Help! The Villainess Trapped in the Beast World's Drama!

Chapter 291: Chapter 283: Having One’s Cake and Eating Another, Disgusting!

There must be guards protecting the Emperor and Empress at all times, but in times of national destruction, how many of those guards are truly loyal?

The Emperor can hardly protect his own power, so how can he ensure the loyalty of this group of guards?

It’s easy enough to bribe them with some money, or perhaps they might even have their own agendas, thinking of murder and robbery.

After her thoughts returned, Shen Tang stepped forward and pulled Shen Xu up, whispering, ”Come with me alone.”

Shen Xu looked at her with surprise, seemingly a bit flattered, ”Tangtang, sister...”

Xue Yinzhou and the others disagreed, looking at Shen Tang, not understanding why she was suddenly calling this fool over.

Shen Tang glanced at the chaotic crowd and reassured the Beast Husband, ”I have something to ask the Eldest Prince alone. Don’t worry, it’s nearby, not far, and we’ll be back soon.”

After speaking, she pulled Shen Xu through the crowd, going to a more secluded corner, ensuring there were no outsiders eavesdropping.

Shen Tang released her hand, looking at Shen Xu with cold scrutiny, demanding, ”Be honest with me, what’s really going on with Father and Mother?”

Shen Xu pursed his lips, sorrowful, ”They... died.”

At the time, he secretly searched with his most loyal subordinates for two whole days until finally, in a secluded ravine, they found the half-decayed bodies of the two.

The Emperor’s gold and silver treasures had been divided among the vagabonds who killed him.

That group of poor vagabonds had long fled.

Shen Xu was overwhelmed with grief, but it was too late for anything.

Losing the Emperor and Empress while fleeing, killed by vagabonds — if this news spread, it wouldn’t just damage royal prestige but could destabilize military morale.

If that happens and public sentiment falls into chaos, it’s unimaginable what could happen.

Shen Xu could only cover it up, calling it a disappearance, not daring to bring back the Emperor and Empress’s corpses for a solemn burial, only able to hastily bury them on the spot.

But now, unable to find the Emperor and Empress, rumors have been spreading for many days, and Shen Xu can barely hold it down.

Shen Xu’s eyes burned as he looked at Shen Tang, as if he finally felt relieved, sincerely saying, ”Good thing you’re back!”

”Now the Empire is leaderless, a new ruler must be selected quickly, but the successor hasn’t been formally confirmed yet, so we have to discuss this once you’re back.”

The old Emperor had appointed Shen Qingli as the successor, but after Shen Tang stirred things up when returning to the Imperial City, this plan fell through.

Later, it was decided that the two Princesses would compete in a governance contest for the period of a year.

The period is too long.

The nation cannot go without a monarch for a single day; it must be decided quickly.

Shen Tang asked, ”What are the conditions for selecting the successor?”

”First, you must win the hearts of the Empire’s people; otherwise, once you ascend, if the people are dissatisfied, revolting and uprising will be detrimental... Besides that, the most important thing is to secure half the votes.”

The Empire’s noble families and prominent ministers have voting rights. The biggest barrier to a new monarch ascending the throne is securing at least half of these aristocratic family votes.

This has led many previous monarchs and unascended Prince and Princesses to engage in various corrupt trades to win over the aristocratic families.

This is also a major reason for the Empire’s growing corruption and decline.

The Empire has been rooted like this for hundreds of years, and this cannot be changed overnight. Shen Tang now needs to consider how to secure half the votes.

Shen Xu fretted, ”Good that you’re back safely, this matter cannot be delayed, the sooner we determine it the better; tomorrow morning I’ll contact major noble families with voting rights to hold a fair vote in the hall... Tangtang, sister, what do you think? Any other arrangements?”

Shen Xu was mediocre in strength and talent, without succession qualifications, but he did grow up within the royal family; he had the capabilities in this area, and Shen Tang recognized his consideration and arrangement, agreeing without adding much.

They returned quickly.

It had only been a few minutes.

Xiao Jin and the others visibly relaxed upon Shen Tang’s return.

