Lancel Lannister said in a terrified voice, "No... no... I didn't... I didn't..."
Greene Kleber raised an eyebrow and asked, "Didn't what? Didn't have what?"
Lancel crawled over and tightly gripped Greene's calf, pleading, "Greene, believe me, I wasn't willing, I was ordered... I..."
Lancel's lips trembled, unable to think of a good excuse at the moment.
Greene looked down at Lancel, whose eyes were red, and said coldly, "Ordered... Lancel, do you mean that the esteemed Queen Regent Cersei willingly opened her legs for you at night?"
Lancel's eyes lit up; that was the truth, Greene was indeed smart!
He quickly nodded heavily.
Greene looked at Lancel's clear blue eyes, moved his leg, and shook off Lancel's hand.
"Ser Lancel, you dare to slander Queen Regent Cersei. Verbal slander cannot cover up the truth. I imagine Queen Regent Cersei must have been forced by your dirty tactics."
Lancel began to cry, "How could I dare..."
Greene interrupted Lancel, "Forget it, I'll just hand you over to King Joffrey for disposal."
Lancel was already in tears, his voice trembling, "For the sake of our friendship, please, Lord Green!"
Greene coldly refused, "Ser Lancel, save those words for King Joffrey. I remember he likes it best when people beg bitterly."
Thinking of being interrogated by Joffrey, Lancel trembled with fear.
"Lord Green, I will never dare to oppose you again. Please, don't hand me over to King Joffrey!"
Greene's expression showed some hesitation: "You want me to help you deceive King Joffrey?"
Lancel quickly said, "As long as you are willing to let me go, I will leave King's Landing immediately, I swear!"
Greene stared at the pathetic Lancel for a moment, a hint of reluctance appearing on his face. He sighed softly, bent down, and reached out to help the frightened Lancel up.
"Lancel, you've just been knighted, and I don't want to see your promising future ruined like this."
Greene patted Lancel: "I haven't forgotten our past friendship, you should stay."
Lancel looked disbelieving, the sudden joy making him burst into tears again.
Lancel choked out, "Gr-Greene... I deserve to die..."
Greene picked up the wine jug from the table, poured a glass of wine, and handed it to Lancel.
"No one will know about your matter. You will remain by Queen Regent Cersei's side, maintain her trust, and always satisfy her every need... Hmm, for our unchanging friendship."
Lancel wiped away his tears, carefully took the wine glass, and looked at Greene with some confusion.
"Ser Lancel, keep our firm friendship hidden, continue to play your role well, and continue to be jealous of Queen Regent Cersei's trust in me."
Lancel bowed his head in thought for a moment; he seemed to understand the hidden meaning in Greene's words.
"Greene, you want me to..."
Greene nodded slightly and patted Lancel's arm: "This is a good thing. Queen Regent Cersei will rely more and more on both of us... Lancel, you won't be satisfied with just a small knight's title, will you?"
Lancel looked at Greene with shining eyes, a bit excited: "Greene, you're still the smartest. I understand! I'll do whatever you say, I swear!"
Greene raised his wine glass, gestured to Lancel, and said, "Ser Lancel, for our friendship, for our bright future, let's toast."
Lancel happily raised his glass and drank.
After a pause, Lancel hesitated and said, "Greene, then... in the future... will the Queen Regent still want me to..."
Greene's brown eyes moved slightly, looking at Lancel, whose face was getting redder.
"Lancel, do as you did before. Be happy, Queen Regent Cersei is a great beauty... The Queen Regent works hard, she needs pleasure, everything you do is for our kingdom."
Lancel nodded blankly.
Greene put down his wine glass and said, "Ser Lancel, now tell me, what did you come to see me about?"
Lancel first glanced at Greene, then lowered his head and whispered, "I asked the Queen Regent to arrange a position in the City Watch."
"What did you say? What did Queen Regent Cersei reply?"
Lancel didn't dare to breathe and answered honestly, "I said... the Gold Cloaks shouldn't be entirely controlled by those who aren't Lannister..."
He looked up at Greene, and seeing that Greene wasn't angry, he continued, "The Queen Regent said... to go directly to you."
"Nothing else?"
Lancel quickly nodded.
After a moment of silence, Greene's eyes trembled slightly.
