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

Chapter 41: Eight consecutive draws!

Night had fallen.

At the Yang residence, Yang Yi sat in his study room, feeling the quiet stillness around him. It had been a long time since he’d opened the system panel, but tonight seemed as good a time as any.

[Host: Yang Yi]

[Poison Expert Points: 89,836]

He blinked at the number, surprised by how high his points had climbed. He had spent quite a bit on previous raffles, but it looked like his points had steadily accumulated thanks to his clever schemes, especially his recent manipulation of Qing citizens.

Yang Yi paused for a moment, considering his options. Then a smile crept across his face.

“Take a chance. Turn a bicycle into a motorcycle,” he muttered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Raffles had always been worth it in the past—no reason to stop now.

[Ding! 80,000 Poison Expert Points consumed. Starting the raffle.]

As the system chimed, the prize pool glowed faintly. A few seconds later, a cascade of reward notifications rang out:

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for winning Greenhouse Farming technology.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining multiple chili peppers.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving Cement Production Technology.]

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[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Fruit Gift Pack (contains various fruits).]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining multiple cotton plants.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving a Physical Improvement.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining multiple pairs of stockings.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining multiple sweet potatoes and corn.]

Yang Yi’s eyes brightened. This haul was better than expected.

“Not bad,” he mused, calculating the value of his prizes.

The sweet potatoes and corn alone were worth 50,000 points in the system store. Add in the cotton and chili peppers, and the total value far exceeded the 80,000 points he’d just spent.

I can’t believe my luck! he thought with a grin.

This draw was definitely a jackpot.

Just then, a surge of warmth spread through his body, enveloping him completely. He felt his energy rise as the sensation flowed through his muscles.

When the power finally dissipated, Yang Yi stood up, feeling lighter, stronger.

It must be the physical enhancement from the raffle, he realized.

He lifted his shirt, catching a glimpse of his now-toned abs. His reflection in the mirror showed a man with a leaner, more athletic physique—he even looked a bit more handsome. The system hadn’t just improved his strength; it had enhanced his overall aura.

“This draw was definitely worth it,” he said to himself, pleased with the results.

…

Half a month later.

Great Qin. Reign of Xianyang.

“Your Highness, the princess…”

A maid entered the room, carefully carrying a piece of paper. On the soft couch made of golden nanmu, covered with a quilt embroidered in cloud brocade, a young girl in a loose purple dress lay comfortably. Her delicate legs swayed gently as she lazily flipped through a well-worn sheet of paper, her beautiful fingers tracing the dense writing.

The girl, Ying Yinman, looked up eagerly as the maid approached.

“Is there finally a new issue?”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. She quickly sat up, took the newspaper from the maid, and her face lit up as she saw the bold words on the front page: Great Zhou Bao.

With a delighted grin, Ying Yinman flopped back onto the couch, curling up as she scanned the paper, completely absorbed. Her legs kicked in the air as she read, her behavior carefree and utterly unbecoming of a princess. But she didn’t care. She was too lost in the stories.

The maid silently bowed and left the room, knowing better than to disturb the princess when she had the latest issue of her favorite newspaper.

Moments later, a soft sigh escaped Ying Yinman’s lips as she turned the final page. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, then sighed again in reluctance, setting the paper aside.

She had already finished reading the latest series.

As a loyal reader of the Great Zhou Bao, her favorite serials were Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Western Chamber.

She always made sure to devour those first before glancing at the other news. Since its inception, the Great Zhou Bao had been carried to various places by traveling merchants.

A maid had first discovered it outside the palace and, thinking it interesting, brought it back for the princess. Unexpectedly, Ying Yinman became completely engrossed after just a few glances and couldn’t put it down.

From that moment on, she never missed a single issue, reading each one over and over. In an era with few sources of entertainment, the Great Zhou Bao became her main source of mental stimulation.

Ying Yinman gently touched the fresh newspaper in her hand, muttering to herself,

“This newspaper comes out so slowly…”

She pouted, I heard it’s made by people from the Zhou Dynasty… I really want to meet the authors of Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Western Chamber.

Her eyes landed on a particular part of the newspaper.

“Huh, there’s an address here… Could I send them a letter?”

…

The Great Zhou Bao was stirring up waves not just in the Zhou Dynasty, but far beyond its borders.

Ming Dynasty, Xu Residence

“Sis! The newspaper is here!”

Xu Miaojin ran over, panting with excitement, her sleek hair slightly disheveled. Her fair, delicate face was flushed with energy as she handed over the precious paper.

Xu Miaoyun, her elder sister, immediately put down her book. Her dark eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“Quick, bring it over… Let’s read it together.”

With that, the two sisters hurried into the room, locking the door behind them as they poured over the latest edition.

Ever since a Ming merchant had stumbled upon the Great Zhou Bao and they managed to get their hands on an issue, the two sisters had gone to great lengths to buy the latest editions. They had made arrangements to receive every copy as soon as possible.

The amount of money spent was much more than the price of a single newspaper, but neither sister cared. To them, the Great Zhou Bao was well worth the expense.

…

Great Zhou, Qianyuan Hall

Wu Zhao stood before the monument in front of her, her expression stern and contemplative.

At that moment, Shangguan Wan’er cautiously entered the hall, bowing slightly.

“Your Majesty, the ministers are already waiting for you in the hall.”

Wu Zhao nodded slightly, her sharp gaze flickering with intensity. Then, without hesitation, she stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Shangguan Wan’er replied softly, following her out of the hall.