Maegor's House was never a pleasant place.
Even in midsummer, when other rooms in King's Landing were sweltering under the scorching sun, this place was still eerily cold.
Different from the blood-red wall tiles in other parts of the Red Keep, the walls here are all made of thick black stone. It is said that the construction was personally supervised by Maegor Targaryen I, in order to make those nobles who dare to disobey his will feel a chill here.
The windows are narrow and high, like prison observation holes, and the light that comes through is never enough to dispel the shadows in the corners.
This is especially true at night.
The rain in late autumn started falling in the early morning, slowly and slowly. The raindrops beat on the glass windows, making a dull tap-tapping sound, making everything in Council Chamber seem so wet.
The new king Tommen Baratheon is sitting on the throne.
The eight-year-old boy wore a deep red velvet coat embroidered with Baratheon crowned stag. His golden curly hair was carefully combed, and his face had a serious expression that was inconsistent with his age.
His feet still couldn't reach the ground, and were hanging slightly on the edge of the high chair.
On the table in front of him, there was a stack of parchment documents neatly placed, each one opened and waiting for signature.
Next to it is the royal seal of a gold stag statue, the base of which can be dipped in red ink pad.
For Tommen, this was the most interesting part of being king.
He carefully picked up a document and scanned the text with his green eyes intently. Although he didn't know much about some of the more professional vocabulary, his grandfather, the Prime Minister, had taught him the process step by step.
Pick up the quill pen and neatly write "Tommen Baratheon I" in the blank space at the bottom of the parchment, then hold the royal seal in both hands and press it heavily next to the ink mark.
The image of the stag emerges clearly in the red ink pad.
Tommen looked at his work with satisfaction, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Then he raised his head and looked at the adults arguing on both sides of the long table. When he saw that no one noticed him, his smile quickly disappeared and he yawned.
The quarrel has been going on for a long time. At this time in the past, he should have gone to bed.
"... I'll say it one last time, Prince Martell!"
Mace Tyrell tried to maintain restraint in front of the king, but the gradually rising volume revealed the obvious impatience in it.
"The North has just been pacified, Stannis's whereabouts are unknown, and there is a Targaryen queen riding three dragons on the other side of the Narrow Sea."
"These are difficult times for the Seven Kingdoms. We need to unite rather than settle old scores!"
The Duke of Highgarden's fat cheeks were slightly red, and he waved his arms to argue with the opponent, but all he said was just nonsense.
Obviously, this reason could not convince the well-prepared Prince of Dorne.
"Old account?"
Oberyn sneered.
He did not sit upright like the others, but half-leaned on the back of the chair, with one leg resting on the knee of the other, a posture that was comfortable and almost rude.
"Tyrell Duke calls the murder of a princess and her two children an "old account"?"
Oberyn raised the corners of his mouth and mocked unceremoniously. "Then I'm curious, in your opinion, what kind of things are worth remembering?"
"A failed party, a bad hunt, or... your son fell off his horse at a tourney?"
"Oberyn! I'm a bastard..." As soon as he said these words, Mace's face immediately turned extremely ugly. He could no longer maintain his previous demeanor, and he almost blurted out swear words.
After all, everyone knows that his eldest son Vilas Tyrell was originally an outstanding young man who was well-educated, gentle and polite. If he had not fallen off his horse when he participated in the first martial arts tournament, he should have become a better knight than his younger brother who has the title of Knight of Flowers!
What made him most angry was that the initiator of all this was Oberyn Martell in front of him!
He actually... dared to mention it!
This is obviously a slap in the face in front of everyone!
Hair! Hair! Hair!
The noble Duke of Highgarden was so angry that he was trembling all over, and even the fat on his face was shaking with his body. Obviously, this fact really pierced his heart.
Seeing such a violent reaction, the teasing smile on Oberyn's face became even stronger.
To be honest, he didn't hate Villas Tyrell. It was a complete accident when he knocked that guy off his horse in the martial arts competition and caused the opponent to lose a leg.
This was quite common in tourneys in history, and Villas never blamed him.
Not only that, the two even became good friends after that, and often maintained long-term correspondence, because Willas had considerable experience in raising horses, which was very suitable for Oberyn's appetite.
