"That… is truly a pity."
Greene Crabb smiled faintly, nodding slightly towards Joffrey: "My King."
Joffrey nodded, then glanced around casually and said, "Hound, bring me a chair. I have something to discuss with Duke Green."
After speaking, he waved his hand, signaling the surrounding attendants and maidservants to leave.
The wooden chair was placed beside Joffrey by Sandor Clegane. Greene grabbed the back of the chair, moved back slightly, and then sat down.
As soon as he took his seat, Joffrey eagerly spoke, "I heard my father entrusted you with hunting down the Beggar King?"
Tommen, sitting behind Joffrey, interjected curiously, "Beggar King? What's that?"
Seeing Tommen dare to interrupt him, a flicker of anger crossed Joffrey's handsome face, but upon noticing that Myrcella and Margaery were both looking curious, he instantly felt pleased.
"The Beggar King is a Targaryen remnant. His name is Viserys, the Mad King's last son. Since my birth, he has been wandering through the various Free Trade Cities, calling himself the King of the Seven Kingdoms…"
Speaking, Joffrey suddenly laughed heartily and said, "I heard Duke Green almost attacked the Pentos Governor's mansion to hunt down the Beggar King. Tommen, now that's a true warrior."
Feeling all sorts of gazes converge on him, Greene spread his hands and joked, "King Joffrey, I had no choice. Your father's gold dragons… were simply too many."
Everyone chuckled, with Joffrey laughing the loudest.
When the laughter subsided, Greene smiled and said, "I remember King Robert's trust in me… About half a year ago, I received news of Viserys in a small city-state in southern Essos. Therefore… I personally led a fleet and soldiers to pursue him, but lost track of him. Later…"
He paused, frowning slightly: "I haven't received any news of him since, which puzzles me."
King Joffrey nodded in satisfaction at Duke Green's diligence.
"Tyrion… uncle, he just sent someone with good news from the Dornish—Viserys is dead."
Greene was startled, saying in surprise, "Dead?"
Joffrey chuckled, "Dead, supposedly burned to ashes. Isn't his death amusing? Fire dragons are the Targaryen sigil."
He seemed regretful: "My original plan was to capture him, then duel him face-to-face and personally execute the Targaryen remnant."
Greene smiled and said, "What a pity, the Seven Kingdoms missed out on a grand spectacle."
Margaery, who had been silently watching the two converse, also spoke, "I am also very regretful. I can't even imagine that scene. I think your valor would conquer the hearts of the Seven Kingdoms."
Greene and Margaery's gazes briefly met.
At this moment, Tommen excitedly said, "Yes, Joffrey is the best! Brother, are you going to compete today?"
Joffrey arrogantly raised his head and said, "Mother thinks it's inappropriate because if I were to compete myself, I would surely win the championship, and that would affect my impartiality as King."
He turned to Sandor: "Hound, isn't that right?"
Sandor's mouth twitched slightly. After a pause, he replied, "Of course, you are the King."
Joffrey laughed heartily again.
After a short while, Greene frowned and said, "King Joffrey, Viserys also has a sister. Do the Dornish have any news of her?"
"They say she's missing, they're not sure…"
Joffrey's long fingers clenched into a fist, and he continued, "My father once said that a Lioness would breed a litter of evil dragons, and she must not be let go."
Greene pondered for a moment and said, "My intelligence from Essos is mainly acquired through bounties. Since the Dornish…"
Speaking, he stopped, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the chair, as if something had suddenly occurred to him.
Joffrey furrowed his brow, and Margaery, sitting beside him, spoke, "Did the Dornish make you think of something, Duke Green?"
Greene nodded slightly. He first glanced at Margaery, then shifted his gaze to Joffrey and said, "To be honest, in order not to betray King Robert's trust, I offered a tempting bounty to those who provided intelligence, which allowed me to track Viserys's exact whereabouts. But what did the Dornish rely on? Was it the same as me?"
His fingers paused, then he continued, "If it was a similar method, why would the Martell inform us of this news at this time?"
After a short silence, King Joffrey turned to look at Hound.
Sandor briefly glanced at Greene, then, after a pause, his grating, hoarse voice spoke, "Duke Green suspects the Dornish have ulterior motives, My King."
Joffrey immediately said indignantly, "They dare to play me?!"
Greene shook his head slightly, his thumb and forefinger moving slightly on one hand, and said, "My King, I cannot give you an accurate answer. I am very unfamiliar with Dorne and do not understand it. I only hope their excessive attention to the Targaryen is out of loyalty to you."
After hearing Greene's words, King Joffrey's handsome face twisted slightly. Seeing this… Margaery's brown eyes trembled slightly.
Too many eyes were on the high platform. Joffrey calmed himself, merely clenching his fist and saying bitterly, "I will never let any traitor go!"
Greene placed a hand on his chest and said, "King Joffrey, the Crabb army volunteers to be your vanguard in suppressing the rebellion."
Margaery gently took Joffrey's wrist and smiled, "My King, the House Tyrell army awaits your command."
With Greene's words, and then Margaery's, the anger in King Joffrey's heart immediately dissipated.
Greene looked at Little Rose, raising an eyebrow, and said, "Miss Margaery, although I greatly respect Lord Mace, I will not easily yield the position of vanguard."
Margaery smiled beautifully, "Duke Green, my father obeys the King's command."
"Very good."
Joffrey, sitting in the middle, chuckled, "Don't worry, I am a just King."
Ooh—ooh ooh ooh—
Just then, the horn for the jousting sounded, and their gaze shifted to the arena below.
The announcer proclaimed, "Kingsguard, Ser Meryn Trant!"
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, Ser Meryn entered the jousting arena from the west. He was dressed in bright white and gold armor, riding a cream-colored steed with a flowing gray mane, a long, snow-white cape fluttering behind him in the wind, and a long lance held in his hand.
"Arbor, Ser Horas of Redwyne Family!"
As the announcer's words fell, Ser Horas entered the arena from the east on a black steed. The horse was adorned with red and blue barding, and his lance also had ribbons of the same colors, while his shield bore the grape cluster sigil of Redwyne Family.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
At the sound of the horn, Ser Meryn and Ser Horas immediately leveled their lances, spurred their horses, and charged towards each other.
Wood splinters flew, and steel clashed.
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