The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 462: Humiliation (5,000 words, please subscribe)

The King's Hall, the Meeting Chamber of the Small Council.

Jenny arrived with the blood witch Dorea Quentina, her father Earl Gavin Westerling, the bull Zerigilda (abbreviated as Glee), Brienne Tarth, and several guards. The Royal Guard Osmund Kettleblack opened the door for Jenny.

Jenny entered the conference hall, and Dorea, Gavin, Zerigilda, Brienne, and others stood outside the door with their guards, waiting.

At the gate of the Iron Throne, there were also two elite Clegane centurion teams, with several fierce generals mixed among them.

*

At the gate of the Small Council Meeting Chamber were two Royal Guards: Osmund Kettleblack and Barristan Swann.

The entire Royal Guard currently has only four members: the captain, the Knight of Flowers, Osmund, Barristan, and Arys Oakheart.

The original Royal Guard, the Hound, chose to side with the Clegane family during the battle for the city by the Mountain. After the war, he left the palace and is currently fleeing north after ambushing and killing Tywin and his party with the Brotherhood Without Banners.

The original Royal Guard, Meryn Trant, was thrown into the Blackwater Rush by the Mountain during the battle for the city.

Royal Guard Arys Oakheart led a hundred gold cloaks on a ship to Dorne to escort Princess Myrcella.

Currently, King's Landing has only three Royal Guards: the Knight of Flowers, Osmund, and Barristan.

*

The door to the Small Council Meeting Chamber closed. Sitting in the hall were Prime Minister Tyrion Lannister, Master of Whisperers Kevan, Master of Coin Littlefinger, Grand Maester Qyburn, Master of Laws Mace, Royal Guard Captain Loras, and Master of Ships Wagstaff.

Prince Oberyn Martell, with his elegant figure, broad shoulders, and handsome face, was also present, although he has not yet been granted a position on the Small Council.

Jenny sat in the position originally belonging to the Mountain.

Oberyn stared at Jenny, his gaze unscrupulous and extremely rude.

Master of Ships Wagstaff was about to explode, but was stopped by a look from Jenny.

Oberyn turned his gaze to the indignant Wagstaff, revealing a playful smile with obvious contempt.

The Prime Minister said, "Lady Jenny, the city has been unsafe recently, with frequent brawls, all unpleasant incidents between General Clegane and the Dornish knights. I hereby order that King's Landing will no longer tolerate such incidents, not a single one."

"As you command, Prime Minister," Jenny's cooperation was perfect.

Oberyn's gaze fixed on Jenny's face again, lewd and deliberately humiliating. Jenny did not look at him, but looked at the Prime Minister, listening to his grand pronouncements.

"Yesterday, Queen Mother Cersei and Lady Olenna jointly consulted the court scholars to calculate the date, and it has been determined that a grand wedding will be held for the King and Miss Margaery Tyrell on the first day of the new year next year. Counting the time, there are less than two months left. During this period, King's Landing must maintain absolute safety, peace, friendship, and festivity."

"As you command, Prime Minister," Jenny was the first to state her position again.

Jenny was the only one at the meeting table to express support for the Prime Minister. The rest were listening, but Jenny did not feel embarrassed at all.

The Imp, who had been prepared for a 'battle of words,' never expected Jenny to cooperate with his work so well. He was very worried that Oberyn and Jenny would tear each other apart. Currently, both the Martell and Clegane families in King's Landing must not be lost.

If the Martells are lost, the King will lose Dorne, and Princess Myrcella will become a hostage of Dorne; if the Cleganes are lost, the Mountain outside the city is a huge hidden danger.

Littlefinger couldn't help but smile: Lady Jenny has already won the fight. The Prime Minister stood up to reconcile the two sides, and she was not the one who suffered. Agreeing readily was a wise move.

The Imp continued, "Lady Jenny, as the King's wedding approaches, the number of people entering King's Landing will increase day by day. In order to reduce unnecessary friction, quarrels, brawls, gambling, homicides, and other matters, it is not appropriate for King's Landing to house too many troops. Starting tomorrow, two thousand Clegane soldiers will be withdrawn from King's Landing every day, and all of them will be withdrawn within five days."

This was a very powerful and meaningful move. Only by stationing the Clegane army in King's Landing can they deter the enemy. The Mountain and Lady Jenny will definitely attend the King's wedding. Once there are no troops of their own in the city, it contains dangerous factors.

But if she doesn't agree, she will be disobeying the Prime Minister's order.

Half of the Tyrell family's army has already been withdrawn, and two thousand people are still being withdrawn every day.

The Imp has a small body, but a big head. He is a clever man.

Littlefinger smiled and watched how Lady Jenny would answer.

Kevan, Oberyn, and Littlefinger stared at Lady Jenny. The three knew that this was a very important step in killing the Mountain: withdrawing the Clegane army.

Mace Tyrell and Loras Tyrell also looked at Jenny, watching how she would respond.

