In the darkest cell of the celestial prison, two cells were next to each other, separated by a thick iron fence. Not only did the weak firelight not bring a trace of light to the already gloomy cell, but it also made it seem even more eerie.
Jiang Quan grabbed Xia Yue, "Did you hear me clearly? Only the Xia fu's private army has nothing to do with the Jiang family?"
"No," After thinking for a long time, Jiang Quan made up his mind and said, "Now is not a good time. Write a letter for me and send it to Jinying Wang fu. Tell Jiang Ruan to quickly return to the fu. Her Second Brother has met with such a big accident, she must think of a way to save his life."
The fact that the Xia family's private army had been caught on the spot was already a fact that they could not escape. If things continued to develop smoothly, the Emperor would also wipe out the Xia family. Now that his great undertaking had not been accomplished, he still needed to rely on the Xia family's strength. How could he easily abandon this most important chess piece? If the Xia family were to fall because of this, not only would it chill the officials who followed him, but it would also cause him to lose a large part of his own strength. The Xia family must be saved.
"Wait." Xia Jun said, "Wait until Eighth Prince finds a reason to exchange all the rations that were exchanged and tells the Emperor that we were burning moldy rations and not the army's provisions. Then, this matter will be easily resolved."
Jiang Quan sat where he was, the expression in his eyes fluctuating uncertainly. If it had been in the past, he would certainly have thought of a way to rescue Jiang Chao without a second word. But now, the Jiang family was not what it used to be. Their reputation in the capital was already ruined, and the Emperor was quite critical of the Jiang family. This time, Jiang Chao had made such a big mess. This matter was too big, and it was impossible for Jiang Chao to escape unscathed. What was even more worrying was the Emperor's attitude. If he entered the palace to plead for Jiang Chao now, would the Emperor think that the Jiang family had also participated in this matter? Originally, he had only suspected that the Xia family had the intention to rebel, but this would suddenly implicate the Jiang family. What should he do?
Before coming to the Jiang fu, Xia Yue had already heard of Jiang Ruan's deeds. Regarding the matter of Jiang Ruan rectifying the Xia family and Jiang Quan, she had actually applauded. Now, hearing Jiang Quan's words, he could not help but feel a trace of contempt in his heart. Why did Jiang Quan need to speak in such a dignified and dignified manner? He himself did not dare to step forward, yet he was instructing his daughter to step forward. Jiang Ruan and Jiang Chao had never been on good terms, and Jiang Quan was well aware of this. How could Jiang Ruan be so willing to help Jiang Chao get off the hook? He did not know whether Jiang Quan had become so muddle-headed because he was too anxious.
"If he loses the Xia Family, he would only lose his right-hand man. If he saves the Xia Family, he could end his great career." Jiang Ruan said indifferently, "Xuan Li's temperament is excessively suspicious. With such an opportunity to save the Xia family, he will instead hesitate and think that we have dug a pit behind his back to invite him into the urn. The more hesitant he is, the more he will not dare to make a rash decision."
Jiang Ruan put down the weasel bristle brush in her hand. The elegant and beautiful Hairpin-style Small Seal Script in her hand was delicate and charming. The purple-clothed youth sitting opposite her could not help but ask, "What if Xuan Li thinks of a way to rescue him? The Xia family won't be able to lose anything, and they'll even hold a grudge against you. After going through so much trouble, this is the result. " He had always been used to using political trickery to scheme against everyone. This was the first time that he had accepted other people's arrangements and manipulations. He did not even know every part of this plan, and only followed Jiang Ruan's instructions. However, he was still confused, and did not understand what exactly she wanted to do.
She spoke so confidently and solemnly that even if Jiang Quan did not want to believe her, he could not do anything about it. He said angrily, "This unfilial son! He will definitely destroy the Jiang family! "
Jiang Quan was restless. He felt a cold sweat slide down his neck to his back. The Emperor's suspicions were like a knife hanging over the Jiang fu's head. But now, he only had this one son, so he could not ignore it.
"I hope so." Xia Jun looked at his own hands, but … he thought to himself, did Jiang Ruan really only manage to do this much? That woman was ruthless and merciless. If all of this had really been orchestrated by her, how could everything have been lifted up and dropped down so lightly? Just to let them suffer a little? The faint uneasiness in Xia Jun's heart once again emerged. He clenched his fists and no longer spoke.
