As Aditya hurried to the king's chamber, his mind raced with concern and curiosity. Upon his arrival, he was surprised to find the king's chamber filled with council ministers whose presence seemed out of place given the urgency conveyed in the intelligence minister's request for the immediate summons.
"Jaydev Patil," Aditya began, addressing the intelligence minister, "Forgive my presumption, but may I inquire about the urgency that necessitates the presence of other ministers at this incident?"
Before Jaydev could respond, Prime Minister Chandrashekhar entered the room, followed closely by Emperor Hemu. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Aditya waited anxiously for an explanation.
Chandrashekhar stepped forward, his expression grave. "Aditya, Sayantika Sen was the formerly head of intelligence and she is also current head of our elite spies abroad borders. And Sukhwindar Singh," he gestured towards the public minister, "is here because this matter demands immediate attention and decisive action that might impact public interest."
Aditya's heart sank at the implication of their presence. Whatever the issue, it was clear that it posed a significant threat to the empire's stability.
In the tense atmosphere of the king's chamber, Aditya nodded gravely as Emperor Hemu turned his gaze towards him, silently acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. Hemu's expression was stern as he addressed Jayadev Patil, the intelligence minister, "What news do you bring?"
Jayadev Patil stepped forward, his face etched with concern. "Your Majesty, King Abdul Hameed of Kashmir was ambushed upon his return. We initially received a pigeon post directly from him, but subsequent reports from Punjab confirmed his tragic demise. His entire entourage has been wiped out."
A wave of uneasiness swept through the room as Patil pressed on. "We've been briefed with analogous reports from Agra's delegates," he disclosed, his expression grave. "Upon the king's return to his realm, an assassination attempt was orchestrated by one of his harem members, lured into the scheme by bribery. Fortunately, she was captured, ultimately confessing Defense Minister Shadi Khan's role in this."
Patil's expression remained stoic as he replied, "King Istehar Khan seeks retribution from the empire, adamant that such treachery must not go unpunished."
Emperor Hemu's expression darkened as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. "We cannot afford to let this escalate," he declared, his voice firm. "We must tread carefully and ensure justice is served without inciting further conflict."
Patil nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty,emperor," Prime Minister Chandrashekhar began, "Shadi Khan has been apprehended. He's been relieved of his imperial duties for the time being, and his daughter is now under custody."
Upon hearing this, Aditya, voiced his objection losing his calmness.
"But your grace, you can not do this," Aditya interjected, his tone laced with frustration. "How this concerns amira?"
Chandrashekhar extended a comforting hand to his grand son. "Don't worry, Prince. Amira is safe," he reassured, his voice softening. "She's under house arrest, in the custody of Raamya who has been appointed as temporary Defense Minister and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army."
Emperor Hemu, his disappointment evident, addressed Aditya with a somber expression. "We haven't passed judgment yet, Aditya," he reminded, his tone firm yet compassionate. "These are precautionary measures. And Shadi Khan isn't being held in regular cells."
Observing Aditya's demeanor, Hemu gestured for Sayantika and Sukhwindar to proceed with their reports.
"Sayantika," Emperor Hemu addressed her, "Have your elite informants gathered any clues from foreign lands?"
Sayantika, stepped forward, her expression focused and determined. "Your Majesty," she began, "Our informants have indeed been active in gathering intelligence from abroad.
We've observed a significant increase in the number of traders entering Punjab, but their origins remain uncertain. Personally, I suspect they've crossed over from the Pakistani side of the Ravi River."
She continued, "Additionally, we've received word from the Gajpathi Kingdom that a delegation from the Vijayanagar Empire has arrived within their territory, while the Mewar delegation is yet to cross our borders. Furthermore, delegations from Jaunpur, Amber, and Punjab are already stationed in the Kingdom of Rewari, each accompanied by substantial military escorts. It's proving difficult to ascertain the true culprits amidst this flurry of activities."
Emperor Hemu inquired, "What brings them to Rewari now?"
Prime Minister Chandrashekar responded, "Shadi Khan has arranged for their assistance in defense matters upon the arrival of foreign delegates in Rewari. Since they were already invited, the King of Rewari decided to host them until the prince's exhibition. However, I have my doubts; some of them may be involved in these troubling events."
Emperor Hemu turned his attention to Public Minister Sukhwindar Singh. "And what of the public reports? How is law and order?"
