The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

The Red Keep, the Throne Room, the Royal Council.

The furnishings of the throne room are extremely gorgeous. The floor is covered with Myr carpets. In the corner of the room is a wooden screen from the Summer Islands, which is carved with hundreds of lifelike and colorful rare birds and animals.

The walls are covered with exquisite tapestries from Norvos, Qohor, and Lys. On either side of the door are a pair of Valyrian sphinx statues, with round rhododendron eyes on a black marble face. It looks bright and bright.

At the head of the conference table, the king's chair with the golden crowned stag pattern on the backrest was empty.

Lord Jon Arryn sits on the right side of the king's chair. This position symbolizes the king's right hand.

The other royal ministers sitting around the long table are: Minister of Justice Renly Baratheon, Minister of Finance Petyr Baelish, Captain of the Kingsguard Barristan Selmy, Grand Maester Scheel, Intelligence Chief Varys.

Except for the king's chair at the top, Sea Lord Stannis Baratheon's seat is also empty.

The recent travels have made Prime Minister Jon even thinner than before, his eyes are sunken, his face is pale, and there is 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?"

After Prime Minister Jon finished speaking, the area around the long table seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Petyr was dressed neatly, like a monk. His gray-green eyes moved slightly, and after scanning the expressions of everyone present, he said, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, you know Duke Stannis and 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. I even doubt that the upright Stannis bribed you."

Petyr smiled and shook his head: "It would be an honor for me, and I will never forget it for the rest of my life."

Everyone chuckled, breaking the solemnity of the throne room.

Prime Minister Jon glanced at Renly, who was smiling.

Renly was wearing a dark green velvet doublet embroidered with twelve golden stags today, and a gold-woven half-cloak fastened by an emerald brooch hung from one shoulder.

When Robert took the Iron Throne, Renly was just a seven-year-old boy... Now Renly looks exactly like Robert, as if he has gone back in time, allowing him to see the heroic Robert who returned from the Trident River victorious. .

Prime Minister Jon stopped recalling. He convened the Royal Council today for an important matter.

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

After collecting all the irrefutable evidence, he will report it to King Robert personally.

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

This matter cannot be hidden, nor can it be hidden from each other.

Duke Jon is the Hand of the King, and if the evidence is conclusive, even a moment's delay in King Robert learning the truth will be a dereliction of duty on his part.

Again, this matter is really of great importance.

At that time, the only thing that Prime Minister Jon can do is to persuade King Robert not to have a public trial, but to deal with Cersei Lannister and her bastards privately.

For example, all the people involved died of illness.

King Robert is still young and full of energy. He will marry a new queen and have a true 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 smoothly survive the impact of this incident.

However, Prime Minister Jon knew King Robert's temper very well. This was his extravagant hope. He had no confidence in persuading King Robert. He could only give it a try. Maybe King Robert would be able to remain rational for the sake of the stability of the kingdom. .

…………

What Prime Minister Jon needs to do now is to prepare in advance to prevent and respond to the worst situation.

He first needs to find another appropriate reason to reasonably block King's Landing City, and indirectly control the Lannister people in King's Landing City without arousing suspicion from others.

Prime Minister Jon glanced at the ministers present and said slowly: "My lords, I believe you have all heard about the Prime Minister's study. Ha~ I think some people have even mastered it. Even I have. Things I forgot..."

Grand Maester Pycelle, who was 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 a trouble left to you by the old dragon. It was caused by the old dragon. There are hidden dangers, which also shows that the remnants of the old dragon have not given up."

Pycelle has a kind face, with a few bunches of white hair hanging on both sides of his already bald forehead. His long snow-white beard flows down to his chest. His maester's necklace, made of twenty-four kinds of metal pieces, hangs down from his throat. To the chest.

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

Petyr didn't show it on his face, but in his heart he looked down on Pycelle, who only flattered him.

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

There is no need to specifically excuse the incident on the mezzanine of the Prime Minister's study. Everyone knows that this is one of the legacies left by the Targaryen dynasty. Baratheon is the Seizer, so it is normal for some omissions to be inherited.

Upon closer inspection, King Robert should bear greater responsibility because he is the master of the Red Keep.

Now that Pycelle said this, Petyr felt that Pycelle's words seemed to be trying to please Prime Minister Jon, but he "unintentionally" let Prime Minister Jon take all the responsibilities.

Petyr's eyes moved slightly. Is the party a fool, or does he have other motives?

Petyr's eyes made contact with Varys, who had been silent all this time, and they both looked away.

Petyr raised the corners of his lips and looked at the old Grand Maester Pycelle deliberately.

"Grand Maester Pycelle, are the remnants of the old dragon still active? This sentence sounds like, why do I think...are you trying to say that Prime Minister Jon and Lord Varys have been neglecting their duties?"

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

Pycelle stood up tremblingly, his maester's necklace ringing.

