The somber and solemn procession finally set off.
At the very front of the line was King Robert's coffin, escorted by Kingsguard Jaime Lannister and Boros Blount.
The hastily crowned new King Joffrey I, Hand of the King Eddard, Ser Barristan, and other courtiers followed behind. The baggage train, women and children, and guards brought up the rear.
When the procession made its first stop to camp, the Hand of the King, Eddard, couldn't wait to step into the King's tent.
Eddard had many questions.
"How much does Your Majesty know about Bloodraven? Where is he? The Night's Watch can surely find him!"
Joffrey had already changed into a deep black formal robe. "Lord Eddard, don't be too anxious. Bloodraven is not to be underestimated, and it will be difficult to eliminate him in a short time. We must learn patience."
Joffrey fabricated a story that was half-truth, half-lie.
"Most of what I know about him comes from the Children of the Forest. He is hidden deep within the Haunted Forest Beyond the Wall, only peering into the Seven Kingdoms through weirwoods and the eyes of animals, never showing himself. All of this was said in the letter."
Joffrey stared into Eddard's eyes. "Furthermore, Bloodraven has long plotted against King's Landing and the Red Keep. Some people have hidden and dirty connections with him."
"Surely, my lord doesn't know what has happened in King's Landing these past few days, does he?"
Eddard bowed slightly. "Please enlighten Your Majesty."
Joffrey didn't speak, but instead used magic to transmit his voice to Eddard: "Please keep the following information absolutely secret. Do not panic, it is I speaking."
Eddard, feeling deeply strange, tried to calm himself. Was this the magic Lady Catelyn spoke of in her letter?
"I dreamt of a prophecy. The Seven Kingdoms and even the world will face a catastrophe of destruction. After the invasion of the Others, the Long Night and Doomsday will arrive. The Gods have thus bestowed this divine power upon me, commanding me to fight against the monsters of darkness and cold."
"Bloodraven's shadow was in the prophecy. He has many accomplices in King's Landing, including Varys and Petyr."
Eddard could only listen silently, unsure how to question it.
"Since then, I have paid special attention to these two Hands of the King. While Father was not in the Red Keep, they might make small moves, so I quietly made arrangements, using the blessing of the Gods to make Sandor a warrior capable of fighting a hundred, ensuring the stability of King's Landing."
Eddard immediately realized that something had happened in King's Landing!
"Indeed, something happened. Bloodraven seems to have colluded with Varys and the others. I happened to receive news from Sandor the day before yesterday. Varys and Petyr launched an attack, and almost the entire King's Landing City Watch rebelled. Fortunately, Sandor subdued them."
"Then Father was also killed by Bloodraven right after, this definitely isn't a coincidence!"
Eddard seemed to have sketched out Bloodraven's face, insidious and cunning, utterly inhuman, like a combination of Littlefinger and Varys.
Joffrey's transmitted voice carried endless pain and regret. "The prophecy clearly didn't have this scene with Father, how did it become like this? I was too careless! The Gods will not forgive me!"
Eddard felt almost the same way. Having personally witnessed Robert's death, he still couldn't forgive himself.
"There was still hope originally."
Joffrey transmitted his voice again. "When we parted ways at Winterfell, I gave Arya a piece of steel that allows people to communicate with each other from a thousand miles away. Bran and she both used it to talk to Jon. It could have been used to transmit information."
Eddard remembered the inconspicuous piece of steel Arya treasured. So it was such a wondrous item!
"A week ago, the Children of the Forest told me about Bloodraven's conspiracy. I thought of the steel piece at the time, but then it suddenly lost its effect. It must have been Bloodraven's doing!"
"After that, we could only travel at full speed, and I also had Lady Catelyn send out a raven. Unexpectedly, it was still too late."
Eddard shook his head. He knew it wasn't anyone's fault. As long as Bloodraven could monitor this side, he could act at any time. No matter how fast they were, they couldn't save Robert's life.
Robert loved hunting so much, there was hardly a day he wasn't exposed to Bloodraven's beasts.
Eddard smiled sadly. It turned out it was Robert's fault after all.
"What we can do now is to eliminate Bloodraven's eyes as much as possible, and not let him brazenly spy on the Seven Kingdoms."
Joffrey gave Eddard a determined look. "Once we have accumulated enough strength, even if Bloodraven runs to the Lands of Always Winter, we will completely eliminate him!"
Eddard looked towards the Children of the Forest outside the tent, who were the focus of everyone's attention. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Eddard walked towards the Children of the Forest.
Joffrey watched quietly as Leaf described Bloodraven's information to the Hand of the King.
The information he revealed was difficult to disprove. The content of the prophecy was true, the magic was true, Bloodraven's abilities were true, and the outcome of the events in King's Landing was also true.
Without the prior assumption that Joffrey was the murderer, Bloodraven was the only answer.
That was enough.
Every king is bound to have many questionable cases and stains on their reputation. As long as there is no irrefutable hard evidence, they are not true, merely slanders and rumors from hostile forces and villains.
Even the honor-bound Eddard could not choose to oppose the King merely because of suspicion.
Queen Mother Cersei walked into the tent and motioned for the servants to withdraw. The Queen Mother's steward was the last to leave, and he closed the tent flap.
The tent immediately became dim and silent.
Cersei sat down beside her son. "Little Joff, what were you thinking, letting Eddard Stark be Regent? Letting him continue as Hand of the King is already a great mercy!"
Joffrey saw his mother's lips move again, but she didn't say anything more.
There should have been the latter half of the sentence hidden in her heart, "Why let Father also be Regent? I'm afraid Father prefers Casterly Rock and Lannisport, he wouldn't want to come to King's Landing."
Joffrey comforted her, "Don't worry, Mother, I have carefully considered it. Our situation is very dangerous. Not to mention my true parentage, are the great lords truly willing to pledge their loyalty?"
Cersei snorted. "Who dares to cause trouble?"
Joffrey continued to persuade her. "Lord Eddard can bring us the support of the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale. Coupled with the Crownlands and Grandfather's Westerlands, our rule can be stable."
"Besides," Joffrey said, pulling on his mother's hand.
"Don't I know that Mother loves me the most? Lord Eddard's regency is just a title. Grandfather Tywin has the entire Westerlands to worry about. In the end, it will still be us ruling the country."
Cersei's expression softened slightly.
Joffrey continued, "Don't forget Renly. He won't just sit back and do nothing. The lords of the Stormlands are his vassals, and he's also friendly with Highgarden. The more troops we have, the safer we'll be."
Cersei realized the danger. "Renly will rebel?!"
Does that even need asking?
Joffrey made a decision.
From last night to his short time as king today, the attitudes and questions of the people made him understand his true position.
Exalted, but without authority.
According to the political system, he couldn't handle state affairs before the age of sixteen. The regent and the Hand of the King exercised power on behalf of the king.
How could this be?
It would take four more years for him to come of age. By then, the Others would have already invaded the Seven Kingdoms, and the Long Night and Doomsday might have already arrived, and he would just be taking control?!
Joffrey's plan wasn't like this. In four years, he wouldn't be a king with real power, but the supreme Emperor, the Hero King who saved the world.
To gain supreme power in such a short time, there was only war, only killing and blood, violence and subversion.
Let the war come more fiercely.
The Throne will thrive on drinking blood.
Joffrey resolutely gave instructions to Hannah and the Hound in the Red Keep.
"Let Renly leave the city."
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