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

Chapter 767: The Caring and Thoughtful Hai Family
Haitang only found out about Ma Shangyi's meeting with the father and son of the Qiu family in the evening of that day.

She immediately guessed that it must be Jin Jiashu who told Ma Shangyi the rumors about the Zhang family revealed by Cuiguo, as well as her analysis and speculation. The latter did not know that she had contributed to this information, so she called the father and son of the Qiu family over for questioning.

Compared with Cuiguo, who worked as a maid in the inner house all year round, the Qiu family father and son, who often followed their master's family out, naturally knew more about the Zhang family. As a vassal of the Zhang family, the former master of the Qiu family, the Luo family, should also be more aware of the situation of the Zhang family in recent years. If the Zhang family really declined, the vassal forces under the door would definitely be the first to feel the status gap.

Although the Qiu family knew that the Jin family and the Hai family were on good terms and that the two families often visited each other and were as close as relatives and friends, they had worked as servants in a wealthy family for many years and had seen some of the world. They vaguely sensed the purpose of Ma Shangyi's questioning and felt uneasy. After returning to the Hai family, they immediately reported the matter to the housekeeper Cui Shu.

Uncle Cui told the mistress Ma about this, and Ma was somewhat puzzled. However, she had known Ma Shangyi for many years and regarded her as her elder sister. She did not think that Ma Shangyi's behavior would be detrimental to her family, so she did not say anything.

Ma Shangyi, on the other hand, knew that meeting the new servant of the Hai family might alarm Ma, so she took the initiative to come to the door the next day to explain: "I heard that the previous owner of the Qiu family was the royal merchant Luo family, who came from the capital a few months ago. After all, I have been away from the capital for a long time. Although I can receive letters from old friends in the capital from time to time, the information I get from the letters is still limited. I am worried about the Empress Dowager and the things in the palace, so I thought of asking the Qiu family. The Luo family often interacts with royal relatives. Unlike ordinary businessmen, they are more informed and may know some news that ordinary people don’t know..."

Ma believed her immediately after she said that, and said very considerately: "I'm sorry, big sister, you can ask whatever you want to ask. The Qiu family and his son are quite familiar with the affairs of the capital, and the Qiu Shugen family also knows some gossips about the rich and powerful families, and they may be able to help you. I will ask the Qiu Shugen family to take her daughter to run errands for you. If you want to know anything, just ask them."

Ma Shangyi knew that Ma would not reject her, so she smiled and took her hand and said, "Thank you very much. Although I have returned to my hometown, I have lived in the capital for my whole life, so it is inevitable that I can't let go..."

"Of course." Ma sighed. She had been in Guazhou and Suzhou for so many years, and now she occasionally thought of it and wanted to go back to take a look, but the journey was long and she was old, so she could only think about it. Ma Shangyi had stayed in the capital for even longer, so she would naturally feel more reluctant to leave. She could understand Ma Shangyi's feelings, so how could she be reluctant to help?
She also said: "Although we live in Chang'an, we will inevitably have to deal with the capital in the future. Next year, our master will be transferred to the capital. I am taking care of Brother Jin now, and Brother Jin will also go to the capital to take the imperial examination and become an official in the future. We should learn more about the news in the capital to prepare for the future."

Ma Shangyi didn't expect her to be so considerate and cooperative, and she was happy in her heart, and hurriedly said, "That's right. Although I often receive messages from old friends, people in the palace don't know much about the outside world after all. I'm also worried that I might miss some important news and fail to remind Shu Ge'er, causing him to suffer losses when he enters Beijing in the future!"

