The Glory of the Seven Gods of Ice and Fire

Chapter 168: The treacherous palace

After walking out of the king's room, many faces crowded around Ed, wanting to know news about the king. Some of them were really worried about the king, while others just wanted to get the information before others.

Ed simply said that there was nothing wrong with the king and that he would not disclose the king's information in such an occasion. Then, under the escort of the Deerhorn Guards, he passed through the crowd that was eager to get the news.

In the lounge nearby, Eddard let out a breath slowly. Jerry Storm, the captain of the Antler Guards and the king's personal guard, knew what was going on with Robert. He also knew that Duke Stark had received a lot of information and urgently needed to calm down.

The Prime Minister wiped his face fiercely with both hands. Westeros was now in his hands. Robert had handed everything over to him, but he did not feel any happiness in his heart. Instead, he was very discouraged. He was discouraged for his old friend's narrow escape from death and for the difficult future he faced.

Eddard understood that he was standing at a turning point in Westeros. Robert had thrown him a big trouble. The origins of the Lannister women and children would determine whether the future of Westeros would be towards war or peace.

The entire war machine of Westeros was set in motion by Robert's orders, and coupled with the ongoing issue of heir bloodline, if not handled properly, this army, which was supposed to inflict its anger on the enemies in the East, would become fuel for the war for the succession to the Iron Throne - a started war machine only needs to devour flesh and blood, and it never matters whose flesh and blood it is.

He felt tremendous pressure. It had been a long time since he had felt such great pressure. As long as he made a decision, the fate of countless people would be determined by him.

This made Ed very disgusted. He was never willing to drink this bitter cup, but he was standing at this critical crossroads.

Ed couldn't help but think of Brandon Stark. He was supposed to marry Catherine, and he was supposed to face all this. If his eldest brother was still alive, what choice would he make? Ed asked a question in his heart that no one could answer.

Robert, oh Robert, you are such a good friend of mine, but you made it so difficult for me, you damn bastard, how I wish it were me lying there now.

Ed thought gloomily, but then he forced himself to cheer up. As the Prime Minister of Westeros, as the person who decides the future fate of countless people, he couldn't go on like this.

Picking up the will of Robert that he had made and the envelope that the Antler Guard had just handed to him - which contained the decree legitimizing the illegitimate child and the approval of granting Ed the regency, both stamped with the king's seal - Ed began to think about where his future should go.

First of all, it is necessary to follow Robert's will and let the Lannister children inherit the throne to ensure that there will be no unrest on both sides of the Narrow Sea. Secondly, it is necessary to investigate the life experience of the king's children.

Eddard began to think about who could be his ally, and the first name that came to his mind was Stannis. Yes, Stannis, the second brother of the Baratheon family, who observed etiquette to a strict degree. He often felt that Stannis was too extreme, so there would be no problem in asking him to cooperate with the investigation.

However, this idea was strangled in an instant. If there was really something wrong with the king's children's background, then Stannis would undoubtedly be the first beneficiary. Faced with such huge benefits, could Stannis really stick to his morals?
Names popped up in Eddard's mind one after another. Marilyn? No, that's a waste. Varys? This guy is too elusive. Renly? He...

As the saying goes, what you think will come true. When Eddard thought of the third son of the Baratheon family, there was a knock on the door and Renly's figure came over. "Lord Eddard, I want to talk to you."

There was no reason for Eddard not to meet the Lord Chancellor of Justice, so Renly walked in. Compared to the dazzling Duke of Storm's End in normal times, Renly now looked a little... guilty.

"Lord Eddard, is my brother's condition very bad?" Renly asked directly. He was also observing Eddard's expression, but the Hand of the King had put away his emotions and only showed that poker face.

Eddard, who was now in a state of confusion, did not think much about it and directly told him about Robert's situation. It was useless to hide it from Renly anyway. "Yes, he narrowly escaped death."

Then, Renly's next words made Eddard regret telling him about Robert's situation, and even more regretful for letting this person in.

"Lord Eddard, since the situation is like this, we have to prepare for my brother's death. Aren't you in control of the Wall Battalion? I suggest that they be sent to the Red Keep immediately. You are the current regent of the Iron Throne. As long as you control the Red Keep and make the ministers promise to let the king's true heir inherit the throne, everything will be fine. The Stag Guard is a trouble, but there are people among them who have been favored by me. I will try to persuade them, at least to keep them neutral. You can believe in my ability. As for the others, my other brother has left King's Landing, and Dontos, a loyalist to the king, is collecting arms outside the city. They can't react to the situation in the city in time. This is a great opportunity for us! Lord Regent, if you still have concerns, I can dispatch a hundred good men to support you right now. This is just the first batch of people. As long as we clear out the Lannister forces, the Iron Throne will be ours!"

