Chapter 432: Internal Fight in High Court

The next day.

The sun was high in the sky, and the scorching heat was enough to dry up the stream.

However, the revenge of the nobles in the Reach was more fanatical than the sun.

Outside the circular wall of Highgarden, an army as far as the eye could see gathered.

In the army, flags of various colors stood.

A white inverted triangle on a white sun, a group of golden cranes on a blue background, a red and golden fox head...

They were all noble families directly under Highgarden, and they rushed to help overnight.

It was noon, and the sun was at its peak.

There were still a large number of nobles coming from all directions to join the coalition forces of the Reach.

The assassination of the feudal lord was a shame for all the people in the Reach.

The last time this kind of shame happened was in another war with Dorne.

Outside the circular wall, tens of thousands of troops gradually gathered, and the atmosphere became more and more depressing.

In Highgarden, the nobles poured into the reception hall, and the atmosphere was also frozen.

Margaery, wearing a green gauze dress, stood in front of a group of nobles and sadly recounted her father's experience.

During her speech, she was polite and well-mannered, which aroused the nobles' grief and anger.

In contrast.

Lady Alyssa was in tears, and she was supported by several noble ladies to entertain them, her face was pale.

After talking for a long time, the ice in the ice bucket was consumed by the hot nobles.

Mond interrupted Margaery with a stern face and said pretentiously: "Miss Margaery, I understand your grief very well. Your father is also my feudal lord."

Margaery stopped talking lightly and raised her eyebrows to look at Mond Hightower who came first.

Mond came immediately after his father was killed.

Too suspicious.

Margaery's brown eyes flickered slightly, and she said: "Lord Mond, what do you think?"

Once suspicion is established, it should be tested.

Hearing this, Mond looked around, cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, we are all very sad about the death of Duke Tyrell, but we are facing a great enemy, and the Dorne army is in the Red Mountains."

"So, instead of being sad and pitying, it is better to discuss a commander and send troops to avenge Duke Tyrell!"

As soon as the voice fell, a middle-aged noble said, "The Tyrell family has no men, so they can't command the coalition forces in the Reach."

He wore a "a group of golden cranes on a blue background" badge on his chest, from the Clian family of the Red Lake.

This family is directly under the Tyrell family of Highgarden, and they have a close relationship.

When the Duke was assassinated, he was in Oldtown for a meeting and was one of the first people to arrive at Highgarden.

Mond took a few steps and said, "Just like the recruitment meeting held in Oldtown, we have to elect a commander together."

"Then this candidate should be Lord Thaddeus."

Another noble young man with black hair and black eyes and a strong breath spoke.

He was dressed simply, without too many ornaments, and a huge sword as wide as a palm leaned against his leg.

Someone stood up to express his agreement: "I agree with Lord Donald Tully's proposal. Duke Tyrell's original intention was to elect Lord Thaddeus."

Where there is agreement, there is opposition.

Several small nobles stood up one after another, saying in a euphemistic tone: "The recruitment meeting has not decided on a suitable commander, at least many people have not agreed yet."

In a few words, the nobles in the hall had clear positions.

Some supported Hightower, and some respected the wishes of the feudal lord.

There were also some fence-sitters, drinking one cup after another, and not farting for a long time.

Margaery clasped her hands together and analyzed the situation calmly.

Her father went to Oldtown to recruit soldiers, which also deterred the increasingly presumptuous Hightower.

At the moment, the deterrent effect was obviously not achieved.

Even Hightower rejected some of his father's proposals, and the two sides had a verbal conflict.

Margaery was very smart and knew that this was not the time to show off. She quietly watched the nobles quarreling in the hall.

After a long time, while Lord Thaddeus was away, Mond took the upper hand in his speech.

Mond raised his chin and said arrogantly: "Miss Margaery, you are a girl and don't understand the cruelty of war, but Lord Thaddeus may have difficulty getting on a horse. Do you think I am a good candidate for the commander of the coalition forces?"

