Chapter 211

She traded Youlun Gelei Qiaoyi's brother for the Countess of Sweet Sister Island's daughter, but her sister—Aide Shitake's true daughter—remains trapped in the devil's den.

Translation: "The world is so absurd."

After hearing that, she couldn't stay another moment. Being scrutinized by the officials made her feel especially uneasy.

She strode out of the library, practically wanting to race straight to White Harbor and lead her fleet against the Iron Islands...

Thus: "She exchanged Youlun Gelei Qiaoyi's brother for the daughter of the Countess of Sweet Sister Island, while her sister, the true daughter of Aide Shitake, remained deep in the devil's den."

Wouldn't he ask more questions to verify that the person exchanged for is really who they claim? Isn't this something she shouldn't have to teach him?

Idiot!

Translation: "Anger was insufficient to describe her feelings; self-blame was what she felt."

"Are you the new scholar?" Mei pushed open the scholar's door; the scholar was then arranging various items on the bed where Scholar Luwen used to lie.

Translation: "After hearing this, she felt she could not stay another moment; being scrutinized by the officials especially made her feel uneasy."

He appeared tall and broad-shouldered, with short chestnut-brown hair, looking much younger than Scholar Luwen and far more agile.

Translation: "She strode out of the library, practically wanting to head straight for White Harbor, leading her fleet to attack the Iron Islands……"

"Winterfell is huge, and no one told me I needed to come greet anyone. As for the meeting, your officials have been refusing my participation for days on the grounds of secrecy... I don't think this is my fault!"

Translation: "At that time, she already knew Bran and Rickon had been killed; when she learned another sister was still alive but kidnapped, she should have focused on the living one rather than rushing back to Winterfell alone!"

"I need to send a letter to Pike Island." Mei didn't respond further.

Translation: "Ah, how could she leave her sister's safety entirely in the hands of the Count of Harbor City? Although that old man seemed clearly reliable, after all he was not the grandfather of Shansa Shitake."

But he's not some clueless idiot!

Translation: "But he was no fool!"

Wouldn't he ask a few more questions to confirm that the person exchanged for is genuine? Do you really need to teach him that?

Translation: "Wouldn't he ask more questions to verify that the person exchanged for was real? Wouldn't such a matter need her to teach him?"

Idiot!

Translation: "Idiot!"

She couldn't wait and rushed to the Scholar's Tower, kicking open the door on its lower level.

Translation: "She couldn't wait and rushed to the Maester's Tower, kicking open the door of its lower level."

"Are you the new scholar?" Mei pushed open the scholar's door; the scholar was then arranging various items on the bed where Scholar Luwen used to lie.

Translation: "\"Are you the new Maester? \" Mei pushed open the Maester's door; the Maester was then organizing various items on the bed where Maester Luwen used to lie."

He sat up, turned his head, and looked at Mei seriously, sensing the coldness and challenge in her tone; he fell silent for a moment, his gaze turning slightly scrutinizing.

Translation: "He sat up, turned his head, and seriously looked at Mei, seemingly sensing the coldness and questioning in her tone, falling silent for a moment with a slightly scrutinizing gaze."

He looked tall, with short chestnut-brown hair, appearing much younger than Scholar Luwen and far more agile.

Translation: "He looked tall, with short brownish-red hair, appearing much younger than Maester Luwen and far more agile."

"I'm Roland; you can call me Scholar Roland." His voice was soft, unusually calm, clearly showing his displeasure at Mei's intrusion.

Translation: "\"I am Luoland; you may call me Maester Luoland. \" His voice was light, maintaining an unusual calm, clearly expressing his displeasure at Mei's intrusion."

"Winterfell is huge, and no one told me I needed to come greet anyone; as for the meeting, your officials have been refusing my participation for days on the grounds of secrecy… I don't think this is my fault!"

Translation: "\"Winterfell is huge, and no one told me I needed to greet you upon arrival; as for the meeting, for days your officials have refused to let me attend on the grounds of secrecy… I think this isn't my fault! \"

Who cares about this nonsense!

Translation: "Who cares about this bullshit!"

I feel stupid.

Let's list lines with numbers:

The world is utterly absurd.

She exchanged Euron Greyjoy's brother for the daughter of the Countess of the Sweet Sisters, but her sister, the true daughter of Eddard Stark, remains trapped in a monster's lair.

Anger falls short of describing her state of mind; she is consumed by self-blame.

Upon hearing those words, she could not bear to stay another moment. Being scrutinized by the officials only made her feel worse.

