"ah?"

Duke Jon called several times, and Archmaester Pycelle finally woke up as if from a dream.

He raised his head blankly and looked at the faces of his colleagues for a long time before he seemed to remember where he was.

"I'm sorry, my lords." Pycelle looked very old, "At my age, I get tired easily, and I accidentally fell asleep. I'm really sorry."

Duke Jon sighed, not blaming the other party harshly.

After all, Pycelle is older than him, has served the Iron Throne for nearly fifty years, and has experienced four kings. This qualification is indeed unmatched by anyone.

However, "Eight-clawed Spider" Varys had a sarcastic smile on his lips. He learned from a little birdie that this great bachelor, who now looked like he had half stepped into the grave, was on the bed.

The maids were in high spirits when they were checking their bodies.

"Lord Pycelle, we are discussing the dispute between Reach and Dorne. What do you think about this?" Duke Jon asked patiently again.

"River and Dorne..." Pycelle stroked his snow-white beard and thought about it for a long time before he said slowly,

"These two families have been fighting for thousands of years, and there is no end. It's really a headache! We are both subjects of the Iron Throne, what can't we discuss? We have to fight back and forth, leaving innocent soldiers

He and the farmer died in vain. When King Aegon V was on the throne, he wanted to bring about a marriage between these two families to ease the conflict, but unfortunately, the union failed. Later Jaehaerys II..."

The old bachelor kept talking for a long time, but it turned out to be nonsense. Several people present looked impatient.

Hearing that Pycelle actually mentioned the previous king, Lord Stannis finally couldn't help but interrupted:

"I think the Iron Throne should send a messenger south to end this dispute."

Okay, finally someone has given some advice.

Pycelle decisively closed his mouth, his eyes bleary, as if he had fallen asleep again.

Duke Jon looked at the Duke of Dragonstone, who was sitting on his right, like a piece of cold stone, and suddenly felt that although this man had a bad temper and a tough temper, he seemed to be a bit more slutty compared to a few other slippery guys.

Extremely cute.

"I agree." Duke Jon agreed, not intending to waste too much time on this matter.

"I agree."

"Me too."

…

Several other people also expressed their opinions.

"Okay." Duke Jon nodded with satisfaction and asked, "Who do you think is the most suitable person to be the envoy?"

The meeting hall suddenly became quiet again.

After a while, "Littlefinger" Petyr said: "If you want Riverbend and Dorne to sit down and negotiate in peace, the person who goes there must have enough prestige. In fact, it is best for His Majesty to go there in person..."

Everyone else shook their heads secretly when they heard this.

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

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

Having said this, the old Duke's face turned a little red, but he continued:

"It's better to send someone else."

Petyr shrugged and suggested: "If His Majesty cannot go in person, it would be best to send a member of the royal family."

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

"I can go there."

Duke Jon pondered for a moment, then smiled at Stannis:

"Lord Stannis is willing to go, I definitely have no objection. However, the kingdom's maritime affairs still need you to preside over, so it may not be good to leave rashly..."

Hearing this, Duke Stannis suddenly stood up and said firmly:

"In that case, I will go and take care of the 'maritime affairs'. Your Excellencies, please continue to discuss."

After saying that, he strode out of the meeting hall.

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

Duke Jon sighed, knowing that the reason he gave for rejection was indeed far-fetched. But he had no choice.

It would be nice for Stannis, who has such a bad temper, to mediate disputes without intensifying conflicts.

Moreover, during the War of the Reaver, the Riverbend army besieged Storm's End for more than a year, almost starving Stannis to death in the city. If he was sent there, if an old score broke out between the two sides, a new one would start again.

incident.

"Ahem, do you have anyone else to choose?" Duke Jon felt his head began to hurt a little again, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to press his eyebrows.

Petyr smiled slightly and suggested again:

"Then why don't you send Lord Renly? He happens to be on vacation by the Sunset Sea, so he's quite close there."

Duke Jon frowned again, seeming to be even more displeased with the young and impetuous Renly, shaking his head and saying:

"Lord Renly is on vacation, so don't bother him."

Petyr was not discouraged and suggested another person:

"What about Prince Joffrey?"

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

Petyr spread his hands and said, "Then only Her Majesty the Queen will do."

"I agree with your Majesty the Queen!" Archmaester Pycelle said in a pretentious voice.

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

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

That careless woman has been causing chaos in the Red Keep all day long, and you expect her to mediate the disputes?

Seven gods above!

The old man discovered somewhat sadly that among the royal families who ruled the seven kingdoms, they could not find a reliable mediator.

In fact, not only the royal family, but also the important ministers of the kingdom in the Imperial Council, who can make him feel at ease?

Varys knows too much and does too little.

Pycelle has been pretending to be dead all day long and has close ties with the Lannister family.

Barristan Selmy is old-fashioned and stubborn, indifferent to everything except sticking to his oath as a white knight.

As for "Littlefinger" Petyr Baelish——

Logically speaking, this person is his vassal, and he was promoted by himself, so he should be his confidant.

But every time he stared into the other person's gray-green eyes, for some reason, Duke Jon always felt that he could not completely trust this person.

A deep sense of powerlessness gripped the old duke, making him even more exhausted after being tortured by the heavy affairs of the kingdom.

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

But every time he would immediately hate his own weakness.

High as glory.(as high as honor)

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

When he led his two adopted sons to rebel, Robert Baratheon did it to avenge his wife, Eddard Stark did it to avenge his father and brother, but he, Jon Arryn, was more of a

I want to change the Seven Kingdoms to a less crazy king.

Unfortunately, although the new king Robert Baratheon is not crazy, he is definitely not a wise man.

So, he had to make up for it.

No matter how heavy this burden is, it is still an honor that he must hold on to.

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

"Okay, let me go there myself." Duke Jon made the final decision. At this moment, he felt that his headache seemed to disappear, "As the King's Hand, I should do the King's work.

After I leave, your Lordships will have to worry more about the affairs of King's Landing."

Everyone quickly bowed their heads and said yes.

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

…

After the royal meeting ended, Petyr walked out of the chamber and felt that the sunshine outside was exceptionally bright.

"Lord Petyr." came the soft voice of Varys the "Eight-Clawed Spider" from behind.

Petyr quickly put away the smile on his face and turned around, "What's the matter? Lord Varys?"

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

"You seem to want Lord Jon to go to Dorne himself?"
To be continued...