Tyrion finally breathed a sigh of relief; Cersei hadn't gone mad... Thank goodness for the Seven. 6̶9̶s̶h̶u̶x̶.̶c̶o̶m̶
He glanced at Maegor's Hold under the moonlight, then continued walking. As long as Cersei lived here, he couldn't come back, at least not until the war was over.
As they left Maegor's Hold Gardens, Bronn, who had remained vigilant, approached Tyrion and whispered, "My lord, while I was guarding the door, Ser Lancel secretly delivered an important message."
Tyrion looked at him and continued, "The Queen Regent intends to secretly send Prince Tommen to Rosby for hiding, and she has entrusted this task to Gyles Rosby (now the Master of Coin )."
Tyrion for a moment, then said, " Gyles Rosby is too sickly to run, and too cowardly to fight. My poor little nephew, his mother is too good at choosing men."
However, Tyrion had to admit that... letting Tommen leave King's Landing was one of Cersei's few good ideas, because even if they conquered King's Landing and executed Joffrey, the House Lannister would still have Lawful Heir to the Iron Throne, which would put Stannis in a difficult situation.
"We're just helping out my nephew's good mother."
After a pause, Tyrion continued, "According to the intelligence Lancel revealed... go and tell Ser Jacelyn ( Commander of the Gold Cloaks ) to ambush Gyles Rosby and Tommen on the Rosby Road Rosby."
"Yes, Your Excellency the Wise Lord Hand."
"Tell him he must ensure my nephew's safety. Then, ask him for me, Earl Jacelyn... how does that title sound?"
"Your Excellency, Earl Bronn sounds better."
Bronn grinned lewdly and continued, "I can even snatch a child, as long as I can get a title to play with. I'll even hold him and sing him a lullaby."
Tyrion reached out and patted Bronn on the shoulder, grinning. " Bronn, you're my captain of the guard. I need you more here."
If anything were to happen to Joffrey, the Lannister would have to rely entirely on young Tommen to retain the Iron Throne.
Tyrion admitted that he trusted his captain of the guard, but the matter was too important for him to entrust with the protection of Bronn, a mercenary, and his mercenaries.
He was more at ease with Sir Jacelyn Walder, who held a knighthood, in such matters.
His friend, Lord Gryn, once told him that human nature should not be tested, and he agreed with this view.
He instructed, "Tell Ser Jacelyn that if any killing is to be committed, it must not happen in front of Tommen; my nephew is soft-hearted."
Bronn shrugged and said, "My lord, are you sure he's a Lannister?"
"I'm not sure about anything, I just know war is coming, hurry up and make arrangements. 🍭💘 🐒🍩"
After a pause, Tyrion chuckled, " Bronn, are you enjoying your time with Miss Loriss (Chapter 208)? I'd love to hear your sweet love story when you return."
A house somewhere in Hook Alley.
"My lord..."
When Tyrion pushed open the door and entered, Shae smiled.
Tyrion had to admit he really liked Shae's smile; it was a smile that flowed naturally and effortlessly across her pretty little face.
Shae was dressed in a purple silk dress with a silver belt, which perfectly complemented her jet-black hair and fair skin. She approached him cheerfully.
Tyrion couldn't help but smile; at least here, he was popular and needed.
After closing the door, Shae Tyrion to a chair, and once he was seated, she knelt down to take off his shoes.
Tyrion pulled Shae over and sat her down beside him, saying, " Shae, it's not safe for you here."
Shae's bright eyes held a hint of doubt as she poured a glass of wine and handed it to Tyrion, saying, "My lord, I have the guards you provided."
Tyrion took a large sip of Dorne strong wine, its color a deep, blood-red hue, which he had recently come to prefer over the sweet and sour Summer Wine.
He took another sip and said, " Shae, someone has discovered that the Hand of the King is keeping a lover."
"You mean the Hand of the King's prostitutes?"
Shae gazed at Tyrion with her innocent, captivating eyes for a moment, then said, "My lord, I truly wish to be your lover. I want to wear all the beautiful clothes you've given me, adorn myself with the jewels you've given me, hold your hand, and stand by your side at the banquet. I can bear you a son; I know I can, and I know I will never disgrace you."
