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

Chapter 717 Hurtful Words

Ma Shangyi was slow to respond.

This kind of thing was not something she could decide, but she knew in her heart that Concubine Xu was looking forward to her eldest son's success. As long as Jin Jiashu could pass the imperial examination and enter the officialdom of the capital, Concubine Xu would ensure that he would rise to prominence and live a life of wealth and glory. Only in this way could she make up for the debt she owed to her eldest son for more than ten years.

Concubine Xu did put the Eighth Prince first in everything, and the eldest son had to stand aside, but that was because she knew in her heart that only if the Eighth Prince could ascend the throne smoothly, they would have a future, and the eldest son would also have a good future, otherwise, nothing would matter. For the sake of this matter going smoothly, it was nothing to let the eldest son suffer a few years of grievances. But she would give the eldest son the best treatment in the future to compensate for his grievances.

In recent years, Ma Shangyi has sent many copies of Jin Jiashu's articles to the palace. Concubine Xu was well aware of the talent of her eldest son, and her expectations for him became higher and higher. She was convinced that he had the qualifications to enter the cabinet and become a prime minister, and she wanted to pave the way for his future. Not to mention marriage, she had already planned the selection of the chief examiner for his imperial examination that year, as well as the official position he would take after entering the government.

Concubine Xu Xian did not ask Jin Jiashu's opinion. She thought he was still a child who needed his mother's care. He grew up in the countryside. Although he had studied for a few years, he lived in Chang'an and had little contact with outsiders. He had limited experience and did not understand official affairs at all. She wanted to take care of everything for him, hoping that her eldest son would not have to worry about anything. She never thought that Jin Jiashu did not want to go that way at all.
Jin Jiashu wanted to live a quiet life and didn't want a high position. Was this true? If he insisted on doing so, Concubine Xu would not force him to become a high-ranking official. She would just feel sad. However, young people are not stable. What if Jin Jiashu regrets it in the future?
Ma Shangyi thought, if she hadn't been selfish and wanted to help the daughter of the Hai family get a good marriage and promote the marriage between Haitang and Wu Ke, Jin Jiashu might have continued to be obedient, right? If Concubine Xu knew the truth, would she blame her for being nosy?

Ma Shangyi was silent for a long time before she spoke: "Brother, you have to think it over. Do you really not want wealth and glory? You said these words in front of Nanny today because of the girl from the Hai family. If you regret it in the future, will you blame Haitang instead? You have to know that the Hai family has never thought of marrying the girl to you, and Haitang treats you as a brother. You just have unrequited love for her and have never asked the Hai family for their opinion. What if Madam Xu misunderstood the Hai family? What will you do? If you drag the Hai family into this for no reason because of your resentment, you will be so sorry for the kindness the Hai family has shown you!"

Jin Jiashu paused, then said, "Mammy, are you worried that my aunt will resent the Hai family for having a good girl, and that I will not listen to her and marry the daughter of a rich family that she likes? I thought my aunt was a reasonable person, and she wouldn't have any bad opinions about the Hai family for such a thing. Don't say that the Hai family has never thought of marrying their daughter to me, it's just my own wishful thinking. Even if they have thought about it, for the kindness of saving my life time and time again, and the care and concern they have shown me over the years, it is only natural for me to repay them with my own body, and even giving them my life as compensation is not a problem. I think the Hai family is better than my own relatives, and I treat them as my own relatives in my heart. If my aunt really loves me, what reason do she have to blame the Hai family?"

To be honest, Jin Jiashu felt that the Hai family treated him no worse than his "aunt". Even though they were not related by blood, the Hai family could do this, so why was it surprising that he felt closer to the Hai family?

Ma Shangyi couldn't help but raise her hands to cover her face: "Don't say that casually! If Madam Xu really knew that you are closer to the Hai family than to her, she would be very sad! If she is sad, the emperor and the eighth prince will also have a hard time. If they are resentful of you, how can you live a good life in the future? If you don't want to cause trouble for yourself, be honest and don't say such things in front of others!"

