With Astyages's furious command, which had echoed through the hall like a clap of thunder, the magnificent court of Ecbatana emptied quickly. The Median nobles, their faces flushed with fear and astonishment, hastily and silently distanced themselves from the king's unbridled rage. The sound of their footsteps on the stone floor of the hall was an echo of the terror that had taken hold of the court's heavy atmosphere; a terror that stemmed from the depths of the king's folly and madness. They, who had never witnessed such an unbridled outburst from their sovereign and had always considered him powerful and self-controlled, divided into smaller groups after moving out of the king's direct sight, and the whispers began among them; whispers that shattered the apparent calm of the court and spoke of a deep-seated distrust and internal unrest.
Ormozd, the leader of the Busae tribe, in a low voice but full of anger and concern, said to a few other nobles, "Did you see? Did you hear? The king goes mad like this over a child's lie! If he shows no mercy to his own grandson and sacrifices his own blood to fear, what mercy will he show us?" Another Median noble, with a pale and trembling face, whispered, "Mandane is his daughter, and Kourosh his grandson! This is an injustice against his own blood. This is a sign of folly and madness that can topple the foundations of the government!" Their words, like poisonous seeds, took root in the soil of mistrust.
Ariobarzanes, the chief of the Paraetaceni tribe, who was a warrior and a man of action, said with courage and a firm tone, "A ruler must govern with wisdom and prudence, not with fear and madness. This behavior shakes the pillars of the Median kingdom; pillars that are built on loyalty and trust. What will the people say? Can one trust a king who does not even spare his own blood?" These words, though spoken with caution, openly raised the question of Astyages's legitimacy in the minds of the nobles and sowed the seeds of discord in their hearts; discord that could lead to a great rebellion.
Atropates, the chief Magus and leader of the Magian tribe, who was listening to these whispers from a distance, cast a heavy and meaningful look at the nobles. Despite his hidden satisfaction at the removal of the "Persian threat," he was now worried about the consequences of this public scandal and the king's boundless anger. He knew that Mandane's letter and Astyages's unrestrained reaction would have a deeper impact on the people than expected and would also challenge the authority of the Magi. "This madness of the king paves the way for a grim fate and will drag us into this whirlpool as well," Atropates whispered to himself, contemplating a dark future for Media.
Other nobles from various Median tribes, especially Fereydun of the Budii and Zarrin-kaman of the Struchates, who represented the more popular and simple-hearted classes, were also deeply affected by this event. They thought about the hidden discontent of the common people from heavy taxes, corruption at court, and injustices. This letter ignited old resentments and gave them a new legitimacy to express their dissatisfaction. Whispers of the "oppressed prince" and the "justice of Ahura Mazda" were heard among them, which indicated a hope for change.
These conversations had gone beyond simple whispers. They had turned into a serious analysis of the state of the Median kingdom. Many of the nobles, who themselves suffered from Astyages's mood swings and oppressive policies and saw the future of themselves and their tribes in danger, were now looking for a way to protect their own interests and those of their tribes. The name of Kourosh, that "oppressed child" of whom the letter spoke, who was now imprinted on their minds with an aura of innocence and genius, suddenly became a symbol of hope and an alternative.
This session was a major and fateful turning point for Astyages. With this display of anger and cruelty, he had not only failed to restore calm to the court and instill fear in their hearts, but had also planted the seeds of discord and doubt in the hearts of his most loyal men. The news of this horrific event would spread beyond the court and, among the people of Media and Persia, would sow the seeds of rebellion in every street and alley like a silent earthquake. This discord, from within, would shake the foundations of Astyages's rule and lead him towards a certain fall.