I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1031 The Princess's Resolve

"This is too cruel, and too ironic."

Samira slowly spoke: "For the sake of this throne, my brother did not hesitate to become a demon, staining his hands with the blood of his loved ones."

"And now, if I simply offer myself, I could easily obtain the throne he has always dreamed of."

Dina gently grasped Samira's trembling hands: "This is not betrayal, but redemption. To dissolve hatred with gentleness, to protect your people with wisdom—this is the way of a true king, one that only you can achieve."

Samira raised her tearful eyes and looked out the window at the setting sun.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the palace spires cast long shadows, as if mocking the cruelty of fate.

She suddenly remembered the scene from her childhood, when her mother would hold her and her brother and tell them stories in the garden.

"How is the Empress Dowager? I would like to see her first."

Dina nodded: "No problem."

"After the Holy Lord entered the palace, he did not harm anyone, and the Empress Dowager is still safe and sound in the palace."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Princess Samira's eyes. She hurriedly straightened her disheveled clothes and said eagerly, "Then let's go see Mother Queen now!"

Dina gently pressed the princess's shoulder: "Your Highness, please don't worry, let me make some arrangements."

"However, please keep the meeting brief. The man could wake up at any time, and we must avoid giving the impression that we are plotting something."

Princess Samira took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down: "Okay, I understand. But please arrange it as soon as possible."

Dina nodded slightly, then turned and gave a few instructions to the maids. A moment later, several maids entered carrying brand-new dresses and jewelry.

"Your Highness, please wash and change first," Dina said softly. "Going to see the Empress Dowager looking like this will only make her more worried."

Samira looked down at her tear-stained dress and nodded.

Then, watching the saintess turn and leave, she suddenly reached out and asked:

"Miss Dina, the palace has already been occupied by the Han people. How are you able to arrange these things for me? Did you already know all along?"

Dina paused, her figure appearing particularly frail against the backdrop of the princess. She remained silent for a moment before slowly turning around, her expression behind her veil unreadable.

“Your Highness, the divine oracle has guided me to make a choice. When faced with two mistakes, I can only choose the one that causes less harm.” Her voice was soft yet firm. “I have indeed sworn allegiance to the Holy Lord, but all of this is for the sake of protecting more innocent lives.”

Princess Samira stared into Dina's eyes and suddenly laughed: "So you want me to do the same thing? To fawn over the enemy who killed my brother?"

“This is not flattery, but a responsibility.” Dina took a step closer, lowering her voice even further. “Your Highness, do you know why the Holy Lord allowed me to move freely? It’s because he needed someone to maintain order in the palace and someone to appease the nobles and common people. I chose to take on this role, and that’s why I can protect you and the Empress Dowager from the humiliation of the marauding soldiers and slaves.”

She gently lifted a corner of her veil, revealing the bruises on her neck that had not yet faded:
“Look, this is the ‘gift’ that His Majesty Vasudeva left me. When I refused him again on the tower, he almost strangled me. But now, the man who could easily kill the King of Gods has given me freedom and respect.”

Princess Samira's breathing became rapid, and the anger in her eyes was gradually replaced by pain.

Dina slowly walked towards her: "Your Highness, you are a princess of the Kushan Empire, so you naturally know better than me what kind of bloodshed is accompanied by every change of royal power. But this time, at least we can make the bloodshed less."

Dina took Samira's hand: "Don't you want to protect your remaining relatives? The Empress Dowager is no longer young and can't withstand any more blows."

When her mother was mentioned, Samira's eyes finally softened, and she stopped objecting.

Upon seeing this, Dina bowed and slowly left the room, while Samira, like a puppet, allowed the maids to dress and do her makeup. Soon, the haggard girl in the bronze mirror gradually regained her princess-like grace.

When Samira finished washing and dressing, and changed into an elegant white dress, Dina had already arranged a secret meeting with the Queen Mother. Two maids, carrying lanterns, led them through a dark corridor to a secluded little hall deep within the palace.

Pushing open the door, the elderly Empress Dowager was kneeling before the Buddhist altar, chanting scriptures. Hearing the sound, she slowly turned around, a flicker of surprise in her cloudy eyes: "Samira? My child."

"Mother!" Samira threw herself into the Empress Dowager's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

The Empress Dowager gently stroked her daughter's hair and looked up at Dina: "Holy Maiden, is everything over outside?"

