"Hand of the King Tywin is convening a special Small Council meeting?"
"I think… yes, I'm quite certain, Lord Greene."
"Do you know his purpose?"
"Perhaps…" Grand Maester Pycelle stroked his heavy white beard, musing, "The royal treasury is tight. The Lord Hand wants to end the chaos in the Seven Kingdoms as quickly as possible."
His cloudy eyes secretly glanced at Green, who was sitting at the table. He continued, "As far as I know, the new Master of Coin, Tyrion Lannister, has the primary task of preparing for King Joffrey's engagement and wedding to the House Tyrell lady. If the Lannister family continues to fund the Crown as usual, he would have a very easy time."
Green's eyebrow twitched slightly. He asked, "What happened?"
"You have keen insight, Lord Greene."
Grand Maester Pycelle's maester chain jingled softly. He shifted his body and lowered his voice slightly, "Ser Kevan has been meeting frequently with representatives from the Iron Bank recently. From what I've observed, they are discussing the Crown's debt. The end of the year is the agreed time for repaying interest and a portion of the debt… The Braavosi have a proverb: The Iron Bank always collects its due."
Green tapped the table with his fingers a few times, then paused and asked, "Maester Pycelle, do you think… Lord Hand Tywin intends to stop funding the Crown?"
Grand Maester Pycelle nodded slightly and said, "I think… Duke Tywin has no choice but to stop the funding. The Little Wolf Cub's rampage caused no small losses in the Westerlands. That region needs reconstruction and restoration of production, etc… All of this requires a large investment of gold dragons. Plus, with the war lasting nearly a year, even the Lannister… cannot cope."
He looked at Green and continued, "The Little Wolf Cub is the Lion's primary enemy. Once the Iron Bank's debt is defaulted, they will turn into another enemy, an enemy more terrifying than the Little Wolf Cub. Therefore, without any reserves and before dealing with the Little Wolf Cub, Duke Tywin has no choice but to temporarily stop investing in the Crown."
Green chuckled, "Poor Tyrion. He's a good target."
Grand Maester Pycelle was all smiles, agreeing, "No father would love a Dwarf son, but he is a Lannister, and also evil, despicable… The wise Duke Tywin is very good at finding suitable tasks for everyone."
Seeing Green's gaze shift to him, his heart skipped a beat. The loyal "Tywin fan" quickly corrected himself: "But… no matter what, Tyrion is still his son. Duke Tywin's ruthlessness makes it impossible to serve him with peace of mind. He has the coldness of a ruler, but he lacks…"
Green waved his hand, interrupting, "Let's continue discussing the Small Council."
Grand Maester Pycelle coughed a few times and respectfully said, "The Small Council meeting three days from now, in addition to the existing Small Council members, Duke Tywin will also invite you and Duke Mace Tyrell to attend. As for Queen Cersei and King Joffrey… I haven't gathered accurate information yet."
Green pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there still no concrete news about Prince Oberyn?"
Grand Maester Pycelle showed a rare genuine emotion, mocking, "The House Martell's movements are always strange. They deliberately avoid the eyes of others. They always think that strange actions can intimidate the Red Keep; they always like to do so."
Green's brown eyes moved slightly, and he smiled, saying, "It seems you have a lot of feelings, Maester Pycelle."
Grand Maester Pycelle sighed, "I don't know when it started, but the House Martell's letters increasingly prefer vague and uncertain words, which also makes it harder for me to fulfill my duty as an advisor. My Crow's Nest does not welcome ravens flying from Dorne."
He sighed again, continuing with a helpless tone, "For example, last time… a raven from Sunspear brought a letter about Prince Oberyn coming to King's Landing as a Dorne Envoy, but it didn't specify the exact number of people in the envoy, using words like 'several' instead. Moreover, although it stated the approximate arrival time, it didn't specify the time for an audience. The letter said, Prince Oberyn will meet the King and Lord Hand when necessary (he slightly imitated the Dorne accent)… Thankfully, Duke Tywin possesses a tolerance that ordinary people do not."
As he spoke, Grand Maester Pycelle suddenly paused, then quickly added, "Duke Tywin has no choice but to be patient, as everyone knows… the Lannister family hopes to ally with the House Martell family."
Lord Greene seemed unaware of the Tywin fan's true colors. He analyzed, "The House Martell family's primary request is a seat on the Small Council. This might be the House Martell's unique negotiation style."
Grand Maester Pycelle was worried, "Duke Tywin, Ser Kevan, Ser Jaime, Tyrion Lannister, plus the two seats promised to House Tyrell, and me… the seven seats on the Small Council are already full."
As he spoke, he looked at Green, paused, and cautiously said, "Lord Greene, I heard that Queen Cersei dislikes me. Will Duke Tywin use this as an excuse to choose Prince Oberyn to replace my seat on the Small Council?"
