"Huh?"

Duke Jon called several times before the scholar Paisel woke up from a dream.

I saw him raise his head blankly, and looked at the faces of his colleagues for a long time, as if he remembered where he was.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen." Paisher looked old, "I'm so old that I get tired easily, and I'm really sorry that I accidentally fell asleep." ”

Duke Jon sighed, and he didn't want to criticize the other party.

After all, Paisher is older than him, having served the Iron Throne for nearly fifty years, and has experienced four kings before and after, and this qualification is indeed unmatched.

However, the corner of the mouth of the "eight-clawed spider" Varys pulled a sarcastic smile, and he learned from the mouth of a little bird that the great bachelor, who now looked like he had half a foot in the grave, was in good spirits when he was examining the maids in bed.

"Master Paischer, we're discussing the dispute over Riverbend and Dorne, what is your opinion on that?" Duke Jon asked patiently again.

"Riverbend and Dorne......" Paisel touched his snow-white beard and pondered for a long time before he said slowly,

"These two have been fighting for thousands of years, and none of them have stopped, which is really a headache! As a vassal of the Iron Throne, what can't be discussed? It is necessary to fight back and forth, and let innocent soldiers and farmers die in vain. When Aegon V was in power, he wanted to promote the marriage of the two families to ease the conflict, but unfortunately, it was not connected. Later Jaehaerys II ......"

The old bachelor babbled for a long time, but the result was all nonsense, and several people present showed impatient looks.

Hearing Paisher actually mention the king of the previous dynasty, Duke Stannis finally couldn't help but interrupt:

"I think the Iron Throne should send an emissary south to end this dispute."

Well, finally someone has given advice on how to deal with it.

Paisher closed her mouth decisively, her eyes glazed over, as if she had fallen asleep again.

Duke Jon looked at Duke Dragonstone, who was sitting on his right, like a cold stone, and suddenly felt that although this person had a stinky and hard temper, he looked particularly cute compared to the other guys who were not slippery.

"I agree." Duke Jon chimed in, not going to waste too much time on the matter.

"I agree."

"Me too."

……

The rest of the people also expressed their positions.

"Okay." Duke Jon nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Who do you think is the most suitable candidate for the emissary?" ”

The chamber fell silent again.

After a few moments, Petyr "Littlefinger" said, "In order for Riverbend and Dorne to sit down and negotiate calmly, the person who goes must have enough prestige. Actually, it's best for Your Majesty to go there in person......"

The rest of the crowd shook their heads when they heard this.

The king didn't even bother to attend the royal council, and expected him to mediate the dispute between Riverbend and Dorne?

Duke Jon coughed lightly and said, "Your Majesty is busy with affairs after all......"

Speaking of this, the old duke's face was a little red, but he continued:

"Let's send someone else."

Petyr shrugged and proposed, "If Your Majesty can't go in person, then it's best to send a member of the royal family." ”

Hearing this, Stannis Baratheon, Duke of Dragonstone, said decisively:

"I can go for a trip."

Duke Jon pondered for a moment and smiled at Stannis:

"Lord Stannis is willing to go, I'm sure I'm okay with that. However, you still need to preside over the maritime affairs of the kingdom, and it may not be easy to leave hastily......"

Hearing this, Duke Stannis suddenly rose up and threw down a sentence stiffly:

"In that case, then I'll go and get busy with the 'maritime affairs', and the adults can continue to discuss."

With that, he strode out of the chamber.

Everyone looked at his back and didn't know what to say for a while.

Duke Jon sighed, knowing that the reason he had given for refusal was far-fetched. But he couldn't help it.

As for Stannis's stinky temper, he also mediates disputes, so it would be good not to exacerbate the conflict.

Moreover, during the War of the Raiders, the army of Riverbend besieged Storm's End for more than a year, and almost starved Stannis to death in the city.

"Ahem, do you have any other candidates?" Duke Jon only felt a dull pain in his head again, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to hold his eyebrows and knead them.

Petyr smiled slightly, and proposed again:

"Then why don't you send Duke Lanli, he happens to be on vacation on the shore of the Sea of Sunset, and it's still close to that side."

Duke Jon frowned again, as if he was even more displeased with the young and impetuous Lan Li, and shook his head:

"Duke Lanli is on vacation, so don't bother him."

Petyr was not discouraged either, and proposed another person:

"What about Prince Joffrey?"

