I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1034 Who's in favor, and who's against? (4K4)

"Your Highness, is it appropriate to involve this princess in state affairs? After all, she is..."

After Dina led Samira away, Zhang Liao stepped forward and whispered a reminder.

"That's precisely why we should involve her."

Su Yao picked up an apple and popped it into his mouth: "Rather than letting her hide in the shadows and become a threat, it's better to put her in the open. Besides," he said with a slight smile, "this princess is much simpler than those old foxes."

Zhang Liao nodded thoughtfully.

At this moment, Aisha walked out of the inner sanctuary, rubbing her eyes, her face still flushed.

"What? I told you to rest properly, but you wouldn't listen and ran out on your own?" Su Yao raised an eyebrow.

Aisha blushed and bowed, saying, "Master, with such an important matter at hand, how can this servant be so lazy as to sleep?"

As she spoke, Aisha took out a Kushan-style robe to replace Su Yao's Parthian attire.

This was supposed to be her main task this morning, but before she could even get started, Su Yao pushed her down onto the bed.

Su Yao then reached out and beckoned her over: "Alright then, you should also change into formal clothes and come with me to the palace in a bit."

"I?"

Aisha opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Although she attended court yesterday, Aisha considered it a special case.

In the unfamiliar capital of the Kushan Empire, even the cooks took up arms and followed Su Yao into the palace.

"But I am just a servant girl, and this is such an important occasion..."

"If I say you can, you can."

Su Yao gently pinched Aisha's cheek, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"What's with all this talk about being a servant? You're my personal lady-in-waiting now, so hurry up and get ready."

Aisha's beautiful eyes widened, and a tear quickly welled up in them. She wiped her eyes and bowed deeply.
"This servant will obey your command."

Su Yao nodded in satisfaction and turned to Zhang Liao: "Wen Yuan, go and call Tipo here as well. We can't have anyone missing from today's meeting."

Soon, Tipo rushed over.

Before the court meeting began, everyone briefly exchanged information.

Upon hearing Su Yao's idea, Tipo was immediately shocked:

"What?! Your Majesty, you actually intend to let that princess inherit the throne?"

Su Yao walked to the window and looked at the crowd that was gradually gathering in the palace square: "Tibo, do you think a sixteen-year-old girl can govern this country well?"

Tibo scoffed, "How could that be?"

"The Kushan Empire is now beset by internal and external troubles. Even if Vasudeva were to be reborn, she would not be able to reverse the decline without divine power, let alone a little girl?"

“That’s exactly why,” Su Yao turned around, “that’s why this princess is the perfect fit. She’s young, naive, and has lost all support—only I can legally place her in that position.”

Tibo pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "But choosing her means rejecting the ministers' proposals and standing on the opposite side of the officials."

"The Kushans have never had a queen, and the other candidates probably won't be happy, especially since Abkhazia in the south still commands tens of thousands of troops."

"so what?"

A glint flashed in Su Yao's eyes: "Soon they will find out who the real master here is. If they know what's good for them."

An hour later, in the royal palace hall.

The nobles were already lined up and waiting. When Su Yao, dressed in a magnificent royal robe, entered the hall, everyone knelt down and paid their respects.

"Welcome to the Holy Lord!"

As the crowd knelt in worship, Su Yao slowly walked toward the throne, followed closely by Aisha, Zhang Liao, and Tipo.

Unlike Su Yao, who swaggered in through the main gate, Princess Samira and Saintess Dina had entered through the side gate earlier. They entered discreetly and stood on the side of the hall, watching this scene with nervous anticipation.

However, no matter how low-key they were, the women's identities were still very eye-catching, and as soon as they entered, countless eyes were drawn to them.

"Isn't that Princess Samira? She's still alive."

"She's still with the Holy Maiden. What right does she have to stand here?"

The nobles whispered among themselves, their gazes towards the princess filled with complex emotions. Some felt pity, some were calculating, and some even harbored a dangerous glint in their eyes.

Yes, it's dangerous.

Princess Samira was the younger sister of the late king, and now that Vasudeva had passed away, she naturally received a lot of hatred.

Some even bluntly suggested that she should be executed to appease public anger.

These words, spoken without any attempt at concealment, made Samira turn pale when they reached her ears.

Only at this moment did she truly realize just how dangerous her situation was.

"It's alright," Dina comforted Samira, holding her hand. "They're just a bunch of losers barking. With the Holy Lord's protection, they can't hurt you in the slightest."

At that moment, the noisy hall suddenly became solemn.

Amidst shouts of "Welcome the Holy Lord!", Su Yao ascended the throne, his piercing gaze sweeping over the entire audience.

"Everyone, get up."

"I have gathered you all here today to discuss two momentous events that will determine the fate of the Kushan Empire."

"First, to hold a funeral for the late king and discuss his merits and demerits; second, to select a new king to secure the state."

