The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The Neighboring Old Man

Cersei's head tilted back slightly, her beauty radiant and full of charm.

“Jaime, gold dragons, silver stags, and copper stars, who do you think the Mountain will entrust them to?”

Jaime paused, then snorted coldly. He knew the Mountain's power and the status of the Great Sept of Baelor in the Seven Kingdoms. The citizens and nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, no matter who they were, would never dare to desecrate the Great Sept of Baelor, the place where the most revered gods of the Seven Kingdoms resided.

The Citadel of Oldtown had the right to appoint the Grand Maester for the king, but the Great Sept of Baelor's status was above even the Citadel. Royal family weddings and funerals had to be held in the Great Sept of Baelor; the king's coronation, the knighting of the Kingsguard, the declaration of important kingdom affairs, and even the beheading of highly respected criminals, all required the High Septon in the Great Sept of Baelor to announce them to the gods for them to have legal effect.

The Great Sept of Baelor represented the gods themselves. In the hearts of the citizens and nobles, especially in the hearts of the faithful, it was the most supreme place.

Jaime suddenly realized: the Mountain's bank, opened to accumulate wealth, had actually tied itself to the Great Sept of Baelor.

Why hadn't he noticed the ingenuity of this arrangement beforehand? With the support of the Great Sept of Baelor, the credibility of promoting paper money would naturally be higher than that of the royal family.

However, legally, the Mountain needed the king's permission. The king was still young, so he needed the permission of the regent. Cersei was the regent.

Jaime looked at Cersei, this highly self-regarded regent who fascinated him, and he couldn't help but wonder if the Mountain had secretly communicated with Cersei before doing every unbelievable thing.

Was he controlling Cersei in some secret way?

A cold sweat broke out on Jaime's back.

He looked at Cersei's proud expression, knowing that if he warned Cersei to be careful of the Mountain, Cersei would only look down on him even more.

Cersei's contempt for Jaime was beginning to manifest outwardly. Jaime knew the reason: Cersei wanted him to give up the Kingsguard, remove Mace Tyrell, and take the position of Hand of the King. Then, he could bargain with the Mountain, reclaim his position as Warden of the West, and inherit his father's ducal title.

But Jaime had no interest in political struggles, officialdom, or accumulating wealth through trade.

Jaime shrugged his shoulders: “Alright, we just want the benefits. Of course, the bank will keep the money.”

“The money will be kept in the Great Sept of Baelor, but the royal family has the right to send people to work in the bank and to send their own people into the gold reserves to manage the accounts.”

“Did the Mountain say that?”

“Yes, the Mountain suggested it to me.”

“If we really do that, it seems like we don't have to worry about anything at all, just wait to make money.”

“Yes, the Mountain has considered everything to reassure the royal family.”

“Everything!” This word made Jaime's heart skip another beat.

The Mountain has arranged everything? This sentence sounded unsettling no matter how he heard it.

“Isn't it good that the Mountain is doing this? If you don't think it's good, I can refuse.” Cersei stared at Jaime as she spoke.

Jaime could tell that this was Cersei's reverse psychology; Cersei would not refuse the Mountain. She was deliberately saying that.

“Then refuse it first.”

“Refusing is easy, but who will solve our treasury income? Let the Tyrell family provide money and food? Mace Tyrell is already complaining. He thinks King's Landing should guarantee the treasury's expenditure and solve everyone's livelihood through trade, farming, and taxes, instead of relying on the Reach's endless transportation of food into the city.”

“Let Margaery Tyrell and Tommen Baratheon get married. You've been dragging this on, and the Tyrell family definitely has grievances.”

“Margaery wants to control Tommen, can't you see that?”

“She is Tommen's betrothed, Cersei. Margaery is good to Tommen, and Tommen wants to be with her. This is what we should support.”

“No, I can't allow a second Kevan.”

“You're thinking too much. Margaery has no ambition. She won't be a second Kevan.”

Cersei stared at Jaime for a long time: “Would you like a drink?”

She was tired of talking to me about court affairs and family matters. Jaime felt that the thorn in his heart had pierced deeper into his heart.

“Cersei, if we want to gain the support of the Tyrell family, we have to support Tommen and Margaery's marriage.”

“I support it!”

“But you are delaying the Tyrell family's wedding date.”

“I want to choose a good day. When the good day arrives, the High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor will naturally inform me in advance.”

This was a shallow excuse that no one believed anymore. Time had pierced through Cersei's mask.

“Give it to me!” Jaime reached out to Cersei, “Let me pour you a drink.”

Cersei smiled lightly and handed the glass to Jaime.

Jaime poured wine for Cersei and said softly: “Cersei, if you set the wedding date for Tommen and Margaery, I will support you in investing in Baelor Bank and vote for the Mountain. If Mace opposes it, I will be responsible for persuading him. The royal family and the kingdom need stability, and we can't keep fighting internally. The regent and the prime minister are fighting, the queen mother and the future queen are fighting, and neither family nor state affairs can be handled well. Calm down, okay?”

