Chapter 54 Chapter 53: Tyrion

As usual, they dine alone. "The peas are burnt," said the lady suddenly. "It doesn't matter," said the master, "isn't it the same for mutton?" It was a joke, but Sansa took it as a reproach. "I'm sorry, my lord." "Sorry for what? The cook is the one to apologize, not you. You didn't cook the peas, Sansa." "Husband... Master Husband is unhappy, and I feel deeply guilty about it." "It's not the peas that make me unhappy, it's Joffrey, my old sister, my lord father, and three hundred damned Dorne." He placed Prince Oberyn and his companions in the city-facing corner of the Red Keep , to isolate them from the Tyrell party as much as possible.But this is not enough.It was reported that a brawl had just broken out in a mess hall in Flea Nest, killing a Tyrell soldier, scalding two of Earl Gorgonth's men, and then the wrinkled old Mace Tyrell in the courtyard. The mother urges Martell to apologize and calls Ellaria Sand a "snake whore" to her face.Besides, boiled peas were nothing compared to Prince Oberyn's demand for "justice" every time he saw him.But he was not going to trouble his wife with his own thoughts, Sansa's sorrow was deep enough.

"The peas are still there," he told her. "Green and round, and that's what beans should be. Look madam, I won't take a spoonful of this." He gestured, and Podrick Payne hurried up A spoonful of beans was placed on his plate, covering the lamb.I'm so stupid, he told himself, I've got to eat both now or she'll have to apologize again. The meal ended in wordless silence, as it had done countless times before.As Pod removes the plates and cups, Sansa asks Tyrion to allow her to visit the godswood. "Madam, you can go if you want." He was used to his wife's evening prayer.Sansa also went to the Royal Sanctuary to pray, and often lit candles in front of the altars of the Virgin, the Maiden and the Old Woman. To be honest, Tyrion felt that these behaviors were a bit exaggerated, but from the perspective of his wife, I am afraid that he really needs the comfort of the gods. . "I have to admit, I don't know much about the old gods," he tried to say in a kind tone, "Maybe one day, you can enlighten me and let me go with you."

"No," Sansa answered promptly, "you...you are very kind, but...but it's deserted there, my lord. No monks, no hymns, no candles, just trees and silent prayers. You'll be bored, grown ups." "Really?" She knew me better than I thought. "Actually, I think it's not bad to listen to the prayers of Xiutu chanting the Seven Gods too much, and enjoy the soft sound of leaves in the forest." Tyrion waved his wife goodbye. "It's okay, I won't force you to follow, please dress warmly, ma'am, it's cold outside." He was going to ask her what she was praying for, but Sansa is so conscientious that she will tell the truth in the end, he doesn't want to know the answer.

After his wife was gone, he continued to work, trying to squeeze some money out of the maze of accounts left by Littlefinger.First of all, Petyr isn't the type to take gold and silver back to the coffers and leave them to rot and rust, and the more Tyrion pokes around in the ledgers, the worse his headache gets. "Let the golden dragon self-proliferate, don't put it on the shelf", these principles sound nice, but when they are actually combined with reality, they are simply a bunch of muddled accounts.If I had known how much money those bloody "antler men" owed the royal family, I would never have let Joffrey vote them out! It is useless to search for silver in fish.

When Ser Boros Braun brought his lord father's call, Tyrion found himself looking at the ser with pleasure for the first time.Immediately he closed the ledger, blew out the oil lamp, put on his cloak, and walked through the castle to the Chancellor's Tower.It was cold outside and, as he had warned Sansa, there was a smell of rain in the air.Perhaps after the matter of Duke Tywin is finished, he should go to the godswood and bring his wife back in person. But when he walked into the Prime Minister's study and saw the expressions of Cersei, Ser Kevan, Grand Master Pycelle, Lord Tywin, and the king, all his thoughts were immediately forgotten.Joffrey was excited and restless, Cersei smiled smugly, only her father remained serious.But I could see the look of joy down there. "What's the matter?" Tyrion asked.

