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Everyone stared at Yang Yi, their faces a mix of shock and awe.

The officials were visibly trembling, their minds reeling from the unexpected brilliance of Yang Yi’s plan. It was a masterstroke of strategy that had turned a seemingly ruthless proposal into a cunning trap for unscrupulous merchants.

Li Yifu’s hair stood on end. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his face showed an expression of shock and disbelief.

Yang Yi’s words had pierced through the gloom of the Hangzhou crisis, revealing an ingenious strategy that used the merchants’ greed against them. The plan not only promised to resolve the grain shortage but also ensured the downfall of those who had exploited the disaster. It was truly a remarkable strategy.

Even though he greatly disliked Yang Yi, he had to admit that Yang Yi’s strategy was far beyond his reach.

Shangguan Wan’er clenched her fists, her cold eyes widening in astonishment. She hadn’t anticipated that Yang Yi’s plan would be so deviously effective.

The way he manipulated the merchants’ greed to trap them while solving the grain crisis was both ruthless and brilliant. She felt a mix of admiration and respect for Yang Yi’s cunning.

Wu Zhao’s phoenix eyebrows furrowed as she processed the revelation. Her black and white eyes showed a flicker of shock, and her lips pressed into a thin line.

What she had initially dismissed as a reckless suggestion had turned out to be a clever solution to her persistent problem.

The Empress’s anger towards the unscrupulous merchants was palpable, and she felt a surge of satisfaction at the thought of them being ensnared by Yang Yi’s plan. Her guilt over misunderstanding Yang Yi melted away as she considered the effectiveness of his strategy.

In a voice filled with both relief and excitement, Wu Zhao declared, “Good, truly a brilliant plan! Those unscrupulous merchants deserve to be ruthlessly trapped!”

As she spoke, the Empress’s gaze softened slightly. She turned to Yang Yi and said, “Minister Yang, since you’ve devised such an excellent plan, I appoint you to oversee the disaster relief in Hangzhou.”

Yang Yi accepted the order with a smile. “Yes, Your Majesty!”

Inwardly, he checked the system panel:

[Host: Yang Yi]

[Poison Expert Value: 51439]

The Poison Expert value had increased significantly. He realized that while giving advice was beneficial, actively implementing the plan would likely yield even greater rewards.

The civil and military officials looked at Yang Yi with a mix of envy and admiration. It was clear that Yang Yi had not only captured the Empress’s attention but had also proven his exceptional talent.

Li Yifu’s face darkened. The scathing reprimand he had received from Yang Yi was still fresh, and now he faced the additional humiliation of watching Yang Yi’s plan triumph.

What began as a strategy to address high grain prices had turned into a resounding success, severely punishing the unscrupulous merchants while solving the crisis. For Li Yifu, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

This was a slap in the face.

Li Yifu was so infuriated that he nearly spat blood. However, with the Empress now holding Yang Yi in high regard, Li Yifu had no choice but to endure the humiliation.

…

The following day, Yang Yi departed for Hangzhou.

As the imperial envoy, his first order of business upon arrival was to purchase grain at above-market prices and halt the distribution of relief grain. This decision sent shockwaves through Hangzhou, capturing widespread attention.

Outside the government office in Hangzhou City…

“This corrupt official is trying to kill us all!”

“Yes, old man, my family isn’t wealthy. It was already tough to buy rice, and now, with this corrupt official arriving, prices have skyrocketed. I’ve spent all my savings.”

“This corrupt official must be colluding with those unscrupulous merchants. It’s just despicable!”

“He should be dismissed!”

“How dare they stop distributing relief grain? Are they trying to drive us to death?”

Hundreds of angry citizens gathered outside the government office, shouting their frustrations. Yet, the doors of the office remained firmly shut.

An elderly man spat on the ground in disgust and shouted,

“Corrupt official, you’re colluding with unscrupulous merchants. Divine retribution will come for you!”

His words resonated with the crowd, who began to shout in unison.

“Corrupt official, scoundrel!”

“Beast!”

“Despicable creature!”

“Bastard!”

Despite the endless cacophony of curses, the government office remained silent and unresponsive.

Meanwhile, the price of grain continued to climb, reaching 150 cents per bucket and still rising. Many people despaired as, without government relief grain, affording grain became an impossible task. The desperate and hungry frequently ran to the government office to vent their anger.

The area outside the office was a chaotic scene.

Inside, the minor officials trembled with fear. None dared to challenge the imperial envoy’s orders.

In the inner office, Yang Yi remained calm, unaffected by the turmoil outside. He watched with satisfaction as the Poison Scholar’s value steadily increased.

Good, good, good. Once this plan concludes, the grain merchants will contribute another wave of benefits.

Several days passed, and the price of grain soared to 200 cents per bucket, hitting its peak. Grain merchants from various regions flocked to Hangzhou, eager to capitalize on the crisis.

In Hangzhou City…

A group of grain merchants gathered, their faces lit with satisfaction.

“I can’t believe this imperial envoy is still buying grain at these inflated prices.”

“Yes, with the price of grain several times higher than before, we’re set to make a massive profit on our stockpiles.”

“Hahaha, if it weren’t for this envoy, the price wouldn’t be so high. I even suspect he’s one of us.”

“Haha, let’s keep buying. The price will only go higher!”

“This drought will surely wipe out the people’s savings!”

…