The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 1008: December · Little Devil · Unexpected Surprise (Grand Finale 1)

In the Year 302 of Aegon's Conquest, October.

Qarth Royal Palace.

The Mountain said, "Jennie, I want to promote the Clegane Bank's paper money worldwide, so I need to establish the largest Clegane Bank in Asshai to issue Clegane currency that is universally accepted in Westeros and Essos."

"The value of Clegane currency is equivalent to the gold, silver, and copper coins of both continents. If Sothoryos and Ulthos are unwilling to exchange their gold, silver, and copper coins for our paper money, then they will be unable to trade with us."

"Asshai is the best place to connect the other two continents because it is rich in gold and jade. Asshai's reputation in Sothoryos and Ulthos surpasses that of our other cities. With enough gold and jade to support it in Asshai, plus a large bank that can freely exchange paper money for gold, we can alleviate the concerns of Sothoryos and Ulthos merchants. They can freely exchange between paper money and gold, and the bank can extract considerable commissions, while also promoting Clegane currency to the other two continents, strengthening its circulation, increasing its value, and establishing its status. In the future, the paper money printed by our Clegane Bank will be equivalent to gold. This is the foundation for the Clegane family's nation and a blessing for future generations."

Jennie Westerling said, "Very well, Your Majesty, proceed with it."

The Mountain looked at Jennie, pausing for a moment, "Jennie, I haven't found a suitable candidate yet."

"You've already found one, I agree!" Jennie smiled. She could see everything in The Mountain's eyes. The Mountain wanted her to go to Asshai and start the largest Clegane Bank. However, what was slightly different was that The Mountain used to be direct, but after returning from Asshai, The Mountain's speech became more like a scholar without supreme authority. He had less dominance and forcefulness, and more etiquette and consideration, and his speech was more tactful.

Asshai used to lack everything—water, food, vegetables, cloth, everything, except gold and jade. After The Mountain sent six dragons to burn the Grey Waste, the water in the Ash River in Asshai became drinkable, and the Grey Waste began to grow new grass. In about a year, it would return to the beautiful grasslands of ancient Asshai. The land that became arable also became more fertile because of the ashes of the ghost grass.

The people from around Asshai—the Yi Ti, the Isle of Leng, the Basilisk Isles, and the various countries along the Ulthos coast—flocked to live in Asshai City. Asshai City is unbelievably large, equivalent to five Qarths or seven King's Landings. It is said that the city walls are also unbelievably tall.

With such a large city, The Mountain wanted Jennie Westerling to personally oversee it. Jennie didn't think she was being 'neglected' to a remote borderland. She believed this was The Mountain's full trust and appreciation for her and her abilities.

"Jennie, are you sure you've thought it through?"

"I'm very sure."

"If you feel uncomfortable in Asshai, you can come back at any time."

"The Mountain, don't worry. My three dragons will grow up soon. If I miss home, I'll ride a dragon back to Westeros, back to the Westerlands to see Lord Gawen and Lady Sybelle." Lord Gawen and Lady Sybelle are Jennie's parents.

"Right, I forgot about your dragons. The little dragons will grow up soon," The Mountain smiled. "I will send Asha, Theon, Euron, Jaime, and Petyr Clegane to assist you. In another half a year, Dontos Clegane, Sweetmouth Ralph Clegane, and Polliver Clegane, stationed in Braavos, will lead the Clegane cavalry and infantry to Asshai to take full responsibility for Asshai's city defense."

"I can handle it, Your Majesty. The Iron Bank of Braavos may need Dontos, Ralph, and Polliver more."

"The Iron Bank of Braavos is guarded by the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White."

"Oh. Arya Stark agreed."

"Of course, the agreement between the royal family and the House of Black and White is a thousand-year oath. The House of Black and White can earn enough commission from guarding the Iron Bank, and we don't have to spend money to support a large army, a win-win situation. The Iron Bank of Braavos is protected by an unbreakable labyrinth. Unless you're an insider, people who enter from the outside can't get out of the labyrinth."

"A labyrinth plus the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White, I really don't need to worry about the Iron Bank anymore," Jennie laughed.

"In Asshai, Arya Stark will also establish a branch of the House of Black and White, and I fully support her. This branch also belongs to our power, and it can reassure me about your safety in Asshai. In the city of Asshai, there are good castles and towers everywhere, but they are covered in dust and have been uninhabited for hundreds of years."

"Alright, The Mountain, your arrangements are perfect, but I don't seem to see much peace of mind in your eyes."

"I'm very relieved, Jennie!"

"Is there something on your mind?"

