At the very moment when Mandakini was discovered by the other palace women in the sculpted hall, a heated argument was raging between the Emperor and the Prime Minister.

No sooner had the daughter of Malayaman left than Prime Minister Aniruddha said, “Your Majesty! I have always maintained that certain matters should not be spoken of in the presence of women. Now, it has become necessary to speak of them and resolve them. The Pandya assassins are still lurking and moving about in this land. They are waiting for the right moment to fulfill their terrible vow.”

“This is nothing new, is it? Is this not news I already know? Is it not for this very reason that the Pazhuvettaraiyars have arranged such formidable protection for me?” the Emperor replied with a sardonic smile.

“It is true that you know about the assassins, but you cannot possibly know that these conspirators are receiving financial assistance from the very treasury of the Chola kingdom!” said the Prime Minister.

“Ah! What a fantastic tale this is!” exclaimed Sundara Chozhar.

“I am compelled to tell you even more astonishing tales than this. New gold coins from the treasury vault of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar were found heaped in the midst of the Pandya assassins. Here is my disciple Thirumalai, who saw it with his own eyes. If you command, he will describe it in detail…”

“That is not necessary. The Pazhuvettaraiyars have, for generations, shed their blood and laid down their lives for the Chola dynasty. Even if Harishchandra himself were to come and tell me that they are giving gold coins from my treasury to a band plotting to kill me, I would not believe it.”

“Forgive me, I am not accusing the Pazhuvettaraiyars of such treachery. But is it not possible that, without their knowledge, gold coins from our treasury could be reaching the conspirators?”

“How could that be? Can a soul depart without Yama’s knowledge?” “If Yama, perchance, had married a young maiden in his old age, perhaps even that might have been possible, Your Majesty!”

“I too did not approve of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar marrying at this age. I have told him so myself. But for that reason, I cannot tolerate such accusations of treachery being leveled against him.”

“Emperor! I am not accusing Pazhuvettaraiyar of treason. It is upon the young queen he has married that I lay my charge.”

“It is one thing to accuse men; that can be borne. But to cast blame upon an unfortunate, helpless woman—this, I find most distasteful.”

“No matter how distasteful it may be, there are certain truths about the young queen of Pazhuvur that I must reveal to you. Once before, I failed to tell you an important truth at the right time, and I have had to regret it ever since. Just now, you too were angry with me. Therefore, I ask you to listen with patience.”

Hearing these tactful words from the Prime Minister, the Emperor smiled. “You always manage to turn my own words against me. That is my personal affair. There is no connection between that and this. Still, speak—I am listening,” he said.

“Three years ago, the young queen Nandini Devi came to reside in the great palace of Pazhuvur. Since then, certain magicians have been coming and going frequently to the Pazhuvur palace. Even Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar is aware of this. He too dislikes the presence of these magicians. Yet, lacking the courage to oppose his elder brother, he remains silent.”

“Is this not how brothers ought to be?”

“But should brotherly loyalty be allowed to bring ruin upon the kingdom?”

“What ruin has befallen the kingdom now? Will the realm be destroyed simply because a foolish woman summons some magicians and asks them to perform their spells? Are you suggesting that it is because of the young queen’s magic that I have fallen ill?”

“Emperor! Those who come to see the young queen of Pazhuvur are not, in truth, magicians. I suspect that those who pretend to be magicians are, in fact, conspirators. I also suspect that through them, wealth from our treasury is being siphoned away…” “I am suspicious.”

“You may suspect anything or anyone you wish. But is there any proof?”

“My king! If today we were to search the palace of Periya Pazhuvettarayar and his treasury chambers, perhaps we might find some proof.”

“No one has ever suggested anything to me that I dislike more than this. Aniruddha! You are my friend alone. But Pazhuvettarayar has been a friend, dear as life itself, to three generations of Chola emperors before me. He is like an iron shield to the Chola dynasty. To the enemies of the Cholas, he is like Indra’s thunderbolt. To search such a man’s palace in his absence? Rather than believe that Pazhuvettarayar is harboring conspirators in his mansion, I would sooner believe that Malayaman’s daughter would call poison a medicine and give it to me…”

“Emperor! This is happening without Pazhuvettarayar’s knowledge. Blinded by infatuation, Pazhuvettarayar does not see what is happening before him. Without his awareness, his palace has become the headquarters for conspirators. There is reason to believe that the young queen of Pazhuvoor is allied with these plotters.”

“What further slander are you going to heap upon that foolish girl?”

“A few days ago, in the forest of Thiruppurambiyam, near the Pandya prince’s camp, a coronation ceremony was held at midnight. A five-year-old boy was seated on a throne and crowned as the Pandya king. Those who participated in this coronation swore an oath to utterly destroy the Chola dynasty…”

“Prime Minister! Do you think you can frighten me with this tale? Did you expect my hands and feet to tremble?”

“No, Emperor, no! I do not consider that farcical ceremony to be of any consequence. I only wished to inform you that the young queen of Pazhuvoor was present among those conspirators who took that oath.”

“Who is the clever person who came and told you