Game of Thrones: Rise of the Supreme Dragon Queen

 (A Prosperous Year of the Rat, May Everything Go Well!)

The People's Square and the Freedom Guard Memorial Monument were not just symbolic gestures. The so-called liberation of slaves was not as simple as unlocking their chains.

In the original story, Daenerys thought this way, acted on it, and ultimately failed.

When an old system is dismantled, a new one must be established to ensure societal stability. Otherwise, a world without structure could be worse than the old one.

The square and monument served as constant reminders to the newly freed citizens: You are the masters of this city. It is your duty to build and protect your home.

And so, after conquering the slave city yesterday, today Daenerys was preparing to place a new kind of "shackle" on the free people.

She needed them to work, to serve, to cultivate the land.

By midday, with the help of the Unsullied, Daenerys had unshackled every slave.

By the afternoon, under the scorching sun, the newly freed citizens lined up in a long queue across the red brick plaza, waiting at the registry in front of the pyramid to record their names, professions, family statuses, and aspirations for the future.

Yesterday, after liberating the slave soldiers, Daenerys turned her attention to the next group—the household slaves from the pyramid.

Cooks, maids, and textile workers were grateful and joyful for the Dragon Queen's mercy. But when it came to scholars, gardeners, and physicians—those with specialized skills—they stubbornly refused to be freed.

When Daenerys asked why, Scholar Ethan explained,

"My master treats me well. I have the finest food, clothing, and accommodations. My work is easy, and I even have two maids to serve me. If I go out into the world on my own, I might not survive.

If Your Majesty truly wishes to do us a favor, rather than freeing us, you could sell us to Kayakayanaya or Meereen. We are highly valued and would fetch a good price."

This logic wasn't unheard of. In Qing Dynasty China, the Bao Yi system functioned similarly—Bao Yi were technically slaves.

Yet, why did so many people compete to become Bao Yi for Manchu nobility? Even in modern historical fiction, many female protagonists in time-travel novels assume the identity of Bao Yi.

But Bao Yi were still slaves. They had no control over their own lives or dignity. Their daughters and wives could be taken at the whim of their masters.

And yet, even modern women, when imagining themselves in the past, dream of being Bao Yi? That's insane!

The answer lies in the Qing social hierarchy: Imperial Family → Nobles → Bao Yi → Han Officials → Commoners.

For those serving the royal family, their status was nearly equal to that of regular Manchu citizens.

First, they never worried about food or shelter. What the emperor had, they had; what the emperor lacked, they often had as well.

Second, they held privileges. As the saying goes, "You don't beat the emperor's dog." Who would dare touch them?

Lastly, they had opportunities. Could a servant of the emperor have no future? Even emperors were born from Bao Yi mothers—like Emperor Jiaqing's mother. That was the true incentive.

Take the famous Cao Xueqin as an example. His family oversaw the Jiangning Weaving Bureau for three generations, second in power only to the Viceroy of Liangjiang. Yet, they remained part of the Imperial Household's Bao Yi lineage.

Scholar Ethan and his peers found themselves in a similar position.

Daenerys' response was straightforward: "If you insist on being slaves, then you shall remain slaves—but mine. It'll save me a fortune!"

Now, under the blazing sun, dozens of scholars each sat at a table with a chair, shaded only by a small parasol, neatly arranged at the foot of the Great Pyramid's steps.

Drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, they worked tirelessly to register the free citizens and issue identification documents.

Daenerys didn't have to pay them a single copper coin—after all, slaves don't receive wages.

However, she did not retreat into the pyramid to enjoy the cool shade. Instead, she pulled up a chair and sat at the central desk, personally answering the citizens' questions.

In this world, particularly in Westeros, a king had a duty to hold public audiences.

To put it simply, a king = a neighborhood committee officer + a county magistrate.

Those seeking justice, those facing hardships, or those who simply wanted to speak with the king could queue up at the palace during designated times for an audience.

If a king was too lazy, they could delegate the task to the Hand of the King.

For example, Eddard Stark once sat on the Iron Throne, presiding over the grievances of the Riverlands people against Ser Gregor Clegane, triggering later events such as the Brotherhood Without Banners and Lady Stoneheart.

This was vastly different from ancient China. No prime minister in Chinese history would ever dare sit on the Dragon Throne in the imperial palace.

Yet, in Westeros, the Hand of the King could sit on the throne, control the kingdom's military and finances, and appoint officials—all powers that would make Chinese chancellors envious.

And despite the 300-year history of the Targaryen dynasty, followed by the Baratheon and Lannister reigns, not a single Hand of the King ever rebelled.

Every one of them remained obedient—whether they were killed or exiled, they accepted their fate without resistance.

This was because, in a feudal kingdom, the Hand of the King was merely an extension of the king.

Even a king's influence weakened beyond the Crownlands—how much weaker would the Hand's be?

Any Hand who dared rebel would immediately face an uprising from countless nobles eager to put them in their place.

While Daenerys performed her duties, she also took the opportunity to learn more about the lives and needs of her new subjects, hoping to identify a few capable individuals.

Most common folk, lacking ambition or skills, would simply follow wherever the Dragon Queen led them.

But those who sought her audience either had innovative ideas or, like Cleon of Astapor, had ambitions of their own.

Daenerys remained cautious of such individuals, but in the grand game of power, there are no useless pieces. A skilled player must know how to use every pawn.

