Duke Green stood atop the west city wall tower of the Red Keep, overlooking King's Landing. A refreshing night breeze blew, gently lifting his blue cloak embroidered with Marsh Marigolds.
Cersei was decisive.
At this moment, Ser Osmund Kettleblack, her captain of the guard, was in the Maester's Tower "assisting" Grand Maester Pycelle in transcribing the Queen Regent's investiture document.
Tomorrow, when the sun rises, hundreds of ravens from Crow's Nest will fly to the castles of the Seven Kingdoms' lords, and soon… the name of the new Lord of the Eyrie—Greene Crabb—will be known throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
It must be admitted that when the Lioness sets her mind to something… no one can stop her, and she will do it thoroughly.
Besides being adept at using her top-tier beauty, she is also good at giving people unexpected surprises.
Dong~~ Dong~~ Dong~~
In the distance, from the bell tower of the Great Sept of Baelor, the melodious chimes echoed in the silent night sky, as if reminding people of the passage of time.
Green turned around and glanced at the four people faithfully guarding him: Monton, Brienne Tarth, Anguy, and Reon Hersy (Chapter 259).
He showed a slight smile: "Tomorrow morning, I will knight you there, and Archbishop Zali will personally anoint you with holy oil (Chapter 323)."
He continued: "Monton, as a reward for your contributions, I will ask King Joffrey to revoke your bastard status (Chapter 288; hereby, I thank Mr. Cheng for his help, thank you very much)."
Thud, Monton, broad and heavily built in plate armor, knelt with a considerable sound.
"I, I…"
Monton opened his mouth, then scratched his big head, and finally… chuckled foolishly.
Hook Alley, Cleft Manor.
Green had just finished breakfast when a servant came to the dining room to report that Tyrion Lannister had come to visit.
Walking down the stairs, Green saw Tyrion waiting in the hall, standing with his small hands behind his back, with his squire Podrick beside him.
Seeing Green's figure appear, Tyrion immediately grinned: "Ah ha…"
Then… his smile suddenly faded, and he bowed slightly towards Green, respectfully saying: "Good day, Duke."
Green smiled, also playing along with Tyrion's jest, and put his hand to his chest: "Good day, Master of Coin, Lord Tyrion."
Tyrion chuckled: "Congratulations, Green."
"Thank you for your blessings."
Green motioned for the others to leave, and said with a smile: "Please sit, I thought I wouldn't see you until evening."
"According to the original plan, I should be with my amiable father at this time."
Tyrion climbed onto a chair, and after sitting down, continued: "Today I originally wanted to talk to Hand of the King Tywin about the Lannister family's funding for Joffrey's wedding, but as soon as I arrived at the Red Keep, I heard the good news that you were invested as Lord of the Eyrie by Cersei, so I immediately changed my mind."
He grinned: "I'm worried the Old Lion will take his anger out on me."
Green poured two glasses of wine, pushed one of them in front of Tyrion, and said: "A lot happened yesterday, but it is indeed good news."
He took a sip of summer red, and added: "I heard from Jaime that you are preparing a wedding of seven hundred and seventy thousand gold dragons, and I also heard that Hand of the King Tywin allowed it."
Tyrion shrugged and said: "At first, I didn't take it seriously. I thought it was a gesture of sincerity from Lannister to Tyrell, but later I realized I was wrong, because Uncle Kevan found me and conveyed Hand of the King Tywin's words. He said that before the war ends, the Lannister family will suspend its funding to the royal family, which means… the seven hundred and seventy thousand gold dragons for the wedding need to be raised by me, the Master of Coin."
Damn it, his father warned him never to covet the inheritance of Casterly Rock, yet he would use him by any means necessary. Last time it was the not-so-tricky acting Prime Minister, this time it's the tricky Master of Coin.
After a pause, he said with a grin: "If my father really refuses to fund it, I plan to put on a clown suit and perform juggling in front of the Prime Ministers Tower (thanks to Mr. Au for the suggestion) to earn the expenses for my nephew's wedding… Oh, I'm almost moved to tears by myself."
Green couldn't help but laugh: "If I have time, I will visit you in the dungeon, Tyrion."
Tyrion laughed heartily and said: "I didn't expect you to understand Hand of the King Tywin's style so well… the dungeon… hmm…"
After muttering, he complained: "Green, I can guarantee I am the most miserable Master of Coin, because I'm worried my good sister will suddenly retaliate, I have to be careful every day. I only hope my father marries her off as soon as possible, the farther the better. Hmm, the fiercer the husband, the better. I actually miss Robert."
Green shattered his beautiful dream: "Unfortunately, Queen Regent Cersei's marriage is up to her, Hand of the King Tywin has already agreed."
Tyrion was stunned for a moment and said: "How is that possible… Did you do it?"
Green nodded slightly: "This was the condition for the Vale to be willing to 'sit' down together."
As his words fell, Tyrion's eyes, one black and one green, suddenly stared at Green, and his tone became serious: "Green, you and I, we are friends as close as brothers!"
Green spread his hands and said: "Please tell me directly, what is your purpose for coming to see me today, Tyrion?"
Tyrion's cheek twitched slightly, his tone unchanged: "You need to compensate the injured, poor, helpless Imp."
Green nodded: "Hmm, yes, compensation."
Hearing Green's assurance, Tyrion's serious expression vanished, and he sat there chuckling, Green returned a smile.
He grinned: "The royal treasury urgently needs a loan, not much, one hundred thousand gold dragons."
Green looked at Tyrion with disdain and said: "Indeed… not much, I will have Kleber Merchant Association arrange it for you."
Tyrion smiled and raised his cup in a gesture: "Duke, I thank you on behalf of the King for your assistance."
Green smiled, raised his cup, and took a sip of wine, saying: "Do you have a way to get the rest of the gold dragons?"
Hearing this, Tyrion scratched his hair: "Cersei wants to invite a thousand guests to Joffrey's wedding, as well as the most famous musicians, singers, and theater troupes. There will also be seventy-seven grand dishes at the wedding feast… Ha ah, children starve to death in the city every day, people fight each other for a radish, The Seven Gods for me."
Green frowned slightly and said: "Has House Tyrell's aid not alleviated King's Landing's food crisis?"
Tyrion slightly tidied his messy hair with his fingers and said: "Although House Tyrell has transported countless supplies, the price of food in King's Landing is still ridiculously high. Bronn told me that six copper coins buy a pumpkin, a silver stag buys a pile of corn, and a gold dragon is worth a cut of beef or six scrawny piglets. Despite this, gaunt and emaciated men and women crowd every carriage and every stall, while the miserable and helpless old and weak can only stand far away at the alley entrance and watch."
He grinned: "And I… the Little Devil whom they despise and look down upon, still have to find a way to save them. It's truly wonderful."
Green pondered for a moment and said: "Perhaps, you can let me increase the 'compensation', Tyrion."
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