The content of Cersei·Lannister's words made Petyr·Baelish's heart skip a beat.
Petyr spread his hands and said in a helpless tone, "Your Highness Queen, this... has to be said to be very tempting. I hope the truth is like this, but I know that I am not capable and I am just a herald."
Varys held hands together and said with a comforting tone, "Sir Petyr, your talent is obvious to all, so there is no need to belittle yourself."
Petyr's eyes twitched. "Sir Varys, I only know how to fulfill my duties."
Varys immediately replied, "This is the most rare quality."
Petyr's tone was sarcastic. "Being loyal to one's duties is not worthy of praise. Why do I feel like you have something to say?"
Varys nodded slightly, his eyes shining brightly. "I just want to use Master Petyr to inspire me, who is doing nothing. After all, only your excellence is well known."
I hate him...Petyr said coldly, "Sir Varys, your pervasive special ability is obvious to all."
Varys's tone was modest. "The emperor needs someone who can inquire about information. I happened to appear here. This cannot compare with your ability to govern the country. You can be said to be irreplaceable."
Varys's sweet words sounded full of irony to Petyr.
Petyr started to speak with a little anger, "I would really like to know who can take your place."
Varys's tone was still humble. "Sir Petyr, there is no need to worry, anyone can do it as long as they are literate."
Petyr's smile gradually deepened, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Varys seemed not to notice Petyr's anger at all, and his posture became more humble.
Why did Petyr and Varys suddenly and inexplicably "quarrel"? They were deliberately diverting attention.
Those of them who depended on machinations and tricks for food had tacitly chosen not to let Cersei Queen continue to speak.
They all felt that Cersei Queen's next words would be shocking, and they were not yet prepared accordingly.
After a few more words, the quarrel will naturally escalate, and Petyr or Varys will leave the meeting angrily, or they will both leave the meeting at the same time, forcibly ending Small Council.
Cersei Queen can only Small Council next time... Because there is a time difference, if they find out that it is not good for them, Cersei will not have another chance.
How it will develop in the end depends on whether it is profitable.
The idea is very good and conforms to the rules of the power game. Unfortunately, they encountered Cersei.
"That's enough! You two, please be quiet!"
Cersei's coquettish drink directly interrupted the rhythm of Petyr and Varys.
Cersei didn't see anything, she just felt that these two men... one man and half a man were very noisy.
How dare you quarrel unscrupulously in front of her? Do you take me seriously?
Cersei ignored the different expressions of others and said impatiently, "Lord Arryn, I came here today to recommend Hand of the King's successor!"
After Cersei's words fell, Throne Room's body seemed to freeze instantly, and everyone present was stunned.
Seeing the reactions on everyone's faces, Cersei Queen raised his smooth chin proudly.
Gryn's tricks are exactly what I like!
The imperial ministers were not so shocked by Cersei's words, but more surprised by her willfulness.
Small Council has its own rules of the game, and they can't guess Cersei Queen... Either she doesn't understand, or she is deliberately ignoring it.
Westerlands's lion family finally couldn't stand it anymore after seeing him seriously ill? Cersei Queen suddenly broke into Small Council today. Hand Jon Arryn suspected that Tywin·Lannister was behind this incident.
Hand Jon Arryn felt complicated and said in a cold tone, "Cersei Queen, I never forget my responsibilities. I have already made arrangements for this kind of thing."
Cersei sneered and said, "Lord Arryn, you don't even dare to ask who I recommend, do you want to leave Hand of the King to..."
Speaking of this, Cersei deliberately paused for a while and mocked. "Is it planned to pass it on to your youngest son, Robert Irene?"
"You, cough cough cough..."
Hand Jon Arryn was so angry that Cersei's nonsense words made his blood boil, and he couldn't help but cough again.
Renly·Baratheon laughed, with a teasing tone. "Your Highness Cersei, Little Robert is still young and needs a long time to grow up. Your humor made me laugh!"
Renly's frivolous tone rarely made Cersei angry, because his words made sense. Cersei did doubt whether House Arryn would always control Hand of the King's position.
Although the heir of Jon is young, Cersei only temporarily put down his vigilance, because House Arryn represents Vale, and Vale is more than House Arryn.
