"Little thing, I've already heard Varys's report. Regarding the disposal of that little bitch, I fully agree."
At this moment, Robert first praised Jon, but then the conversation took a turn, and he threw out another question.
"I've always been curious about who your mother is, to make Ned keep his mouth so tight. But in any case, you father and son share many similarities in this regard, so you answer this question of his."
Even though he was psychologically prepared for Robert's fickleness, the transmigrator was still a bit caught off guard.
But after a light cough, Jon straightened his body and turned his gaze to the Hand of the King.
"That child is still too young. He can neither manage the Vale nor be used for a marriage alliance. But as the northern gate of the Crownlands, he must be under our control."
When expressing this view, Jon's emphasis fell heavily on the word "our," clearly implying something.
Of course, he also understood that Robert had previously promised to bestow the position of Warden of the East upon Jaime. But from any angle, Jon couldn't let the Lannisters get what they wanted easily, even if it could weaken Cersei's influence around her.
Sure enough, upon hearing the word "our," Ned, who was dizzy from trivial matters, immediately understood Jon's meaning.
But just as Robert said, the King's promise could not be questioned, and he didn't have a suitable reason to solve this problem.
So after figuring this out, Jon suddenly had a flash of inspiration and seemed to think of a brilliant plan to throw a wrench in the works.
Presumably, as long as it met Robert's interests, this matter seemed feasible.
Thinking of this, two suitable candidates jumped into Jon's mind. He just needed to give them a push, and they might have a chance to check and balance the Lannisters.
So after making up his mind, Jon immediately bowed with his hand on his chest, his face full of joy at sharing the burden for the country.
"Therefore, Ser Jaime is indeed the optimal candidate to manage the East. Your Grace is wise."
As soon as these words came out, Duke Ned opposite him stood up abruptly.
He truly couldn't believe what the hell his nephew was doing.
Knowing clearly that the Lannisters already had Casterly Rock and King's Landing, he actually wanted to hand over the East as well. If this went on, before Robert abdicated, Westeros would have to change its surname to Lannister.
However, seeing his cheap father burning with rage and ready to object, Jon didn't give him any chance. Instead, he continued eloquently, stating his reasons.
"As a White Cloak, since Ser Jaime has sworn allegiance to the King and cannot marry or have children due to his status, he is naturally the best candidate to guard the East and the kingdom's northern gate."
At this point, Jon's face was impassioned, as if he had already seen the bright future of the kingdom.
"Presumably, as soon as Robert Arryn comes of age safely, Lord Tywin will definitely send him back to the Eyrie. After that, Ser Jaime can step down as Warden of the East and return to the Kingsguard to protect His Majesty's throne."
When saying this, Jon's face was sincere as always.
His understanding of power struggles and political games in his words matched his age perfectly, full of sincerity and innocence.
However, after hearing this, Robert was stunned for a moment, then took a sharp breath, and subsequently burst into a series of wild laughter like a stag's call.
This laughter was so loud that by the end, the sound coming from his throat was like broken bellows, making the Usurper cough incessantly.
"Cough, cough, cough... Ned, I have to say, this little thing is just a child after all. You still need to teach him more about the history of noble wars in Westeros."
However, hearing Robert's warning, there was no anger on Ned's face; instead, a trace of understanding inexplicably appeared.
The look in his eyes when he looked at Jon no longer held any anger. Instead, he used a scrutinizing gaze to find the shadow in his memory.
At this moment, Ned had an illusion that the overly handsome nephew in front of him seemed to be possessed by his sister Lyanna—quirky and unconventional.
He used his innocent appearance to cover up his clever mind.
Although the speaker had no intention, the listener took it to heart.
Although the same debate had taken place on the way here, Robert couldn't listen at all back then and insisted on fulfilling his promise to let Jaime be the Warden of the East.
But now, no matter how much Robert actually listened, from an outsider's perspective, it was enough to alert the Usurper.
Just as Jon envisioned, a White Cloak was just a White Cloak. As long as he performed his duties loyally, presumably he would still obey the King's order to step down as Warden of the East and return to King's Landing when the time came.
At the same time, as long as Lord Tywin upheld fairness and justice, like the former Hand of the King, and devoted himself to raising the child, presumably in less than ten years, another outstanding talent would return home to serve the King loyally.
However, these were just the longings of commoners, or even children. For the Usurper, he knew better than anyone how the Iron Throne ended up under his butt.
Among all this, the most untrustworthy assumption was the human heart.
Once the Lannisters controlled the Vale, along with King's Landing and Casterly Rock, half of the Seven Kingdoms would fall into their hands, just as unstoppable as the Wolf-Fish-Falcon-Stag alliance that destroyed the Targaryens back then.
The reason for saying this was naturally because Dorne would never stand on the same line as the Lannisters who slaughtered their kin.
And according to the traditions of the desert nobles, these guys might not participate in the wars of Westeros.
So in the end, the cards on the table would be the North, the Riverlands, and the Stormlands forming one camp, confronting the forces controlled by the Lannisters and possibly the Reach, fighting for the ownership of the Iron Throne.
By then, Jaime, the White Cloak who swore allegiance to the King and vowed not to marry or have children, would very likely cross out his title of Kingslayer and instead ascend the Iron Throne with the new title of Usurper.
As for Joffrey and these kin, they were not worth mentioning in the face of so-called power and the throne.
Of course, these were just the scenarios Ned considered in an instant. As for how Robert considered it, only the Seven Gods knew.
After that, the originally serious secret talk immediately became dull.
And Robert seemed to have forgotten the topic of the Warden of the East position. Instead, on the grounds that "the King's squire can't just pour wine and express random opinions, but also needs to learn more about governing concepts from the Hand," he assigned Ned and Jon a few short-term tasks.
First, the most important and urgent task was to get a sum of money to hold a tourney to welcome Duke Ned.
---