The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Acolyte's head falls to the ground!

Joffrey cheered loudly. He applauded Ilyn Payne's swordsmanship with great excitement, but the courtiers were all terrified.

Sansa was even more frightened in the crowd.

Jeyne Poole buried her head in Sansa's arms, otherwise she would have been chopped down by the gold cloaks long ago.

Originally, Sansa would have felt safer with 'Lady' by her side. However, Lady was a direwolf, and could potentially harm Joffrey. On the day the Tower of the Hand fell, Lady was killed along with many guards and servants in the tower.

Lady was also a source of pain in Sansa's heart.

Joffrey was in high spirits and loudly called Sansa over.

Sansa was afraid to see the bloody scene, but he insisted that Sansa come over, ordering her to open her eyes wide and look at the bloody head of the acolyte, staring at the wide eyes on that head.

When Sansa showed even the slightest resistance, Joffrey loudly ordered Meryn Trant to twist Sansa's head and force her to face the bloody head on the ground.

Meryn Trant only took half a step before stopping, because the Mountain was glaring at him.

The scars on Meryn's face had not yet healed.

Although the king roared, none of the three Kingsguard dared to move.

The Mountain was staring at them.

This made the king's face turn red, and he gnashed his teeth, wanting to draw his sword and chop down the three Kingsguard.

Sansa's actions stopped everything in time. Her trembling body regained composure, and she followed the king's instructions, staring at the head rolling in the blood, and meeting the pair of terrified eyes.

However, Sansa's obedience made Joffrey feel that Sansa was deliberately targeting him, provoking him. He ordered Sansa to stand here and watch the corpse and the severed head until noon before she could leave.

"Ser Meryn Trant, if Sansa moves even a little, slap her in the face."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Meryn Trant said.

Cersei watched Joffrey coldly, her face pale, and did not stop him.

She felt that she could not control Joffrey. If she came out to stop him, she judged that Joffrey would be even more furious and the scene would be even more out of control. The Queen Mother and the King arguing in front of the courtiers would damage the royal family's dignity and honor.

"Alright, Joffrey, we should go to the Citadel," Cersei said.

Joffrey wanted to say something, but the Mountain became impatient and said, "Your Majesty, let's go to the Citadel quickly."

Littlefinger also came to persuade him.

Joffrey said, "The Hound in the dungeons hasn't come out yet." He always felt that he should add something more to Sansa, otherwise he would feel uncomfortable. But he hadn't thought of a good idea of what difficult thing he should make Sansa do.

"The Hound will come out to report if he finds any clues, Your Majesty. The Red Keep is too chaotic. The murder of the Grand Maester is a major event in the court and cannot be delayed," the Mountain said sternly.

The Mountain stared at Joffrey's eyes like knives.

The Mountain suddenly reprimanded the king, and the courtiers were all horrified. The Kingsguard, gold cloaks, and red cloaks guarding the Queen Mother did not dare to stand out. In the past, if someone reprimanded the king, Meryn Trant would definitely threaten the other party with his hand on his sword hilt.

The Mountain's large group of subordinates were nearby. One of them, with a particularly large head, wore a well-made armor with the Clegane sigil, without a helmet, a terrible scar on his forehead, and a very fierce face.

"Okay, let's go take a look," Joffrey said, startled.

*

Inside the Citadel.

Grand Maester Pycelle was lying in a pool of blood, and the entire bedroom was filled with the stench of feces and urine. The Grand Maester had lost control of his bowels before he was killed, and there was a pool of it on the ground. The acolyte discovered his body, but was afraid of the dirt and stench and afraid of the corpse, so he did not dare to move. The other maesters were all clean freaks, and no one was willing to clean it up.

Grand Maester Pycelle had more than one acolyte under his command. Several acolytes followed him to work in the palace.

No one, whether gold cloak, red cloak warrior, Kingsguard, courtier, or noble, was willing to examine the Grand Maester's corpse soaked in blood and urine.

Joffrey glanced at the bedroom with the strong smell and left, and sat down in the Citadel's living room with the Queen Mother Cersei, who also had a cleanliness habit.

Everyone stood in the living room.

Cersei said, "Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, send for the coroner from the dungeons."

