iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 103
Red Castle, Throne Hall, Imperial Council.

The Throne Room was furnished extremely gorgeously, with Myrish carpets on the floor, and a wooden screen from the Summer Isles in one corner of the room, carved with hundreds of vivid and colorful rare birds and animals.

The walls were hung with fine tapestry from Norvos, Qohor, and Lys, and a pair of Valyrian sphinxes flanked the door, with round garnet eyes set in black marble faces. It looks bright.

At the head of the conference table, the king chair with a golden crowned stag pattern on the back is empty.

Lord Jon Arryn sits to the right of the King's Chair, which symbolizes the king's right hand.

The other ministers sitting around the long table are: Lord of Justice Renly Baratheon, Minister of Exchequer Petyr Baelish, Captain of the Kingsguard Barristan Selmy, and Grand Maester Pie Seale, Intelligence Chief Varys.

Apart from the king's chair at the top, the Sea Lord Stannis Baratheon's seat was also empty.

The recent travel has made Prime Minister Jon thinner than before, with sunken eyes, pale complexion, and no trace of blood on his face.

Prime Minister Jon sighed secretly, but still asked: "There are only six of us, and Stannis still hasn't come?"

Prime Minister Jon's voice fell, and there seemed to be a few seconds of freezing near the long table.

Petyr was dressed upright, like a monk, his gray-green eyes moved slightly, and after glancing at the expressions of everyone present, he said, "Master Prime Minister, you know Duke Stannis, his fleet It’s so busy, it’s hard to get away.”

Renly laughed, and said in a teasing tone, "Lord Petyr, your words are so convincing that I suspect that the upright Stannis has bribed you."

Petyr shook his head with a smile: "It will be my honor, and I will never forget it."

Everyone laughed lowly, breaking the solemnity of the throne room.

Prime Minister Jon glanced at the smiling Renly.

Renly wore a dark green velvet doublet today, embroidered with a dozen golden stags, and a gold-woven half-cape fastened by an emerald brooch over one shoulder.

When Robert took the Iron Throne, Renly was just a seven-year-old boy... Renly now looks exactly like Robert, as if time has turned back, allowing him to see the heroic Robert who returned from the victory on the Trident River .

Prime Minister Jon stopped recalling that he called the imperial meeting today for an important matter.

Regarding the issue of the royal bloodline, although his investigation is not yet halfway through, he can now be said to have almost confirmed that Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are not from Robert's bloodline.

When all the hard evidence was gathered, he would report it to King Robert himself.

After this incident was revealed, Prime Minister Jon could already foresee how much shock the kingdom would cause under King Robert's wrath.

This matter cannot be concealed, nor can it be concealed.

As the Hand of the King, Duke Jon, if the evidence is convincing, even if King Robert was delayed for a moment when he learned the truth, it would be his negligence.

Again, this matter is really important.

At that time, the only thing Prime Minister Jon can do is to persuade King Robert not to open the trial, but to deal with Cersei Lannister and her bastard in private.

For example, all the people involved died of illness.

King Robert is still young and full of life, and he will have a new queen, and a real legitimate heir.

This is the best response that Prime Minister Jon can think of. In this way, at least the Seven Kingdoms will not be shaken, and the kingdom will be able to survive the impact of this incident smoothly.

However, Prime Minister Jon understands King Robert's temperament very well. This is his extravagant hope. He has no confidence in persuading King Robert. .

…………

What Prime Minister Jon has to do now is to advance in order to prevent and deal with the worst situation.

First of all, he had to find another appropriate reason to block King's Landing reasonably, and indirectly control the Lannisters in King's Landing without arousing suspicion from others.

Prime Minister Jon glanced at the imperial ministers present, and slowly said: "My lords, I think you have all heard about the Prime Minister's study, heh ~ I think some people have even grasped it, even myself. Forgotten things..."

Grand Maester Pycelle sitting at the end of the long table said: "Duke Jon, the secret passage leading to the Prime Minister's study did not appear in recent years. It is the trouble left by the old dragon. It is caused by the old dragon. hidden dangers, which also shows that the remnants of the old dragon have not given up."

Pycelle has a kind face, a few strands of white hair hang down on both sides of his already bald forehead, and a long snow-white beard flows to his chest. His bachelor necklace made of 24 pieces of metal hangs from his throat to his chest. .

