For several days, the heart and body of Emperor Sundara Chola had been greatly weakened. When the Young Princess told the Prime Minister that the Emperor had not slept at all on the stormy night, it was no exaggeration. That entire day, his mind had been restless and unsettled. In the afternoon, the Younger Pazhuvettarayar came and only increased his agitation. Most importantly, he leveled many accusations against Prime Minister Aniruddha. He claimed that ever since the Prime Minister had arrived in Thanjavur, all the strict regulations regarding who could enter the fortress had been broken. He said that many people, pretending to come to see the Prime Minister, were gaining entry into the fort, and that this could endanger the Emperor’s very safety.

Hearing these two accusations, the Emperor merely smiled to himself. He did not consider them of great importance. But he could not so easily dismiss the further allegations made by Kalandhakandar. He reported that, that day, a dispute between the people who had come from outside and the Velakkara guards had nearly erupted into a great riot in the streets, and that it was only by good fortune that he happened to be present at the time, and was able to prevent any disaster by pacifying both sides and sending them away.

He went on to say that, though the entire land knew of Aniruddha Brahmarayar’s impeccable reputation, his recent actions seemed contrary to that. He alleged that the Prime Minister had forcibly brought a woman from Kodikkarai, and had used the Pazhuvur palace’s palanquin and men for this purpose. He added that, not knowing the reason, he had sent his own men and palanquin, and that if any disgrace were to arise from this, it would fall upon the head of the Pazhuvur clan.

Finally, he spoke of yet another suspicious incident. “I had heard that some magician was frequently visiting the palace of the Elder Pazhuvettarayar, and this had caused me concern. Since I learned that he was coming to see the Young Princess, I hesitated to take any action. Nevertheless, I had appointed a spy to keep an eye on that palace. Today, the spy came and reported that someone had climbed over the back wall into the garden of the Treasurer’s mansion. I immediately sent some men to capture him. They caught a man red-handed in the garden of the mansion. When they discovered who it was, it turned out to be none other than Alwarkadiyan, the beloved disciple of the Prime Minister.”

“Why did you climb over the wall and jump down?”—when asked this question, he refused to answer. “It was the order of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Emperor! If this Aniruddha Brahmarayar continues to act in this manner, how can I be responsible for the security of the Thanjai fort? Since my elder brother is not in town, I am compelled to bring all this to your ears!”

Thus, when the Younger Pazhuvettarayar voiced his complaint, it only deepened