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

Chapter 72: Wu Mingyue’s Kiss!

The triumphant victory of Great Zhou spread swiftly across the nation, the news carried by the Great Zhou Bao.

This time, Yang Yi’s reputation as a brilliant strategist was firmly established—not just among the elite but throughout all of Great Zhou.

The people now realized that they had a remarkable genius among them.

In Luoyang, the streets buzzed with talk of Yang Yi.

Enthusiastic citizens compared him to the most renowned strategists across the lands, while stories of his past deeds—like disaster relief and outsmarting grain merchants—resurfaced, astonishing those previously unaware of his accomplishments.

…

Great Zhou—Shu Yu Palace.

“Tsk tsk tsk, so it was Prime Minister Yang…”, Wu Mingyue blinked her bright eyes and smiled sweetly.

Today, she wore a light green lotus leaf dress with a golden phoenix hairpin. Her long black hair flowed smoothly down her back, and her full chest stretched the dress, revealing a large area of pale, tender skin.

The green fabric accentuated her delicate, smooth skin, resembling a peeled egg.

Yang Yi couldn’t help but smile as he looked at her. Has she grown up a bit more?

He thought, Tsk, tsk, young girls really do mature fast.

He estimated that she was at least a C+ now. In a few more years, wouldn’t she be too much to handle with one hand?

“Your Highness, you are flattering me…”

Wu Mingyue pouted, widening her eyes playfully.

“So, tell me—where do you come up with all these crafty ideas? I thought you looked so honest, yet here you are, surprising me with all these schemes. Truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Yang Yi looked at her breast and instinctively wanted to retort.

One should not judge a breast by its cover. When she wore more clothes, it wasn’t noticeable, but now with less clothing, it was indeed profound. However, he held back the words that came to his lips, knowing it would be blatant teasing.

She would probably shyly run away again.

Hands on her hips, Wu Mingyue leaned forward, her tone more earnest.

“Hey, since you have so many devious tricks, can you help me think of one to deal with some people?”

Yang Yi smiled. “Is there really anyone the princess can’t handle?”

Her delicate brows furrowed. “Actually, yes. There are two very, very annoying individuals I can’t seem to do anything about.”

Yang Yi raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Prince Liang—Wu Yuanqing, and Prince Wu—Wu Yuanshuang,” she replied, gritting her teeth.

“Wu Yuanshuang tried to hand you over to the Qing envoy in exchange for peace. When the plot was uncovered, my sister had him arrested. Then, just recently, during our father’s memorial, Wu Yuanqing returned and started pressuring my sister to release Wu Yuanshuang.

“He claims Wu Yuanshuang acted for the good of Great Zhou and hasn’t committed any grave offense. Worse, he’s been using our father’s last wishes as leverage.”

She sighed. “Before he passed, our father asked my sister not to harm her brothers, and out of gratitude for his decision to pass the throne to her, she’s honored his wishes. But this time, she’s furious. Wu Yuanqing, though, won’t relent.”

Yang Yi stroked his chin thoughtfully. “So, it’s those two…”

Back then, Prince Wu had planned to hand him over to the Qing. He hadn’t even gotten his revenge yet.

Seeing him deep in thought, Wu Mingyue quickly said, “Don’t you have a way to deal with them properly?”

A slight smile played on Yang Yi’s lips as he caught a hint of her floral fragrance.

“Of course, I do.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

His smile grew. “Not only can I deal with them, but I can make sure they suffer.”

A look of surprise spread across Wu Mingyue’s delicate face. “That powerful?”

Suddenly realizing who stood before her, she grew pale.

“Yang Yi, you can’t kill them… Even if my elder sister wants to deal with them, if she’s marked by the crime of killing her brothers, it won’t be good for her reputation. That would be a stain on her legacy forever.”

Although she wanted to help her elder sister deal with Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang, she had no intention of killing them.

Such an act would only make things worse for her elder sister, who sought to be a wise ruler.

Yang Yi’s lips twitched. “Was I that frightening?” he thought. He only said he’d make them suffer, not kill them.

Yang Yi chuckled softly, clearing his throat.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing them. I only meant to make things…difficult for them.”

A spark of excitement gleamed in her eyes.

“What method? Tell me!”

He blinked. “If Your Highness gives me a kiss, I’ll tell you.”

Wu Mingyue stared at him, stunned, and then her face flushed crimson.

“You… you… scoundrel!”

Yang Yi grinned, enjoying her reaction. Truthfully, he was only joking, finding it fun to tease her. The princess’s shy side was a rare sight.

But then, she suddenly leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

Yang Yi was stunned, staring at her in surprise. The princess had turned her head, clearly too embarrassed to meet his gaze, her beautiful neck tinted red.

“Hey… you can tell me now, right?”

He was silenced.

He had expected her to be outraged and call him a scoundrel—certainly not to comply with his request. The soft sensation lingered where she’d kissed him.