"Your Majesty," an old man in a blue cloth robe flashed out from behind the Mountain, "Perhaps I can examine Grand Maester Pycelle's wounds, clean his body, and discover the most useful clues to solve the case. I am proficient in medicine, studied at the Citadel for thirty years, and obtained twenty-four metal maester's chains."

This outspoken old man was very tall, slightly hunched, with many wrinkles around his protruding blue eyes. He was already a true old man, but the gray hair on his head was thick, with only a few white strands, and there was a very warm smile on his lips, making him look like a grandfather admired by little girls.

"Twenty-four metal maester's chains?" Joffrey laughed, "You have as many metal pieces as Grand Maester Pycelle, but I don't see you wearing a maester's chain around your neck!"

"Dignified Your Majesty, my maester's chain was taken away by the Citadel. The Citadel expelled me ten years ago because of my tireless research into medicine and mysticism, and constantly obtaining some amazing results, but for well-known reasons, mysticism is looked down upon by the maesters in the Citadel, and some mysticism is completely forbidden from being researched," the old man smiled. He was amiable and made people feel kind at first sight.

Several maesters waiting on the side had a strange look in their eyes. They stared at the old man, but there was obvious fear on their faces. This was seen by Joffrey and Cersei.

"Expelled?" Joffrey's eyes lit up. He liked talented but disobedient people. "Why?"

"I used the bodies of some lowly hill people to study the most advanced medical technology. For example, I cut off the hands of the commoners, and then tried to reattach them," Qyburn smiled.

"Did you succeed?" Joffrey was overjoyed.

"No, Your Majesty, my research was stopped, and then I was expelled from the Citadel. I lost the environment to study these exquisite medical techniques and the necessary source of livelihood. Sometimes I even have trouble eating. Fortunately, my medical skills are first-rate, and I can still survive by seeing patients."

A maester stood up: "Your Majesty, we remember, this person is called Qyburn, the most notorious maester in the Citadel. He cruelly used living people to study bizarre medicine. He is a guy without any honor or morals. He is as poisonous as a snake and as cruel as a wolf. Please, Your Majesty, drive him out."

"Studying medicine with living people? I'm very interested," Joffrey smiled, "Maester Qyburn, are you willing to come to the palace to serve as a maester? I can provide you with everything you need to do research. There are quite a few death row prisoners in the black cells."

"Very willing, Your Majesty, Qyburn is very grateful," Qyburn's smile was like that of a respected old man.

Several court maesters were incredulous and stunned. They looked at each other, their eyes full of horror.

Queen Mother Cersei saw the shocked expressions of the courtiers and maesters, and she said, "Maester Qyburn, how did you get into the Red Keep, and who brought you here?"

"Your Majesty, I currently serve in the Brave Companions, and the Brave Companions were hired by Earl Gregor and became members loyal to the royal family and the Lannister family. Ser Gregor brought me into the palace. I provide medical services to the Clegane soldiers."

Several maesters wanted to speak again, but when they heard that the Mountain had brought Qyburn into the palace, they exchanged glances and chose to remain silent.

Cersei felt relieved. It turned out that it was the Mountain who brought him in, so she was not afraid of the courtiers' strange gazes. These courtiers were afraid of the Mountain, and they did not dare to stand up and object even if they had objections.

The few maesters left by Pycelle were noble in character, but they were unwilling to clean up Pycelle, who was covered in feces and urine.

Cersei said, "Qyburn, you said you can examine Grand Maester Pycelle's injuries?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will wipe the Grand Maester's body clean, clean his bedroom, and if the murderer has left any clues, I don't think I will miss them."

"Okay, go do your work, I'm waiting for your report," Joffrey shouted.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Qyburn's smile was always on the corner of his mouth, giving a very kind and beautiful impression.

The Mountain stood behind the Queen Mother and the King. His eyes met Qyburn's eyes, and both of them understood each other. The Mountain guaranteed that Qyburn could enter the palace to do his research. The Mountain fulfilled his promise, provided that Qyburn joined the Mountain's 'Clegane Team' and swore allegiance to the Mountain.

Illyrio's million golden dragons were a real super fortune, which allowed the Mountain to easily accomplish many things that could be accomplished with money: such as hiring the infamous Brave Companions in King's Landing, and then righteously proposing Qyburn, the 'snake-hearted and knowledgeable' grand maester.

In the Brave Companions, Qyburn's real knowledge could not be used even a tenth. He was also very talented in mysticism and mechanics.

