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

“Your Majesty… I must see Her Majesty!”
Zhang Jianzhi stood at the palace gates, his face dark, his clothes disheveled, and his entire body covered in dust. His haggard appearance drew the curious gazes of the surrounding ministers.
“Minister Zhang is still alive?” Xu Jingzong stroked his beard, his tone laden with surprise.
Zhang Jianzhi’s expression soured further. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “I nearly ended up like Li Yiji from the Han Dynasty…”
The name stirred murmurs among the gathered officials.
The ministers exchanged puzzled looks until Xu Jingzong clarified.
“Minister Zhang is comparing himself to the persuader sent by Liu Bang to negotiate with the king of Qi. Han Xin, under Liu Bang’s orders, launched a surprise attack during the talks, and Li Yiji was executed in a boiling cauldron.”
Recognition dawned on their faces, followed by chuckles.
Zhang Jianzhi’s face darkened further as he vented, “Yang Yi didn’t even give me a warning! I was almost slaughtered by the enemy! He’s truly heartless!”
Xu Jingzong coughed lightly. “Though Prime Minister Yang’s methods may seem ruthless, Minister Zhang, the results speak for themselves. We captured the enemy commander and achieved a glorious victory with far fewer troops. Such a triumph is worth some sacrifice.”
The other officials nodded in agreement, their expressions half-amused.
“Sacrifice?” Zhang Jianzhi snapped. “Easy for you to say when it wasn’t
neck on the line!” His frustration was palpable.
“We were in the middle of peaceful negotiations when, without any warning, chaos erupted! I demand to see Her Majesty!”
…
“You’re finally back?” Wu Zhao’s cold, elegant voice carried a trace of exasperation. “Zhang Jianzhi returned alive and has been cursing you all morning.”
Yang Yi entered, his expression warm and unbothered.
“Minister Zhang has indeed endured much for the nation. It’s only natural he feels aggrieved.” A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
“Let him vent. If I had to repeat the situation, I’d make the same decision. Let Zhang Jianzhi suffer; I’ll take the blame.”
Wu Zhao blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Her gaze on him was one of bemused incredulity.
Yang Yi continued, his tone turning sharp, “As for Gao Qiu, the man dared to provoke the Great Zhou. He will be executed publicly at the marketplace to serve as a warning.”
Wu Zhao nodded, then asked, “What were the casualties?”
Yang Yi’s expression turned solemn. “We killed over ten thousand enemies, captured sixty thousand, and scattered the rest. Our army sustained only a few hundred casualties.”
The Empress’s delicate features remained impassive, though her eyes gleamed with approval.
“No wonder you took such bold measures. I suppose, if I were in your position, I might have let Zhang Jianzhi suffer as well.”
A knowing smile passed between them.
…
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
Li Yan, the Chief Eunuch, stumbled into the hall, his face pale and drenched in sweat.
Zhao Ji, the Song Emperor, frowned. He set down his brush, turning his attention from the half-finished painting on the table.
“Speak.”
Li Yan hesitated, knowing the storm his words would bring.
“Your Majesty, Chief Marshal Gao has been defeated and captured by the Zhou forces. Prime Minister Yang plans to execute him in the marketplace…”
The brush slipped from Zhao Ji’s hand, splattering ink across the painting.
“What did you say?” His voice trembled. “Captured? What about the army?”
Li Yan swallowed hard. “Our forces suffered catastrophic losses: ten thousand dead, sixty thousand captured. The rest fled, but many remain unaccounted for.”
Zhao Ji’s face turned ashen, his body swaying.
“My army of one hundred thousand… reduced to scattered remnants?”
Li Yan bowed his head, his silence confirming the grim reality.
..
Zhu Biao strode into the hall, his expression complicated.
“Father, have you heard about the war between Zhou and Song?”
Zhu Yuanzhang, engrossed in a memorial, looked up sharply. “What war?”
Zhu Biao recounted how Yang Yi had deceived the Song Empire using glass.
When he finished, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long sigh.
“This Yang Yi not only excels in military strategy but also crafts such ingenious schemes. Truly a remarkable talent.” His tiger-like eyes gleamed with a mix of admiration and wariness.
“If you can avoid provoking him, do so. But if you must, eliminate him completely. A man like that, if left alive, will only bring disaster.”
Zhu Biao nodded in agreement. “Fifty million coins—that’s more than half of our Ming Dynasty’s annual tax revenue. If only our dynasty had such a brilliant tactician…”
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned deeply. He pondered for a moment before saying,
“Second Son, isn’t your wedding next month?”
Zhu Biao blinked, startled by the abrupt change in topic.
“Yes, Father. The fifth day of the month.”
“Good.” Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. “Send an invitation to the Zhou court. Include a personal invitation to Yang Yi.”
Zhu Biao froze, his expression incredulous.
…
Li Shimin leaned back, twirling the glass cup in his hand as a faint smile graced his lips. “Most people would use glass to make money. Yang Yi uses it to deceive others. Such a cunning mind…”
His courtiers chuckled, accustomed to hearing of Yang Yi’s ruthless ingenuity.