After sitting down, Woolley learned two things. First, Tribune Aesop was the host of this year's Seneca City-State Noble Conference. Second, his ranking was last among the middle-level nobles. Third, there were a total of thirty-seven nobles who could sit at the stone table.

Applause soon broke out, because the consul Anthony walked in with a smile, followed by the tribune Doji and the treasurer Benny...

The meeting began immediately. After Consul Anthony loudly praised the contributions of the nobles present to the Seneca city-state over the past two years, he sat down with a smile and nodded to the treasurer Benny.

"Dear citizens." Benny, who was pot-bellied, stood up and took out a parchment book from his bosom. After turning to a certain page, he cleared his throat and read out a series of numbers and words. Almost all the nobles listened carefully, but Wu Lai shook his head disapprovingly, because he felt that the data on tax amounts, special levies, defense expenditures, and urban construction expenditures reported by Treasurer Benny must be exaggerated. Since there was some water, there was really no big difference between listening and not listening, at least for him, because he always pursued accuracy.

After Benny sat down, there was a buzz of discussion in the meeting room. After taking a few glances, Wu Lai was sure that at least half of the nobles thought that Benny's report was problematic, which finally made him feel a little more at ease.

Aesop immediately stood up and announced the start of the first vote. Woolley was a little surprised, but after being reminded by his neighbor, he realized that the vote was for Benny's city-state financial report.

"Can I not vote?" Wu Lai asked in a low voice.

"Of course, not voting means abstention. If you think Benny is doing a terrible job, you can vote against him." The person sitting next to me said with a smile, "I will vote against him later. What about you? Do you want to join me?"

"I'll think about it again." Wu Lai evaded the question, but he began to ponder in his heart. He thought that this routine was really novel. Let the aristocracy vote on the merits of the officials' reports. Is it just a formality?

Soon, Wu Lai realized from Benny's expression that this was not just a formality, because Benny was worried and uneasy, sweating and nervous, and his eyes were wandering, as if he was looking for something, but also seemed to be paying attention to nothing.

Would too many votes against make him resign? Wu Lai frowned. He was familiar with the Assyrian Code, but it did not detail the procedures of the city-state nobles' meeting, and no one had mentioned these to him, otherwise he would not have been so unclear about what voting meant.

"The result of the first round of voting: 143 votes in favor, 92 abstentions, and 109 votes against!" Aesop deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "against". "Now, the second round of voting begins! Please ask the vote counters to verify the votes!"

It turns out that ordinary nobles are the "first order" and those sitting at the stone table are the "second order." While thinking this, Wu Lai scanned the voting situation of the "Stone Table Nobles."

Except for the officials who were sitting still, some of the other nobles began to raise their hands, some were still hesitating, and some were whispering as if voting had nothing to do with them.

"Wu Lai, with your palm facing forward, it means vote, and with your palm facing backward, it means no. If you want to abstain, then don't raise your hand. Our one vote is equal to five votes of those behind us." The person sitting next to him explained to Wu Lai while raising his right palm.

One vote equals five votes? Wu Lai smiled and nodded. Of the thirty-seven people at the stone table, only twenty-two had raised their hands. Of these twenty-two, eight were in favor and fourteen were against. According to the ratio, Benny's number of votes in favor was one hundred and eighty-three, and his number of votes against was one hundred and seventy-nine.

Wu Lai frowned and looked around quickly.

His eyes caught a hint of excitement in Benny's eyes...

His eyes caught Aesop's slightly frowned brows...

His eyes caught the hesitation in Anthony's eyes...

His eyes, in an instant, took in the expressions of everyone around the stone table...

"Second order, please confirm. If there is no further voting..." Aesop's voice sounded again, and then a louder voice interrupted him.

"And me!" Wu Lai slowly raised his right arm with his five fingers bent.

Benny frowned.

Anthony frowned.

Doggie frowned.

Many nobles showed a hint of amusement in their eyes.

Lady Leah pursed her lips...

Wu Lai's right arm finally straightened up, and then he opened and closed his five fingers and flipped them back fiercely.

"Objection." Wu Lai's voice was calm, but Doggie's face turned pale. Benny opened his mouth in a daze, as if he wanted to say something, but finally slumped in the chair in dejection.

Aesop's voice was obviously filled with excitement: "The second round of voting is over. The final result is 183 votes in favor and 184 votes against!"

"Good job, Wu Lai." The person sitting next to him patted Wu Lai's thigh with a smile. This was an intimate gesture that was only used between very close friends. There was no doubt that the other party had already regarded Wu Lai as his friend.

Wu Lai smiled slightly and patted the other person's thigh. He believed that his action would make the other person happier.

After the voting for the civil affairs officer and the construction officer was over, Dorje stood up...

Compared with the treasurer, Doggie's report was much more tactful. After all, the main duties of the tribunal were to promote education, guide public opinion, and convey and implement new people's livelihood regulations, unlike the treasurer Benny, who would often touch upon the interests of the nobles.

However, this does not mean that all the nobles will buy into Doggie's ideas. Before the second round of voting, Doggie's votes were as dramatic as Benny's - 166 in favor, 164 against, and only 14 abstentions.

As soon as Aesop announced the start of the second round of voting, thirty hands were raised at the stone table. It was not known whether the nobles were deliberately playing a trick on Doji or if it was just a coincidence, but these thirty hands happened to account for half each.

Only seven people remained without voting, and Woolley was among them.

If nothing unexpected happens, the six people who have not raised their hands along with Wu Lai are indicating their abstention.

Wu Lai's eyes swept towards Doji, and they happened to meet Doji's expectant eyes. Wu Lai looked away and looked at Anthony, and then he found that Anthony was also looking at him.