The research that Qyburn wanted to do no longer required spending money to buy children from poor families and abduct street urchins. Those vicious death row prisoners were the best materials. Evil people need evil people to grind.

Qyburn's bloody research would soon win the favor of King Joffrey and Queen Mother Cersei. He would stand out among the court maesters. The knowledge of other maesters was simply not his opponent. Although the power to select the grand maester of the palace was in the Citadel of Oldtown, and the Citadel would definitely not allow Qyburn to become the grand maester of the palace, both Joffrey I and Queen Mother Cersei were different talents. They would properly arrange Qyburn, who was indeed very capable.

Qyburn had just walked to the door of the Grand Maester's bedroom when a loud noise came from the bedroom:

Bang!

The people in the living room all changed their expressions.

The Mountain immediately rushed over in two or three steps, his giant sword clanging out of its sheath.

Qyburn was already frightened and pale, and was quickly turning back to avoid it.

"Don't panic, go and see with me," the Mountain said.

"Yes, Lord Earl."

The Mountain rushed to the bedroom door with a bang, only to see a large hole in the fireplace in the bedroom, and a person was crawling out of the hole, covered in dirt and mud on his face.

The two men looked at each other, the Mountain expressionless, but the man was stunned.

The person crawling out of the fireplace was the Mountain's younger brother—Sandor Clegane.

*

Morning, Great Hall.

King Joffrey and Queen Mother Cersei held court, and the petitions of the people were canceled again.

The Mountain and a group of courtiers were all in the hall.

The Hound was covered in mud and dust, and the red cloak warriors behind him were also very embarrassed.

"There is also a passage leading directly to Maegor's Holdfast?" Queen Mother Cersei asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. There is a passage leading directly to Your Majesty's reception room. Behind the wall of the reception room, there is a space that can accommodate one person standing."

"Open up that wall and seal off that space," Queen Mother Cersei said angrily.

She now knew that Varys might be standing just a wall away, listening to her private conversations with anyone in the living room. She thought of her private conversations with Pycelle, and suddenly felt horrified. She and Lancel sometimes had great battles on the floor of the living room, and the happiness made her forget herself, but at the same time, Varys was standing behind the wall, watching her coldly.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Are there any other passages?"

"The underground maze passages are very complex, extending in all directions, some leading to the Tower of the Hand, the Maidenvault, the Great Sept, and the White Sword Tower. In addition, there are many tunnels that do not know where they lead, some are impassable, and some are blocked by mudslides."

"That means all the buildings may have secret passages that can be entered," Cersei gasped.

"I think so," the Hound said.

"Seal off all the fireplaces in the palace," Cersei said, her tone suddenly very low. She understood that she could not demolish all the buildings and rebuild a palace. Demolishing is easy, but rebuilding such a large palace would take several years to complete.

*

Qyburn entered the throne hall, holding a small tray in his hand. On the tray were two identical crossbow bolts.

"Your Majesty, these two crossbow bolts came from the same batch and were shot from the same crossbow. Therefore, it can be determined that Grand Maester Pycelle was killed by Varys. I have wiped and repaired the bodies of the Grand Maester and another mysterious man. Your Majesty and the King can move to see them. Their wounds are exactly the same and there is no difference."

Queen Mother Cersei felt a blockage in her heart, and she waved her hand: "Take the crossbow bolts down and cremate the bodies."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Qyburn, can you feed ravens?"

"I am proficient in raven lore, Your Majesty."

"Very good, before the Citadel of Oldtown sends a grand maester to serve as grand maester, you will be responsible for the palace's raven letters."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A series of blows made Cersei strongly miss Jaime. Although Lancel worked hard every night to satisfy her, she knew that Jaime was irreplaceable. Every night, when Lancel came off her body, Cersei felt even more empty and lonely. Because of Jaime, Cersei thought of Jaime's evaluation of the Mountain at the Ruby Ford: The Mountain is no longer violent and reckless, he has become calm and rational, which is a bit scary.

"Mountain, there is a lack of ministers in the small council, what suggestions do you have?" Queen Mother Cersei asked.

"Your Majesty, the first thing we have to do is to select a loyal commander of the City Watch, and then immediately recruit soldiers in the Crownlands. A mere two thousand-man City Watch cannot stop Renly's and Stannis's armies."