Jin Jiashu raised his eyebrows and felt more at ease. Judging from what Ma Shangyi said, no matter who was above her or what selfish thoughts she had, she was more or less biased towards him. As long as she would stand on his side, things would be easier to handle later.

Thinking of this, he said, "Mammy, if you think these words are inappropriate, I won't tell anyone again. But I still hope you can let my aunt know that I am close to the Hai family, trust the Hai family, and appreciate the Hai family's care and concern for me. I...actually, I hope to be neighbors with the Hai family forever, or to form a closer relationship. You can also tell my aunt that I like the girl of the Hai family in my heart, but the Hai family treats me as their own grandson and has never thought of marrying their granddaughter to me. Not long ago, I almost discussed the marriage with Wu Ke, which made me sleepless. You thought I was depressed and sad because I failed the provincial examination, but later you realized that I was suffering from lovesickness. Although I promised to stay in Chang'an to study for two more years and was willing to enter the prefectural school, the old man of the Hai family may be promoted to Beijing next year, and he also plans to find a husband for his granddaughter in Beijing or Zhili. I am worried about this again, but I dare not mention it to anyone."

Ma Shangyi showed a speechless expression: "Do you think that by saying this, Madam Xu will have no complaints against the Hai family, and maybe even let her give up the idea of ​​arranging a marriage for you? I am not afraid to tell you honestly that Madam Xu has a strong character. No matter what it is, once she makes up her mind, she will not change it easily. The Queen Mother and we all admire her very much for this. If you think that letting me pass a few words to her can make her give up the idea, you might as well dream on!"

Jin Jiashu was silent for a while, and then continued: "Even if it is what I want, she will insist on her own opinion and refuse to give in? If I refuse to follow her arrangements, will she get angry and stop caring for me, or even refuse to acknowledge me as her nephew? If I want to make achievements in the imperial examination and official career, she will also block my way, just like the emperor did?"

Ma Shangyi wanted to stamp her feet: "You said such things again! Brother, why do you always think the good intentions of Madam Xu are bad?! Is there any mother in the world who doesn't recognize her own son?! She has worked hard for you and hopes for your well-being. Even if you have different ideas, you should slowly tell her and persuade her to change her mind! How can you always use these hurtful words to make her sad?!"

Jin Jiashu, however, had an expression as if he was seriously considering the consequences. "If that's the case, I just need to try my best to pass the imperial examination and my status will be respectable enough in the countryside. Then I'll go back to my hometown in Zhili with the Hai family. Anyway, I don't plan to go back to Zunhua Prefecture, so it's okay to settle down in Yongping Prefecture with the Hai family. I don't have much money, but if I promise to always rely on the Hai family for my life, maybe the Hai family will be willing to marry their granddaughter to me? I can buy a piece of land and a few shops in Yongping Prefecture, and I won't have to worry about food and clothing with these businesses. The Hai family has Brother Hai supporting the family in officialdom, and they have the connections of the old students of Wumen, so a stable life can always be guaranteed." He looked at Ma Shangyi, "If I explain my ambitions to the emperor, the emperor should not stop me from taking the imperial examination, right? Maybe he will even open his mouth and allow me to return to Zhili to live next year!"

Ma Shangyi gritted her teeth when she heard this: "Brother, do you really want to piss off Madam Xu to death?!" Are you satisfied with passing the imperial examination? Living in Yongping Prefecture for the rest of your life? It would be better to go to Beijing and be a leisurely official! At least when Madam Xu wants to see someone, she can still summon him to the palace!
Ma Shangyi took a deep breath and pointed out directly: "Brother, stop dreaming. You will never have the chance to see the emperor say these words!"

"Of course there is a chance." Jin Jiashu took out the secret letter he had just written, "There will be a chance soon. You will send me to the capital to see the emperor."

(End of this chapter)