Duke Jon shook his head without even thinking about it: "His Royal Highness Joffrey is too young. ”

Petyr spread his hands: "Then there will only be Her Majesty the Queen." ”

"I agree with Her Majesty the Queen!" The scholar Paisel said like a corpse.

But unfortunately, his words did not arouse the echo of everyone.

When Duke Jon heard the queen's name, he felt his head swell even more.

That unconscious woman has been messing with the Red Keep all day long, and is counting on her to reconcile disputes?

The Seven Gods are above!

The old man was a little sad to find that among the royal families that ruled the Seven Kingdoms, there was no reliable mediator to come out.

In fact, not only the royal family, but also several important ministers of the kingdom in the Imperial Council, who can reassure him?

Varys knows too much, but he really does too little.

Paisher was playing dead all day, and he had a close relationship with the Lannisters.

Barristan Cellmi is stubborn and stubborn, ignoring everything but his oath as a White Knight.

As for "Littlefinger" Petyr Berish—

It stands to reason that this person is his own vassal, and he was picked up by his own hands, so he should be his confidant.

But every time he stared into the other man's gray-green eyes, for some reason, Duke Jon always felt unable to fully trust the man.

A deep sense of powerlessness entangled the old duke, making him even more exhausted from the heavy affairs of the kingdom.

Sometimes he can't help but want to leave it all behind and return to Eagle's Nest City with his wife and children to enjoy his old age.

But each time he immediately hated his weakness.

High as glory. （As High As Honor）

This language of the Arryn family has long been engraved in his bones.

When he rebelled with his two adopted sons, Robert Baratheon was for the hatred of his wife, Eddard Stark was for revenge for his father and brother, and Jon Arryn was more interested in changing the Seven Kingdoms to a less crazy king.

Unfortunately, the new King, Robert Baratheon, is not crazy, but he is by no means virtuous.

So, it was up to him to make up for it.

No matter how heavy this burden is, it is also a glory that he must hold onto.

For this, he can give everything, including his life.

"Okay, I'll go myself." Duke Jon made the final decision, and at this moment, he felt that his headache seemed to disappear, "As the Hand of the King, he should have acted for the King. After I'm gone, you'll have to worry about King's Landing. ”

Everyone hurriedly bowed their heads and said yes.

"Littlefinger" Petyr Berishi leaned down especially low, as if he was afraid that others would see the expression on his face at this moment.

……

After the Imperial Council, Petyr walked out of the council chamber and felt that the sun outside was unusually bright.

"Lord Petyr." Behind him came the soft and greasy voice of the "octopus" Varys.

Petyr hurriedly put away the smile on his face and turned around, "What's wrong?" Lord Varys? ”

Varys walked a few quick steps, walked side by side with Petyr for a while, and suddenly said:

"You seem to be tempted to have Master Jon go to Dorne himself?"

"How so?" Petyr immediately denied it, "Lord Jon is old and not in good health, so it's worrying to travel long distances like this. And you and I both know that all the affairs of the kingdom are presided over by Lord Jon, and as soon as he leaves, the royal council will be chaotic. Hey, it's a headache just thinking about it. ”

Varys smiled, but mercilessly debunked:

"Don't think I can't see your tricks. You've deliberately put all the unsuitable candidates in front of Master Jon, clearly forcing him to mediate himself. ”

Petyr looked deeply aggrieved: "Lord Varys, your words really break my heart. I really think about the stability of the country, but you always wronged me. ”

Varys smiled, leaned closer, and lowered his voice:

"Lord Petyr, a little bird told me that he had seen you in Braavos across the Narrow Sea two months ago. What are you doing there? ”

"Your little bird has mistaken someone. It seems that they are not only stupid, but also blind. Petyr scoffed, then he gave Varys a blank look, and added, "Speaking of the other side of the Narrow Sea, how did I hear that you seem to be close to a governor named Illyrio......

The two looked at each other, and in an instant, it seemed as if they exchanged a thousand thoughts.

The next moment, Varys reached out to cover his mouth and smiled sweetly:

"Looks like we're really working hard for this country."

"yes." Petyr also showed his trademark smile, "There are not many loyal courtiers like us. ”

"Hahaha, Lord Petyr, you speak as beautifully as my mimetic bird."

"Lord Varys, you smell as good as the women in the women's ward."