Before Tyrion could speak, Bronn, who was nearby, couldn't help but laugh, "What idiot came up with that charge? Who would believe such a charge?"
Podrick quickly said, "Many people believe it, and there's evidence.
His Majesty Joffrey has taken on this case and stated that he will try you after his wedding."
"Evidence? What evidence?" Tyrion asked, looking bewildered.
Podrick explained, "It's the letter you wrote to Stannis before the war began; that letter is the evidence."
Tyrion looked as if he couldn't comprehend, saying, "But that letter was a letter of persuasion! It urged Stannis to abandon the siege, and many people knew the contents of that letter.
How did it become evidence?"
Podrick said, "Ser Craven, who accused you, claims that the letter contained many hidden codes, implying that you wanted to defect to Stannis, but your terms were too excessive, and Stannis didn't agree."
"Ser Craven? Is that the squint-eyed Craven whose house I confiscated?" Tyrion said, utterly enraged, "How can anyone believe that fellow's words?
He's the one who most wanted to defect to Stannis; his wife is Stannis's wife's cousin, and when Stannis was Master of Ships, he was always Stannis's attendant.
How could anyone possibly believe his words?"
Bronn reminded him, "But His Majesty Joffrey believed it."
Tyrion froze.
After a long while, he asked, "Where's my father? Did Duke Tywin allow such a false accusation?"
Podrick recounted, "His Grace the Duke was inspecting the city at the time and was not in the Red Keep.
His Majesty Joffrey was in the Throne Room receiving the common people of King's Landing, presiding over various public judgments and notarizations for them.
Ser Craven made his accusation suddenly, and at that time, the common people in the Throne Room also shouted in unison for a trial.
His Majesty Joffrey immediately announced that he would try you for treason, and even Lord Garlan's intervention had no effect."
Upon hearing this, Tyrion slumped into a chair, completely stunned by the sudden news.
Bronn, however, said indifferently, "You offended that boy too much back then, slapping him in front of so many people repeatedly.
It's no wonder he hates you.
This time, he just seized the opportunity, or perhaps it wasn't even him seizing the opportunity, but him deliberately arranging it, otherwise how would that'ser' just happen to make his move when Duke Tywin wasn't present.
No matter how you look at it, that boy probably wants to kill you.
You should seriously consider my previous suggestion; if you continue to stay here, you might really be killed.
No matter how incompetent that boy is, he is still the King, and it will be very difficult for you to win against him."
Tyrion said nothing at this moment, just sat there in a daze.
When the related news spread to other parts of the Seven Kingdoms, both those who had a mortal enmity with Lannister and those who had good relations with the Westerlands found the matter utterly absurd.
Although most people, due to prejudice and other reasons, believed that the greatest credit for defending the city should go to Adam Marbrand, the then commander of the Gold Cloaks, they could not deny Tyrion's contribution.
Especially in the final battle, Tyrion commanded the last defensive forces in the Red Keep, stubbornly dragging out the fighting until Garlan Tyrell led his cavalry legion to their rescue.
Even old generals like Blackfish Brynden and Bronze Yohn Royce would not dare to say they could have done better than Tyrion.
By all accounts, Tyrion was absolutely a great hero in the defense of King's Landing, and Tyrion himself was from Lannister.
When Stannis began attacking King's Landing, the King's Landing side still held the upper hand, having deprived Stannis of many ships and siege engines.
It seemed impossible for him to surrender to Stannis at that time.
Therefore, anyone who heard this news was absolutely certain that Tyrion was definitely being framed, but they did not intend to speak out on his behalf.
Because besides disliking the dwarf, more importantly, this was an internal struggle within Lannister, and they preferred to be bystanders, watching the show, rather than getting involved and making trouble for themselves.
What was puzzling was that Tywin Lannister did not prevent this absurd trial against Tyrion.
Instead, he publicly declared that if Tyrion was found guilty, he should take the black and join the Nights Watch at the Wall.
Clearly, when Jaime shed his white cloak and agreed to inherit Casterly Rock, Tyrion, as an heir, became superfluous, even a thorn in the side.
Duke Tywin was already eager to remove this thorn that had been in his heart for many years.
Besides the internal struggle within Lannister, what was most interesting was that Tywin had invited House Martell of Dorne to King's Landing to join the Small Council.
Even an ordinary commoner in the Seven Kingdoms knew well the hatred House Martell harbored for Lannister of the Westerlands.
If it hadn't been for Lynd's Summerhall blocking the northern route and restraining House Martell this time, it's possible House Martell would have already participated in this war.
However, now Tywin seemed to be inviting trouble by extending an invitation to House Martell, and House Martell accepted the invitation, sending none other than Prince Oberyn Martell (The Red Viper), who had expressed his deep-seated hatred for Lannister countless times.
Many people could sense that King's Landing was likely to stir up trouble again.
Clever people quickly saw why Tywin was acting so unusually.
For Tywin, House Martell's hatred was a problem, but the greater problem now was House Tyrell's strong presence in King's Landing.
Lannister could only control the Red Keep at this moment, and once outside the Red Keep and into the city of King's Landing, it was House Tyrell's controlled territory.
The former City Watch, the Gold Cloaks, had become the Red Keep guards, and all city defenses were now managed by the Westerlands army.
All city gates had been replaced with men from the Westerlands, and Garlan Tyrell was the mastermind controlling all of this.
Moreover, what was even more incredible was that Joffrey, who should have been closer to Tywin, was instead closer to Garlan.
Even when meetings were held in the Throne Room, he allowed Garlan to stand at the foot of his throne, on par with Duke Tywin, completely forgetting that Garlan was the one who had deprived his mother of her freedom.
Therefore, many speculated that Tywin summoned House Martell to King's Landing precisely to resist the powerful House Tyrell, because in these past years, the Westerlands and Dorne frequently clashed, and their relationship seemed very poor.
Consequently, House Tyrell was extremely displeased with Tywin inviting House Martell, publicly stating on more than one occasion that Tywin's action was akin to 'leading a wolf into the house'.
However, only Lynd knew very well that the relationship between House Tyrell and House Martell was not as bad as it appeared on the surface.
Their secret relationship was quite good, and all conflicts were merely for show.
Now that Tywin had summoned House Martell to King's Landing, it would only strengthen House Tyrell's power, so calling it 'leading a wolf into the house' was not an exaggeration at all.
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