Pinagapani, the physician’s son, had resolved that he would one day rise to a high office in the government. Ever since the day he encountered Vandiyathevan, this ambition had taken root in his heart, sprouting and growing ever taller. In the past, he had not found much success in the ventures he had undertaken. It had seemed as if Nandini Devi had shown him a little kindness, but later the Queen of Pazhuvur had completely forgotten him. When he went to see Princess Kundavai, she did not even deign to speak to him properly. At the gates of the palace at Pazhayarai, when he accused Vandiyathevan of being a spy, all he got in return was a beating—there was no profit in it for him.

But when the Chief Minister Aniruddha summoned him and sent him to Kodikkarai with the task of bringing the Queen back, Pinagapani decided that his rise to high office was now certain. If only he could carry out this mission successfully, there would be nothing he could not attain through the Chief Minister’s favor. After that, his first order of business would be to deal with Vandiyathevan. Then he would humble and subdue the pride of Poonguzhali.

Building such castles in the air, Pinagapani set out for Kodikkarai. There, he slowly won over Rakkammal. She was deceived by him, believing him to be a member of the rescue group, and spoke to him about their efforts. With her help, he found the mute queen and brought her as far as the gates of Tanjore fort.

Throughout this journey, Pinagapani’s mind was constantly at work. He tried to uncover the secrets concerning the mute queen. He recalled the words of the madman he had met when he was once imprisoned in the underground dungeon. At the time, he had dismissed them as the ravings of a lunatic, but now he began to think there might be truth in what the madman had said.

When the palanquin carrying the mute queen neared the Tanjore fort, was it not then that the storm and rain struck and a tree fell upon him? After the wounds from that accident had healed, he went to see Chief Minister Aniruddha. By then, many important events had already occurred. The mute queen had given her life to save the emperor. Karikalan had been murdered. The entire land was in turmoil over who would ascend the throne next. had come under the control of the Kodumbalur Velar within the Tanjore fort. News spread that the Pazhuvettarayar and the minor kings allied with him were gathering their armies. Signs appeared that a great civil war might erupt.

In such a turbulent situation, Pinagapani, the physician’s son, went to see the Prime Minister Aniruddha Brahmarayar. Immersed in a sea of grave worries, Anbil Brahmarayar did not wish to spend much time conversing with Pinagapani. Since the task he had assigned had already been accomplished by the young man, he wanted to reward him and send