Chapter 83

"I really don't care whether he got the archbishop position through magic," Zhān mǔ said irritably, feeling that if he still had troops in hand, he would immediately lead people to storm the cathedral and pluck the feathers of Da Que Ma. "As for you, after not seeing each other for a while, you've actually become a high-ranking state official."

"Did you also use magic, you fucking? Or are you saying you also slept with Se Xi? Fuck!"

"Sir, this is all thanks to the Queen Mother's favor and promotion," Ke Ben said, maintaining his composure. "She gave me room to shine, and I have always been grateful for that."

You should certainly be grateful; without her, you should have been hanged long ago, and your Se Xi should at least be burned as a wicked thing. Fuck!

"Don't you know that outsiders call you lot of ministers a petty cabinet?" Zhān mǔ asked sharply.

"Sir, during the lifetime of Jie He Li Si Yi Shi, his ministers would not have had a better title among the common folk." He politely defended himself, saying, "Now wars are frequent, supplies are scarce, prices are rising, and wanting the populace to love the court's high officials is as difficult as climbing to heaven."

Unless enough food is hauled up from the south, the Red Keep won't hear nightly wails, and the streets won't constantly see murder and theft. It's a bit troublesome, but damn it, as long as we have Ti Li Er's help, would it really be that hard?

"Who is currently in charge of the court?" If the Hand of the King, Ao Dun Ma Rui Wei Si, really ran away.

"Sir, no one. If you don't want to cause chaos in the court, I suggest you take charge immediately; that's also why I said your return is timely." He smiled and said, "Other high officials will soon learn that the Queen Mother has been imprisoned."

"I fucking am just the commander of the defeated Imperial Forest Iron Guard," he said impatiently, feeling that the old Tai Wen's ghost was pushing him to take on a responsibility he couldn't bear, "What qualifications do I have to take charge of the court?"

"Sir, you are the current Queen Mother's brother, the uncle of King Tuo Man, and you are also the sole one who can issue orders in the Western Realm." Ke Ben said, "Besides you and Lord Kai Feng, who else is capable of shouldering the present court?"

"There's plenty more to say." As long as it's not Se Xi, "Mei Si Ti Li Er, Kai Feng, and even Xiao Zhi Tou." He looked at Ke Ben's wrinkled face, "How could I be the one who can issue orders in the Western Realm? I'm wearing the white robe of the Imperial Forest Iron Guard; are you blind, can't you see?"

"Sir, Duke Tai Wen has never publicly acknowledged an heir to Casterly Rock all these years," Ke Ben said with a smile and politely, "Everyone knows he intends to leave Casterly Rock to you, even if you wear the white robe."

Tai Wen refuses to publicly acknowledge an heir to Casterly Rock because his younger son is a dwarf. "Casterly Rock is my sister's." If his right hand were still there, Zhān mǔ felt he would surely have grabbed Ke Ben by the throat and snarled those words at him.

But the handless Imperial Forest Iron Guard could only act like an angry child, using his tone to threaten and shout.

He didn't know why he was so angry. Perhaps Ke Ben had mentioned Lord Tai Wen? Perhaps Ke Ben had obviously ignored the little devil? Or perhaps he himself had brought up Se Xi.

Se Xi Se Xi

Without hands, without strength, you cannot make Da Que Ma submit and release her. If he were really a lunatic, strength probably couldn't make him submit either. It's nothing, just an old man—kill him.

"Your sister is currently imprisoned by the church and cannot issue orders."

"Then there's my uncle Kai Feng."

"Sir Kai Feng is far away, and besides, he is not the Warden of the West; the Warden of the West has been captured?" Ke Ben sped up his speech, "Sir, I think you still don't understand."

"You don't understand? If you like educating people so much, why not tell Se Xi? Tell her to pay the debt owed to the iron treasury, tell her not to restore the Faith's arms."

"Sir, I'm just the intelligence director; besides, the Queen Mother is not someone who listens to advice." Ke Ben carefully observed Zhān mǔ, "The Grand Scholar is responsible for offering counsel, and he should know this best."

"Do you really think I'd listen to your nagging? I'm going to see Tuo Man, not stay here to hear you ramble on." Zhān mǔ sneered.

"I think I can at least say some unpleasant truths in front of you," he gave his usual smile, "without having to worry about being splashed with red wine. In fact, splashing red wine is only the lightest punishment."