Cersei took the wine and turned her back to Jaime, sipping it lightly. She knew that if she couldn't dissolve the marriage, she could only hold the wedding. The Tyrell family had already expressed their impatience and hostility towards the indefinite delay, and conflicts were invisibly breeding in the palace. But the thought of Margaery and Tommen's intimacy made her jealous and unbearable.

Yesterday, at the dinner table, Tommen publicly opposed her opinion and reminded Cersei that he was the king. This stung Cersei's heart. She remembered Joffrey, whose favorite saying was 'I am the king,' and then he was poisoned at his own wedding by Oberyn Martell.

When Tommen said this, Cersei suddenly felt a huge ominous feeling, as if the clear sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds. She caught a glimpse of joy in Margaery's eyes, which made her want to gouge out Margaery's eyes on the spot, but she sat stiffly, doing nothing. Margaery pretended to ask Tommen to apologize to her, which made Cersei even more angry, because Tommen actually listened to Margaery and apologized to her.

Tommen listening to Margaery was something Cersei couldn't accept at all.

“Alright, Jaime, I promise you, you go to the Great Sept of Baelor to confirm the wedding date with the High Septon, and then you go and inform the Tyrell family to prepare.”

“Yes, Cersei!” Jaime said softly, breathing a long sigh of relief.

Cersei finally relented, which made him feel relieved. The Tyrell family had threatened to no longer transport food to King's Landing, and before the conflict further escalated, Cersei made a concession.

“I'm going to shave, take a bath, and come and keep you company tonight.”

Cersei's mouth was filled with bitterness. She turned around and looked at the vicissitudes of Jaime, revealing a brilliant smile: “Okay, I'll wait for you in the bedroom.”

*

Jaime left, and Cersei remained motionless, looking at a certain spot in the air. She felt the threat of Margaery very clearly. This woman, scheming and scheming, was taking Tommen Baratheon away from her. Cersei could not tolerate Margaery taking Tommen away. Tommen was her son, and Margaery could only serve Tommen, not control Tommen or instruct Tommen. Tommen could only listen to his mother, and never only listen to another woman.

The hateful Tyrell family, the cripple Willas Tyrell, was trying to force her to marry him, and Little Rose was conspiring to take Tommen away from her in a legitimate and aboveboard manner.

She had to stop this from happening. Who could help her? Who was the Tyrell family most afraid of? Who was the best knife to use? Who was a fearsome villain: the Mountain!

The Mountain's majestic image appeared in front of Cersei. The Mountain's eyes, which made enemies tremble, were now watching Cersei, respectfully: “Mountain, I want you to kill Margaery Tyrell for me. She is the second Kevan. You have already killed one Kevan, so kill another Kevan.”

“As you command, Queen Mother.” The Mountain said.

“What method will you use to kill Margaery?”

“Unforeseen, natural death. The best means, of course, is the Tears of Lys, colorless and odorless, silent and invisible. Even if she dies, her eyes will not be bloodshot like a strangler, her hands will not grab her throat, and her veins will not bulge. When the poison takes effect, it is silent suffocation, and the person's surface looks as if they are asleep.” The Mountain in the void said.

“Good idea.”

“Tears of Lys are very expensive. Those who are not rich and powerful cannot afford them at all. Does the Queen Mother have a way?”

Cersei nodded lightly.

“I have lived in the palace for eighteen years and know who to find in the city to buy Tears of Lys.”

“Oh, who is that person?” The Mountain asked.

“That person is a wizard, and he is close to the pyromancer sages…”

……………………

“Queen Mother.” A voice suddenly sounded timidly.

Although the voice was very light, it was like a thunderbolt, pulling Cersei back from her dreamlike dialogue and fantasy to reality. The Mountain in front of her was like a bubble, silently shattered, dissipated, and disappeared without a trace. Cersei calmed herself and returned to the reason of reality.

“Why didn't you knock on the door when you came in?” Cersei said lightly.

The maid knelt down with a thud, her body and voice trembling: “Queen Mother, the servant knocked on the door, but there was no response from the Queen Mother. The servant was afraid that the Queen Mother needed us. Everyone discussed it outside for a while and decided to let me come in and see what service the Queen Mother needed.”

“If I need service, I will call you. - What did you hear after you came in?”

“The servant heard nothing, Queen Mother.” The maid kowtowed, frightened.

Cersei frowned slightly: “Get up, help me out.”

“Yes.” The maid stood up, looking at the ground, trembling, and came over to support Cersei's arm.

Walking out of the Queen Mother's Ballroom, there were a total of five maids outside, two of whom were obedient, sensible, and knowledgeable Highgarden maids sent to the Queen Mother by Margaery Tyrell.

A group of maids slowly walked into the bedroom, surrounding the Queen Mother.

Cersei said: “Kayi, please ask Grand Maester Qyburn to come over, I have something to ask him.”