[Kings that Pycelle served include: Aegon V, Jaehaerys II, Aerys II (Mad King), Robert I]

Petyr didn't show it on the surface, but in his heart he looked down on Paycell who was only flattering.

Normal people can hear that Prime Minister Jon is just lamenting, but Pycelle is impatient to excuse Prime Minister Jon.

There is no need to excuse the Prime Minister’s study mezzanine incident. Everyone knows that this is one of the legacy left by the Targaryen dynasty. Baratheon’s identity is a usurper, so it is natural to omit some inheritance.

After a thorough investigation, King Robert should bear greater responsibility, because he is the master of the Red Castle.

Now that Paicell said this, Petyr felt that Paicell's words seemed to be flattering Prime Minister Jon, but he "unintentionally" made Prime Minister Jon bear all the responsibilities.

Petyr's eyes moved slightly, did Pai Xi get confused, or did he have other plans?
Petyr's gaze touched Varys, who had been silent all this time, and they both looked away.

Petyr raised the corners of his lips, and he intentionally tried to test Grand Maester Pacelle who was looking at his old age.

"Grand Maester Pycelle, are the remnants of the old dragon still active? This sentence sounds, why do I think... Are you trying to express that Prime Minister Jon and Lord Varys have always been negligent?"

Petyr stared at Pycelle, and continued: "I think this is a joke. Of course, I am also joking."

Pycelle stood up tremblingly, the maester's necklace rattling.

Pycelle turned towards the direction where Prime Minister Jon was, touched his chest and nodded, "Duke Jon, I have absolutely no intention of doing so. Lord Petyr misunderstood what I meant, and I was just out of public interest!"

Prime Minister Jon waved his hand to signal Paicell to sit down, glanced at Petyr with a helpless expression, and said, "Grand Maester Paicell, I have never misunderstood you, I have always trusted you."

Paicell, who was seated, nodded his thanks, and ignored Petyr, the instigator, from the beginning to the end.

Petyr didn't find any flaws for the time being, and Pycelle's behavior was the same as usual. He was afraid that he would offend Prime Minister Jon and lose his position in the imperial council.

Petyr shrugged and leaned back in his chair, but became wary of the seemingly harmless Pycelle.

Petyr had already decided in his heart to bribe the young maids around Pycelle to control his every move.

Petyr, who has been counting on one step and three steps, already has a legitimate excuse. He will find a suitable opportunity to contact Pycell in person in the name of apologizing. Some things are only reliable if he confirms them with his own eyes.

So, the Lord Chancellor never babbled for no reason in the Council, except for Renly.

…………

Prime Minister Jon did not forget today's purpose, paused, and continued to speak: "After this incident, it always makes me sleepless. I am old, but the problems that occurred when I was in the Hand of the King, I Don't want to leave it in the hands of the next king."

Immediately, everyone's eyes focused on Prime Minister Jon almost at the same time.

Facing everyone's eyes, Prime Minister Jon said: "One month, at most three months. I will seal off the entire King's Landing, thoroughly investigate all the secret passages left by the Targaryens in King's Landing, and arrest anyone related to the secret passages." catch."

The words of Prime Minister Jon caused a sudden silence in the throne room.

Renly said in surprise: "Duke Jon, did I hear wrong? Seal King's Landing for three months?"

Petyr frowned slightly, and said coldly: "Duke Renly, the Prime Minister means at most three months."

Everyone knows that Petyr is the confidant of the valley handpicked by Prime Minister Jon, and they are their own people.

Petyr also stated all the time that he would always be Prime Minister Jon's person in the imperial meeting.

Petyr's consistent actions allowed him to represent Prime Minister Jon even without Prime Minister Jon's instruction on many occasions, without arousing anyone's suspicion.

This is one of Petyr's tricks in Game of Thrones.

…………

Renly spread his hands, but his tone did not seem heavy: "Duke Jon, will there be too much movement? If you are not careful, it will cause riots. There are more than 50 people in King's Landing."

Prime Minister Jon's eyes became sharper, his eyes swept over everyone present, and he said, "I need the support of your lords!"

Varys got up from his chair and nodded, and said without any hesitation: "Duke Jon, I support your decision. It is my great honor to serve you, and this is also my duty."

Everyone looked at Varys who was the first to stand up and show support, and many people couldn't help but wonder.