Renly's words made Eddard feel worse and worse, but on the surface he seemed calm and Renly continued to speak, "...Lord Eddard, you must strike first. I know Cersei. If you don't do it, she will..." "Lord Renly, I don't understand what you are talking about. I didn't hear anything just now." Eddard interrupted Renly with a stern face. He didn't want to listen to Renly. Robert was not dead yet, but he, the royal brother, was already planning how to contact him, an outsider, to drive away his nephew's mother - no matter what that Lannister woman was like, she was the child's mother.

"If you don't make the first move, she will," Renly said angrily.

However, he changed his attitude in the blink of an eye, "Okay, Lord Eddard, I understand your choice. Since you want to do this... then I can only wish the new and old gods to bless you."

Renly left after he finished speaking. Eddard felt unlucky looking at his figure. However, someone who made him even more unlucky walked in next. Following a scent of perfumed powder, the eunuch Varys walked in with that signature sweet smile on his face.

First it was the prince with bad intentions, and now it was the hypocritical eunuch. Eddard looked at the eunuch unhappily, with displeasure written all over his face, but Varys acted as if he didn't see it and walked up to Eddard.

"Don't put on such an act, Prime Minister. I stand with you. I think you should have received the order from His Majesty the King. Coincidentally, I have also received the order from His Majesty. His Majesty requires me to obey your command and arrangements. From now on, I will tell you everything I know."

Varys' words made Eddard frown. He was not happy about the eunuch's loyalty at all. Instead, he was wary and worried. Would the octopus really be loyal to him? This emotion did not come from Eddard's disgust for Varys, but because this eunuch was always so unpredictable and hard to trust.

"No one likes eunuchs. Even if they tell the truth, no one will believe them." Varys pretended to be sad. "Then for the sake of our cooperation, I will not play the false game. Lord Eddard, maybe I once had different ideas, but after the dramatic changes on both sides of the Narrow Sea, I let them go. Now I hope more than anyone that His Majesty Robert is alive, and if things really develop to the point where they cannot bear to talk about it, I hope that the one sitting on the Iron Throne is a true royal son who respects the king's will."

This time, Varys' tone was serious and earnest, which was the first time Eddard had heard it. This unprecedented attitude made Eddard change his mind. He wondered whether this eunuch with perfumed powder, Henglian, could be trusted.

"For our cooperation, I will give you a gift. I can guarantee that the king's child is not his, but the queen's and his twin brother's."

These words were like a huge rock dropped into the water. Eddard stood up immediately and looked Varys in the eyes. "If you knew it, why didn't you tell Robert?"

"What's the use of telling him? We still have to pretend to be nice. Our good king is now in a life-and-death situation. It's better for him to leave with suspicion than to leave with resentment." Varys confronted Eddard without hesitation. It was like a basin of cold water that made Eddard calm down. Then he had to admit that what Varys said made sense. Even if Robert knew the situation, he still had to pretend to be nice. Instead of doing that, it's better to let Robert be a fool.

"So, when did you find out about this?"

"It was also shortly before our good Majesty got into trouble." Varys sighed and said, "I originally planned to tell His Majesty this news, but I didn't expect His Majesty to..."

Ed didn't believe a word of this. How could it be such a coincidence? The eunuch must have something he hasn't said yet. However, he felt that he could put some trust in the eunuch now, as he had really revealed some useful information.

"Lord Ed, if you want to prove the origins of those three children, you need evidence, evidence that can convince the whole country. There are too many rumors now, and the simple persuasive power of your race is not enough. Otherwise, the nobles will think that you are the one who messed up."

"So, you have a candidate?" Eddard was moved by the eunuch's words. What Varys said was actually not much different from what he thought. The rumors had spread so widely that more substantial evidence was needed now.

"Yes, I have a candidate." Varys showed a triumphant smile, "Our good queen, oh, should I say the queen mother, has a Lannister knight, Lancel Lannister, and the relationship between him and our good queen mother... is very, very close."

"What do you mean?" Eddard was a little confused. Why did he suddenly mention another Lannister? However, Eddard couldn't help but open his mouth. He thought of a possibility, and Varys nodded very appropriately.

(End of this chapter)