But it's one thing to have a good relationship with Vilas, but it's another thing to use this matter to anger his idiot father.
After all, he came today with the mentality of winning.
If...Corleone That guy's guarantee really counts.
"Please watch your words, Your Highness."
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit tense, Grand Maester Pycelle on the side planned to open his mouth to smooth things over.
The old bachelor tremblingly stroked his long gray beard, as if it were an amulet that could give him courage.
"This is Maegor's Tower, and we are expected to maintain proper... decency before the king."
"Decent?"
Upon hearing this, Oberyn immediately turned his gun and pointed it at Pycelle, the contempt in his eyes almost overflowing.
"With all due respect, Grand Maester."
"Does your so-called dignity mean sitting in the tower of the academy and praising those families who send the most Gold Dragon to you and compiling their genealogies?"
As soon as these words came out, Pycelle's face turned the color of pig liver, and he quickly retorted, "I'm not... I didn't...
.. Don't talk nonsense..
"Am I talking nonsense?" Before he could finish speaking, the sarcasm in Oberyn's voice became even stronger. "Don't forget, I have also spent some time in the Academy, and I am very familiar with it."
"I spent three years under the arcades of the academy, mastering six subjects and forging six Maester's chain."
"But some people melt their family's gold into keys, opening doors they can never knock with their wisdom."
"They wasted several years or even ten years in the school city, but they couldn't even prepare a cup of the simplest poison. They just spent all day on the astronomical platform with Myr Lens peeking at the maids' balcony."
"Ha!"
"What's the end?"
"The doctors of the Citadel weighed the weight of their tribute purses and generously gave those fools a silver-plated necklace so that they could leave Old Town with their heads held high!"
"It made me laugh so hard!"
Oberyn said, winking at Pycelle with an extremely teasing expression. "Do you know what the children of Dorne call the Citadel, Your Excellency the Grand Maester - "Gilded Brothel"!"
"But I think this metaphor is inappropriate. After all, at least the prostitute will admit that she is selling, and the city...
"Enough!"
Under Oberyn's constant ridicule, Pycelle didn't react at all. After all, he has lived for nearly ninety years, and he has heard uglier words than this. However, Mace couldn't sit still, slammed the table, and hit the oak table with his fat palm, warning. "Prince Oberyn, if you continue to speak with this attitude...
99
"What's wrong with this attitude?"
Oberyn didn't tolerate him at all and directly raised his voice. "How does it compare to Gregor Clegane's attitude when he pinned my sister, Princess I Lia, against the wall?"
"Compared to his attitude when he strangled Princess Rhaenys with those dirty evil hands, compared to his attitude when he smashed Prince Aegon's head to the ground?"
As Ober's questions became more and more pointed, the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly tit-for-tat.
Even the young king was so frightened that he clutched the Seven-Pointed Star pendant on his chest with his fingers and murmured a prayer in a low voice, "The gods watch everything, crimes will not be forgotten, and justice will eventually come,"
"That all happened during the war."
At this moment, a calm female voice sounded, and everyone's eyes turned to the other end of the long table.
I saw Queen Mother sitting there, looking extremely calm, even... a little happy.
Her fingers kept tapping the crystal glass in her hand, and she took a sip of wine with great interest, as if she was attending a banquet.
"During Robert's Rebellion, many unfortunate things happened."
"War is like a fire. When it burns, who can tell which spark lit which room?"
Hearing this, Oberyn slowly turned his head and looked at Cersei, a snake-like light flashing in his eyes.
When he was young, he visited Casterly Rock and almost made a marriage arrangement with the woman in front of him, but it fell through later due to some unpleasant things.
But looking back now, it's a good thing I didn't marry her into the family at that time.
Because in Oberyn's opinion, this woman is simply more vicious than him, who has the title of "Red Viper"!
"Queen Mother Your Majesty."
"Please allow me to correct a few minor mistakes of yours. First of all, the deaths of my sister Princess I Lia and her children were not during war. King's Landing had fallen, the Mad King was dead, and the Lannister army had taken control of the Red Keep."