His father handed him a roll of parchment.This piece of paper was deliberately flattened, obviously many people have gone through it. "Roslin caught a fat trout," the letter read, "and her brothers presented two wolf skins for the wedding." Tyrion turned the paper over, looked at the seal, and saw The silver-gray wax had covered the twin towers of House Frey. "The lord of the crossings has lost his words? What the hell does that mean?" Tyrion snorted. "The trout probably refers to Edmure Tully, but the wolf's skin..." "He's dead!" cried Joffrey, as cheerfully and proudly as if he had skinned Robb Stark himself.

First Greyjoy, then Stark.Tyrion immediately thought of his wife, still praying in the godswood.She is probably praying to the gods of her father to bless her brother and protect her mother! It seems that the old gods are as indifferent to people's appeals as the new gods.Of course, from his point of view, he should be somewhat pleased with the news. "The king is falling like the leaves this autumn," said he, "and it seems our little war is won without a fight." "No war is won without a fight, Tyrion," said Cersei sweetly and bitterly, "and it's all thanks to my lord father."

"Don't be too happy, the enemy has not been wiped out, and the matter is not over yet." Duke Tywin warned everyone. "The lords of the Riverlands are not fools," argued the Queen Mother. "Without the support of the Northmen, it would be courting death to stand alone against the alliance of Highgarden, Casterly Rock, and Dorne. They will soon surrender." "Most will," Lord Tywin agreed. "Riverrun won't, but as long as Walder Frey keeps Edmure Tully firmly in check, the Blackfish is no threat." Jason Mallister and Tywin Toss Blackwood will fight for honor, but the Freys are strong enough to pin Mallister to Seagard, and if we give the right inducements, Jonos Bracken will turn against Blackwood .That's right, given time, they will eventually surrender. I plan to offer generous conditions, any place, as long as they surrender and submit to the king, they can maintain the status quo—except for one place."

"Harrenhal?" Tyrion knew his father all too well. "The Brave Company will not forgive. I have ordered Ser Gregor to slay the city." Gregor Clegane.It seemed that Father had yet to squeeze the last of his use out of the villain before he sold him to the Dornishmen.Soon, members of the Brave Order will be beheaded, spear-pointed, and hung on the walls; and Littlefinger will be living in Harrenhal without a drop of blood on his clothes.I wonder if Petyr Baelish has reached the valley by now? If the gods are merciful, he should be caught in a storm and buried in the sea.But when have the gods been merciful?

"They all deserve to be punished," declared Joffrey. "The Mallisters, the Blackwoods, the Brackens . Gentle terms." The king then turned to the Grand Master Pycelle, "I also want Robb Stark's head, write to Lord Walder quickly, and say this is the king's order! When I marry, I will hand it over Give this to Sansa." "Your Majesty," said Ser Kevan, shocked, "Lady Sansa is your aunt." "Little Jo was joking," Cersei laughed, "he wasn't serious." "Of course I mean it," Joffrey insisted. "The fellow is a traitor, and I want his stupid head, and Sansa to kiss it."

