Seeing that Yuan Shu had flown into an utter rage, his almost man-eating gaze locked firmly on him, Yang Feng felt his heart about to leap out of his throat.
Fuck.
I've taken this too far.
This old bastard really wants to kill me.
A fine sheen of cold sweat instantly broke out on Yang Feng's forehead, and his brain raced faster than ever before.
No.
I absolutely can't let him keep misunderstanding this.
To hell with private tastes and being the greatest emperor of all time. All that has to wait.
Staying alive comes first.
If I let his fury keep consuming him like this, I'm probably going to meet my end in this hall today.
"Your Majesty."
Yang Feng hurriedly spoke, his voice carrying just the right trace of panic and sincerity, and dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Please quell your anger, Your Majesty!"
"The Heavenly Screen is spouting nonsense! You mustn't believe it!"
"My loyalty to you is unwavering. Heaven and earth can bear witness!"
"The greatest emperor of all time? I've never even thought about it! I don't want to be emperor!"
Right now, Yang Feng only wanted to hurry up and distance himself from this, to take off the absurdly oversized hat that had inexplicably been shoved onto his head.
Be emperor?
Could being emperor possibly be as enjoyable as having three or five lovely wives and beautiful concubines upstairs?
I just want to live a retired life, brother!
Before he had quite finished speaking, just as he was preparing to squeeze out a few tears to lend himself credibility, something unexpected happened.
A thunderous shout that could shatter stone rang out from beside him.
The voice was powerful, filled with resolve and murderous decisiveness. It belonged to Registrar Yan Xiang, who had remained silent all this time.
"Do it!"
Two simple words, yet they exploded like thunder.
Before his voice had faded, a cold glint flashed through the eyes of Grand General Ji Ling, standing beside Yuan Shu. With a swish, he actually drew the sword at his waist.
The sharp blade flashed with a chilling gleam in the hall's lamplight, and without the slightest hesitation, he laid it against Yuan Shu's neck.
The icy edge instantly drained all color from Yuan Shu's face, which had been flushed scarlet with fury.
Ji Ling's face was expressionless, his eyes cold. The words that left his mouth froze the very air throughout the hall.
"Your Majesty."
"Why are you rebelling?"
Boom.
At that moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent.
Yuan Shu was completely dumbfounded.
His eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the sword against his neck, then at Ji Ling's impassive face, before finally turning his gaze toward Yan Xiang, who had given the order.
He felt as though his brain could no longer keep up.
Rebelling?
Me?
I fucking proclaimed myself emperor, and now I'm rebelling against myself?
What the fuck kind of ferocious nonsense is that?
As for Yang Feng, still kneeling on the floor, he was utterly stupefied.
His mouth hung slightly open, all his remaining words stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single one.
Holy shit?
What's going on?
This isn't how the script goes!
Wasn't Yuan Shu about to kill me a second ago, with me on my knees begging for mercy?
How come, a second later, his most trusted grand general and registrar have taken him hostage?
These people... these people switched sides way too fucking fast!
They change faces faster than turning the pages of a book!
After a brief crash, Yang Feng's brain instantly began racing again.
He immediately grasped the key to it all.
The Heavenly Screen.
The problem still lies with the Heavenly Screen.
Well, damn. I get it now.
This Heavenly Screen called me "the greatest emperor of all time" and said Yuan Shu would "suffer defeat and die."
Isn't that practically handing them the answer key?
Yan Xiang, Ji Ling, and the rest are the shrewdest of the shrewd. What loyalty do they have to Yuan Shu?
Their loyalty lies with their prospects, their interests, and that damned glory and riches.
Now the Heavenly Screen has spelled it out: following Yuan Shu is a dead end, while following me means the future merit of helping "the greatest emperor of all time" rise to power.
Is there even a choice to make?
You could think with your toes and still know which side to take!
These bastards have spotted a promising stock in me and want to invest early, liquidating their holdings in the junk stock Yuan Shu before he goes bankrupt!
Having figured this out, Yang Feng felt not the slightest happiness. Instead, his scalp prickled.
No.
Absolutely not.
It's not time yet.
What am I right now?
A commoner, a slave, with neither troops nor power.
Apart from the nebulous title of "greatest emperor of all time" bestowed by the Heavenly Screen, I have nothing.
If Yuan Shu gets toppled now and I'm pushed into his position, wouldn't that put me straight over the fire to roast?
Outside, there are tigers and wolves like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Ce watching from every side. Inside, there's this bunch of slippery old hands who trim their sails to the wind and might turn on me at any moment.
With my meager skills, I'd probably be gnawed down to the last splinter of bone within three days.
Yuan Shu may be an idiot, but right now he's the best shield and meat shield I've got!
I have to keep him on that throne, drawing all the fire.
I need to lie low and develop first.
While these thoughts raced through Yang Feng's mind, Yan Xiang and Ji Ling had already turned in unison and bowed deeply to him.
"Please ascend the throne, Emperor Yang!"
Immediately afterward, following a brief hesitation and exchange of glances, a great swath of the other civil officials and military officers in the hall dropped to their knees.
"Please ascend the throne, Emperor Yang, and lead us in ending these troubled times!"
Their voices resounded through the entire hall like mountains roaring and seas surging, filled with fervor and anticipation.
Their eyes shone with frightening brightness, as though they could already see the glorious future of being enfeoffed as marquises and appointed chancellors, bringing honor to their ancestors.
The corner of Yang Feng's mouth twitched.
Emperor Yang?
Oh, fuck off.
He took a deep breath and rose from the floor. First, he waved at Yan Xiang, Ji Ling, and the others, then turned and bowed deeply to Yuan Shu, who was already frightened out of his wits, wearing an expression of "unyielding loyalty."
"Your Majesty."
"As you can see, I have absolutely no such intention."
"In life, I am yours, Your Majesty. In death, I shall be your ghost. The sun and moon can bear witness to my heart!"
With that, he whipped around and shouted sternly at Yan Xiang and Ji Ling.
"Registrar Yan, General Ji, what are you doing?"
"Put away your sword at once and beg His Majesty's forgiveness!"
"His Majesty holds the mandate of heaven! How dare you behave so outrageously?"
Yan Xiang and Ji Ling exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of approval and even deeper reverence in the other's eyes.
Look at that.
What breadth of spirit, what hidden depths!
With the throne within easy reach, he remains unmoved, instead first reassuring his former lord and steadying everyone's hearts.
Truly a born emperor!
The two immediately understood his intent and spoke in unison.
"We obey Lord Yang's every command."
With that, Ji Ling sheathed his sword in one clean motion and stepped aside with Yan Xiang, standing with their hands lowered as though that heart-stopping armed remonstrance had never happened.
The moment the sword left his neck, Yuan Shu felt his entire body go limp and nearly slid off the dragon throne.
He gulped down great breaths, cold sweat trickling from his forehead down his cheeks. Looking at the bizarre scene before him, he was filled with lingering fear and bewilderment.
The danger... is over for now?
But why do Ji Ling and Yan Xiang obey that Yang Feng?
Just as the atmosphere within the hall grew exquisitely tense, above everyone's heads, golden light once again began flowing without warning across the Heavenly Screen, which had remained still for so long.
New words slowly began to appear.