36 A Tough Lesson Is Learned

"Come in, come in," the old grandmother said warmly as she walked into her small stone house. "A simple breakfast is all this old lady can offer to repay your kindness." She began to remove the four plates that covered the simple dishes on the table.

"Steamed taro," Chinua said, looking at the plate of steamed taro on the table. "Stir-fried vegetables, boiled chicken, deep-fried sardines." She grabbed a piece of steamed taro, a deep-fried sardine, and a piece of chicken, putting them in her bowl before starting to eat.

The grandmother grabbed another piece of chicken and put it into Chinua's bowl. "If you don't like vegetables, eat more meat," she said.

Chinua chewed slowly. "How do you know I don't like vegetables?" she asked.

The grandmother smiled. "Northern Magoli don't like eating vegetables," she explained.

"Since you're an elder, you should eat more meat," Chinua said, picking up the piece of chicken from her bowl and about to hand it to the grandmother.

But the grandmother stopped her, laughing. "It's very difficult for me to chew meat with the little teeth I have left," she said. "I prefer steamed taro."

After breakfast, Chinua and her men said goodbye to the grandmother and Yize. They headed towards the city center. According to people they asked along the way, Orgil was having breakfast with some wealthy businessmen in the city's largest inn.

As Chinua and her men walked toward the inn where Orgil was reportedly having breakfast with wealthy businessmen, she saw Orgil and a group of guards walking directly toward them. Chinua realized she didn't need to walk all the way to the inn after all. She looked to her left and saw a woman selling eggs.

Chinua smiled. "How are these eggs selling?" she asked.

"Five eggs for one copper coin," the woman said politely.

Chinua handed the woman two copper coins. In return, the woman gave Chinua a banana leaf basket containing ten eggs.

Chinua walked to the middle of the road, holding the basket, and waited for Orgil. She noticed him and his guards were getting closer, and people began to move away, clearing a path for the mayor. From the basket in her left hand, Chinua grabbed an egg with her right. She aimed it at Orgil, who was walking towards her, and threw it.

The egg thrown by Chinua hit Orgil on the side of his forehead. The second egg struck his left chest. Dolgoon caught the third. He looked at Chinua, who was smiling, another egg ready in her right hand. Dolgoon sighed, shaking his head at her.

On the street, people who had witnessed the scene quickly backed away from Chinua and her four men, afraid of being caught up in trouble.

"I thought I told you to behave," Dolgoon said, throwing the eggs he held to the ground.

Chinua smiled. "I heard you," she said, looking at Dolgoon. "You said that in the southern lands, the people have no say because the rules are made by the Sumyaa." She threw two more eggs. Dolgoon caught one, and the other flew towards Orgil, but Buqa intercepted it.

"Orgil!" Chinua's voice boomed, loud and angry, startling citizens on the street. "I'm here to tell you that if the government is corrupt, citizens living in Hmagol will voice their opinions, and their voices will be heard!"

"There are no second-class citizens based on family origin!" she declared. "Hmagol has only one supreme law, made by the people who live here! His Majesty's name is Mongke, not the Sumyaa, who falsely claim authority! His Majesty hasn't abandoned his people, but these corrupt governments claim he has!"

She stared at Orgil, who stood fuming nearby, egg yolk dripping from his forehead. "You claim the southwest region is yours!" Chinua's voice grew sharper, her teeth gritted. "What qualifications do you have to occupy this land—land mixed with the blood of Hmagol warriors who fought bravely until their last breath?"

"Our fallen warriors fought to protect the ones they loved!" she roared. "The people you step on are the very ones they were willing to die for! Using the blood and lives of our fallen warriors to claim this land as yours is the ultimate insult to their sacrifice!"

Orgil wiped the eggs from his face. He shoved Dolgoon aside, pointed a furious finger at Chinua, and shouted through gritted teeth, "Buqa! I want him beaten to death!"

Buqa rushed towards Chinua. But Zhi quickly darted forward, intercepting Buqa's blows. Meanwhile, Khunbish and Khenbish swiftly moved to stand beside Chinua and Hye.

By then, many people had gathered. News that a young man threw eggs at Orgil spread like wildfire throughout the city, drawing more and more onlookers curious to see this brave soul.

Yize was among those who ran to see the brave young man. He was stunned to see that the man they were talking about was indeed the same person who had just shared breakfast with him and his grandmother an hour ago.

"Hey, Yize," Lut said, recognizing him. "Those are the guys from jail with us!"

"I saw it," Yize replied. "Let's go." The four men—Yize, Lut, and their two companions—moved closer to Chinua and Hye, joining their side.

Hye stood, arms crossed, staring at Zhi fighting Buqa. Then he looked at Chinua. "Who do you think will win this one-on-one battle?" he asked.