"The war is, in fact, over."
"Secondly, this is not an unfortunate incident, this is murder. Planned, purposeful murder!"
"Third...
Oberyn leaned forward, put his hands on the table, and looked directly at Cersei: "You said you can't tell which spark lit which room?"
"What a coincidence, I can't tell the difference either."
"But I can at least tell who threw the sparks into the pyre and who opened the nursery door and pointed inside and told them to clean it up!"
His voice was so loud that Dome in Council Chamber was almost an echo, and it could not be cut off for a long time.
Upon hearing this, Cersei's expression did not change at all, as if what Oberyn said had nothing to do with her.
Seeing that the atmosphere had cooled down again, Mace Tyrell sighed heavily and rubbed his temples.
"Prince Oberyn, I understand your grief, but this is not how the account is calculated...
"No, you don't understand."
Oberyn interrupted him again and said word for word, "You will never understand."
"You haven't heard your sister scream when she was raped, and you haven't seen your nephew's head being smashed, so please don't use the word "understand", Your Majesty the Duke, it's an insult."
Hearing this, Mace opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, and just leaned back tiredly.
Tired, really.
Talking to such a donkey-tempered guy about putting the overall situation first is like playing the piano to an ox.
On the side, Grand Maester Pycelle was stroking his beard silently, not intending to persuade him anymore, but his movements were faster than before.
But at this moment, Cersei spoke again.
"Your Highness." She shook the wine glass in her hand, with a warm and ambiguous curve at the corner of her mouth, and said in a playful tone, "I completely understand your appeal. In fact, I think your appeal is reasonable."
As soon as these words came out, Mace and Pycelle looked at her at the same time, with surprise written on their faces.
Even Tommen raised his head, his big blue eyes full of confusion.
"Oh?" Oberyn narrowed his eyes.
"Like you, I have just lost my eldest son, and my desire to try the murderer is very urgent."
Cersei put the wine glass on the table with a clatter, sat up straight and said righteously, "And...
"If a the Seven Kingdoms can ignore crimes such as the murder of kings and princesses, then what dignity does the law have and what prestige does the ruler have?"
"As they often say, a Lannister debt must be paid, but it's not just a financial debt, it's also a moral one."
"If Gregor Clegane Ser is guilty of the crimes of which he is accused, then he should stand trial."
Cersei said it lightly, but Mace couldn't help but remind him, "Do you know what this means, Queen Mother Your Majesty?"
"Once this case is retried, we will spend a lot of manpower and material resources, and the relationship between Dorne and the West will become tense again!"
"The relationship between Dorne and the Westerlands has never been very harmonious, as everyone knows."
However, Cersei also imitated Oberyn and interrupted Mace, her voice suddenly turned cold. "But justice cannot be covered up by evil!"
"Or, Duke Tyrell, do you think that the thoughts of some very few individuals are more important than the lives of a princess and two children?"
These words were extremely sharp and almost crushed the "unity first" argument that Metz just made.
Hearing this, Mace's face turned red again, but this time it was not because of anger, but because of confusion and uneasiness.
Because he couldn't understand Cersei's intentions.
As Tywin's daughter and as a Lannister, she should try her best to stop this incident. Why is she... instead adding fuel to the flames?
His eyes kept wandering between Cersei and Oberyn, and he couldn't figure out why these two people didn't listen to him at all, and one day they actually stood on a united front.
Forget it.
Tired, destroy it!
Seeing Cersei's calm expression, Mace simply slumped down on the back of his chair with his hands spread out, determined not to care about this mess anymore.
On the other side, Oberyn is also observing Cersei.
His dark eyes were fixed on the woman in front of him, and he also didn't know what the other woman's mentality was.
Could it be said that even Queen Mother is a member of Corleone?
"Queen Mother Your Majesty is so insistent on justice, it's really... surprising."
After a long time, he spoke, and there was no hint of appreciation or sarcasm in his tone.
"I just believe the law should treat everyone equally."
Cersei calmly replied, "It doesn't matter whether the other party is a knight or a commoner, a noble or a royal family, let alone...
She paused and glanced across the long table.
