I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

In Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng read the intelligence report with a complicated expression.
“Cutting through the entire officialdom?” he murmured, eyebrows furrowed.
“What a ruthless plan. Is he including himself in the calculations this time?”
Li Si and Wang Wan were stunned, not expecting such a bold move from Yang Yi.
Li Si couldn’t help but comment, “This isn’t the action of a cautious strategist. He’s far too arrogant. Does he really believe he can go against the entire bureaucracy?”
Wang Wan sneered, “His victories must have inflated his ego. This time, even the Empress won’t be able to shield him.”
Nearby, Feng Quji and Wei Liao shook their heads, visibly doubtful. A reformer’s fate was all but sealed once they challenged the entire officialdom.
The policies Yang Yi was pushing, like equalizing land taxes and his proposed ‘Single Whip Law,’ threatened the gentry and nobility while benefiting the empire—yet it seemed unlikely they would succeed.
Ying Zheng remained silent for a moment before saying slowly, “His policies would serve the empire well… but implementing them will be another matter altogether.”
…
Three days later, in Luoyang, the report box outside the imperial city’s gate remained untouched, a disappointment for the commoners. Many had hoped Yang Yi’s decree would bring change, but they feared the risks of reporting corruption.
Who dared take that chance?
The box had become little more than a display, even earning quiet mockery from passing officials who doubted that any commoner would risk submitting a report.
Under the glaring midday sun, guards stood stoically around the towering imperial gates. Suddenly, the steady echo of footsteps approached, drawing their attention. They saw a man in a bamboo hat, holding a thick envelope, confidently stride to the report box and drop it in before walking away.
The guards exchanged surprised glances. Someone had reported something!
..
Not long after, Yang Yi was handed the envelope, a slight smile crossing his face as he recognized the familiar handwriting. It was Wei Zifu’s script, penned exactly as he had instructed.
“Someone has reported that Li Yifu has seized good farmland, claiming thousands of acres,” he announced, his expression turning serious.
“Come with me to Li Yifu’s residence. We’ll investigate this matter thoroughly!”
The gathered officials stared at him in disbelief. Investigate the Deputy Minister of the Secretariat, Li Yifu? Many swallowed hard, nervous about provoking such a powerful figure. Yet, none dared disobey Yang Yi’s orders.
…
Half an hour later, Yang Yi arrived at Li Yifu’s residence with a retinue of officials and soldiers. The gatekeeper hurried forward, bowing nervously.
“Prime Minister Yang, my master isn’t home…”
Yang Yi replied evenly, “We’re here to measure the land. Whether Li Yifu is home is irrelevant. Bring someone in charge and the land deeds.”
The gatekeeper hesitated, “Prime Minister, I’m afraid without my master present, I cannot…”
Before he could finish, Xu Chu, seething with impatience, kicked him aside.
“Silence! How dare you speak to the Prime Minister that way!”
The gatekeeper flew backward, blood spurting from his mouth as he hit the ground, barely conscious. The other officials swallowed nervously, exchanging uneasy glances, all realizing this situation was rapidly escalating.
Yang Yi raised a hand, gesturing to Xu Chu, who grinned, signaling his soldiers.
“Break down the door!” Yang Yi ordered.
With a thunderous roar, Xu Chu led his men as they smashed through the gate, storming inside the residence. The soldiers, battle-hardened and fiercely loyal to Yang Yi for his cunning strategies, captured Li Yifu’s family.
When they initially refused to hand over the land deeds, Xu Chu wasted no time, executing one of Li Yifu’s nephews as a warning, his blood splattering the ground.
Shaking, Li Yifu’s wife finally surrendered the deeds. Xu Chu dragged her outside, reporting to Yang Yi,
“Prime Minister, we have the deeds.”
Yang Yi nodded, addressing the officials who had accompanied him.
“Let’s measure Deputy Minister Li’s land.”
The officials, drenched in sweat, reluctantly followed.
…
Meanwhile, at the secretariat, an official whispered to Li Yifu, ”
Deputy Minister, there’s word that someone reported you, and Yang Yi went to your residence.”
Feigning calm, Li Yifu replied,
“It’s baseless slander. Does he truly believe he can tear down my home?”
Some officials exchanged glances, admiring Li Yifu’s composure. However, another official suddenly burst into the room, his face pale.
“Vice Minister Li, Yang Yi… he destroyed your house and is now taking your wife to measure the land!”
Li Yifu’s eyes widened in disbelief. That up brat had demolished his home? How had he even acquired the land deeds?
He turned pale, while the surrounding officials stared in horror, realizing that Prime Minister Yang was deadly serious.
Panicked, Li Yifu hurried out. He had to see the Emperor—if not, he was finished.
…
Half a day later, Yang Yi stood surveying the vast tracts of farmland as officials measured the land. Turning to his officials, he smiled grimly.
“With just a fraction of the deeds, we’ve already counted twenty-three thousand acres.”
“Quite the honest man, Vice Minister Li,” he said, his voice heavy with irony.
“By seizing so much land, how many innocent families has he ruined? Truly, he deserves death.”
Though he was smiling, his cold fury was unmistakable, sending a chill through the watching officials. They knew, with absolute certainty, that Li Yifu’s fate was sealed.