Taking a few steps, Lord Mace sighed deeply, "He even indulged his son in killing a Prince of Dorne in a brothel; Duke Tywin is truly old."
He was not good at hiding his true emotions; although he was sighing, there was a hint of schadenfreude.
Green stood beside Lord Mace, also looking towards the Prime Ministers Tower, smiled, and said, "Do you believe a dwarf could kill the Red Viper, who is renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms?"
Lord Mace stroked his beard and said, "No matter how impossible, it is already a fact."
His brown eyes flickered, and Green looked at Lord Mace, whose smile couldn't be suppressed, saying, "Congratulations on gaining control of the Tyrell-Lannister alliance. That is also a fact."
Lord Mace laughed heartily, his face full of triumph, but he said, "I believe with the strength of the Lannister, they will quickly quell the war in the Riverlands."
Green shrugged and said, "This morning I heard that a raven carrying troop deployment orders has already flown to the Westerlands. It is said that Duke Tywin's brother-in-law, Davos Lannister, has been training tens of thousands of new recruits near Golden Tooth (actually just over twenty thousand, Chapter 302)."
Lord Mace said in surprise, "How did you come to know such a secret..."
As he spoke, the movement of stroking his beard paused, and he asked, "Could it be news released by the Lannister themselves?"
Green spread his hands, "Your insight is like a torch. I easily overheard this information, and I can't think of any other answer, Lord Mace."
After a pause, Lord Mace calmly commented, "Duke Tywin still has some tricks up his sleeve."
"It might stabilize some people's hearts," he seemed to regret.
Green's lips curved slightly, "The Riverlands is, after all, the Lannister's stage. We can only be spectators for now."
Upon hearing this, Lord Mace was first slightly stunned, then a smile spread across his face, "With Duke Tywin's ability, he certainly doesn't need anyone else's sympathy."
He looked into the distance, where... his daughter was cheering for her fiancé, the Little Rose of Highgarden seemed to sparkle in the Red Keep.
Lord Mace stroked his beard with satisfaction, "In just over two years, King Joffrey will be able to rule personally."
He added in his heart: By then, perhaps his grandson will have been born, an heir to the Iron Throne with Tyrell blood.
Green saw Joffrey suddenly kick the Hound, and the laughter and joy there immediately vanished.
Then, he saw Margaery say something, and Joffrey immediately burst into laughter, and the laughter and joy quickly returned.
At this moment, Green felt like an adult watching children play.
Looking over there, Green, with his hands behind his back, reminded, "Two years... three years... Lord Mace, this might not be something to look forward to for some people."
Lord Mace nodded gravely, muttering, "Lannister..."
After a pause, he suddenly said, "Green, I heard the Cley Cerwyn Trading Company is buying a large amount of fur?"
Green said helplessly, "It has temporarily stopped. The price of fur has risen very quickly because of our actions."
Upon hearing this, Lord Mace slowly stroked his beard, looking as if he had already guessed it.
He reached out and patted Green's arm, saying, "Have the company contact the Tyrell steward in King's Landing. As for the price... how much do you need?"
He felt that... if it was only a few shiploads, there was no need to talk about gold dragons with Green.
Green spread his hands, saying, "The more, the better."
Lord Mace nodded, not asking Green why he needed so much fur. He said directly, "Then we will trade at the lowest price. I will arrange for someone."
"Thank you for your help."
Patting his chest, Green added, "Lord Mace, I also hope... to increase the amount of grain imported from the Riverlands to the Claw Isle."
Lord Mace's eyes moved, and he said, "Are you going to war, Green?"
Green sighed slightly, "The war in the Riverlands is too close to the Claw Isle. To be precise... I am preparing for contingencies."
Lord Mace unconsciously lowered his voice slightly, "You don't think highly of the Lannister Army either."
Green also lowered his voice, "The Lannister cavalry was almost completely wiped out. At least for a while, the Lion won't even catch a glimpse of the Direwolf."
After listening, Lord Mace pondered for a moment, his eyes moving again, "No problem. This matter... I will continue to leave it to Margaery. That way, it will be smoother."
Green's eyes trembled slightly as he replied, "Thank you again for your help, Lord Mace."
