Lady Olenna had some time before arriving in King's Landing from Highgarden. Compared to preparing a feast to welcome her, Leonello preferred to enjoy a quiet life, receiving intelligence summaries from all over Westeros and Essos. When he wasn't busy, he could also write some of Ser Barristan's *Knight's Code*.
As the strongest knight of the era, Ser Barristan had put a lot of effort into *Knight's Code*. He wrote down all the qualities he expected of a knight, summarizing seven virtues: loyalty, justice, compassion, courage, honor, sacrifice, and soul.
It was written in a flowery manner, but ultimately, this *Knight's Code* described what a perfect knight should be like.
Barristan himself was very sincere. He pointed out knights who exemplified each of the seven virtues. For example, he regarded Jon Connington, a former opponent, as the most loyal knight. He saw Eddard Stark as the most just knight, and Jaime Lannister as the most compassionate...
Seven virtues, seven knights, none of whom was Barristan himself.
Leonello admired Barristan's humility, but he neither affirmed nor denied his sincerity, nor did he affirm or deny these seven virtues. So, he wrote a letter of feedback to old Barristan.
"My dear teacher, I have finished reading your *Knight's Code* and have many thoughts on the words and deeds of knights. I am writing these thoughts to you now, and I hope you will find them helpful."
"First, I don't think your seven virtues are comprehensive enough. I suggest you change 'Justice' to 'Righteousness,' 'Compassion' to 'Mercy,' and 'Courage' to 'Valor.' 'Sacrifice' and 'Soul' are not very meaningful and can be temporarily omitted."
"Of all the virtues, I believe 'Righteousness' should be the most important. I know that perhaps the word 'Righteousness' is very general, and it is the opposite of 'Evil.' But precisely because 'Evil' is uncertain, so is 'Righteousness.' However, I believe that true 'Righteousness' is recognized by everyone. For example, who should a knight protect?"
"I think you would definitely say 'Nobles,' right? No, my opinion is completely different from yours. I believe that 'Righteousness' is the goodness rooted in everyone's heart, like a mother's love for her son, a subject's loyalty to the king. Maintaining this most basic order is true 'Righteousness.' At the same time, when those most basic orders become a shackle, a true knight should smash it and then create a new order that suits everyone. This is also 'Righteousness.'"
"I don't know if you can understand the 'Righteousness' I described, but that's what I think. Compared to 'Righteousness,' I don't value 'Loyalty' as much, but I can't deny that it is an important virtue. Corresponding to 'Loyalty' is 'Trust.' We should be loyal to the trust others place in us."
Leonello wrote down all his views on "Righteousness," "Loyalty," "Mercy," and "Valor," filling three pages. Then, he asked someone to send these feedback letters and the first draft of *Knight's Code* back to him, so that he could revise it while looking at them.
Old Barristan was a pragmatic man. He probably also knew the significance of Leonello asking him to write this *Knight's Code*. Although he didn't really want to revise his views according to political needs, he felt that Leonello's letter made sense, so he replied that he would selectively revise *Knight's Code*.
Writing *Knight's Code* was a long-term task. This kind of draft could not be completed in a day or two. After receiving the reply, Leonello sent Barristan paper, pens, wine, food, and other rewards, and then began to prepare for the meeting with House Tyrell.
During the twenty days of waiting, a carriage painted with the rose sigil arrived at the Red Keep in King's Landing under the escort of hundreds of knights and moved into the King's chambers.
That night, a rare grand banquet was held in the King's Hall of King's Landing. Lifelike roasted peacocks and huge pigeon pies were brought to the table.
"How rich! Look, our King finally understands that he is the richest man in this land," Olenna, in a gold-embroidered green silk dress, made an exaggerated expression, making everyone around her laugh.
"My lady, why do you say that? I am very poor now," Leonello asked with a smile in the face of Olenna's joke.
"His Majesty is very poor?" The smile on Olenna's shriveled face slightly faded, and she made a careful listening gesture.
"Of course, I still owe money to the Iron Bank and you," Leonello nodded with a smile.
