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

“A cunning plan?” Her bright eyes lit up with interest.

“What kind of plan?”

Right now, she despised Emperor Qianlong more than anything. If there was a way to make him suffer, she was eager to hear it.

The other officials also turned their attention to Yang Yi, though with a hint of skepticism.

Could there really be a solution in this situation?

Li Yifu’s expression darkened.

Is this child serious?

Yang Yi spoke with a serious tone.

“Since the treasury is empty and we’re short of funds, why not get the money from the Qing Dynasty? Let’s take their money to fill our coffers and use it to fight them!”

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

Has Yang Yi lost his mind? Getting money from the Qing Dynasty to fight them?

Li Yifu sneered. He had hoped Yang Yi might have something brilliant to offer, but this sounded like nonsense.

The people of the Qing Dynasty aren’t fools—why would they ever give money to Great Zhou?

Shangguan Wan’er blinked in surprise. Yang Yi wouldn’t say something without a reason.

Wu Zhao was silent for a moment, her phoenix-like eyebrows furrowed.

“How do we do that?”

Yang Yi smiled mysteriously.

“Your Majesty, rest assured—I guarantee the Qing Dynasty will willingly give us money. But before that, I need Your Majesty’s approval for one thing.”

Wu Zhao looked pensive.

“What is it?”

Yang Yi folded his hands.

“Allow me to go to the Qing Dynasty. Doesn’t Qianlong want a marriage alliance? Then let me represent Your Majesty to discuss this so-called marriage alliance with them.”

The hall fell into a stunned silence. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Did Yang Yi really just suggest going to the Qing Dynasty?

Li Yifu’s eyes twitched. He refrained from scolding Yang Yi.

If only this guy never came back, he thought darkly.

Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes widened.

In this situation, Yang Yi actually wants to go to the Qing Dynasty?

Wu Zhao raised an eyebrow, pondering his words.

“Minister Yang, are you proposing to use the pretext of discussing a marriage alliance to go to the Qing Dynasty and take their money?”

Yang Yi clapped his hands in admiration. “Your Majesty is wise.”

Wu Zhao frowned.

“I don’t understand. They aren’t fools. Why would they give you money and let you leave?”

She thought it over, unable to decipher what Yang Yi was planning. After all, the amount of money needed for a war wasn’t trivial.

Yang Yi smiled confidently.

“Your Majesty, just watch over Great Zhou. I will not fail in my mission.”

Wu Zhao opened her mouth to say something but hesitated. She worried about Yang Yi’s safety in the Qing Dynasty.

However, when she saw the determination in his eyes, she finally relented, saying slowly,

“Very well, I will trust you…”

As she spoke, she felt a strange sense of reliance, almost as if she were a wife leaning on her husband. Fortunately, the others didn’t notice her unusual behaviour; they were too shocked by Yang Yi’s audacity.

Regardless of his plan, his courage was undeniable.

Li Yifu smiled faintly. “Then I wish Minister Yang a safe journey.”

Yang Yi smiled confidently. “I will not betray Your Majesty’s trust.”

…

Half a day later…

Yang Yi packed his belongings and departed for the Qing Dynasty. Accompanying him were Dian Wei, Li Cunxiao, fifty elite soldiers granted by the Empress, and a diplomatic letter.

Half a month later…

Qing Dynasty.

The Capital.

Golden Throne Temple.

“Oh, a letter from the Empress?”

A middle-aged man with a coiffure raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.

He was dressed in a yellow dragon robe, with a prominent, smooth forehead, thick eyebrows, a square face with broad ears, and a moustache shaped like the character “八”.

This man was none other than the current Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Aisin Gioro Hongli—Qianlong.

Qianlong’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t expected his national letter, crafted with deliberate provocation, to so effectively provoke the Empress into sending an envoy.

I thought she might be more shaken, he mused, feeling a twinge of disappointment. He had always prided himself on his exceptionalism, his desire to achieve great feats of territorial expansion.

That’s why he had set his sights on Great Zhou. But this young empress had remained calm, revealing no weakness.

Qianlong turned his gaze to the young man standing in the hall—Yang Yi. The faint smile on Yang Yi’s lips and the way he met Qianlong’s gaze spoke volumes. The two men locked eyes for a long moment.

Qianlong frowned slightly before bursting into laughter.

“Minister Yang, since you come on the Empress’s orders, I cannot treat you poorly.”

“I’ve prepared a villa for you, Minister Yang. Stay for a few days, enjoy the scenery of our Qing Dynasty, and then we can discuss the matter of the marriage alliance between our two countries.”

Naturally, he was suspicious. He didn’t believe that Yang Yi had come merely to discuss a marriage alliance. What is this envoy up to? he wondered, deciding to buy some time.

Yang Yi remained unruffled.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ve heard that the capital of the Qing Dynasty boasts excellent scenery, abundant resources, and countless rare flowers and stones. During my stay, I plan to buy many souvenirs, but transporting them back might be inconvenient.”

Qianlong laughed heartily, feeling a sense of satisfaction. “Our Qing Dynasty has everything.

If you wish to buy things, I’ll provide you with ten large cargo ships and a token. With this token, you can freely use the waterways to transport your goods back!”

Yang Yi’s lips curled into a smile as he quietly expressed his thanks.

Half a day later, Yang Yi settled into the villa that Qianlong had arranged for him. He knew that Qianlong’s eyes were on him, but it didn’t matter. What he planned to do can be done even under Qianlong’s watchful eye.

Two days later, a rumor began circulating in the capital: the envoy from Great Zhou, Yang Yi, had brought a large sum of money to the capital and was planning to do business with the city’s nobles.

In a grand and imposing prince’s mansion…

“Prince Kang… have you heard?” A moderately fat middle-aged man said with a smile, “The envoy from Great Zhou, Yang Yi, claims to have a business deal. If you invest money, it will grow…”

The man he addressed as Prince Kang was an elderly figure with gray hair, the current Iron-Cap Prince, heir to the title of Prince Li of the First Rank—Balatu.