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

Chapter 1002: The Enlightened Ma Family
Haitang returned to the courtyard and quickly changed her clothes, even the jewelry on her head. She took off the silver hairpin she used when going out and replaced it with light and delicate little beads.

She also put on an inconspicuous little sachet, which contained Jin Jiashu's favorite incense.

She returned to the upper room of the main courtyard in this outfit and asked her grandmother Ma to take a look. Ma saw that she was wearing a light blue jacket with a royal blue skirt, and a delicate rice bead flower in her hair. She looked fresh and elegant, gentle and lovely, and even the fragrance emanating from her body was light and refreshing. She nodded with satisfaction and said, "My granddaughter knows how to dress up! It's a pity that you are still in mourning. Otherwise, you would look better in the new red satin embroidered jacket and the official green woven gold skirt than in this plain outfit!"

Haitang laughed dryly, "Isn't that red dress and green skirt made for the New Year? It's still a long way to go. Brother Jin will surely come often in the future. It's not worth it to change into new clothes for the New Year just to see him. Besides, if I wear new clothes now, what will I do during the New Year?"

"I'll make new ones for the New Year!" Ma waved her hand, not caring at all. Could the family still lack the money for making new clothes? This year, she had several relatives to visit during the New Year, and many old friends to visit. Everyone knew that her granddaughter had been engaged and would get married next year, so they would definitely congratulate her. Naturally, she needed to make a few more new clothes for her granddaughter to show off. After the New Year, she would have to prepare a dowry for her granddaughter in the spring. By then, there would be several boxes of clothes for all four seasons. There were so many new clothes, and her granddaughter could wear whatever she wanted!

She looked her granddaughter up and down for a few more times, and finally took out a pair of silver earrings and a pair of silver twisted wire bracelets from her hairbrush box and asked her granddaughter to put them on: "These are what I used when I was young. I sent them to the silver shop for refurbishment before leaving Chang'an. They look no different from new ones. The styles are still exquisite and rare, and the workmanship is also good. I heard that they were made by official craftsmen. They are exactly what you young girls should use. I'll give them to you. You will marry Xiao Jin in the future. He is also a royal relative. You will inevitably participate in the weddings and funerals of royal relatives in the future. This silver jewelry is just right for you."

Haitang did not refuse. She took the thing and put it on. She would give good things to her grandmother in the future, so there was no need to be polite.

Ma looked at her granddaughter with satisfaction, then called Aunt Cui over and asked her to invite Jin Jiashu over.

Soon, Jin Jiashu arrived. Ma pulled him aside to chat, asking about trivial matters such as food, clothing, and daily life. When they were almost done, she winked at Aunt Cui, who hurried out. When she came back, she said to Ma with an embarrassed expression, "Madam, the kitchen is preparing lunch, and there are a few dishes that I'm not sure about. I'd like you to come over and take a look."

Ma deliberately sneered, "I've taught them so many times, why did they still make such a mistake? I'm here to entertain guests, why did they come to see me at this time?" Then she stood up and said to Jin Jiashu with a smile, "Xiao Jin, please sit down. Grandma Hai will be back soon." She turned around and winked at Haitang, "You talk to Xiao Jin, don't neglect the distinguished guest." Then she took Aunt Cui out.

Jin Jiashu stood up and saw him off in a daze, not reacting for a moment. Haitang calmly walked to the chair opposite him and sat down, refilling his tea bowl with hot tea, then looked up and asked him, "How is your health now? Has the imperial physician come to check your pulse? Is there any change?"

Jin Jiashu sat down, looked at her and blinked: "Grandma Hai, is this... intentional?"

Haitang smiled secretly with her lips pursed and her ears slightly red. "Grandma said that since our marriage has been decided, we don't have to be too strict at home. As long as we don't go beyond the rules, it's okay to talk more in private. She hopes that you and I can get along well in the future, so she deliberately made it convenient for us."