She marched out of the library, practically yearning to rush straight to White Harbor, take command of her fleet, and lay siege to the Iron Islands…

By then she knew Bran and Rickon were dead, and upon learning that another sister was still alive but held captive, she ought to have directed her energy toward rescuing the living sister instead of rushing back to Winterfell alone.

Ah, how could she leave her sister's safety entirely in the hands of the Lord of Harlaw? Though that old man seems trustworthy, he is ultimately not Sansa Stark's grandfather.

But he's certainly no fool!

Wouldn't he ask a few more questions to confirm that the person returned in the exchange is the real one? Does she really need to instruct him on this?

Idiot!

She hurried to the maester's tower and burst through the lower door.

"Are you the new maester?" Mei pushed open the maester's door; the maester was currently tidying various objects on the bed where Maester Luwin used to lie.

He sat up, turned his head, and regarded Mei seriously, sensing the chill and challenge in her voice; he fell silent for a moment, his gaze turning appraising.

He looked tall and sturdy, with short chestnut-brown hair, appearing far younger than Maester Luwin and much more agile.

"I am Roland; you can call me Maester Roland." His voice was low, unusually calm, clearly conveying his annoyance at Mei's intrusion.

"Winterfell is vast, and nobody told me I needed to go greet anyone. As for the council, for days your officials have barred me from attending, claiming secrecy… I don't think this is my fault."

Who gives a damn about this nonsense!

"I need to send a letter to Pyke." Mei didn't say another word.

"Your Highness, I think you may have the wrong person," he said offhandedly. "As I understand it, after Scholar Luwen's death, the ravens have been managed by Chaplain Chai'er, who told me I cannot touch any ravens without your permission. And if this raven ledger is even roughly accurate, even during the Young Wolf Lord's time we had no ravens flying to Pike Island."

Your Highness, I think you may have the wrong person." He said nonchalantly, "As far as I know, after Scholar Luwen died, the ravens have been managed by Brother Charyl, who told me that without your permission I cannot touch any ravens… Of course, if this raven ledger is roughly accurate, even during the Young Wolf's time we had no ravens flying to Pike Island.

Mei didn't reach out to take it; she glanced briefly, seeing that the first page recorded the remaining number of ravens headed for the Great Wall (Black Castle), how many times they'd been replenished, and how many each time... No need to guess, the second page likely recorded information about ravens bound for other cities.

"Some trained ravens can travel between two cities, but Scholar Luwen seems unskilled at it, or perhaps his interests lie elsewhere; these remaining free ravens can only fly between Winterfell, Scholar City, White Harbor, and Seaven City." He explained slowly, "Black iron links are easy to obtain, but achieving mastery is far from simple."

Some trained ravens can travel between two cities, but Scholar Luwen seems not skilled at it, or perhaps his interests lie elsewhere; these remaining free ravens can only travel between Winterfell, the Citadel, White Harbor, and Seagard." He explained slowly, "Although black iron chains are easy to obtain, mastering them is not that simple…

I need to send ravens to Pike Island!" Mei Yi interrupted him, as if his explanation were endless.

"Tell Youlun Gelei Qiaoyi that if my sister suffers even a hint of harm, I will chop off his hands and feet, stuff him into a jar, and toss him into the sea..." Mei glanced at him, "You said there are no ravens to send a letter to Pike Island, didn't you?"

Tell Euron Greyjoy, if my sister suffers even a hint of harm, I will chop off his hands and feet, then put him in a vat and throw him into the sea…" Mei Yi glanced at him, "You said there were no ravens to send letters to Pike Island?"

Yes," he said mockingly, "I lack the ability to bring letters to Pike City, I cannot bring free ravens from the Citadel, and more importantly, I do not manage ravens.

"When monarchs lose their temper and make irrational decisions, scholars ought to offer sincere counsel. You seem to be in anger now, which is why you're asking... I worry that Your Highness might make a mistaken decision because of this." He took back the documents, placing them to one side of the desk, "I have no interest in mocking you; I am trying to offer you candid advice."

When monarchs lose their temper and make irrational decisions, scholars ought to offer sincere advice; you seem to be angry now, which is why you are asking… I worry that Your Highness will make a mistaken decision because of this." He took back the documents, placing them to one side of the desk, "I have no interest in playing you; I am trying to offer you counsel.

"You should know that there isn't just one scholar in Winterfell," she threatened, hoping the scholar who came running would be more humble, "I still have other options."

"I've seen Scholar Luwen's grave and those of his predecessors, and I don't bear any grudge," he said casually. "Of course, compared to the icy North, I am more interested in Scholar City—not only because it's warmer, but also because its people are more courteous and knowledgeable. Here, by contrast, it's too cold, and people's attitude toward knowledge is overly arrogant. In short, you can send me back to Scholar City, or bury me beside Scholar Luwen."

