Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 196: Trial in Ladakh

Ladakh, Shey Palace, Afternoon of 10th April 1557.

Following the fall of Kashmir’s soldiers, Ladakh was on high alert. The first prince, Sange Namgyal, had exposed a flaw in his nephew Prince Tsewang’s peaceful plan to merge Kashmir with Ladakh. He convinced the old King Jamyang that if Princess Zara discovered Tsewang’s true identity, she might oppose the merger. With Kashmir’s vigilance at an all-time low, they could not afford to miss this opportunity.

Under the king’s orders, Sange led the Ladakhi army into the Kashmir Valley. They launched a direct assault on the fort after the wedding of Tsewang and Princess Zara. The objective was to capture the princess alive and force her to accept the merger.

However, driven by jealousy and ambition, Sange sought to kill her so that his nephew wouldn’t gain the merit of the union. He did not anticipate that Tsewang, who had fully embraced his new identity as the Kashmiri general Tenzin, would turn against him. Defying all odds, Tsewang took his revenge and killed Sange by impaling him.

When King Jamyang received word of his son’s death, his fury knew no bounds. Both Tsewang and Sange had become pain in his ass. Due to Sange’s reckless actions, Ladakh now faced war with the Bhargav empire, though they had been preparing for the worst. Knowing there were only three key passes into Kashmir, the king ordered his soldiers to hold these choke points at all costs, blocking any movement.

The high-altitude terrain gave Ladakhi forces a natural fortress advantage: where even a large enemy force would be forced to march through narrow path and that would be their graveyard.

However, the greater issue that troubled King Jamyang was the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir and the burden it put on Ladakh. Even though Tenzin had surrendered, the people continued to resist Ladakhi rule.

With their beloved princess dead and the would-be king imprisoned, unrest spread like wildfire. Maintaining control had become increasingly difficult, as soldiers were stretched thin across the borders and in the newly captured territory.

Reluctantly, the king summoned Tsewang. Only after speaking with him could Jamyang decide his next course of action and, most crucially, whom to choose as the final heir to the Ladakhi throne.

Guilty or not, Tsewang had dared to defy the king’s command, and now he was being summoned to the royal court to be judged for his treachery, with all the nobles in attendance.

The king’s aged eyes narrowed as his grandson entered the court. Tsewang, shackled in chains, walked with lifeless eyes. He still wore the old general’s armor bearing the insignia of Kashmir, which was a clear display of where his loyalty lay.

King Jamyang sighed inwardly at the sight. This was once his charming, ambitious grandson, the one he had envisioned as the future heir. But now, that spark seemed lost.

Addressing the court, the king commanded, "Begin the trial."

Prime Minister Tharchen stepped forward with expression stern. "Prince Tsewang, you stand accused of defying the royal order, of murdering the first prince and your uncle, Sange Namgyal, along with massacring brave Ladakhi soldiers, and aiding the rival forces against your king’s command. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Tsewang’s eyes remained fixed on the ground, his indifference igniting frustration in the prime minister.

"The charges are severe," Tharchen continued with his voice rising. "Despite your royal status, this could lead to capital punishment. Do you not care for your life?"

But Tsewang remained silent as his lack of response further irked all the courtiers present.

King Jamyang frowned as he felt his heart heavy. He wished to avoid unilateral action in front of the court and turned to Baghan Namgyal, Tsewang’s father. "You speak to him, Baghan. Perhaps he’ll listen to you."

Baghan approached him with desperation in eyes. He slapped Tsewang across the face and shook him fiercely. "Come back to your senses, moron! The king awaits your answer. Do you want to die?"

Still, Tsewang remained silent, prompting more unrest among the nobles. Yeshe Namgyal, Tsewang’s uncle and the second prince, stepped forward with a smug expression on his face. "Perhaps his silence is an acknowledgment of his guilt. It’s a waste of.. "

King Jamyang silenced him with a fierce glare. "Enough!", turning to his grandson he stated," Tsewang, your answer will determine the fate of this kingdom. Do you not wish to speak?"

Tsewang’s lifeless gaze shifted to the throne, and he spoke with pain and grief. "What does it matter?.. Everything is worthless. My wife is dead, and I couldn’t protect her." His voice dropped as he self contemplated his thoughts, "I am already dead inside, King of Ladakh. Just give me the punishment you’ve decided."

A shocked silence fell over the court. His addressing the king as "King of Ladakh" rather than "Grandfather" revealed the depth of his despair.

Yeshe seized the moment, eager to press his advantage. "Your Majesty, the accused has accepted his guilt. Please grant him the capital punishment and set an example."

Baghan interjected, desperation in his voice. "Your Majesty, I appeal for mercy! My son, though responsible, was not aware of the full plan. On the day of his marriage, he lost his wife; he is not in his right state of mind!"

