The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Cersei didn't see Jaime's panic. Jaime might have been mentally prepared for Cersei eventually finding out about this. Jaime said coldly, "No!"

Jaime's face was as cold as iron. This reminded Cersei of her father's face, who never smiled. She actually liked Jaime's expression like this, and even more when Jaime acted forcefully as if he were right, even when he was clearly doing something wrong.

A Lannister man should have this kind of domineering strength, 'wrong is also right'.

Father always said that a lion doesn't need to consider the thoughts of a goat. The Lannisters are lions.

"You know the Mountain cut off a fake head for me, and you cooperated with the Mountain to deceive me. Isn't that betrayal?" Cersei's lips curled into a sneer, contempt overflowing in her eyes.

"The head is real, but it's not Tyrion Lannister's head."

"You participated in the Mountain's plan?"

"The Mountain told me his plan."

"Humph! The people around me, from lovers to courtiers, are all liars."

"Cersei, Tyrion is our own brother."

"Tyrion is your own brother, so what am I to you? When you were deceiving me, did you ever think about my feelings?" Cersei glared at Jaime.

Jaime was silent!

"Margaery Tyrell must die," Cersei said slowly, one word at a time. "I cannot tolerate her controlling Tommen."

"She can't control Tommen. There's still you and me in the royal family. Outside, we still have the Mountain and the allegiance of the Vale."

"Can the Mountain still be trusted?"

Jaime was silent again.

"We ordered him to conquer the Riverlands, and he chose to marry Ellynia Westerling to Edmure Tully, making the Lord of the Riverlands his brother-in-law. We invited him to attend the royal wedding, and he refused to come and congratulate us; we asked him to come to King's Landing to open a paper money factory, promote the paper money of the Clegane Bank, and help us solve the kingdom's debt, while also making him a lot of money. He agreed, but he didn't come… Jaime, the Mountain has moved the barbarians of the Mountains of the Moon into the Westerlands, settling in Castamere and Tarbeck Hall. His forces and people are already the strongest in the Westerlands…"

"The Mountain is the Warden of the West, Cersei!" Jaime ruthlessly reminded her of this fact.

The Warden of the West, no longer a Lannister!

Cersei stared at Jaime with a strange look: "Jaime, the Westerlands are the Lannisters' Westerlands, with thousands of years of history. Don't you know this fact?"

"The Mountain is not to be trusted," Jaime said.

Cersei stared at Jaime: "The Mountain is so powerful that he is no longer the Lannister family's dog. We can't actually control him anymore. If military orders and government decrees are issued, and he himself no longer complies, we actually have no way to deal with him. Our power is getting smaller and smaller, while the Mountain's strength is getting stronger and stronger. If Father were still here, he would definitely find a way to kill the Mountain."

"Killing the Mountain is not a good solution. Kill the Mountain, kill Margaery, who else do you want to kill?"

"Anyone who stands in our way must die!"

Jaime couldn't see the road ahead either. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Not killing the Mountain might be wrong, but killing the Mountain would definitely be even more wrong. Jaime was very clear about this.

"Cersei, the fact is that neither the Mountain nor Margaery are blocking us. You said that Father and Kevan's deaths were because they wanted the Mountain dead, which ultimately forced the Mountain to rebel. Before that, you always told me to keep the Mountain loyal, that he was the best blade. These are all your original words."

"Jaime, I admit I said these words, but the situation has changed now. The Mountain is now disobeying government orders."

"The Mountain not attending the wedding is not a big deal. He sent generals to deliver a large number of gifts, which were also the most valuable gifts among the many courtiers. I prefer to believe that he has his own government affairs to deal with and is indeed too busy."

"Then he cut off a fake Tyrion's head to deceive me? This is a crime of deceiving the monarch."

"I know the truth about this matter. Tyrion is not guilty. You know it in your heart. Tyrion should not have died."

Cersei closed her mouth. She glared at Jaime. Jaime could feel the coldness between them, like a chill radiating from ice, becoming increasingly unbearable.

"Jaime Lannister, according to your great wisdom, how should we control the Mountain? How should we manage government affairs? Margaery is making Tommen completely dependent on her day by day, and he refuses to listen to me anymore. What good ways do you have to deal with this?"

"You are the Queen Regent, and you attend court with Tommen to listen to government affairs. Power is in your hands. Only the Queen Regent can exercise all the powers on behalf of the King, not the Queen. With the Queen Regent present, the Prime Minister can only completely obey you. We need the Tyrell family as allies. Margaery must not die."