"Lancel, it seems the Queen Regent still trusts you very much, you must remember her kindness."
Lancel showed a puzzled expression and couldn't help but scratch his head.
"Besides state affairs, Queen Regent Cersei definitely needs someone to help her with some private matters. She would feel more at ease entrusting certain things to you, being a Lannister yourself."
Greene added in his mind... and you are easy to control, or rather, easy to handle.
Upon hearing Greene's words, Lancel's lips curled up, a smile he couldn't suppress.
Greene's eyes moved slightly; Lancel was easily losing control now... To make Lancel more reliable, he decided to find an opportunity to let Lancel interact with Joffrey a few more times, to solidify their friendship.
Lord Green sighed inwardly; first there was Pycelle, now Lancel too, he was worried sick about them.
...
"Ser Lancel, I appoint you as the Gold Cloaks' Red Keep Captain, to protect Queen Regent Cersei's safety alongside the Lannister Red Cloaks."
Lancel excitedly puffed out his chest: "Yes, Lord Green!"
Greene smiled and said, "Lancel, the Red Keep and the Queen Regent are entrusted to your protection. Remember to diligently carry out the Queen Regent's private matters and never disappoint her."
Lancel nodded heavily: "Greene, I understand, I will definitely remember."
Greene's expression was gentle, and he placed a hand on Lancel's shoulder: "Lancel, we are good friends, and I will support you."
After a pause, he added, "Also, you must remember, Robert I has passed away, and you absolutely cannot get Queen Regent Cersei pregnant, otherwise not even the gods can save you."
Lancel, blushing, whispered, "Greene, I... we... the Queen Regent doesn't allow me to... every time I... on her belly..."
Greene raised an eyebrow; he understood instantly.
"A beautiful belly."
Greene sighed with emotion, then said, "Just don't forget the consequences, my friend."
...
...
In the training ground of the City Watch's East Barracks, hundreds of swamp marigold banners fluttered, and the soldiers' armor and weapons gleamed in the sunlight.
From the high platform, Greene slightly raised his hand, paused for a moment, then lowered it. The heads of dozens of people, including former Commander's aide Yaral Dimm, rolled.
After Greene became the Commander, heads rolled daily in the training ground. These people were the last of the former Commander's confidants, and the biggest beneficiaries of the Gold Cloaks' corruption.
Greene deliberately kept them until today and executed them in plain sight.
...
Lancel, one of the Gold Cloaks captains, stood frozen, unmoving.
After the execution, Lancel uncomfortably glanced below; whether it was the blue formation or the gold formation, both were so quiet it was unsettling.
Lancel stood beside Greene at this moment, his voice trembling: "Greene, aren't you worried about a mutiny?"
Greene's eyes moved, looking at Lancel.
"Lancel, Queen Regent Cersei only gave me ten days, and..."
Greene's lips curved slightly as he continued, "If I don't deal with these people, where will the money come from to subsidize the ordinary soldiers' pay, and how will those who voluntarily defect be arranged into higher positions?"
Ordinary soldiers in the Gold Cloaks received a minimum of 2 gold dragons per year, with officers' pay increasing by rank, but most of the pay for most soldiers and lower-ranking officers was embezzled by the former Commander and his confidants.
The Gold Cloaks were not only the garrison of King's Landing but also its enforcers. Gold Cloaks whose pay was withheld constantly reached out to the populace, forming a vicious cycle.
When Cersei promised to appoint him Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks (Chapter 136), Greene had already regarded the Gold Cloaks as his own property and began to plan how to take over.
Before Petyr Baelish left, due to his "concern" that Greene would be outnumbered in King's Landing alone, he handed over his intelligence-gathering subordinates to Greene... In return, Greene promised to look after Petyr's properties remaining in King's Landing.
After taking over Petyr's intelligence personnel, Greene discovered that he and Petyr were indeed good friends; it turned out both of them had their eyes on the Gold Cloaks, or... it should be said that Petyr had long been eyeing the largest armed force in King's Landing.
With the death of former Commander Janos Slynt, the Gold Cloaks were essentially leaderless. With Greene having 2,000 Clebers Blue Cloaks, accurate intelligence, and legitimate authority, Greene quickly dealt with the former Commander's inner circle.
As those people were executed, their wealth was also taken by Greene, totaling nearly 300,000 gold dragons.