Dina bowed respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty. The new ruler is merciful and has ordered a halt to all killings."

The Empress Dowager's hand trembled slightly: "Then my son..."

Samira looked up, her eyes brimming with tears: "My brother is gone."

The Empress Dowager swayed slightly, but quickly regained her balance: "As expected, this day has come."

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was stronger than expected, Dina gave a brief explanation of the current situation after bowing, and then left the time to the mother and daughter.

She waited quietly outside the palace gates, and when the sun had set behind the mountains and the palace lanterns were lit, Samira finally emerged from the palace.

The princess, dressed in a simple white dress, had wiped away her tears. On her right wrist was a delicate gold bracelet. Dina knew that it was a piece of jewelry that the Empress Dowager had brought with her when she married into the palace. It was the only valuable possession that the small noble family in the south had at the time.

“It seems you’ve already discussed it,” Dina said, stepping forward. “Yes.”

Samira nodded, her fingers gently tracing the gold bracelet on her wrist: "Even if I am the only one left, I will protect my mother and safeguard the empire left by my father and brother."

Dina nodded silently: "Then Princess, please come with me to the front hall to rest. We must see the Holy Lord as soon as possible."

“Wait a minute,” Samira said again, “I have one last request.”

"Princess, please speak."

"I want to see the place where my brother fought his last battle. I heard he didn't leave behind any remains, and I want to at least pay my respects at the place where he fell, to say goodbye to him."

With King Vasudeva I passing away in this manner, it was clear that Samira no longer expected him to have a proper funeral. She only wished to silently bid him farewell at the place where her brother had fought his last battle.

But
"That place is outside the palace; it's difficult to get you out there."

Dina looked troubled. She understood Samira's feelings, but the palace was heavily guarded at the moment, and leaving the palace rashly would be too risky.

“I understand Your Highness’s feelings, but right now,” Dina lowered her voice, “the Holy Lord has just entered the palace, and the situation is not yet stable. If someone discovers that the princess has left the palace without permission…”

“Even the saintess won’t do it?” Samira pleaded. “I won’t do anything. They can send troops to follow me. I just want to see her and say a few words for my mother.”

“I’m sorry,” Dina said, shaking her head. “This is beyond my authority. The palace gates are guarded by Han soldiers; the only person who can make that decision is…”

"The Holy Lord you mentioned?"

"Yes, he is now the true master of this place."

"Okay, then forget it."

Samira smiled sadly: "Take me to see him."

"Do you think he'll allow me to go and pay respects to my brother if I beg him later?"

Dina hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Your Highness, I suggest you refrain from mentioning His Majesty Vasudeva for the time being."

"We still don't know what kind of person he was. If you really want to fight for the throne, you must show him absolute loyalty and obedience. Any lingering affection for the late king could affect his opinion of you."

"After all, it was he who personally ended Vasudeva's rule, do you understand what I mean?"

Samira bit her lip, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes, but she finally nodded: "I understand."

The two walked along the long corridor, their footsteps echoing in the empty palace. Samira suddenly stopped. "Dina," she said, "if I really become queen, will you assist me?"

Dina turned around, moonlight streaming through the window and falling on her veil, revealing a pair of resolute eyes: "Your Highness, I am the Holy Maiden of the Brahmins. Whoever sits on the throne, as long as it is for our country, I will do my utmost."

Samira gave her a deep look, but said nothing more.

The two walked silently into the night and soon arrived at the front hall to await orders.

Dina first arranged for Samira to rest in a small room next door, while she herself waited for an audience in the empty palace.

Judging by the time, the Holy Lord had been sleeping for nearly three hours, which was long enough for an afternoon nap.

But Dina didn't expect that Su Yao wasn't simply taking a nap.

It was a rare opportunity to encounter a truly worthy opponent, and Su Yao's energy expenditure in this battle far exceeded that of his past battles.

As a result, he slept until the next morning.

The saintess could only anxiously stare at him all night.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, wake up!"

"Miss Dina?"

The next morning, Samira was woken up by Dina's shaking as birds chirped.

She rubbed her sore eyes and realized that she had fallen asleep on the desk without even noticing.

"That man...is he awake?"

“That’s right, the Holy Lord has woken up. Get up and get ready quickly; we must finalize things before he summons those ministers.”

Bang bang - bang bang -

Dina's words made Samira's heart race.

(End of this chapter)