Cersei Lannister: "..."
Varys picked up the letter and examined it, sighing, "Queen Regent Cersei, I think Prime Minister Tyrion did not deceive you. Look…"
He turned the letter towards Queen Regent Cersei, pointing at the wax seal on it, and continued, "Only Lord Tywin's letters use a golden seal. He is incredibly thoughtful, which allows us to recognize his handwriting at a glance."
Pycelle tremblingly stretched his neck to glance at the letter, then nodded slightly towards Queen Regent Cersei.
Queen Regent Cersei's beautiful eyes fixed on the ugly Dwarf, but her hand reached for Varys. Varys quickly rose from his chair and walked over to respectfully place the letter in Queen Regent Cersei's hand.
Queen Regent Cersei glanced at the golden Lion seal, then opened the envelope and began to read.
Tyrion first swept his gaze across the Small Council table, then looked at his older sister, Cersei, sitting in the King's seat. He had heard that his nephew, the King, rarely attended Small Council meetings, just like Robert I… He then looked at the empty Hand of the King's chair to Cersei's right. His father was indeed very thoughtful; his lonely sister needed a well-behaved younger brother to keep her company.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Tyrion's face, then he looked at Lancel Lannister, who was standing beside Cersei.
His obedient cousin looked haggard, with dark, deep circles under his eyes, just like… just like… Tyrion scratched his head… He remembered! He seemed to look like this after waking up from a brothel.
Several Lannister Lions liked to look in mirrors, regardless of beauty or ugliness.
...
"Hey, my cousin, please get me a glass of Queen Regent Cersei's favorite summer red."
Lancel glanced disdainfully at the grinning Tyrion, ignoring him.
Tyrion's lips immediately curled into a smile: "The Small Council is indeed cautious. In this place, a deaf person is naturally more reliable than most… My poor cousin."
Varys turned his face away, covering his mouth with a light chuckle, while Pycelle seemed to have fallen asleep.
Lancel's face flushed red. He gritted his teeth and said, "I am not a servant, nor am I deaf. I am a knight now!"
Tyrion's smile remained unchanged. He nodded in agreement and said, "Alright, Ser Lancel, please get me a drink."
Lancel quickly glanced at everyone present. He suppressed his anger and whispered, "I said I am not a servant!"
Tyrion looked at Varys, who had an expression of watching a show, and said, "Why is Ser Lancel still alive?"
Tyrion looked as if he was whispering, but his voice was as normal as ever.
Varys's eyes flickered. He smiled and said, "The Queen Regent is merciful."
Tyrion's eyes widened slightly: "But why does he look like he's living in a drunken dream? I mistakenly thought it was a final revelry, but it turns out it's a celebration of survival."
As Tyrion's words fell, Varys turned to look at Lancel, and Pycelle, who seemed to be asleep, also looked over.
Tyrion said with a smile, "My knight cousin, which brothel did you go to? Next time, let's go together?"
The letter nearly had a corner torn off by Cersei. Without lifting her head, she said, "Lancel, make him shut up."
Tyrion's words made Lancel's face even paler. He nervously glanced at the hilt of the longsword at his waist and the golden wine jug.
Tyrion strangely eyed Queen Regent Cersei. Had she given in because of the letter's contents? But this wasn't the Lioness's usual style, was it?
Soon, Lancel walked over with his head held high. With disdain in his eyes, he placed the wine jug and glasses on the table in front of Tyrion.
Lancel turned to leave, but Tyrion said with a playful smile, "Ser Lancel, do I need to pour my own wine?"
Lancel's steps halted. He briefly glanced at Queen Regent Cersei, who was reading the letter with her head down, and angrily picked up the wine jug.
...
"Thank you, Ser Lancel."
Tyrion narrowed his eyes and took a sip of wine… A small victory, a good start.
"This is impossible!"
Queen Regent Cersei finished reading the letter and slammed it onto the table.
After a pause, Queen Regent Cersei picked up the letter again and read it once more, which only made her more annoyed.
"This is outrageous!" The letter was once again slammed onto the table by Queen Regent Cersei.
Varys softly asked, "Queen Regent Cersei, what happened?"
Queen Regent Cersei leaned back in her chair, first taking a deep breath, then said, "My father orders Tyrion to enter the Red Keep and take over his duties. He instructs us to treat Tyrion as the true Hand of the King until he arrives at the Red Keep himself."