...
Lancel forced a smile and said, "I definitely couldn't do that."
"Actually, the key is still the gold dragons," Greene's gaze shifted to where the Gold Cloaks were lined up.
Greene first took out 50,000 gold dragons to subsidize the Gold Cloaks. The nearly one thousand Gold Cloaks standing here were the second group to receive Greene's "gift."
Boxes filled with gold dragons were brought over. Greene would personally supervise the distribution of the soldiers' subsidies, just as he had done last time.
Why only 50,000 gold dragons? Lord Green raised an eyebrow; he refused to answer.
...
After Lancel left, Greene called over Jeffrey (King's Landing, Survey Corps Captain) who was standing not far away.
"Jeffrey, arrange for someone to keep an eye on Lancel Lannister."
...
...
Red Keep, Throne Room.
"Hail King Joffrey I of House Baratheon and Lannister, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Hail Her Majesty the Queen Regent Cersei of House Lannister, Light of the West, Protector of the Realm, mother of His Majesty."
Ser Barristan Selmy, in splendid silver armor, walked at the very front. Ser Arys Oakheart escorted Queen Regent Cersei, and Ser Boros Blount walked beside King Joffrey.
King Joffrey walked to the Iron Throne and stood before it, dressed in a black velvet surcoat embroidered with red threads, a gleaming high-collared gold-threaded cloak draped over his shoulders, and a golden crown set with rubies and black diamonds on his head.
King Joffrey curled his lips, surveyed the people below the Iron Throne, then slowly sat down.
He proclaimed, "It is the duty of a King to punish traitors and reward the loyal. Grand Maester Pycelle, I command you to read my judgment."
As Joffrey's words fell, Maester Pycelle stood up and bowed slightly towards the Iron Throne.
Maester Pycelle was splendidly dressed today, wearing a heavy red velvet robe, a sable collar, bright gold trim, and low-hanging sleeves covered in gilded swirling patterns.
Maester Pycelle unrolled a parchment and began to read a long list of names: Duke Stannis Baratheon and his wife and daughter, Duke Renly Baratheon, ..., Duke Mace Tyrell and all his children, ..., Lady Lysa Arryn and her son, ..., Prince of Dorne Doran Martell and all his children, ..., Lord Walder Frey and his heir, ..., Duke Hoster Tully and his brother Ser Brynden, and his son Ser Edmure, ..., Catelyn Tully, Robb Stark, Brandon Stark, Rickon Stark, Arya Stark.
The list read by Maester Pycelle included most of the important nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.
"In the name of the King and the Small Council, those on the list are to present themselves immediately at the Red Keep to swear fealty to the King. Should they refuse, they shall be deemed rebels, and their lands and titles shall be reclaimed by the Crown."
Buzz! Almost simultaneously, various exclamations erupted from the people in the Throne Room.
...
Grand Maester Pycelle rolled up the parchment with the list, then unrolled another parchment.
Maester Pycelle cleared his throat and read, "To replace the rebel Eddard Stark, by the will of the Queen Regent and His Majesty the King, Tywin Lannister, Duke of Casterly Rock and West Protector, shall assume the office of Kings Hand, to manage the affairs of the kingdom in the King's name."
...
"Finally, King Robert I, dearly beloved, has passed away unexpectedly, and the Small Council deems the safety of King Joffrey's life paramount..." Pycelle looked at Queen Regent Cersei.
Queen Regent Cersei nodded slightly, and she slowly stood up.
"Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy, attend."
Barristan, who had been guarding the base of the Iron Throne, walked over and knelt on one knee before Queen Regent Cersei.
"Your Majesty, Barristan Selmy awaits your command."
Queen Regent Cersei's blue eyes glanced at Barristan, her voice cool: "Please rise, Barristan, you may remove your helmet."
Although Barristan was puzzled by the Queen Regent's command, he stood up and removed his tall helmet.
The old knight held his helmet in one hand and looked at Queen Regent Cersei.
Queen Regent Cersei slightly raised her chin and said, "Ser Barristan, for a long time you have served the kingdom, dutifully and faithfully. Every good man and woman in the Seven Kingdoms is grateful to you. However, I fear your service must now come to an end. Our King and the Small Council both wish for you to lay down your heavy burden."