"Your Highness, it's time to depart."
Hannah, who had experienced the rain and dew for the first time, shyly pushed the prince.
Joffrey rolled over and pulled the girl into his arms. "Just go. The carriage can move by itself."
He was very satisfied with his body. Although he was only twelve years old, he was already one meter seventy-eight tall and had grown in all aspects.
Could it be the effect of the Healing Magic?
Hannah was still a little hesitant. "Wouldn't it be bad if Duke Tywin saw us?"
Right. Joffrey remembered that he was supposed to meet his grandfather, Tywin, properly today.
The eternal Hand of the King, Duke of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, and Warden of the Westerlands, the majestic Tywin Lannister. What a resounding title.
The convoy moved forward in an orderly fashion.
Duke Tywin rode at the front, head held high, in crimson armor adorned with gold patterns. A golden lion on his left shoulder clasped a blood-red half-cape.
Joffrey, following behind, had to admit his extraordinary demeanor. He was indeed a figure who had once ruled the Seven Kingdoms.
During a break, Duke Tywin and several lords and knights sat together.
Joffrey walked over.
Adam Marbrand spoke first in greeting, "Your Royal Highness, do you have any instructions?"
Joffrey knew him, a charismatic rising general in the Westerlands. "My lords, I have important matters to discuss with my grandfather. Please excuse us for a moment."
Everyone looked at Duke Tywin.
"You heard what the prince said," Tywin's eyes were fixed on Joffrey.
The open wilderness was the best place to reveal secrets.
Joffrey went straight to the point. "Grandfather might not know, but Uncle Jaime is actually my father."
The calmest tone, speaking the most shocking content.
Duke Tywin's eyebrows twitched violently.
"Joffrey, are you mad? How dare you speak such nonsense in front of me!"
Joffrey immediately dropped another bombshell.
"Actually, Lord Jon Arryn has already discovered clues and is plotting with Stannis."
Joffrey had been carefully observing his grandfather's reaction. Although his expression was moved, the depths of his eyes were too calm.
As expected, Duke Tywin knew everything.
The reason he brought a large number of people to King's Landing and wore armor on the return journey was perhaps because of Jaime and Cersei's incestuous relationship.
What about this, do you know?
Joffrey threw out his final chip. "Hand Jon will be poisoned in the next two days and will die with conclusive evidence, in pain but clear-headed."
Duke Tywin suddenly stood up.
Within a few breaths, countless possibilities emerged one by one. Disaster seemed inevitable.
But in the end, Duke Tywin sat down again.
"Joffrey, stop fooling around. If you're going to make up stories, at least think them through."
Duke Tywin didn't chase him away, and Joffrey knew he had listened. He was testing him.
"Grandfather, everyone has their own secrets. I've just grown up."
Joffrey treated this entirely as a negotiation.
"Actually, Grandfather doesn't need to be so nervous, because I also know that Hand Jon will not reveal this secret, and King Robert is still completely unaware."
"Joffrey, you are completely talking to yourself."
Joffrey sighed slightly with a hint of sadness. "Grandfather, Duke Tywin, can we only communicate with lies and deceit between us?"
Tywin was silent for a moment. Who dared to mention the rumors of the "Golden Twins" in front of him before? Not even the Crown Prince!
But in the face of the life and death of the Lannister family, these were not important.
The Lion King seemed to be giving orders. "Continue."
Joffrey wasn't nervous at all.
The current environment was the safest it had been in days. Surrounded by Lannisters: Cersei, Jaime, Tywin.
Unless he was foolish enough to reveal everything, who would want his life?
Joffrey was about to make up another story.
"The Gods blessed me, and I had a dream where I saw some secrets."
"Originally, I didn't dare to believe it, but some things that have happened in the past few days have confirmed the scenes in my dream."
Facing Tywin's sharp gaze, Joffrey had a clear conscience.
"As a young lion of the Lannisters, I naturally have to consider the family and cannot just watch opportunities slip away."
"Grandfather, the future status of the Lannisters for the next thousand years depends on your decision."
Tywin had many questions, but at this critical moment, bearing the heavy responsibility of the family, he could not get entangled in trivial details.
"What are your plans? What else do you have to say?"
