Meanwhile, inside the Red Keep, all the nobles who had not yet been apprehended in the city had gathered in the great hall, their presence there signifying their political alignment.
Additionally, near the entrance of the hall, there were quite a few common citizens of King's Landing who had been specifically sought out; these so-called citizens were all idle individuals from the city, their only use being their mouths.
As Joffrey himself put it, they could use their mouths to spread the events of today's hall, ensuring everyone knew the majesty of Joffrey I.
A clang echoed piercingly in the empty hall, as the renowned Ser Barristan was surrounded by his Kingsguard brothers, weapons drawn, with a dozen Gold Cloaks standing by, their eyes fixed on Barristan, who had already unsheathed his longsword.
Though they had just mocked Barristan for being too old, too old to protect anyone, their hearts still held a deep reverence for the old man, and they instinctively believed that Barristan, armed, still possessed formidable combat prowess, not something one or two people present could withstand.
Barristan, the target of their attention, sharply eyed the nervous Kingsguard and Gold Cloaks around him, his gaze settling on the small child seated on the Iron Throne.
He let out a contemptuous laugh, then directly tossed his longsword to the ground, saying, "You want it, little boy? Take it!"
With that, he unfastened the clasp on his shoulder, letting the snow-white cloak, a symbol of the Kingsguard, fall to the ground and pile at his feet, then removed his helmet and casually tossed it aside.
Ser Barristan, with his head full of white hair, unbuckled his breastplate, letting the armor clatter to the ground, and declared proudly, "I appreciate the kindness of you lords, but I despise your pity.
If I live as a knight, I shall die as a knight."
"Like a naked knight, wouldn't you say?" Littlefinger interjected.
Everyone burst into laughter; whether it was Joffrey on the Iron Throne, the nobles of the Red Keep, the common citizens, or even his Kingsguard brothers who had just been ready to live and die with him, all laughed as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world.
Only Sansa Stark did not laugh, merely looking sorrowfully at the old knight, renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
But Barristan remained remarkably calm, looking indifferently at the people around him, his gaze fixed on Littlefinger.
His gaze was like two sharp swords at Littlefinger's throat, making Littlefinger feel an inexplicable tension, the smile on his face gradually receding.
At the same time, the laughter of others around them also gradually diminished, everyone nervously watching Barristan, and the hall immediately fell silent.
Barristan looked around at the people and objects once more, said nothing, and simply turned and walked out of the hall.
The sound of his footsteps on the floor was loud and heavy, echoing off the bare stone walls, creating a strangely suffocating atmosphere.
"He just called me 'little boy'! This is the greatest blasphemy against the King.
He must be an accomplice of the usurper, he must be."
When Barristan was out of sight, the pressure on Joffrey dissipated, and a surge of annoyance rushed to his head, making him childishly exclaim, "He might even be in cahoots with my two rebellious uncles.
I'll have him arrested and interrogated properly." Seeing no one move, he immediately raised his voice, "I said, I'll have him arrested!"
Janos Slynt, who had just been ennobled as the Earl of Harrenhal for helping to suppress Eddard Stark's rebellion, immediately stepped forward, pledging his loyalty, "Your Majesty, leave this matter to my Gold Cloaks.
I will surely…"
"Enough!" Queen Mother Cersei, who had been silent beside Joffrey, suddenly spoke.
"He is just an old man, a harmless old man, and Joffrey, don't forget, when Eddard Stark produced that forged will, he was the first to stand up and denounce it as a forgery.
He has served you well.
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