"Now sitting on the Iron Throne is my son Tommen. I hope that he will rule a the Seven Kingdoms with laws to follow and justice to speak of, rather than a superficial peace maintained by covering up crimes and forgetting history."
Little Tommen, who was not far away, heard his name and raised his head to look at his mother, his face full of reverence.
To him, his mother's words were so similar to the Archbishop's sermons on justice, law, and the will of the gods.
He nodded vigorously, although no one noticed...
"Well said."
Hearing this, Oberyn finally showed a real smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes, "So, Queen Mother Your Majesty supports my proposal to convene a formal trial, summon Gregor Clegane Ser, and re-investigate the death of Princess I Lia·Martell?"
"I support justice being done." Cersei answered accurately. "If it means the case needs to be retried, then I support a retrial."
After hearing this, Mace, who had originally planned to ignore it, couldn't help but stand up. The chair made a harsh sound on the stone floor. But when he saw Oberyn and Cersei casting warning glances at him, Mace felt that all the words were stuck in his throat.
After swallowing, he could only quietly kick Pycelle beside him.
As if to say, "Grand Bachelor, please say something!"
However, Pycelle seemed to have fallen asleep, his head drooped, and there was a faint sound of snoring.
He can fucking fall asleep!
Mace resisted the urge to punch the old man to death and sat down angrily. Council Chamber fell into silence again.
It rained harder.
Rain poured down the windows, blurring the outside world, making Council Chamber seem like an isolated island.
The candle flames swayed in the humid air, casting dancing shadows on everyone's faces.
The king finally completed signing and sealing the last document.
He carefully put the quill back into the pen holder, clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and began to silently recite the prayer taught to him by the Archbishop: "Father grants justice, Mother grants mercy, Warrior grants courage...
The sound is very small, but it is clearly audible in the silent Council Chamber.
Cersei glanced at her son, a complicated look flashed in her eyes.
Then she looked back at Oberyn.
"What, then, is the Prince's formal proposal?"
Oberyn took out a roll of parchment from his arms.
The paper is somewhat yellowed and has frayed edges, and has obviously been opened and read frequently.
"This is my formal request."
He put the parchment on the table and pushed it to the center of the long table. "First, the Royal Council officially recognized that there are major doubts in the death case of Princess Yi Lia·Martell, and decided to re-investigate."
"Second, the suspect Gregor Clegane is immediately detained at Red Keep Dungeons, pending trial."
"Third, establish a seven-member Judicial Committee. The members should include representatives of Dorne, representatives of the city, representatives of the church, and four members of the Royal Council."
"Fourth, summon all witnesses who may know the facts of the case, including the guards, maids, and bachelors who served in the Red Fort!"
After the words fell, Mace Tyrell couldn't help but take a breath.
This request is simply outrageous!
However, Oberyn ignored his reaction and instead stood up and grinned at the boy on the main seat. "If a person commits a crime, then he should be tried. Do you agree, Your Majesty?"
Hearing this, Tommen hesitated for a moment and instinctively looked at his mother.
Cersei nodded slightly.
"Yes... yes." The king obviously had no confidence and whispered, "If he is guilty... he should be tried."
After saying that, he shrank back in fear, held Seven-Pointed Star pendant tightly with both hands, and began to recite the prayer in a low voice. "Warrior protects the innocent, the blacksmith forges the truth, Maiden protects the pure...
However, at this time, no one had time to pay attention to the king. Everyone's eyes were focused on Cersei. Even Pycelle, who had been sleeping just now, opened his eyes.
Mace was shaking his head, his eyes full of pleading.
Pycelle's lips trembled silently.
Tommen stopped praying and looked at his mother with his big blue eyes unblinkingly.
Cersei stood up slowly.
She wore a pair of thick-soled boots today. When she stood, she was almost as tall as Oberyn.
The dark blue velvet dress glowed darkly under the candlelight, like the sea surface in the middle of the night.
"As Queen Mother."
"As the mother of the king, as one of the guardians of this the Seven Kingdoms, yes, I support it."
"Ha~ah~~~~" Even though he guessed the ending, Mace couldn't help but groan when he actually heard Cersei speak.
