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

Chapter 882 In the Palace
Although Haijiao hadn't seen Jin Jiashu for several days, he was a member of the Jinyiwei and had the opportunity to meet Lord Tao frequently because he participated in the encirclement and capture of Sun family's private soldiers and assassins. Therefore, he had some understanding of the situation in the palace.

Not to mention, the Jinyiwei were the emperor's confidants. When the emperor was seriously ill, they had to take turns guarding the Qianqing Palace. Even if the chief officers were tight-lipped, the soldiers under them would not be too defensive against their own people. Haijiao only needed to pay attention to the way he spoke, and he could get the information he wanted from his colleagues.

He could not give precise information, but he knew roughly the emperor's condition.

He told his sister Haitang: "The emperor's illness suddenly worsened about half a month ago. The main reason is that the sleeping time was prolonged. He would lose consciousness while talking, and he had no strength in his body and could not walk. The imperial physician said that he was almost at his limit. However, he would be awake for a while every day, speak in an orderly manner, and be able to handle some important matters. When the Sun faction officials spread rumors outside, the empress dowager summoned one of the leaders and asked him to wait outside the gate of the Qianqing Palace. As soon as the emperor woke up, she asked him to enter the palace and hear the emperor scolding him with his own ears. Only then did the rumors go down. But in fact, the people in the palace, the important ministers of the cabinet, the old princes of the royal family invited into the palace by the empress dowager, and the imperial guards responsible for guarding the Qianqing Palace, almost all knew that the emperor's illness would not last long. Now the imperial physician uses Du Shen Tang to keep the emperor alive, but the effect of the medicine is getting weaker and weaker. When Du Shen Tang is completely ineffective, it will probably be the end of the emperor's life."

At present, except for some members of the Imperial Guard, almost all people who knew about the emperor's illness were confined in the palace and could not leave the imperial city, so naturally there was no way to spread the news. But how long could such a thing be concealed? Apart from other things, among the insiders of the Imperial Guard, there must be some powerful people in the outside world. Hai Jiao himself knew more than ten names.

However, since he started working, he has been busy adapting to his new identity, trying to perform in front of his superiors, and trying to deal with the Sun family. As long as there are no spies from the Sun faction among those spies, he will not bother to pay attention to them for the time being. At present, he himself has been inquiring about the secret news in the palace, so it is not easy for him to advise his superiors to shut up these spies.

He could only tell his sister: "The imperial physician seems to be changing the prescription for the emperor. If the new prescription is effective, the emperor can probably hold on for a few more days, otherwise it will be within three to five days. I am a newcomer in the Jinyiwei, so it is not my turn to guard the Qianqing Palace for the time being. Otherwise, I can find a way to meet Xiao Jin, and he should know more clearly."

Haitang hesitated for a moment before asking Haijiao, "How is Brother Jin doing in the palace now?"

"It should be good." Haijiao replied, "I heard that he is now living in the East Palace and eating and sleeping with the crown prince. He always tastes whatever the crown prince wants to eat and drink for three meals. He is very loyal. Moreover, he is gentle and polite. He never gets arrogant in front of others. No matter the cabinet ministers, royal relatives, or the guards who have met him, they all have nothing but praise for him. As long as the crown prince can successfully ascend the throne, Xiao Jin's future will be bright. At present, the two brothers get along very well and have a very harmonious relationship. I think Xiao Jin is closer to the crown prince than to Consort Xu. He also gets along well with Queen Mother Zhou, the Seventh Prince, and Tao Gelao."

Haijiao thought Jin Jiashu's approach was quite smart. Although Imperial Concubine Xu was his biological mother and was closest to him by blood, considering that Imperial Concubine Xu had her own plans for him, which might not be to his liking, perhaps the new monarch would be a more reliable supporter for him. Even if the new monarch was extremely filial to his mother and generally would not disobey his mother's orders, the mother of the new monarch was also a person who acted with propriety and would not easily conflict with the new monarch. In many matters, as long as the new monarch made a decision, Queen Mother Xu would not say anything more.