"No, I just thought that from now on, we might be chasing the west while the other is on the far east."

"We have dragons, The Mountain!" Jennie stretched out a pair of small hands and placed them in The Mountain's pair of giant palms, "We have dragons, we can meet at any time."

"Yes!"

The Mountain's eyes flashed across the face of the old woman Flandro, who said that in order to save Jennie's life, she must go to Asshai. The Mountain also knew the root cause of Jennie's illness: Bran Stark. She killed Bran Stark simply because Bran was a Green Prophet, but Bran was innocent. He was no longer Brynden Rivers.

The Mountain looked at Jennie's noticeably thinner face. Jennie had been taking medicine recently. She herself was a highly skilled healer, and if she said it was fine, no one could say anything. Jennie never told The Mountain that she would see Bran's face at night, and hear Bran's voice in the silence. This torment had actually been very serious since coming to Qarth, but Jennie had hidden it well, and no one knew.

Jennie must go to Asshai. Asshai has Elder Flandro, and the pleasing Scarlet Sanctuary tower, the tower has protective power, this power is invisible and intangible, is a magical power, if Elder Flandro's judgment is correct, the Scarlet Sanctuary tower can shield Bran Stark, can let Jennie sleep peacefully at night. Otherwise, Jennie will be tormented to death by Bran.

Since Jennie didn't mention her 'illness,' The Mountain didn't mention it either. He wanted Jennie to go to Asshai to preside over the 'largest Clegane Bank.' When Jennie goes to Asshai, she will naturally come into contact with Elder Flandro—the Scarlet Witch Elder of Asshai—Grandmother Maggy's teacher.

And in order to save Jennie, she will have to miss several very important weddings, as a queen cannot be present, which will affect her honor and shake her position among the courtiers. It will also spread some guesses and fantasies that create bad rumors about her, because Daenerys and Arianne will appear on these occasions. And only Jennie is the queen, she is the king's legal wife.

The Mountain was reluctant.

*

Aegon's Conquest, November.

Braavos.

Governor's Mansion.

A dwarf lay in bed humming a song.

"I want to live to eighty—

Hey, eighty years old—

Drink my fill of Arbor Gold—

Hey, Arbor Gold—

With a maiden by my side

Hey oh hey yo—with a maiden by my side—

Only then I die in a warm bed—

Hey, hey, hey—

Only then I die in a warm bed—"

The door was pushed open without knocking, and the dwarf on the bed was immediately displeased. He was completely naked in his absolute private space, without a single piece of cloth on his body, with unsightly black hair on his calves and chest.

The dwarf jumped out of bed, and the curse he was about to utter suddenly stopped.

"Governor Tyrion Lannister, your nightlife is very pleasant."

"Your Majesty," the Imp knelt down, right on his own bed. His surprise could not be concealed.

"Are you surprised?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"My mount is a dragon. From Qarth to Braavos, it doesn't take a month, or twenty days, or fifteen days, or ten days."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Mountain looked at the Imp's small body, "Get up."

The Imp had no choice but to get up. The Mountain didn't speak, so he didn't dare to put on clothes. He knew how to deal with a martial emperor like The Mountain. His response was always impeccable to The Mountain.

"Put on your clothes," The Mountain glanced at the Imp's little imp.

The Imp felt no shame about this, "Yes, Your Majesty." He knew that His Majesty's little imp was more shameless than his.

"Did you receive the letter I sent you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am very grateful."

"Jaime is now in Asshai, as Queen Jennie's personal guard."

"The entire Lannister family thanks Your Majesty for pardoning Jaime," the Imp quickly put on his clothes and pants.

"Myrcella Clegane is my daughter, and also a princess of Westeros and Essos. She is no longer an illegitimate bastard."

"Your Majesty, the Lannisters' gratitude to Your Majesty cannot be expressed in words. All words of praise pale in comparison to Your Majesty. Cersei in heaven will also pray for Your Majesty," the Imp's words were his weapons.

"Are you sure Cersei went to heaven?"

"Uh, to be honest, I'm not sure. Maybe the gods, seeing that she wholeheartedly loved her children, let her go to heaven, maybe not," the Imp shrugged and poured red wine for The Mountain.

"Cersei will not go to heaven."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I betrothed Tommen Lannister in Qarth, and they are on a ship returning to King's Landing under the protection of soldiers."

"Yes, Your Majesty. No one in the world could think more perfectly than you. Your wisdom is like the moon, your achievements are like the sun, your breadth of mind is like the blue sky, and your greatness is unmatched from ancient times to the present," the Imp's tongue bloomed with lotus flowers.

