Jiashu had a very bad impression of Madam Gui. He and Wu Ke were classmates, and seeing the clear signs of being oppressed and treated coldly for many years on Wu Ke, he sympathized with her and hated Madam Gui as a person. It seemed that the matter was evaded?

Seeing that Jin Jiashu had no suspicion, Haitang changed the subject: "The lady is ill now and can no longer speak out in public. We don't need to pay attention to her. Mammy likes regular patterns, but does she like to add embroidery to her clothes as decoration? I want to add a border to her bodice and trim it."

Jin Jiashu knew nothing about these needlework matters, and only said: "Sister Hai, just do whatever you want. You have always been good at sewing, and Mammy trusts you very much. I think she will like whatever you do. She also said that your needlework skills are outstanding!"

Haitang blinked and raised her guard: "Did Mammy praise my needlework?"

"Yes, they say your needlework is very special. It's hard to find another person like you in Chang'an." After saying this, Jin Jiashu felt that it was a bit exaggerated and said with a smile, "Ma Ma should be praising your extraordinary talent. I think she is right."

Haitang deliberately showed a shy expression: "This is too much praise, I dare not admit it. Ma Ma said so, I almost believe it is true."

"Then just take it as the truth." Jin Jiashu said with a smile, "Mammy always speaks with reason and evidence, and she won't say polite words for no reason to coax people. Since she said so, it shows that Sister Hai is indeed very outstanding!"

"What's outstanding?" Haijiao pushed the door open and just heard the end of the conversation, "What are you talking about? Xiao Jin came here without telling me."

Haitang stood up and offered her brother a seat: "Brother, have you finished your shower? Are you ready for dinner? Brother Jin came to look for you just now, but he saw you were showering, so he didn't bother you. Let's just chat and kill time."

Haijiao replied casually: "I just ate something. Why did Xiaojin come to see me at this time? Is there something urgent?"

Jin Jiashu's mood had calmed down. He didn't intend to bother Hai Jiao with the topic of Aunt Jin anymore. He just said casually, "Nothing, nothing to do tonight. Grandma Hai went to talk to Nanny, so I came to chat with you."

Haitang gave the west wing study to the two of them, turned around and walked out of the door, returning to the room in the backyard.

As soon as she entered her room, her expression changed immediately.

She only sewed a few stitches on Ma's needlework at the Jin family, and she used the most ordinary needlework. What's the problem? Why did Ma Shangyi feel special? !
What on earth is Ma Shangyi doubting? !

(End of this chapter)