Chapter 58
Faking Death to Escape
"Father!"
"So you weren't dead after all!"
"You've wronged your child!"
"O gods!"
Heart-wrenching screams echoed from within the Red Fort.
Varys rushed over on tiptoe in his slippers and tugged at the dazed Barristan.
"Sir, what has happened to His Highness?"
"Why is it so painful?"
Old Ba sniffed, his voice trembling.
"Just received the news."
"King Robert has secretly sailed away!"
"The one who arranged the ship's departure for him was none other than his appointed Prime Minister, Ed..."
Varys was shocked to hear this, yet he couldn't believe it.
Then, Joffrey's voice came from inside the house again.
"Father!"
"You're so heartless."
"You've wronged your child."
"Croak..."
Barristan grabbed the eunuch's sleeve.
"Varys, His Highness is in great agony inside, beating his chest and stamping his feet in despair."
"We can't persuade him no matter what we do. Why don't you go inside and comfort him?"
Varys pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and waved it gently.
"No rush, no rush."
"Let Your Highness weep a little longer."
He nodded heavily, then turned and left.
"You...you..."
Old Ba stammered incredulously for a moment.
Then, an even louder "Ughhhhhh—!" came from inside the house.
A long time passed.
Joffrey was still not recovered.
"How hateful! How hateful!"
He was clutching a letter tightly in his hand.
Robert left it to him.
"My son."
"Your father is actually fine."
"But when that wild boar pierced my kidney, I truly had a trip through hell."
"In that instant, I understood."
"The purpose of life is to eat, drink, eat, and do whatever one pleases."
"Your father has fought wars his whole life, and he's decided to enjoy himself."
"The seven kingdoms are now in your hands."
"—Ranger-Knight of Essos, King of Mercenaries, loving Robert Baratheon."
After reading it, Joffrey felt that he was in big trouble.
He first approached Paisell.
"Your Highness..." The Grand Scholar kowtowed in fear and trepidation, "His Majesty forced me to fabricate injuries for him."
"Otherwise, he'll cut off my head!"
"So his injuries weren't that serious from beginning to end?" Joffrey pressed sharply.
"Yes, yes, yes! It just looks scary, but it didn't actually damage any internal organs."
Joffrey took a deep breath, turned and left.
He then approached Ed again.
"Your Highness." The Prime Minister sat at his desk, a pile of documents spread out in front of him, but his eyes drifted out the window.
Robert lied to me, saying he was dying, and forced me to swear an oath.
"I agreed without really thinking about it."
"Then...then he told me the truth."
"So you arranged a boat for him so he could sneak away?" Joffrey could hardly believe Ed would do such a thing.
"He also talked to me a lot..."
"He who sentences someone to death must wield the blade himself; he must look the person directly in the eye before taking their life." The Prime Minister's eyes were somewhat vacant as he murmured these words repeatedly.
"So Robert wants to personally kill those two Dragon children to prevent future trouble..."
Joffrey went to see Cersei.
"Xiao Qiao, actually your younger brother and sister and I all know." His mother gently touched his face.
"Your father can go out and play, and you can be king."
The mother said casually, "It's come to this, just let him be."
Joffrey opened his mouth, but only managed to utter one word.
"OK."
Fine!
Everyone knows.
They're keeping it all from him!
Ugh.
That's it.
Just assume that I, Joffrey, never had any of these things!
The Iron Throne.
Joffrey sat on the chair forged from swords, looking down at his courtiers.
Cersei sat beside him, her face beaming with undisguised joy.
Ed sat in the Prime Minister's seat, looking dazed, clearly still troubled by the fact that he had done such an outrageous thing for Robert.
A minor nobleman stepped forward.
"Your Highness! Please allow me to lead a swift ship to Pentos. I will bring His Majesty back within five days!"
Another person stepped forward: "I am also willing to go! I will definitely find His Majesty and restore him to the throne!"
In a short time, seven or eight people volunteered to take the lead.
Varys raised his hand.
"No."
His soft voice silenced the commotion.
Why go to Pentos?
Everyone was taken aback.
The eunuch glanced at Joffrey on the Iron Throne, then at Eddard and Cersei.
"Your Majesty has volunteered to depart."
"It was the Prime Minister who sent him away, the Grand Secretary who faked the injuries, and Her Majesty the Queen who pressed the button on the message."
"Please don't bring this up anymore. Let's step back and allow His Highness to rest."
The meaning of sending someone away is as simple as it gets.
After thinking it over, Joffrey waved to the crowd below.
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally bowed and took their leave.
"Mother, you should go back and rest too."
Cersei patted his head, then got up and left.
Varys glanced at the silent hound in the corner, pretending not to see it.
Archway.
"This servant is deeply saddened by Your Highness's passing."
"Secondly, congratulations to Your Highness."
Joffrey raised an eyebrow.
"Spider, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"My father just passed away, what is there for me to be happy about?" His tone seemed a little angry.
Varys smiled slightly.
"Your Highness's mind is as clear as a mirror; why must you test this servant?"
He faced east and gave a perfunctory bow.
"Since Your Majesty raised your army, your advance has been unstoppable and your power has shaken all directions, but there is a secret that is difficult to tell."
"he……"
"I've never felt happy being king."
Joffrey leaned forward, as if he heard a long, melodious piece of music.
The eunuch smiled slightly.
"Your Majesty has responsibilities to bear. If you want to fulfill your wishes, you must find a good successor."
"Your Highness is the most suitable candidate."
"Therefore, His Majesty summoned Lord Ed to handle the Valley crisis."
"He would secretly explain his appointment to the ministers before he could leave with peace of mind."
Warist paused, then looked at Joffrey meaningfully.
"Your Highness surely understands these things."
"Otherwise, how could there have been such a relieved sigh amidst the sobbing just now?"
Joffrey propped his head up and scratched his upper lip.
"Hmm. You were right."
"I just want them to spread my sorrow to the lords of Westeros."
"The king left on his own, and I am devastated."
Varys blinked.
"At this very moment, the Grand Secretary's messenger ravens should be ready."
"But Your Highness," he changed the subject, "your position is not easy to hold."
Joffrey nudged him.
"Go on."
Varis held up two fingers.
"This servant believes that you face a dilemma in succeeding to the throne."
"The first difficulty is that King Robert only went to Essos as a knight-errant to kill those two dragon descendants for you."
"What if he's had enough fun in eight or ten years and comes back?"
"This is the second most difficult one."
"It's Eddard in the North, Tywin in the West, Stannis on Dragonstone, and even Martell of Dorne, all of whom covet the Iron Throne."
"They hesitated before, exploring but not taking anything."
"I'm just afraid of angering Robert and being attacked by everyone."
"Now that the king is gone, will they obey your orders, Your Highness?"
Joffrey was silent for a moment.
"Then you tell me."
"I am king."
"Or... I won't become king."