"Your Majesty, do you owe the Tyrell family money?" Olenna asked in feigned surprise.
"Don't I?" Leonello's smile faded.
"You are wrong, no, you have never borrowed money from the Tyrell family," Olenna nodded with an affirmative expression, directly writing off the Iron Throne's loan from the Tyrell family.
Hiss, Leonello took a slight breath in his heart. This is indeed the legendary Queen of Thorns, and it is indeed a bit thorny!
The Tyrell family wrote off the debt. This seems to be a good thing, as if they are conveying sincerity, but the more they pay, the more they hope to gain, without exception.
"Your Majesty, our friendship with the Iron Bank is limited, but if you have any financial difficulties, we can help you with all our strength, after all, you are our Majesty," Olenna said with a sincere expression.
"Haha, if there is a need, I will definitely mention it. I hope you won't be stingy then!" Leonello smiled awkwardly. The Queen of Thorns took the initiative to offer help. Is this trying to stab me to death!
"My Majesty, we have sworn an oath to the Seven Gods to be unconditionally loyal to you," Olenna stood up directly from her seat.
"Wait, wait, madam, you are Margaery's grandmother, and also my grandmother. Today is our internal family banquet, we don't need to be like this," Leonello looked at the old woman who was about to kneel down and was a little afraid of her.
"You..." Olenna saw Leonello's appearance and was about to open her mouth to say something, but was directly interrupted.
"Grandmother, let's talk about everything after the banquet, how about it? Let's talk alone," Leonello couldn't resist Olenna, but this occasion was not suitable for discussing issues.
"Okay, no problem, the Reach is at your disposal," Olenna responded with great solemnity.
"Don't be like this, don't be like this, Grandmother, our banquet needs some joy, don't be so serious," Leonello waved his hand directly.
"Moon Boy, sing for our King," Olenna immediately signaled the jester who came with her to sing and cheer.
The small dwarf, dressed in colorful clothes, immediately ran to the center of the King's Hall when he heard the master's request, raised his head and made a high-pitched throat to start, followed by a cheerful ditty with a burst of tongue-twisting fast singing.
In this cheerful singing, the banquet officially began...
As the strongest knight of the era, Ser Barristan had put a lot of effort into *Knight's Code*. He wrote down all the qualities he expected of a knight, summarizing seven virtues: loyalty, justice, compassion, courage, honor, sacrifice, and soul.
It was written in a flowery manner, but ultimately, this *Knight's Code* described what a perfect knight should be like.
Barristan himself was very sincere. He pointed out knights who exemplified each of the seven virtues. For example, he regarded Jon Connington, a former opponent, as the most loyal knight. He saw Eddard Stark as the most just knight, and Jaime Lannister as the most compassionate...
Seven virtues, seven knights, none of whom was Barristan himself.
Leonello admired Barristan's humility, but he neither affirmed nor denied his sincerity, nor did he affirm or deny these seven virtues. So, he wrote a letter of feedback to old Barristan.
"My dear teacher, I have finished reading your *Knight's Code* and have many thoughts on the words and deeds of knights. I am writing these thoughts to you now, and I hope you will find them helpful."
"First, I don't think your seven virtues are comprehensive enough. I suggest you change 'Justice' to 'Righteousness,' 'Compassion' to 'Mercy,' and 'Courage' to 'Valor.' 'Sacrifice' and 'Soul' are not very meaningful and can be temporarily omitted."
"Of all the virtues, I believe 'Righteousness' should be the most important. I know that perhaps the word 'Righteousness' is very general, and it is the opposite of 'Evil.' But precisely because 'Evil' is uncertain, so is 'Righteousness.' However, I believe that true 'Righteousness' is recognized by everyone. For example, who should a knight protect?"
"I think you would definitely say 'Nobles,' right? No, my opinion is completely different from yours. I believe that 'Righteousness' is the goodness rooted in everyone's heart, like a mother's love for her son, a subject's loyalty to the king. Maintaining this most basic order is true 'Righteousness.' At the same time, when those most basic orders become a shackle, a true knight should smash it and then create a new order that suits everyone. This is also 'Righteousness.'"
