Takes Half of the Vale.
The news gradually spread, prompting a strong response from the Seven Kingdoms.
King's Landing:
Starting from Flea Bottom, all kinds of rumors were flying around.
However, no one mentioned that His Royal Highness was going to rebel. Instead, they were talking about Lady Jeyne of Eagle Nest.
In detail.
The 14-year-old prince was said to be in high spirits and to have won the obsession and pursuit of Lady Jeyne, known as the "Valley Virgin."
His Royal Highness often rode his dragon to Eagle Nest to meet with Lady Jeyne in private.
In short, the two were having an affair.
After dinner, gossip about the affair became a hot topic of conversation for the people of King's Landing.
...
The Red Keep.
The Parliament Hall.
Viserys's face darkened, and he clenched his wine glass.
Those who knew him could tell he was sulking.
The hand Lyonel sat to the side with an expressionless face, thinking carefully about what to say next.
The other ministers looked solemn and dared not speak.
You could hear a pin drop in the hall; the oppressive atmosphere made everyone uneasy.
They were all smart and would not take rumors from below seriously.
What they should really worry about was the division of the Vale regime and its potential impact on the royal family.
After a cup of tea,
Lyonel sighed deeply and spoke up: "Your Majesty, it has been more than a month since the incident. Prince Aemon should be called back to King's Landing immediately to provide a reasonable explanation."
He conquered three noble castles by force, including Seagull Town."
Sea Minister Tyran reminded him in a low voice.
Law Minister Jasper frowned and loudly accused: "This is obviously inciting rebellion."
Once the floodgates were opened, the situation gradually became uncontrollable.
Viserys looked around and said in a cold tone, "That kid is causing trouble and trying to get attention."
"Only children make trouble, and Prince Aemon is obviously not one of them."
Lyonel shook his head.
The old man, Linman, was so scared that he took a sip of wine and muttered, "What a joke."
How could someone make such a big mess?
The ministers were careful with their words, but they all expressed an attitude.
"We must not sit idly by!"
Viserys had a severe headache and angrily said: "Then what do you think I should do? Should I send him to the Wall or chop off his head and hang it on top of the Wall?"
He was suffering the most.
His nephew had suddenly stabbed him in the back, catching him off guard.
"The whole world is watching, Your Majesty."
Lyonel didn't want to say this, but he couldn't ignore this matter.
Jasper immediately agreed, "Perhaps you should detain him to prevent him from threatening the Iron Throne."
"That's my nephew! You say it so lightly!"
Viserys was extremely annoyed.
He wanted to do it, but he had to be able to.
His nephew had more than one dragon and the support of vassals in half of the Vale.
Not to mention the Royce family's strong foundation; the wealth of Seagull Town alone was enough to support a war.
Grand Maester Meros hesitated for a moment, then reminded Viserys, "Her Royal Highness is still in the Vale, Your Majesty."
This sentence instantly calmed Viserys down: "Order Rhaenyra to return to King's Landing immediately."
The eldest daughter and heir could not afford to make any mistakes.
"I'll do it now."
Meros lowered his head and wrote furiously.
The conversation turned back to the coup in the Vale.
Viserys gathered his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "At the same time, write a letter to Aemon and recall him to King's Landing."
In any case, we should test the loyalty of his nephew first.
The ministers looked at each other and nodded helplessly.
There was no better way.
If they want to arrest people in the Vale, they must have the courage and ability to do so.
Bang, bang!
The door knocked, and a Kingsguard walked in.
"Your Majesty, there is the latest news from the Stepstones."
Viserys looked surprised and replied, "Bring it here."
The letter was handed to Meros, who read it.
"The Sea Snake has joined forces with Daemon to capture the entire Stepstones and has built castles on Bloodstone and Grey Gallows Islands.
"Daemon repelled the Tyrosh mercenaries and proclaimed himself the 'King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones.'"
By the end, beads of sweat oozed from Meros's forehead, and he carefully said: "Prince Keorren of Dorne has allied with the Lord of Tyrosh and the Governor of Myr. He has participated in the internal strife of the Three Daughters and the war in the Stepstones."
The Dornishman is doomed!
Viserys was stunned for a moment, and then anger surged through him. He slammed the table and stood up. "What are this father and son going to do!?"
"The most urgent task is to find out the situation of the battle in the Stepstones," Lyonel said hurriedly.
Lyonel said hurriedly.
"The Vale is closed and conservative; nothing big can happen there.
The Stepstones have always been a major concern for the Iron Throne, especially with the Dornish involved.
The war cannot be allowed to expand.
"Send a message to Storm's End and ask Lord Beaumond to station troops on Tarth to prevent the Dornish from taking the opportunity to invade."
Viserys made a prompt decision.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Meros wrote another letter.
The war in the Stepstones has not officially started yet, and the most urgent task is to divide the Vale's government.
Lyonel sighed. "Eagle Nest refused to reply, and Lady Jeyne seems to have lost trust in the royal family."
"Don't worry about her. She's a short-sighted woman."