If he continued to remain silent, Doggie would be finished. Wu Lai frowned.

Aesop cleared his throat and prepared to make an announcement.

The moment before Aesop opened his mouth, Wu Lai raised his right hand: "Passed!" Doggie's face lit up with joy, and Anthony also breathed a sigh of relief.

Aesop was stunned and silent for a moment. Seeing that no one was voting anymore, he announced the result: "The second round of voting is over. The final result is 246 votes in favor and 239 votes against!"

Doji quietly gave Wu Lai a look of gratitude and took out a handkerchief to wipe his temples.

The first item of the meeting ended at noon, which meant that Woolley could go back to the White Stone Building to rest or sit somewhere for a while. The second item was tomorrow's matter, which seemed to indicate that the nobles of the Seneca city-state had not yet developed the habit of holding continuous meetings like the nobles of the Assyrian city.

The morning's proceedings were unremarkable, with the only thing people talked about being Woolley's two votes.

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"Oh, he really attracts attention, both times." said a nobleman.

"Yes, what a coincidence." A noble echoed.

Wu Lai was the last noble to leave the Council Hall. In addition to the fact that nobles kept coming to greet him, it was also because Lady Leah took his arm - Lady Leah enthusiastically asked him to invite her to the White Stone House to discuss something. This sounds a bit confusing, but it is true.

Doji actually wanted to thank Wu Lai in person, but he didn't have the chance for the time being. According to the rules, except for the host, officials had to leave before the nobles.

As Wu Lai walked out with a helpless look on his face, accompanying Mrs. Leah who was still holding his arm, Aesop called Wu Lai.

"Oh, please wait a moment, Lord Aesop has something private to discuss with me." Wu Lai took the opportunity to push away Madam Leah's arm, then quickly walked up to Aesop.

Aesop's expression was as serious as ever, but his voice was very light: "Wuliglindo, Doji has offended you, why did you help him? If you hadn't approved it, he could have rolled up his bedding and rolled back to his manor now."

This kind of vote really determines the officials' stay or departure. The power of the noble council is really great. Wu Lai pondered, a smile appeared on his face, and he lowered his voice: "Lord Aesop, Consul Anthony needs Doggie to stay. Even if it is not the case, a stupid Doggie is much easier to deal with than an unknown new tribune. Believe it or not, I did this for you."

Aesop was stunned for a moment, then frowned. Seeing him like this, Wu Lai turned around and left. He estimated that Aesop would need at least a little time to figure out the reason, and he was unwilling to wait for this guy to suddenly realize it.

"Finished the talk so soon?" Madam Leah stopped Wu Lai, then took his arm again, "Wu Lai, I am your stepmother and future mother-in-law, please be polite to me and don't look so stern. You may not know that when you look stern, it's exactly the same as when Simon is calculating the income and expenditure..."

"Okay, let's talk about it when we get home." Wu Lai quickly interrupted Mrs. Leah.

"Okay, you look so majestic sitting at the round table today. Tina will definitely be proud of you." Lady Leah giggled and said.

Wu Lai shook his head helplessly.

Mrs. Leah naturally had lunch in the White Stone Building. When she saw the beautiful El, there was a hint of suspicion in her eyes when she looked at Wu Lai. Wu Lai naturally pretended not to notice.

After leaving the restaurant and entering the reception room, Mrs. Leah spoke directly to Wu Lai who was about to sit down: "Wu Lai, let's talk about Tina. Tell me, what are your plans?"

"What am I going to do?" Wu Lai looked at Madam Leah innocently. "Dear Madam Leah, your words confuse me."

"I see. Now you can sit at the round table and attend meetings. How can you still look down on the people in Glyndwr Manor?" Lady Leah sighed pretentiously and said, "In fact, I have advised Tina and told her that she is not worthy of you, but she said that although she had only had that one moment with you in the bathtub... Please forgive me, I don't want to describe it in too much detail, and of course you don't need it, but Tina was indeed ruined by you. She said that if you don't take responsibility, she will kneel down and cry in the temple to try to get you to change your mind."

"What?" Wu Lai almost jumped up. Kneeling and crying in the temple may sound insignificant, but it is just like swearing in front of the statue of Amon, and it is the easiest to gain people's approval. Lady Leah was telling him that it doesn't matter if you, Wu Lai, don't admit it or take responsibility. We have a way to make people believe it, and then it will be difficult for you to not take responsibility.

"Is this necessary?" Wu Lai rolled his eyes. "You're a mother, making Tina kneel down and cry in public."

"Of course it is necessary. You are the one who refuses to admit the facts. I have no choice but to do this. You are much more noble than Greendo Manor now. If I don't use this method, others will think that Tina and I are falsely accusing you." Lady Leah also rolled her eyes.

"Can't we discuss it? The noble meeting is in session. Can't we talk about it after the meeting?" Wu Lai softened a little. It was not because he was afraid of what would happen to Lady Leah, but because he felt a little distressed when he thought that Tina might really be tricked by her mother to kneel and cry in front of the temple.

"Okay, as long as you have this attitude, there's no problem in taking some time to discuss it. However, you have to do me a favor first." Mrs. Leah nodded readily.

Wu Lai was stunned and couldn't help muttering in his heart, he agreed so quickly, couldn't it be that he had this purpose in mind from the beginning?

"Tell me first. What if I can't help? By the way, I'm very short of money recently, so, you know." Wu Lai said with a dry laugh.

Madam Leah glared at him and said, “Wulai, you are indeed Simon’s biological son, don’t worry, I won’t lend you money.”