"Your Majesty," Public Minister Sukhwindar Singh replied, "In the capital, everything remains under control. The latest reports indicate tension in Punjab and Agra, but the local kingdom's forces have managed to maintain peace and stability. There are minor disturbances in Bengal and Jaunpur among the nobles regarding new reforms. As for Kashmir, we have no recent updates. Our borders with the Sultanate kingdoms are peaceful both in the west and south. Overall, there's no major cause for concern, and the local populace seems content with the recent land reforms."
"Pardon me, Your Majesty," Minister Jaydev Patil interjected, his tone respectful yet urgent, "While this may appear as a mere internal dispute, I fear its implications could be deep-rooted. This peace we currently enjoy might just be the calm before the storm. If word spreads regarding the attack on the delegates and the alleged involvement of Shadi Khan, we risk losing the trust of our Muslim citizens and becoming a laughingstock in the eyes of foreign nations regarding our security."
As Jaydev Patil's words hung heavy in the air, emphasizing the potential consequences of inaction, Sukhwindar Singh took a moment to collect his thoughts. With a calm and composed demeanor, he offered a contrasting perspective:
"Your Majesty," Sukhwindar began, his tone measured yet confident, "While I respect Minister Patil's concerns, I believe it's essential to maintain a sense of perspective. This incident, though regrettable, may indeed be an isolated occurrence. Our security measures have always been robust, and incidents like these, though concerning, should not undermine the trust our citizens and foreign allies place in us."
He continued, "Furthermore, the swift apprehension of the assailants and our commitment to ensuring justice will demonstrate our unwavering dedication to maintaining peace and security within our borders. Let us not dwell on the potential negative outcomes but instead focus on reinforcing the strengths of our kingdom."
"As much as we wish to believe otherwise, Your Majesty," Sayantika interjected, her voice tinged with concern, "the trouble runs deep. If we fail to uncover the true culprit swiftly, we may be compelled to punish Shadi Khan to appease Istehar Khan's demands. But such a move risks alienating our loyal factions, who may question our commitment to their protection."
Her words hung heavy in the air as she continued, her gaze unwavering. "Furthermore, if we allow this matter to linger, word of the attack on the delegates could spread like wildfire. Such a betrayal of trust would not only erode the faith of our Muslim population but also pave the way for internal strife, perhaps even civil war."
She paused, the gravity of her words sinking in. "Beyond our borders, neighboring Muslim nations may see this turmoil as an opportunity to wage war against us, exploiting our internal divisions for their own gain. And if they perceive weakness, others may seek to break away from our empire altogether."
As she finished speaking, a heavy silence enveloped the room, each council member grappling with the dire implications of Sayantika's stark assessment. It was clear that the decisions made in the coming days would shape not only the fate of their empire but the very course of history itself.
Emperor Hemu listened intently to Sayantika's grim assessment, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Turning to his council, he posed a crucial question, "Who among us do we suspect as the possible culprit, and what grounds do we have for such suspicions?"
Sukhwinder Singh was the first to respond, his tone grave. "It's entirely plausible that Shadi Khan is the perpetrator. His ambitious plans for inheritance reform could have driven him to desperate measures."
Jaydev Patil weighed in next, his expression thoughtful. "While Istehar Khan's accusations against Shadi Khan cannot be dismissed outright, the evidence he has provided is vague at best. It's possible he's leveraging this situation to settle a personal vendetta."
Sayantika Sen raised an eyebrow, considering another angle. "There may also be foreign interests at play here. The presence of a large number of Muslim traders in Punjab raises suspicions of outside involvement."
Prime Minister Chandrashekhar offered a somber assessment. "We mustn't overlook the possibility of a completely unknown entity. With no word from Kashmir and the military presence of other kingdom delegates in Rewari, there's ample opportunity for someone to exploit this chaos for their own gain."
As the council members waited with bated breath, Aditya's words sliced through the tense atmosphere like a razor-sharp blade. "Forgive me, but I find myself harbouring doubts about each individual mentioned in this matter."
His unexpected proclamation hung in the air, sending a ripple of astonishment through the room. In the wake of Aditya's revelation, an eerie silence descended. It became apparent that the prince's words had struck a chord, resonating deeply with each member present.
Indeed, as the weight of Aditya's suspicions settled upon them, the council found themselves grappling with a newfound sense of unease. It was as if the veil of trust had been lifted, revealing the shadows of doubt and suspicion lurking beneath the surface of their once-unified empire.