Earl Odd's predictions were spot on. Captain Gnar Lanny escorted Master Alec back to Clegane Village, and Ser Gregor was indeed with Duke Tywin at the Goldleaf Bay mining site. This was good, because when Alec found Lady Jenny in the sanctuary, Lady Jenny was alone with the witch.
Alec remembered Earl Odd's advice: keep a low profile and don't boast about the noodle shop's booming business in front of Duke Tywin, lest the Duke increase taxes.
So, at Alec's humble request, Mrs. Jenny met with Alec alone in her room.
Alec was very excited because the lord and his wife had earned more than four hundred gold dragons in just half a day, which was a great fortune. Alec was happy for the lord.
Since Lord Gregor returned to Clegane, his kindness to his people has been evident to all, without the need for singers to sing his praises or maesters to flatter him. His people know perfectly well what he has done, what he has given, what he has gained, what he has implemented, and what he has taught them.
Sir Gregor did much for his people, and he did it all without saying a word. He never uttered a single word of self-praise. He remained as fierce as ever, but his people no longer feared him; instead, they gradually developed gratitude and respect for him.
No matter how ruthless he was, none of his subjects ever suffered any severe punishment, even if they made mistakes. On the contrary, if any of his subjects encountered any misfortune, whether it was hardship at home or being humiliated by noble knights from neighboring territories, within a day, Captain Julie Clegane of Clegane would inevitably lead the Clegane cavalry to his door to demand justice.
Regardless of the other party's rank, they had to apologize and compensate, otherwise, Sir Gregor would personally come to their door. This filled the people, who had never received the lord's protection before, with gratitude. In a short time, no one from the neighboring territories—whether noble knights, noble nobles, or ordinary citizens—dared to bully the people of Clegane Village anymore.
Alec used to be terrified of Sir Gregor, but now she respects him greatly, and it all seems so natural. Gregor does things without saying a word, and the results are quick and remarkable. When you work quietly and steadily, it's like flowing water—things fall into place naturally.
Alec relayed Earl Od's words to Lady Jenny. Lady Jenny was also delighted. Alec said that the noodles' reputation would soon spread throughout the town, and the number of customers would only increase. Lady Jenny praised Alec's hard work and rewarded her with a bronze star, which made Alec even happier.
Yes! Yes!
Someone knocked on Mrs. Jenny's door.
The knocking sounded hesitant and timid.
The sound was also very soft.
Alec opened the door, and standing there was a little boy in a bachelor's apprentice's robe. His name was Andy Salriott, his mother was Mrs. Ellen, the steward who managed kitchen affairs, and his father was Ellen Salriott, who was strangled to death.
"Andy, come in," Mrs. Jenny said with a smile.
Her smile was warm and kind, which clearly eased the little boy's timidity.
The little boy came in, holding a small paper roll sealed with wax.
Where did the letter come from?
"Cliff City!" the little boy whispered.
The little boy was handsome and seven years old. He was introverted and timid, but had a good memory, was intelligent and eager to learn, making him a perfect apprentice to Maester Harry.
Cliff Rock was Lady Jenny's hometown.
Ser Gregor, accompanied by Maester Harry, went with Duke Tywin Lannister to Goldleaf Bay to observe the gold mining activities, leaving the Maester's quarters in the care of seven-year-old apprentice Andy. Andy naturally also took over the management of all the ravens in the Maester's quarters.
"Okay, I understand, you can go now," Mrs. Jenny said softly.
"Yes, Madam!" The little boy bowed, took two steps back, and then turned and left.
Alec said, "Madam, I have to rush back to Lannisport, and I must go too."
"Alright, go ahead!" Mrs. Jenny nodded with a smile.
Alec bowed deeply, then left the room, gently and respectfully closing the door behind her.
Jenny crushed the wax seal and opened the scroll. It was a letter from her father, Gavin Westerling, who had returned to Cliffrock. He inquired when Jenny and Sir Gregor would return to Cliffrock for the family wedding. At the end of the letter, he wrote that after returning to Cliffrock, Earl Damon Marblen and his son Adam Marblen had united all the nobles of the North and would not return the lands they had purchased and seized to the Westerling family. More than twenty noble families, large and small, in the North had united and would not yield to Sir Gregor.
If Sir Gregor dares to act arrogantly, they are not afraid to go to war.
Jenny fell silent after reading the letter.
She knew that the other twenty-odd noble families in the north were not a threat, and these people would not dare to openly oppose Sir Gregor, but with the Marble family as their backing, that was a different story.
If the Marbrand family were to use coercion and enticement to persuade other nobles, it would be entirely possible for all the northern nobles to unite. It would be absolutely impossible for Gregor to conquer the entire northern noble family by force.
The combined forces of the opposing side were dozens of times greater than the combined forces of the Clegane and the Westerling families.
It is a time of peace now, and Duke Tywin never interferes in minor squabbles between nobles. Killing a few guards around a knight is a trivial matter, but the Duke would never allow a large-scale civil war among the nobles.
Sir Gregor was very tough!
In an attempt to establish his authority and intimidate others, he used his greatsword to kill four knights of the Marble family on the ten-mile road to Casterly Rock. However, it seems that this action not only failed to frighten the Marble family, but instead made them even more defiant.
Count Marble was certain that Sir Gregor couldn't do anything to him! He returned to Branded City, where a river flowing down from the mountains forms a natural moat. This river is the source of the Tengshi River, and downstream of the Tengshi River is the Red Fork River of the Riverlands.
Besides the natural moat, the city walls of Branden are high and thick, and the troops are sufficient. In peacetime, the garrison is more than a thousand men. In the event of war, it can quickly gather three thousand troops. With the addition of the troops of more than twenty other noble families in the north, it is not difficult to gather tens of thousands of troops.
The latest novels are first published on 69shuba!
Jenny thought it over and over and realized that the situation was very tricky!
Sir Gregor has already made his statement: if the Westerling family's lands are not recovered this time, the Westerling family's reputation and Sir Gregor's honor will plummet.
Sir Gregor would never back down, but the previous attempt to intimidate by killing him had failed, and the Marble family remained steadfast in their decision not to yield to Gregor.
The Duke of Tywin's mother's surname was Marblen, and she was the paternal aunt of Earl Damon Marblen. In terms of blood relations, in the Duke's heart, his adopted daughter Jenny was nowhere near as important as the Marblen family.
*
A day later, Ser Gregor and Lord Tywin returned from Goldleaf Bay, and Lord Tywin would leave Clegane Village for Casterly Rock the following day.
That evening, Lady Jenny lay on top of Gregor and read Lord Gavin's letter to him.
After listening, Gregor remained silent for a while before saying, "Tomorrow, I will have Sweetmouth Raff escort you back to Cliff Rock City with the family cavalry so that Mom and Dad can prepare the wedding for us. Ten days later, I will come to Cliff Rock City to hold the family wedding with you."
"Ten days from now?" Mrs. Jenny's eyes were sweet, her gaze like golden honey. "Where are you going for these ten days? What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to pick up a big gift for my parents-in-law."
"Our land?" Jenny was incredibly intelligent.
"This land belongs to us. Even if the world turns upside down, I will take it back. I will never give up!"
"But we simply don't have the manpower! Brand City is too high, and the walls are too thick!"
"All you need to deal with a turtle is an iron hammer!" Gregor said calmly.
Jenny wanted to speak, but Gregor reached out and supported her soft body. After a period of passionate intimacy where the stronger man was dominant, Gregor entered her. Jenny's breathing became disordered, and she moaned rapidly.