Osney Kettleblack was rushing towards Maegors Holdfast, his red cloak fluttering in the wind like a burning flame, drawing attention.
At Maegors Holdfast, Ser Osmund Kettleblack, standing in the middle of the gate, asked his hurried brother, "What happened, Osney?"
Ser Osney's voice couldn't hide his excitement: "Where is the Queen Dowager?"
His brother's steps didn't falter, and Ser Osmund Kettleblack frowned, stepping aside as he said, "The small hall, Ser Jaime is with her."
Ser Osney strode quickly through the hall of Maegors Holdfast, and as he neared the small hall, his eyes flickered, and he raised his voice, "Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager, something has happened."
When he reached the corridor connecting to the small hall, he anxiously repeated, "Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager, something has happened."
Jaime Lannister, in silver armor and white robes, appeared at the entrance of the small hall, and he said coldly, "Ser, you are disturbing Queen Dowager Cersei's meal."
Ser Osney's lips curled imperceptibly, and he stopped in front of Ser Jaime, saying, "My apologies, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, I must report to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager as soon as possible."
Ser Jaime glanced at the seemingly flustered Ser Osney and said, "Follow me."
After they entered, before Osney could speak, Queen Dowager Cersei's displeased voice rang out first: "If there's a next time, I'll make you dance in a dress."
Osney opened his mouth, and Queen Dowager Cersei put down her dining knife impatiently and said, "What happened?"
Swallowing, Ser Osney quickly said, "Earl Greene was ambushed by the Arryn people in Flea Bottom. After King Joffrey heard the news, he took some cavalry out of the Red Keep to rescue Earl Greene."
Upon hearing this, Queen Dowager Cersei glanced disdainfully at Ser Osney. This was King's Landing; who could harm her Joffrey? Just those homeless dogs from the Arryn Valley?
Queen Dowager Cersei was about to praise Joffrey's bravery, but she paused. She suddenly remembered the riot in King's Landing (Chapter 172).
She stood up abruptly and said, "Jaime, quick, go protect Joffrey!"
Ser Jaime wasn't in a hurry at all: "That's the Blood Earl, with him there no one can..."
Queen Dowager Cersei interrupted angrily, "This is an order, go protect my son!"
"Going, going."
Ser Jaime shrugged, his snow-white cloak swishing, and turned to walk away. Queen Dowager Cersei's urging voice soon came from behind him: "Hurry up!"
Ser Jaime reluctantly quickened his pace.
Queen Dowager Cersei picked up her wine glass and took a large sip. At this moment... Ser Osney approached and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, King Joffrey has..."
Before he could finish, with a loud smack, Queen Dowager Cersei slapped Ser Osney.
"What are you still doing here? Go protect my son!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ser Osney ran off.
...
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
With the stag-lion banner flying, King Joffrey charged straight ahead, with the Hound and other Kingsguard members vigilantly riding by his side, guarding him.
Anguy, leading the way, pointed towards the gathering crowd and shouted, "Your Majesty, it's just ahead!"
Hearing this, Joffrey abruptly kicked his spurs and shouted, "Get out of my way!"
Hoofbeats echoed, and the crowd scattered in panic, cries and screams intertwined.
Horses weaved through the chaotic crowd. After a while, Joffrey, riding ahead, suddenly pulled his reins tight, and the horse beneath him neighed loudly.
King Joffrey stopped his horse so suddenly that Ser Osmon, following behind him, pulled his reins, adjusted his horse, and narrowly avoided a collision.
Horses neighed one after another. After a brief chaos, the Kingsguard and Gold Cloaks, excellent riders, quickly brought their warhorses under control.
The bay horse took a few steps forward. King Joffrey, on its back, looked at the scene before him, his Adam's apple bobbing, and he couldn't help but swallow.
The smell of blood permeated the air. Heads, like ripe fruits, lay scattered on the blood-stained ground.
Piles of corpses, severed limbs everywhere, some still tightly clutching weapons, telling others that a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago.
Blood was still flowing, gathering into crimson streams in the cracks between the cobblestones.
The street was eerily silent, making one's hair stand on end.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, the horse beneath him continued to pace on the sticky ground. Joffrey felt his stomach clench instantly, and a wave of nausea rose in his throat.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, Sandor rode up beside Joffrey and said, "Duke Tywin will mock you, King."
King Joffrey was unable to curse aloud. His anger struggled to suppress the churning in his chest and abdomen. He could only kick at the Hound from his horse.
The Hound remained motionless. After surveying his surroundings, he added, "The battle is over. The Arryn remnants did not succeed."
Clip-clop, clip-clop, Ser Mandon also rode closer and said, "Ser Sandor, victory belongs to the King."
Sandor's eyes moved, looking at Ser Mandon, and he said coldly, "I am not a knight."
Ser Mandon merely shrugged, saying nothing.
King Joffrey seemed to chuckle at their "conflict." After suppressing his discomfort, the scene instead gave him... a strange, inexplicable excitement.
"Keep going."
They soon found the Gold Cloaks cleaning up the street, and then... they saw Greene Crabb, impeccably dressed, surrounded by a dozen "bloodied men."
Amidst the blood, Greene now looked intimidating, and Joffrey couldn't help but tighten his grip on the reins.
Splish-splash, splish-splash, Greene trod on the sticky ground, walking towards Joffrey and his party.
He grinned, "Thank you for the King's rescue. All honor belongs to you, My King."
As Greene approached and Joffrey saw his gentle face, the invisible pressure he had felt from a distance seemed like an illusion.
Sitting on his horse, King Joffrey lifted his chin. He was the King; in this world, only others feared him, and he... the King feared nothing.
He proudly declared, "Earl Greene, the King protects loyal knights. This is the King's duty."
After speaking, he glanced around and frowned, "Are they all dead?"
"One left."
Greene pointed to a spot where... there was a man who, to anyone looking, had only his last breath remaining.
"He was the leader of this attack. King Joffrey, someone told me he was once the captain of House Arryn's guards."
Greene extended a hand, making an elegant inviting gesture, and added, "All honor belongs to you."
"Very good."
With a clang, King Joffrey drew his "lion's tooth sword."
His horsemanship was superb. With a kick of his spurs, he galloped towards the "target." As he neared, he suddenly leaned down, and with a "whoosh," his lions tooth sliced through, instantly splashing a crimson spray of blood.
The warhorse neighed and stopped.
King Joffrey examined the blood-red lion's tooth sword blade and nodded with satisfaction.
He raised his sword and declared loudly, "This is the fate of traitors!"
The surroundings suddenly fell silent. Someone suddenly shouted, "Long live the King!"
"Long live the King!" someone echoed loudly.
More and more people shouted in unison: "Long live the King!"
...
After the cheers for the King "subsided," King Joffrey seemed to want more: "Earl Greene, are there no more attackers?"
Greene took the reins handed to him by a Gold Cloak, swung onto his horse, and said, "King Joffrey, I believe all remnants of House Arryn lurking in King's Landing have disappeared."
After speaking, he pointed to the heads "presented" to King Joffrey.
King Joffrey took the cleaned lions tooth from the Hound's hand, sheathed his sword, and said, "Earl Greene, next time..."
He paused, then his tone changed, and he said coldly, "If those traitors are allowed to breathe a few more breaths... it would be too merciful to them. They should be killed as quickly as possible."
As he spoke, his handsome face twisted slightly: "As long as I am King, I will severely punish all rebels in the kingdom."
The two rode side by side. Greene placed his hand on his chest towards King Joffrey and said, "King Joffrey, you are a wise ruler."
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