"Hmm, what about the Mountain then?" Cersei asked contemptuously.

"The Mountain is getting stronger and stronger. He is now showing signs of disobeying orders. Perhaps he is no longer the Lannister family's dog, but at the same time, he is not the Stark family's, not the Tyrell family's, not the Arryn family's, not the Martell family's dog. We don't trust the Mountain, but we need to know, which of the Stark family, the Tyrell family, the Martell family, the Arryn family, or the Tully family would trust the Mountain?"

Cersei's heart stirred!

Jaime's words contained aspects she had never thought of.

She originally had no intention of killing the Mountain, but after learning that the head stuck on the bronze gate of the Red Keep was not the real Tyrion Lannister's head, she broke down for an entire night, and her mood changed drastically ever since.

The Mountain was a vicious dog. Cersei was devastated by his betrayal, and after the breakdown, she felt fear and helplessness. The Mountain was originally her best and most valued blade, but now that blade was suddenly gone, and enemies surrounded her…

More cruel than the Mountain's betrayal was Jaime's betrayal!

Jaime was the man she loved most, and also her own brother, her only most trusted relative. Jaime's betrayal destroyed the last bit of trust, beauty, sympathy, and mercy in Cersei's heart. Cersei didn't have many positive qualities to begin with. Now, they were completely gone.

"Jaime, you're right. I dare not trust the Mountain anymore, but he can't gain the trust of others either. If we dare not use him, others will be even more afraid to use him. He is the most evil person in the Seven Kingdoms, and he is unacceptable to other great nobles anywhere else. So, it's not that we need the Mountain, it's that the Mountain needs us," Cersei said.

"Yes, Cersei." Jaime felt an even more bitter taste in his mouth. Cersei was actually able to think of such a reason herself and easily believe it. This was something Jaime couldn't understand.

Jaime knew that he didn't have his father's political talent. He couldn't see the overall situation of future development clearly, but he knew that if Cersei killed the Mountain and Margaery, it would be tantamount to digging her own grave.

The Tyrell family and the Lannister family were already tied to the same chariot because of the marriage. Internal strife would definitely be a suicidal disaster.

As for the Mountain, they could only take it one step at a time. The Mountain's forces were too strong. Although he didn't have many noble vassals under his command, and his main force and direct descendants were either from barbarian tribes or street thugs, the fighting power of his personal army was simply too strong.

"Jaime, I have a gift for you," Cersei suddenly smiled. Her smile looked full of aristocratic, ceremonial falsehood, no longer with the warmth that warmed him, but her smile was still charming, full of suggestive seduction.

"What gift?"

"A head!"

"Whose head?"

"Osney Kettleblack."

Jaime's face stiffened, as if he had been slapped with a very loud slap.

Jaime's restrained pain made Cersei feel a surge of malicious pleasure.

"Jaime, Osney is not my lover. I heard the rumors he was bragging about outside. He said many unbearable things about me among the guards officers. I heard it."

"Are you asking me to kill him? Your Grace," Jaime's address changed, from Cersei to Your Grace.

He was in pain!

This made Cersei feel good!

"No, Jaime, I've already arranged for Bronn to kill him. Tonight, we'll be able to see Osney Kettleblack's head."

"Assassination?"

"I don't know. I only ordered Bronn to kill him."

"Your Grace," Jaime took a deep breath. He felt countless ants biting in his heart. "Osney's father is our court steward, in charge of all matters large and small; his elder brother, Osmund Kettleblack, is my White Sword brother, brave and loyal. We need the Kettleblack family's loyalty."

"You're afraid that killing Osney will affect his father and elder brother's loyalty to us?"

"Not killing him is better than killing him."

"But he's bragging everywhere outside that he slept with Your Grace," Cersei said, slightly raising her voice.

She noticed a twisted pain in Jaime's eyes, which made her smile. She enjoyed Jaime's pain. It allowed her to feel a strange pleasure.

Osney Kettleblack and his brother Oswell Kettleblack, who had been thrown to death by the Mountain, were both Cersei's lovers. This was an open secret in the court. Osney, who was originally the captain of the Queen Mother's personal guard, was also transferred away from her side after Jaime's return from the North, and went to the garrison to become a lower-ranking officer.