"Young Master Jin is smart and steady, how could he be easily cheated? Don't worry!" Ma comforted her, "Besides, there is Madam Xu to take care of him. Madam Xu will be the Queen Mother in the future, who dares to bully her nephew? Besides, didn't Madam Xu find a good Yue family for Young Master Jin? That Yue family will surely take good care of their son-in-law." At this point, Ma Shangyi couldn't help showing an expression of wanting to say something but stopping. She thought of the marriage partner that Jin Jiashu wanted, and remembered that she had told Ma that Concubine Xu had already picked a wife for Jin Jiashu. If Ma didn't consider marrying her granddaughter to the boy next door because of her words, and thus married her granddaughter off, wouldn't she be guilty? !

Thinking of this, she vaguely let out a hint: "That marriage... I'm afraid it's still a long way to go. There's news that the family isn't very honest and there's a suspicion that they're trying to deceive Madam Xu... Madam Xu might change her mind, and Shu Ge'er might have chosen a match in Chang'an."

Ma was shocked and asked hurriedly, "What do you mean? Is there anyone in the world who dares to deceive the mother of the crown prince?! Are they courting death?!"

Ma Shangyi smiled bitterly, "That family is also a royal family. They were very prosperous in the past and even married a princess a few years ago! Such a prominent family may not really like Madam Xu. Maybe they just want to coax Madam Xu a few words to make it easier for them to gain benefits in the future. His family did not choose a legitimate daughter to marry Shu Ge'er. I heard that they chose a daughter from a side branch who lost her father at a young age. Such a girl may also be a lady with both talent and beauty, but how much help can Shu Ge'er get from his wife's family if he marries her home?"

Ma's face suddenly became long: "This won't do! How is Jin not worthy of his family? Who is not a royal relative?! If his family looks down on people, then don't get married. Don't fool people with an orphan girl from a side branch like this! This is to get close to Madam Xu and the Eighth Prince for benefits, but they don't want their own daughter to marry down. If they really get married, it will be fine if his family can squeeze benefits from Madam Xu and the Eighth Prince in the future, and maybe they can give Jin a little face; if his family can't get the benefits they want in the future, won't they have to give Jin a bad face?! We have watched Jin grow up, and we know that he is a perfect young man, who is worthy of the princess. Why should he be looked down upon?! If that family is like this, even if his daughter is a fairy, this marriage will not be possible!"

Ma's love for Jin Jiashu is purer than Ma Shangyi's, and she can't bear to see him being wronged. Ma Shangyi felt ashamed when she heard her words, and she understood why Jin Jiashu was so close to the Hai family. The Hai family had been kind to him, and they didn't know his true life experience, but they still cared for him for five years and always considered him. Compared with the selfish Ma Shangyi, Jin Jiashu was naturally more willing to get close to the Hai family.

Ma Shangyi sighed and said, "Madam Xu was born in the palace, and her family background is ordinary. It is not uncommon for the aristocratic families to look down on her. Not to mention Madam Xu, even our Empress Dowager, when she came to Beijing from Chang'an and took the throne, there were still princes and nobles in Beijing who gossiped secretly, disliking her family background. The Empress Dowager was born in a noble family, and it was still like this, let alone Madam Xu? The aristocratic families in Beijing have their eyes on the top of their heads. That's why Madam Xu wanted to find a backer for Shu Ge'er, hoping that he would not be looked down upon after coming to Beijing. But if the Zhang family is not sincere and just wants to fool Madam Xu and coax her to give benefits, then this marriage is not worth it. It's just that the matter is of great importance, and Madam Xu dare not make a decision easily, so she is still hesitating now."

Ma could understand this, but she really couldn't stand Jin Jiashu being bullied by Yue's family in the future: "Good sister, please persuade Madam Xu. Qi Da is not a good match. If Jin's future wife looks down on him and despises him everywhere, how can he live?! Even if he has the support of the empress in the palace, he can't complain to the empress every day, right? He still has to live his own life, there is no need to climb up the social ladder. Jin has suffered so much since he was a child, and it's not easy to have a few years of stable life. Madam Xu should just pity him and marry him a more practical wife so that he can live a more comfortable life in the future!"

(End of this chapter)