Jiang Chao shook his head, "Younger cousin, what you said is really too outrageous. If what you said is true, who is that person? Who has such great ability? "
On both sides of the iron fence, there were two people sitting against the wall. One was dejected and mournful, while the other had a gloomy and cold gaze, and his face was so gloomy that it could drip water.
…
"What method?" Jiang Chao hurriedly asked.
The fire burned for an entire night. That night, the common people of the Great Jin dynasty slept soundly, not knowing how many undercurrents had occurred. No one knew how the granary had caught fire. It was not until the next morning when the peddlers went to open their shops that they saw the granary with billowing smoke. The original carriage and horses were in a mess, and the inside was overgrown with ashes. It was obvious that there was no longer any good provisions left.
"But that is only a suspicion, he would not even dare to probe." Although Qi Feng was surprised by Jiang Ruan's familiarity with Xuan Li's thoughts, he still insisted.
The advisor was somewhat worried and asked, "Your Highness, by doing this, do you intend to disregard the life and death of Xia Jun and the Xia family?"
"But … how did they know about our plan to secretly exchange provisions?" Jiang Chao was surprised that there was actually someone who was like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. However, there were only five people who knew about this plan, so where did the news leak out?
That person had mixed in with the private army and provoked the conflict between the Xia fu's private army and the soldiers led by the city's garrison. Thus, he had obtained the reputation of the Xia fu's arson and had committed treason. This crime of arson, coupled with the crime of rebelling against one's superiors, was really a heinous crime. It could be said that the heart of rebellion was clear.
Xuan Li sneered, "If I really did this, I would be playing right into someone else's hands. You can say that Xia Jun did it to protect the army's provisions, but others may not necessarily say that Xia Jun wanted to exchange provisions to line his own pockets. From what I see, the person behind this, perhaps by the time I think of a way to explain to Imperial Father, he will have other evidence to confirm the crime of Xia Jun exchanging provisions. At that time, Imperial Father will definitely be furious and blame me as well. Moreover … "He thought of something, but did not finish his words.
"We have fallen into a trap." After a long while, Xia Jun slowly said, "This was a trap set up against us from the very beginning. The other party knew what we were going to do all along and just gave us a push. Now, it's time to pull in the net."
"Do you know what the scariest part is?" Xia Jun sneered and said, "We burned the provisions in the middle of the night, and if we are not careful, we will be accused of treason. The provisions were used to alleviate the urgent situation at the border, and now they have all been burned. We have no way of compensating them. Right now, there is only one way. "
In the Eighth Prince's residence, the advisor quietly retreated to the side, not daring to say a word. What should have been a foolproof plan had somehow run into trouble at this critical juncture, especially when they had been caught red-handed by someone. The garrison was also famous for being upright and outspoken, so there was almost no chance for them to cry out their grievances. The moldy old provisions could not be transported to the border, so this part was lost. It was equivalent to losing everything.
Jiang Chao looked at Xia Jun, unable to conceal the anxiety in his heart. "Cousin, what should we do now?"
"Is it very strange? I also feel that it is very strange. It doesn't seem like they knew that we were going to set fire to the grain. Instead, it seems like they knew what we were going to do from the beginning and even pushed us along. Now that I think about it, the show that Zhang Ji put on that day was too perfect. I think that at that time, we had already fallen into someone else's trap without even knowing it, "Xia Jun said.
"Last night, the fire in the granary came out of nowhere. It was clear that someone had purposely set it on fire to push the blame onto us. When the garrison came with their troops, I had clearly given the order that the private troops were not to fight impulsively, but there were people who took the initiative to draw their blades. Now that I think about it, it is too suspicious. It was clearly someone mixed in and purposely stirred up trouble. "
Seeing that Xuan Li did not speak, the advisor continued, "Right now, we can only think of a way to transport the provisions back and find a way to say that Xia Jun and Jiang Chao were burning the old provisions to protect the provisions. As long as we round up the matter and do it cleanly, it is not impossible. "
"Your Imperial Highness, should we think of a way to rescue Xia Jun and Jiang Chao?" The advisor opened his mouth, "This matter also involves the Xia family. If we sit back and do nothing, His Imperial Majesty will certainly punish the Xia family heavily. The Xia family is still useful to Your Imperial Highness, we cannot abandon them so easily."
