Standing outside the throne hall, waiting for its door to open, ministers gathered in groups and began to express their concerns. Distress and worry were evident on their faces as they spoke.
"What an ominous sign this is."
"I can't believe we were just sending aid to the people of Umusa Kingdom, and now.... there's a serious outbreak in the northwest."
"I'm more afraid that the Tanggolian misunderstood our aid to the Umusa Kingdom and launched a war on our southern border."
"I'm greatly opposed to His Majesty sending the fourth princess to help. No matter what His Highness thinks, the Fourth Princess is a princess after all, not a prince."
"If her aid fails, the kingdoms around us will surely laugh at us."
"I believe this is the punishment given to us by the late king."
"Yes, I agreed."
"Or maybe it's a sign that our kingdom faces huge losses if the throne passes to the crown prince."
The gathered Magoli ministers stood in front of the stairwell of the throne hall, muttering. When they noticed Esen walking towards them, they began to lower their voices, for Yargui was Esen's daughter, Bastsaikhan's fiancée, and their future queen.
The throne hall doors opened, and the ministers walked up the stairs and stood in their designated positions inside. Then the door to the left of the hall opened, and Batukhan and Tong walked in. Batukhan walked over and sat on his throne, looking at his ministers.
Batukhan said, "Please sit down." He waited until all the ministers had sat down. "You may have heard that the epidemic in the northwest city has spread to twenty villages and three big cities, killing six thousand people. Additionally, flooding in the southwest destroyed four villages, leaving thousands of residents without food and homes. There is no word yet on the soldiers we sent to aid Umusa kingdom." He looked at his ministers. "The battle is long, and the outcome is unpredictable. Therefore, today we will not talk about the war in Umusa Kingdom. Our focus is on how to deal with the epidemic in the northwest and the floods in the southwest." He sighed. "Please tell us your opinion and what you have done so far for these cities and villages."
Esen stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have ordered the summoning of doctors in Hmagol to support the northwest. Many doctors have advised people in those villages and cities not to go to other provinces and cities to prevent the spread of the epidemic. After today's meeting, I will ask the doctors to outline what preventive measures need to be taken."
Tarkhan said, "Regarding the flooding in the southwest, I have provided assistance to them. And I have also written to mayor Orgil asking him to build temporary shelters for villagers in nearby villages."
Batukhan said happily, "Okay, then I will leave those two to you two." He sighed. "Starting with the Royal Wedding..."
A guard walked in quickly, knelt in front of Batukhan, and said, "Report! A soldier brought an urgent report from Umusa kingdom."
Batukhan's heart sank. Although he had been waiting for news, his heart was still beating fast. The news he had been longing for for days and nights had finally arrived. He looked at the soldier kneeling in front of him; he was speechless, turned pale, and suddenly forgot what he was going to say about the royal wedding. He knew that if Chinua was defeated by the Razaasia soldiers, the next person to take Chinua's place would be none other than Bastsaikhan.
Batukhan's heart sank. Although he had been waiting for news, his heart was still beating fast. The news he had been longing for for days and nights had finally arrived. He looked at the soldier kneeling in front of him; he was speechless, turned pale, and suddenly forgot what he was going to say about the royal wedding. He knew that if Chinua was defeated by the Razaasia soldiers, the next person to take Chinua's place would be none other than Bastsaikhan. Trying to keep his voice as steady as possible, he said, "Bring the soldier in."
Batukhan slowly unfolded the letter with trembling hands. He began to read as the ministers watched, their eyes fixed on his face. Then, Batukhan suddenly burst into laughter. The sound startled the ministers sitting in the throne hall.
"Misheel," Batukhan said happily, handing him the letter.
Misheel stood up from his seat and walked forward to the center of the throne hall. "The minister is here to carry out His Majesty's order," he said.
Batukhan said happily, "Order the imperial guards to raise all the flags on the east side of the city wall." He looked at Misheel with a smile. "The General of the Eastern border successfully defended Hosha City."
