Chapter 88

Chapter 88 The King's landing (Part 2)

  "Ah?"

  After Duke Jon called out several times, Grand Maester Pycelle woke up from his dream.

  He raised his head blankly and looked at the faces of his colleagues for a long time before he seemed to remember where he was.

  "I'm sorry, my lords."

"I'm old and I get tired easily, so I accidentally fell asleep. I'm really sorry."

Duke Jon sighed, and he couldn't be harsh on the other party .

After all, Pycelle was older than him. He had served the Iron Throne for nearly fifty years and had experienced four kings. No one could match his qualifications.

  However, "The spider" Varys pulled a mocking smile from the corner of his mouth. He learned from a little bird that this grand maester who now looks like he has half stepped into the grave . When lying in bed with maids is very energetic.

  "Master Pycelle, we are discussing the dispute between the Reach and Dorne. What's your opinion on this?" Duke Jon asked patiently again.

  "Reach and Dorne..." Pycelle stroked his snow-white beard, pondered for a long time, and then said slowly,

  "Those two families have been fighting for thousands of years, and there is no end to it. What a headache! As subjects of the Iron Throne, what can't be discussed? They have to fight back and forth to let innocent soldiers and farmers die in vain. When Aegon V was on the throne, he wanted to promote these two family through marriage to ease the conflict, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. Later, Jaehaerys II..."

  The old grand maester rambled on for a long time, but it turned out to be all nonsense.

  Hearing that Pycelle actually mentioned the former king, Duke Stannis finally couldn't help but interrupted:

  "I think the Iron Throne should send an envoy to the south to end this dispute."

  Well, finally someone gave a applicable Opinion.

  Pycelle closed his mouth resolutely, closing his eyes, as if he had fallen asleep again.

  Duke Jon looked at the Duke of Dragonstone sitting on his right hand, who looked like a cold stone, Duke Jon suddenly felt that although this person had a bad temper, compared with the other slippery guys, he seemed very cute.

  "I agree." Duke Jon agreed, not planning to waste too much time on this matter.

  "I agree."

  "Me too."

  ...

  The rest of the people also expressed their opinions one after another.

  "Okay." Duke Jon nodded in satisfaction, and asked again, "Who do you think is the most suitable candidate for the envoy?"

The meeting hall suddenly became quiet again.

  After a while, "Littlefinger" Petyr said: "If you want Reach and Dorne to sit down and negotiate calmly, the person who goes there must have enough prestige. In fact, it's best for His Majesty to go there in person..." The rest of the people listened and shook their head secretly at these words.

  That king who didn't even bother to attend the imperial meeting, was he was expected to mediate the dispute between Reach Bend and Dorne?

  Duke Jon coughed lightly, and said: "His Majesty is busy after all..."

  At this point, the old Duke's face turned red, but he continued:

  "Let's send someone else."

  Petyr shrugged his shoulders, and suggested: "If his Majesty cannot go in person, it is best to send a member of the royal family."

  Hearing this, Stannis Baratheon and Duke of Dragonstone Island, resolutely shook their head and finally Stannis said:

  "I will go. "

Duke Jon pondered for a moment, then smiled at Stannis:

  "Lord Stannis is willing to go, I am sure I have no objection. However, the kingdom's maritime affairs still need to be presided over by you, so it might not be good to leave rashly... "

  Hearing this, Duke Stannis jumped up suddenly, and said stiffly:

  "In that case, then I will leave for 'maritime affairs'. My lords, please continue to discuss."

  After speaking, he strode out of the meeting hall .

  Everyone looked at his back and didn't know what to say for a while.

  Duke Jon sighed, knowing that the reasons for his refusal were really far-fetched. But he can't help it.

  Considering 'Stannis' bad temper, it's important to determine if he's capable of mediating disputes without intensifying the conflict.

  Moreover, during Robert's Rebellion , the Reach army besieged Storm's End for more than a year, almost starving Stannis to death in his city. If he was sent there, and the two sides turned up the old score, they might have to start a new something .

  "Ahem, do you have any other candidates?" Duke Jon felt that his head began to ache again, and he couldn't help raising his hand to press the center of his brows and knead.

  Petyr smiled slightly, and suggested again:   

  "Then why don't you send Duke Renly? He happens to be on vacation by the Sunset Sea, and he's not far from there."

Duke Jon was even more displeased, shaking his head and said:

  "Duke Renly is on vacation, so don't bother him."

