Chapter 185: The Lion's Ambush on Ten Sides, I Shall Raise Your Wife, The Wolf King Defeats the Enemy

Dark clouds gathered, and darkness rapidly occupied the sky over King's Landing.

Eddard held Sansa, soaring on a giant eagle above the Red Keep. On the ramparts, covered bridges, and battlements of the Red Keep, there were archers everywhere equipped with crossbows, Stormlands yew bows, and even goldenheart longbows, firing arrows at the giant eagle in the air.

Littlefinger had clearly made ample preparations against the warg and giant eagle in Eddard's possession. Back at the Wolf King's tourney, the archery runner-up Anguy had been recruited by Eddard, but most of the top fifty had been recruited by Littlefinger; these archers were stationed at the Red Keep with the sole purpose of dealing with Eddard's giant eagle.

In King's Landing, Eddard had only two giant eagles; only he and the Prince of Giant Eagles Michu could pilot them. When the giant eagle flew from Rhaenys Hill to Aegon's High Hill, it flew at high altitude, and the Red Keep's archers began aiming and firing; now, the battlements were even more crowded with archers. The Prince of Giant Eagles Michu was flying in the air dozens of meters away; his eagle was uninjured, but he had been struck by an arrow in the arm, blood trickling down.

When the birds and beasts controlled by a warg are attacked, the warg themselves feels the pain; some inexperienced wargs are easily jolted out of the animal's body by severe pain, the animal loses control, and the warg themselves may even convulse and enter a state of seizure.

Fortunately, Eddard had received guidance from the Green Seer beyond the Wall and the Wood Dancer of the Isle of Faces; his warg talent was powerful, and even when the giant eagle was struck by arrows, he could use his strong mental control to make the giant eagle obey his commands.

The giant eagle's wings were struck by two arrows, blood trickling down.

The sky above the Red Keep was filled with archers and crossbowmen. Just how many archers and crossbowmen had the Lannisters hidden in the Red Keep? Whether it was the Lannister personal guard in red cloaks and lion helms, the City Watch wearing gold cloaks, or the hired knights, mercenaries, and squires of the Red Keep, all were firing arrows at the sky. Arrows rained down all around, and Eddard hoped the giant eagle would not fall.

On the battlements, some gold cloaks were even operating ballistae, releasing arrows over a meter long, but these ballistae had poor accuracy. Several long arrows missed their mark. Because the Master of Arms Tobho Mott had protected his apprentice Gendry, he had been thrown into the Black Cells by the Lannisters; the Lannisters had offended the Blacksmiths' Guild, so it was no wonder the quality of the ballistae was so poor.

Some gold cloaks on the battlements of the Red Keep began to light fires, boiling the oil in the large cauldrons on the walls. Once they encountered an enemy siege, the guards of the Red Keep would close the gates and pour the boiling oil down. Even Maegor's Holdfast was prepared this way.

It seemed Littlefinger had already arranged various defensive facilities in the Red Keep; the Lannisters had long been prepared for a surprise attack on the Red Keep. Varys the Spider had never revealed any of this to Eddard.

The lion had long since sharpened its claws, waiting for the prey to make the first move.

Before Renly Baratheon left King's Landing, he had boasted that by relying on the Winter Wolves, a small number of Baratheon guards, Tyrell guards, and Stannis's Royal Fleet, they could easily capture the Red Keep. Only an armchair strategist like Renly would underestimate the Lannister influence in King's Landing and the Red Keep.

Eddard would not choose to fight the Lannisters to the death in King's Landing, because it was too far from his base in the North. The Crownlands had been infiltrated by Lannister gold; once the Lannisters captured Harrenhal, they could easily manipulate the Riverlands, the Vale, and King's Landing.

King's Landing was destined to become a hot potato. If nothing went wrong, Renly would blockade the Kingsroad leading from the Stormlands to King's Landing, the Tyrells would blockade the Rose Road, and Stannis would blockade Blackwater Bay; this city of five hundred thousand people was destined to fall into famine.

Let the Lannisters, Stannis, Renly, and the Roses of Highgarden slaughter each other in King's Landing for that ugly iron chair! Eddard was going to Harrenhal to bring the Vale and the Riverlands under the banner of the Direwolf.

The giant eagle was bleeding, and Sansa was bleeding too. She had been whipped by Joffrey with a barbed lash; a single strike had left her skin torn and flesh mangled, blood flowing from her back and thighs. Sansa looked at the Prince of Giant Eagles Michu bleeding nearby, and she began to tremble in Eddard's arms.

"Father, will the giant eagle die? Will the Prince of Giant Eagles Michu die? It's all my fault. Joffrey was right, I am a stupid girl. I always thought he was the prince from the songs."