In the secret channel incident in the Prime Minister's study, everyone is suspicious of Varys, the former chief intelligence officer who was in charge of intelligence collection during the Targaryen period. This naturally includes Prime Minister Jon himself.

Although Prime Minister Jon suspected that Varys was an insider, he would not deliberately embarrass Varys until he got the evidence. This is the heart of honor that Duke Jon has insisted on all his life.

At this moment, Varys' actions not only directly dispelled Duke Jon's precautions, but also increased his trust in him.

Petyr looked at Varys with a sincere face, and there was a mocking arc on the corner of his lips.

When Varys took his seat, he seemed to feel the gaze from Petyr, and nodded slightly towards Petyr.

Petyr smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

After more than ten years of working in the Hand of the King, the people around him have already figured out the temperament of Duke Jon, let alone Varys, who is the chief intelligence officer of the imperial court.

…………

Barristan Selmy, the captain of the Kingsguard who had been sitting upright like a statue, suddenly said, "Mr. Prime Minister, the blockade of King's Landing requires His Majesty the King to personally sign the order."

Barristan, Captain of the Kingsguard, wears silver armor and a white cloak like the rest of the Kingsguard.

Barristan, 60, was a tall man with sad blue eyes beneath his white hair. He looked strong and graceful despite his age.

Barristan Selmy, known as Barristan the Fearless, was the eldest son of Lord Lyonor Selmy of Harvest Hall in the Stormlands.

When he was ten years old, Barristan became a mysterious knight with the armor donated by others. He participated in the tournament held in Black Harbor and challenged Prince Duncan, whom no one dared to challenge. Since then, there was the fearless Barristan title.

In the Battle of the Nine Copper Plate Kings, Barristan rushed into the members of the Golden Company alone, and successfully killed Maris, the last Blackfyre violent one-on-one, ended the rebellion of the Blackfyre throne pretender, and won for himself Immortal name, since his name spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms.

At the age of 23, Barristan gave up his family's inheritance rights and put on a white robe under the recommendation of the then captain of the Kingsguard, Gerald Hightower.
After the War of the Usurper, King Robert pardoned Barristan despite his valiant fight for the Targaryen crown, and made him Captain of the Kingsguard.

Despite his moral reservations about serving King Robert, Barristan faithfully fulfilled his duties.

…………

Prime Minister Jon looked at Barristan, with an imperceptible tiredness in his voice: "Sir Barristan, I will first obtain the approval of His Majesty Robert."

Barristan nodded and said, "When the time comes, I will perform my duties."

Renly spread his hands and said with a smile: "Duke Jon, remember to notify me in advance before closing the city. I don't intend to be locked up here unless Robert orders it. I will go to the royal forest to hunt and wait for you to finish the business." I'll be back."

Prime Minister Jon's pale lips moved slightly, but he said nothing, just nodded.

Petyr turned to Prime Minister Jon and said, "Master Prime Minister, we have to consider the issue of food. There are hundreds of thousands of mouths in King's Landing."

Prime Minister Jon had already planned accordingly: "I will not restrict food from entering King's Landing. Petyr, I will entrust you with this matter."

Petyr stroked his chest gracefully: "As you wish, Prime Minister!"

Pai Xier looked at Petyr, and said: "Master Petyr, this is not a small sum, can the kingdom's treasury come up with this gold dragon?"

Petyr curled his lips, looked at Pycelle, and said sarcastically, "You mean the kingdom's treasury? Senior Maester Pycelle, please don't pretend, you and I both know that the treasury has been empty for many years. Even rats would hate that place now."

After answering Pai Sear, Petyr turned to Prime Minister Jon and said, "Master Prime Minister, I think His Excellency the Archbishop is willing to help us at this time, and I will contact him in advance."

Prime Minister Jon sighed secretly, and said: "Petyr, we still need the Archbishop to help us stabilize the hearts of the people in King's Landing."

By this time, his plan had already passed the imperial meeting.

Everything went well... Prime Minister Jon secretly heaved a sigh of relief, and at the same time, fatigue suddenly appeared on his body, forcing him to lean back on the back of the chair.

Petyr, who looked worried, was about to speak, but was interrupted by a sudden movement.

Everyone in the imperial meeting heard the resounding voice of "The queen is here!"

(End of this chapter)