Red Keep, Maester's Tower.
Maester Pycelle, with a face full of smiles, respectfully said, "Lord Green, the Old Scholar awaits your command."
Green smiled and said, "Grand Maester Pycelle, you must have been very busy these past few days."
After hearing Green's words, Pycelle looked worried: "There are many seriously injured, and I can only do my best… Alas, may the Gods bless them."
Green's eyebrow twitched, and he said, "Do you mean there might still be deaths?"
Pycelle sighed and said, "Mainly, the injuries are too severe. No one can guarantee that they will all wake up… If they wake up, that's good… If they don't wake up… they might never wake up. We can only pray for the Gods' mercy."
After speaking, Pycelle shook his head regretfully.
Green's brown eyes moved, staring at Pycelle for a moment, then he spoke, "The Grand Maester is merciful, and it seems that Tyrion Lannister is among the injured who may never wake up."
As Green's words fell, Pycelle's body stiffened involuntarily.
A hesitant look appeared on Pycelle's face, and he tentatively asked, "Lord Green, do you mean…"
What an old fox… Green walked a few steps, approached Pycelle, and grabbed his shoulder.
After stumbling a few steps, Pycelle was pressed into a chair by Green.
"Maester Pycelle, you are not being honest enough."
Saying that, Green pointed to the quill and parchment, then continued, "It's only been a few days, and you've already done something bad again? Come…"
Green picked up a blank piece of parchment and placed it in front of Pycelle, saying, "Write it all down. If there's any concealment or dishonesty… you know the consequences, Grand Maester Pycelle."
"Lord Green, I…"
Pycelle looked at Green, who was looking down at him, and couldn't continue speaking. His hand, covered in age spots, trembled as he picked up the quill.
After writing a few lines, Pycelle suddenly started weeping, sobbing, "Lord Green, I cannot betray Queen Cersei!"
Green drew the dagger that Pycelle was familiar with, and he immediately quieted down.
"Maester Pycelle, are you trying to push the blame onto Queen Cersei?"
Pycelle explained in a panic, "But, but I'm telling the truth! To help the Little Devil recover quickly and get more sleep, preferably to sleep forever, that's how she hinted to me, truly!"
Green pulled a chair to the opposite side of the table and sat down.
"Maester Pycelle, a hint is not a direct order. The honorable Queen Cersei cannot have any blemish on her."
Pycelle's face was like that of a panicked old man, but in his heart… Wasn't Count Green Duke Stark's man?!
Pycelle was very confused. Had Count Green actually always been Queen Cersei's man? Or was he betting on both sides?
Or, was there another, deeper hidden big shot behind him?
Who could it be? Could it be Targaryen?
...…
Pycelle cautiously asked, "Then how should I write it?"
"Just write the facts. Weren't you trying to secretly kill Tyrion Lannister?"
"I was forced by… I am a physician. If I wasn't forced by others, I would have no reason to do harm… Ah…"
A cold glint flashed, and half of Maester Pycelle's white beard, which reached his chest, was cut off by Green's dagger.
"Don't test my patience…"
As he spoke, Green frowned. He smelled urine.
"Maester Pycelle, do you know how to write it now?"
Maester Pycelle felt despair in his heart. He could feel that the young man in front of him had murderous intent towards him.
I am the Master of Coin, after all. Doesn't this young count worry about… He remembered the incriminating evidence he was forced to surrender that night, and Lord of the Hand… Pycelle despairingly realized that he truly wasn't afraid to kill him.
As long as I live, one day… Pycelle choked out, "Lord Green, from now on I will be your loyal servant. Please forgive my ignorance, I will write it now!"
Pycelle wrote, constantly wiping away tears, looking very pathetic.
Green touched the hilt of his sword. Maester Pycelle trembled, and his pathetic demeanor immediately vanished.
...…
"Lord Green, I'm done writing."
"Rewrite it. Don't forget you have no enmity with Tyrion."
...…
"Lord Green, I'm done writing."
"Rewrite it. How dare you slander Ser Jaime?"
...…
"..., rewrite."
"..., rewrite."
"..., rewrite."
...…
"Wuwuwu, Lord Green, please give some guidance to your poor servant."
Green's long fingers tapped the table, saying, "Maester Pycelle, you should know that Duke Tywin doesn't favor his Dwarf second son, right?"
...…
Green finally showed a hint of satisfaction, and Maester Pycelle also finally let out a breath. He felt that if he didn't write it well this time, he would be done for here. Fortunately, he finally saved his life.
Green collected the parchment written by Pycelle, saying, "Pycelle, thank you for your trouble. This is very good, and you have also gained another path."
Pycelle forced a smile and respectfully expressed his gratitude.
Green shook the rolled-up parchment in his hand, saying, "Don't worry, this is a secret between the two of us. The Prime Minister is not interested in such things."
Pycelle was slightly stunned. He hurriedly got up and knelt before Green, pleading, "Lord Green, I don't want to take the black, I don't want to go to The Wall, please, save me!"