The second prince interrupted. "Being out of his mind doesn’t absolve him of killing royalty who was on a mission under the king’s orders!"

Ignoring his brother, Baghan continued. "If killing royalty is the issue,, then the Kashmiri princess should also be regarded as Ladakhi royalty. My elder brother acted against the king’s orders first, and so my son doesn’t deserves the full extent of the punishment. It’s important to remember that it was his selfish actions that endangered our plans and forced us into a fight with the empire." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

With Baghan’s sudden defense, the court’s favor began to shift slightly toward Tsewang. Even Yeshe found it hard to argue.

Prime Minister Tharchen countered, "But Your Highness, we need Prince Tsewang to confess; otherwise, it will be seen as mere speculation."

Tsewang, now fully embracing his identity as General Tenzin of Kashmir, shot back with grief in eyes, his voice filled with mockery. "Stop calling me Prince Tsewang! You’ve killed him. I gave everything for this kingdom, and it took away the only thing I loved wholeheartedly. If this is the trust and faith of the kingdom toward its prince, then I want nothing to do with royalty."

Gasps echoed through the court as everyone processed his words. King Jamyang felt a stab of pain at the sight of his broken grandson. This time, he addressed Tsewang directly as Tenzin. "So be it, General Tenzin of Kashmir. Tell me your reasons for your actions; we need to understand your motivations for such drastic measures."

Tsewang replied with mockery, "What answer do you seek? Why I killed your imbecile son and my sorry excuse of an uncle who murdered my wife as I was about to surrender? Or why I wanted a peaceful merger in pretext of marriage alliance when we knew that Kashmir was part of the empire and that now they have a clear excuse to invade Ladakh and raze every building to the ground with their vast army? Or why I helped the rival soldiers against my own kingdom? Unlike the treacherous Ladakhi army, they held me with respect and trust, putting their lives on the line to defend themselves, as if I were their only savior. "

His demeanor shifted to fury mid-sentence. "As long as I can see, there is nothing you can do, old king. I don’t care what happens to me now, but you have ruined everything by trusting your piece-of-shitty sons!"

King Jamyang trembled with fury, gripping the armrest of his throne as he fought to maintain control. None has dared to talk with him like that in his court.

The courtiers were stunned, unprepared for the prince’s brazen defiance. Yet, despite the provocation, King Jamyang suppressed his rage, knowing he had more pressing matters to address.

"Throw him to the dungeons," he ordered, his voice steady despite the storm within. "Let him stew until he gets his mind in order. He speaks of people, but he does not recognize where his roots lie."

As the guards seized Prince Tsewang, dragging him away in shackles, he threw back his head and laughed wholeheartedly. "If you think I’ll be your pawn again just by keeping me alive, dream on ! I’ll laugh when the empire’s forces burn your palace to dust. No one can stop it!"

His laughter echoed through the hall, a haunting sound that lingered even as he was pulled from the room.

As the laughter faded, an unsettling tension enveloped the court. Tsewang, though defiant, had spoken a bitter truth about the imminent danger they are going to face.

Yeshe Namgyal, the second prince, broke the silence first. "Your Majesty, regardless of the trial, Tsewang’s threat is real. We should not take this lightly."

King Jamyang nodded with hardened expression. "General, report on our preparations."

The general Phurba Lhakhang stepped forward, with his customary bow. "As per your command, Majesty, we have begun fortifying the three passes: Banihal, Hajipir, and Kohala. The Banihal or Pir Panjal Pass is our main route, where most of our forces are stationed. The alternate routes through Haji Pir in Poonch and Kohala near Muzaffarabad are also undergoing fortification. For added security, we have heavily fortified Zoji La, the only pass linking Kashmir to Ladakh."

He paused as his tone turned somber dedicating the gravity of matter. "Since taking the capital, we’ve cut off all forms of communication, but news will soon reach the empire. Our supply channel are in danger if Kashmir is not settled. We must decide on our future strategy."

A heavy silence settled over the court as everyone awaited their king’s response. King Jamyang spoke with grave expression. "The reason I did not execute Prince Tsewang is that he is vital to establishing control in Kashmir. To defend ourselves and maintain our supply lines, we need the support of the local populace."

He turned to his third son, Baghan. "Convince Tenzin to assist us in our defense, no matter the cost. If he refuses, let him know that his answer will determine the fate of the Kashmiri survivors. " The subtle threat of genocide hung in the air but what really mattered was their own survival.

Prince Yeshe Namgyal interjected, cautiously. "But Father, what about the heir to the throne once this is over? It was promised that the heir would be declared with the conquest of the plains."

King Jamyang’s cold gaze met his second son’s, sending a shiver down Yeshe’s spine. "The heir will be chosen based on merit.. how well the homeland is defended. The one who brings peace with the empire will take priority."

With that, the Ladakhi court was dismissed though tensions remained for the undetermined future.