Chinua smiled. "Of course, the winner is Zhi," she replied confidently.

Seeing Buqa couldn't beat Zhi, Orgil roared, "You losers, what are you doing in a daze? Go get that man!" He grabbed Dolgoon's shirt. "Catch him! Otherwise, you'll be severely punished for failing to protect me!"

"Khunbish! Khenbish! Take your orders!" Chinua shouted. "Arrest Sumyaa Orgil and anyone associated with him on charges of corruption and embezzlement!"

"Yes, Chinua!" Khunbish and Khenbish responded in unison. They rushed past Zhi and Buqa, heading straight for Orgil and his twenty officers.

Seeing Khunbish and Khenbish bypass him, heading for Orgil, Buqa broke away from Zhi as Dolgoon approached. Buqa rushed straight towards Chinua, who stood a few feet away beside Hye. Seeing Buqa charge, Dolgoon did not chase Chinua but instead began to fight Zhi.

When Chinua saw Buqa's fist flying towards her, she shoved Hye away. Chinua grabbed Buqa's fist with her right hand and blocked his right foot with her left, but then Buqa's right hand grabbed her front collar. Suddenly, a hand came over Chinua's shoulder, grabbing Buqa's right hand and twisting it. At the same moment, a strong kick from behind Chinua hit Buqa's lower abdomen. Buqa stumbled back towards Zhi and Dolgoon, grunting in pain.

"Why target this little guy when you can fight someone as big as you?" Naksh said, cracking his knuckles. He and Jeet walked up to Chinua.

Jeet sneered at Buqa. "Stand down," he said. "You alone can't defeat us. Even one-on-one, you wouldn't stand a chance against my brother and me."

"Chinua, I apologize for being late," Enkhjin said as he led Khawn, Drystan, and a large group of soldiers towards her. "Are you hurt?"

Chinua looked at Enkhjin. "You're just in time," she said. "We've just started." She looked behind him and saw Yanam. "Captain, I thought you had left. Why are you still here?"

"Long story short," Yanam replied. "Before I left the capital, Minister Tarkhan asked me to collect intelligence on the situation in the southwest before returning. Chinua, don't worry, the letter you entrusted to me has been sent."

Grabbing Dolgoon's hand, Zhi looked at him. "I advise you to step back," he said. "You must realize by now the person standing in front of you is no ordinary person."

Dolgoon sighed, withdrawing his hand. "I didn't want to fight anyway," he muttered.

Seeing the arrival of the heavily armed soldiers, Orgil's officers lowered their weapons. Khunbish and Khenbish dragged Orgil forward to face Chinua.

"Let go of me!" Orgil demanded, struggling to pull his arms away. But he was unable to break free.

Instead, he was kicked hard in the back of the knees and forced to kneel before Chinua and the others watching. He raised his head angrily, staring at Chinua. "Do you know who I am?" Orgil spat. "I'm going to publicly execute you, including your family!"

"Imbecile! How dare you threaten Chinua!" Enkhjin shouted angrily.

Chinua knelt down, looking at Orgil. "A public execution involving all your family members sounds like a brilliant idea," she said with cool sarcasm, "but unfortunately, Hmagol laws prohibit it." Her tone hardened. "Don't get me wrong, I'll make sure everyone associated with your scheme is publicly executed along with you—even if they are your family." Chinua grabbed Orgil by the collar and pulled him closer. She put her mouth to his ear and whispered, "You are so courageous. You dare to threaten the royal father, King Batukhan of Hmagol, and me, the fourth princess of Hmagol and General of the Eastern border." Her voice was a silken steel trap. "Do you truly think Prince Dzhambul and concubine Erhi can save you now?" She stood up slowly.

Upon learning Chinua's identity, Orgil's mouth dropped. He fell backward towards Khunbish and Khenbish, gasping heavily. Then, in the street at the feet of Khunbish and Khenbish, he passed out.

Chinua looked down at the unconscious Orgil. She turned to Yanam. "Captain, arrest everyone and put them in jail." Turning to Enkhjin, she commanded, "Minister Enkhjin, confiscate all the property belonging to Sumyaa Orgil. Investigate everyone he knows, including his wealthy business friends. If you see anyone suspicious, make sure they're arrested."

"I'll do my best," Enkhjin replied.

Yanam waved his hand at the soldiers and the soldiers quickly surrounded Orgil and Orgil's officers.

Yanam waved his hand at the soldiers, and they quickly surrounded Orgil and his officers. Chinua looked at Dolgoon, a slight smile on her face. "Make sure these prisoners eat three meals a day," she said. "Even death row prisoners are entitled to their last meal."