…
Xia Jun was startled and secretly cursed in his heart. However, without waiting for him to speak, he heard someone among his own troops draw his sword. He shouted, "Put down your sword!" However, that person acted as if he did not hear him and continued to slash and kill.
When Jiang Quan heard this, he almost fainted. It was not a big deal for high-ranking officials in the capital to have a private army in their manors. This private army was no different from the guards in the manors. There were not many of them and the Emperor had also tacitly approved of it. However, the crime of two people arson and a private army arson was very different. If it was just one person arson, it could be said that it was Xia Jun and Jiang Chao's own idea. However, once there was a private army, it would implicate the entire manors. Especially when this private army was fighting with the garrison. Wouldn't that be clamoring at the feet of the Emperor? What would the Emperor think? He would certainly think that they had long had the intention to rebel!
Xuan Li was startled and seemed to realize something. His gaze darkened and he said, "No."
The news that the Second Young Master of the Jiang fu, Jiang Chao, and the Second Young Master of the Xia fu, Xia Jun, had set fire to the granary in the middle of the night had spread throughout the capital on the first day. When Jiang Quan heard this news in the fu, his hands trembled and he almost overturned his teacup. He stared incredulously at his new wife, Xia Yue, beside him, "What did you say?"
Jiang Chao looked at him in shock, his mind becoming increasingly confused, "Younger cousin, what do you mean?"
"They and I have long been mortal enemies. Isn't it superfluous to talk about hatred?" Jiang Ruan unhurriedly lifted the Xuan paper and hung it out to dry. She asked, "Why did Xuan Li save him?"
Jiang Quan was startled. Just now, his head had been spinning and he had only cared about Jiang Chao's audacity. But now, he truly felt a lingering fear. Indeed, a hundred thousand officers and soldiers were still waiting at the border for emergency provisions, but Jiang Chao and Xia Jun had set fire to the granary last night. In the dead of night, if one were to say that it was intentional, no one would believe it. If one were to say that it was intentional, then why would a proper son of an official's family do such a thing? Currently, the war between Jin and the Great Jin dynasty was the most sensitive area of the Emperor's nerves. Jiang Chao stirring up trouble at this time was not to force the Emperor to think in that direction, but to think that Jiang Chao had colluded with the enemy and committed treason. Otherwise, why would he rather destroy the granary and put the soldiers of the Great Jin dynasty in danger of running out of ammunition and provisions?
Xia Yue looked at Jiang Quan somewhat timidly. She was merely the daughter of a distant cousin of the Xia fu. Originally, she also had her own childhood sweetheart. However, in order to rope in the Jiang fu and prevent the relationship between the Jiang and Xia fu from being severed after Xia Yan's death, the Xia family had married her over. Currently, Xia Yue was only seventeen or eighteen years old, which was the age of a flower. Marrying Jiang Quan would allow her to be a person like her father, so naturally, she was resentful. Not long after marrying over, such a thing had happened in the Jiang fu. Xia Yue's heart was filled with even more resentment. However, one had no choice but to lower one's head under the eaves. On the surface, Jiang Quan looked gentle, but when he was angry, it was terrifying. She said, "Laoye, this is true. It has already spread outside."
"Naturally, he wouldn't dare." Jiang Ruan suddenly laughed and turned to look at Qi Feng. Her eyes were beautiful and full of deep meaning. "Do you know where the eight hundred carriages of troops' provisions are now?"
Jiang Ruan looked at Qi Feng and suddenly smiled. "Is that so, Young Master Qi, how about we make a bet?"
"Abandon the army to protect the general." A trace of cruelty flashed across Xuan Li's face. "Now, I have no other choice."
"Who?" A charming and gorgeous face appeared before Xia Jun's eyes. That upturned coquettish eyes were slightly curved, as if mocking them for thinking themselves clever. Was it her? Although it was too inconceivable, Xia Jun had a hunch that this matter definitely had something to do with her. There was no such thing as a prophet in this world, so how did she know about their plans? It was as if she had completely seen through their thoughts. This was really too frightening. She even let Zhao Yi, who was on duty, avoid last night's search. Last night, it was another old official who had caught their city guard. The Great Jin dynasty was famous for being incorruptible and impartial. If it was Zhao Yi, perhaps the Emperor would suspect that it was because of the grudge between the Zhao and Xia families. But if it was that old official, he almost completely abandoned this possibility. Jiang Ruan had even thought of this point. They simply had no chance to reverse the situation.