Jin Jiashu was overjoyed when he heard this: "Grandma Hai is so open-minded and considerate. I am so grateful! Sister Hai, don't worry, I will definitely treat you well and will never let Grandma Hai down!" Haitang glanced at him: "So? How is your body? Have you seen any changes after taking the detoxification pill for the second time?"

Jin Jiashu quickly straightened his expression and replied, "I feel much better. The pain in my previous place is gone. I have an appetite and sleep better at night. The imperial physician came to check my pulse yesterday and said that I was getting better and better than he expected. I was thinking that such an obvious change might not be hidden from the people in the imperial hospital. When I come to the palace to pay my respects in a few days, I'd better tell my aunt that I took the antidote from you to save her from worrying."

Haitang was indifferent to this: "You can say that when the Tianxin crabapple blossomed, I saw its beautiful flowers, so I kept a few to make dried flowers and put them in the book as a souvenir. Although dried flowers are not as good as fresh flowers when used to make medicine, they are better than nothing. After you knew about it, you borrowed the book from me privately and took the flowers to make medicine yourself and tried it. Although you did it without telling the imperial physician, you were worried that the medicine would not work and the queen mother would be disappointed, so you thought of taking the initiative. Now that there are good results, it shows that it is really useful."

Jin Jiashu nodded: "Okay, then even if my aunt thinks I'm too bold, she will only scold me and won't implicate others. I'm the one who was poisoned, and I'm anxious to detoxify and recover my health as soon as possible so that I can concentrate on studying and prepare for next year's provincial examination. It's also human nature."

Haitang smiled and said, "Don't worry. Although it's a bit reckless to do so, this flower can detoxify but it's not poisonous. If you take the medicine made with it, it will at most be ineffective, but it won't hurt your body. The Queen Mother will ask the imperial physician for the situation, and no matter how angry she is, she will be limited."

Jin Jiashu smiled and said, "Yes, I even asked the imperial physician for the prescription in advance, and borrowed several medical books and pharmacy books from Teacher Xie, and taught myself how to prepare the medicine. If my aunt doesn't believe it, I will prepare one for her to see." He had already done his homework in this regard and was not afraid of Empress Dowager Xu's questioning.

Haitang didn't know that he had taught himself how to make medicine. She blinked and said, "It's good for you to learn more, but you can't think that you are an expert just because you have read a few books. You can't make medicine for any illness yourself without consulting a doctor. Your self-taught skills can't compare with those of imperial doctors who have been practicing medicine for decades. Don't be too confident, or you will delay the treatment."

Jin Jiashu knew that Haitang was thinking about him, so he accepted the admonition very obediently: "Don't worry, sister Hai, I won't do such a stupid thing. This time I'm just using words to fool the palace. If I get sick again, I will naturally ask the imperial physician to treat me. If there is no imperial physician, I will ask a famous doctor in the capital to see me. I will never be so smart as to prescribe medicine myself."

Haitang nodded and asked him again, "Brother Jin, have you told Ma Shangyi about that?"

Jin Jiashu said hurriedly, "Of course I did. After I went back that day, I went to visit Mama in the afternoon, and yesterday I brought her Laba porridge, and went again. Mama moved into my big house with people today to help me sort out the housework. She just looked at the accounts for a while, glanced at the servants in the house, and immediately found several guys who looked strange. She ordered people to keep them under guard, and said that she would register them and report to the palace to request a replacement."

If he had known that Ma Shangyi was so resolute, why would he still be worried? Wouldn't he just go back to the mansion if nothing happened? With this maid from the Cining Palace around, the servants in the mansion would still have to obey even if they were arrogant and troublesome!
Jin Jiashu said: "I have entrusted all the affairs of the mansion to the nanny. She told me to go home and recuperate, and she will tell me the results later. I have nothing to do now, and I often go to the teachers to ask for advice on my homework."

Asking for homework? Are you sure you're not looking for an excuse to come over and talk about love?