chapter 167 part 2
Lord Eddard closed his eyes. He felt a little drunk.
Lord Eddard's honor was unyielding. He stated directly, "Varys, I will not support Cersei's children. Stannis is Robert's true heir, and I welcome him to sit on the Iron Throne."
"Oh, my!"
Varys first exclaimed, then leaned closer to Lord Eddard.
"Lord Eddard, I promise you, Queen Cersei does not want to hear these words. If you don't watch your tongue, even if Stannis wins the Iron Throne, you will likely only be able to greet him with a rotten head."
Lord Eddard said in a deep voice, "Varys, I am not afraid of death."
"But..."
Varys seemed to be pleading with Lord Eddard: "Have you forgotten your pure and innocent daughter? Sansa tried so hard to beg for you, yet you... she is truly pitiful."
A chill rose in Lord Eddard's heart. He suddenly opened his eyes: "Don't involve my daughter in this. Sansa is just a child."
Varys's face showed a look of pity. He said softly, "Lord Eddard, besides you, who cares if she is a child? In Queen Cersei's eyes, Sansa is just a bargaining chip against you... She knows that a tamed wolf is much more useful than a dead wolf, which is why Sansa is still alive."
Lord Eddard's voice was filled with rage: "If Cersei dares to harm Sansa, House Stark and House Tully will absolutely not let her go!"
Varys sighed. "Queen Cersei is not a rational woman. This is something everyone knows."
Lord Eddard could not hide his worry for his daughter; he seemed somewhat at a loss.
Varys glanced at Lord Eddard and continued, "Prince Rhaegar's daughter... Princess Rhaenys was also a child, wasn't she? She was a beloved little treasure, younger than both of your daughters. Do you know that she raised a little black cat named Balerion? Princess Rhaenys liked to treat it as the real Black Dread Balerion... However, I imagine on the day the Lannisters broke into her room, they quickly made her realize the difference between a kitten and a giant dragon."
Varys seemed to be lost in sorrowful memories.
After a pause, Varys sighed wearily: "Lord High Septon once told me that because we have sinned, we suffer. If this is true... Lord Eddard, please tell me... why is it that in the power games of you great nobles, the innocent common folk always suffer the most?"
"Peace is actually very simple. You only need to sincerely promise the Queen Regent that you are willing to confess your acts of rebellion, command Winterfell to acknowledge Joffrey Baratheon as King, and guarantee that you will never reveal her secret. Then I believe she will agree to let you take the black, and Sansa will not be harmed... Most importantly, it will avoid a great war, and the common people can continue to live peaceful lives."
Varys walked to the cell door. He turned and nodded slightly at the silent Lord Eddard.
"If you are willing to, think carefully before Queen Cersei arrives... Lord Eddard, I advise you not to overestimate her patience."
After speaking, Varys reached out and knocked on the door.
...
...
The City Watch (Gold Cloaks) are the garrison and enforcers of King's Landing. They have two barracks in the city: one on the east side near the Dragon Gate, and one on the west side near Cobbler's Square.
Gold Cloaks East Barracks, Commander's tent.
Glyn sat at the desk, a detailed map of King's Landing spread before him.
Glyn withdrew his gaze from the map and said, "Leyton, go and rest."
It was already daybreak. Glyn and his young steward had been busy all night again. He was very worried about Maester Al and Samwell in distant The Whispers.
Leyton lifted his head from the pile of documents. His dark eye circles were very deep.
"My lord, there isn't much left. I estimate it will be finished by this morning."
After speaking, Leyton couldn't help but yawn, and quickly covered his mouth.
Glyn showed a faint smile: "The corruption within the Gold Cloaks is too serious, but it also gives us a good excuse... Leyton, you've worked hard."
Leyton awkwardly scratched his head.
After a while, he put away a letter and said, "My lord, Steward Rosser has already arranged a meeting with the King's Landing merchants. They are awaiting your audience tonight."
Glyn nodded slightly. Leyton was referring to the merchants who had cooperated with Glyn during the King's hunt last year.
"Lord Glyn, Ser Lancel Lannister requests an audience," the sound of a messenger soldier suddenly came from outside the door.
Glyn's eyebrows twitched. Had Lancel already been ennobled as a knight?
...
Lancel stood in front with a proud expression. Glyn rubbed his hair. Was this child having problems?
"Lord Glyn, Her Majesty the Queen Regent ordered me..."
Lancel's words were interrupted by Glyn: "Kneel and speak."
Lancel looked at Glyn incredulously.
"I represent..."
With a clang, Glyn's long sword flew past, almost brushing Lancel's cheek, finally sticking into a wooden pillar in the tent. The sword's hilt trembled there.
Lancel was so scared that he immediately knelt down.
"You... you..."
Glyn frowned, his tone full of doubt: "Lancel, have you forgotten my warning?"
"I am a knight!" Lancel's face turned red.
Glyn stood up from his chair and walked over. He lowered himself in front of Lancel, and the two faced each other.
"You tell me, what does my warning have to do with whether you are a knight?"
Lancel's handsome face twisted. "Don't you forget, you have no evidence!"
With a thud, Lancel painfully curled up on the ground.
Glyn had already stood up. He said slowly, "Why would you think that evidence is necessary? Have you ever thought about what the consequences would be if Joffrey knew about this?"
(end of chapter)