Viserys didn't look pleased.
It's clear that such rumors are not groundless.
He trusts his nephew's judgment completely and despises it.
Lyonel was stunned by the retort. He never expected the king to say that.
Viserys stood up suddenly and said, "Notify Rhaenyra to return first. Aemon will return to King's Landing later."
After that, he left without looking back.
The ministers were helpless, knowing the king's difficulties.
"I'll take my leave first."
Meros quickly wrote three letters as if he were going to send them to the ravens.
Lyonel noticed.
He had four letters in his sleeve, one of which was printed with the emblem of the Hightower.
Just when he was confused.
Meros was the first to go out and chase the king, who was walking away.
"The meeting is adjourned. Let's go too."
Jasper patted his butt.
As a "good-for-nothing" in the royal meeting, the king was not in a hurry. Why should he be?
"Alas."
Lyonel shook his head and sighed.
...
At the same time,
On the couch, the clothes were messy and intertwined.
Aemon opened his eyes drowsily.
The nap was over.
Rhaenyra's temples were wet with sweat.
Half an hour later,
Rhaenyra was panting and collapsed like a salted fish.
"I've been very angry recently.
There isn't enough food to share at night, so I can only eat secretly during the day.
"Do you want me to massage you?"
Aemon asked, holding his chin with one hand as he lay on his side laughing.
You tired yourself up like this. You are
You're a bad cook, but you love to play!
"No, I'll take a break."
Rhaenyra hid her face in her arms.
"..."
No.
Outside the window, the midday sun shone brightly.
Aemon put on his clothes and called for a basin of water.
If someone cooks, someone has to wash the dishes.
"Messaria wrote to me."
Rhaenyra's voice was as soft as a mosquito's.
Aemon asked, "What did she say?"
The last time Daemon was driven out of King's Landing, historical trajectories changed.
Messaria, Daemon's former mistress, defected to Rhaenyra beforehand.
Rhaenyra cared about the livelihood of the common people, which is why the reason was.
She would be a kind queen.
"Merciful Queen."
Aemon laughed and blew a breath of hot air into her ear.
Rhaenyra stretched out her hand and hit him. She didn't dare look up because she was ashamed.
"Quickly, tell me. What news does your intelligence chief have?"
Aemon grabbed the little hand that had been misbehaving and interrogated its owner without hesitation.
Rhaenyra replied weakly, "She spread rumors about you in Flea Bottom and changed the direction of the wind."
Now, the whole of King's Landing is discussing Jeyne's private life.
The matter of taking half of Aemon's Vale has been overshadowed.
"No wonder."
Aemon nodded in understanding.
His uncle's questioning has been delayed.
It turns out that someone has muddied the waters for him.
"What are you going to do?"
Rhaenyra turned her head to the side with a hint of charm in her eyes.
Aemon replied, "When the enemy comes, we will stop him. When the water comes, we will cover it with earth."
"Aemon!"
Rhaenyra was like a female dragon with bared teeth.
Aemon surrendered, asking for leniency.
Candle Cave, Old Anchorage, and Seagull have now sent hostages one after another and hung his two-division flag.
The generous Lord Barkin was the most ruthless.
He razed the Shet family's home in Seagull Town to the ground and offered to return all of their property intact.
Aemon kept half, and the other half was awarded to Ser Ryan of Seagull Tower.
Actually, he should be called Ser Ryan of Seagull Town now.
His branch became the main branch of the Shet family.
Additionally, Coldwater City and Graydale City sent troops to control the two tributaries north of the Moon Mountains.
Currently, the Vale is divided into two parts.
The Eyrie is the main city, and its main vassals are:
Lord Families: Heart City, Longbow Hall, Hongsong City, Snakewood City, and Pebble Island.
Lords and wealthy knight families: Ninestar City, the Woodhull family, the Ruthermont family, the Hatton family, the Moore family, etc.
The main vassals in Riverdale are:
Lord Families: Runestone City, Gull Town, Red Fort, Candle Cave City, and Old Anchorage.
Barons and wealthy knight families: Coldwater City, Gull Tower, Greydale City, and Black Rose Hall.
In terms of overall strength, Riverdale is unmatched.
Not only does it have dragons,
Gull Town is the only port in the Vale and accounts for 80% of the region's economic trade.
On the other hand,
Eagle Nest's appeal is insufficient, and the army it can muster will not exceed that of Runestone City.
The Bloody Gate is said to be indestructible, yet it cannot stop a dragon.
Aemon could unify the Vale immediately if he wanted to.
"I have foreseen my father's rage."
Rhaenyra couldn't help but worry.
Aemon didn't brag; he spoke seriously. "As long as the Riverlands, the Reach, and the Stormlands are not in chaos, I can calm the storm."
Since Aegon the Conqueror unified the continent of Westeros, the Seven Kingdoms have checked and balanced each other.
The four regions of the east, west, south, and north are the most threatening:
The Vale, the Westerlands, Dorne, and the North.
The Riverlands, the Reach, and the Stormlands are loyal to Aegon the Conqueror's line and will not betray the royal family for legitimacy's sake.
Aegon must control the Vale quickly, so he can seal the Neck and stop the Northern army.
The Riverlands and the Reach are located between the Westerlands and the Stormlands, which block Dorne.
The Seven Kingdoms are settled!
Of course, that is the worst-case scenario.
In reality, some nobles may oppose him, but there will be no military rebellion.
Even if there is a rebellion!
Haha!
Vormithor's age and size are the same as they were when Balerion the "Black Death" conquered the Seven Kingdoms.
"Do it again."
Fascinated by what she heard, Rhaenyra arched her round, plump body.
"Huh?"
Aemon was stunned for a moment.
Rhaenyra's eyes hid a smile as she hooked her finger.
"I just wiped it clean."
Aemon was upset.
Rhaenyra grabbed his collar and said, unsatisfied, "Follow my elbow."
...
Time passed quickly, and half a month went by.
King's Landing.
Viserys cleared an area on the precious stone table and placed a brand new stone sculpture on it.
Seven slender towers stood next to each other like a fortress stuck in the cliff.
Eagle Nest—Bloody Gate.
Knock!
The door was pushed open and Grand Maester Meros walked in with a bowl of soup.
"I don't need these."
Viserys glanced at it and frowned.
Meros spoke freely: "Your cuts are difficult to heal. Drinking more soup will help you recover."
"Put it there."
Viserys was reluctant and pointed to the dining table.
After more than ten years of treatment, the wound was getting worse.
It was far less effective than the emerald ring given to him by his nephew.
Meros did as he was told and urged the king to drink the soup while it was still hot.
"Anything else?"
Viserys was thinking about something and began to drive people away.
"Ser Otto Hightower has arrived at the Red Keep."
Meros lowered his head and whispered.
Viserys paused, and suddenly, the stone seagull he was playing with lost its charm.
After a while,
"Please ask him to come in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Meros did not dare look at him again and quietly withdrew.
Bang!
Hearing the door close, Viserys sighed.
A few days ago, Rhaenyra wrote back to him.
She had already set off to return to King's Landing with her nephew.
Rhaenyra was safe and had not been detained or mistreated.
If his nephew dared to come see him, then things couldn't be that bad.
But!
You have to be on guard many times.
A few minutes later:
Dongdong!
The door knocked again.
"Come in," he said.
Viserys's expression changed slightly, and he straightened his clothes.
Creak!
The door opened, revealing a figure that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
The figure stood in the sunlight, and only the silhouette of a person in black clothes could be seen. The face could not be seen clearly.
Viserys squinted, and memories flooded his mind.
"Your Majesty!"
After a long time, Otto walked into the bedroom and smiled emotionally. "I haven't seen you in years. Are you in good health?"
It was a common greeting between old friends.
Viserys was slightly startled, then smiled with relief. "Not bad. Please, sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Otto put away his smile and became humble.
His six-year confinement in Oldtown seemed to have worn away his arrogance.
Viserys couldn't help but sigh.
The two did not discuss politics, but rather greeted each other about the past years, like a pair of old friends who had met again after a long separation.
Otto answered fluently and did not complain or express his desire to return to the royal council.
This attitude gave Viserys an intuitive feeling.
No selfishness!
"Tell me, what do you think of the Vale and the Stepstones?"
After chatting for a while, Viserys got straight to the point.
Once they started talking about business, Otto's temperament changed.
He became more calm.
"The specific situation depends on your attitude."
His eyes were deep.
Viserys asked, confused, "What do you mean?"
"In the time of Aenys I, Prince Maegor rode Balerion overseas and did not return until his brother died."
Otto listed them one by one, saying, "Daemon's occupation of the Stepstones did not harm the kingdom."
"That's right."
Viserys did not refute, feeling slightly awkward.
Should he take Aenys I and the cruel Maegor as an example?
Uncle and young niece and nephew...
Fortunately, the young king can hold on.
Otto continued, "The key problem lies with Prince Aemon. The head of the Vale has always been the Arryn family of the Eyrie."
He paused and reminisced, "The little kid back then has become a dragon king now."
There were forty dragon king families in the ancient Valyrian period.
It makes sense for a child to be called a dragon king.
Viserys did not pursue the wording, however, and became angry. "That kid is just like his bastard father. They're both lawless."
"What do you think?"
Otto asked seriously. "Should we reprimand His Royal Highness the Prince and keep him away from the Vale, or use this opportunity to abolish the East Guardian duties of the Eyrie?"
"Is it necessary to do this?"
Viserys did not expect his old friend to be so extreme.
But it must be said that it was in line with his own thinking.
"If you don't make a decision, you will suffer from the chaos."
"You should have made a decision earlier, Your Majesty."
Otto said sincerely.
Viserys opened his mouth. "Then..."
Creak!
The door was pushed open from outside, interrupting their conversation. Harold, the commander of the Kingsguard, entered.
"The princess and the prince are back, Your Majesty."
---------------
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