Queen Mother Cersei sipped some summer red, also smiled, and said, "You are truly childish."
She put down her wine glass and added, "Today is a day worth celebrating. Jaime, I want to invite Lord Greene to dinner with me."
Ser Jaime spread his hands and said, "Perfect, I can also ask him for advice on how to 'deal with' Lord Tywin."
Seeing Cersei not speak, he asked, "Aren't you curious, Cersei?"
Queen Mother Cersei's green eyes glanced at Jaime and said, "Jaime, before you wield a sword, do you also inquire how the blacksmith forged it? I… only need to know if it is sharp."
After a moment of silence, Ser Jaime murmured, "It sounds… somewhat… reasonable…"
Queen Mother Cersei proudly raised her beautifully contoured chin and snorted coldly.
According to Queen Mother Cersei's instructions, the maids respectfully carried in pieces of beautiful clothing into the small hall.
Taking a long dress from a maid, Queen Mother Cersei gently held it up in front of the dressing mirror.
One after another, Cersei was in high spirits.
Ordinarily, Ser Jaime would enjoy watching Cersei make such decisions, but now… for some reason, he felt a bit unwell again, or rather, there was a strange irritation in his heart.
He paused, then said, "Cersei, it's just a normal dinner; you're giving Lord Greene too much importance, and… you are already charming enough."
Queen Mother Cersei pointed to a golden long dress and instructed, "This one."
After the maids left, Queen Mother Cersei picked up her wine glass again and said, "Jaime, a woman's beauty is not just to satisfy a man's soft worm."
She took a small sip of wine and continued, "When I was very young, I heard that the Old Lion ruled the Seven Kingdoms, and my mother—Lady Joanna—she ruled the Old Lion. At that time… she was the true ruler of the Seven Kingdoms."
Joanna Lannister was born into a branch of the Lannister family; she was Lord Tywin's wife and the mother of Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion. Lady Joanna passed away due to complications after giving birth to Tyrion.
Ser Jaime stretched and said, "I only know that after Lady Joanna passed away, Father never smiled again."
Queen Mother Cersei came before Jaime, extended a slender finger to flick his chin, and with a curl of her lips, said, "Even the strongest Lion will submit to a woman's beauty, Ser Jaime."
"Alright."
Jaime wrapped his arms around Cersei's soft waist, his lips curving slightly upward: "At least I am such a Lion."
Jaime and Cersei looked at each other, then the distance between them gradually closed.
As Ser Jaime closed his eyes, there was a sudden knock on the door.
Jaime cursed under his breath in annoyance; Queen Mother Cersei lowered her gaze and looked down, smiling, "It truly is… Ser, go see who has disturbed its good mood."
Moving his body, Ser Jaime walked towards the small hall door.
Opening the door, Ser Jaime, still looking a bit dark, said with some confusion, "Adam?"
Besides Adam Marbrand, there was also Ser Osfryd Kettleblack, who had brought him in.
Ser Adam nodded and said, "Jaime, it's Lord Tywin's order; he sent me to tell you something."
"Ser Osfryd, thank you for your trouble." Ser Jaime walked out, closing the door behind him.
After Queen Mother Cersei's guard captain left, Ser Adam informed Ser Jaime of the "accident" that had occurred in the tower.
Finally, he added, "Also, Sandor Clegane… these four Kingsguard… the Lord Hand asks you to fulfill your duty as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."
Hearing the Old Lion's reprimand, Ser Jaime immediately felt as if he had been slapped; he forced a smile at his childhood friend and said, "I understand, Adam."
Ser Adam patted Jaime's arm, his red cloak swishing, then he lifted his foot and left.
Returning to the Queen Mother's Small Council Chamber, Queen Mother Cersei noticed Jaime's grim face and said, "I heard Ser Adam's voice."
Ser Jaime walked to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass of wine, took a large gulp, and then said, "Something unexpected happened."
He first recounted Joffrey's atrocity, then added, "Father told me this is the truth, but… Lord Greene intends to deliberately distort the facts."
Queen Mother Cersei sat down, somewhat surprised, and said, "Lord Greene?"
Ser Jaime nodded and said, "When it happened, Lord Greene also happened to see it; he knows very well."
He frowned: "Father told me that the 'fact' spoken by Lord Greene is that Lord Arryn attempted to assassinate Joffrey, and was later successfully counter-killed by the brave King."
He murmured, "Father asked me, in the face of the facts before my eyes, how I intend to protect the Kingsguard's honor."
After listening, Queen Mother Cersei, however, showed a satisfied expression: "Lord Greene is not only brave but also very clever; he did very well, I should reward him."
The word "reward," due to Lord Greene's several "stimulations," had taken on other meanings in Ser Jaime's ears.
Pulling back his almost straying thoughts, he said seriously, "Cersei, Joffrey needs to learn to take on the King's responsibilities; he shouldn't…"
His words were interrupted by Queen Mother Cersei: "Don't talk to me about your ridiculous honor. You are too naive, Jaime Lannister."
"When Aerys II was alive, Robert Baratheon was still a traitor, and now? History is always written by the victors."
"Little Robert is just a prisoner; the losers have no right to complain, and no opportunity, because they have already vanished into thin air!"
"And Joffrey? He is the King sitting on the Iron Throne, the King who rules the Seven Kingdoms, my son; this is the fact."
Ser Jaime stared at Cersei's proud face for a while, then he couldn't help but raise his voice: "Cersei, your favoritism will only corrupt Joffrey; you should teach him…"
"Enough!"
Queen Mother Cersei said coldly, "I will make Joffrey the greatest King; I will naturally teach my son well, without anyone else's teaching… Where are you going? You stop right there!"
"Others… of course, to teach others, Joffrey's good mother." Ser Jaime left the Queen Mother's Small Council Chamber without looking back.
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