The Mountain smiled. He enjoyed the Imp's flattery. Between the monarch and his subject, one shamelessly and fearlessly praised, and the other shamelessly and fearlessly accepted it all. However, in fact, both of them were very clear-headed. The Imp enjoyed the verbal pleasure, and The Mountain enjoyed the Imp's flattery. The Imp had a backbone of pride. Don't look at him trembling with fear, he was not actually afraid of death. It was rare that he could bring himself to be so flattering, which was very pleasing to the eye, wasn't it?

Between the monarch and his subject, they saw through things without saying them, each enjoying themselves!

"Governor..."

"Your Majesty, don't humiliate me. I am just a small courtier of yours. Please call me the Imp as you used to."

"Imp, I have brought you a surprise this time."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Don't you ask what the surprise is?"

"Whatever Your Majesty bestows must be right."

"You are indeed very smart, worthy of being the former Hand of the King of King's Landing, and later Daenerys's Hand. December, come in."

A woman in white robes walked in.

As soon as she came in, the whole room lit up.

She wore a snow-white veil on her face, revealing a pair of large eyes.

As soon as the Imp Tyrion saw those eyes, his eyes went straight.

Just these large eyes alone completely stunned the Imp.

These were a pair of soul-stirring eyes, causing the Imp to tremble slightly in amazement.

Without looking at her face, one could know the beauty of this woman. Moreover, a veiled woman was even more charming, filling people with infinite imagination.

The Mountain coughed lightly, and the Imp regained his composure. He politely said to the woman in white robes, "Please sit, madam." He swayed his short legs to get a stool for the woman, the back of the stool taller than the Imp.

The woman stepped forward lightly, "Governor, let me do it."

Her voice was also extremely beautiful, ethereal and clear, speaking the Common Tongue of Westeros, with an accent full of exotic beauty.

"Your Majesty, this beautiful lady..."

"Her name is December."

"December? What a unique name."

Only then did the Imp notice that behind December stood a petite and exquisite woman, also wearing a veil on her face, covering it tightly, and a pair of eyes rolling around nimbly, sparkling. For a moment, the Imp felt that those eyes seemed familiar.

"She comes from Gamyra, and is a handmaiden sent to me by the Holy Woman Gina of Gamyra. Gamyra is an island nation outside of Qarth, even larger than the Arbor, famous for producing pearls and beauties. The Holy Woman Gina married the Earl of the Arbor—Earl Hoster Redwyne. When she came to Qarth on behalf of Gamyra to submit to me, she brought spices, pearls, and handmaidens as blessings and reverence to the gods to the Clegane royal family. There were a total of twelve handmaidens, named from January to December. With the help of Queen Jennie, Queen Daenerys, and Prince Arianne Martell, eleven of them have found their best homes, and December is the last handmaiden I have kept by my side. According to the religious traditions of Gamyra, if I do not keep at least one dedicated handmaiden by my side, I will be cursed by the sea god of Gamyra."

The Imp was a wise man, but not a good man.

The Mountain wanted to take December as his own favorite, but the queen, the queen, and the prince all objected. He didn't object openly, but he brought December to Braavos. What did this mean? The Imp could understand with his toes.

The Mountain wanted to find a place to hide December, and Braavos was the place he chose, and he himself was the scapegoat knight chosen by His Majesty the King.

The Imp was not a good man, but he was definitely not a bad man either. He was just a normal person who was both brave and timid, both cunning and upright.

“Governor, Queen Jeyne suggested I betroth December to you, and I agreed. To honor my promise to Her Majesty the Queen, I now formally ask you, are you willing to take December as your wife? Or do you feel December is not a suitable match for your position as governor, and you've decided to only take December as your handmaiden?”

“In the name of the Gods, Your Majesty, December and I are completely mismatched. I am willing to take December as my handmaiden.”

“My Lord, have you thought this through carefully? Her Majesty the Queen will send someone to inquire.”

“I will truthfully report this to Her Majesty the Queen in writing, and truthfully report to any envoy Her Majesty sends.”

The Mountain felt very comfortable. Dealing with clever, morally ambiguous scoundrels like Little Devil was most pleasing to him. Many difficult problems didn't need to be explained; everyone understood immediately, a meeting of minds.

“Governor, I have a real surprise for you.” The Mountain smiled.

The petite and exquisite woman who had been standing beside December slowly lowered the veil from her face, a small, beautiful face with a smile, a smile that revealed a faint contempt for Little Devil... Little Devil's distraught expression when he saw December earlier made her feel very uncomfortable.

Little Devil gaped, completely stunned!

The woman standing in front of him—was—Shae!