Pycelle looked in the direction of Prime Minister Jon, nodded and said, "Duke Jon, I never meant this. Lord Petyr misunderstood my meaning. I was just out of public interest!"

Prime Minister Jon waved his hand for Pycelle to sit down. He glanced at Petyr, who had a helpless expression on his face, and said, "Grand Maester Pycelle, I have never misunderstood you. I have always trusted you."

Pycelle, who was sitting down, nodded his thanks and ignored the instigator, Petyr, from beginning to end.

Petyr found no flaws for the time being, and Pycelle's behavior was no different from usual, fearing that he would offend Prime Minister Jon and lose his position on the Royal 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 and control his every move.

Petyr, who has calculated every step of the way, already has a legitimate excuse. He will find a suitable opportunity to contact Pycelle in person in the name of apologizing. Some things are only reliable if they are confirmed with his own eyes.

Therefore, the royal ministers never talk nonsense for no reason in the royal council, except for Renly.

…………

Prime Minister Jon did not forget the purpose of today. He paused and continued: "After this incident happened, I always have trouble sleeping and eating. I am old, but the problems that occurred when I served as the King's Hand, I I don’t want to leave it to the next king.”

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

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

Prime Minister Jon's words caused a sudden silence in the throne room.

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

Petyr, who frowned slightly, said coldly: "Duke Renly, the Prime Minister means a maximum of three months."

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

Petyr also made it clear at all times that he will always be Jon's Prime Minister in the Royal Council.

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

This is one of Petyr's tactics in the Game of Thrones.

…………

Renly spread his hands, but his tone was not serious: "Duke Jon, is there too much movement? If you are not careful, it will cause riots. There are more than half a million people in King's Landing."

Prime Minister Jon's eyes became sharp. He glanced at everyone present and said, "I need your support!"

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

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

Regarding the secret passage incident in the Prime Minister's study, everyone is suspicious of Varys, the royal intelligence chief who was responsible for intelligence collection during the Targaryen period. Naturally, this includes Prime Minister Jon himself.

Although Prime Minister Jon still doubts that Varys is an insider, he will not deliberately embarrass Varys before getting evidence. This is the honor that Duke Jon has insisted on throughout his life.

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

Petyr looked at Varys, who had a sincere face, with a mocking curve on his lips.

When Varys sat down, he seemed to feel the gaze from Petyr, and nodded slightly towards Petyr.

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

After more than ten years of working as the King's Hand, the people around him have already figured out Duke Jon's temperament, let alone Varys, who is the chief intelligence officer of the royal family.

…………

Barristan Selmy, the captain of the Kingsguard who had always been sitting like a statue, suddenly said: "Mr. Prime Minister, the blockade of King's Landing requires the personal signature of His Majesty the King."

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

Barristan, who is 60 years old, is tall and has a pair of sad blue eyes under his white hair. Although he is old, he still looks strong and elegant.

Barristan Selmy, known as Barristan the Fearless, is the eldest son of Lord Leonor 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 tourney held in Blackport and challenged Prince Duncan who no one dared to challenge. Since then, the fearless Barristan has emerged. title.

During the Battle of the Nine Copper Kings, Barristan rushed into the Golden Company alone and successfully killed the last Blackfire's ferocious Maris one-on-one, ending the rebellion of the pretender to the Blackfire throne and winning for himself. Immortal, his name spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms.

At the age of twenty-three, Barristan gave up his family's inheritance and put on the white robe under the recommendation of the then Captain of the Kingsguard, Gerold Hightower.

After the Usurper's War, King Robert pardoned Barristan and appointed him Captain of the Kingsguard, despite his heroic service to the Targaryens.

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

…………

Prime Minister Jon looked at Barristan and said with a hint of imperceptible tiredness in his voice: "Ser Barristan, I will first obtain His Majesty Robert's approval."

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

Renly spread his hands and said with a smile: "Duke Jon, please inform me in advance before closing the city. Unless Robert orders it, I do not intend to be locked up here. I will go to the Kingswood to hunt and wait for you to finish your work. I'll come back again."

Prime Minister Jon's pale lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything and just nodded.

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

Prime Minister Jon had already made a corresponding plan: "I will not restrict food from entering King's Landing. Petyr, I will leave this matter to you."

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

Pycelle looked at Petyr and said, "Lord Petyr, this is not a small amount. Can the kingdom's treasury come up with this golden dragon?"

Petyr raised his lips, looked at Pycelle, and said with a mocking tone: "You mean the kingdom's treasury? Grand Maester Pycelle, please stop pretending. You and I both know that the treasury has been empty for many years. Even rats would hate that place now.”

After answering Pycelle, Petyr turned to Prime Minister Jon and said, "Prime Minister, I think the Archbishop will be happy to help us at this time. 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 Council.

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

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

Everyone in the royal council heard the loud voice of "The Queen has arrived!"