Outside the military camp near Myr, Lo Quen sat with a calm expression as he read a secret letter from Meizo. The contents came from the intelligence network in King's Landing. He scanned the letter quickly.
It stated that Catelyn Stark had secretly arrived in King's Landing to meet with Eddard, and had revealed all her suspicions about Jon Arryn's death to Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish. It also reported that Eddard Stark had clashed openly with the King during the Small Council meeting. The two had fiercely argued over the matter of the surviving Targaryens, and the dispute had ended with Eddard's resignation.
Additionally, Meizo's "children" had discovered some secret contact between Littlefinger and Renly.
"Hmph…"
Lo Quen let out a cold laugh and tossed the letter onto the desk. Catelyn's foolishness practically seeped through the paper. Eddard Stark was already walking a tightrope in King's Landing, and now his good wife had handed Littlefinger the sharpest dagger herself.
As expected, after hearing the news from Catelyn, Littlefinger had gone straight to meet with Renly. Lo Quen could easily guess that Littlefinger had placed his bets on Renly as well.
In the original course of events, Littlefinger had wagered only on House Lannister. But now, having seen Renly's ambition and uncovered his secret, how could he resist securing another promise to maximize his gain?
This meant Renly, Littlefinger... even House Tyrell now knew what Eddard suspected.
Aunt Cat, Aunt Cat, you are hopelessly foolish. Your husband is truly doomed by your hand.
Still, while Catelyn's reckless act had made the situation more dangerous and complex, it had also presented Lo Quen with a perfect opportunity.
He walked to the table, spread out a sheet of paper, and dipped his brush in ink.
"Since the water is already this muddy, why not throw in a boulder and let it boil over completely?"
In his letter to Meizo, he ordered the activation of every hidden agent across the Seven Kingdoms. With utmost speed and secrecy, they were to spread the tale of Great Lord Eddard's search for Lyanna beneath the Tower of Joy, and Jon Snow's true identity.
Jon Snow was not Eddard Stark's bastard, but the legitimate son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, born after their lawful marriage. Lord Eddard had borne the shame of a bastard to protect his sister's child and raise him at Winterfell. Jon Snow held the foremost legitimate claim to the Iron Throne.
Beyond that, Lo Quen also fabricated claims about Eddard Stark's ambition.
Great Lord Eddard's journey south to serve as Hand of the King was not out of loyalty to Robert. His true aim was to use his authority as Hand to quietly gather power, conspire with the exiled Targaryen remnants, and when the time came, restore Jon Snow's true identity, place him upon the Iron Throne, and overthrow House Baratheon. House Stark would become the true regent of the Seven Kingdoms...
Finally, he instructed Meizo to spread the news in every town throughout the Seven Kingdoms, to let this fire burn across the realm.
After writing it all, Lo Quen's lips curled into a cold smile.
Lady Catelyn, since your husband is doomed to die anyway, why not make his death a grand one...
A letter, half truth and half lie.
In the first part, he had already written that Howland Reed, who had accompanied Eddard to the Tower of Joy, knew Jon Snow's true identity. He also mentioned that Septon Maynard's journal in the Citadel of Oldtown could prove Jon was Rhaegar's legitimate heir.
The rest needed no proof. Lo Quen simply had to let the rumor spread. Once Jon's identity was confirmed, people would believe the rest without question.
His goal was to drive a wedge between House Stark and every other house, leaving the Starks utterly isolated.
When the whole realm came to believe that House Stark harbored dragon's blood and plotted to restore the Targaryens, how would they respond?
Lo Quen could hardly wait to see the Seven Kingdoms plunged into chaos.
After finishing the letter, he sealed it carefully and handed it to his most trusted messenger.
"Send it by the fastest raven. Make sure it reaches Meizo's hands."
...
King's Landing, the Red Keep.
The faint light of dawn seeped through the labyrinthine, thick stone walls of the Red Keep, casting long shadows across the cool stone floor. A lavishly furnished chamber was filled with the heavy, cloying scent of perfumes and cosmetics.
Varys, the Spider, the Master of Whisperers for the Seven Kingdoms, stood before a large, silver-framed full-length mirror. His massive frame was wrapped in a loose-fitting purple velvet robe embroidered with intricate dark patterns. The soft fabric of his morning gown only accentuated the pallor of his rounded face in the morning light.
A fine powder puff rested in his hand as he meticulously dusted white scented powder onto his neck, cheeks, and smooth scalp. Each movement was deliberate and slow. His reflection in the mirror bore eyes as still as water—unfathomably deep.
At that very moment.
Tap, tap, tap.
An extremely faint yet unnervingly rhythmic knock sounded at the door. Varys's powdering hand froze abruptly. The eyes in the mirror instantly shed their feigned leisure, darting sharply toward the heavy oak door.
At this hour, with this pattern of knocking... it could only be his "little birds." Those children who slipped through the Red Keep's hidden passageways, silent as ghosts.
A flicker of alarm crossed his mind. Unless it was a matter of utmost urgency, his little bird would never risk knocking directly on his door at such a sensitive hour of dawn.
He set down his powder puff. His round face remained expressionless as he moved silently toward the door. He didn't open it immediately. Instead, he listened intently for a moment, confirming no other sounds outside before gently sliding the bolt and pulling the door open just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Outside, as expected, stood a ragged, small-framed boy. He looked no older than eight or nine, his hair straw-colored and his face smeared with dirt, but his eyes were unusually bright, darting warily down the empty corridor.
The boy said nothing. In one swift motion, he thrust a crumpled, folded note into Varys's hand.
Varys unfolded the paper, still warm from the child's touch. His gaze swept over the words written there, and he froze. His pupils contracted sharply, the fingers clutching the note trembling from the force, knuckles whitening. Then the shock in his eyes deepened into disbelief.
"This... these..."
Varys began, trying to maintain his usual soft, sharp tone, but his voice grew hoarse and dry beyond his control. "Where... where did these come from?"
The boy quickly took up a pen and wrote: "These messages are everywhere in King's Landing—crowded taverns filled with Sellswords, bustling brothels, and inns packed with merchants. In short, wherever people gather, the word has spread."
Cold sweat instantly soaked through the shirt beneath Varys's silk robe, clinging to his skin—clammy and icy.
If what was written on this paper truly spread throughout King's Landing, even across the Seven Kingdoms... If the contents of this paper were true...
Then the meticulously woven plan he'd spent decades crafting—the grand design concerning the return of the 'True Dragonblood'—would be completely undone, perhaps even burned to ash.
Who?! Who was pulling the strings in the shadows? Who possessed such power?
A silent, furious roar of shock and dread exploded within Varys's heart. Several familiar, dangerous figures flashed through his mind.
Varys forced himself to calm down. He took a deep breath and said to the boy, "Go back and keep a close eye on the source of these reports. Verify their authenticity."
The boy nodded and vanished down the corridor.
Varys slowly closed the door, leaning his back against the cold oak panel, his body feeling drained of all strength. The meticulous care he had taken with his appearance had vanished. He smoothed his already immaculate collar, fingers brushing imaginary creases on his brocade robe.
Then, he opened the door once more, his face wearing that carefully carved mask of composure. His stride steady and unhurried, he walked toward Maegor's Holdfast.