But that guy didn't stay quiet for long. Whenever he got drunk, he loved to brag to the people around him that he had slept with Your Grace, and there were various detailed descriptions. This matter spread like wildfire among the courtiers, and the Minister of Intelligence, Boros Blount, secretly reported this situation to Your Grace. After tolerating that guy for a while, Your Grace finally sent Bronn to cut off Osney's head.

This was the gift she prepared for Jaime: killing Osney to prove her loyalty to Jaime. Of course, this proof came with barbs. She just liked watching Jaime suffer for this, which allowed her to feel a strange pleasure.

*

Night.

A luxurious women's house with a two-story pavilion on the shore of Blackwater Bay, second floor.

This was a women's house that used to belong to Littlefinger Petyr Baelish—now belonging to the Mountain. It contained women of various skin colors and styles from all over the world, specially prepared to entertain sailors and captains from all over the world.

Osney and his three fellow officers were drinking in a luxurious private room on the second floor, embracing several women. The door was knocked politely. A woman opened the door with a coquettish smile. Standing at the door was a general wearing light chain mail, a set of shiny black chain mail. He also wore a pair of soft armor gloves and no helmet.

"Bronn!" Osney Kettleblack shouted, "You're not at Maegor's Holdfast tonight. Why are you in the mood to come to the women's house in the harbor?"

Bronn had no expression. He reached out and pushed away the woman leaning on him, and said coldly, "Private matter, unrelated people get out."

With a whoosh, Bronn drew his dagger.

The dagger was long and shone with cold light. It jumped from Bronn's left hand to his right hand, and then from his right hand to his left hand. This was a signal to let unrelated people leave quickly. This signal was childish, but it worked.

Bronn just wanted a quick battle!

Several women walked away in a panic, and three fellow lower-ranking officers also stood up, looking stunned, while Osney's face was even paler: "Bronn, did Your Grace send you?"

"Last chance, I'm only looking for Osney. Those who don't want to die, get out," Bronn said softly. His eyes were fixed on Osney. He saw Osney's fear and despair, which was exactly what he wanted.

Osney's swordsmanship was not weak, but once his psychology collapsed, it would be easier to kill him, to avoid any problems.

A lower-ranking officer slipped out from Bronn's side and stood at the staircase; the second lower-ranking officer also slipped past Bronn with a timid face, and the third lower-ranking officer followed closely behind.

Osney stood up timidly and nervously, with a look of despair. Bronn knew he was dead. He was about to step into the room when suddenly his waist hurt. A sharp short knife was blocked by the chain mail for a moment, but it still pierced into his body, the tip of the knife biting into his ribs.

Bronn struck back sharply with his elbow, and he heard the sound of bones breaking. The lower-ranking officer who had attacked was knocked unconscious by Bronn's elbow, his face covered in blood, his facial bones and nose bones broken. As he swayed and fell down like an empty sack, Bronn's calf hurt again. Someone dived down to attack his leg. Bronn quickly pulled his leg back to avoid it, but his calf was still stabbed by a dagger. Although it didn't pierce through, it made him feel a chill in his heart.

The other party was actually prepared.

Bronn jumped into the room, and the dagger in his hand flew out, straight at Osney's face. Osney's timidity and fear disappeared in an instant. He revealed a grin, grabbed the table and held it across his chest, blocking Bronn's dagger. Bronn drew his long sword, jumped to the corner of the room, the door, and two long swords shone brightly as they rushed in, precisely the two lower-ranking officers who were drinking with Osney: Hughes, Gregory.

Whoosh!

Osney threw the table out of the window, followed by drawing his long sword. Three long swords surrounded Bronn in a fan shape.

Bronn pulled out the short knife inserted in his waist, and blood gushed out from his waist and calf.

Osney chuckled and said, "Bronn, let me tell you why you're dying, I'm acting on Your Grace's secret order to cut off your head tonight and offer it to Your Grace."

"Why?" Bronn asked in a deep voice.

"Your son shouldn't be named Tyrion Tanner. The Imp's name makes Your Grace very unhappy."

"Lies!" Bronn sneered, addressing the other two swordsmen. "Hughes, Gregory, I am here under the Empress Dowager's secret decree to take Osney's head. This has nothing to do with you. If you dare to help Osney and attack me, disobeying the Empress Dowager's decree, are you not afraid of being exterminated? Get out of here! I won't hold your sneak attack against you."

"Sorry, Bronn, we are under the Empress Dowager's decree. You shouldn't insist on naming your son Tyrion Cobbler," Hughes said, his longsword flashing as he thrust it towards Bronn's left shoulder.