Chapter 139: The Alchemists' Guild
Central Heights, Rammed-Earth Fortress.
Liu Qian stood on the highest lookout platform of the Rammed-Earth Fortress, holding a secret letter from Mezzo.
His gaze swept over the detailed report of the recent upheavals in Westeros.
Jon Arryn had died suddenly, and Eddard Stark had traveled south to take over as Hand of the King-
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Just as expected.
Eddard Stark had gone south to serve as Hand of the King after all.
He should have received the letter Liu Qian had sent him. After all, the ravens Qyburn and Marwyn had brought from the Citadel knew the route to Winterfell very well.
Liu Qian's purpose in provoking a conflict between Eddard and Renly was to leave no possibility of cooperation between House Stark and Renly.
In his view, Littlefinger's scheme had one major flaw.
Without the Red Priestess giving Stannis an unfair advantage, Renly would most likely have swept all the way to King's Landing and crowned himself king.
After all, there were no irreconcilable differences between Renly and House Stark. There was room for cooperation.
Although Robb had also proclaimed himself King in the North, that had been the result of House Lannister executing Eddard. It had nothing to do with House Baratheon.
Later, Catelyn had even been sent to Bitterbridge as an envoy in the hope of forming an alliance with Renly.
Of course, Renly would be killed by the Red Priestess, but House Tyrell would not.
Liu Qian also needed to stir up conflict between House Tyrell and House Stark.
He had received word that Robert had dismissed Stannis as Master of Ships and appointed Lord Mace of House Tyrell in his place.
Lord Mace had contributed a great deal during Robert's expedition to