Chapter 26 - "Danger! Danger!"

Vandhiyathevan entered the court hall before the poets. He guessed that the one sitting majestically on a high throne there must be the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar. Many people stood around him with folded hands and mouths hidden. A man stood with a number of leaves that had come that day. The accountant was waiting to give the account. The police commanders were waiting for the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar's daily orders. Servants were waiting to be executed. Behind the throne stood a few servants, waving white drums. A man was ready with a box of betel leaves in his hand.

Even Vandhiyathevan, who did not back down from anyone in his cleverness and pride, approached the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar with some modesty.

The younger one seemed a step higher in heroism than the elder. When he saw our soldier, he smiled and said, "Who, brother, you! Where are you from?"

The younger Pazhuvertaraiyar's stern face would beam if he saw brave young men. He was very anxious to recruit young men from all over the country into his garrison.

"Commander! I came from Kanchipuram! The prince sent a letter!" replied Vandhiyathevan in a polite voice.

The younger Pazhuvertaraiyar's face grimaced when he said Kancheepuram.

"What? What did you say?" he asked again.

"I came from Kancheepuram with the letter given by the prince!"

"Where? Give it to me!" he asked carelessly, but there was a hint of excitement in his voice.

Vallavaraiyan calmly picked up the scroll and said, "Commander! To the emperor!"

Ignoring that, the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar took the letter and looked at it eagerly. He handed it to the man standing next to him and asked him to read it. "Nothing new!" he muttered to himself.

"Commander! The letter I brought..." said Vandhiyathevan.

"What's the matter? I will give it to the emperor!"

"No; To hand me over to the emperor in person..."

"Oh! Don't you have faith in me? Did Prince Adityar send such a message to you?" said the Thanjai fortress commander with a sneer on his face.

"The prince did not say so; It was your brother who ordered that!"

"What? What? Where did you see the old man?"

"On the way, I stayed at Kadampoor Sambuvaraiyar's house one night. That's where I saw it. He sent me this ring too..."

"Aha! Why didn't you tell me this before? Did you spend the night in Kadampoor? Who else was there?"

"Many dignitaries from Mazhanadu, Nadunadu and Thirumunaipadi countries had come..."

"Wait, wait! Then I will ask you quietly. First of all, give this letter to the emperor and come! Then the Tamil poets will come. They will be talking... Take this child to the emperor!" ordered the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar to a soldier standing nearby.

Vandhiyathevan followed the soldier further towards the interior of the palace.

The throne of the Chola empire which was so vast that the roar of the sea could be heard on three sides had become a bed of sickness for some time. Emperor Paranthaka Sundara Chola was reclining on that throne. Though he had entrusted all his royal powers to others and was undergoing medical treatment, he had to give darshan to important people on certain important occasions. It was necessary for the good of the kingdom that ministers, generals and Velakara soldiers should visit him every day.

Vandhiyathevan could not speak when he saw the sick and emaciated appearance of the emperor, who was known as Asagaya Surar for his heroic deeds in many battles, who was called 'Sundara Cholar' throughout the country and town, and who was famous as equal to Cupid in beauty. Tears welled up in his eyes. He went near, bowed and held out the letter reverently.

The emperor took the letter and asked, "Where did you come from? Whose letter?" he asked in a low voice.

"Prabhu! I came from Kanchi. A letter from Prince Aditya!" said Vandhiyathevan Nath.

The emperor's face lit up instantly. Empress Vanamadevi, the daughter of Thirukovalur Malaiamman was sitting beside him. He looked at her and said, "Devi! A letter has come from your son!"

"Aha! The prince has built a golden palace in Kanchi. You and I should come and stay there for a few days!"

"Devi! Have you seen what your son is doing? My grandfather, emperor Paranthaka, who is famous all over the world, gave away all the gold accumulated in the palace and made Thillai Ambalam a golden roof and made it a golden balam. None of the great men of our tribe built their palaces with gold. They considered building a temple more important than building a palace. But Athitha Karikalan has done this! Aha! What can be done to atone for this blasphemy?" Hearing that the letter had come from her son, Devi's face was a little brighter than before; She could make no reply.

At that time Vandhiyathevan summoned courage and courage and said, "Prabhu! What your beloved son did was not so wrong, was it? He has done the right thing. Are not the mother and father the foremost gods of the son? So, wasn't it proper for your sons to build a golden palace for you and Devi to live in? He spoke.

Sundara Cholar smiled and said, "Brother! You don't know somebody. You are very clever; You speak tactfully. But the mother and father of the son are gods, but not for others, are they? Shouldn't a golden temple be built for the deity that everyone worships!"

"Prabhu! The father of the son is God; The king is the god of all the people. The Vedic Puranas say that kings have the aspect of Vishnu. Therefore, it is fitting that you have taken a golden palace in that respect too!" said our soldier.

Sundara Cholar again said to Malaiamman Thirumagal, "Devi! Do you see how clever this child is? If our Adithan has the help of people like him, we need not worry about him. There is no need to worry about his careless nature!"

Then, looking at Vandhiyathevan, he said, "Brother! Whether it is advisable to build a golden palace or not, it is not possible for me to come to Kanji. You see! I have always been bedridden. It is impossible to undertake a long journey. It is Athithan who has to come here to see me. We should like to see him, too. Come back tomorrow! I will ask you to write a re-letter!"

At this time, Vandhiyathevan knew that a crowd of people was approaching the darshan hall. Aha! The crowd of poets is coming! Perhaps the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar will also come with them. Then he may not be able to say what he has to say! I must summarize it in four words right now! In this way, after thinking for a few moments, he decided, "Emperor! Please! Have mercy and listen to my prayer. You must leave this Thanjai. Danger surrounds themselves here! Danger! Danger..." He spoke.

While he was saying this, the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar entered the darshan hall. He was followed by poets.

Vandhiyathevan's last words reached the ears of the fortress commander. There was a fire of anger on his face!