"I don't know if you can understand the 'Righteousness' I described, but that's what I think. Compared to 'Righteousness,' I don't value 'Loyalty' as much, but I can't deny that it is an important virtue. Corresponding to 'Loyalty' is 'Trust.' We should be loyal to the trust others place in us."
Leonello wrote down all his views on "Righteousness," "Loyalty," "Mercy," and "Valor," filling three pages. Then, he asked someone to send these feedback letters and the first draft of *Knight's Code* back to him, so that he could revise it while looking at them.
Old Barristan was a pragmatic man. He probably also knew the significance of Leonello asking him to write this *Knight's Code*. Although he didn't really want to revise his views according to political needs, he felt that Leonello's letter made sense, so he replied that he would selectively revise *Knight's Code*.
Writing *Knight's Code* was a long-term task. This kind of draft could not be completed in a day or two. After receiving the reply, Leonello sent Barristan paper, pens, wine, food, and other rewards, and then began to prepare for the meeting with House Tyrell.
During the twenty days of waiting, a carriage painted with the rose sigil arrived at the Red Keep in King's Landing under the escort of hundreds of knights and moved into the King's chambers.
That night, a rare grand banquet was held in the King's Hall of King's Landing. Lifelike roasted peacocks and huge pigeon pies were brought to the table.
"How rich! Look, our King finally understands that he is the richest man in this land," Olenna, in a gold-embroidered green silk dress, made an exaggerated expression, making everyone around her laugh.
"My lady, why do you say that? I am very poor now," Leonello asked with a smile in the face of Olenna's joke.
"His Majesty is very poor?" The smile on Olenna's shriveled face slightly faded, and she made a careful listening gesture.
"Of course, I still owe money to the Iron Bank and you," Leonello nodded with a smile.
"Your Majesty, do you owe the Tyrell family money?" Olenna asked in feigned surprise.
"Don't I?" Leonello's smile faded.
"You are wrong, no, you have never borrowed money from the Tyrell family," Olenna nodded with an affirmative expression, directly writing off the Iron Throne's loan from the Tyrell family.
Hiss, Leonello took a slight breath in his heart. This is indeed the legendary Queen of Thorns, and it is indeed a bit thorny!
The Tyrell family wrote off the debt. This seems to be a good thing, as if they are conveying sincerity, but the more they pay, the more they hope to gain, without exception.
"Your Majesty, our friendship with the Iron Bank is limited, but if you have any financial difficulties, we can help you with all our strength, after all, you are our Majesty," Olenna said with a sincere expression.
"Haha, if there is a need, I will definitely mention it. I hope you won't be stingy then!" Leonello smiled awkwardly. The Queen of Thorns took the initiative to offer help. Is this trying to stab me to death!
"My Majesty, we have sworn an oath to the Seven Gods to be unconditionally loyal to you," Olenna stood up directly from her seat.
"Wait, wait, madam, you are Margaery's grandmother, and also my grandmother. Today is our internal family banquet, we don't need to be like this," Leonello looked at the old woman who was about to kneel down and was a little afraid of her.
"You..." Olenna saw Leonello's appearance and was about to open her mouth to say something, but was directly interrupted.
"Grandmother, let's talk about everything after the banquet, how about it? Let's talk alone," Leonello couldn't resist Olenna, but this occasion was not suitable for discussing issues.
"Okay, no problem, the Reach is at your disposal," Olenna responded with great solemnity.
"Don't be like this, don't be like this, Grandmother, our banquet needs some joy, don't be so serious," Leonello waved his hand directly.
"Moon Boy, sing for our King," Olenna immediately signaled the jester who came with her to sing and cheer.
The small dwarf, dressed in colorful clothes, immediately ran to the center of the King's Hall when he heard the master's request, raised his head and made a high-pitched throat to start, followed by a cheerful ditty with a burst of tongue-twisting fast singing.
In this cheerful singing, the banquet officially began...