As soon as Su Yao finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

None of the ministers expected that a new topic would emerge today.

Matters of life and death, regardless of ethnicity or nationality, have always been among the most important rituals.

Just as the dynasties of ancient China attached great importance to the funerals of their former emperors, the Kushan Empire also had a complex funeral tradition.

Especially for a controversial monarch like Vasudeva, how one evaluates his life is not only an important statement on the future court structure, but will also directly affect the legitimacy of the new king.

Inside the hall, the nobles wore various expressions. Some looked indignant, clearly hating Vasudeva to the core; others had worried eyes, fearing that the new ruler would take the opportunity to purge the old ministers.

Soon, someone preemptively shouted:
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

“Vasudeva is cruel and inhumane. He murdered his own family to seize the throne and slaughtered loyal and virtuous people. How can he be buried with the rites due to a king?”

The speaker was an elderly minister named Qajar, whose hair and beard were completely white. He stepped forward shakily and spoke vehemently.

This old minister was a tough nut to crack.

Having served as the chief steward of the old king's court, he vehemently opposed Vasudeva's brutal policies after Vasudeva ascended the throne.

In an effort to force him to submit, Vasudeva nearly slaughtered all of his relatives, yet spared his life as punishment.

Now, the old minister, who had just been released from prison, immediately objected loudly to the idea of ​​holding a funeral for Vasudeva.

Su Yao narrowed his eyes slightly: "Oh? Then, in your opinion, how should this be handled?"

The old minister Qazar gritted his teeth and said, "The corpse should be displayed for three days as a warning to others!"

These words caused an uproar in the hall. Princess Samira swayed and nearly fainted, but Dina caught her in time.

Su Yao said calmly, "But Vasudeva is already dead and his body is not intact, so this plan may be difficult to implement."

Qaza was taken aback, then said, "At the very least, he should be declared a tyrant, his title abolished, and his remaining followers executed!"

Su Yao remained noncommittal, turning his gaze to the other ministers: "What do you all think?" The nobles exchanged glances, none daring to speak for a moment. At this moment, a middle-aged man in magnificent robes stepped forward and respectfully bowed:

"Your Majesty, though Vasudeva has made mistakes, he is ultimately the son of the late king and officially ascended the throne in the presence of all the officials. It is acceptable to call him a tyrant, but to strip him of his title would be a disgrace to the nation. It would be better to give him a low-key burial, neither praising nor condemning him."

This is a representative of the royal family, a typical opportunist.

Prince Bodhi was powerful and a supporter of the prince's party. The queen controlled the court, and they were also flirting with the queen. When Vasudeva ascended the throne, they immediately supported the change of the capital. In order to maintain their own status and wealth in the capital, they had to try their best to avoid any actions that might displease the new master, and they did not want to belittle the old master too much, so as not to appear fickle.

Su Yao nodded slightly, then looked at the others: "Any other objections?"

At this moment, a general in military uniform stepped forward and refuted the opinions of the two factions in a loud voice.

The speaker was Rahman, a former general who had accompanied Vasudeva to the capital.

Rahman also came from a minor noble family in the south. He followed Vasudeva in his campaigns and was later ordered to garrison the capital city of Gandhara, where he was responsible for the defense of the capital region. He was essentially the "Commander of the Capital Region" in modern terms.

Yesterday, Vasudeva was defeated by Su Yao in a highly anticipated duel, a scene that deeply shocked everyone.

These soldiers, loyal to the Kushan king, lost all morale under his overwhelming divine might and surrendered without resistance.

Although the general was full of loyalty and passion, he had no choice but to submit after witnessing such divine power.

But precisely because of this, their decisive surrender allowed them to preserve their strength. These former officials left behind by Vasudeva remain a force to be reckoned with in the capital.

They had surrendered to Su Yao to save their lives, and now they are united in the court to save themselves from being purged.

They opposed the overly harsh denigration of the former king, believing that the victor is always right and the loser is always wrong. They were convinced of the sagacity of the sage king's victory, but the former king had also been their monarch, and they did not want to see him humiliated even after his death.

After listening to all the opinions, Su Yao's gaze finally settled on Dina:
"What is the temple's opinion?"

“Since we’re discussing funeral arrangements, then you must be professionals.”

Dina slowly stepped forward, took a deep breath, and put her hands together, saying, "You are the Holy Lord chosen by Heaven, the God King revealed by divine decree. Our temple will only follow your will."

As soon as the saintess finished speaking, a gasp and a murmur of discussion arose in the hall.

Many civil and military officials found it sour and their mouths twitching.

Look at how well they flatter them.

Is this still the arrogant temple and the noble saintess they knew?
That's a really fast change of attitude!
However, Dina remained unfazed, paused, and then said, "But if the Holy Lord still has doubts, why not listen to Princess Samira's opinion?"

