The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort (Chapters 1- 203)

Chapter 176 : The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Translated by : Minodayz

Edited by : Anks & Ely

**********

Xia Jun was extremely shocked and in his heart he silently screamed that this was not right, but before he could utter even a single word he realized that one of his own men had taken out his sword. Loudly, he yelled, "PUT DOWN YOUR SWORD!" But the man seemed to not have heard him and began to attack.

The passionate charge to kill and the glint from the sword created a highly infectious atmosphere. It was almost like a signal which made those standing to the side to immediately flash their swords and enter into the fray in a frenzy. The crowd was in absolute chaos, and all that could be heard was the sounds of combat. The official, who sat atop a huge horse, was both alarmed and angered when he saw the spectacle. He bellowed in a loud voice, "Everyone, listen to my command. Capture all these miscreants who have set fire to the granary. If there is any resistance, execute them on the spot!"

Upon hearing those words, the group of subordinates that Jiang Chao had brought along became panic stricken. Ignoring Xia Jun's objection, they doubled their efforts to resist. However, for as many as there were of them, these men were merely night time marauders, so how could they stand up to the imperial guards that were on patrol. In less than fifteen minutes, most of the subordinates that Jiang Chao had brought with him had been arrested, and the area was completely in shambles. At the same time, the granary fire had grown too big to be contained, but people were still lugging water to douse the flames, though their efforts amounted to merely a drop in the bucket*. They could only watch helplessly as the raging inferno swallowed up the entire warehouse and the hundreds of military supply wagons were reduced to ashes.

*杯水车薪 (bēishuǐchēxīn) – lit. a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood (idiom); fig. an utterly inadequate measure.

The huge fire kept burning throughout the night, but the people in the capital of Great Jin had a good night's sleep; they were all completely unaware that what had transpired hid a surging dangerous undercurrent. No one knew that the granary had caught fire until the shopkeepers and hawkers, who got up early the next day, saw thick smoke rising from the place where once stood the granary. All the military wagons were now reduced to debris and the whole area was thick with ash; obviously, there weren't any provisions or rations left.

The day after the fire, the news spread throughout the capital that Jiang fu'sSecond Young Master, Jiang Chao, and Xia fu's Second Young Master, Xia Jun, had set the granary and all its military provisions on fire. Jiang Quan was at his fu when he heard the news. His hand trembled and he almost overturned the contents from his teacup. Incredulous, he stared at his new wife, Xia Yue, who was sitting beside him, "What did you just say?"

Xia Yue looked timidly at Jiang Quan. She was merely a distant female cousin of the Xia family and originally had a childhood sweetheart. However, the Xia family wanted to continue their relationship with the Jiang fu, and since their ties were cut off when Xia Yan died, they had married her off to Jiang Quan. It was just that Xia Yue herself was only about seventeen to eighteen years of age and was at an age when a flower bloomed. To marry Jiang Quan who was old enough to be her father- naturally she was resentful. Moreover, she had just married into the Jiang fu a short time ago and the fu already had such shenanigans happening. Xia Yue was filled with indignation and resentment but as she was now living under another person's roof, she did not have any choice but to lower her head in submission. Jiang Quan might look for all the world to be a gentle and tenderhearted person, but when his temper exploded, it would terrify a person. Thus, she replied, "Laoye, this is all true as the news has spread throughout the capital."