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

Zhu Dong and Gao Kan were enlightened by Yang Yi’s words, their eyes suddenly brightening.
“That’s right!”
They couldn’t personally muster such a colossal sum, but that didn’t mean the wealthy merchants and nobles of Bianjing couldn’t. At worst, they could share some of the profits. That way, everyone would benefit.
Although this would reduce their share compared to splitting the profits between the two of them, pooling resources was the only way they could obtain Yang Yi’s glassware. Without cooperation, they’d gain nothing.
Zhu Dong clenched his jaw.
“Minister Yang, let us return and discuss this matter. After all, 50 million guans is no small amount.”
Gao Kan swallowed hard and nodded, his beady eyes fixed on the glass before him, as if unable to tear himself away.
Yang Yi smiled faintly.
“Alright.”
Casually, he picked up three pieces of glass and placed them in front of them.
“These three pieces can be temporarily returned to the Song state. That way, the nobles there won’t think I’m merely showing off.”
Zhu Dong and Gao Kan froze, stunned. They stared at Yang Yi in disbelief, shocked by his audacity. Wasn’t he afraid they’d abscond with the glass?
Zhu Dong inhaled deeply, his teeth gritted.
“Minister Yang, rest assured, we won’t betray your trust.”
Each piece was worth a fortune—nearly one million guan altogether! To say they weren’t tempted would be a lie. But there were still a hundred pieces left. Sacrificing the bigger picture for momentary greed would be foolish.
…
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhu Dong and Gao Kan left Yang Yi’s residence, carefully wrapping the three jars of glass. Yang Yi returned to his room, a smile playing on his lips.
Inside, Wei Zifu was lying on the couch, though she was already awake. At the sight of Yang Yi, she hurriedly sat up, her cheeks tinged with pink.
“Minister…” She hesitated, her voice soft.
“Your servant was just a little tired. I’ll get up now to serve you…”
Yang Yi smiled warmly.
“If you’re tired, just rest. Why get up?”
He moved closer, his hands reaching for his belt.
“You can serve me right here.”
Wei Zifu’s fair cheeks turned crimson, her rosy lips parting slightly as her wide eyes filled with shock.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Yang Yi paused, his expression souring.
A maid’s voice called from outside.
“Prime Minister, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace.”
Yang Yi’s mouth twitched in frustration.
“Well, the timing couldn’t be worse,” he muttered, gently pinching Wei Zifu’s cheek.
“Wait for me.”
Wei Zifu nodded shyly, her face still flushed.
…
“I heard you had a conflict with the Song envoy?” Wu Zhao raised an eyebrow, her tone curious.
The ministers exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with amusement.
Yang Yi smiled warmly. “It was just a misunderstanding.”
Wu Zhao’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“How strange. I heard you dismissed a county magistrate over a woman and even had Gao Qiu’s son beaten.”
Yang Yi’s expression turned serious. “Slander, all of it. Now the Song envoy treats me like his own father.”
The surrounding ministers couldn’t help but chuckle.
Wu Zhao appeared slightly annoyed. “Seems like you’ve already handled it. I was planning to support you, but clearly, a few emissaries from Song aren’t enough to trouble you.”
Yang Yi blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected Wu Zhao’s offer of backing. A warm feeling surged in his chest, and he smiled.
“Of course, Your Majesty. As your loyal minister, how could I let a few fools from Song trouble me?”
“Oh?” Wu Zhao mused, her eyes narrowing.
“You didn’t use some underhanded trick, did you?”
The ministers turned to Yang Yi, their expressions curious and knowing.
Yang Yi adopted a righteous demeanor. “Your Majesty, how could I possibly resort to such means?”
Wei Yuanzhong chuckled, stroking his beard.
“Minister Yang is known as the Living Yama. If those Song envoys didn’t suffer a little, he wouldn’t be Prime Minister Yang.”
Considering Yang Yi’s age, the term “Prime Minister” was clearly a jest, and the hall erupted in laughter.
Yang Yi cleared his throat, feigning innocence.
“You’ve misunderstood me entirely. I wasn’t trying to trick them—I was trying to fool the entire Song nobility.”
The laughter abruptly stopped as everyone turned to Yang Yi in confusion.
“Trick the Song nobility?”
Wu Zhao was momentarily stunned, her expression unreadable.
After a pause, she asked, “Why are you suddenly targeting Song?”
All eyes remained fixed on Yang Yi.
Yang Yi’s tone grew serious. “Your Majesty, the Song are shameless…”
He recounted Zhu Dong and Gao Kan’s audacious demands.
The room was stunned.
“The Song dared to target us?”
Wu Zhao’s phoenix eyes narrowed, her displeasure evident.
“This Song Emperor Zhao Ji is absurd. He’s barely forty and already dreams of marrying a princess of Great Zhou? Does he think we’re the small kingdom we once were?
“And gunpowder, a core secret of Great Zhou? Even powerful dynasties like Qin, Han, Tang, and Ming never demanded it. Who does he think he is?”
Yang Yi chuckled. “Perhaps he’s been so comfortable in his wealth that he’s forgotten what Great Zhou is capable of. In his eyes, our Great Zhou must still seem inferior to Song. That arrogance is why he made such an outrageous demand.”
Wu Zhao sneered coldly. “A man like that isn’t even worthy of establishing diplomatic relations with Great Zhou. If Song dares make a move, we’ll march to war. Our Great Zhou is not what it once was.”
Her confidence was palpable. Even a weaker Great Zhou had crushed the Qing Dynasty. Now, with its strength doubled, a confrontation with Song held no fear.
After venting, Wu Zhao turned back to Yang Yi. “Minister Yang, you mentioned setting a trap for the Song nobility. What exactly is your plan?”
The ministers’ gazes sharpened with curiosity. They knew that whatever Yang Yi had devised, it would be both cunning and ruthless.
Yang Yi smiled. “I took a hundred pieces of glassware and told Zhu Dong and Gao Kan to return with 50 million guan…”
“Glassware?”
Gasps echoed through the hall as disbelief swept over the ministers.
Wei Yuanzhong’s eyes widened in shock. “Minister Yang, are you serious? A hundred pieces of glassware?”
Yang Yi nodded solemnly. “Of course. Otherwise, why would they spend 50 million guan on it?”
Wu Zhao’s phoenix eyes glimmered with astonishment.
“50 million guan? Can they even raise that much?”
Yang Yi spread his hands. “Of course not. That’s why I suggested they pool resources with the Song nobility.”
Xu Jingzong sighed.  â€œWith Song’s immense wealth, the nobles of Bianjing could probably mortgage their homes and lands to raise that amount.
“Minister Yang, isn’t this just giving them a way to make money? Where’s the trap?”
The ministers murmured in agreement, nodding slightly.
Wu Zhao’s brows furrowed, skepticism etched on her face.