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

The next day, Yang Yi awoke feeling refreshed. After ‘disciplining’ Wei Zifu all night, she was still lying on the bed, breathing steadily as she rested.
…
Wei Qing stood at attention.
Yang Yi smiled faintly. “How was your time with Heichi Changzhi these past few months?”
Wei Qing replied promptly, “I learned a great deal from General Heichi.”
Yang Yi nodded, then shifted the topic. “Do you know why Magistrate Zhang acted so fiercely toward our Great Zhou citizens yesterday, yet humbled himself before the envoy from Song?”
Wei Qing hesitated, his chiseled face reflecting confusion. The memory of yesterday’s events still filled him with anger, but the question left him at a loss.
“Perhaps it’s because the envoy from Song holds a higher status than us. Favoring us might risk conflict between the two countries.”
Yang Yi shook his head, his calm gaze meeting Wei Qing’s.
“The main reason is that our Great Zhou is not strong enough. Weakness fosters officials who grovel before foreigners.
“If our Great Zhou were invincible, foreign envoys would come to flatter us instead. Why should we fear them?
“Therefore, our Great Zhou must become stronger—strong enough that no one dares to act arrogantly within our borders. And the strength of a country depends on the service of its talents.”
Wei Qing’s heart trembled. “Wei Qing will surely serve Great Zhou to the death!”
Yang Yi nodded approvingly and patted his shoulder.
“Study diligently and train hard. There will surely be a place for you in the Great Zhou Army in the future.”
Wei Qing’s excitement was evident. Just months ago, he had been a mere stable hand, and now the Prime Minister himself had placed trust in him. Renewed determination filled him as he departed the Yang residence.
…
Half an hour later, a maid entered and bowed.
“Prime Minister, two men claiming to be envoys from Song have arrived to see you.”
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow. Zhu Dong had come. “Let them in.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
Outside the Yang residence…
“Uncle Zhu, we are not subjects of the Zhou Dynasty. Why must we grovel before Yang Yi?” Gao Kan muttered, his expression sullen. His left cheek, still swollen and bruised, lent a comical air to his indignation.
Zhu Dong sighed.
“Although we are not afraid of Yang Yi, we are here under the Emperor’s orders. If you ruin the Emperor’s plans, can you bear the consequences? When we meet Yang Yi, you must not cause trouble.”
Gao Kan’s pride bristled, but Zhu Dong’s warning left him no choice but to stifle his resentment.
The maid returned. “The Prime Minister invites the two guests into the hall.”
Zhu Dong gave Gao Kan a pointed look, and together, they stepped toward the hall.
Moments later, inside the hall…
Zhu Dong bowed with a cheerful smile. “Your humble servant greets Prime Minister Yang.”
Yang Yi’s expression remained composed. “Minister Zhu, you are too kind.”
Zhu Dong continued smoothly, “Prime Minister, my nephew here has been spoiled since childhood. Yesterday, upon his arrival, he accidentally offended Miss Wei. Fortunately, it was a misunderstanding. He realizes his mistake and has come to apologize.”
Gao Kan managed a stiff bow.
“Prime Minister Yang, I was wrong. Please do not hold it against me.”
Yang Yi remained indifferent, his gaze never landing on Gao Kan. Instead, he turned to Zhu Dong.
“Minister Zhu, what brings you to our Great Zhou this time?”
Zhu Dong smiled ingratiatingly.
“I am here on the Emperor’s orders to seek your advice on the prevention of smallpox.”
Yang Yi’s smile warmed slightly.
“Very well. I will have someone send you the method for preventing smallpox later. If that is all, Minister Zhu, you may take your leave.”
Gao Kan’s face darkened with outrage. After such a long journey, they hadn’t even been offered seats. Now, after a mere exchange of pleasantries, they were being dismissed?
Zhu Dong’s eyelids twitched. Suppressing his irritation, he forced a smile.
“Prime Minister, I have another matter to discuss with His Majesty.”
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow. It was obvious that the Song envoy had not come merely for smallpox prevention. That method had already been widely disseminated; the Song could obtain it with minimal effort.
“Please, Minister Zhu, speak. Whether you tell me or Her Majesty, it is the same. I can deliver the message on your behalf.”
Zhu Dong’s expression stiffened. As the envoy of the Great Song, he had not anticipated being denied an audience with the Emperess of Great Zhou.
“Our Empress passed away years ago, leaving the position vacant. The Emperor has heard that the Third Princess of Great Zhou is virtuous, graceful, and well-educated. He wishes to marry her as the new Empress of Song.”
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow.
Seeing Yang Yi remain silent, Zhu Dong added, “I have also heard that your country has developed a new type of gunpowder. Our Song Dynasty has considerable experience with firearms. If our two countries were to form a marriage alliance, we could exchange expertise in gunpowder research, benefitting both nations.”
Yang Yi’s lips twitched. Zhu Dong’s words revealed the truth—this was no simple marriage proposal. Their real objective was Great Zhou’s gunpowder technology.
Yang Yi regarded Zhu Dong with thinly veiled annoyance.
Great Zhou was no longer the feeble state it had once been. Yang Yi had been hesitant to deceive the envoy, but now the truth was evident: the arrogant Song Dynasty could never be a genuine ally to Great Zhou.
Gao Kan interjected arrogantly, “Our Emperor hasn’t taken an Empress in many years. It would be a great honor for your princess to marry into Song and become our Empress.”
Zhu Dong nodded, seeing no fault in Gao Kan’s words. In his view, the wealthiest nation in the Central Plains was offering an unparalleled honor.
Yang Yi smiled faintly. “I will relay this matter to Her Majesty.”
Zhu Dong nodded. After all, his job was simply to deliver the Emperor’s message.
Yang Yi suddenly smiled and changed the subject.
“Minister Zhu, I have heard that Song is the wealthiest country in the Central Plains?”
Zhu Dong was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Yang Yi to suddenly bring up Song’s economy. Zhu Dong smiled faintly, quite proud.