I have looked at Scholar Luwen's tomb and those of his predecessors, and I bear no grudge," he said casually, "Of course, compared to the frigid North, I am more interested in the Citadel, not only because it is warmer there, but also because its people are more courteous and knowledgeable; by contrast, this place is too cold, and people's attitude toward knowledge is overly arrogant. In short, you can send me back to the Citadel, or bury me beside Scholar Luwen.

"Is that how you view Winterfell?"

"Starks are impulsive and willful, well known domestically, and thus have repeatedly caused domestic turmoil."

"What's wrong with you?" Mei felt this person was utterly unreasonable, "How could Scholar Luwen have chosen someone like you as his successor?"

What on earth is wrong with you?" Mei Yi felt this person was utterly unreasonable, "How could Scholar Luwen have chosen someone like you as his successor?

Mei thought she could slit this person's throat with a drawn blade, but she wasn't sure whether he currently counted as a guest of Winterfell. Thinking about it made her feel even stranger.

Mei Yi felt she could draw her blade and slit the person's throat, but she was somewhat uncertain whether this person was currently a guest of Winterfell. Thinking of that made her feel even stranger.

"Well, you sure think highly of yourself!" Mei felt amused by her anger, "You said scholars exist to give candid advice—what's your counsel?" She drew her passion and plunged it into the wooden floor, "If you have no worthwhile suggestions, I don't mind burying you beside Scholar Luwen. Heh, then you can ask him why he chose you to die."

Well, you seem to think highly of yourself!" Mei Yi felt amused by anger, "You said the scholar was offering counsel? What is your counsel?" She drew out her passion and plunged it into the wooden floor, "If you have no good advice, I don't mind burying you beside Scholar Luwen. Hehe, then you can ask him why he chose you to go to your death!

He would answer, probably only I can handle Winterfell's mess!" He waved his hand, not taking the threat seriously, "My counsel is that you have no need to send letters to the Iron Islands.

"Everyone in the South already knows Youlun Gelei Qiaoyi is dead, supposedly slain by Stannis's King's Hand. Why threaten a dead man?"

The whole South already knows that Euron Greyjoy is dead, supposedly slain by Stannis's King's Hand. Why bother threatening a dead man?

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" All this talk was just to mock me?

"I just wanted to say, you never gave me a chance. Moreover, the other scholar you mentioned also knows that the South likely already knows this, while the only person in the North who most needs to know remains unaware."

I just wanted to say, but you haven't given me a chance. Moreover, the other scholar you mentioned also knows that the whole South may already know this, except that the person in the North who most needs this information does not.

Does the scholar know I don't care! I still need to send a message to Pike Island." Just to change the wording.

"You said..."

"I said we have no ravens going to Pike City," he interrupted, laughing, "but we do have ravens heading to Sea Border City; you could relay the message to its count, then ask him to forward it with his ravens—mission accomplished. Moreover, writing the letter would also point out his mistake, though I still suggest you wait a bit; perhaps the new leader of the Iron Islands will reach out to you on his own."

I said before, we have no ravens that go to Pike City." He interrupted its words, mocking, "But we do have ravens that go to Sea Border City; you can forward the message to the Earl of Sea Border City, then ask him to use his ravens to relay it, thus achieving the goal. Moreover, writing a letter amounts to pointing out his mistake, but I still suggest you wait a while; perhaps the new leader of the Iron Islands will voluntarily contact you.

"I don't handle the ravens," he reminded. "And this is something simple you could entirely delegate to your own scribes. If you can't read..."

I do not manage the ravens." He reminded again. "Furthermore, such a simple matter you can entirely entrust to your own clerk. If you are illiterate…

"As you wish. However, Your Highness, if you want to avoid the embarrassment of everyone in the South knowing something you don't, you'd better raise your standards for the person in charge of the ravens."

As you wish. However, Your Highness, if you want to avoid the embarrassment of everyone in the South knowing something you do not, you had better raise your standards for the person in charge of the ravens.

"I suggest you raise your standards to the point where the raven keeper can gather intelligence and messages."

I suggest you raise your requirements to the point where the raven manager can achieve the level of gathering intelligence and information.

"Of course, it will cost money—a lot of money. And I've heard you're not short on funds." He laughed, looking utterly detestable, "Now it's just a matter of whether you're willing to spend it."

"Of course, you need to spend money, and a lot of money. Of course, I heard you don't lack money." He laughed, looking utterly hateful, "Now it depends on whether you're willing to spend money."