Chapter 126: Taste the Flavor of Power! Pandora’s Box of Desires!
“Prime Minister Yang, an envoy from Qin wishes to see you.”
An official bowed hurriedly before Yang Yi, his voice tinged with urgency.
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow. An envoy from Qin? He felt a strange discomfort at the mention of the Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng. After all, he had shared a rather intimate relationship with Ying Zheng’s daughter, Ying Yinman.
Moments later, the envoy arrived.
“Prime Minister Yang, this is a letter from His Majesty,” the man said, his tone respectful as he handed over the missive. The envoy’s attire, along with his Qin accent, left no doubt about his origins.
Yang Yi’s eyelid twitched slightly as he accepted the letter. Could this be Ying Zheng settling scores?
He unfolded the letter calmly and scanned its contents. A peculiar expression flickered across his face. The Emperor of Qin had written about Ying Yinman in only the briefest of mentions, focusing instead on the agricultural treasures she had brought back to Qin—sweet potatoes and corn. The letter politely expressed Qin’s desire to obtain these crops from Great Zhou, with no further allusion to their relationship.
Yang Yi’s lips curled faintly. Ying Zheng’s deliberate omission spoke volumes.
The Emperor’s subtle wording suggested he was well aware of the nature of Yang Yi’s connection with his daughter. Knowing Ying Yinman’s stubborn personality, she would undoubtedly use this relationship to resist any arranged marriage upon her return to Qin. It was clear Ying Zheng understood this dynamic but chose to tread carefully for the sake of diplomatic ties.
After a moment’s thought, Yang Yi smiled at the envoy.
“I understand His Majesty’s intentions. We will prepare the requested items for you to take back.”
Sweet potatoes and corn had become commonplace in Great Zhou, planted by nearly every household. These crops, originally introduced by Great Zhou, were already accessible to neighboring nations. Ying Zheng’s act of notifying Yang Yi seemed to be a show of respect between friendly states.
To Yang Yi, withholding such items served no purpose. If anything, it was an opportunity to foster goodwill while furthering the people’s prosperity.
The next day, the Qin envoy returned to Qin, bringing with him sweet potatoes, corn, chili peppers, and other agricultural innovations.
“Your Majesty, I have urgent news to report!” Fang Xuanling burst into the hall, his face flushed from haste.
The ministers turned their gazes to him in surprise. Li Shimin, the Emperor of Tang, stroked his beard calmly.
“What is it, Xuanling?” he asked, his voice measured.
Fang Xuanling bowed deeply before speaking.
“Your Majesty, word has reached me that the people of Great Zhou have been planting crops called sweet potatoes and corn. These crops are said to yield nearly a thousand jin per mu! The harvests have been abundant.”
The hall fell silent, every minister visibly stunned.
“A thousand catties per mu?” Changsun Wuji repeated in disbelief. “Xuanling, are you certain of this? Surely you jest!”
Fang Xuanling sighed and shook his head.
“I wish it were a jest, Lord Zhao. But the reports are true. Last year, Great Zhou promoted the cultivation of these crops, and this year, their harvest has proven extraordinary.
“Furthermore, the Emperor of Qin himself has sought sweet potatoes and corn from Great Zhou. Your Majesty, we cannot afford to fall behind.”
Li Shimin furrowed his brows, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
“That Yang Yi… it seems he has a knack for uncovering miracles, doesn’t he? Even crops that yield a thousand jin per mu.”
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances. Yang Yi’s accomplishments weighed heavily on their minds, each one monumental enough to define an ordinary official’s entire career.
Li Shimin broke the tense silence.
“Enough. If Ying Zheng has already sought these crops from Great Zhou, we must do the same. Sweet potatoes and corn will undoubtedly benefit our Great Tang.”
Everyone murmured in agreement. After a moment of contemplation, Li Shimin continued.
“This time, the Crown Prince will represent me in this endeavor.”
The hall grew quiet once more. The announcement caught everyone off guard. Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince, had recently fallen out of favor with the Emperor due to his erratic behavior, including his infamous Turkic impersonations and scandalous relationships.
Changsun Wuji lowered his gaze, his thoughts conflicted. He understood Li Shimin’s intent. If Li Chengqian successfully brought these miraculous crops back to Tang, the achievement could redeem his tarnished reputation.
Wu Zhao leaned languidly on the dragon throne, her graceful figure draped in imperial robes and her ample breasts seemed ready to burst from her clothes. Her every movement exuded both elegance and power.
“Li Shimin has sent his son, Li Chengqian, to request sweet potatoes and corn from our Great Zhou,” she said, her voice tinged with amusement. “He even offers gold in exchange.”
Her gaze fell on Yang Yi, who stood at her side, deep in thought.
“The task of receiving Li Chengqian is yours,” she declared, stretching lazily.
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow. “Li Chengqian?”
Wu Zhao narrowed her eyes slightly. “You must not harm him while he is in Luoyang. Remember, he is the Crown Prince of Great Tang and Li Shimin’s eldest son.
“If anything happens to him here, it could tarnish our Great Zhou’s reputation and provoke retaliation. Though we are strong, we are not yet ready to confront the might of Tang directly.”
Yang Yi chuckled softly. “Your Majesty, do I look like a troublemaker? Why would I harm the Crown Prince of Great Tang?”
Wu Zhao arched a delicate eyebrow. “It’s not what you look like—it’s what you are. I saw the way your eyes lit up earlier, clearly plotting some mischief.”
Yang Yi smiled wryly. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I have no quarrel with Li Chengqian and no intention of harming him.”
Li Chengqian, dressed in a three-clawed dragon robe, greeted Yang Yi with a polite smile.
“I have long heard of Prime Minister Yang’s illustrious name, but I must admit I did not expect you to be so young. Truly, a dragon among men.”
Yang Yi inclined his head slightly. “Your Highness is too kind. The sweet potatoes and corn that Great Tang has requested have already been prepared.”
He gestured with a gracious smile. “It would be a shame for Your Highness to travel such a great distance only to leave in haste. Allow me to host you and show you the prosperity of our Great Zhou.”
Li Chengqian hesitated, taken aback by Yang Yi’s enthusiasm. After a brief pause, he nodded.
Yang Yi’s lips curled into a small smile.
Half an hour later, Yang Yi hosted a lavish banquet for Li Chengqian. The table was adorned with exquisite dishes, and the atmosphere was lively. After several rounds of toasts, Li Chengqian, his cheeks slightly flushed from the wine, spoke in high spirits.
“I didn’t expect Luoyang in the Great Zhou to rival the prosperity of Chang’an. Your country’s governance is truly remarkable, with wise rulers and capable ministers.”
Yang Yi smiled faintly but said nothing. He knew these were merely polite words—flattery exchanged in diplomatic settings.
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Yang Yi suddenly spoke, his tone casual yet inviting. “I have heard that Your Highness possesses considerable expertise in military formations. Why not share some of your insights with us here in Great Zhou?”