Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast, 3rd floor.
Jaime had been guarding the door for nearly an hour.
This room was Cersei's preferred choice for confidential matters; the wooden door was soundproof, making it impossible to hear anything from inside.
For some unknown reason, Jaime shifted his body, as if to press his ear against the heavy wooden door.
Jaime stopped himself in time, forcing a smile and shaking his head, as if mocking his own childish action.
Jaime straightened his back again, gripping his sword hilt tightly with his right hand and flicking his white cloak with his left.
Another hour passed, and the door finally opened. Green emerged from the room.
Green naturally nodded towards Jaime: "Lord Jaime, thank you again for guiding me today. Farewell."
Green politely bid farewell to Jaime.
Jaime raised an eyebrow, forcing a smile: "Let me see you out."
No! Green wanted to refuse.
Without waiting for Green's reply, Jaime swung his cloak, turned, and had already started walking. Green could only tacitly accept Jaime's escort.
...
The two walked down the stairs side by side, passed the Queen's Ballroom, and exited Maegor's Holdfast.
As they descended the stairs, the perceptive Green noticed that Jaime seemed to have something he wanted to say.
Although Green didn't quite understand Jaime's inexplicable hostility towards him, he knew there was no need to deliberately initiate anything. Plus, having spent a lot of brainpower today to persuade Queen Cersei, Green pretended not to notice.
When Green saw Mondon Wei Shui waiting at the door, he merely waved lightly, signaling him to follow.
Green didn't utter a single word.
Mondon, his gaze still dull, nodded innocently, rubbed his belly, and followed behind Green.
...
Jaime finally slowed his pace: "Cough!"
Jaime deliberately coughed lightly, glancing sideways at Green walking beside him.
Hearing the sound, Green turned his head to meet Jaime's gaze, a look of confusion appearing on his face at the opportune moment.
"What do you plan to do? I'll keep it a secret."
Green didn't immediately answer Jaime, redirecting his gaze forward.
Green and Jaime didn't stop walking: "Lord Jaime, I understand what you're worried about. Actually, I don't like killing."
Tyrion had told Jaime this, and he somewhat agreed. Though it was their first meeting, Jaime could sense that Green wasn't a bloodthirsty person; this was the judgment of a Ser Barristan.
Jaime nodded slightly.
Is it not also because of the battle reports that you have a biased suspicion of me for excessive killing?
Forget it! Green didn't want to keep guessing the reason for this tsundere man Jaime's inexplicable hostility towards him.
"Lord Jaime, please look at the whole situation from a different perspective. If my plan succeeds, who will be the ultimate beneficiaries?"
Jaime's bright green eyes shifted.
"It will be Princess Cersei and the common people."
"Fairly removing the evildoers around them will at least make their lives a little better."
"This is governance, flexible benevolent governance."
Green stopped: "Lord Jaime, King's Landing is too unfamiliar to me. You have a great reputation; if you are willing to lend a hand, my chances will be even greater!"
Although Jaime's face remained impassive, his heart was not calm, feeling as if his impression of Green had changed all at once.
But... you can't just listen, you also have to see how you do it!
Jaime knew in his heart that Green's plan had already received Cersei's approval.
Despite a faint smile, Jaime showed Green a kind smile for the first time: "This concerns Princess Cersei, I will support you."
Green's calm gaze held a heavy weight: "For Princess Cersei."
Jaime was involuntarily moved by Green, repeating after him: "For Princess Cersei."
Green's right palm solemnly pressed against his left chest: "Ser Jaime, and for the knight's compassion and justice!"
Jaime's pupils constricted, his expression unconsciously becoming serious.
...
...
The Vale, Seagull Town, Lord's Hall.
After listening to his subordinate's report, Earl Grafson frowned and said: "So, the only clue to the Meika Manor fire is that chorus in the harbor square... what was it called...?"
An attendant whispered into Earl Grafson's ear: "Whispers of the Listening Crypt..."
"Right, Whispers of the Listening Crypt, the Crab Claw Peninsula half-savage..."
"Kleber Family..."
"Right, Kleber, they're the ones who did it, right? But can a song alone be evidence? The Grafson Family will be mocked by the big figures in the Red Keep."
The Seagull Town Sheriff: "Sorry, my Lord, those rogues left too quickly and too cleanly, leaving us no evidence."
Earl Grafson's Maester spoke: "Actually, everyone understands what's going on. The young Baron of Kleber is imitating Old Lion Tywin's methods back then!"
Earl Grafson rubbed the top of his head: "Ca-ca... Cas..."
"The Rains of Castamere..."
"Right, The Rains of Castamere! This is revenge for his cousin, and he doesn't want to leave us any evidence!"
Earl Grafson tapped the table with his fingers for a while: "Maester, what do you think we should do? Such a big incident happened in Seagull Town, and as the Lord, I can't do nothing. Many people are secretly waiting to see me make a fool of myself!"
Earl Grafson's Maester: "You can have others contact Duke Jon. Don't forget there's a branch of Duke Jon's family in Seagull Town."
"As the Lord of Seagull Town, it's not good to directly report a noble to the Red Keep without direct evidence, but they are different. They are a family, and reporting to Duke Jon privately is just right."
"Good idea!"
Special thanks to Lord Xuefeng Valley for the generous reward!