Bell - bell - bell - bell -

The bell rang as if it had struck the heart of Duke Ranri Baratheon.

Of course, he knew the meaning of the bell—his brother, King Robert, had died.

I thought that I wouldn't be sad at all, but when this moment really came, Duke Lanli still felt a sense of grief and panic from the depths of his heart.

Yes, panic.

The Minister of Justice today wore a splendid velvet gown, a glittering gold sword at his waist, a huge ring symbolizing the duke's status on the thumb of his right hand, his chin was clean-shaven, his hair was carefully groomed, and he looked handsome.

But when he arrived in the throne room, waiting to preside over the trial for Jon Arryn's murder, he found that no one was there.

The Red Viper ran away, Littlefinger died, and Paisier, the Scholar, died.

Now even the king is dead.

Duke Lan Li felt that the gods must be joking with him, this should have been his glorious day, but suddenly he was smashed to pieces by one death after another.

He stood alone beside the Iron Throne, the iron chair forged by the sword that had stepped forward, covered with hideous spikes and strange twists, as if it had suddenly become more terrifying than ever.

"Lord Lanli." The squire, Loras Tyrell, walked over and reminded, "Isn't it time for you to go to the Imperial Council?" ”

Right!

Imperial Meeting!

Duke Lan Li finally came to his senses.

When the king died, it was time for the royal council to read the will.

And he will be the regent and the guardian of the whole territory!

Until Joffrey comes of age, the country will be in his hands!

Thinking of this, Duke Lan Li regained his spirits and strode out.

The fluffy red carpet is like walking on the clouds.

Duke Lanli's mood jumped again.

But as soon as I went out, I met a group of people coming towards me.

At the head was Queen Cersei, dressed in a black gown, with a teardrop-shaped ruby on her chest, curly blonde hair draped over her shoulders, and turquoise eyes with a faint haughty smile.

She led Prince Joffrey in her right hand, followed by the seven White Knights of the Kingsguard, Sir Genus Slint, the commander of the capital garrison, and a group of golden-robed guards.

Mighty and menacing.

"Lord Lanli. Where are you going? ”

"Imperial Council." Duke Lan Li had a bad premonition in his heart, but he still said politely, "Your Majesty dies, and the Imperial Council should be convened immediately to read the will." ”

"That's right, let's go together." Cersei made no secret of the smile on her face.

This smile made Duke Lan Li angry.

"Your Majesty, if I'm not mistaken, there should be no place for you at the Imperial Council."

"But there's my son's place." Cersei slowly took a few steps forward and came to Duke Lanli, "Of course, there will be my place. ”

Duke Lanli's tone was a little stiff: "There is no position for the Queen Mother in the Imperial Council. ”

"What about the Queen Regent?"

Duke Lan Li's fists clenched suddenly, but when he saw the column of white knights behind Cersei, he finally let go again, and he squeezed out a smile:

"This depends on how His Majesty arranges it in his will......"

"Your Majesty is dead." Cersei mercilessly revealed, "And the new Majesty is my son Joffrey." ”

"But His Royal Highness Joffrey is not yet an adult......"

"Your Majesty!" Joffrey interrupted Duke Lanli with an arrogant expression, and exclaimed, "You should call me, Your Majesty!" ”

Duke Lanli looked at the undisguised hostility in Joffrey's eyes, and his heart sank more and more.

"Little Joe, don't be rude to your uncle." Cersei turned back to reassure her son, then snapped her finger at Duke Lanli, "Come, Lord Lanli, let's talk alone." ”

With that, she swayed and stepped into the throne room.

Duke Lan Li hesitated, but still followed.

Cersei didn't say anything more, but walked down the red carpet to the Iron Throne.

Duke Lanli followed behind her, full of thoughts.

"Want to sit?"

Cersei's words echoed through the empty throne room, waking up Duke Lanli.

He came back to his senses, followed the queen's gaze, and looked at the terrible iron chair.

There was no answer.

"Huh-" Cersei let out a mocking sneer, lifted the hem of her skirt, stepped straight up the steps, and then turned around and sat high on the Iron Throne!

Like a queen.

"You!" Duke Lan Li glared at her.

"I know you want to sit, Lan Li, but you don't dare." Cersei carefully avoided the spikes on the armrests of her seat with both hands, "And I dare." ”

Duke Lanli snorted coldly: "Cersei, you bold crazy woman! No lord of the Seven Kingdoms will submit to you, you're a joke! ”

"It's just a joke, why are you so nervous?" Cersei rose from the Iron Throne and looked down at Duke Lanli, "But don't think I don't know what's going on in your mind?" ”

"Cersei, don't think I don't know your little secret!" Duke Lanli retorted.

"What's the little secret?"

"You and your brother's business!" Duke Lan Li said, he tried to find panic on the queen's face, but failed, which made him panic instead, so he added, "And those three children, I'm afraid they are not Robert's seeds!" ”

Cersei still didn't panic, she smiled coldly: "What about the evidence? Lan Li, what about your evidence? ”

Duke Lan Li was speechless.