"What else can we do?" Xia Jun sneered. "We are meat on the chopping block."
He suddenly asked Xia Yue, "Why does Marquis Xia want to enter the palace?" Although Xia Cheng only had this one grandson, Xia Jun, he should not enter the palace so quickly to meet the Emperor. Before everything was clear, Xia Cheng could not act blindly without thinking. Now that he was in a hurry to meet the Emperor, something important must have happened.
"If the Xia family falls, it will not be of any benefit to Xuan Li. His great cause still needs to rely on the Xia family's support. If the Xia family is hurt this time, it is tantamount to cutting off his right arm. How can he be willing?"
Jiang Chao saw Xia Jun's indifferent appearance and became even more anxious. "How did things become like this? Where did we go wrong? What the hell, why would the city guard rush over at this time? "
…
Xia Yue's heart was filled with even more disdain. Even at this time, Jiang Quan still wholeheartedly thought of himself, afraid of implicating the Jiang fu. He was really selfish enough. But on second thought, the relationship between the Xia fu and the Jiang fu was maintained through marriage. After Xia Yan's death, she had married herself over. They were originally together for the sake of mutual benefit. What kinship was there?
Xia Yue glanced at Jiang Quan and said in a low voice, "I heard that yesterday, when Second Young Master Xia appeared, he also brought along the Xia family's private army. Those soldiers fought with the city guard. When His Majesty heard about it, he was extremely angry and threw Second Young Master Xia and Second Young Master Xia into prison."
At this moment, the expression on Xuan Li's face was very ugly. Even though he had people under him everywhere, he still could not figure out why the city guard would suddenly lead troops over. Even more, he did not understand where the flaw in the plan had been that allowed people to take advantage of it. Now that things had developed beyond his expectations, he did not even know how to pull the net.
"How could this be?" Qi Feng was surprised.
Xia Jun lowered his head and his eyes flashed. Since last night, he had had an ominous premonition. Now that it had finally been confirmed, he felt that everything had gone too smoothly, so smoothly that it made people suspicious. Jiang Ruan had not obstructed it, which was really inexcusable. Now he finally understood where that inexplicable premonition had come from. It was because, since three years ago, when he had schemed against Jiang Ruan, as long as it was related to Jiang Ruan, she had never lost. She would not lose, so how could they have won so easily? All of this was just part of her calculations.
"Master, don't be so angry," Xia Yue looked down on Jiang Quan from the bottom of her heart. He only knew how to blame the heavens and blame others when something went wrong. Concealing the disdain in her eyes, she said, "I heard that the Marquis has already entered the palace to meet the Emperor. This matter is no small matter. Burning the provisions in the granary is a serious crime. Now that the Second Young Master has made such a move, it is hard to avoid suspicion. "
The mood of killing and brandishing one's sword was contagious. Like a signal, the people around him brandished their swords one after another and joined in the carnage. The crowd was in chaos, and for a moment, only the sound of weapons clashing could be heard. The official sitting high on the horse was alarmed and angry when he saw this scene. He shouted, "Everyone, listen to my orders. Arrest these arsonists. If they resist, execute them on the spot!"
"Let's bet that Xuan Li will definitely not save the Xia family," Jiang Ruan said.
As soon as these words came out, the troops brought by Jiang Chao were even more panicked. Disregarding Xia Jun's attempts to stop them, they resisted with all their might. However, with so many people acting at night, how could they compare to the imperial guards patrolling in the imperial court? In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the troops brought by Jiang Chao had been almost completely subdued. The ground was a mess. The fire in the granary was unstoppable. At this moment, even if there was a steady flow of water to put out the fire, it was tantamount to using a cup of water to put out a burning cart of firewood. They could only watch helplessly as the fire engulfed the entire granary and hundreds of carriages of provisions were reduced to ashes.
"What bet?" Qi Feng was slightly startled by her actions.
"That's good." Jiang Chao breathed a sigh of relief. "The Eighth Prince still needs the two of us. The Jiang family and the Xia family cannot be lost. Naturally, he will not sit idly by."
The advisor looked at him in surprise.
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