Grand Maester Pycelle stroked his white beard, nodding thoughtfully, and said, "Lord Tywin's arrangement must be well-planned. It seems the Small Council must officially welcome Prime Minister Tyrion."
Queen Regent Cersei angrily said, "I disagree! Putting a Dwarf in the Hand's chair is a joke in itself."
Tyrion smiled slightly and said, "Sister Cersei, I really like your welcome ceremony."
Queen Regent Cersei's fist beneath the table clenched: "If Renly's army besieges the city, or Stannis attacks by sea from Dragonstone, what use is a Dwarf like you? I need someone who can eliminate them, not someone who will make them die of laughter."
She added, "And! The Hand of the King is chosen by the King himself and can only be appointed after the Small Council's approval. Joffrey appointed Father, not you, so you are not qualified."
Tyrion chuckled, raised his glass, and took a sip of summer red, saying, "Sister, our Hand of the King, Father, appointed me."
"Father has no right to do that, unless he gets Joffrey's consent."
Tyrion shrugged and said, "You can only question those issues directly with our kind father, but he is far away in Casterly Rock and busy raising an army, so he probably won't have time to bother with you for a while."
After speaking, Tyrion's smile faded.
He politely said, "Grand Maester Pycelle, Lord Varys, and everyone else, may I have a private word with my sister?"
Everyone exchanged silent glances. They tacitly lowered their eyes, waiting for the Queen Regent's command.
Tyrion grinned: "My sister's sweet voice is captivating, and I also like sweet things…"
"Enough, you may leave now." Cersei interrupted Tyrion with disgust.
Varys smoothly rose and bowed in farewell; Pycelle tremblingly stood up, bowed with his hand over his chest, and left; Ser Lancel shot a venomous glare at his cousin before leaving.
After the Kingsguard left, only Cersei and Tyrion remained.
...
"Has the Old Lion lost his mind? Tell me, did you forge this letter?"
Queen Regent Cersei crumpled Lord Tywin's letter in her fist: "I want him here in person! I am Joffrey's Queen Regent, and I issued a royal decree to him!"
Tyrion silently waited for Queen Regent Cersei to finish her outburst, then he sighed, "Queen Regent, we should be realistic. Renly and Stannis will besiege the city sooner or later. Only with the Old Lion leading the army outside can he contain those people…"
As he spoke, Tyrion grinned and continued, "Honestly, you've brought quite a few opponents to our elderly father. You truly are his obedient daughter; he must love you to death."
Cersei pursed her lips, her face filled with anger.
"My brother, if I say this letter is fake and order them to throw you into the dungeon… I promise, no one would dare disobey me!"
Tyrion's smile remained, but his heart trembled. His sister was absolutely capable of doing such a thing; he knew Cersei's willfulness very well.
Tyrion nodded: "Of course, I don't doubt that at all. If I didn't have Father's letter in my hand, I think I'd be pitifully begging for your forgiveness in a dark dungeon right now."
Queen Regent Cersei slightly raised her chin, a look of disdain on her face.
After a pause, Tyrion said seriously again, "Cersei, you and Joffrey both need the Old Lion's army. You shouldn't easily shake Father's trust in you."
Queen Regent Cersei's pupils constricted. Tyrion had hit on her biggest concern. The Small Council meeting before Tyrion's arrival had already made her realize that they were surrounded by enemies.
She wasn't afraid, but she didn't want to lose.
Therefore, she could not do without the Old Lion's support.
Queen Regent Cersei deliberately put on an indifferent expression: "I have Ser Jaime and Count Clebber."
Tyrion sighed, "Thank pray, you didn't mention Lancel's name."
Cersei suddenly stood up, staring intently at Tyrion, and said coldly, "What do you mean?"
Tyrion's heart skipped a beat. Why such a sudden burst of anger?!
He climbed down from the chair and walked over with a quick pace, his fawning expression like a jester in the Red Keep: "The Lioness's roar is truly terrifying. My charming sister, please don't be angry. We are all Lannister, and without your support, I cannot hold the position Father gave me."
Queen Regent Cersei threw Tyrion's hand away and sat back down in her chair.