She would never forget the cautionary tale of Zan Zhaz, the legendary female hero of the Jogos Nhai, whose legacy was reduced to a series of cruel and humiliating titles.

There were certain dark and unpleasant tasks Daenerys could not handle personally, but she still needed them done. That's where people like Cleon came in.

As the Green Grace arrived in a palanquin, she saw Daenerys hunched over a crisp white parchment, writing and drawing while engaged in deep conversation with a man from the Summer Isles under the shade of a parasol.

"Go ahead and do it with confidence. I will provide you with an interest-free loan, which you can repay within ten years. If your goods don't sell, I will buy out all the unsold inventory at market price every three months."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The young dark-skinned woman wiped her tears, bowing repeatedly. She only left after noticing the presence of the Green Saint.

The people waiting in line behind them tactfully stepped back, making space for Dany and the Green Saint to converse.

"What does she plan to do?" the Green Saint asked curiously.

"Her name is Lisa, a textile worker with embroidery skills on par with the palace artisans of foreign lands." Dany handed over a delicately embroidered handkerchief featuring a peony pattern and smiled. "She wants to open a clothing shop but lacks the funds and is worried that no one will buy her goods. I am offering her an interest-free loan for ten years to start her business. If she can't sell the goods, I will purchase them all myself."

The Green Saint was momentarily stunned. Her wisdom told her that Dany's actions carried a deeper meaning, but her limited experience and knowledge prevented her from fully grasping the truth.

"So, what brings you to me?" Dany asked as she gestured for Jiki to pour the Saint a cup of cool, sweet lemon water from a clay jug.

Unlike other kings and queens who sat high on their thrones while visitors stood below to demonstrate authority, Dany chose a different approach.

— How could anyone speak their true thoughts under such conditions?

Her wooden chair, a gift from the Good Masters, was indeed wide and ornate, but she also provided a chair for her guests, allowing them to sit face-to-face with her.

The Green Saint sat down, glancing around at the glaring sunlight. She instinctively felt as if she were seated in a pit of fire. Wiping her forehead, she sighed, "Your Majesty, you should receive visitors inside the pyramid."

"The pyramid is too high. Ordinary people can't reach it, nor can they see inside," Dany replied with a smile.

The lower levels of the pyramid were mostly prisons, warehouses, and servant quarters. Visitors were typically received at the top, a hundred meters high. Climbing up was exhausting, and climbing down was just as arduous. If she were an ordinary citizen, she would hesitate to meet a queen perched so high above.

Besides, a trial without public oversight could hardly be considered just.

The Green Saint hesitated. "But meeting guests in the square is a bit too—"

"In a few days, I will renovate the lower levels of the pyramid to create a spacious hall specifically for receiving the common people," Dany said.

The Green Saint's expression shifted beneath her green silk veil. "Your Majesty, the noble families of Ghis have a tradition of preserving their ancestors' mummified remains in the lower levels of the pyramid. You—"

"You need not worry, Your Holiness," Dany waved her hand dismissively, picked up a porcelain bowl, and drank half of the lemon water in one gulp. Letting out a satisfied sigh, she continued, "Even if they were monstrous slave masters, they are dead now, and I will not desecrate their remains. The fallen Ghiscari soldiers were left in Pride Square for their families to claim, weren't they?"

Thinking of the rotting stench of Pride Square, the Green Saint's face paled.

Many of those families were wiped out—who would come to claim their bodies?

In the sweltering summer heat, the corpses had already started decomposing after just a few days.

"Your Majesty, you should burn the remaining bodies to prevent an outbreak of disease," she advised.

"Hmm, I'll have them burned tonight," Dany agreed.

She didn't need the Green Saint's reminder—she had already planned to do so.

She had made it clear before: families had three days to claim their dead, after which the unclaimed bodies would be incinerated. Notices had been posted all over Pride Square.

"I will relocate all the sarcophagi in the pyramid to a single designated pyramid. This way, I will respect the Ghiscari nobles' traditions while freeing up a significant amount of space for other purposes."

"Your Majesty is wise!" The Green Saint was relieved by Dany's careful consideration. She then continued, "I came to discuss two matters.

First, there are still three pyramids occupied by noble families. If they choose to surrender, how will Your Majesty deal with them?

Second, there is an issue with Ser Breaker of Chains' conduct.

During the recapture of fifteen pyramids, twelve noble families were completely wiped out—men, women, and children alike—except for a few children under the age of five. In the remaining three pyramids, the noble families surrendered, yet Ser Breaker still executed all individuals over the age of fourteen."

Seeing Dany's expression turn serious, the Green Saint urged, "If you only intend to rule Astapor, then this might not matter. But Your Majesty has a grand vision to transform all of Slaver's Bay. Keep in mind, Astapor is merely a peripheral city. Yunkai and Meereen have even larger pyramids, and their pyramids are protected by fortified city walls."

"I issued strict orders to only execute the most heinous slave masters and to spare their children. This was clearly stated in the leaflets dropped onto the pyramids and in the proclamations posted throughout the streets," Dany said slowly.

"The uprising cost the lives of two thousand freedmen, nearly half of whom fell at the hands of the Unsullied—because they crossed the line I had set."

"But no one has been held accountable for the massacre in the Grand Pyramid behind you. This has emboldened Ser Breaker of Chains. Other pyramids have started following his example, slaughtering the Great Merchants' entire families before even opening their doors to surrender."

(End of Chapter)

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