Cersei doesn't want to wait for Joffrey to sit on Iron Throne and let the nobles of House Arryn or Vale continue to hang out in front of her eyes. By then, all the eyesores will be expelled by her, leaving only her Lannister clansmen in Red Keep.
Jon stopped coughing and stared at Cersei for a while, then said, "It seems that among everyone present, His Highness Queen is the only one who has not hidden his selfish intentions."
Hand Jon Arryn has determined that the successor to Hand of the King that Cersei went to great lengths to recommend is Lord Tywin.
Cersei's identity is Queen, and Tywin is her father. No matter how you defend your father, you cannot avoid selfishness.
Moreover, he cannot die for the time being. Once he solves the problem of Royal Bloodline, at least while King Robert is alive, even half of Lannister will not be able to appear in Red Keep.
Therefore, I will give you the opportunity to formally propose the candidate for Hand of the King's successor. Please do not affect my lockdown. We will deal fairly!
Petyr lowered his eyes and looked deeply... He felt that although something unexpected happened today, he realized an excellent opportunity.
Petyr's gray-green eyes moved slightly and glanced at Hand Jon Arryn, who had a sickly flushed face.
According to the previous words of Cersei Queen, while Hand Jon Arryn is seriously ill, the matter of acting as the "herald" for Hand of the King should be ended on its own initiative.
The great nobles have noticed him, and they will not allow outsiders to interfere with the power of Hand of the King for a long time.
The value of Hand Jon Arryn to Petyr has been greatly reduced... No, he still has the last bit of maximum value left to create a ladder for me to rise.
Petyr lowered his eyelids to hide the coldness in his eyes.
Cersei snorted softly and said, "I am Queen. Naturally, it is out of public interest."
Under the sunlight, Cersei's curly blond hair hanging down on her collarbone shines.
"I, Cersei·Lannister, in my capacity as Queen, recommend Duke Mace·Tyrell of Highgarden as the successor of Hand of the King."
Cersei Queen's speech at Small Council shocked everyone.
Cersei Queen raised the corners of his lips and said in a contemptuous tone, "How about it? Lord Arryn, do you still want to question your Queen for no reason?"
Cersei was very satisfied with the effect he had in the pre-conference meeting.
None of the incompetent imperial ministers can be her opponent!
Cersei took a long and slow breath, suppressing the warm excitement, and the pair of slender and fair legs that were held together in the skirt moved.
Petyr's eyes trembled. Lord Mace taking over from Hand of the King is definitely not good news for him. The powerful House Golden Rose has the ability to stabilize the kingdom's situation in a short time.
Without a chaotic situation, his upward ladder would not appear.
Petyr's thoughts were racing, and he couldn't stop it directly.
Red Keep has no secrets. What happened in Small Council today will be known to House Golden Rose sooner or later. Petyr does not want to directly offend House Tyrell.
Petyr's heart moved, Direwolf!
Lord Jon moved his lips. What he was most worried about now was whether House Tyrell and House Lannister had secretly formed an alliance.
If the lion and the rose have formed an alliance, the war will begin when the Royal Bloodline problem is revealed. At that time, the Royal Bloodline problem will become the best excuse for Lannister, completely binding Westerlands and the Reach.
When the family's fundamental interests conflict, no one will pay attention to the fact itself.
If this war breaks out, Seven Kingdoms will be involved, and its scale will be no less than the war more than ten years ago, or even bigger.
For the sake of the stability of the kingdom, should he take the initiative to cover up the ugly truth and tarnish his honor with his own hands?
Hand Jon Arryn couldn't make up his mind for a while. His poor health could no longer cope with the complex situation.
Petyr looked at Hand Jon Arryn who kept his eyes closed and remained silent, feeling secretly anxious in his heart.
Petyr had no choice but to remind, "Lord Hand, you should respect Cersei Queen's recommendation. Small Council cannot ignore His Highness Queen's suggestion. You can report Hand of the King's successor to King Robert."
Hand Jon Arryn opened his eyes, and a bright light flashed away in his cloudy eyes.
Robert King has ignored government affairs all year round, so Jon has become accustomed to taking all problems into his own hands to solve.
Cersei Queen can recommend candidates, but the final choice of candidates lies with King Robert.
Who will the next Hand of the King, Robert king appoint?
For this, Lord Jon already knows the answer.