Tyrion reached out and stroked Shae's dark hair, sighing inwardly. His love for her was enough to embarrass the Lannister Hand of the King.
He said, " Shae, my Empress Dowager sister has her eye on you, and she will stop at nothing to capture you."
She shook her head slightly. "The Empress Dowager? Noble ladies might be afraid of her, but I am not."
He shook his head slightly. "It's me who's afraid. I'm afraid you'll get hurt by her."
She gripped his hand tightly. "Then kill her... I know you hate her, this will end it all."
As she finished speaking, Tyrion's eyes flickered.
After a moment of silence, he sighed and said, " Shae, she is, after all, my own sister. To murder one's own blood would incur the wrath of both gods and men, and be condemned to eternal damnation. Besides, whatever my opinion of Cersei may be, she is deeply loved by my father and brother. Thank the Gods, my mind is capable of dealing with anyone in the Seven Kingdoms, but facing Jaime wielding a sword, I am utterly helpless. 💢♬ 👊🎃"
His Shae comforted him, " Stannis still has a flaming sword, but he can't scare you."
Tyrion sighed again and said, "To fight Stannis, I have the entire House Lannister as my backing, but... against Jaime or my father, I only have my short legs."
"You still have me." Shae reached out and wrapped her arms around Tyrion's neck.
Even though the entire King's Landing reeked like a pigsty, Shae's body exuded an intoxicating fragrance.
But... now is not the time to enjoy himself. Cersei won't give him much time; he needs to make arrangements for Shae as soon as possible.
Tyrion gently freed himself from Shae and said, "I was thinking, perhaps I could let you infiltrate the Tower of the Hand kitchen."
"The kitchen?" Shae's expression stiffened.
Tyrion nodded and said, "I need you to disguise yourself as a kitchen helper..."
His words were interrupted as Shae's hand quietly moved down below, and after a moment, Tyrion couldn't help but hiss.
Shae's deep eyes had become moist, and she murmured sadly, "Are you tired of me, my lord?"
"Or..." Her pace gradually quickened.
Shae's voice was filled with a certain allure as she whispered, "Do you want to have sex with the cook, sir? You can sprinkle flour on me, then suck meat broth from my breasts, or..."
"Stop, don't say anymore."
Tyrion grabbed her busy little hand, paused for a moment, and said, " Shae, your safety is in grave danger. I want you to hide in the kitchen. With a little care, it's easy to avoid Cersei's notice, and you'll be safe."
Shae pouted slightly and said, "My lord, if my hands spend all day washing stoves and wiping dishes, they will never be this soft again. Once they become red, rough, and cracked from being exposed to hot water and soap, will you still need their touch?"
Tyrion silently reminded himself that Shae was still young and didn't understand things, which was normal.
He patiently explained, "Jewelry can be bought new, clothes can be remade, twice as beautiful as the old ones, I promise. My arrangements are to protect you from harm, not just my sister, but also my father... Given the current situation, my father will find out about you sooner or later, and you must not fall into my family's hands. I'm not exaggerating, believe me, Shae."
Shae tossed her dark hair and said angrily, "You're all grown up now. It's your business how many the Maiden you want to raise. Does he still think of you as a naive kid? What can he do to you, spank you?"
*Slap! Tyrion slapped her, not hard, but not light either.
He shouted angrily, "You bastard! Don't you dare laugh at me! You can't!"
For a long while, Shae remained silent, and all that could be heard was Tyrion's heavy breathing.
Finally, she rose and knelt before Tyrion, sniffed, and said, "I didn't mean to be presumptuous..."
Her voice was low and wooden. "Please forgive me, sir."
This scene, this Shae, pierced Tyrion's heart. He looked at his palm. Why did I hit her? The Gods have mercy, am I becoming Cersei?!
"I'm sorry, but..."
He paused, then the things Tyrion didn't want to talk about... poured out of his mouth like a horse murmuring softly.
"When I was a child, I married a farmer's daughter, or rather, I thought she was a farmer's daughter. I was blinded by love and believed she felt the same way about me... It was my father who forced me to see the truth: my bride was a prostitute hired by Jaime to let me experience the pleasures of sex."