Yun Han wanted to step forward and bother, ”Shen Tang, I have something to say to you.”

Before he could touch her, the silver-white snake tail swept by, forcing him back several meters.

Xue Yinzhou pulled Shen Tang into his embrace, possessively, his silver-purple snake eyes coldly staring at Yun Han, menacingly — as if daring him to step forward would incite immediate attack!

Xiao Jin and Lu Xiao quickly formed a blockade in front of Shen Tang, their aura cold and dangerous, full of expulsion.

Shen Li crossed her arms, stepping forward, her fluffy, soft fox tail swaying; she squinted her long and glamorous fox eyes at Yun Han’s unpleasant face, smirking, ”In public, the Young Master of the Yun family, being a husband, dares make moves on other females, aren’t you afraid of outsiders laughing at you?”

”I seem to have heard before that the Wolf Clan is consistently loyal and devoted to their mates? Seems that rumor is exceedingly false.” Another cold, venomous voice came, who else but Jia Lan?

His cold eyes swept malevolently over Yun Han, smirking, full of derision, ”Someone eating from their bowl while eyeing others’ pot, how disgusting!”

Moreover, looking at his family’s pot.

Utterly repugnant to an extreme.

Yun Han’s face went from blue to white, clenching his fists, his voice icy and low, ”As a vassal, speaking a few words to the princess, aren’t you overstepping?”

Jia Lan sneered sharply, ”Speaking of being a vassal, do you show any sense of being one? What vassal would dare drag a princess in broad daylight?”

Yun Han’s appearance and physique were undeniably impressive, talent and strength strong, and he was Shen Tang’s former white moonlight, which made Jia Lan slightly wary, yet his words were sharp as poison, ”You know what vile thoughts lie in your heart, questioning yourself clearly, if truly on official business, speak openly, is there need for tugging?”

”Moreover, the Young Master of the Yun family is used to walking in high places, truly lacks the vision to read expressions, can’t see how much Tang Tang dislikes you, not wanting to hear even half a word from you!”

”If you’re sincerely a good vassal for alleviating the princess’s burdens, then wisely leave, don’t linger here being an eyesore.”

Shen Tang looked astonished at Jia Lan’s endless output, thinking this Mermaid Prince’s sharp tongue—is still as venomous as ever! Cut to the heart!

Yun Han’s expression worsened to extremes. As the Young Master of the Yun family, how could he withstand such insults!

His fists cracked loudly, yet he couldn’t retaliate, angrily turning to leave.

Shen Qingli had just finished bandaging her wound, looking through the window at the events below, feeling both angry and deeply saddened, filled with hatred against Shen Tang!

Luckily, Yun Han quickly returned.

Yun Han saw the bandage on Shen Qingli’s palm, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes, handing her the ointment he bought downstairs, ”I heard it won’t leave a scar.”

”Thank you, Yun Han brother.” Shen Qingli pulled him to sit on the sofa, asking, ”It was so noisy downstairs just now, what’s going on?”

Yun Han met Shen Xu midway, also learning from him about tomorrow’s events, explaining, ”The late Emperor is... gone in the chaos, tomorrow Shen Xu will unite various nobles to hold a new ruler election vote, Shen Xu asked me to tell you first.”

Shen Qingli held no sentiment towards the old Emperor, hearing of his death, she felt no emotion, but she feigned sorrow and tears, throwing herself into Yun Han’s embrace crying.

”It’s all my fault for not being able to honor in front of Father and Mother, not even seeing them one last time.”

Feeling dampness on his chest, Yun Han’s heart ached, holding her tightly, softly comforting, ”It’s not your fault, you’re a victim too.”

After soothing Shen Qingli’s emotions, Shen Xu brought people over to discuss the specific arrangements for tomorrow.

Shen Qingli wasn’t nervous at all; she’s the Empire’s future successor, a fact long nailed down.

She had cultivated deeply in the Empire for so long, many noble officials were her supporters, especially after her marriage with Yun Han, the Yun family being her greatest backing.

Getting half the votes would be easy!