Chapter 103 Poisoned Wine

Jon Arryn walked towards the Prime Minister's Tower with steady steps. The sunlight shone on him, but failed to dispel the solemnity between his brows that was as tight as a thick cloud.

However, just as he was about to step onto the steps leading to the Prime Minister's Tower, he suddenly stopped. His eyes suddenly became deep, as if he remembered something very important, and then he turned around decisively and hurried towards the residence of Grand Maester Pycelle.

Jon Arryn stepped into Pycelle's room, which was filled with the unique smell of old books and herbs. Pycelle was sitting at a table piled with scrolls and books, concentrating on studying something. Hearing the footsteps, he slowly raised his head, the wrinkles on his face became deeper due to nervousness, and there was a trace of panic in his eyes.

"Grand Maester Pycelle." Jon Arryn's voice was low and powerful, echoing in this slightly small room.

Pycelle stood up tremblingly, his slightly hunched body swaying slightly due to old age, and responded: "Prime Minister, I wonder why you suddenly come here this time?"

Jon Arryn stared at him with a sharp gaze and said straight to the point: "I need detailed records about the children of nobles. Do you have any here?"

Pycelle thought for a moment and asked slowly: "My Lord...this, this record of the children of nobles...I wonder what specific aspects do you want? Is it the marriage situation or the family inheritance?"

Jon Arryn frowned and asked: "I want both. Are there many books like this? It's fine if it mainly introduces the great nobles."

A trace of thought flashed in Pycelle's turbid eyes. He trembled and fumbled among the bookshelves for a long time, and finally took out a big book that was so heavy that it almost bent his arm from a pile of books that almost buried him.

"Sir, I wonder if this book, Genealogy and History of the Major Nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, meets your requirements?" Pycelle said as he handed the book over carefully, as if the book was an extremely precious and fragile treasure.

Jon Arryn took the book and quickly flipped through a few pages. His face became increasingly gloomy, and he said, "Excuse me, Maester Pycelle. I would like to borrow this book for a few days."

Pycelle nodded quickly, and the sweat on his forehead rolled down his wrinkles: "Of course, sir, you can borrow it at any time. If you have any other questions, you can ask me again."

Jon Arryn nodded and pushed the door open and left.

There was silence in the Prime Minister's Tower at night. Jon Arryn sat at a large table, and the faint candlelight swayed in the darkness, reflecting his solemn face.

Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink, so thick that it seemed to swallow everything. No starlight could penetrate the heavy night, only a dim moon, looming behind the clouds, casting a hazy glimmer.

The room was so quiet that one could hear the slight "crackling" sound of the burning candle and the occasional sound of Jon Arryn turning the pages of the book. The heavy and boring "Genealogy and History of the Major Nobles of the Seven Kingdoms" was spread out in front of him, and the yellowed paper and blurred handwriting seemed to tell the vicissitudes of time.

Jon Arryn read attentively, frowning, his eyes shuttled between the lines, trying to find the answer he was looking for in this complicated record.

Not long after, he finished reading the book, slowly closed it, and sighed deeply.

Thinking of what he had just seen, "Strong and tough" Jon Arryn muttered to himself.

The hair of every illegitimate child of the Baratheon family recorded in the book was as black as night.

More than ninety years ago, the last union between the stag and the lion, Tia Lannister married Gwen Baratheon, the third child in his family, and their only child was an unnamed premature baby boy, described in Melion's book as "big, good eater, and full of black hair."

Thirty years earlier, a man from the Lannister family married a girl from the Baratheon family. She gave birth to three daughters and a son for him, all with black hair.

No matter how he traced back between the thin and yellowed pages, gold would always succumb to carbon black.

He stood up, stretched his stiff body, slowly walked to the window, and stared outside. The night was still deep, as if an endless mystery enveloped the whole world.

Jon Arryn's eyes wandered in the darkness, hesitating in his heart. At first he had illusions, but now there was solid evidence.

His hands unconsciously clenched the windowsill, and his knuckles turned white because of the force. The breeze brushed across his face, but it couldn't calm his inner turmoil.

Just as Jon Arryn was lost in thought, his wife, Lysa Tully, gently pushed the door open.

She held a jug of wine in her hand, her face full of concern, but there was a hint of barely perceptible panic in her eyes.

"Jon, it's so late, why don't you rest? Don't tire yourself out." Lysa said softly, her voice full of tenderness and worry. But her hand holding the jug seemed to tremble slightly unconsciously.

Jon Arryn turned his head and looked at his wife, with a touch of kindness in his eyes, and smiled and said, "Nothing important, just some government affairs, I'll go to rest now."

Lysa Tully stepped forward and poured a glass of wine for Jon Arryn, and the wine glowed a strange red under the candlelight.

She advised: "If there are any troubles, please let the Royal Council handle them. You must take care of your health."

Jon Arryn looked at Lysa, feeling relieved, took the wine glass and drank it all.

"Don't worry, my lady, I know my health." After saying that, he gently patted Lysa's hand.

He said, "Madam, I have an idea. Robert is growing up. I think it will be better for his future if he is sent to Stannis to be raised."

Lysa Tully was very reluctant, but she still hid it and said, "My dear, the child is still young and not in good health. Otherwise... wait until he is a little older."

Jon Arryn frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Stannis can indeed give Robert better teaching and training. Madam, I understand your reluctance, but this is crucial to Robert's future."

Lysa Tully's eyes flashed with eagerness. She grabbed Jon Arryn's arm tightly and said, "I really can't bear to let him leave me at such a young age. Give me some more time, dear."

Jon Arryn looked at his wife, feeling a little reluctant, but finally nodded, "Okay, wait until he is a little older."

Then, the two smiled at each other and left the room together. But Jon Arryn didn't notice that after he turned around, a crazy and resolute look flashed across Lysa's face.