He spoke sincerely, "I am just an old and useless maester. I no longer have a desire for power. Without the title of Small Council member, I am content with my duty as the King's advisor. I just…"
His voice choked slightly, "I just worry… if I leave the Small Council, your loyal servant… I won't be able to serve you as well as I do now, to be at your service…"
After speaking, he pitifully wiped a few hot tears that had overflowed from the corners of his eyes with his wide sleeves.
"Quite uninhibited," Lord Greene silently appraised.
After a moment of silence, Green spoke, "You have that merit from sixteen years ago. Lord Hand Tywin should not make things difficult for you, Maester Pycelle."
Grand Maester Pycelle tremblingly wiped the corners of his eyes again, sniffed, and said, "Yes, Lord Greene, all Seven Kingdoms know Duke Tywin's fairness. But I can see, though he didn't say it explicitly, I understood his meaning. He is very displeased with me, because… the Small Council members failed to prevent… what he calls… King Joffrey's foolishness… He feels that I did not fulfill my duty as a Small Council member, so… I can hear his silent command to me. He will retain my honor as Grand Maester, but he will not allow me to continue sitting in the Small Council chair… I understand his meaning."
After a moment of silence, Green suddenly said, "Maester Pycelle, I heard you were very sympathetic to the Vale Noble's plight (Chapter 248)?"
As his words fell, Grand Maester Pycelle's legs instantly went weak, and he almost slid off his chair.
Grand Maester Pycelle, who usually trembled when he walked… now knelt down with surprising agility: "Lord Greene, please listen to my explanation, please allow me to explain!"
He pleaded, "These were all Duke Tywin's orders! At that time… at that time… he wanted to control the Vale with Princess Myrcella… he wanted you to leave the Vale!"
He cried, "Before you left the Red Keep, you tasked me with playing the part of Duke Tywin's servant! Without new orders from you, I could only obey! I didn't even have time to contact you!"
He sniffled, "I knew, I was at ease, because I knew Queen Cersei wouldn't like my advice, she would never like it… I deliberately provoked her… she almost beat me to death! That's why I dared to act according to Duke Tywin's orders! Lord Greene, I am your loyal servant!"
Green's cold voice came from above Pycelle, "The Red Keep has no secrets. I know you are not foolish, which is why you can still kneel and speak before me."
Grand Maester Pycelle choked out, "I am forever loyal to you! I can swear by the Seven Gods, my Lord Greene!"
Green's eyes seemed to see through people's hearts. He stared at Grand Maester Pycelle for a while and said, "That fire (Chapter 226)… as a reward for your loyalty, your seat on the Small Council will be retained. Maester Pycelle, continue to play your role well. Do not disappoint me."
"Lo… Lo… Lord Greene, thank… you… I will always be your loyal servant…" Grand Maester Pycelle looked up at Green, his old face covered in tears of gratitude.
Green nodded slightly. His hand moved, and a blank piece of parchment floated down right in front of Grand Maester Pycelle.
"Write well. Mainly write about… your most respected Lord Hand Tywin."
"Lord Greene, this… there's no need… Ugh! I'll write it immediately, right now! Please believe my loyalty, I can swear by the Seven Gods!"
More than half an hour later, at the entrance of the Maester's study.
Maester Pycelle clasped his hands and kindly instructed the maid, "Good child, please escort Earl Green for me. Please help carry these letters."
The little maid took the stack of letters. She first glanced at the young Earl leaving surrounded by guards, then nodded slightly to Grand Maester Pycelle and scurried away.
Outside the Maester's Tower, a black-haired, slender maid who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old tightly clutched a silver stag and said, "Thank you for your generosity, noble Lord."
Green smiled gently and said, "Go."
Seeing that she was told to leave, the little maid was a bit flustered, "But… but… Maester Pycelle asked me to deliver these letters for you."
Hearing this, Green looked to the other side and said, "Anguy, take her to Maegors Holdfast…"
He glanced at the sun and continued, "And get her a good lunch while you're at it."
"As you command, my Lord."
Anguy looked at the little maid and elegantly extended a hand towards Maegors Holdfast, "Please, I will lead the way for you."
Monton watched Anguy and the unfamiliar maid leave, laughing and talking, and scratched his big head.
Lord Greene was busy. After seeing Grand Maester Pycelle, he still had to visit Lord Mace.
After walking for a while, Green saw in the distance a man in silver armor and white robes, with flowing golden hair—Jaime Lannister.
Ser Jaime stood on Green's path, one hand gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist, staring motionlessly at… the approaching Green.
As he drew closer, Ser Jaime gritted his teeth and said, "Good day, Earl Green."
Green revealed a slight smile, "Good day, Kingsguard."
He stopped in front of Ser Jaime and added, "Are you waiting for me?"
Ser Jaime's chest rose and fell, and he said, "I have brought you a gift, my gift to you."
He sneered, "I hope you like it."
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