"Grandfather, a great change unseen in a thousand years is coming. The Seven Kingdoms were unified under the Targaryens for nearly three hundred years. From the lords and nobles down to the common people, they have gradually come to regard the Seven Kingdoms as some kind of whole."
In a sense, the Targaryen Dynasty was the Qin Dynasty of the Westeros Continent, just not as centralized and it lasted a bit longer.
"The supreme power symbolized by the Iron Throne is enough to drive people mad. If a Baratheon can sit on the throne, why not another family?"
Joffrey appeared extremely serious.
"The lords will soon realize that times have changed."
"Wars will not be limited like when the Andal Kings fought each other, nor will they be constrained like when the Dragons were a deterrent. Instead, they will destroy everything! Root and branch! Countless 'The Rains of Castamere' will be born!"
He paused slightly, calming the turbulent air in his chest.
"Since that is the case, why can't we take it a step further? Do the Seven Kingdoms really need so many liege lords and dukes? Can the minor lords continue to govern themselves?"
"Does the name Seven Kingdoms still have meaning! Are we not a kingdom under the Iron Throne!?"
Even Duke Tywin was shocked by this. Joffrey actually had such aspirations!
With the atmosphere set, Joffrey immediately began to entice.
"The Lannisters should not stop at the Westerlands! Grandfather, Highgarden, the seat of House Tyrell, and the fertile and prosperous Reach, don't they tempt you?"
Duke Tywin, however, showed little reaction. "No need for pretty words. Say something substantial."
Joffrey laid out the plan.
"War will break out within the year! Grandfather can prepare early, stockpile armor and weapons, and expand the standing army."
"After Lord Jon dies, the King will go north to Winterfell to have Lord Eddard take over, and at the same time, he will betroth me to Lord Eddard's eldest daughter."
"Gaining the strength of the Direwolf is equivalent to gaining the support of The North, the Riverlands, and The Vale."
"The King will die at the opportune moment."
"At that time, with the strength of the four kingdoms plus the Crownlands, we will first deal with Stannis and Renly, then focus all our efforts on the Reach, deter Dorne, and the Seven Kingdoms will be in our grasp!"
"There is only one problem."
Joffrey was satisfied with everything except this one point, which was very frustrating. "My parentage."
"Many people in King's Landing are hoping to use this secret to stir up chaos in the Seven Kingdoms. We cannot fall out with the Starks and give others an opportunity."
Duke Tywin was noncommittal.
Joffrey then stated the most direct purpose of this conversation.
"After poisoning the Hand, Lady Lysa will return to The Vale with her son and stay behind closed doors, but under the instigation of Littlefinger, she will write a secret letter to the Stark family, framing us for killing the Hand."
"The secret letter might reach Winterfell with the King's convoy heading north, or it might change. Using a raven? Sending a messenger with a verbal message? I can't be sure."
"Grandfather," Joffrey smiled slightly, "you will have a way to stop them, right?"
Duke Tywin's face was expressionless. It was impossible to tell if he believed what Joffrey said.
"Joffrey, I will not question your secrets. You are better this way. I will personally verify this information. If it is true,"
The old lion looked at the young lion wearing deerskin.
"I will protect the family."
Jaime, Cersei, Tyrion, who can be my heir? Where is my grandson?
"Remember your bloodline. The Mighty Lion is stronger and more powerful than the deer. Remember your words, 'Hear Me Roar!'"
Will Joffrey be a choice?
Looking at his grandfather's tall back as he was about to leave, Joffrey felt a complete sense of security.
"Before the King dies, don't make too much noise, Grandfather."
He was indeed the king of the pride.
Joffrey seemed to have developed a sense of belonging to the Lannister family.
The convoy set off, and he returned to his carriage, stroking the soft, bouncy cheek of the little maid as he fell into thought.
Duke Tywin was unexpectedly easy to talk to. Today's goal was perfectly achieved. Once this was done, he shouldn't have to worry about his life for the next few years and could develop well.
Optimistically speaking, taking down the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros was only a matter of time.
Outside of Westeros...
He leaned down, finding a soft, warm blindfold for his eyes.
Although it was just a seemingly insignificant move, it would be better if it succeeded.
Elin, it's all up to you. Good luck.
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