"To teach her a more thorough lesson, my father handed my wife over to the entire battalion of soldiers, allowing them to use her as they pleased, and ordered me to watch the whole thing... After everyone was done, he wanted me to have sex with her one last time... He said only in this way could I remember the real her... I should have disobeyed him, but my desire betrayed me... After that, my father dissolved my engagement with the prostitute... The monks also said that the marriage was as if it had never happened."
Tyrion climbed down from the chair, took Shae's hand, squeezed it, and said, "I'm sorry, I only need you to stay in the kitchen for a short while. Once we defeat Stannis, I'll give you a new house, and many silk garments as soft as your hands..."
Shae, following Tyrion's lead, slowly rose to her feet. Her eyes lowered, she replied, "I will obey your orders, my lord."
Tyrion wanted to reach out and rub Shae's slapped cheek, but he wasn't sure if the Dwarf's hand could soothe her pain.
Has he fallen for another prostitute? Cersei was right, he thinks with that kind of filth, he's a fool, he's a complete and utter fool!
"I'll send someone to pick you up." He left in a hurry.
Clatter, clatter, clatter... The horses' hooves clattered crisply on the cobblestones as Tyrion sat silently on his horse, moving toward the Red Keep.
Tyrion was filled with remorse. Why had he told Shae about Tysha (his ex-wife)? Some secrets should never be told, some shame... a man should take it to his grave.
Tyrion questioned himself: what did he want from Shae? Forgiveness?
After hearing his words, how could she possibly still love him?
Or perhaps she will still love me, because in the first place she loved his gold and jewels, not a foolish Dwarf.
In the Tower of the Hand's study, Tyrion summoned the captain of the guard who had finished his errands.
" Bronn, I want you to bring Cersei into the Tower of the Hand without Shae's knowledge." Tyrion succinctly explained his kitchen plan to his captain of the guard.
After hearing Tyrion's words, Bronn asked with some surprise, "Are you serious? Are you sure you want to put your little beauty in the kitchen, sir?"
Tyrion, with his hands behind his back, glanced at Bronn, whose face looked rather sleazy, and asked, "Is there a problem?"
Bronn grinned and said, "You're putting such a delicate little beauty in the kitchen... she'll be touched, pinched, patted, and caressed. The young man washing dishes will sneak into her blanket in the dark, and the baker will pinch her breasts with his flour-covered hands."
He added, "Most importantly... my lord, your kitchen is not a safe place; there are quite a few eyes and ears there."
Tyrion scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed, and said, "Mercenary, help me think of something. You know what I want."
"It would be my pleasure to serve you..."
Bronn gave a graceful bow, but then brought up another matter. "My lord, I have heard that your knightly cousin intends to join the vanguard in the upcoming war."
Tyrion stopped pouring the wine and exclaimed in surprise, " Lancel? If he wants to die young, that's a heroic way to do it."
Bronn chuckled and added, "These young knights always think they're invincible."
Tyrion's eyes flickered slightly. He stared at Bronn for a moment, then chuckled, "Hmm, I do need a steady and reliable knight."
Bronn grinned broadly, bowed deeply, and said, "I will always be yours, Lord Tyrion."
Tyrion laughed and said, "Ser Bronn, although you have a face that makes one uneasy, I must admit, I like you very much."
Bronn chuckled and said, "The other day, Miss Loriss told me that she couldn't find some of her jewelry. I think she might need to get a more clever maid."
"That's the wisdom of mercenaries..." Tyrion grinned. "I'll suggest to Lady Tanda that the shy Lady Loriss stay at the Tower of the Hand for a while."
Hmm, we still need to find a reason that is both polite and convincing.
Tyrion's mood instantly improved. The noble ladies' maids were dressed a million times better than the cooks, and they could even wear a piece or two of jewelry. He thought Shae would be very happy to hear this news.
" Bronn, I will ask the High Septon to personally anoint you with holy oil."
In the North, Eddard Stark's 5,000-strong the North New Army and Crannogmen Howland's 3,000-strong the Neck army ( Meera and Jojen's father) attacked the Ironborn's hold on Moat Cailin.
After five days of continuous attacks, Moat Cailin was recaptured, and the Ironborn were routed.
King Balon's brother, Victarion Greyjoy, the Ironborn commander who invaded Moat Cailin (Chapter 223), was personally executed by Lord Eddard in the name of Warden of the North.