Lord Green did not mind the strong smell of urine on Pycelle. He got up and personally helped Pycelle to his feet.
"You still have to remain loyal to Lannister after all. It's difficult for you to go against Queen Cersei's wishes."
After a pause, Green continued, "We are our own people. I will not send you to the bitterly cold The Wall. You can rest assured and keep your seat on the Small Council."
A light flashed in Pycelle's cloudy eyes. He shed old tears, "Thank you, Lord Green, Pycelle will always be at your command."
Green nodded slightly and said, "There's one more thing."
Pycelle, with his face lowered, moved his gaze and respectfully said, "Please command."
Green's lips curved slightly.
He placed his hand on Pycelle's shoulder and said, "Maester Pycelle, I thought we were already our own people, but your previous performance was very disappointing to me."
Green noticed Pycelle's body stiffen for a moment.
"It seems you also realized that not being honest with me was a mistake. Since you made a mistake…"
Pycelle's eyes showed fear, and he hurriedly said, "Lord Green, I… I… under your guidance… I will never dare to do so again next time, I promise, I swear to the Gods."
Green patted Pycelle: "Very good, I'll trust you this once."
Before Pycelle could breathe a sigh of relief, he continued, "This time, you can choose for yourself."
Pycelle's heart sank, and he stammered, "Lo… Lord, choose… choose what?"
Green looked out the window, paused, then withdrew his gaze and said, "Before sunrise tomorrow."
Green scrutinized the decrepit Pycelle and added, "Whether it's a finger or an ear, you can choose a body part yourself, and send it to me before sunrise tomorrow."
Pycelle said in horror, "Lord Green, I already…"
Green interrupted, "I can also help you choose."
Pycelle collapsed onto the stone slabs of the floor like mud.
Green looked down at Pycelle, whose face was ashen, and said coldly, "The prerequisite for being our own people is to be honest enough. Otherwise, how can we trust each other? Without trust, how can I confidently let you continue to sit on the Small Council?"
Pycelle suddenly looked up and said through gritted teeth, "I am the Master of Coin!"
Green did not mind Pycelle's retort. He just quietly watched Pycelle.
Pycelle quickly realized what he had just done, and another round of heartbreaking remorse and pleading followed.
Green patiently watched Pycelle's convincing performance until Pycelle could no longer shed tears, then he spoke, "Maester Pycelle, I will respect your choice."
Pycelle spoke somewhat unwillingly, "Lord Green, I know many secrets, I can tell you all of them, as long as you forgive me this once…"
With a swish, Green drew the longsword from his waist. The cold glint from the blade made Pycelle shriek.
"I'll choose for you. I choose…"
Lord Green's gaze shifted to Pycelle's neck: "Sit still, don't move. It will be over soon."
Pycelle urinated again.
"My Lord, my Lord, mistakes must be punished. I will tomorrow… no, I will right now…"
With a pained expression, Pycelle stretched out a finger and pleaded, "I'll cut off a finger right now! I swear I won't make the same mistake again. Please spare my life!"
After a moment of silence, Lord Green said with some disappointment, "Next time, you won't have a choice."
Pycelle seemed to weep with joy: "Absolutely no next time! I swear to the Gods!"
Lord Green patted the still trembling Pycelle: "Because there were too many injured, and you even hurt yourself while treating them… Maester Pycelle, you've truly toiled hard."
"Don't disappoint me."
Lord Green sheathed his sword, no longer paying attention to Pycelle, and walked away.
...
...
Tyrion suddenly found that he had no mouth; flat skin covered his teeth, with no gap whatsoever. He was terrified. How could he live without a mouth? So, he started running, running towards the city not far away.
He was horrified. Am I dead? No, I'm not dead. Although my mouth is gone, I'm still alive… No, no, I'm a lion, a lion!
When Tyrion awoke, it was already dark. His eyes were dazed, and the surrounding outlines blurred into view. Tyrion felt dizzy and feverish, extremely weak. Even the act of lifting his hand caused pain throughout his body, so he dared not move.
Beneath him was a soft feather bed, behind his head a goose-down pillow, and above him a velvet canopy… Where am I? Why am I here? Tyrion tried to recall.
A sword, I was stabbed by a sword, my face… Tyrion lost consciousness.
...
Tyrion arrived at a wonderful place, a cozy cottage nestled by the Sunset Sea. The Walls were a bit crooked and cracked, and the floor was packed earth, but it was very warm.
Tyrion didn't know why he was always smiling, and always forgot to add wood to the fireplace, letting the fire go out.
Every time the fire in the fireplace went out, the girl with the blurred face would tease him about it.
Her voice was clear: "My Tyrion, I thought you were omnipotent."
He awkwardly defended himself: "That's a servant's job."
The girl chuckled: "We don't have servants."
He grinned: "You have me! I am your servant."
The girl snorted: "You are a lazy servant! In Casterly Rock, how do you deal with lazy servants, Lord Tyrion?"
He chuckled: "Whoever is lazy gets a kiss."
The girl giggled: "No, they don't! They get beaten, I bet!"
He leaned closer to the girl: "No, we kiss them, like this."
