The next day:
The sun rose, and the morning light tore through the clouds.
Eight hundred Valley Knights returned to the river town.
By the long lake.
Two giant dragons slowly landed, stirring the leaves on the lawn.
Aemon climbed down from the dragon's back, his body weary.
Since summoning the vassals, he had been under a great deal of stress.
Now that he has relaxed, he feels physically and mentally exhausted.
Fortunately, the result was as he wished.
"Prince."
A black-veiled figure stood by the lake with a large black cat lying in front of him.
Aemon: "Walking the cat so early?"
Johanna pouted slightly, patted the breadcrumbs in her hand, and slowly walked toward the grassy slope.
The lake was covered in green duckweed.
A group of black swans pecked at the food and swam away gracefully.
Aemon didn't want to watch the swans play in the water; he just wanted to go back and sleep soundly.
Ideally, he could sleep for three days and three nights—the kind of sleep that can't be interrupted by thunder.
"I'm relieved."
Johanna's eyes were full of concern, and she touched the back of his hand with her cold fingers.
Aemon nodded.
Johanna is indeed not an ordinary woman.
Her contribution to the events that shocked the valley is unforgettable.
The name of the Black Swan will spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
"I've been waiting here all night," Johanna said softly.
Johanna said softly.
The rich fragrance of roses hit Aemon in the face, making him feel even more tired.
"Do you want to rest for a while?"
Johanna moved closer, a faint blush on the tip of her nose.
She had her own thoughts.
In terms of identity and background, those in King's Landing, Driftmark Island, and the Red Fortress are more important than her.
But sometimes, timing is more important.
"Aemon."
Their faces were about to touch when a magnetic voice came from behind.
Laena stood taller and spoke with a puzzled expression.
Johanna quickly lowered her head and kept her distance.
Then, she hurried away with the big black cat.
The sequence of actions was smooth and unhurried.
Aemon breathed a sigh of relief.
There are always women who covet his body.
"Why did she leave?"
Laena looked innocent.
Aemon shook his head and laughed, "If you hadn't come, she wouldn't have left."
"Then I came at the wrong time?"
Laena asked knowingly.
Aemon replied seriously, "No, you came at the right time."
Laena chuckled and put her arms around his neck. "You're fine.
Not every woman in the world is as foolish as Rhaenyra.
It's a matter of means and patience.
Clearly, the Black Swan's sense of timing is still immature.
Laena sat on the ground, spreading out her light blue dress.
Aemon lay on the hem of her skirt with his head resting on his thighs.
Johanna is very good at choosing places, as it must be said.
This secluded grassy slope is free of outsiders.
Laena stroked his brow and said worriedly, "You'll cause unnecessary trouble if you do this."
From the smell of smoke on the other party, she had guessed the reason:
Iron Oak City is in danger!
Aemon held her hand and asked with a smile, "Do I have enough trouble?"
"If you take action against the Waywood family, many people will look at you differently."
Laena understood the complexity of human nature.
If you are weak, they will bully you. If you are strong, they will exclude you.
Plop!
Aemon suddenly stood up and pressed Laena, who was sitting sideways, to the lawn. He admired her delicate face, which was cold to outsiders.
"I didn't hide it. Everyone knows who took action, but they have no evidence."
So what?
Even if his uncle wrote a few more letters scolding him, the Lady Arryn could still expel him from the valley.
He suppressed the pirates of the Three Women's Kingdom and exterminated the Waywood clan.
These two actions, one obvious and one hidden, represent his formidable power and ruthless determination.
This is the only way to gain respect.
"Maybe you are right."
Laena was unable to convince the other party and said helplessly, "It has already happened, so let it play out."
She was very passive now.
She raised her hands above her head and surrendered.
Stared at by someone with burning eyes, she felt heat rising all over her body and her two small earlobes turn red.
"You didn't take off my armor when I came back."
Aemon stared closely.
Laena turned her head and said in a trembling voice, "The tradition of the dragon lords of ancient Valyria only needs to be followed halfway."
The dragon lords of that era were not monogamous.
More than one person took off his armor.
"Excuse me?"
Aemon approached and gently lifted her chin.
Laena was a bad woman.
She flirted with him every time they met, but she didn't mean to.
She was affectionate before the expedition, but after returning, she was as indifferent as water.
It can only be said that the salt and sea of the Velaryon family are no match for the blood and fire of the Targaryen family.
"Don't regret it and say that I bullied you."
Laena's beautiful eyes rippled, and her legs involuntarily came together under her skirt.
Aemon slowly lowered his head.
He was fascinated by Laena's gentle personality.
She was like a mature sister who was good at thinking; she could always deal with things calmly and help him solve problems.
There was no better wife for him.
"Aemon."
Laena was a little embarrassed and not quite ready.
Baji, baji...
It turns out.
People who are good at sweet talk have honey on their lips.
Long Lake.
Vermithor and Silverwing were lying on the lawn with their dragon heads leaning against each other and rubbing together intimately.
"Roar!"
Vermithor raised his dragon head and pressed his chin on Silverwing's back as if it were a mountain.
Silverwing narrowed his vertical pupils, bit his partner's neck, and pinned him down.
Vermithor tried to get angry but was slapped mercilessly by Silverwing's silver-gray wings.
A similar scene unfolded in a hidden corner.