"Princess???"

"What right does she have?"

The courtiers were in an uproar, but Dina said:
"After all, she was the late king's younger sister and the last legitimate bloodline of the royal family."

Dina emphasized the word "orthodox" a bit more, and Su Yao's lips curled up slightly as he looked at Samira with a hint of amusement: "Your Highness, what do you think?"

Samira, pale-faced and clutching her small hands, replied in a trembling voice, "Please allow me to say a few words."

The nobles looked at the princess, who had always been regarded as a mere ornament, with surprise, never expecting that she would actually have the courage to speak on such a occasion.

"Granted. Come forward now."

Princess Samira trembled, and under the watchful eyes of everyone, she slowly walked to the center of the hall and knelt down:
"Samira pays homage to the Holy Lord."

"No need for formalities," Su Yao said calmly. "What are your thoughts on the late king's funeral?"

Samira stood up and quietly glanced at Su Yao.

She clearly remembered that this man had agreed to hold a funeral for his brother that morning.

But then he still wanted to ask the emperor another question.

Samira didn't know if this was some kind of test, but she knew she had to seize the opportunity.

"Replying to the Holy Lord's words..."

Samira took a deep breath, her voice soft but her resolve firm:

“Vasudeva. My brother has indeed committed many faults, but he was also a dutiful son and a kind brother, as well as a valiant general who made great contributions to the Kushan Empire and quelled many rebellions.”

"If not, if not"

Samira glanced at Su Yao, then lowered her head and clenched her hands, saying, "If it weren't for his deep love for this land and his desire to save our country, yet being driven to the brink by the Northern Governor, he might not have taken that extreme path and dabbled in powers he shouldn't have touched."

Samira's voice choked up at this point, but she quickly composed herself and continued:

“I request His Holiness and Your Excellencies to allow him to be buried with the same honors as an ordinary member of the royal family. His achievements will not be celebrated, but his status as a member of the royal family will not be denied. This is both a respect for the dead and a comfort to the living.”

“If the Holy Lord can grant my request, Samira is willing to serve the Holy Lord for the rest of her life and pray for the well-being of the Kushan people.”

There was an uproar in the hall.

Listen to what it means to serve someone for the rest of one's life.

This is hardly a discussion about funerals.
This is clearly the princess using this opportunity to show her loyalty!

The nobles exchanged bewildered glances, some with disdain, others thoughtful. The old minister, Qazar, who had previously clamored for the destruction of this remnant of the former king, was trembling with rage: "Absurd! How can royal blood be treated so lightly!"

Even Su Yao was taken aback by her sudden statement.

Is this your level of understanding?

Su Yao stared intently at Princess Samira, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

The girl's slender body appeared particularly frail in the hall. She knelt on the ground, her slender waist trembling slightly, yet she stubbornly straightened her back.

Su Yao touched the guardrail of the throne, paused, and then laughed heartily:
"it is good."

“Since the princess is so enlightened, then I will grant your request—Vesudeva will be buried with the rites due to a king, but her sins must be clearly stated so as to warn future generations.”

"The Holy Lord is merciful!"

"Thank you Lord for your grace!"

As soon as Su Yao finished speaking, a group of former generals of Vaisudeva rushed forward, knelt down, and shouted their gratitude, as if they were afraid that he would change his mind.

Princess Samira also kowtowed deeply, her forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, tears silently streaming down her face.

"As for the selection of the new king..."

Su Yao slowly stepped down from the throne and came to Samira's side.

"You just reminded me of something—the Kushan royal family is now dwindling in bloodline, and the only remaining heir of the old princes is the princess. In terms of legitimacy, who is more suitable to inherit the throne than her?"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

"A woman as queen? This...this is against ancestral rules!"

"The Kushan Empire has existed for a hundred years, and has never had a queen!"

"How can a frail woman like her shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

Opposition arose one after another, especially among the nobles who had nominated candidates, who were red-faced with anxiety.

Su Yao sneered, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like lightning: "Ancestral rules? Your so-called ancestral rules are just letting a madman ascend the throne and then watching him drag the country into the abyss?"

He suddenly waved his hand, and the palace doors burst open, revealing rows of armored soldiers standing in neat formation: "Or would you rather see me rule this land myself?"

This question was like a thunderclap, silencing everyone in a cold sweat.

Su Yao reached out and pulled Samira up from the ground, walked to the throne, and addressed the crowd:
“Princess Samira, I am very pleased with her. From now on, she will be the one to rule the Kushan throne. Dina will be her assistant, Tipo will be the Grand Tutor, old Qajar will be transferred to the position of Finance Minister, and Rahman will continue to be in charge of commanding the troops to guard the capital. The other official positions will remain unchanged for the time being.”

"I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

The vast palace was completely silent.

(End of this chapter)