The ministers in the throne hall gasped. A few ministers were happy, but most were ashamed. All the ministers stood up and walked into the center of the throne hall. The ministers said in unison, "Congratulations to His Majesty! Congratulations to the Eastern General!"
The wind blew past the royal garden filled with different kinds of flower. It carried the scent of flowers, swirling around the two people sitting inside a pavilion. In the pavilion within the royal garden (part of Bastsaikhan's courtyard), he and Yargui were sitting, playing shatar. Looking at the chessboard, Bastsaikhan saw that Yargui had surrounded him. He placed the gold shatar piece in his hand on the table beside the board and sighed.
"What's the matter, Your Highness?" Yargui asked.
Bastsaikhan said, "You have surrounded me, the winner of the game is you."
Smiling gently, Yargui said, "The reason His Highness is besieged is that he's in a bad mood." She looked at Bastsaikhan. "I know you are worried about the fourth princess." "But Your Highness," she continued, her smile softening, "you don't have to worry too much about her. Her Highness has made great achievements in these years. She is someone many young Magoli women admire, even me. She convinced me that we women are not victims; we are makers of peace, we are the backbone of a successful man, and all we need is a fighting chance."
Bastsaikhan smiled and said, "I didn't know you look up to Chinua."
Yargui said with a smile, "Your Highness may not know, but the story of the fourth princess has become folklore. If she successfully aids Umusa Kingdom and restores trust with our ally, her story will spread to every corner of Hmagol's streets."
"You might be the future princess consort, but you still have to be careful what you say," Qara said as she walked towards the small pavilion.
Yargui stood up quickly from the table and bowed to Qara. "Your Majesty is correct," she said. "Please forgive my ill words."
Qara looked at Yargui and said, "I don't want to hear the gossip of the peasants in the palace."
Bastsaikhan said, "Mother, it is a good thing that citizens praise Chinua."
Qara said, "Words of praise are not always good. They can hurt you." She sat down at the table across from Bastsaikhan. She glanced at the shatar board, then picked up a shatar piece and placed it on the board. She grabbed another piece as Gan quickly rushed in.
"Your Highness," Gan said, standing close to the table, between Qara and Bastsaikhan.
Qara's heart was beating wildly, for she had sent Gan to the throne hall early that morning for news of Chinua. Her hand shook, and the shatar piece in her hand fell to the ground. "What is it?" she asked urgently.
Gan said, "His Majesty just ordered that all the flags in the east of the city be raised."
Qara and Bastsaikhan both looked at Gan. Qara asked, her voice barely a whisper, "All the flags?"
Gan nodded.
Hearing that all the flags were raised, indicating that the General and his captains were safe, Bastsaikhan breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"That means... Chinua wins," Qara said. She looked at Bastsaikhan and smiled knowingly. "Your legs have learned to walk." She picked up a shatar piece from the table and placed it on the board. "Your move."
From Erhi's chamber on the East side of the palace, the sound of objects colliding could be heard. The maids and servants did not dare to go in, waiting in horror for the commotion to subside.
"What? How come that thing is still alive?' Erhi yelled, knocking the makeup box on the dressing table to the floor." She glared at Nugai. "Tell Gegeen to meet me after the morning meeting."
Nugai bowed to Erhi and quickly left the room.
Erhi screamed angrily. Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with rage, and the vines on her neck could be seen under her skin as she continued to knock items to the floor until almost everything lay shattered.
Angry breaths came from her as she looked at the damage – broken vases and overturned items everywhere. She looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror. She took a few deep breaths before picking up an overturned stool and placing it in front of the dressing table. She sat on the stool and stared at herself in the mirror. She picked up a comb and started combing her hair.
"I sent you to the south, but you didn't die. I sent you into the war, but... you didn't die," Erhi said with a smile, putting her hand on the table. "On your way to Tanggolia, let's see how many days you will live." She snapped the comb in two.
She picked up the half-broken comb and began to comb her hair while humming.