Kundavai Devi, who had been standing and listening to the debate between Arulmozhi Varman and the two minor chieftains, now stepped forward and said, “Grandfather! Uncle! Must you stand at the threshold and speak? Come inside! Ponniyin Selvan will not act against your wishes.”

Both Malayaman and the Velar entered. Looking at the young princess, the Velar said, “Lady! If only the prince would consent to ascend the throne, there would be no trouble at all. We are bound to carry out his commands. The Emperor is only waiting for the moment to relinquish the kingdom. He wishes to spend his last days in peace, in the golden palace Karikalan built at Kanchi!”

“Uncle! When you both arrived, I was telling the prince the very same thing. This girl interrupted us with her complaints. Hearing her, the prince’s heart was moved, and he wished to go to the prison and set him free…”

“Who is this girl? Why is she weeping so bitterly?” asked the Velar.

“Do you not know, uncle? She is Manimekalai, the daughter of Sambuvarayar…”

“Oh! She must be weeping, thinking of her father in prison. Do not cry, child! The Emperor has already issued orders to set your father free and bring him here. Parthibendra Pallavan has gone to the underground prison!” said Malayaman.

“Grandfather! She is not worried only about her father. She is anxious about the brave scion of the Vanar clan. Release him. She keeps lamenting, ‘It was I who killed the prince!’” said the young princess.

“Oh! If that is what she claims, then let us take her too and lock her up in the underground prison if she wishes. But we cannot release the prince of Vallam!” said the elder Velar.

Still sobbing, Manimekalai turned to Kundavai and pleaded, “That is all I ask, Princess! Please order them to lock me up wherever he is kept!” The Commander-in-Chief Velar touched his forehead with his finger, pointed it out, and in a soft voice said, “It seems this girl’s mind has become deranged!”

Until now, Vanathi had been silent, but she now interjected, “Periyappa! Manimekalai’s mind is perfectly sound. It is you and the Thirukovalur elder whose minds seem unsteady. The prince Vallavarayan, who is imprisoned, is the dearest friend of Ponniyin Selvan. He was the one who brought Ponniyin Selvan back from Lanka, carrying a letter from the young princess herself. He was the one who earned the complete trust of the brave prince who has now attained the hero’s heaven. Those who accuse him and keep him in prison are the ones whose minds must be disturbed!”

“Ah! When did this girl become so outspoken? Vanathi! Is this what you have learned from the young princess? Have you not yet learned to keep your mouth shut and remain silent before your elders? If you are asked something, you should answer. Otherwise, you must keep your mouth closed!” said Periya Velar.

Malayaman said, “Commander! Why are you angry with this child? She has only voiced what is in the hearts of those present here!”

Kundavai said, “Yes, Uncle! It is not right for you or me to think of sending Vanathi away any longer. Tomorrow, she will ascend the throne as the Empress of the Chola Empire. Then, you and I will have to obey her commands!”

“If only Arulmozhi agrees to this, there would be no trouble at all, would there? On the day of the coronation, he could order the release of all those imprisoned in the underground dungeons,” said Malayaman.

“He could also order that you, me, and all those outside be thrown into the underground dungeons!” retorted the Commander-in-Chief, Periya Velar.

“Sirs! You are both elders. I regret that I must speak against you. Yet, instead of attending to the urgent matters at hand, you are talking about all sorts of other things!” said the prince, but before he could finish, the Commander-in-Chief interrupted, “Prince! Is it not the most urgent matter to determine the rightful heir to the Chola throne and prevent any confusion?”

“You seem to have forgotten that there is already an emperor!” said Arulmozhi.

“We have not forgotten. Only a short while ago, we saw the Emperor and returned. He is the one who, having resolved the issue of the kingdom, wishes to leave everything behind and go reside in the golden palace built by Karikalan in Kanchipuram.”

“Then, I shall go to the Emperor myself. I will obtain an order for Vandiyathevan’s release and bring it back. After that, you will have no objections, will you?”

“Prince! It is not appropriate for you to mention Vandiyathevan to the Emperor now. The Emperor believes that Vandiyathevan, in collusion with the Pandya assassins and Nandini Devi, must have been the one who killed Karikalan…”

“Ah! Who planted such a thought in his mind?”

“Not us, Prince! It was Parthibendran who instilled that suspicion in the Emperor…”

“In that case, I will go see Parthibendra Pallavan myself. I shall ask him on what basis he makes such an accusation.”

“You cannot meet Parthibendra Pallavan now. With the Emperor’s orders, he has released Sambuvarayar and gone to Kudanthai. There, he is to meet the Pazhuvettarayars and the other minor kings, speak with them, and immediately bring them back, as the Emperor has commanded. He has sent word that a compromise can be reached regarding the royal succession. He has also conveyed his willingness to crown Madurantakan.”

With a brightening face, Ponniyin Selvan looked at the young princess and Vanathi, and said, “You have brought very good news.”

“There is nothing good about it at all. If Madurantakan ascends the Chola throne against the wishes of the people and the counsel of the warriors, then from that day, the era of destruction will begin for the Chola Empire, which has flourished in glory for a hundred years,” said the Commander-in-Chief.

“There is no doubt about that; from Eelam to the northern banks of the Pennai river, confusion