Chapter 293: Chapter 285: The Yun Family’s Defection

The speeches of the two clan leaders were powerful, ensuring everyone heard them clearly.

In an instant, upheaval swept through the venue!

No one expected that the Bear Clan and Snake Clan, which had previously publicly declared support for Shen Qingli multiple times, would switch their support at the last minute and cast their votes for Shen Tang!

You must know that the Bear Clan and Snake Clan in the Imperial City are also major forces, second only to the Lu Family and Yun Family, and their votes carry a lot of weight. With these two votes cast, they almost evened the score between the two Princesses!

At the same time, accompanied by such an exhilarating speech, many aristocratic families that Shen Tang helped during the war also ended their hesitation and cast their votes for her.

Among them, more than a dozen family representatives who initially pledged their votes to Shen Qingli also cast their votes for Shen Tang!

Shen Qingli “jumped” up from her seat, her eyes full of raging fire, her chest violently heaving; she was bubbling with anger! Her mood couldn’t be described merely as shocked, but rather as horrified!

What exactly did this bitch do?

Why did all those followers under her suddenly switch allegiance and vote for Shen Tang?!

The battle on the field grew fiercer.

The voting scores of the two Princesses fiercely competed.

As the first half was about to end, Shen Tang’s vote count surprisingly surpassed Shen Qingli’s advantageous start, temporarily taking the lead!

Although it was only a slight lead, the result far exceeded anyone’s expectations!

Shen Qingli fell powerless back to her seat, deeply affected, with no sign of her extravagant confidence from when she first appeared.

This… how could this be possible?

Someone in the crowd muttered,

“Why hasn’t the Yun Family voted yet?”

Only then did people realize that the first half was almost over, yet the Yun Family had not cast their vote.

The Head of Yun Family has always looked down upon Shen Tang, that much everyone could see; he sides with Empire Princess Shen Qingli.

Moreover, the Young Master Yun is married to Shen Qingli.

The Yun Family supporting Shen Qingli’s rise to power was long decided.

No one outside doubted that the Yun Family’s vote would undoubtedly go to Shen Qingli!

As long as they had the Yun Family’s vote, Shen Qingli could make a slight comeback to achieve ultimate victory!

Upon hearing the undercurrent discussions, Shen Qingli realized the Yun Family’s vote hadn’t been cast yet, instantly rekindling hope, beaming with delight.

The Yun Family is her biggest support!

With all other families having voted, just clinching this one more vote ensures her victory!

“Brother Yun Han, why haven’t the Yun Family voted yet? Otherwise, I’m really going to lose.” Shen Qingli turned her head anxiously towards Yun Han, urged.

Yun Han’s eyes flashed with complexity. Having been with Shen Qingli for so long, he understood her nature. She’s more suited to being a carefree Princess rather than a Monarch burdened with heavy duties.

Moreover, the Empire has just undergone a war, leaving it with wounds everywhere. If she takes on such responsibilities now, who knows how overwhelmed she’ll be in the future.

The current situation aligns more with Yun Han’s vision, and he too believes Shen Tang is more suited to becoming this country’s Monarch.

But Shen Qingli is his partner, so it’s hard for him to speak too conclusively. He simply said, “Father is the Head of Yun Family; the final decision on the Yun Family’s vote rests with him. I can’t help you much.”

Meanwhile, the Head of Yun Family Yun Hong, seated on another side, was also very conflicted, which is why he hadn’t cast his vote yet.

Shen Tang saved his life; without her, he wouldn’t be standing here today.

Even without this debt of gratitude, Yun Hong considered the nation’s welfare, Shen Tang’s display of strength and courage on the battlefield; she is most suitable to be a Monarch!

Unfortunately, realizing this came too late.

His only son is married to Shen Qingli, thus becoming part of her, and when he grows old, he must pass the family’s leadership to Yun Han.

But Yun Han is now tied with Shen Qingli, their fates intertwined.

The Yun Family’s vote for Shen Qingli aligns better with family interests.

Family interests, national duty, and the debt of gratitude battled in Yun Hong’s mind.

Eventually, under the anticipation of everyone present, the Yun Family abstained.

Shen Tang won the vote triumphantly.

Shen Qingli completely collapsed onto her seat, her delicate face losing its color, fingers digging tightly into the armrest, leaving deep marks.

Once the first half of the election was completed, a half-hour intermission followed, with the second half equally important.

The major aristocratic families with voting rights will engage in serious discussions.

They will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of this chosen successor to determine whether they can shoulder the nation’s heavy responsibilities.

During this interval, families that have voted can change their minds, withdrawing their first-half votes to revote.

Although it is rare in Empire history for Monarch selection to be modified during the second half’s decision-making, it is not unheard of.

The importance of the second half matches the first, serving as an invisible battleground for manipulation.

Throughout history, aristocratic families have often used this period to pressure those who lost, secretly selling voting rights at exorbitant prices to profit.

The sale of a second-half vote can exceed ten times its first-half price!

Unfortunately, Shen Qingli is a powerless Princess with only a limited wealth; she has already exchanged what chips she had with the noble families who pledged their votes to her; she simply can’t afford to buy votes.

Simultaneously, Shen Qingli burned with rage, furious as to why the Yun Family abstained at such a critical moment?

Clearly, with the Yun Family’s vote, she could have defeated Shen Tang!

During the intermission, Shen Qingli was too angry to maintain any facade, furiously demanding of Yun Han, “Why exactly? Wasn’t the Yun Family supposed to support me? Why would the Head of Yun Family do this!”

Yun Han lowered his head slightly, enduring her blame and dissatisfaction in silence, unsure how to explain.

He understood his father’s intentions, especially given the life-saving aspect involved. Wolf Beasts value gratitude heavily, Yun Hong couldn’t vote for Shen Qingli, having to abstain forcefully.

Under Shen Qingli’s penetrating questioning, Yun Han swallowed his dry throat, forced to explain, “Qingli, you were taken away, unaware of the happenings during the Imperial City’s turmoil.”

“Shen Tang is truly formidable; she led the troops, defended the Imperial City, fought the rebel army valiantly, saving many, winning much public support.”

“Even my father was saved by her, and now in his mind, he supports Shen Tang more.”

Shen Qingli’s face turned pale, hard to believe.

Tears filled her eyes, frantically questioning, “What about you? Do you support Shen Tang in your heart as well?”

“I…” Yun Han paused, softly replied, “I am married to you, naturally standing by your side.”

Hearing his comforting words, Shen Qingli gradually calmed, understanding that the Yun Family was split internally, thus forced to abstain.

As for the other aristocratic families, most just go whichever way the wind blows.

During the Imperial City’s turmoil, Shen Tang made quite the splash, backed by the Lu Family, her influence reached its peak.

As for Shen Qingli, frankly speaking, lacking any real power, she naturally failed to gain public support.

As Shen Qingli’s thoughts raced, she recalled Zaxxis’s words and the poison inside her, her face growing even paler, desperately grasping Yun Han’s arm, softly pleading, “Brother Yun Han, I want the Yun Family’s military power, can you give it to me…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep