Varys did not refute, he nodded calmly. "Lord Eddard, you know that child very well. He has indeed never harmed an innocent person."
Eddard·Stark's gray eyes trembled slightly. "..., this is the character that a knight should have, but now it has become a praiseworthy part."
A meaningful smile appeared on Varys's face.
Varys sighed, "When I was a child... to be precise, before I was mutilated. At that time, I followed the troupe all day long in the Free Cities tour. They taught me one thing, that is, everyone has a role to play, both inside and outside the play. Later, when I came here to be Master of Whisperers, I discovered..."
After a pause, he continued, "The same is true inside Red Keep. Master of Laws needs to be ruthless, King's Justice needs to be vicious, Master of Coin needs to be diligent and frugal, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard needs to be brave, and Master of Whisperers... of course should be cunning and good at flattering, and also be pervasive."
Lord Eddard said coldly, "Varys, you have found a good excuse for staying out of the matter."
Varys seemed not to understand the sarcasm in Lord Eddard's words.
He smiled and said, "Lord Eddard, a brave Master of Whisperers is as useless as a cowardly knight."
Lord Eddard frowned. He didn't like Varys's word games. No matter how nice he said it, it couldn't change Varys's hypocrisy.
He took a sip of wine and said, "Varys, are you going to slit my throat for Cersei?"
Varys's smile froze, and he shook his head and said, "I can't do such a thing."
Lord Eddard's voice contained sarcasm. "It can't be just to let me go, right?"
Varys shook his head again. He seemed to be regretting. "Perhaps I could have done it before, but not long ago Petyr·Baelish suddenly disappeared from the heavily guarded Black Cells. Now... the supervision here has become very strict, not to mention you who are the most important to the Queen Mother."
Lord Eddard paused with the hand holding the wine bag and said, "Littlefinger escaped?"
Varys nodded slightly. "Lord Eddard, I am very sure that although eunuchs have no honor, there is no need for me to deceive you."
After a moment of silence, Lord Eddard said, "Forget it, I can't do anything now."
He added, "It's rare for you to tell the truth...Varys, just tell me your purpose of meeting me."
"Your Majesty, I come for peace."
Varys nodded, held his hands together, and said seriously, "If there is anyone in King's Landing who sincerely wants to save Robert·Baratheon's life, it's me."
Lord Eddard:"..."
Varys showed a helpless smile, sighed, and continued, "For fifteen years, I have tried my best to protect Robert I from the enemy, but in the end he was inevitably harmed by his old friends..."
He looked directly at Lord Eddard: "What crazy thoughts are there in your mind that made you run to tell Queen Regent Cersei that you knew those three children were not of royal blood... and gave Lannister enough time to arrange for Robert I to suffer the so-called accident?"
Lord Eddard seems to be laughing at himself, "Crazy idea of mercy."
"There is only one answer...Lord Eddard, you are a person of noble character. I often forget this because I rarely meet people like you in my life."
He looked around the dark and damp cell, and then said, "After I saw what kind of consequences kindness and honor brought to you, I finally understood why."
Lord Eddard asked, "Did Robert investigate anything about the wine he drank?"
"I have investigated in secret. Those Strongwine were handed over by Queen Regent Cersei to Lancel. She had planned this day long ago...Lancel was praised by King Robert. Maybe he likes the feeling of being drunk. Hunting while drunk is inherently dangerous and accidents will happen sooner or later. This is exactly what Queen Regent Cersei is looking forward to."
Varys's eyes flickered, and he looked at Lord Eddard, whose face was slightly lowered.
He added, "Without your stimulation, Queen Regent Cersei might have continued to wait for a while... Alas, even if the pig didn't kill Robert, he would have fallen off the horse and seriously injured him... or missed his shot. arrow, or a sudden bite of Viper... That hunting ground is already full of traps, just waiting for the drunk king to jump. Therefore, it was not the wine that killed Robert I, but your kindness and honor."
Lord Eddard closed his eyes in pain. "The Gods forgive me."
Seeing Lord Eddard immersed in grief, Varys comforted, "Lord Eddard, if there are gods in the world, I don't think they will criticize you harshly. When you were at Winterfell, Queen Regent Cersei had already hidden the murderous intention to get rid of Robert I."
Lord Eddard suddenly opened his eyes, Direwolf's gaze became as sharp as Throne Room's bloody battle that day.
"Varys, you are deliberately disturbing my mood."
Varys was frightened and took a step back. He acted scared and innocent.
"Lord Eddard, you can't misunderstand the kindness of a small person."
Lord Eddard stared at Varys: "Tell me your true purpose, I don't want to hear any more nonsense."
Varys raised his hand to wipe the non-existent cold sweat on his forehead.
"Lord Eddard, actually I came here today to tell you that Queen Regent Cersei will visit you soon."
Lord Eddard said coldly, "Why did she see me?"
Varys glanced at the prison door and whispered, "Queen Regent Cersei is afraid of you."
Lord Eddard showed an impatient look. "Varys, I have not forgotten that I am a prisoner. She can execute me at any time."
Varys quickly explained, "Maybe I didn't express it accurately enough. It should be said that she is afraid of the power behind you, the troops of the House Stark and Tully families."
"The North has raised an army?"
Varys nodded first, then shook his head, and then said, "Your wife and eldest son are gathering House Stark's vassals at Winterfell. It is said that your wife has sent a letter to Riverrun and Eyrie. The content of the letter is not difficult to guess."
After a pause, Lord Eddard asked, "Casterly Rock is there no movement?"
Varys shrugged. "I heard that Lord Mace from Highgarden gathered at the border of the Reach and Westerlands in the name of catching robbers. He has gathered 20,000 troops and is holding a banquet there with his vassals. The Reach in the east, plus Riverlands in the north, I think Lord Tywin will find it very difficult now."
"Dornish Marches Dorne...House Martell still holds a grudge against the death of Princess Elia and her children. As long as there is an opportunity for revenge, they will never let it go."
"What also makes Queen Regent Cersei have trouble sleeping and eating is Robert I's two younger brothers. Especially Stannis's inheritance rights are justifiable, and he can fight well. During this period of time, Stannis is in Dragonstone What will do? I bet he is gathering troops, not shells... He has Royal Fleet in his hands, when will he break into King's Landing? Everyone knows that Lord Stannis is by no means a soft-hearted person."
Varys finally sighed, "Crownlands and Westerlands have too many enemies to face."
Lord Eddard was wondering why Varys told him the outside information. This was not good for Cersei.
"Varys, who do you work for?"
Varys smiled slightly, his eyes sincere. "Lord Eddard, I work for the peace of the kingdom, and I swear on my lost lifeblood. All my efforts have only one purpose, and that is to avoid war and maintain peace in the kingdom."
Lord Eddard did not believe what Varys said. This was not because of his prejudice against eunuchs, but because of Direwolf's intuition... He felt that Varys must have hidden other ulterior motives.
Lord Eddard closed his eyes, he was a little drunk.
Lord Eddard's honor has not wavered. He said bluntly, "Varys, I will not support Cersei's child. Stannis is the true heir of Robert. I welcome him to sit on Iron Throne."
"Ouch!"
Varys first exclaimed, then approached Lord Eddard.
"Lord Eddard, I promise you, Queen Regent Cersei doesn't want to hear these words. If you don't mind your tongue, even if Stannis wins Iron Throne, I'm afraid you will have to welcome him with a rotten head."
Lord Eddard said in a deep voice, "Varys, I am not afraid of death."
"But..."
Varys seems to be begging Lord Eddard: "Have you forgotten your innocent and good daughter? Sansa tried so hard to plead for you, but you... she is really pitiful."
Lord Eddard felt a chill in his heart, and he opened his eyes suddenly. "Don't involve my daughter, Sansa is just a child."
Varys couldn't bear it, and he said softly, "Lord Eddard, except you, who cares whether she is a child? In Queen Regent Cersei's eyes, Sansa is a bargaining chip against you... She knows that a tamed wolf is much more useful than a dead wolf, so Sansa is still alive."
Lord Eddard's voice was full of anger. "If Cersei dares to hurt Sansa, the House Stark and Tully families will never let her go!"
Varys sighed, "Queen Regent Cersei is not a rational woman. This is something everyone knows."
Lord Eddard couldn't hide his worry about his daughter, and he was a little at a loss.
Varys glanced at Lord Eddard, and then said, "Prince Rhaegar's daughter... Princess Rhaenys is also a child? She is a lovely little baby, younger than your two daughters. Did you know that she raised a little black baby? The cat, its name is Balerion, and Princess Rhaenys likes to think of it as the real Balerion the Black Dread... But, I think they quickly let her know the difference between a kitten and a dragon the day Lannister knocked open her door."
Varys seems to be trapped in sad memories.
After a pause, Varys sighed tiredly, "Master High Septon once told me that because we are guilty, we suffer. If this is true...Lord Eddard, please tell me... why in the power game of you nobles, it is always the innocent people who suffer the most?"
"Peace is actually very simple. You only need to promise to the Queen Mother that you are willing to confess your rebellious crimes, make Winterfell respect Joffrey·Baratheon as the king, and promise not to tell her secrets until you die. Then I believe she will agree to you wearing black clothes, and Sansa will not be harmed... The most important thing is to avoid a war, and the people can continue to live a stable life."
Varys walked to the prison door, turned around and nodded slightly towards Lord Eddard who was silent.
"If you are willing, think about it carefully before Queen Regent Cersei arrives... Lord Eddard, I suggest you not to overestimate her patience."
After saying that, Varys stretched out his hand and knocked on the door panel.
City Watch (Gold Cloaks) is the garrison and law enforcer of King's Landing. They have two military camps in the city. The eastern military camp is close to Dragon Gate, and the western military camp is close to Cobbler's Square.
Gold Cloaks East Army Camp, Commander-in-Chief's Camp.
Gryn is sitting at the table. On the table is a detailed map of King's Landing.
Gryn looked away from the map and said, "Leyton, go and take a rest."
It was already dawn, and Gryn and his Little Steward had been busy all night. He missed Maester Al and Samwell who were far away in Whispers.
Leyton raised his head from the pile of documents, with deep dark circles under his eyes.
"My master, there is not much left. I estimate it will be completed this morning."
After saying that, Leyton couldn't help but blow, and he quickly covered his mouth.
Gryn showed a smile, "The corruption within Gold Cloaks is too serious, but it still gives us a good excuse...Leyton, thank you."
Leyton scratched his head in embarrassment.
After a while, he put away a letter and said, "Sir, steward Russell has made an appointment with businessman King's Landing. They are waiting for your interview tonight."
Gryn taps his chin, Leyton refers to the businessmen who worked with Gryn when King's Landing hunted last year.
"Sir Gryn, Sir Lancel·Lannister would like to see you." Suddenly the voice of the messenger came from outside the door.
Gryn raised his eyebrows. Has Lancel been canonized as a knight?
Lancel stood in front with a proud expression. Gryn rubbed his hair. This child must have had a problem with PUA.
"Lord Gryn, Regent Queen Regent ordered me..."
Lancel's words were interrupted by Gryn: "Kneel down and speak."
Lancel looked at Gryn in disbelief.
"I represent..."
With a whoosh, Gryn's long sword almost flew past Lancel's cheek, and was finally inserted into the wooden pillar of the tent, where the sword handle shook.
Lancel was so frightened that he knelt down on the spot.
"You... you..."
Gryn tilted his head, his tone filled with confusion. "Lancel, have you forgotten my warning?"
Lancel blushed. "I am a knight!"
Gryn stood up from the chair, walked over, lowered his figure in front of Lancel, and the two looked at each other.
"Tell me, what does my warning have to do with whether you are a knight or not?"
Lancel's handsome face twisted. "Don't forget, you have no evidence!"
With a bang, Lancel curled up on the ground in pain.
Gryn had already stood up, and he said leisurely, "Why do you think you need evidence? Have you ever thought about what the consequences will be if Joffrey knows about this?"