Master of Ships Wagstaff from Crackclaw Point also looked at Jenny. Although he was not proficient in intrigue, he knew that this was forcing the Clegane army to leave King's Landing, and the atmosphere was dangerous. If Lord Mountain returns, he will become an isolated army with weakened power.

Jenny remained calm and composed as usual: "As you command, Prime Minister."

Jenny's straightforwardness made the Imp a little unbelievable. She didn't even have any excuses and agreed in one breath, completely obeying the Prime Minister.

Oberyn leaned back. The Imp had always told him not to underestimate Lady Jenny. Now it seems that this lady is not as powerful as the Imp boasted. The Imp asked her to withdraw her troops, and she carelessly withdrew her troops without even haggling.

Oberyn had come here prepared to argue, but as a result, Jenny obeyed whatever the Prime Minister said. This fight simply couldn't be started.

His gaze never stopped lewdly and rudely staring at the lady, but the other party still had no reaction and didn't even dare to look at him.

Oberyn's mood began to become pleasant!

Littlefinger was surprised. He knew that as long as the Clegane army withdrew from King's Landing, the safety of the Mountain and Lady Jenny would not be guaranteed. But Jenny agreed without any reason.

Although the Tyrell family was also withdrawing troops, before withdrawing, the Queen of Thorns arranged for a thousand knights and two thousand soldiers to protect Maidenvault (data is true and reliable).

Littlefinger looked at Qyburn. Qyburn's flattering smile had never changed. Although he was the Grand Maester, he showed humility, approachability, and smiled and nodded to everyone, loving and kind.

The Imp and Oberyn inadvertently exchanged glances. Both were very satisfied with the current meeting results. Oberyn realized that the Imp was a capable person. The Imp's advice to him was correct.

Shoot the horse first, kill the king first.

The Imp continued, "Lady Jenny, I am very grateful for your cooperation with my government affairs." He bowed slightly, and Jenny returned the salute.

"Lady Jenny, regarding the brawls between the Clegane soldiers and the Dornishmen, Master of Laws Duke Mace has investigated and found that the multiple brawls were all caused by provocations by the Clegane soldiers, but the Dornish knights remained restrained and never fought back. The soldiers under your command killed seven Dornish soldiers and two knights, and injured and maimed dozens of lords, knights, and soldiers. Lady, Prince Oberyn is here, what do you think should be done about this matter."

Jenny looked at Mace.

She never looked at Oberyn from beginning to end.

The Imp also looked at Mace, and Oberyn also shifted his gaze from staring at Jenny to staring at Mace.

Mace did not investigate the brawls between the two sides. Before Jenny ordered her subordinates to attack, she notified the Tyrell family through some information channel. Mace was well aware of the city-wide beating of the Dornishmen. The Imp used Mace's identity as Master of Laws to deliberately set Mace up in the meeting hall. Mace could see what the intention was, even if he was foolish.

Mace did not expose the Imp's little trick. The Tyrell family and the Clegane family were already underground allies. On the surface, allies must give others the impression of disharmony to be successful.

Mace decided to accept this 'frame-up'.

"Lady, what the Prime Minister said is true. In this incident between the Dornishmen and the Clegane army, most of the fault lies with the Clegane army."

Jenny did not speak.

Admitting such a thing would be solid evidence of guilt. Not speaking, neither denying nor admitting, was the most brilliant answer.

If Jenny didn't express her opinion and didn't speak, someone would have to continue speaking, otherwise everyone would fall asleep in the silent meeting hall.

The Imp said, "Lady Jenny, I suggest that you take out a sum of money to compensate the victims who were killed and injured. Let's put this matter to rest for now, how about that?"

Jenny still did not speak, neither saying yes nor saying no.

The meeting room fell silent again.

"Lady, this is the greatest tolerance of us Dornishmen, compensating with money, and we will not pursue legal responsibility," Oberyn said, staring at Jenny.

Jenny acted as if Oberyn simply did not exist. This was the highest contempt for Oberyn.

Oberyn had been staring at Jenny disrespectfully ever since Lady Jenny entered. Now he took the initiative to talk to Jenny. He seemed to like inviting humiliation.

Jenny looked left and right. Grand Maester Qyburn was like a kind and amiable old grandfather next door: "Lady, would you like to drink some water?"

"Yes!" Jenny said.

"I'll pour you some wine, a little cider, how about that?"

"Thank you, Grand Maester."

"You're welcome, it is my honor to serve you."

Qyburn got up to pour wine for Jenny.

Since the Imp became Prime Minister again, a corner of the Small Council Meeting Chamber has been filled with Riverlands cider, which is mainly sweet.

Qyburn poured a glass of wine for Jenny and brought it to Jenny's table. Jenny thanked him.

Oberyn ran into a brick wall, so he chose to shut up.

The Imp said, "Lady, how about this, fifty gold dragons for each dead soldier, one hundred gold dragons for each knight, ten gold dragons for the injured, and twenty gold dragons for the disabled. Lord Mace, what do you think?"

"Very reasonable!" Mace Tyrell cooperated again.

*

Everyone looked at Jenny again.