It seemed like an inquiry, but it was actually a threat.

It was obvious that he was bullying an orphan and a widow, who had no male heir to support her family.

Margaery pretended to be distressed and pitiful: "Rhaegar is still tracking down the real murderer, so let's wait for the prince to come back before making a decision."

"Your Highness?"

Mond's face changed slightly.

At this time, Helena in the corner trotted to Margaery, and said in a soft voice: "Uncle Mond, wait for my brother to come back."

Mond's mouth twitched, and he swallowed his teeth: "Yes, Princess."

Helena has the blood of Hightower, so her words still have weight in his eyes.

Margaery breathed a sigh of relief and gave Helena a super grateful look.

The little girl patted Margaery's round and plump breasts with her backhand and raised her head proudly.

The face that made Margaery blushed, and she pulled the slit skirt.

The hall was silent again.

But this time, it didn't last too long.

"Hiss—"

A dragon roar as loud as a bell echoed in the sky, and a dark dragon shadow landed in the inner garden of Highgarden.

"The prince is back."

"It's His Highness Rhaegar..."

The nobles stood up and looked out of the hall.

Through the green waterfall of the garden, a huge black dragon like a coal mountain could be vaguely seen.

Rhaegar's silver hair hung straight down, his purple eyes were cold, and he walked into the hall without saying a word.

The nobles knew at a glance that there was no good news.

The murderer who assassinated the Duke had probably run away.

Rhaegar did not express his opinion, and no one dared to offend him.

In fact, the group of mercenaries did run away.

Rhaegar rode the Glutton and searched the farmland where the incident occurred, Highgarden to Nightsong City, Oldtown and other routes, but did not find a single shadow.

Suppressing his anger, Rhaegar glanced at the nobles present and said coldly: "Which lord has not arrived yet?"

If his guess is correct, there must be a traitor who tipped off the assassination of old Tyrell.

The group of mercenaries ran away without a trace, and there must be a traitor to help.

I just don't know who the traitor is.

Rhaegar's thoughts were racing, and his eyes fell on Mond involuntarily.

Mond felt uneasy when he was looked at, and stammered: "Lord Thaddeus of Golden Tree City didn't come. He is gathering troops in the north of the Reach. There are also Caswe of Bitter Bridge and Fudley of Tengshi Town..."

Many noble families are far away and are still gathering troops.

Rhaegar stared at him with sharp eyes like an eagle, as if he wanted to see through his skin and into his heart.

Mond felt uncomfortable. He had been a lord for so many years, so he changed the subject: "Prince, Lord Tyrell was killed. We should elect a commander and call on the army to enter the Red Mountains for revenge."

The other nobles also thought so. They were afraid of the oppression emanating from the crown prince and remained silent passively.

Revenge for the feudal lord and beat the Dornish bastards. This is the romance that belongs to the Reach.

Rhaegar saw through Mond's thoughts and felt the strong will of the nobles present.

Turning his head to look at Margaery, he said bluntly: "Who is the commander of the coalition forces appointed by Lord Tyrell during his lifetime?"

He did not have the childish idea of ​​competing for the commander of the Reach.

His task was to control the overall situation and ride the dragon to attack the enemy.

The task of commanding the land soldiers needed another person to complete.

Asking Margaery was also a warning to Mond.

Margaery lived up to expectations and said quickly: "My father decided that Lord Thaddeus would take the position before his death, and he has also worked hard for this in Golden Tree City."

Rhaegar looked at Mond again, his expression stiff.

Mond was speechless and sat back in his chair awkwardly.

You sing and I take the stage.

Donald Tarly bowed respectfully and said: "Prince, have the murderers who killed the Duke been caught?"

"No."

Rhaegar frowned and guessed: "The group ran very fast, I suspect someone is helping them."

Wow!

The whole audience was in an uproar and looked at each other.

Rhaegar saw it and was very calm.