Of course, the heaviest punishment is to hand someone over to you.

Zhān mǔ had no idea how much of that smile was mockery and how much was politeness.

"Now you have the chance to say what unpleasant facts you speak of," Zhān mǔ gripped his sword with his left hand, only feeling his mouth full of bitterness, "I lost my father, lost my brother, lost my friends, lost my sword hand. I have been defeated many times by the Stark family, captured once, nearly captured once, I have swallowed cup after cup of bitter wine brought by trout and wolves, and I fear no unpleasant words." Is there anything worse than "king-slayer" that's unpleasant?

Zhān mǔ felt he had said too much. If he hadn't already given the other a chance to speak, he would probably have turned and left right now.

"Sir, in my view, no one in the Western Realm or Casterly Rock wants to be led by a woman, uh, a woman, and they wouldn't like an underage boy surnamed Bai La Xin En becoming lord of Casterly Rock," he paused, "although he is still the King of the Seven Kingdoms, with a head of golden hair."

Ke Ben was patient and respectful, but Zhān mǔ couldn't grasp his meaning—what kind of unpleasant fact is this?

"Besides you being able to take charge of the Western Realm now, no one else can. Your uncle is fine, but he's merely Lord Tai Wen's brother, not the heir to Casterly Rock, and he is not currently the Warden of the West. King Tuo Man? He's still too young; the lords of the Western Realm won't like him."

"Are you urging me to take off my white robe and steal what belongs to my sister?" Zhān mǔ shouted, "I thought you were loyal to the Queen Mother!"

"Sir, I am saying this precisely because I am loyal to the Queen Mother. Although you wear the white robe, you are still a Lannister by nature. You are naturally the one who can issue orders in the Western Realm. With you, by leveraging the power of the Western Realm and King's Landing, perhaps your sister, the current Queen Mother, could avoid church judgment; but if it were your uncle Kai Feng, I fear none of this could be avoided."

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Zhān mǔ lost patience; he had just returned to the city, thinking the petty court would mock his defeat, then awkwardly work out a counterplan, but damn it, what is the current court thinking? Teaching him how to contend for power and profit.

"Rescue your sister, the current Queen Mother." His hand writhed in his wide robe, "You surely wouldn't want her to be judged by the church, would you?"

"As long as she remains a Lannister, as long as the current king is her son," he said, "she will absolutely not be judged by the stinking bird."

"Sir, you should act quickly. If you give up or act too late, I guess the officials will welcome your uncle Kai Feng to King's Landing." Ke Ben smiled, "Do you remember, Sir Kai Feng, what conditions you proposed to Se Xi for becoming Hand of the King? I admit, no one has ever asserted power like that before."

"I certainly remember." Zhān mǔ recalled Kai Feng storming away from King's Landing in anger. Previously, he had proposed that only if Se Xi appointed him as regent and Hand of the King, and Se Xi returned to Casterly Rock, would he accept the appointment.

"If he returns to King's Landing, he will at least be regent; what do you think he would do regarding Da Que Ma's judgment of the Queen Mother?" He laughed again, "Sir, I'm not sure."

Kai Feng knew his background, he thought.

He also wasn't sure what Uncle Kai Feng would do. He might try to rescue, or stand by while the Lannisters suffer disgrace and watch Se Xi be hanged. No, he would exert influence, but he would absolutely not mind Se Xi being judged.

Should I seize my uncle's power to save Se Xi?

Zhān mǔ's left hand gripped the longsword tightly. He had lost one sword, and now he could only equip the standard sword of a White Knight. The sword was excellent, broad and long, but with his left-hand skill, he couldn't draw it even if someone hacked him to death.

He hesitated, walking back and forth in the stairway of Mei Ge Lou.

The cold wind blew; his white robe hung on the railing's hook, he angrily pulled it open, but the robe was immediately torn open.

"Which officials remain in the Imperial Council?" He knew who they were, but King's Landing had become unfamiliar to him, so he had to check again.

"The finance minister or treasury manager Ha Rui Si Shi Wei Fu, the navy admiral or maritime minister Ao Lei En Wei Shui, the Grand Scholar Pai Shi Er, and myself. Of course, also including the commander of the Imperial Forest Iron Guard, namely you, Sir."