"Don't even think about it!" Tyrion exploded. "Mind Sansa's business and remember it, monster!" Joffrey sneered, "You're the monster, Uncle." "Really?" Tyrion looked up. "If it's true, then you should be more polite to me. Monsters are very dangerous. Kings and mosquitoes are the same in its eyes." "I'll pull out your tongue," cried the boy, blushing, "I'm the king!" Cersei put a protective hand on her son's shoulder. "Let the dwarf threaten you, Joe, so your grandfather and uncle can see what he's doing." But Lord Tywin ignored Tyrion and turned to Joffrey. "Aerys is the only one who can say 'I am king' before me, and he has a penchant for pulling out people's tongues. You may ask Ser Ilyn Payne, though he cannot answer." "Ser Ilyn didn't mean to offend King Aerys, it's not the same as the imp threatening young Jo," Cersei explained, "you heard him too, how dare he call the king a 'monster' to his face, and... " "Be quiet, Cersei. Let me tell you, Joffrey, when someone rises to challenge you, you should resolutely answer with iron and blood; when they bow their knees, you must lift them up with your own hands, or you will die No one wants to surrender anymore. Also, anyone who says loudly 'I am the king!' is no real king at all. Aerys fell because he didn't understand this, and I want you to take his lesson seriously. Please Don't worry, I will pacify the country for you, restore the king's law and dignity, and unify the country. During this period, the only thing you need to care about is Margaery Tyrell's chastity." Hearing this, Joffrey was sullen.Cersei squeezed his shoulder hard, and maybe she should have grabbed him by the throat, because the child gave everyone a big shock next.He didn't back down, but stood up provocatively, and said loudly, "You mentioned Iris just now, grandpa, I know you are afraid of him." Oh oh oh, what a show to watch! Tyrion thought. Lord Tywin examined his grandson silently, his pale green eyes sparkling with gold. "Apologize to Grandpa, Joffrey!" said Cersei. He broke free from his mother's hand. "Why do I apologize? What I said is the truth! My father, he is a great hero, invincible, he personally killed Prince Rhaegar and won the crown, but at this time, your father is hiding in Casterly Rock City and dare not come out !" The child stared at his grandfather challengingly, "The king is fearless and does not rely on words." "Thank you for your motto, Your Majesty," Duke Tywin said with a chill that almost froze the ears of everyone present, "Ser Kevan, the king is tired, please escort him back to his chambers. Pycelle, can you use Some small medicine to help His Majesty fall asleep?" "Will sleeping wine do, my lord?" "I don't want sleeping wine," Joffrey called. Duke Tywin ignored him again, as if he was a mouse in the corner. "Very well, sleeping wine. Cersei, Tyrion, you stay." Ser Kevan took Joffrey's hand firmly and pulled the king out of the study. Outside the door, two Kingsguard were waiting to do their duty.Grand Maester Pycelle swung his trembling old legs and tried to keep up.Tyrion didn't move. "Father, I'm sorry," Cersei said immediately when the door was closed again, "Little Joe is very willful, as I said last time..." "Wildness and stupidity are two different things. 'The king is fearless,' what the hell?" "I didn't teach it, please believe me," said Cersei, "probably he heard Robert so..." "The 'Your father is hiding in Casterly Rock' part is like Robert said." Tyrion didn't want his father to forget that. "Ah, I remember," Cersei said hastily, "Robert used to teach little Jo to be brave." "That's enough, so what did you teach him? Tell you, I fought this battle with all my heart, not to win the throne for King Robert II. According to what you said earlier, this child should have nothing to do with his father." "Yeah! Robert doesn't like him at all, and he'd beat him if I hadn't protected him! The savage you want me to marry once beat him twice because Little Jo took on a cat." Then I threatened to cut Robert's throat in his sleep if he dared to do anything again, so he restrained himself a lot and just told little Jo stories..." "Telling a story? Enough is enough, there is still a lot to tell him." Duke Tywin waved two fingers and roughly drove her away. "You go." The Queen Mother left angrily. "He is not Robert II," said Tyrion, "he is Aerys III." "This child is only thirteen years old, and he still has time—" Duke Tywin walked to the window, he was a little strange today, and he had never been so troubled before, "—give him a good lesson." Tyrion himself had been taught a