163 ASOS 20 Tyrion III: Replacement

At Tywin's small council, Tyrion is informed he's being made new Master of Coin and given the north through Sansa Stark.

"It has all been settled beforehand, he concluded, and this discussion's no more than show."

Currently, it reads to me that Littlefinger had a conversation with Tywin before this small council wherein he handled several points of business:

1. Leaking the Tyrell plan to steal Sansa: Did Littlefinger suggest to Olenna that Sansa might be a bride for Willas so as to butter Tywin up for the Lord Paramount ask?

2. Suggesting Tyrion wed Sansa: this speculation of mine is a favorite because Littlefinger's statements aboard his ship to Sansa after the purple wedding suggest he believed himself to have made her a widow by framing Tyrion for Joffrey's murder by suggesting Joffrey provoke him with the dwarf joust while Olenna used the poison from Sansa's hairnet. By suggesting to Tywin he secure Sansa and the north for Lannister by wedding her to convenient Tyrion, Littlefinger solved a second huge problem for Tywin: who to wed Tyrion to.

3. Naming Tyrion his replacement as Master of Coin: a position designed to hamstring the noble named to the position. By selecting Tyrion, who Littlefinger planned to see executed by Cersei because framed for murdering Joffrey, Littlefinger could conceal his guilt for various bookkeeping crimes as his bewildered replacement both failed to produce the same results Littlefinger had seemed to do casually, and failed to comprehend the reasons behind the astonishing chaos of the crown's finances. I speculate Littlefinger suggested Tyrion as his replacement to please Tywin, screw Tywin, screw Tyrion and further cover his tracks re: the financial crimes he'd been using to create the appearance of wealth in a kingdom he was bankrupting.

4. Acquiring the title Lord Paramount of the Trident and made Lord of Harrenhal (which won't be granted) by promising to bring the Vale back to the crown by wedding the Arryn widow, Lysa.

   
   

These are all among the topics discussed at Tywin's small council.

Tywin & Tyrion

The chapter opens with Lord Tywin's chain of office, suggesting that Tyrion still covets the position of Hand. Tyrion has beat Pycelle to his customary spot at the foot of the table. While Pycelle likely chose this as a place of diminishment, Tyrion uses it to suggest he intends to rival Tywin as head of table. Tyrion notes Pycelle chooses a spot as far from himself as possible, but that's Tyrion's slant. It's also possible to see that, where Tyrion meant Pycelle to feel himself displaced, Pycelle has not noticed his old seat is taken because he'd place himself near Tywin. In the context of Tywin's courteous greetings to his council, Tyrion's attitude, propped up on his pillows, comes across as petty, malicious and uncalled for. When Mace Tyrell compliments Tyrion for his chain, Tyrion only thinks bitterly of the ingratitude of the masses and how his glory was stolen by Renly's ghost. When Kevan embraces him and shares that Lancel has raved of Tyrion, Tyrion doesn't realizes Lancel sincerely admires him for his bravery on the Black Water and thinks he'd reveal Lancel's secret were he not to sing his praises.

Despite just thinking that Cersei's reason for sitting by Lancel's sickbed is to Tyrion doesn't see through Cersei: "She was all charm, flirting with Lord Tyrell as they spoke of Joffrey's wedding feast, complimenting Lord Redwyne on the valor of his twins (reminding Redwyne she had one of his sons hurt to make it clear both sons had been taken hostage), making pious noises at (mocking) the High Septon." 255

Ambiguity

163 ASOS 20 Tyrion III: "Tyrion gazed at him without remorse." While the narrator is plainly telling us that Tyrion felt no remorse, in the context of the reading, the line reads like Tyrion initially feeling some pity at the description of Pycelle's reduced state, decides not to regret having been rough with Pycelle.

254 Pope-like, Tywin administers niceties enroute to the king's seat at the small council.

Raging, resentfully, Tyrion reclines with pillows and gazes down the length of the table in judgment and challenge to Tywin specifically.

Question: Why does Pycelle sit at Tywin's side? Tyrion thinks it's that he took Pycelle's seat and the displaced man is getting as far away from him as possible. But Pycelle is a Tywin fan. He may sit close out of allegiance to Tywin, not to avoid Tyrion.

255 In contrast to Tyrion's attitude, Mace Tyrell, Redwyne and Kevan are gracious and courtly while Cersei menaces each covertly beneath charm Tyrion mistakes for genuine:

256 Varys reports victory at duskendale. Mountain to shred retreaters. When Robb heads north, armies from Lannisport and the Tooth will march on Riverrun (supposedly). Littlefinger reminds that Harrenhal is his.

257 When Balon Greyjoy's proposal of allegiance is agreeable to Redwyne and Mace, Tywin changes the subject to the Vale. Littlefinger presents his plan to wed Lysa to bring the Vale back to the crown.