"But I have a condition."
Cersei glanced at him and continued, looking at everyone present. "The trial must be fair, must be transparent, and must be conducted in accordance with all procedures of the laws of the Seven Kingdoms."
Hearing this, Oberyn nodded with satisfaction. "This is exactly what I want."
"Besides." Cersei nodded slightly.
"In view of the seriousness and complexity of the case, and also in view of..." She glanced at Tommen: "King Your Majesty is young, I suggest that during the trial, a special Regency Council be established to be fully responsible for trial matters and ensure that the trial process is not interfered by any external factors!"
Damn it?
As soon as these words came out, even Mace Tyrell's smooth brain folds understood Cersei's plan.
He looked at Queen Mother with wide eyes, a mixture of shock and realization in his eyes.
In Cersei's mind, today's matter was not about Yi Lia·Martell from the beginning.
Never.
It's about... power.
Oberyn wants revenge, Cersei wants regency.
She supported the retrial, not because she suddenly felt a sense of justice, but because she saw an opportunity - an opportunity to bypass Tywin and take direct control of power.
If Regency Council is established, as the king's mother, as Queen Mother, she will naturally be the core candidate.
And once she takes control of the regency, Tywin's influence will be weakened.
"Queen Mother Your Majesty." After taking several deep breaths, Mace suppressed the shock in his heart and whispered to dissuade him, "The regency...
... I'm afraid it needs careful consideration."
"Although King Your Majesty is young, he is assisted by the Royal Council after all, and has... Duke Tywin as Prime Minister...
,"My father is very busy."
Cersei interrupted him unceremoniously, her tone terrifyingly calm. "He has to deal with affairs in the West, deal with the the North situation, monitor Stannis, and balance the major families."
"It would be too heavy a burden to leave such an important trial to him alone."
As she spoke, she paused and showed an almost perfect cold smile.
"What's more, as a woman and a mother, I may understand the pain of losing a loved one better than a man."
"I also understand better how a mother would feel when she sees the body of her child."
Once these words came out, even Mace could not refute them.
After all, he is neither a mother nor a dead son, even though one is missing and has not been found yet...
On the side, Oberyn looked at Cersei, a look of evaluation flashing in his dark eyes.
Of course he knows what Cersei is planning, but he doesn't care. As long as the case can be retried, as long as Gregor Clegane and those who may be behind him can be forced to stand before the judgment seat, he is willing to dance with the devil.
Seeing that several people stopped talking, Cersei said directly and loudly, "I propose that Seven-Member Regency Council be established immediately."
"Of course, all decisions still need to be stamped and confirmed by King Your Majesty. This is only a temporary arrangement until the trial of Princess Yi Lia's case ends...
Just as she was about to finish her words, Council Chamber's door was suddenly pushed open, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
Everyone turned their heads and saw Tywin Lannister standing at the door.
The rain wet his shoulders, and his blond hair stuck to his forehead, but his back was straight, and his green eyes scanned everyone in Council Chamber, and finally landed on his daughter.
Even though Tywin's expression didn't change, the temperature in the room seemed to be dropping sharply.
Tommen subconsciously sat up straight, removed his little hands from Seven-Pointed Star pendant, and placed them neatly on his knees.
Mace breathed a sigh of relief, but then became nervous again, because Tywin's expression was so terrifying.
Grand Maester Pycelle began to cough violently, took out his handkerchief and covered his mouth, as if he might die at any moment.
Oberyn slowly sat back in the chair, re-crossed his legs, and touched his lower back with his right hand, where there was a dagger tempered with poison.
At the end of the long table, Cersei met her father's gaze.
However, she, who had always been afraid of Tywin, did not flinch or avoid him at this moment, and even kept a smile on her lips.
Green pupils shrank slightly, Taiwen walked into Council Chamber step by step without saying a word.
His boots made a clear sound on the stone floor, and the rainwater dripped from the hem of his coat, leaving a trail of dark water trails behind him.
Walk to the front of the long table and stop.
Finally, he looked at his daughter and spoke slowly.
"Continue."
"I'm very curious about what I missed in this royal meeting without the Prime Minister."