Laena's face turned red with anger. She rolled up her waist-length, silver-gold, wavy hair and held down the disobedient dragon with both hands.
As a dragon rider, taming dragons is a basic skill.
Although she was unskilled, she was very gentle.
She soothed the dragon bit by bit, gently rubbing its scales with her palm.
Dragons are wise creatures, equal to humans, and they know when to be obedient.
They lie quietly and let the dragon rider do it.
Occasionally, they will resist, but they will be suppressed on the spot.
...
The Battle of Pentos was won, and the Waywood family was destroyed.
Once this news spread, it traveled quickly throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
King's Landing, Red Keep.
King's Chamber.
Viserys sat in a recliner holding his eldest son, Aegon, and patiently told the story of his grandfather, Jaehaerys', expedition against the Wildlings on the Wall.
At his feet, Helena and Aemond sat side by side, playing with carefully carved toys.
Dongdong!
Grand Maester Meros pushed the door open and presented two letters.
"Who are they from?"
Viserys put little Aegon down and asked his old friend with a smile.
Meros remained silent. "You'd better check them yourself."
Viserys's smile faded. He knew it wasn't good news as soon as he heard it.
Could Rhaenyra have taken the rapier again and stabbed the nobleman who offended her?
He had scolded her several times.
"Seven Gods bless you."
Viserys opened the envelope; his mood was akin to opening a blind box.
He knew it was a mess but still wanted to confirm how bad it was.
As soon as he saw it, he knew it was from Lady Jeyne Arryn.
Viserys's face fell, and he crumpled the paper as he read it.
He opened the second letter and saw that it was from Aemon Targaryen.
He requested that a knight under his command be granted a secondary noble title for developing territory.
Bang!
Viserys's face flushed. He crumpled the two letters into balls and threw them out. Angrily, he said, "You dare ask me for a noble title? Do you want the Iron Throne!?"
The ancient noble title, passed down from the Age of Heroes to the present day, was destroyed just like that.
Not even his father, Daemon, dared to act so recklessly.
Accusation letters from the Vale filled the desks of the Arryn. Jeyne Arryn turned around and sent them to Viserys.
Does he think he is the master of the Vale and that the other nobles are his vassals, with the power of life and death?
"Your Majesty, now is the time to think about how to calm the anger of the nobles in the Vale,"
Meros advised.
"Piss off!"
Viserys rarely swore. "If the old man from the Waywood family hadn't made things difficult on purpose, how could that kid have killed him to scare the monkeys?"
He's usually such a good child, obedient and filial to his elders.
Why did he kill and set fire to things when he returned to the Vale?
It's not the people of the Vale themselves.
The Targaryens are determined to take root in the Vale. This was the basic strategy set when my grandfather was in power.
Anyone who dares to stand out first will have to admit that he is unlucky.
Meros was stunned by the scolding and hesitated. "But what about the Eyrie?" he asked.
After all, the Arryn is the seat of power of Queen Emma's and Princess Rhaenyra's families.
If the Arryn cannot withstand the pressure, the royal family's control over the Vale will diminish greatly.
"Don't worry. The people of the Vale dare not do anything."
Viserys suppressed his anger and took the high road with his intelligence.
The nephew's behavior is quite bad.
It's almost an outright annihilation of the Waywood family, intended to intimidate the nobles of the entire Vale.
However, it must be said that it has begun to show results.
Otherwise,
Given the stubborn nature of the Vale's nobles, Jeyne Arryn would have compelled them to summon their vassals and demand an explanation.
Rather than sending a simple letter.
Meros understood and asked, "Do you reject Prince Aemon's request?"
"Of course."
Without thinking, Viserys ordered, "After the Battle of Pentos victory, the royal army will withdraw immediately. Don't waste time in the Vale."
He could guess what his nephew was thinking.
It was nothing more than fighting violence with violence to make a name for himself in the Vale.
With the destruction of the Waywood family, the nobles of the Vale would be quiet for a long time.
After his big move, his nephew will also seek development.
In this stalemate, the royal family must not intervene.
The Vale is the royal family's solid pillar, and the nephew is the pioneer of branching out.
Favoring either side will cause trouble.
The best approach is to remain neutral.
Meros nodded and turned to leave.
"Wait a minute."
Viserys stopped him with a gloomy face. "Tell that kid to stay in the prince's territory and not make trouble for a while."
"Put him in solitary confinement."
Meros asked in surprise, "How long will it take?"
"I don't know. Maybe a month. Maybe longer. Let's wait until Rhaenyra comes back from her tour."
Viserys had a hidden agenda.
He wouldn't be able to sleep well until the marriage was settled.
His nephew Aemon had inherited Daemon's romantic nature and could attract bees and butterflies wherever he went.
If you're not careful, the pig will be eaten by the cabbage.
"Damn Daemon!"
Viserys cursed fiercely.
"Yes, your majesty."
Meros nodded and walked away with a staggering gait.
As the Grand Maester who changed the king's wound medicine every day,
He knew the king's mind too well.
It was called house arrest, but it was actually a circle of protection.
He was afraid that his nephew would be killed by mistake, suffer from stomach bloating, or experience a rupture.
Meros sighed deeply, glanced at Princess Helena, and closed the door.
The marriage between the eldest princess and Prince Aemon was a top priority.
Even if the queen wanted to intervene, the Oldtown family had no leverage.
---------------
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