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*
A snow-white towel was placed into a copper basin that was half-filled with water.
"Sir Gavin, please get out of the car," Julie said.
Gavin's face flushed crimson. He saw the three-dog emblem on the girl's armor, and he also saw the three-dog emblem on Sweetmouth Ruff's armor. Why did these two possess the Clegane family crest? Weren't the Clegane cavalry Lord Tywin's family army?
When did the Mountain acquire his family's cavalry? Could he afford to maintain them?
But now was not the time to figure out these trivial matters, so Lord Gavin had to jump off the carriage. He was relieved that the Mountain was still riding far away and had not come over.
He feared that the Mountain might see Jenny's beauty and do something inappropriate.
"Miss, what do you want to do?" Gavin asked politely in a soft voice.
"Your Excellency, we have been ordered by Duke Tywin to travel ten miles outside the city to welcome you and Miss Jenny; and we have also been ordered by Sir Gregor to wash the dust off Miss Jenny from her journey."
Julie, quick-witted and sharp-tongued, lifted the curtain, carried the copper basin onto the carriage, and jumped in herself. The curtain fell, swaying gently, and after a while, the sounds of Jenny and Julie talking, along with the sound of water, could be heard from inside the carriage.
Beside the carriage, a smiling Raff took out a silver mirror, rouge, face powder, and makeup brushes—all high-end items used by nobles—from a large bundle. Earl Gavin, though mediocre in martial arts, was well-versed in the items used by the nobility. He recognized these as exquisite goods, likely shipped from trading ships across the Narrow Sea, and of considerable value.
Earl Gavin's mood miraculously improved, which fully demonstrated Duke Tywin's high regard for Jenny, and also for the Westerling family.
Duke Tywin was incredibly considerate. Fearing that Jenny might look tired and uncomfortable after two days of travel, he sent soldiers ten miles outside the city to greet her. He even assigned female soldiers to help Jenny with her makeup and dressing, so she could enter the city looking beautiful. Jenny was beautiful and virtuous, radiant and captivating. Her arrival in the city showcased her elegance and grace, which also enhanced Duke Tywin's reputation.
"Sir Gregor, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you before." Earl Gavin's expression softened as he apologized to Gregor.
Gregor was about the same age as Sir Gavin. He was completely at ease and paid no heed to Lord Gavin's pleasantries.
Gregor's rudeness was well-known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and Lord Gavin, mindful of his status, though somewhat embarrassed, did not stoop to the level of the infamous Mountain.
However, Gregor now disdains Lord Gavin because he despises the hypocritical, pretentious, affected, pretentious, charlatan, selfish, and absurd Lord Gavin from the bottom of his heart. For the sake of empty fame and pomp, this is a scoundrel who would sell off his ancestral lands for a pittance. His daughter Jenny isn't really his daughter at all; she's his and Sibel's biggest and most valuable commodity. He's single-mindedly focused on selling Jenny for a good price. As for his daughter's feelings, future, and happiness, he completely disregards them.
In Lord Gavin's eyes, the Mountain was a vulgar and despicable scoundrel; in the eyes of the now different Mountain, Lord Gavin was nothing more than a good-for-nothing spendthrift scoundrel who was neither good at literature nor martial arts!
*
Meanwhile, in Lannister's main castle, at the dining hall.
The restaurant is very large, with a huge long table that can seat two hundred people at the same time. There are four such long tables.
There was only one exquisite table for the knights to dine at.
Tywin Lannister sat upright at a dining table adorned with gold and silver carvings, a snow-white napkin held between his breastplate by a gold lion brooch. Servants and family soldiers were not allowed to eat in the dining room at the same time as him.
Tywin prefers quiet.
Only noblemen of high status were qualified to dine with him.
Opposite Tywin sat his younger brother Kevan Lannister, and to his side sat his Grand Maester Potter.
In the huge restaurant, there were only three people eating.
Kevan Lannister was beginning to gain weight. His head was completely bald, except for a thick ring of hair above his ears and on the back of his head, which looked like a golden headband. He had a square jaw, and his beard was neatly trimmed and very short. When he spoke, the fat on his jaw jiggled, and his beard was also golden.
Ser Kevan was born in Aegon 245 and is fifty-three years old this year, three years younger than Tywin. He has broad shoulders, a thick waist, and very well-maintained skin.
Of the four Tywin brothers, only Tywin and Kevan remain; the other two brothers have died of illness.
Kevan was Tywin Lannister's most trusted lieutenant, renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms for his loyalty and reliability, earning him the nickname "Tywin's shadow." Kevan recognized his brother's exceptional abilities when he was seventeen, and from that moment on, he remained completely obedient to Tywin. Tywin lived up to his brother's expectations, suppressing the rebellious nobles of the Westerlands and restoring the family's prestige at the age of nineteen. At twenty, due to his widespread fame, Kevan became Hand of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen and served for twenty years—until he voluntarily resigned.
There's a saying among the nobles of the Westerlands: Kevan never expressed a different opinion in front of Tywin. This isn't entirely accurate. Tywin consulted Kevan on many matters, but even if Tywin's final decision completely contradicted Kevan's wishes, Kevan would carry it out without question.
*
"Try this soup," Tywin gestured to Kevon.
Kevan gave his brother and the scholar a strange look, then picked up a spoon and took a bite.
"It's still Aldrich's cooking," Kevan laughed. "Just as delicious as ever."
Tywin Lannister showed no smile, as if he hated Kevan.
He clapped his hands.
The same golden bowl, filled with the same bacon soup, was served.
"Try this!" Tywin added.
Kevon then tried the bacon soup. He slowly drank a spoonful, his expression gradually turning to surprise. He looked at Tywin and the maester, and then tasted the soup next to him.
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"All of this is Aldrich's work?" Kevan asked in a strange tone.
"yes!"
"The ingredients are exactly the same?"
"yes!"
"Why does one drink taste more and more refreshing and delicious, while the other tastes increasingly coarse and bitter?"
Tywin remained expressionless, glancing at the servant beside him, who immediately brought out two exquisite porcelain boxes. At Tywin's signal, Kevan opened the white jade lids; one box contained the familiar pale yellow mineral salt, and the other contained a snow-white substance like fine sand.
"This is snow salt," Tywin said.
"Snow salt?"
"Is the sea salt supplied from across the Narrow Sea? I heard that it takes cutting down a lot of forests and burning the seawater in rows of big iron pots to get it. How much is this salt per ounce?"
"It doesn't cost any money; it can be produced simply by processing mineral salt," Tywin said casually.
"oh?"
"Was it Grand Maester Potter who discovered the method of producing snow salt? That's fantastic! Haha, we can use snow salt to trade with other nobles for ironware and fine horses, and we can even export it across the Narrow Sea to exchange for the exquisite silk and porcelain we want. Grand Maester, you are truly remarkable, you have done a great service!" Kevon exclaimed with delight.
"It's not the Grand Maester's doing, it's the Mountain's!" Tywin's voice was devoid of warmth.
Kefon's smile froze instantly; his eyes widened and his mouth gaped open, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.
He couldn't believe it!
How could that be? The Mountain is nothing but a complete scoundrel.