Chapter 80: Hard to Start

She also discovered that the nobles were ready to make moves because of her father's death, and even her father's men who were far away in the outer city of Riverrun were somewhat unstable.

Cersei had no choice but to ask her uncle Kevan, whose prestige was second only to her father Tywin and who was recuperating at home, to serve as Hand of the King to maintain stability in King's Landing.

However, uncle Kevan looks down on his niece Cersei.

The rumors about her and Jaime brought shame to the Lannister family, and she allowed the monstrous king's son Joffrey to do whatever he wanted.

Kevan believed that it was Cersei's actions that caused the Lannisters' good situation to fall into its current mess, and refused Cersei's request.

He will only agree to return to his family and serve as Hand of the King if Cersei renews her engagement to the Knight of Flowers in Highgarden.

Cersei had finally gotten rid of her tough father and cancelled her engagement with Loras, so how could she agree to her uncle Kevan's request?

The two sides were in a stalemate, and Jaime had to step in to mediate, but Kevan was still unwilling to serve as the Hand of the King and face Cersei, the Queen Regent, every day.

However, for the sake of his family's interests, he had to compromise and was willing to lead the army outside Riverrun. He knew that if the army was unstable, the Lannister family would lose their greatest reliance on ruling the Seven Kingdoms.

Cersei had no choice but to compromise and appointed Mace, the father of Margaery the Rose, as the Hand of the King, barely stabilizing the nobles of King's Landing.

While Cersei was feeling resentful about her compromise and annoyed by her uncle Kevan's non-cooperation, Olenna, the Queen of Thorns, was sitting under the grape vines and happily chatting with her granddaughter Margaery over a glass of wine.

"After you marry Tommen, you must win his heart as soon as possible and get pregnant with his child. I don't think I need to teach you this again!" Olenna said with a smile as she looked at her outstanding granddaughter.

After her grandmother Olenna finished speaking, Margaery couldn't help but blush. Tommen was just a child who barely met the conditions for childbearing, which made her feel embarrassed to take action.

Olenna saw that her granddaughter was embarrassed, but she did not try to persuade her again. Olenna knew that Margaery would not go against her wishes and would do it even if it was a little difficult.

"Pay attention to that woman Cersei. Even though your father has become the Hand of the King, he will only let her manipulate him and will not be able to help you in any way. You must let Tommen rely on you and grow up as quickly as possible. You cannot let Cersei control the government all the time."

The only thing that Queen of Thorns Olenna was thankful for about her useless son was that he gave birth to a good granddaughter for her.

Margaery had followed the teachings of her grandmother Olenna since she was a child, and she admired her grandmother's methods from the bottom of her heart. She nodded in agreement and gently raised her glass to clink with her grandmother's.

Olenna had just put down her wine glass when she heard the maid announce that Varys was outside the manor asking to see her.

Olenna didn't expect Varys to come to her at this time. Could it be because of Littlefinger Petyr taking Sansa away? She couldn't help but think of the conversation between Varys and herself before Joffrey's wedding.

Seeing her grandmother holding her wine glass and thinking quietly after hearing Varys's arrival, Margaery had no idea what she was thinking.

Olenna frowned and thought for a while, but couldn't figure out the purpose of Varys's visit. She still planned to meet the intelligence chief of King's Landing. After all, Highgarden did not have many allies in King's Landing.

Signaling Margaery to step aside for the time being, Olenna sat on the chair and waited quietly for Varys to arrive.

Varys, who was waiting to meet Olenna in the manor, saw Margaery the Rose walking towards him. He bowed slightly and lowered his head to greet the future Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

"Lord Varys, your grandmother is waiting for you in the hall!" Margaery gave Varys, the chief of intelligence, enough respect.

Varys did not correct Margaery's call of "My Lord", and seemed to be very pleased with it. He nodded to her again to thank her, and watched her leave before slowly walking towards the hall.

Seeing Varys approaching, Olenna took the initiative to say: "I didn't expect that Lord Varys, who is so busy with his affairs, would have the time to look at an old woman like me."

"My lady, you have been in King's Landing for a long time, so naturally I have to come and say hello." Varys said with a smile.

"Naturally, I can only return to Highgarden after my granddaughter's wedding. Thank you for your concern, sir." Although Olenna wanted to win over Varys, the chief intelligence officer, she also had her own pride, so she spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Olenna finished speaking, but Varys seemed unconcerned. He sat in the chair where Margaery had just sat and said, "My lady could have returned to the rich land of Highgarden safely after your last wedding. Why make a fuss about it?"

After hearing Varys' words, Olenna was visibly stunned. She frowned and asked in confusion: "What do you mean, my lord?"

"I think I reminded my lady last time that Petyr is too insidious and it is best to have less contact with him. My lady didn't seem to listen to me!" Varys asked Olenna.

A trace of doubt flashed across Olena's wise eyes, and she said, "I still don't understand what you mean, sir."

"With your wisdom, my lady, you should have guessed it long ago." Varys smiled.

Olena seemed to glance around unintentionally, her face slightly grim, and she said nothing.

"Madam, do you want to harm a useless person like me?" Varys leaned back in his chair and looked around casually.

"How could I be disrespectful to you, my Lord? You are very safe here."

Seeing Varys's confidence, Olenna secretly gave up her plan and continued to test him: "I don't know much about Petyr, and I don't plan to cooperate with him."

"My lady is really forgetful. There is a missing crystal pendant on Sansa's necklace. I remember that at the wedding, my lady came to Sansa's table to talk to her and stroked her neck with her hand. Am I right?"

Varys knew that without concrete evidence, the Queen of Thorns would never admit to murdering Joffrey.

After hearing Varys mention the crystal pendant and herself, Olenna remained calm and said, "I have always liked Sansa, the northern lady, and wanted her to marry Loras, but Lord Tywin got there first. The nobles of King's Landing should all know this."

Varys guessed what Olenna would say, shook his head and continued, "Am I right that Lady Margaery placed the golden cup on your table as if by accident after King Joffrey drank the wine Tyrion offered him?"

After Varys finished speaking, Olenna stared at him without saying a word, as if she wanted to see through him.

"I didn't see the golden cup placed on my table." Olenna thought about it and denied it directly.

The incident has passed, and Tyrion was tried for the murder of the king. Although he escaped punishment, he was also charged with patricide and fled to an unknown place. Olenna naturally would not admit what she had done.

"You are right, but when I present these details to Cersei, I don't know whether she will believe Tyrion or you!" Varys said slowly.