“As you command, Queen Mother.” A maid bowed and retreated, taking a few steps back before turning around and leaving, her head always slightly lowered, looking at the ground.

“You all go out, you don't need to wait outside tonight. Go back, go back to your rooms to rest. Don't make noise or talk to each other anymore. Keep quiet.”

“Yes, Queen Mother.” The maids agreed together, filed out, closed their mouths tightly, and went back to their bedrooms to rest.

After a while, there was a knock on the door. Cersei opened the door, and Jaime came in. He had shaved his beard, put on new golden armor, and a new golden sword belt. On the sword belt, there was still his golden longsword.

Jaime's spirit changed, and a trace of vicissitudes was hidden in his eyes, while handsome, unrestrained, and charming were his returning true colors.

This was the Jaime that Cersei was fascinated by!

“I told you not to wear armor.”

“I am a Kingsguard, and if I don't wear armor, I'm afraid it will be suspicious.”

“Are you afraid?”

Jaime was slightly embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. Of course he wasn't afraid, but people's words were terrible. The Lannister family's honor had been fragmented, and it was always good to avoid it. Jaime wanted to keep a low profile, but Cersei was getting bolder and bolder. If Lord Tywin was still alive, he could restrain Cersei's behavior. With Tywin gone and Kevan dead, the only one who could restrain Cersei now was Cersei herself.

Cersei suddenly hugged Jaime. She had waited too long for him to come to the bedroom again. The two were intertwined for a long time, unable to separate, until there was another knock on the door. Jaime's movements immediately became stiff, but Cersei didn't care, took two steps back, tidied her makeup, smoothed her hair, and smoothed out the wrinkled clothes: “Open the door, my Kingsguard.”

Jaime took a deep breath, combed his golden hair with his fingers, quickly restored his cold expression, and then slowly opened the door.

Grand Maester Qyburn stood outside the door with a kind smile.

Qyburn smiled and nodded to Ser Jaime, as a greeting: “Queen Mother, you are looking for me?”

“Grand Maester, do you still need people in your underground medical room?”

“Yes, Queen Mother.” Qyburn's old eyes immediately flashed.

“I have a maid named Snow Staci, you know her, right?”

“Yes!”

“I'll give her to you, take her away now.”

“Thank you, Queen Mother!” Qyburn was overjoyed.

After Jaime returned, he had heard that the Grand Maester used living people for medical experiments in the basement, and the methods were cruel. Jaime also knew Snow Staci, who was a maid by the Queen Mother's side, young, beautiful, and dedicated. Tonight, when he and the Queen Mother were in the Queen Mother's Ballroom, Snow Staci and five sisters were waiting outside the door.

“What happened? What happened to Snow Staci?” Jaime asked in a deep voice.

“Nothing.” Cersei replied.

“Good night, Queen Mother. Goodbye, Ser Jaime.” Grand Maester Qyburn was so shrewd and discerning that he immediately said goodbye and left.

“Wait a minute, Grand Maester, you are going to send a letter to the Mountain tonight, telling the Mountain that I want him to return to King's Landing quickly, and I agree to what he asked me last time.”

“Yes, Queen Mother.” Qyburn placed his right palm on his left chest and bowed slightly.

Cersei reached out and closed the door, and she walked gracefully to the inner bedroom: “Jaime, the person you should care about tonight is me, not Snow Staci.” Before she even reached the bed, she was already naked.

Snow Staci was the maid who entered the door of the Queen Mother's Ballroom. At that time, Cersei was immersed in her own dialogue fantasy. Among the maids around Cersei were people sent by Margaery, and among the maids around Margaery were also maids sent by Cersei.

Cersei worried that if Snow Stacee overheard her muttering and accidentally leaked it to Margaery's handmaidens, the consequences would be disastrous. Without hesitation, she immediately ordered Qyburn to take Snow Stacee away to eliminate any future problems.

Jaime unbuckled his sword belt and hung it on the hook on the wall, then removed his golden armor and tossed it onto the carpet. "Cersei, what's wrong with Snow Stacee? Why did you suddenly hand her over to Maester Qyburn?"

"Jaime, if you say Snow Stacee's name one more time, I'll cut out your tongue."

"Is that so?" Jaime strode into the bedroom, quickly stripping himself naked. "I can't wait for you to come and cut out my tongue."

*

Qyburn knocked on Snow Stacee's door, revealing a kind smile. "Snow Stacee, the Queen Mother has entrusted you to me. Come with me; you'll be resting in a different place tonight. You'll find it enjoyable, I assure you!"

Snow Stacee's whole body instantly stiffened like a wooden chicken. Her eyes were filled with terror, as if she were facing a horrifying demon from hell. Fear seized her heart, her body, her soul. She wanted to scream, but couldn't make a sound. She wanted to run away, but couldn't move...

"Let's go, darling, it's late. I still need to return to the Citadel and send a raven message to the Mountain!" Maester Qyburn said kindly.

No matter how you looked at it, Qyburn was a respected, humble, polite, kind, and loving old man next door.