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

Chapter 1007: The National Mourning Period Expired
After that day, Jin Jiashu did not show up for several days.

However, he once sent Lu Ga Wa to the Hai family to run errands, delivering things to Xie Wenzai and teachers Cao and Lu, and also bringing a letter to Hai Tang.

He explained in the letter that the Queen Mother heard from the imperial physician that his health seemed to be improving, so she urgently summoned him to the palace for questioning and pulse examination. He was well prepared for this and knew how to respond to the Queen Mother's questions, so that Haitang would not have to worry about him.

In addition, Ma Shangyi also decided to go to the palace with him to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xu, and to solve the problem of servants in the new house that had troubled him for a long time. Although Jin Jiashu was a little worried about Empress Dowager Xu's reaction, Ma Shangyi herself was very calm. She did not think this was a difficult problem to solve, and told Jin Jiashu to just rest assured that she would come back with good news.

After reading the letter, Haitang was not worried either. As the dowry maid of the Empress Dowager, Ma Shangyi had accompanied her in the palace for decades. What kind of scenes had she not seen? This little thing was nothing to her.

Moreover, the Grand Empress Dowager is still alive, and Empress Dowager Xu cannot hold power in the harem alone. This is different from the previous life. In the previous life, although Empress Dowager Xu was frustrated in the previous dynasty, she was the only one in power in the harem, so she naturally acted as she pleased. The current Empress Dowager Xu still has a mother-in-law who is kind to her. Although she has not lost her qualifications to participate in politics because of her second marriage, the important ministers of the previous dynasty do not need to focus on dealing with the family of Lord Sun, so they naturally have the leisure to pay attention to her words and deeds. If she does anything out of line by relying on her son being the emperor, both the Grand Empress Dowager and the cabinet will react. Although Empress Dowager Xu in this life has experienced fewer twists and turns, she is also more disciplined than in her previous life.

Therefore, as long as Ma Shangyi can persuade the Empress Dowager to stand on her side and she is right, even if Empress Dowager Xu is somewhat reluctant, she cannot reject Ma Shangyi's request. Jin Jiashu will most likely accomplish what he wants to accomplish.

After Jin Jiashu entered the palace, he seemed to be left behind, and there was no news for several days. Even Ma Shangyi, who entered the palace with him, had no news. Although Haitang was sure that there would be no accidents between them, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.

The only good news is that the 100-day national mourning period has finally passed.

On the 101st day after Emperor Deguang's death, the whole capital changed its appearance. People who used to wear only blue, white, gray and black put on brightly colored clothes again; wine and meat that had disappeared from the table for a long time appeared in front of people again; festive banquets that had been suspended for a hundred days could be set up again; even matchmakers who had been unemployed for a long time appeared in the streets again.

Haitang changed into a light red silk long coat that was newly made this winter, a burgundy horse-faced skirt, and a newly tied pile of gauze palace flowers on her head. She came to the upper room of the main courtyard early in the morning to help her grandmother Ma to discuss the menus for today's two meals.

Ma casually ordered some meat dishes and nourishing soups that her family loved to eat, and said, "It's a pity that Xiao Jin has not returned home since he went to the palace, otherwise I would have cooked his share of soup as well. Widow Lu is good at making homely meals, but she is not very good at making soup. She is not as good as Chunyu at this!"

"Chun Yu has now moved into Big Brother Jin's new mansion with Ma Ma." Hai Tang said with a smile, "Even if Big Brother Jin returns home, and Aunt Lu is not good at making soup, Ma Ma will arrange for someone to make medicinal food for him."

Ma thought about it and sighed, "What happened? Why is there no news even from Sister Ma?"

The Empress Dowager is still the one in charge of the harem. As long as Ma Shangyi doesn't commit any crime, who can do anything to her?
Haitang was not worried about Ma Shangyi's safety. She just comforted her grandmother, saying, "Ma Shangyi originally came from the palace. It's okay for her to stay in the palace for a few more days. Just think of it as spending more time with old friends. As for Brother Jin, maybe his condition improved after he returned home, so the Queen Mother showed more concern and kept him in the palace for treatment."

"It's a good thing that his condition is improving!" Ma didn't know much about detoxification, so she just said, "Maybe Xiao Jin is back home from leaving the palace, feeling relaxed, eating well and sleeping well, so he's getting better faster. The Queen Mother is keeping him in the palace now, what good can that do?"

Haitang did not comment on this. Ma grumbled a few words and stopped talking about it. Instead, she focused on another matter: "The national mourning is over. When will the marriage decree between you and Xiao Jin arrive at home?" Haitang coughed lightly, her face slightly reddened, and her eyes drifted to the side: "Who knows... The national mourning has just ended, and the Ministry of Rites has a lot of things to do. I'm afraid they won't be able to take care of the marriage decree between me and Brother Jin for a while?" Compared with the children and grandchildren of the princes and nobles and the children of the powerful officials, her and Jin Jiashu's status is too ordinary. Even if the late emperor granted them a marriage, the decree must have been the last to be delivered.

Although Ma could understand this, she still held on to a little hope: "After all, Xiao Jin is the nephew of the Empress Dowager. Maybe the Empress Dowager loves him and will arrange his marriage first?"

It doesn't really matter whether the marriage order comes first or later, right? As long as there is no change, it's fine.

Haitang smiled and said, "If grandma is still thinking about this, why not tell grandpa about it and ask him to find a way to inquire with the Ministry of Rites?"

Ma waved her hands quickly and said, "Forget it, why make him suffer? If you really want to find out, wouldn't it be easier to ask your second uncle or brother to go?" The uncle and nephew both worked in the imperial city.

While the two were chatting and laughing, Aunt Cui hurried in from outside and reported to Ma: "Madam, the eldest branch of the family just sent someone to deliver a letter saying that the matchmaker hired by the Qiao family's son has come to propose marriage."

"What?!" Ma never expected Qiao Fu to be so efficient. As soon as the national mourning was over, he immediately invited a matchmaker to come to her house.

She quickly stood up and asked someone to comb her hair and change her clothes. Fang was now a widow, and although the matchmaker was here to propose marriage to her daughter, other relatives still needed to be present. Besides, this marriage had always been promoted by the second branch of the Hai family. Since the matchmaker had come, there was no reason for Ma to be absent.

Haitang helped her grandmother dress up, and quickly went back to the courtyard to get a cloak, intending to accompany her grandmother to go out to the Fang family's home. She was quite curious about the matchmaker that Qiao Fu had invited, wondering if it was the rumored shopkeeper Xiao Feng, or the eunuch Ji behind the shopkeeper Xiao Feng?

However, Ma stopped her and said, "The matchmaker from the Qiao family has come so soon. Who knows if the people from the Ministry of Rites will come? If they really come, even if I, your grandfather, and your brother are not at home, at least you, the main person, must be there. If they really come, remember to send someone to send a letter to me and ask your second aunt to come out to entertain the guests. You just need to sit there shyly and receive the order. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of the people from the Ministry of Rites."

After saying this, she casually instructed Mother Li, "If someone from the Ministry of Rites comes, please pick out some gorgeous jewelry for the girl and let her wear them, so that people don't look down on our family." After saying this, she supported Aunt Cui and hurried out.

Haitang held the cloak, watched her grandmother leave, and turned to look at Mother Li.

Mother Li asked her, "Miss, if you have nothing to do, why don't you go back to your room and pick out some jewelry to wear later?"

Haitang pursed her lips and responded softly: "Okay..."