The gloom hanging over Yang Feng's side was, in Yan Xiang's eyes, a joyous occasion of the highest order.
He was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly, his aged face flushed crimson, as though he had grown twenty years younger.
Last night, he had personally planned and carried out this Shouchun version of "draping the yellow robe over one's shoulders."
Today, the Heavenly Screen had predicted with unerring precision that, in another worldline, he had actually recreated that "yellow robe" moment perfectly in Chengdu.
What did this mean?
It meant that he, Yan Xiang, was the undisputed foremost founding minister of the Great Yang Empire.
He was the loyal follower who had personally helped His Majesty onto the dragon throne twice.
Such an achievement had simply never been seen before, and likely never would be again.
At the thought, Yan Xiang felt hot blood rush straight to the crown of his head, and he could no longer contain himself.
He stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yang Feng, who still looked as though he had nothing left to live for, his voice ringing with fervor.
"Your Majesty truly has the mandate of heaven."
"Look, look at this Heavenly Screen."
"Even in a place as remote as Yizhou, Fa Zheng and Li Yan of Yizhou's great aristocratic clans still insist on draping the yellow robe, the symbol of supreme sovereignty, over your shoulders."
"This is the will of the people and the mandate of heaven."
"You are the true dragon, the Son of Heaven, destined to rule all beneath heaven."
Beside him, Ji Ling watched the Heavenly Screen's contents with a rather sour feeling in his heart.
Why?
Here in Shouchun, I was at least one of the planners and main players.
How come, in that Chengdu scenario, I didn't even get my name mentioned, while those two fellows Fa Zheng and Li Yan snatched the top credit?
But jealousy aside, Ji Ling knew perfectly well that now was the time to express his loyalty.
He hurriedly followed Yan Xiang's lead, dropping to one knee and booming his congratulations to Yang Feng.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!"
"Heaven's mandate is plain for all to see. Your Majesty should ascend the throne."
Looking at the two fellows before him, both pumped up as though they had been injected with chicken blood, Yang Feng was utterly panicked.
Brothers, I'm begging you, stop jinxing me with your praise.
Is this Heavenly Screen here to help me or harm me?
Every time it airs a scenario where I become emperor, it's as good as putting another heavy black mark against my name in the minds of every warlord under heaven.
Killing Yuan Shu has already put me on Yuan Shao's list.
Proclaiming myself emperor in Shouchun means Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce, and the rest will all see me as a thorn in their eyes.
Now it's come up with another scenario where I proclaim myself emperor in Yizhou, and kill Liu Zhang, a member of the Han imperial clan, while I'm at it.
Wonderful. I've single-handedly maxed out the whole world's aggro.
This Heavenly Screen is practically the ultimate anti-fan ringleader, dreaming up every possible way to help me offend people.
Meanwhile, in distant Yan Province, at Xu Capital.
Watching the slowly fading Heavenly Screen, Cao Cao sank into a strange silence, his expression a sight to behold.
This scenario... was far too absurd, wasn't it?
How was he winning while lying down again?
And this time, he had gone straight to the top in his sleep, hoisted onto the throne by his subordinates.
Why did this maneuver look so familiar?
Unbidden, the detailed intelligence he had received just yesterday about Yang Feng's enthronement in Shouchun surfaced in Cao Cao's mind.
Good grief. One in Shouchun, one in Chengdu, and the scenarios were practically identical.
Could this Yang Feng be Heaven's own son?
Why did every good thing in the world chase after him?
For the first time, a trace of indescribable wariness and... jealousy rose in Cao Cao's heart.
His advisers naturally noticed their lord's doubts and unease.
One adviser immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Cao Cao, and said, "My lord, there is no need to worry over such empty falsehoods."
"That Yang Feng merely has a little better luck."
"Look, by killing Yuan Shu in Shouchun, he has already defied the world's strongest taboos and provoked universal outrage."
"If he truly ascends the throne in Chengdu in the future, as the Heavenly Screen claims, that would be an even greater act of treason, certain to provoke the world's outrage once more."
"How could a man who has twice aroused public indignation compare to you, Chancellor, with the Son of Heaven in your hands and the restoration of the Han as your cause?"
"His defeat is beyond doubt."
Barely had these words fallen when Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, who had been treated as mere scenery on the dragon throne beside them all this time, could no longer suppress his grief and indignation.
With a loud wail, he burst into uncontrollable tears before the assembled civil and military officials.
Tears and snot streamed down his face, and his cries were utterly heartrending.
"Boohoo... Uncle..."
"Whatever else Liu Zhang might have been, he was still my imperial uncle..."
"If he had ascended the throne, I... I would have found it a little easier to bear..."
"Why was it this Yang Feng again?"
"Why is it always this traitor Yang Feng?"
"Only yesterday, he usurped the imperial title in Shouchun, and today this Heavenly Screen says he will proclaim himself emperor in Chengdu too."
"This man... this man truly is a mortal enemy of our Great Han, one who cannot share the same sky!"
At the sight, Cao Cao inwardly cursed his rotten luck, but immediately put on an expression of utmost concern and hurried forward a few steps to offer gentle consolation.
"Your Majesty, please do not grieve. Preserving your imperial health matters most."
"With your servant here, that traitor Yang Feng will not be allowed to continue running rampant."
"I swear here and now that I will crush the rebels for Your Majesty, avenge Liu Jiyu, and restore the prestige of our Great Han."
His words rang with righteous conviction, but inwardly, a little drum of unease had already begun to beat.
For he had noticed that the Heavenly Screen had once again vanished without a sound.
It seemed this thing was just like a storyteller, airing only a short segment each day and keeping everyone's appetite thoroughly whetted.
But what exactly was this "shooting a cannon at the camp gate" that it would tell of tomorrow?
Judging by the name, it seemed he would be formally going to war against Yang Feng.
He wondered just how capable this fellow, who could only write a few lousy verses, would prove on a battlefield of real blades and spears.
Just how good were his military abilities?
As though he had heard Cao Cao's thoughts, Guo Jia smiled faintly beside him, gently waved his feather fan, and stepped forward.
"Chancellor, I believe that Yang Feng is merely skilled in poetry and adept at policy essays."
"These are a scholar's abilities, not a commander's talents."
"When it comes to marching armies, arranging formations, and securing victory on the battlefield, who beneath heaven can stand shoulder to shoulder with you, Chancellor?"
"A mere Yang Feng is no cause for concern."
Still sniffling, Emperor Xian of Han felt a glimmer of hope at these words.
Yes, he could only count on Cao Cao now.
He hoped this overmighty minister really could defeat that heinous traitor Yang Feng in the future.
After all, going straight ahead and proclaiming oneself emperor truly crossed far too many lines.
Still, how things ultimately turned out would probably depend on what the Heavenly Screen said tomorrow.
Cao Cao glanced outside the hall. The sun was already sinking westward, its light dim and yellow.
He announced the end of court and returned to his chancellor's residence with Xun Yu and Guo Jia.
Meanwhile, in Yuzhou.
The three brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, sat around a crude wooden table, staring toward where the Heavenly Screen had vanished, each dumbstruck, as though struck by lightning.
Only after a long while did Zhang Fei, his eyes as wide as bronze bells, finally squeeze out a sentence in his rumbling voice.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother..."
"You... you can become emperor like this?"