Lord Mace laughed heartily and said, "Let's go, let's get something to eat."
...
After a splendid display of crossbow archery, Joffrey was sweating profusely. He decided to go to the King's chambers to change his clothes, while Margaery returned to the Maidenvault with her retinue of ladies-in-waiting to rest.
As Joffrey had just taken off his robe, a servant outside the room chanted, "Queen Regent—arrives—"
The two servants inside the room quickly stood to the left and right, bending to open the door.
Upon seeing Cersei's figure appear, Joffrey, standing before the full-length mirror, casually greeted, "Mother."
Queen Cersei paused behind Joffrey, observing her son. Joffrey had already grown taller than her and become increasingly strong. She nodded with satisfaction.
Taking the new robe from the servant's hand, Joffrey tilted his head slightly. He looked at Cersei behind him through the mirror and said, "Is something wrong, Mother?"
"You look very powerful, My Son."
After speaking, Cersei raised her hand, signaling the others to leave, which made Joffrey frown, but he immediately realized... Look powerful?
Donning a red velvet robe with gold trim, Joffrey held his head high, staring at himself in the mirror. His voice held dissatisfaction, "Every arrow I shoot can pierce the scarecrow's neck. No one can beat me in archery, Dowager Queen Lannister."
"Sorry..."
Cersei walked over and helped Joffrey adjust his clothes, saying, "Mother meant that you are inherently powerful. I have never seen a stronger Lion than you."
Upon hearing this, Joffrey's lips pursed, and he raised his head, looking at the mirror.
Cersei smiled dotingly, her fingers tracing the embroidery on Joffrey's shoulder. She suddenly said, "This flower... looks like the Tyrell's Rose..."
Her emerald eyes looked at her son, "Beautiful flowers suit our King very well."
"What do you want to say?"
After speaking, Joffrey glanced at his mother, who was smiling, then directly took off his robe, looked at the patterns on the clothes, and said, "Flowers, damn flowers."
"I told them, no flowers on my clothes. They deserve to die."
The robe was thrown at Joffrey's feet, and he walked to the clothes rack, reaching for a plain black robe without any embroidery.
Cersei lowered her gaze, and Joffrey's footprints appeared on the discarded garment on the carpet.
She curled her lips and said, "It can still be used for a bride's gown."
Joffrey turned his head to glance at Cersei, silently putting on the robe again, an expression of displeasure on his face.
Cersei's eyes flickered; Joffrey's change in expression did not escape her notice... Osney's report was not wrong. Her son had already begun to be enchanted by the cunning Tyrell woman.
Walking to a chair, Queen Cersei sat down gently and said, "Joffrey, what do you think of her? Are you enjoying your time together?"
Her slender fingers gripped the smooth armrest. The Rose's laughter had been too frequent these past few days; it was the most jarring sound she had ever heard in the Red Keep.
Joffrey returned to the mirror, looked for a moment, and then said with some impatience, "Who is she?"
Tapping her finger on the armrest, Cersei's voice rang out, "That revealingly dressed House Tyrell lady (referring to Margaery's Highgarden sleeveless gown)."
When she spoke the last few words, she deliberately drew them out.
Joffrey's brow furrowed. As he adjusted his clothes, he said, "She is an ideal wife. Her family can help me quickly defeat those traitors..."
His face twisted, "Hang them, burn their castles, salt their farmlands. No one will dare to rebel for a hundred years."
Noticing the anger in Joffrey's words, Cersei's smile stiffened for a moment. She said gently, "Your grandfather will soon eliminate that despicable little Direwolf."
Joffrey adjusted his collar and snorted.
After a period of silence, Cersei suddenly said, "She is an ideal choice for a wife, but what do you think of her as a person?"
Joffrey glanced at his mother impatiently, remaining silent.
After a pause, Cersei praised, "She is beautiful, she is intelligent, she is kind, she is generous."
Joffrey nodded slightly and said, "That's right."
Her son's reaction made the Lioness grip the armrest again. She continued, "She cared for the well-being of hundreds of thousands of people in King's Landing even before she arrived. Don't you find that interesting?"
Upon hearing this, a clear impatience appeared in Joffrey's voice, "I don't think so."