Regarding Petyr's timely reminder, Lord Jon sighed in his heart. He had always been very optimistic about Petyr's talent, but it was a pity that his background was not noble enough, otherwise...
Lord Jon recovered his thoughts and said, "Cersei Queen, I will report the candidate you recommend to King Robert."
Lord Jon Qiang cheered up, no matter whether the Lion and the Rose formed an alliance or not, he would still find ways to drive a wedge between them.
Perhaps, the fact that Cersei Queen personally recommended Lord Mace as the candidate for Hand of the King is a good opportunity in itself.
Cersei nodded coldly.
At this time, Renly suddenly said, "Lord Jon, please also report my name by the way. I recommend myself as the next Hand of the King."
Renly's smiling words made it difficult for people to tell whether he was joking or not.
Hand Jon Arryn looked at Renly: "Renly, are you serious?"
Renly shrugged, Hand Jon Arryn nodded his chin slightly with a complicated expression.
Renly Why did you suddenly recommend yourself?
Hand Jon Arryn sighed secretly, Renly is still too young and always easy to be impulsive!
Does he feel betrayed?
Hand Jon Arryn knows the deep friendship between Renly and Loras·Tyrell, but Loras cannot represent House Golden Rose.
[Loras·Tyrell is Lord of Highgarden The third son of Mace·Tyrell is known as "Knight of Flowers"; Renly took Loras·Tyrell as his attendant when he was Storm's End, and established a solid friendship with Loras from then on.]
Jaime, who was standing behind Cersei, clenched his fists looking at Renly with a smile on his face, and there was a coldness hidden in his green eyes.
Jaime will never forget the hatred that Renly secretly hurt Cersei.
Gryn has promised Jaime to help him plan Renly (Chapter 89).
A Lannister always pays his debts, but for the safety of Cersei, Jaime is willing to be patient enough and wait for Gryn to return from Essos.
Cersei's matter is not over yet, he said, "Lord Arryn, Highgarden are far away in the south, we must invite Lord Mace to come as soon as possible."
Hand Jon Arryn frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Cersei Queen, I am still Hand of the King of the kingdom. Lord Mace has not been appointed as the new Hand of the King by King Robert. Lord Mace is now one of the alternatives."
Cersei said contemptuously, "Of course I know that Lord Mace is not yet the kingdom Hand of the King. Since it is already Hand of the King's candidate, I naturally invite you to come to Red Keep. This is the respect we deserve."
Cersei snorted coldly and continued, "If you can invite Lord Mace in advance, it will be more respectable than asking a Master of Coin to run errands for you."
Petyr:"..."
Hand Jon Arryn has confirmed that the person behind all this today is Lord Tywin who is far away from Casterly Rock.
If it weren't for Lord Tywin's plan, he didn't believe that Cersei Queen could have thought of this on his own.
Cersei does not have the political means to attack him one after another.
Willful and never calm, this is Cersei·Lannister, the former Light of the West.
At this time, Pycelle University stood up tremblingly and said, "Lord Jon, if you can get the Reach food support, you will definitely be able to appease the people when you close the city."
Hearing this, Hand Jon Arryn looked at Petyr.
Petyr smiled elegantly and spoke respectfully, "Lord Hand, I can imagine that King's Landing's grain prices will become very outrageous. I dare not overestimate the character of King's Landing's grain merchant."
Petyr did not cooperate with Hand Jon Arryn this time and deliberately answered nonsense that was not nonsense.
Hand Jon Arryn frowned slightly... That's all, I guess Petyr is also in a mess at the moment. He only really saw how difficult Cersei is today!
Only he knows the true purpose of sealing the city.
After Robert sat on Iron Throne, House Golden Rose was excluded from Red Keep.
Red Keep is the center of power of Seven Kingdoms. The powerful House Golden Rose will not give up this opportunity easily. He has to pay attention to this matter.
Things have changed, and Hand Jon Arryn had no choice but to adjust the original plan.
After pondering for a while, Hand Jon Arryn said helplessly, "Don't be anxious when the city is closed."
"Cersei Queen, I will write a letter personally and invite Lord Mace."
Hearing that Lord Jon agreed to his request, Cersei showed a look of satisfaction.
Varys held hands together, nodded slightly, and said to Cersei Queen, "Your Highness Queen, I have to remind you that Red Keep currently does not have a position suitable for Lord of Highgarden."