Yuan Shao stared at the golden heavenly screen that had vanished completely, his face livid. He slammed his palm onto the table before him with a tremendous bang.
"Outrageous!"
He cursed, his face full of anger and resentment.
"That's it?"
"This damned heavenly screen really knows how to leave people hanging!"
"I was just about to see how that so-called slave emperor was ground to dust by Liu Zhang of Yizhou's army, and then... then it just ended?"
Yuan Shao was so furious that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. He felt as frustrated as if a performance had reached its most exciting part, only for the storyteller to suddenly announce, "To learn what happened next, listen to the next installment."
Below him, the adviser Feng Ji's eyes shifted. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said ingratiatingly, "Please calm your anger, my lord."
"In my humble opinion, what this heavenly screen said was most likely nothing but bluff and nonsense."
"What virtue or ability could a lowborn slave possess to deserve being called an emperor for the ages?"
Guo Tu hurried to chime in from the side. "Exactly, exactly."
"Such absurd claims were merely an attempt to play to the crowd."
"Across the world, only you, my lord, deserve to be called the true dragon, the Son of Heaven."
"That Yang Feng isn't even fit to carry your shoes!"
Only after hearing his subordinates' flattery did Yuan Shao's expression improve considerably. Stroking his beard, he nodded proudly.
"Mm. You make a good point."
"A mere slave. Tomorrow, Liu Zhang will surely beat him until his true colors show on that heavenly screen."
In his heart, he had already decided this was nothing but a farce, and that he himself was the true protagonist of this world.
Yan Province.
Cao Cao likewise stared blankly at the empty night sky, remaining silent for a long time.
How could this be?
That was the end of today's livestream?
He unconsciously rubbed his chin, his brows knitting tightly together.
Alas, now he probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight again.
This fellow named Yang Feng, along with that unfathomable heavenly screen, had stirred far too much interest in him.
Below him, Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, and the other advisers exchanged glances and discussed it among themselves.
"How utterly inconceivable, to stop so abruptly at this moment."
"Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Deep down, however, their thoughts were much the same as Cao Cao's.
Even if a slave had encountered a few fortuitous opportunities and gathered some battered remnants of an army, how could he contend with Liu Zhang, a kinsman of the Han imperial house who held the land of heavenly abundance, with elite soldiers and plentiful provisions?
It was no different from hurling an egg against a rock.
In a corner, a faint flame of hope quietly kindled in the previously dull eyes of Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, whom Cao Cao had "invited" to watch the heavenly screen with him.
Wonderful.
Uncle Liu Zhang held all of Yizhou, with strong troops and powerful horses.
And this Yang Feng, as the heavenly screen itself had said, was merely a slave leading a remnant force.
He could not possibly be Uncle Liu Zhang's match.
As long as Liu Zhang soundly defeated this so-called "emperor for the ages," wouldn't that prove the heavenly screen was not all-knowing, and that its prophecies could be overturned?
Then perhaps... perhaps the Great Han's dynastic fortunes could still be saved.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Yuzhou.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the three brothers who had been shrouded in gloom just moments earlier, now presented an entirely different picture.
"Hahahaha!"
Zhang Fei was the first to slap his thigh and burst into thunderous laughter.
"I told you!"
"That heavenly screen must have gotten it wrong!"
"A slave, worthy of being called an emperor for the ages?"
"Why, that's enough to make old Zhang here laugh his teeth out!"
Liu Bei also shook off his earlier dejection, a long-absent smile appearing on his face. Shaking his head, he said, "Yes, this matter truly is far too strange."
"Presumably, this heavenly screen was merely making a show of mystery."
"I fear tomorrow will be the day Yang Feng loses both his standing and his reputation."
Guan Yu stroked his long beard, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as he nodded slowly. "Mm. Eldest Brother is quite right."
"This man has shallow roots, yet such a resounding title. It is bound to turn against him."
"Tomorrow, I fear we shall witness a farcical reversal that makes him a laughingstock before those who know better."
All three were convinced that this must be an enormous joke played by the heavenly screen.
Inside Chief Clerk Yan Xiang's residence in Shouchun City.
Unlike all the speculation and clamor outside, this place was particularly tranquil and warm.
Yang Feng sat calmly on a mat, the table before him laden with exquisite dishes and warm, fine wine. The lavishness far exceeded the treatment due to a "guest adviser" like him.
Yan Xiang personally filled a cup of wine for him and offered it with both hands, adopting an exceedingly humble posture, his face filled with a respectful, sincere smile.
"Young master, please."
"You had quite a fright today. This old man has prepared some humble wine to soothe your nerves."
Yang Feng laughed inwardly.
How was this humble wine? This was clearly the finest hospitality Yan Xiang could provide.
This old man was clever, and even more of a gambler.
He was betting on Yang Feng's future.
And he had staked his entire fortune and his life on it.
That vision and boldness alone deserved a higher regard.
"You are too kind, Lord Yan."
Yang Feng raised his cup with a smile, lightly clinked it against Yan Xiang's, then drained it in one gulp.
The warm wine slid down his throat, dispelling the chill that had accumulated in his body that night and finally putting his perpetually tense heart completely at ease.
"Fine wine."
His praise was heartfelt.
At the sight, delight rose to Yan Xiang's brows, and he hurried to fill his cup again.
"As long as you like it, young master."
"Here, try this. This roast lamb is our household cook's specialty."
Yan Xiang enthusiastically served Yang Feng food. His solicitous manner seemed less like someone treating a young man whose future was uncertain than someone attending a true sovereign.
Yang Feng stood on no ceremony, comfortably enjoying this exceptional treatment.
He knew that the more composed and unruffled he appeared now, the more reassured Yan Xiang would feel.
This was the first lesson in the art of an emperor's rule: not changing expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.
Although, as a future emperor, he currently needed a subject's protection just to sleep soundly-a little embarrassing to admit-that was the reality.
Survive first. Everything else could wait.
He picked up a piece of lamb roasted crisp outside and tender inside and placed it in his mouth. Its rich aroma spread, and its texture was superb.
It really was delicious.
Back when he had still been a slave, never mind such finely prepared roast lamb-he had had to risk his life fighting even for a sour, spoiled flatbread.
How little time had passed, yet he could already sit safely in a high official's residence like this, being waited on as though he were the future Son of Heaven.
This heavenly screen really was a good thing.
Although it had put him through hell today and nearly gotten him killed on the spot, the benefits it brought were just as real.
At the very least, Yan Xiang before him was the first fruit he had reaped.
The foremost civil official, whose words carried tremendous weight within Yuan Shu's faction-his allegiance was immensely significant.
As long as he could get through tonight safely and wait until the heavenly screen continued "airing its serial" tomorrow, publicizing his glorious deeds some more...
When the time came, it might even be possible to let "Brother Crow" possess him and flip Yuan Shu's table outright.
At that thought, Yang Feng's mood grew even brighter, and he ate his meat and drank his wine a little faster.
For a while, host and guest alike enjoyed themselves to the fullest, having a thoroughly merry time.
Meanwhile, within Yuan Shu's sleeping palace, the scene was indeed quite different.