lesson by his father when he was thirteen.Now he feels a little sorry for his nephew, but to be honest, this is also a lesson he deserves. "Joffrey aside," he said, "some victories are won with sword and spear, and some victories are won with pen and paper and crows,' Is that what you say? I congratulate you, How long has Walder Frey been plotting?" "Conspiracy? I don't like that word," said Lord Tywin stiffly. "And I don't like being kept in the dark." "There's no need to say more, you can't help with this matter." "Does Cersei know?" Tyrion must know. "No one knows, except the people who play a role in the plan, and they know only what they have to know. You see—that's the best way to keep a secret. I'll give you the cheapest We are under no obligation to gratify your curiosity or your sister's vanity at the cost of removing our most dangerous enemy." He closed the narrow window, frowning. "You're clever, Tyrion, but you can't keep your mouth shut. One day, you'll regret it." "Really? Why didn't you allow little Jo to unplug it just now?" suggested Tyrion. "Don't be so talkative in front of me," said Lord Tywin. "I don't like this. I'm thinking about how to appease Oberyn Martell's gang." "Oh? So, is it my turn to play the part? Or should I go out and leave you to talk to yourself?" Father ignored his one-liners. "The representative of Dorne is Prince Oberyn. It is terrible. His brother is careful, wise, thoughtful, and unfathomable. Every word and every action is carefully weighed. And this Oberyn Len is nothing but a self-righteous lunatic." "Is it true that he told the Dornelanders to raise an army for Viserys?" "No one has publicly preached about this, but it is indeed true. During that time, the crows came and went, and the messengers traveled here and there. Sunspear, the return of Prince Lewyn's remains, and face-to-face negotiations with Prince Doran ended the confrontation. But since then, Robert has never been to Dorne, nor has Prince Oberyn been to King's Landing." "He's here, then, and he's brought half the lords of Dorne with him, and it seems his patience is running out as time goes by," Tyrion pointed out. Whorehouse, so that he can get drunk and tender, right? Geez, 'every tool has a purpose, and every task requires a special tool'. I leave it to you, father, don't say we Lannisters don't know how to sing together." Lord Tywin pursed his lips, "It's really boring. Would you like to wear a clown costume and a hat with bells?" "If I wear this, I can speak freely to our good lord Joffrey, yes!" Tywin sat down again, "Enough, I have endured your grandfather's folly, don't be ignorant." "Very well, since you think so highly of me, let me tell the truth—the Red Viper is not easy to deal with, and I am afraid he will not be satisfied with Ser Gregor's head alone." "In this case, don't hand him over at all, so as not to waste resources." "Not at all . . . ?" Tyrion was surprised. "I thought we could all agree that beasts are to be found everywhere in the woods." "Low-level beasts." Duke Tywin crossed his fingers and pressed his chin. "Sir Gregor is hard to find. In the Seven Kingdoms, there is no knight who can spread fear more." "But... Oberyn knew that Gregor had—" "What does he know? But hearsay, stable gossip, and kitchen chatter; and Ser Gregor himself, of course, can't say anything. That's why I want him to stay away while the Dornishmen are in King's Landing." far away." "Then what do you use to prevaricate Oberyn's demand for 'justice'?" "I will tell him that it was Ser Amory Lodge who killed Elia and her children," Duke Tywin said without changing his face. "If he asks next time, just tell him so." "But Ser Amory Loach is dead," Tyrion pointed out calmly. "Exactly. Vargo Hurt stole Harrenhal and fed him to the bears. This death should satisfy Oberyn Martell's cravings." "This is the 'justice' you gave him..." "Of course it is 'justice'. If you want to know, it was Ser Amory who offered the girl's body. At that time, she hid under her father's bed, thinking that Rhaegar could still protect her, and Princess Elia and the prince It's in the royal nursery on the first floor." "Very well, this 'gossip' Ser Amory cannot deny. What if Prince Oberyn insists on finding out who is behind it?" "You say Ser Amory is doing it for himself, trying to win the favor of the new king. Robert's hatred for Rhaegar is well known." It made sense, Tyrion grudgingly admitted, but the Serpent wasn't going to let it go. "I am not in a position to question your actions, father, but in my opinion you should not have dirty your hands