King's Landing at night, the Stinky Fish Tavern near the Blackwater Docks.
"It's true, my grandfather saw a mermaid."
The speaker was a bald middle-aged man, his eyes hazy with drink, his face flushed.
The drunkard's voice was loud, and as his words fell, laughter suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Hahaha, listen to this drunkard talking nonsense!"
"Haha, only Others would believe a drunkard's nonsense!"
"Everyone calls him Drunk Jack; I heard his family even owned a seagoing ship."
"Forget it, where did you hear that? Don't believe any of the nonsense you hear here."
"Haha, not necessarily, sometimes even a drunkard tells the truth!"
… … … … … …
A scrawny man with a sharp, thin face suddenly exclaimed loudly, "I believe him!"
The crowd was first stunned, then burst into another round of laughter.
"Haha, isn't that Clever Dick?"
"Hahaha, clever?"
… … … … … …
"Shush, did he get rich? Dick used to wear clothes like rags, but look at him now…"
Several people simultaneously tilted their heads to examine him.
"Maybe his sister met a generous man."
"You mean?"
The speaker lowered his voice and said, "I heard his sister is a prostitute at the Shataya Brothel."
The few people sitting around the table couldn't help but gasp.
"That's the best brothel in King's Landing, is it because?"
"Shush, come closer… Their siblings are of noble birth…"
"Noble?!"
"Don't talk nonsense, do you want your head to be hung on the city gate?!"
"What I said is true, Clever Dick himself said it. He was very drunk that time, and I was at the table next to him!"
The crowd gasped in surprise.
"He doesn't look like a noble lord at all?"
"Shush, everyone quiet down!"
"Alas, I was also very drunk at the time, and heard it vaguely. I only remember something about a Golden Rose from the Crab Claw Peninsula."
"Tsk, it wouldn't be another bastard of a noble lord, would it?"
… … … … … …
Outside the Stinky Fish Tavern, a discreetly dressed Jaime Lannister tossed a silver stag to a shadowy figure.
The shadowy figure skillfully caught the silver stag: "Noble stranger, I am at your command at any time."
Jaime Lannister frowned and said nothing, merely waving his hand before striding away.
The stench in the area was overwhelming; Jaime's patience had reached its limit.
Jaime was here to investigate the rumor-mongering in the Queen's Quarter.
After returning to King's Landing, to keep it from Cersei, Jaime did not use the Lannister intelligence network in King's Landing, choosing to investigate secretly on his own.
Although he was alone, Jaime, through his ability to spend money, collected a lot of useful intelligence during his investigation.
As the investigation deepened, many doubts arose in Jaime's mind.
Most of the intelligence sources pointed to the Riverlands.
Was the mastermind the Tully Family of the Riverlands?
Jaime shook his head, instinctively feeling something was wrong.
Jaime knew he disliked and was not good at handling these matters; Greene came to his mind.
Jaime knew Tyrion was smart and trusted him more, but he felt Greene had a keener sense for these things.
Jaime hesitated, he missed Greene a little.
… … … …
… … … …
Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast.
On the bed, Queen Cersei, in a light sleep, met an unexpected person in her dream.
The hazy, warm yellow dreamscape caused Queen Cersei to move her fingers in a semi-awake state.
After a soft moan, her chest Rose and fell.
After a long while, Queen Cersei's eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her beautiful eyes, her emerald green eyes seemingly covered with a layer of moisture.
Queen Cersei left the bed and put on a long robe.
Taking a sip that relieved her thirst, Queen Cersei held the wine glass and walked to the window.
Ever since returning from the Royal Forest Hunting, Queen Cersei had noticed Jaime frequently leaving the Red Keep at night.
Hmph, men.
Looking at the dark night sky, Queen Cersei slightly raised her chin.
… … … …
… … … …
At the confluence of Rose Avenue and the Coastal Avenue, Highgarden Castle, built of white marble, sits atop a hill, overlooking the azure Mander River below.
Highgarden Castle has three concentric circular walls, also built of white stone.
For several miles around Highgarden, Golden Roses bloomed everywhere.
Greene, accompanied by Mondon, Angai, and Matier, entered Highgarden Castle, led by a servant.
Inside the castle was like a green paradise, with Golden Roses blooming everywhere, and gardens, ponds, and artificial waterfalls adorning the entire castle.
The castle was filled with stone carvings, fountains, and marble colonnades; grapevines and Roses decorated the walls and sculptures, and the ancient Highgarden Castle was covered with vines.
Greene sighed inwardly, Highgarden truly deserved its reputation as the most beautiful castle in Westeros.
… … … … … …
Duke Mace's eldest son and heir, Velas Tyrell, received the long-travelled Greene Kleber.
Velas Tyrell, seated in a wheelchair, smiled and spoke in a very gentle tone: "Welcome, Baron Greene Kleber."
Velas Tyrell gave the impression of being well-educated, gentle, and courteous.
But what Greene saw in Velas Tyrell was that he used his humility and politeness to build an invisible wall around himself, a wall named isolation.
… … … … … …
Greene bowed with his hand over his chest: "Good day, Lord Velas Tyrell, it is an honor to meet you."
Greene chatted with Velas Tyrell for a few moments and obtained the information he wanted.
Duke Mace, whom Greene had been longing to meet, happened to be very busy with various matters and would not have time to receive Greene in the short term.
Greene raised an eyebrow; what kind of trick was this?
I need to take care of my family and give me a few days to adjust, it will be ready soon!
My goal is three chapters a day, wait for me!