  Petyr was not discouraged, and suggested another person:

  "What about Prince Joffrey?"

  Duke Jon didn't even think about it. Just shook his head when he thought about it: "His Royal Highness Joffrey is too young."

  Petyr spread his hands: "Then only Her Majesty the Queen."

  "I agree with Her Majesty the Queen!" .

  But unfortunately, his words did not arouse everyone's agreement.

  After Duke Jon heard the queen's name, he felt his head swell even more.

  That careless woman made the Red Keep go crazy all day long, and you still expect her to mediate the dispute?

  Pray the seven gods !

  The old man was a little sad to find that among the royal families that ruled the Seven Kingdoms, there was no reliable mediator.

  In fact, it is more than just the royal family, who among the important officials of the kingdom in the imperial meeting can reassure him?

  Varys knew too much and did too little.

  Pycelle played dead all day long, and had close contacts with the Lannister family.

  Barristan Selmy was rigid and obstinate, oblivious to anything but his oath as a White Knight.

  As for "Littlefinger" Petyr Baelish -

  it stands to reason that this person is his vassal and was promoted by himself, so he should be his confidant.

  But every time he gazed into the other person's gray-green eyes, for some reason, Duke Jon always felt that he could not fully trust this person.

  A deep sense of powerlessness haunted the old duke, making him even more exhausted, who had already been exhausted by the arduous affairs of the kingdom.

  Sometimes he couldn't help but want to leave everything behind and return to Vale of Arynn with his wife and children to enjoy his old age.

  But every time he would immediately hate himself for being weak next second ,

  'As High As Honor'

  This family motto of the Arryn family has long been engraved in his bones.

  When he rebelled with his two adopted sons, Robert Baratheon wanted to save his fiancé , Ed Stark who wanted to avenge his father and brother, but he, Jon Arryn, wanted a less crazy king for the Seven Kingdoms.

  Unfortunately, although the new king, Robert Baratheon, is not crazy, he is definitely not wise either.

  So, he had to make up for it.

  No matter how heavy this burden is, it is an honor that he must stick to.

  For this, he can give everything, including life.

  "Okay, i'll go there myself." Duke Jon made the final decision, at this moment, he felt that his headache seemed to disappear, "As the Hand of the King, I should act on behalf of the King. After I leave, the affairs of King's Landing will need you lords to take care."

  Everyone hurriedly bowed their heads in agreement.

  "Littlefinger" Petyr Baelish bowed particularly low, as if afraid that others would see the expression on his face at the moment.

  …

  After the imperial meeting ended, Petyr walked out of the meeting room, feeling that the sun outside was extraordinarily bright.

  "Lord Petyr." Varys' spider's soft voice came from behind.

  Petyr quickly put away the smile on his face, turned around and said, "What's the matter? Lord Varys?"

  Varys walked a few steps quickly, walked side by side with Petyr for a while, and suddenly said,

  "You seem to want Jon to go to Dorne in person?"

  "Huhh?" Petyr immediately denied, "Lord Jon is old and not in good health, so it is really worrying to travel such a long distance. And you and I both know that the Lord Jon presides over all the affairs in kingdom. If he leaves, the imperial meeting may be messed up. Hahh!, it's a headache just thinking about it."

  Varys smiled, but mercilessly exposed:

  "Don't think I can't see your trick. You deliberately put all the inappropriate candidates in front of Lord Jon one by one, obviously to force him to mediate in person."

  Petyr looked deeply wronged: "Lord Varys, what you said is really serious. It breaks my heart. I really only care about the stability of the Kingdom, but you always suspect me."

  Varys smiled, moved closer, and lowered his voice:

  "Lord Petyr, a little Bird told me that he saw you in Braavos, across the Narrow Sea, two months ago. Why did you do there?"

  "Your little bird must have mixed the person. It seems that they are not only stupid, but also blind." Petyr sneered, and then he gave Varys a blank look, and said, "Speaking of the other side of the narrow sea, I How come I heard that you seem to have a close relationship with a Duke named Illyrio..."

  The two looked at each other, as if exchanging thousands of thoughts in an instant.

  The next moment, Varys covered his mouth with his hands, and showed a sweet smile:

  "It seems that we are really working hard for this Kingdom."

  "Yes." Petyr also showed a characteristic narrow smile, "Like us there are really not many loyal subjects."

  "Hahaha, Lord Petyr, you speak as beautifully as my mockingbird."

  "Lord Varys, you are also as charming as women in a drama."

  　[END]