Chapter 73: Loyalty or contribution?
"You don’t have to sound so sassy Jingyu." Long Lianhua, their aunt commented.
"Hands up if you took part in this poll." The grand emperor said.
Twelve hands at the table went up. From the pool of chosen people, it could be seen that Junjie had decided to seek advice from family members from different generations. He had not just asked his age mates, he had asked the older members of the family too.
"Long Bo, how did you vote?" The grand emperor asked.
Junjie, like the most gossipy child of the house was ready with the answer to that question. "He voted that we remain professional and put the success of the mission first."
The grand emperor was at the meeting in person, if he could, he would have used his hologram to slap his brother. "Are you out of your mind?" he snarled. "The Jun family has stood by us through wars and peace from time immemorial. When our coffers were lacking, they gave us financial help and never demanded for any interest or official positions.
They have never leveraged their relationship with us to ask for favors or threatened us. We owe them not just gratitude but the preservation of their dignity. That dignity has been trampled on the Mo Liang. To make a mistake of not standing with them and sidelining the cheater will tarnish the royal bond we have with one of our strongest allies."
"Make it two." The elder statesman jumped in. "The Chi family may not have deep roots and history as they are new nobles....new money. But, the things that they have accomplished are legendary. Do you know how long we waited for Lady Chi Lian to move her lab to our empire? Every invention out of Pear Scientific Park has her mark on it.
If you make things difficult for her, she could very well move her lab to the American empire, French, British or any other nation strong enough to compete with us."