Tyrion quickly picked up the wine jug to pour wine for Queen Regent Cersei. Seeing her expression improve slightly, he poured a glass for himself as well.
Having done all this, Tyrion climbed onto the Hand of the King's chair next to Cersei.
Tyrion narrowed his eyes and took a sip of summer red. He found the Hand of the King's chair even more comfortable than he had imagined.
Although he got there by flattery, he finally sat in that chair. It was a good start.
Queen Regent Cersei put down her wine glass, her voice filled with warning: "Remember your words. Without my support, no one will take you seriously."
Tyrion nodded with a friendly expression, indicating agreement.
Tyrion showed no outward reaction, but inwardly he noticed something suspicious: the Lioness had exhibited two unusual behaviors because he mentioned Lancel.
The corner of Tyrion's lips curved imperceptibly. His curiosity was piqued, but he could put it aside for now. First, he needed to deal with his annoying Queen Regent sister.
Tyrion sincerely began, "We just talked about Jaime and Clebber… Let's talk about Ser Jaime first. He will be a good helper for Father in leading the army outside. The Old Lion… loves him very much, doesn't he? As for Clebber… he has to help you guard King's Landing, doesn't he? I hear Stannis is building warships on Dragonstone. Will he suddenly appear outside the city one day to greet us?"
Cersei thought herself shrewd and experienced, yet Tyrion had grown up with her since childhood and knew her personality inside out. For him, reading the expressions on her face was as easy as reading his favorite book.
The anger on Cersei's face had lessened, replaced by more anxiety about the situation, or rather, she didn't know what to do now.
His Lioness sister could only regain some sense after venting her anger.
After a pause, he continued, "Cersei, as long as you support me, I promise you that you and Joffrey will be safe and sound."
Queen Regent Cersei scoffed, "You? Can you even lift a sword? Can you help me eliminate the enemies threatening Joffrey's throne?"
Tyrion grinned: "At least our senile father chose to trust me, didn't he? Someone has to serve you, and it's no loss to you, my dear sister."
...
After a long silence, Queen Regent Cersei said coldly, "I can give you one chance. Don't disappoint me, my good brother."
Tyrion was both moved and grateful: "Please rest assured, I will serve you with all my heart and soul, My King."
Tyrion's eyes shifted slightly. He thought the Old Lion's idea was the same as his: Cersei and Joffrey had too high a talent for making enemies. The mother and son were the Lannister's biggest opponents.
Tyrion's smile deepened… Perhaps before the Old Lion could eliminate one enemy, the mother and son might very well create two new enemies for him. Fortunately, his old father's health had always been good.
Therefore, his most important task after becoming Master of Coin was to quickly sideline Cersei and Joffrey.
Tyrion picked up his wine glass and gestured to Queen Regent Cersei… Count Clebber was a problem. It could be said that Queen Regent Cersei controlled King's Landing through him. As long as Count Clebber remained the Commander of the Gold Cloaks, it would be difficult to sideline Cersei's power. Although his sister Cersei was foolish, she wasn't stupid; she wouldn't easily give up Count Clebber's position.
Trust was key… How could it be shaken… Or rather, who would be easier to shake?!
Tyrion took a big gulp of summer red, and his eyes suddenly lit up… The House Clebber tradition!
Tyrion put down his wine glass. He looked at Queen Regent Cersei in a good mood… A Queen Regent is a Queen Regent, but a Queen Regent is not a Queen.
...
Queen Regent Cersei looked at her ugly brother, who rarely showed a smile.
Dwarf… ugly deformed monster… Dwarf Hand… the root of sin and suffering… What a good thing to put forward to appease public anger!
Cersei felt she understood the Old Lion's deeper meaning. Indeed, she was Tywin's true heir.
Cersei felt sorry for her father because she didn't have **.
Tyrion was startled by her smile. Cersei blinked innocently, her smile very charming.
...
Cersei smiled… Tyrion saw a girl as beautiful as summer… When she smiled, he could truly realize how beautiful she was.
Tyrion also smiled… His sister was truly charming. He almost felt apologetic for plotting to sideline the beauty's power.
Tyrion lightly coughed and said, "My dear sister, tell me about Pycelle and Varys?"
Cersei's green eyes flickered. She said, "What do you mean?"
Tyrion spread his hands and said, "Let me put it this way, are these two Small Council members useful?"