Everyone knew that Jenny was not someone who only knew how to say 'As you command, Prime Minister'. She immediately agreed to things she was sure she wanted to agree to, but she did not express her opinion on issues she felt were dangerous.

Oberyn smiled even more happily!

He was in a wonderful mood to appreciate a beautiful and peerless person who was about to die. This person was still pretending to bargain, haha!

"I can accept the compensation plan of the Prime Minister and the Master of Laws, but the Clegane army is already in arrears with military pay and can only issue IOUs," Jenny said.

Issue IOUs?!

Littlefinger 'ha' laughed, and then naturally stopped, not knowing who the narrow smile was mocking!

The Imp's face showed embarrassment.

"It's okay not to issue IOUs. There are two options for exchanging coins. The first option is to compensate fifty gold dragons for each dead soldier, one hundred gold dragons for each knight, ten gold dragons for the injured, and twenty gold dragons for the disabled, as suggested by the Prime Minister. I can only temporarily borrow this money from the national treasury. I can write the IOU now. As long as the Prime Minister signs and stamps it, I will find the Master of Coin to get the money."

Kevan was expressionless, and Lord Mace laughed loudly.

In the end, this money was actually to be paid by the national treasury, that is, the royal family.

The smile on Littlefinger's face suddenly froze. He couldn't laugh anymore: "Lady, the national treasury has been empty since the late King Robert. Only with Lord Mace's generosity is it now barely able to maintain expenses. There is really no extra money."

Jenny looked at the Imp.

The Imp forced himself to chuckle: "Lady, what is the second option?"

"I'll squeeze a gold dragon out of the Clegane army's salary and give it to the Prime Minister," Jenny said, "or a silver stag."

The audience was silent!

This was... deliberately humiliating the Dornish!

Ever since Jenny entered the door, Oberyn had been disrespectful to Jenny. The wanton and lewd gaze, the rudeness of staring at people, had finally been met with Jenny's sharp counterattack.

Don't mess with Jenny!

"The money is very little; no one lacks a gold dragon or a silver stag, but this is an attitude of reconciliation and sincerity," Janny said. "Grand Maester, could I trouble you to write a note for borrowing from the royal treasury?"

"It's a great honor to be of service to you, Madam."

"Then please write it now, Grand Maester. It seems that giving a gold dragon or a silver stag won't satisfy the Hand of the King. I'll have to borrow from the royal treasury."

"Yes, Madam," Grand Maester Qyburn said.

He was only responsible for writing the IOU. As for whether the Hand of the King would approve it or the Minister of Finance would release the money, that was none of his business.

"I accept, Lord Oberyn!" Oberyn smiled elegantly, deciding not to argue with a woman about to die tragically, so as not to unnecessarily intensify the conflict with this unpredictable woman, in case she refused to withdraw her troops… it would make it difficult to deal with the Mountain…

Remembering that the Mountain and the beautiful lady before him would soon die tragically, this little embarrassment transformed into a happy smile on Oberyn's face.

Tyrion was stunned, and so were the other ministers who were ready to watch the show.

Oberyn was also a character who didn't play by the rules.

The Red Viper had a strange personality, as his reputation suggested!

But the matter was resolved satisfactorily, and everyone was happy!

*

Janny was sincere, dignified, and her eyes were earnest: "Lord Hand, could you do me a small favor?"

"Please speak, Madam," Tyrion sensed something was wrong.

"I didn't bring any money. Could I borrow a gold dragon from you, Lord Hand? If not, a silver stag would also do. I promise to pay double the interest when I have money in the future. I swear in the name of the Seven Gods that I will never fail to repay!" Janny said, looking at Tyrion.

Tyrion shrugged his shoulders, his expression… awkward: "As you wish, Madam." He took out a gold dragon and handed it to Janny beside him.

Janny took it: "Thank you, Lord Hand." She handed the gold dragon back to Tyrion, "Lord Hand, this is our Clegane's sincerity in compensating the Dornish soldiers who died or were injured. Please, everyone, bear witness. Lord Hand, please accept it."

Littlefinger 'ha' laughed out loud, which was very jarring.

This was a blatant attack that trampled on people's dignity and humiliated their intelligence.

Janny was very warlike, never forgiving when she was right, and never forgiving when she was wrong.

Lord Mace also laughed, laughing loudly.

Loras Tyrell smiled slightly.

Kevan remained expressionless.

Varys grinned.

Grand Maester Qyburn smiled kindly.

Janny also smiled, smiling faintly.

*

Tyrion glanced at Oberyn, and he handed the gold dragon to Oberyn hesitantly. The elegant smile on Oberyn's face disappeared, and his face was cold. He didn't take the gold dragon, but suddenly stood up, pushed away the stool, and strode towards the door of the hall…

The laughter of the important ministers chased after him, like an invisible whip…

Oberyn forcefully pulled open the door…

Janny said lightly: "Lord Hand, esteemed ministers, I recently heard a joke. How many… people does it take to shoe a horse? No more, no less, exactly nine. One person works, and eight people carry the horse."

The ministers laughed loudly!

*

ps: More to come.