Cersei's smile became less natural. She slowly said, "Joffrey, Mother wants to tell you that unusual things can potentially threaten..."
Joffrey interrupted irritably, "Don't you think our conversation..."
He turned to look at his mother, "...is too boring?"
Cersei stared at her son for a moment. She Rose from the chair, approaching him as she said, "There must be a hidden reason why the Tyrell woman buys off those commoners with bread."
She stopped in front of Joffrey, looking up at her son, and continued, "There's a reason she dresses like a harlot, there's a reason she married a traitor like Renly. These are all..."
Joffrey looked coldly at his mother and said, "Margaery Tyrell married Renly Baratheon out of obedience. A clever woman should..."
His voice contained a warning, "...obey."
Cersei's full chest slowly Rose and fell. She said, "She would climb into anyone's bed for power. I cannot be mistaken. Joffrey, don't trust your eyes. You should ask your heart..."
Joffrey coldly shook off Cersei's hand reaching for him, "I know My King's heart very well."
Shifting his feet, he walked away, saying bitterly, "Queen Regent, if you're bored... go urge your father to quickly hang that damned Direwolf."
Cersei's hand, suspended in mid-air, clenched for a moment before she withdrew it.
Cersei did not see Joffrey's dissatisfaction with the Lannister Army's defeat by the Stark in the Riverlands. She only saw a son already enchanted by Margaery.
She had to do something, for her Joffrey.
A moment later, Osney Kettleblack pushed the door open. Seeing Queen Cersei standing silently by the window, he respectfully called out, "Your Grace."
Queen Cersei turned her face to glance at him and beckoned.
As Ser Osney's footsteps approached, Cersei looked out the window and said, "Osney, I hope you can win the favor of Margaery's ladies-in-waiting, with your handsomeness, with your good tongue."
Ser Osney couldn't help but grin and said, "I heard they are all Roses of Highgarden."
Cersei's beautiful eyes were like emeralds. She looked at Ser Osney and said, "I heard they also sleep with Margaery. They must know many of Margaery's secrets."
She curled her lips, "For example, her lover."
Ser Osney's face flashed with disbelief, "Your Grace, before Miss Margaery arrived in King's Landing, it was widely rumored... rumored... they insisted..."
Cersei reached out and stroked Osney's cheek, saying, "Sometimes... you really are innocently adorable, Ser."
Cersei glanced at Osney's bobbing Adam's apple, curling her lips, and said, "Go on. I await to reward you, My Good Knight."
After Ser Osney left, Cersei looked out at the sunny window again, a cold smile flashing across her face.
Perhaps, whether Margaery had a lover or not was unimportant.
Cersei knew that noble ladies generally did not remain virgins, as most of them had already broken their hymens while practicing horseback riding, let alone the Little Rose of Highgarden, who was said to have started riding as soon as she learned to walk.
As long as there was an excuse for "verification," Margaery, no matter how cunning, would not be able to prove her innocence.
She had to make Joffrey see Margaery's hypocrisy, and Joffrey would never tolerate being deceived.
...
Inside the Throne Room, Joffrey's voice echoed, "Hound, have Margaery Tyrell come here to see me."
"All of you, get out! No one is allowed in!"
"Hound, you get out too!"
...
Creeeaaak, the thick wooden doors of the Throne Room were pushed open by the Gold Cloaks working together, and Margaery stepped inside lightly.
Tap, tap, tap, tap. Walking down the empty corridor, Margaery could only hear her own footsteps. Suddenly, with a "clang," her body involuntarily trembled. It was the sound of the large doors closing.
Margaery wore a green Highgarden gown, her small hands clasped in front of her abdomen. As she walked with her waist held straight, her long, curly brown hair gently swayed on her fair shoulders.
After a moment, she first saw the grotesque Iron Throne, and then... King Joffrey, sitting directly on the steps below it.
As she drew closer, she noticed the elaborately decorated crossbow in Joffrey's hand.
A faint smile appeared on Margaery's small face, but her steps imperceptibly paused for a moment, because... she saw the crossbow in Joffrey's hand aimed at her.
Her elegant stride unchanged, Margaery stopped not far from Joffrey. She curtsied lightly and said, "Your King, it is an honor to be summoned by you."
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