Cersei stepped down from the Iron Throne and walked up to Duke Lanli, reaching out and brushing his cheek softly:

"Without evidence, why do you question Joffrey's legitimacy? Also, in Robert's will, you were appointed regent and guardian of the whole territory, right? ”

Duke Lanli's pupils shrank slightly.

Someone leaked!

He realized immediately.

Who is it?

"I don't know what kind of ecstasy soup you poured into Robert to get him to agree to put the country in your hands." Cersei continued, "However, I will not sit idly by and watch this mistake continue. Joffrey will revoke your regency ......"

"He doesn't have that power!" Duke Lan Li's voice suddenly became louder, causing a burst of echoes in the empty hall, "At least until he becomes an adult, he doesn't have this power!" ”

"Power? Do you have power? ”

"I have His Majesty's will!"

"It's just a piece of waste paper." Cersei pointed to the door of the hall, "Take a good look, Lan Li, and see who is standing behind King Joffrey, that's power." ”

Duke Lan Li didn't look back, he had already seen it just now.

Barristan Selmy, Jaime Lannister, Marin Tran, Genos Slint, ......

This means that the strongest force in the Red Keep is already on the Queen's side.

And what about him......

The Tyrells repented, and the nobles of the riverbend rejected him, and perhaps even betrayed him!

And Dorne ...... His plan to plot against the nobles of Dorne had become a joke.

Duke Lan Li knew that he had no chance of winning.

"Lan Li." Cersei's slender hand reached down and caressed his chest, "Don't think that a piece of paper will give you power, otherwise, your fate will be miserable." ”

Duke Lan Li bit his lip and did not refute.

He knew that this madwoman had done it, that she dared to sit on the Iron Throne, and that there was even the death of the king—he had always suspected that this woman had murdered his brother!

"Don't be afraid." Cersei felt the man's trembling, and her slender hand continued down, bringing the gentlest hint, "As long as you take the initiative to resign as regent, I can continue to let you stay in the Imperial Council, and you can also retain the title of Duke of Storm's End, how about it?" Am I okay with you? Shouldn't you be nice to me? ”

Duke Lan Li took a step back as if he had been electrocuted, trying to avoid the queen's hand.

Cersei laughed, "So you're really not interested in women?" It's a pity. ”

Then, she strode out, without looking back:

"Let's go, Duke Lanli, let's go to the Imperial Council. I'm sure you'll make an informed choice. ”

Duke Lanli's face changed for a while, and finally he followed in a dejected manner, like an attendant behind the queen.

When the group arrived at the chamber, they found that the rest of the cabinet ministers had arrived.

Of course, there are not many people left in the cabinet today.

The Lord of the Sea, Duke Stannis, had slipped back to Dragonstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Petyr "Littlefinger" Berish, was dead, and the University Priest Pacill was dead.

So when the queen walked in, there were only two people in the council chamber of Nuoda, Duke Eddard, the Hand of the King, and Varys, the eight-clawed spider, the head of intelligence.

Duke Ed frowned when he saw the queen come in with him, but he didn't know what he remembered, and he didn't say anything after all.

Cersei took her son Joffrey and sat down on the throne, and said:

"Lord Eddard, isn't it time to read the will?"

Duke Ed nodded, took out the will, showed the intact sealing wax to everyone, then opened it, flattened it, and read:

"The following is the will of Robert I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, Loynahs and Ancestors, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Guardian of the Realm, hereby appointing the Guardian of the Stormlands, the Duke of Storm's End, and the Blue Rite of House Baratheon as regent and guardian of the whole realm, and after my death, I will rule over the affairs of the state on my behalf until my son Joffrey comes of age......"

Hearing this, everyone's eyes were focused on Duke Lan Li's face.

And Queen Cersei's gaze is particularly sharp.

Duke Lan Li took a deep breath, and when Duke Ed finished reading the will, he immediately said:

"My Excellency, I am deeply grateful and honored that His Majesty Robert has entrusted me with this important task. But ......," continued Duke Lanli, gritting his teeth, "but I really...... It is really difficult to assume this responsibility, and I am afraid that I will not live up to the great trust of Your Majesty, so I hereby take the initiative to resign from the position of regent and guardian of the whole territory, and ask you to choose someone else. ”

Cersei smiled with satisfaction and said:

"In that case, then, my lords, you can nominate another person."

As soon as he finished speaking, Joffrey exclaimed, "I elect my mother!" ”

There was silence.

Joffrey, who had not received a response, was suddenly displeased, and shouted again:

"Why don't you speak? What do you think? Sir Barristan? ”

The old white knight bowed slightly to the king and said:

"I support the king's decision."

"Good!" Joffrey nodded in satisfaction and looked at Varys again, "Lord Varys, what is your opinion?" ”

Varys smiled sweetly, "I agree, too. ”

Joffrey finally looked at Duke Ed: "Hand of the King, your opinion?" ”

Duke Ed looked up into Cersei's eyes, and the lioness opposite him did not flinch.

After a while, it was Duke Ed who looked away first, and he said silently in his heart-

Sorry, Robert, I can only deal with one enemy at a time.

"I agree."

"Good!" Joffrey excitedly announced, "From this day forward, mother, you are the Queen Regent!" ”

(End of chapter)