Haitang remembered what she had reminded Jin Jiashu of in Chang'an, and knew that he was deliberately trying to build a good relationship with the future new emperor, and she was quite happy.

In such a big matter, Jin Jiashu was willing to accept her proposal, proving that this man was capable.

Haitang asked Haijiao again: "Can Brother Jin see the emperor?"

Hai Jiao thought about it and was a little unsure: "He is always with the crown prince, and the crown prince is in front of the emperor every day. When the emperor is awake, he will call the crown prince to his side and teach him how to govern the country. I think Xiao Jin should be able to see the emperor every day, right? I only know that he will go to the Qianqing Palace with him, but I don't know the details."

That's enough. If there's a chance, Jin Jiashu will try to fight for himself in front of the emperor. Besides, even if he doesn't have this opportunity, doesn't he still have Tao Ge Lao? Haitang lowered her voice: "Is Tao Ge Lao convenient to leave the palace now? You said before that Tao Ge Lao asked you to notify him immediately once your cousin uncle came to Beijing. I guess he should be able to take time to see his cousin uncle these days, right?"

This is certain. Hai Jiao nodded and said, "Although Tao Ge Lao often stays in the cabinet duty room recently, he sends people home every day to report his safety or to get some clothes and medicine. I have a way to pass the message to him. If he wants to leave the palace, it should not be difficult. Although the emperor and the empress dowager are unwilling to let others leave the palace for fear of leaking the news, they trust him very much and will not stop him from going home. But even if he can go home, the time he can stay should be very limited. Letting him come to our house to see my cousin uncle may alarm others, so it is better to let my cousin uncle go to his house and wait."

Haijiao had sent a letter to the Tao family in the afternoon, and was now waiting for further instructions from Elder Tao. If everything went well, Uncle Xie would be able to see his long-lost friend tomorrow.

Haitang felt more at ease and smiled, "That's good. Now is a critical time. My cousin has many ideas to share with Tao Ge Lao along the way. We must meet Tao Ge Lao before the throne is passed."

Haijiao nodded, then was silent for a while. He looked up at his sister, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

Haitang blinked and smiled, "Brother, what do you want to say? Is there anything between you and me that cannot be said directly?"

Haijiao stammered: "You... and Xiaojin, the two of you..."

Haitang understood and smiled, "Brother Jin asked me to marry him. I think he's a good guy. After all, we've known each other since childhood, so we're familiar with each other and get along well. If it were someone else I don't know, I'm afraid they wouldn't be as good as him. So I agreed."

Hai Jiao sighed, "I understand. He is a good man. Compared with the young masters of the noble families in Beijing, he is not much worse. We have known each other since childhood. If my sister marries him, at least she won't have to worry about serving her parents-in-law, let alone meeting difficult sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. But... there is one thing you have to know. No matter what people outside say, the lady in the palace... is actually his biological mother, and she will be your future mother-in-law. This lady is not a simple person. Although she has a good reputation for being gentle, virtuous and kind, she is actually very thoughtful. If you meet such a mother-in-law, if she is not satisfied with you, you will suffer in the future."

Haitang had certainly considered this: "She lives in the palace and is nominally my aunt. She can't call me into the palace every day to set rules. As long as Brother Jin is sensible and willing to stand on my side, I have nothing to fear."

She was worried that if Empress Dowager Xu was dissatisfied with her in the future and took her anger out on her family, what would she do? Now she no longer had to worry about this, because Hai Chang'an and Hai Jiao had Tao Ge Lao behind them, and her grandfather Hai Xiya would retire in three years. Now Jin Jiashu had established a good relationship with the new emperor. Even if Empress Dowager Xu was dissatisfied, could she ignore the opinions of her son and important officials and directly intervene in the personnel affairs of the six ministries and the Shangzhi Qinjun?

Haitang didn't think that Queen Mother Xu would be so irrational.

Haijiao nodded when he heard this: "It's good that you know this, otherwise I'm really afraid that you won't be her match."