I, Am a Living Yama, Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm-Chapter 226

Chapter 226

It was midmorning in the gardens of Yang Yi’s residence, the air still cool as the shadows of nearby willows danced over the surface of the pond. When Wu Zhao and Shangguan Wan’er gave him puzzled looks, Yang Yi smiled and gestured toward the tranquil water.

“Let’s use this pond to explain the concept of the ecological chain,” he said.

At the very bottom, there were aquatic plants and algae. Above them swam herbivorous fish, and higher still were carnivorous fish. In this way, a simple but effective ecological chain was established. As long as that chain remained stable, the pond would thrive, teeming with life and balance.

“But once any element becomes excessive,” Yang Yi continued, his tone shifting slightly, “the effect can be devastating. The fish and plants will die off, and the pond itself will become lifeless.”

Wu Zhao’s eyes widened slightly. A flicker of realization crossed her face as she looked again at the quiet, green water. She was beginning to understand.

Yang Yi didn’t stop there. “If Your Majesty is still unsure, consider what happened to the Turks. Do you remember the plan I once proposed—raising sheep to wipe out their line?”

The empress’s brow furrowed, but she listened closely.

“Even on the steppe, there exists a kind of ecological chain: grass, herbivores, and carnivores. These three maintain balance. But when the Turks overgrazed their lands, the sheep devoured all the grass. Once the grass was gone, the number of sheep declined. And as the sheep dwindled, so did the wolves that preyed on them.

“If Great Zhou had not intervened to restore those grazing lands, the steppes would’ve become a graveyard of wolves. A land once lush and thriving would’ve turned into a barren wilderness.”

Wu Zhao and Shangguan Wan’er looked at one another, understanding dawning in their expressions. For the first time, they grasped what Yang Yi truly meant by “ecological chain.”

Squatting beside the path, Yang Yi extended a finger and prodded a crayfish scuttling along the ground. Its shell gleamed faintly with red and green hues, and it snapped its pincers with surprising vigor.

Amused, Yang Yi chuckled.

“This little creature, armored and armed with claws, becomes a terror when placed in water. It preys on both plants and animals in the pond—and worse, it reproduces with astonishing speed. Introduce even a few into a pond, and soon the fish and plants are gone.”

He looked up at the empress. “Your Majesty, you just heard what I said about the balance of the ecological chain. Now imagine this crayfish introduced into the waters of Ming.”

His voice grew firm.

“It would multiply rapidly, wiping out native vegetation and fish stocks. With the ecological balance shattered, any lake in Ming where these crayfish appear will be devastated.”

He rose and dusted off his hands, then added, “And it doesn’t stop there. These crayfish are expert diggers. In rice fields, they’ll burrow into the earth, destroying the integrity of the land and the crops. If they reach river embankments, they’ll nest beneath them.

“One flood—just one—and the weakened foundations will give way. Their burrows will become the final straw.” 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Wu Zhao and Shangguan Wan’er gasped in unison. The empress’s eyes narrowed in disbelief as she stared at the small creature scrambling across the path.

How could something so small wield such destructive power?

Yang Yi’s smile returned.

“When that time comes, Ming will be plagued by this creature. Lakes and rice fields will suffer, and the consequences will ripple across their entire agricultural system. And Ming, like us, is an agricultural nation. This creature—this crayfish—is a bane to rice fields.”

Wu Zhao shivered slightly as she looked down at the tiny creature crawling near her feet. She had underestimated it.

Moments passed.

Then, in a soft voice tinged with dread, she said, “If it invades Ming, it won’t be long before it spreads through the rivers and reaches our Great Zhou. We won’t be spared.”

She paused, brows knitting together.

“Wouldn’t that be like injuring the enemy by a thousand and losing eight hundred ourselves?”

Shangguan Wan’er nodded slowly, finally recovering from the shock.

“Prime Minister Yang’s strategy is undoubtedly powerful. But if this thing enters our borders, Great Zhou might not be able to withstand it either.”

Yang Yi, however, looked entirely unbothered.

“Your Majesty need not worry,” he said cheerfully. “If left unchecked, this creature would indeed cause catastrophic economic damage. But if we are prepared…” His eyes gleamed. “Then it’s nothing to fear.”

Wu Zhao and Shangguan Wan’er exchanged glances.

“Nothing to fear?” the empress murmured, confused. “You just finished describing it as something terrifying.”

Her frown deepened. “Prepared in advance? How?”

Yang Yi’s lips curled into a cryptic smile.

He glanced up at the sky. The sun had risen past its peak, casting warm golden light across the courtyard.

“The timing is just right—it’s time for lunch,” he said. “Your Majesty, Lady Shangguan, allow me to host you at my residence.”

Rather than answering her question, he invited them to eat. Wu Zhao hesitated, clearly suspicious of his sudden change in topic, but in the end, she nodded.

Half an hour later, they sat inside the main hall. The table was set, though not with the elegance one might expect for a meal with the empress.

Wu Zhao’s gaze drifted toward Yang Yi, skeptical.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” she asked. “Still not going to tell us?”

Yang Yi gave a calm smile. “In just a moment, Your Majesty will understand.”

Wu Zhao’s brow twitched. He was testing her patience.

Shortly after, a maid appeared, carefully carrying a heavy metal basin. She placed it gently in front of the empress.

With a dull thud, the iron basin landed on the table. Whatever was inside filled it to the brim.

Shangguan Wan’er blinked. This was supposed to be lunch. Why bring in a basin?

Wu Zhao stared at it, utterly bewildered. “What… what is this?”

Yang Yi answered matter-of-factly, “Why, our meal, of course.”

She stared at the metal basin in front of her, deep in thought. Eating from this thing?

As the Empress of Great Zhou, she had tasted countless delicacies—but never from a basin.

She pursed her lips.

“How… how do we eat this?”

Yang Yi smiled faintly and signaled to the maid beside him.

The maid stepped forward and lifted the lid, revealing a basin full of crayfish. They were coated in fragrant seasonings, their shells a bright, glossy red.