Old Tyrell was murdered, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that there was something wrong.

There was no need to conceal the truth of the murder because of the so-called concern for unity.

Donald nodded and said calmly: "There is no heir to Highgarden, only Lady Alyssa and Lady Margaery are left. I suggest that we should increase the defense."

The Dornish are insidious and cunning, and they can do anything that will be condemned by God.

The Mettling family of Mistwood City was poisoned, and all direct members were killed.

The Tyrell family is small, and if the remaining members encounter an accident again, the Reach will inevitably fall into the vortex of competition for the protection of a realm.

Hearing this, the nobles looked slightly, and looked at Alyssa and Margaery uncertainly.

Highgarden has no heir, a huge piece of fat meat.

Whoever marries the widow Alyssa or Margaery will at least control the power of the Reach for decades.

Margaery realized this as well as Alyssa, and her heart skipped a beat.

Margaery took small steps to get behind Rhaegar and gave him a bright look for help.

Rhaegar took a look and understood the content.

She wants to be the heir, the successor of the Duchess of Highgarden.

Rhaegar frowned, not quite agreeing.

There are already two Duchesses.

There are six realms in the kingdom, there should be one or two, not three.

The Duchess sounds novel, but there are countless secrets behind her.

Jeyne is strong-willed, smart and decisive, and has a more iron-blooded hand than most men.

She has Rhaegar as a big tree behind her, and the opposition forces in the valley are suffocating, and the only thing missing is a legitimate heir.

With the same identity, Cassandra inherited Storm's End and is basically a mascot.

Unable to go to the battlefield, the Storm War depends entirely on Grandpa Royce and external royal aid.

There is almost no political means. Dondarrion of Blackhaven and Sven of Stonehelm are both aristocratic groups that incite the nobles of Stormland to oppose the Duchess.

Now the Sven family is destroyed, and Aemond has taken over.

This is not a good thing, but a big mistake that shakes the foundation of the Baratheon family.

Aemond is Cassandra's fiancé, who knows if she had instructed him to do this.

One, you can't subdue your vassal, and two, you can't discipline your fiancé.

I don't know if Cassandra is really stupid or a complete waste.

It would be better to choose the second of the Four Storms, Maris Baratheon, to inherit the title.

Thinking of this, Rhaegar ignored Margaery's request for help and didn't want to express his opinion too early.

This woman's advantage is intelligence, and her disadvantage is that her mind is too flexible.

Stereotyped imitation of successful people is not the quality that a successful person should have.

Seeing that Rhaegar didn't say anything, Margaery stamped her feet in anger and made a signal with her little hand.

Several young nobles immediately stood up, first praising Donald's proposal, and then hinted at nominating a regent for Highgarden.

"I recommend Miss Margaery. Although she is a woman, she is the only Tyrell in Highgarden after all."

Someone spoke directly.

More people held opposing views and retorted: "Lady Elissa is a widow, and she should be the regent."

"Excuse me, Lady Elissa is the second wife, and she has only been married to Lord Tyrell for a few months."

"So what? Most noble families have widows as regents."

"Miss Margaery is the youngest daughter of Lord Tyrell. She is smart and more convincing."

"We are all women, so who is different?"

"..."

Everyone talked at once, and even the smell of gunpowder came out.

Donald pondered and said, "I recommend Miss Margaery. She knows more about the information of Highgarden."

The Tully family and the Rowan family are in-laws, and the Rowan family is a loyal supporter of the Tyrell family.

As soon as Donald opened his mouth, it had the effect of a final decision.

Rhaegar watched silently, ignoring the infighting within Highgarden, and cared more about whether Mond participated in the murder of old Tyrell.

Just when the voice changed direction and Margaery smiled.

Lady Elisa, who had been silent all this time, could no longer hold back and mustered up her courage to say, "My Lords, I have been married to Highgarden for a short time, but..."

"May the Seven Gods bless me, I am pregnant with my late husband's blood."