Zhen Yi forcibly steered the conversation back to business and said coldly, "I called you here today to contribute money, not to discuss all this nonsense!"
"His Majesty will decide for himself whom to make Empress. Who are we to question it?"
The Clan Elder of the third branch said worriedly, "But with the realm on the verge of unification, we can no longer avoid considering these matters."
"Whether the Empress comes from our Zhen Clan will determine our clan's fortunes for the next hundred years, and whether we can surpass the Yuan Clan to become the foremost aristocratic house in the realm!"
"Isn't this what we've made so many sacrifices for all this time? Could you really bear to see the Empress's Position fall into someone else's hands, Clan Head?"
The corner of Zhen Yi's eye twitched violently.
Bear it?
How could he possibly bear it!
But the other Great Aristocratic Families did not look kindly on the Zhen Clan, and unlike a fierce general such as Lü Bu, they could not conquer territory for the Son of Heaven. They held no advantage in the contest for the Empress's Position.
There was nothing he could do either.
Zhen Yi's brooding gaze swept over the Clan Elders of the various branches seated before him. After a moment's silence, he asked quietly, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"It's simple."
A keen light gleamed in the second branch Clan Elder's eyes as he lowered his voice. "Our Zhen Clan needs to start 'fighting' for it too."
"We must let His Majesty know where our Zhen Clan stands."
It was not actually that they begrudged the money. They feared that after all their countless contributions, someone else would pluck the fruit.
That was why they were unwilling to pay.
Zhen Yi