Plus the fled Ma Rui Wei Si. This is her petty cabinet.

"Sir, if, I mean if, if you intend to rescue the Queen Mother, you should at least be Hand of the King or Regent, and as a Western Realm spokesperson, mobilize the power of the Western Realm. Please be sure to act promptly; I guess the Queen Mother won't be accustomed to the church prison environment."

"Summon the other high officials and Heng Fu Li Wei Shui for me." Zhān mǔ gave the order through clenched teeth.

Heng Fu Li Wei Shui is the commander of Ju Long Men's guard; if the Imperial Forest Iron Guard's Ao Si Meng dared accuse the current Queen Ma Ge Li of treason or adultery, then his brother Ao Si Fu Li could not be trusted, nor could he be allowed to serve as commander of the city guard, and his replacement must be decided early.

Ao Fu Li Wei Shui is the only one among the city gate guard captains who looks like an upright person.

Damn it, after Ma Er Bu Lan resigned, he should have been let in! A illiterate person who can't write serving as commander of the city guard! Fuck! What was Se Xi's stupid head thinking?

"Se Xi is a lying, shameless slut; as far as I know, she has slept with Lan Sai Er, Ao Si Meng Kai Te Bu Lai Ke, and even Yue Tong." Thinking of the little devil's words, Zhān mǔ felt he could grind his teeth to pieces.

"Sir, the castle guards?"

"I am the commander of the Imperial Forest Iron Guard; the Red Keep's guards are under my control." Controlling the guards means controlling the king, and controlling the king means controlling power. He understood.

"Yes, sir. I'll go right away." After bowing, Ke Ben immediately set off, his movements graceful and light.

He walked along the corridor of Mei Ge Lou; the armour he wore was left from when he still had two hands, and now putting it on again appears somewhat loose, with a slight bump when he moves, making him realize he has lost weight again.

The outside weather was overcast, as if it were about to snow.

Snow snow snow, if a snowfall comes, the sparrows will only increase.

He found the little king still praying devoutly in the cathedral behind the Virgins' Residence. His earnest appearance made Jamie think he might be another Holy Prince.

What was I doing at this age?

Besides being locked up by Lord Taiwen to constantly practice reading and writing, he would pick up his sword and repeatedly train with the instructor of Victory Rock City—that was his formative years. Many counts and sons of counts came and went around him: Marblan, Tados of the Blaks family of Horn Valley City, and his brother Fremont.

Fremont, did you escape?

Thinking of the heavy cavalry that Fremont had abandoned, his heart broke.

Damn it, what's left around King Tomman now? The sole Floral Knight has been driven away; all that remains are cats and maids.

This is not the environment a lion should have.

"Uncle, you're back?" King Tomman exclaimed.

He doesn't know about his disastrous defeat in Hojian, does he?

"Yes, I'm back. Are you praying for your mother?" Jamie asked.

"Mother? Why? Of course not," Tomman said, feeling a bit embarrassed and strange, "I'm praying for Queen Margaret. I heard the church people have already arrested her. I begged Mother to go save her, but she took a long time before going. I heard she has already gone to the Great Cathedral and is still praying for the queen, right?"

"Your mother is also imprisoned in the Great Cathedral by the church." Jamie said, lowering his head to the chubby little king.

"Why?" Tomman looked incredulous, "Why would he do this?"

"I don't know." He said, lying.

"Uncle, will you rescue them?"

Jamie took Tomman out of the cathedral and headed toward Meige Pavilion.

"Of course. He is my sister; I won't allow anyone to harm her."

"Yes," Tomman said worriedly, "And Queen Margaret. She's so beautiful and pure; why would the bishop arrest her?"

"They've been hit with clumsy charges." Jamie, already impatient, squatted down and said to the little king, "Tomman, the Queen Dowager has been imprisoned, the King's Hand has left King's Landing; you must immediately appoint a new regent and King's Hand."

"Who should I appoint?" Tomman said, "I could appoint the Floral Knight, but he has already left King's Landing to go campaign against my uncle's vassals."

"You should appoint me," Jamie sighed, "Tomman, you still have other options."

Tomman seemed to be getting to know Jamie again, examining him up and down, and Jamie felt a pang of sadness.

He's despising a cripple!

"Uncle, I appoint you." He said.