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

Chapter 58

Qianlong’s vision went black, his head buzzing as if struck by a massive hammer. He staggered back, nearly fainting.

It hit him then: if the Great Zhou Bao hadn’t used Nianqing’s capture as proof, no one would have believed the rumours.

But now, everyone knew his beloved general Nianqing had been taken by the Zhou Dynasty. Most of the gullible commoners would surely believe the lies.

“I’ve fallen into a trap!” Qianlong clutched his chest, barely containing his rage.

“This must be a plot by the Zhou people.”

Ertai and Fu Cha Fu Heng exchanged bitter smiles. It was obvious.

The Zhou Dynasty had crafted a cunning trap, using the captured general to lend credibility to their malicious rumours.

And now, with public opinion swayed the damage was immense.

The Emperor had always been revered and held above the rest of the world. But the common people thrived on scandal.

The Zhou had expertly exploited human nature’s worst tendencies, creating a poisonously effective scheme.

As the weight of this realization settled, a eunuch rushed into the hall.

“Your Majesty, Lord Nianqing has arrived.”

Qianlong’s face darkened.

“Get him out of here! I don’t want to see him!” His voice echoed with fury.

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Even Qianlong himself didn’t know what Nianqing had revealed during his captivity. And if he didn’t know, how could the common people?

Nianqing had become a liability.

…

The next day, the Great Zhou Bao had taken the Qing capital by storm. Throughout the city, whispers about the Emperor’s alleged misdeeds spread like wildfire.

Even countless Qing citizens began to discuss whether their Emperor had really done these things. Qianlong’s reputation, already marked by scandal, gave credence to the newspaper’s claims.

…

Inside his mansion, Niohuru Nianqing stood frozen, glaring at the crumpled Great Zhou Bao in his trembling hand. His eyes burned with anger.

“Slander! This is slander!” he roared.

Now, it was clear why the Emperor hadn’t seen him. Anyone would be furious after reading such vicious lies.

“I have to see His Majesty!” Nianqing muttered, storming toward the door.

As he stepped into the courtyard, the servants greeted him with awkward glances, their gazes heavy with suspicion. Nianqing’s frustration deepened.

Even if he jumped into the Yellow River, it wouldn’t be enough to clear his name. This was unbearable.

Just as he reached the gates, a eunuch approached. Nianqing immediately recognized Hai Gonggong, one of Qianlong’s most trusted attendants.

“Hai Gonggong, has His Majesty sent you to summon me to the palace?” Nianqing asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

But the cold expression on Hai Gonggong’s face dashed that hope. His pale, almost deathly, complexion only added to the chill in his voice.

“General Nianqing, I am not here to summon you. I’ve come to deliver a message from the Emperor.”

“As of today, Niohuru Nianqing no longer holds any official position. You are also forbidden from entering the palace.”

The words struck like a hammer. Nianqing’s face turned pale.

“Hai Gonggong, I’m innocent! You must tell the Emperor the truth. The Great Zhou Bao is full of lies. I never betrayed His Majesty. I never spoke a word against him!”

The eunuch’s sinister smile widened.

“Does it matter anymore, General Nianqing? You were captured and taken to Luoyang. Whether you spoke or not, the damage is done.”

Nianqing’s head spun. His mouth fell open, his limbs trembling uncontrollably.

This… this can’t be happening.

He had done nothing wrong, yet here he was, cast aside like a criminal.

…

Later that same day, Niohuru Nianqing hanged himself in his mansion. The news reached Qianlong’s ears quickly.

In the grand hall, Qianlong sat stone-faced, his anger simmering just below the surface.

“This useless fool… why didn’t he die on the battlefield?” he spat bitterly.

Fu Cha Fu Heng and the other ministers remained silent. The Emperor’s fury was understandable. If Nianqing hadn’t failed and been captured, the enemy wouldn’t have been able to use him in this vile plot.

The weight of the scandal had grown unbearable. Though no one dared mention it to the Emperor’s face, suspicion lingered in the court and the streets.

Even the Empress Dowager had summoned Qianlong to question him. It was an insult that only deepened his frustration.

…

When the news of Niohuru Nianqing’s suicide reached the Great Zhou, the court was in an uproar. Wei Yuanzhong, Zhang Jianzhi, Xu Jingzong, and the other ministers looked at Yang Yi in shock.

Incredible! Every step had gone exactly as Yang Yi had predicted. He had foreseen Nianqing’s death, and now it had come to pass. It was as if Yang Yi could see the future. His calculations were terrifyingly accurate.

Even Wu Zhao couldn’t help but praise him.

“What a brilliant plan. Killing three birds with one stone: draining Qianlong’s wealth, killing with a borrowed knife, and destroying his reputation.”

Her eyes gleamed with admiration.

“Yang Qing, you are a top strategist. The Great Zhou has gained immensely thanks to your talents.”

The ministers nodded in agreement. They had gained everything—wealth, the death of Niohuru Nianqing, and a severe blow to Qianlong’s reputation. It was ruthless and brilliant.

They turned their eyes to Yang Yi, filled with awe. This young man, barely twenty years old, had embarrassed the great Qianlong. Truly, he was an unparalleled national talent.

Yang Yi stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Your Majesty, Nianqing’s death benefits us even more.”

The ministers blinked in confusion, and Wu Zhao raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

Yang Yi smiled.

“With Nianqing’s death, the rumours will only grow stronger. People will wonder—did he commit suicide out of guilt? Or was he forced into it?”

“If it was guilt, what crime did he commit? If he was forced, who gave the order?”

“Could it be that he exposed Qianlong’s scandals and was killed by a furious Qianlong?”

The hall fell silent. The ministers exchanged uneasy glances. Even Wu Zhao looked stunned.

“Nianqing’s death will only fuel the rumours, making it seem even more credible. We can easily direct public suspicion toward Qianlong, making his guilt seem obvious. What the common people think next is not our concern.”

A cold shiver ran down the spines of everyone in the hall. Even in death, Nianqing was being used to further the plot. Yang Yi had squeezed every last drop of value from the situation.

What a terrifying mind.

When the commoners learn of Niohuru Nianqing’s death, they will undoubtedly believe it was Qianlong’s doing. If he had nothing to hide, why kill Niohuru Nianqing?