for Robert Baratheon." Lord Tywin looked at him as if he thought his son was an idiot. "If you think that, you should be in a clown costume. Come to think of it, we ended up on Robert's side, and we had to show our sincerity. And when I put the dead body in front of the throne, anyone knew Our family has turned their backs on the Targaryen dynasty forever. Robert himself is most comforted. Even a fool like him knows that as long as Rhaegar's children are in the world, he will not be safe. Since he is a hero, dirty work Someone else has to do it for him." The father shrugged, "I admit that they have gone too far, especially not hurting Princess Elia, which is downright stupid. Without a child, she herself is meaningless." "Then why did the Mountain still move?" "Because I didn't explicitly order him to stop. Maybe I simply forgot to mention her. There were too many things to consider at the time. Ned Stark led the vanguard day and night, going down the Trident River, and I was afraid that he would take the first step. So much so that it will cause conflict between our family and the victor, and I am afraid that Aerys will murder Jaime in order to insult me. I am most worried about the latter. Besides: I am also afraid that Jaime will do stupid things in his own way," Father shook hands Fist. "I have no feelings for Gregor Clegane. He was just a useful tool. He was a horrible war. The rape... no one can blame me for ordering it... Actually, Amory Sergey was tough enough, he treated Princess Reyce...I asked him afterwards why he stabbed this...two or three-year-old girl dozens of times? He said she kept kicking him and wouldn't shut up. Honestly, Lo If you have the IQ that the gods bestowed on turnips, you should coax the child and start with a soft silk pillow." The father concluded in disgust, "He got blood all over his hands." But not your hands, father, Tywin Lannister is innocent. "Was it the silk pillow that killed Robb Stark?" "He was shot at Edmure Tully's wedding feast. The boy is very vigilant. Not only does he keep his army in order, but he always keeps squires and guards around him." "Lord Walder murdering guests under his own roof, at his own table?" Tyrion clenched his hands into fists. "Where's Lady Caitlin?" "Dead too. Didn't you read the letter, 'a pair of wolf pelts as a gift'? The Freys had planned to keep her hostage, but apparently something happened." “They trample on guest rights!” "Walder Frey did it, not me." "Walder Frey was a dying, irascible old man who was only capable of possessing young women and caring about the violations he received. I don't doubt that this crime was his idea, but if it wasn't for someone else's promise, Forgive him for not having the guts to act alone." "What about you? You just let the kid go and tell Lord Walder he doesn't need help? Unless you want to send the old fool back to Stark's arms and fight for another year of hard work for yourself. I don't understand , what is the nobleness of slaughtering ten thousand native soldiers on the battlefield compared with killing a dozen nobles at the dining table?" Tyrion was speechless, and his father continued, "by any standard, The price we paid was very low. When the Blackfish surrendered, the king would give Riverrun to Ser Emmon Frey, and at the same time let Lancel and Davon marry the Frey girl, and Jay would marry Wa when he grew up. The illegitimate son of the Lord Marquis. As for Roose Bolton, he will be formally canonized as the Warden of the North and welcome Arya Stark home." "Arya Stark?" Tyrion looked up. "Married to the Bolton family? I knew Frey wouldn't dare to act alone. But this Arya... Varys and Sir Jacelyn have been looking for it for half a year It’s all gone, so he should be dead, right?” "Renly, too? But he played again at the Battle of the Blackwater." "What's the meaning?" "It means that Littlefinger is smarter than you or Varys. Listen, Lord Bolton wants a wife for his bastard son, and we will give it to you, then sit back and watch the Dreadfort and the Ironborn fight for the North, and watch the Starks. Movement. When spring comes, they are all exhausted from fighting, and we will take advantage of it again. The North will belong to you and Sansa Stark's child... If you can find the courage to give me one. You don't Forget, Joffrey isn't the only one who cares about a woman's virginity." I haven't forgotten, but I hope you bastard don't keep bringing it up. "Then do you think Sansa will cooperate obediently?" Tyrion asked his father in a vicious tone, "after I told her we murdered her mother and brother?"