As he spoke, he demonstrated: "First, kiss their fingertips, one by one, then their wrists, yes, then the inside of their elbows, then kiss their funny ears—our servants all have funny ears."
He was extremely pleased, deliberately putting on a serious face: "Don't laugh! Then, we kiss their cheeks, kiss their noses—there's a little mole there… hmm… like this, and then kiss their lovely foreheads, their hair, their lips, their… mm, mm… mouths… hmm…"
Time passed so quickly here. He and the girl lazily reclined on the bed, the sunlight shining on her beautiful hair. She even sang for him. He had fallen in love with a girl as beautiful as summer.
Before falling asleep at night, the girl whispered in his ear: "I love you, Tyrion. I love your lips, I love your voice, I love the words you say to me, I love the tenderness you give me, I love your face."
He was a Dwarf: "My face?"
The girl smiled radiantly: "Yes, yes. I also love your hands, I love their warmth."
His love was deeper: "It loves you too, my lady."
The girl was wandering: "I love to say your name, Tyrion Lannister. It suits me well, I don't mean Lannister, but the other half, Tyrion and Tessa. Tessa and Tyrion, Tyrion… My Lord Tyrion…"
Tyrion saw clearly, the girl he loved was Tessa!
Tyrion was furious, he was roaring! Lies, all fake, all for money, she was a whore, a whore Ser Jaime found, a gift from Ser Jaime, my Lady of Lies!
Tessa's face gradually faded, melting into tears… Even so, Tyrion could still hear her distant, faint voice, calling his name.
The dream shattered.
...
"Maester Pycelle, these tears… Why is he crying so sadly?"
Tyrion's eyeballs moved slightly; he vaguely heard a familiar voice.
"Count Green, I think he might be dreaming."
Lord Green? The other one is…
"Tyrion, why are you crying? Your hand… Are you worried about becoming Varys's companion?"
It was Lord Green after all, that gloating tone, he was so familiar with it!
Right, where is Tessa? Where did she go? Why does she still dare to appear!
Tyrion struggled to move his mouth: Tessa, Tessa, Tessa…
Lord Green listened closely for a moment, his eyes slightly trembling.
He turned his head and said, "Maester Pycelle, Tyrion keeps repeating the name Tessa. Who is she?"
Tyrion: Yes, it's Tessa, help me catch her, don't let her run away.
Maester Pycelle observed Tyrion, whose entire head was almost covered in bandages, and said, "Count Green, he might be about to wake up. Tessa… I think she might be some whore he was involved with."
Tyrion: No, she's my wife! Yes, she's actually a whore! She was a gift from my brother to amuse him!
Tyrion suddenly opened his eyes.
...
...
A week later.
Tyrion, leaning against the headboard, threw the mirror aside and said, "Beautiful!"
He brought the wine glass in his other hand to his lips, took a large sip, and then said, "This is the real Lannister Little Devil. My father is surely going to love me to death."
Lord Green, sitting by the bed, looked up and smiled.
"That would be a pleasant surprise. You can look forward to a kiss from Duke Tywin. Ser Jaime will be mad with jealousy."
Tyrion wanted to laugh out loud, but it pulled at his wound, causing both pain and joy.
When he stopped moving, Lord Green picked up the wine jug and poured wine for Tyrion.
"Hiss, the dream was so wonderful."
Saying that, he took a sip of wine, then continued, "I dreamt of blue monsters covering Casterly Rock, on the verge of collapse. Red corpses were everywhere, and the fearless Little Devil walked through them alone, all by himself!"
Tyrion took another sip of wine and said, "The blue monsters trembled before the Little Devil, scattering and making way, creating an endless path. I walked through with my head held high… And then, I saved Casterly Rock!"
Lord Green smiled and teased, "It seems the monsters covering the mountains were swallowed whole by the Little Devil."
"Haha… hiss… The process isn't important, what's important is that I alone saved the Lannister ancestral castle. Hey, don't interrupt me, the best part is yet to come!"
Lord Green shrugged.
"A grand celebration was held for me in the Great Hall of Casterly Rock. I sat on a high platform, and everyone raised their glasses to toast and cheer the hero who saved Casterly Rock, while bards sang of the Little Devil's brave deeds.
After the song finished, Jaime left his seat, made me kneel, then lightly touched my shoulders with a golden sword. When I rose, the Lannister Little Devil had become a knight.
Father also showed an approving smile, but let's not dwell on that; his smile was too loving, it almost woke me up. All the beauties were waiting to embrace me; they called me the Lannister Giant…"
As he spoke, Tyrion's expression changed.
Although Tyrion's face was covered in many bandages, Lord Green could still discern a lewd expression.
Tyrion lowered his voice: "My elder sister even tried to seduce me, she tried everything, but the Little Devil was unmoved… Even though it was just a dream, thinking of her trying to please me still makes me feel utterly comfortable, hehe!"
A smile appeared on Lord Green's face, and he said, "Tyrion, that truly was a wonderful dream, very beautiful. I wish you a dream come true."