Eddard said, "The princes and knights in songs are all lies to fool little girls. Sansa, I want you to remember today's lesson. If not for the giant eagle, you would have been locked in a tower by that pervert Joffrey and ravaged in every way."

Sansa said sadly, "I never thought Prince Joffrey would be this kind of person. Isn't he afraid that King Robert Baratheon will punish him?"

"King Robert Baratheon is already dead." Eddard's tone was calm; he had witnessed the entire murder through an owl and had heard the entire conversation. That damned Lannister woman had ordered her hulking pet to strangle Robert with Rhaegar Targaryen's harp strings.

In the vision, a silver-haired, purple-eyed man with a harp killed a giant in an antler helm with a single sword stroke. He had not expected it to be Cersei, that resentful woman, taking revenge in Rhaegar's name. Cersei had vented her anger, but doing so was stupid, because Cersei could have done it without leaving a trace, making people mistake Robert's death for an accident or natural causes.

Anyone could see the marks on Robert's neck and subsequently doubt the true cause of the King's death, which would shake the loyalty of those who were faithful to Robert.

The Lannisters were accustomed to using gold to buy hearts and seemed never to consider how to win hearts with benevolence.

Back then, Jon Arryn forcing Robert to marry Cersei had long since destined this outcome. Jon Arryn believed that the marriage between Robert and Cersei could prevent the Lannisters from supporting Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys, the Targaryens exiled across the Narrow Sea.

The arrogant Lannister woman had always loved Rhaegar Targaryen; she harbored resentment. Ever since she had children and an heir to the Iron Throne, Cersei had plotted every day how to kill Robert and end this political marriage.

Jon Arryn had also lost his life; Jon Arryn was thrown out of a window by Ser Hugh, a squire he had personally promoted, but the true mastermind was Littlefinger standing to the side.

Jon Arryn was thrown from the window of the Hand's Tower and fell into the dry moat, where he was impaled; crows landed on his body, and the feast for crows began.

Littlefinger thought that by assassinating Jon Arryn in the Hand's Tower, he could frame the Lannisters, but he would not have guessed that all of this was seen by a falcon, and that falcon was one of the birds controlled by Eddard.

Petyr Baelish, with his sly smile—that damned conspirator—did not deserve to die cleanly. He would die more miserably than anyone else, Eddard secretly resolved.

Petyr Baelish thought that by controlling Lysa Arryn, Jon Arryn's widow, and controlling the sickly little Robert Arryn, he controlled the Vale. Eddard would use the Northern Army to annex the Vale and bring it into the territory of the Direwolf.

In the face of absolute strength, schemes and tricks were useless. No matter how many tricks a rabbit had, it could not beat a wolf in a head-on fight.

That Robert, who was full of laughter and loved to enjoy himself, would never be seen again. There was no true king on the Iron Throne, and the Seven Kingdoms were crumbling instantly, about to enter an era of warlordism.

Of the four core leaders in Robert's rebel army back then—Robert, Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully, and Eddard—only Eddard and Lord Hoster remained. Among them, Lord Hoster was old and frail, and even after his health improved, he would be unable to return to the battlefield.

The task of reorganizing the mountains and rivers and restoring the realm could only fall on Eddard's shoulders.

Eddard's mind was filled with the shadows of Robert and Jon Arryn. Those who were too blunt or had too strong a sense of honor were destined to be the first eliminated in the game of thrones.

Sigh! My dear Robert, noble Lord Arryn, the dead are gone; I can only wipe away my sorrowful tears. Rest in peace, both of you! I shall raise your wives myself.

In this age where the dead walk, would Robert and Jon Arryn return in some way? After all, the Wood Dancer on the Isle of Faces speculated that Bittersteel's golden skull was necromancy, and Bittersteel might become a servant of the Great Other.

Robert's body was carried to the Throne Room and covered with a heavy blanket. Tyrion looked at Robert's body lying on the ground; he had always quite liked Robert, that blunt man. In all his years in King's Landing, Robert had treated him reasonably well. Now that he was dead, Tyrion truly could not feel happy.

Cersei was as happy as a little girl, sitting on the Iron Throne as if that ferocious iron chair were a new toy she had acquired. Tyrion understood that the reason Cersei was happy, besides the Iron Throne, was that she had just become a widow; by murdering her husband, she had finally gotten rid of the marriage her father had forced upon her.

Cersei said excitedly, "Tyrion, look at me sitting on the Iron Throne; do I look like Aegon the Conqueror?"

Tyrion sighed, "Cersei, you look like Aegon II to me, and also like the bitch Rhaenyra who fought Aegon II for the Iron Throne. Killing Robert in the King's hall—how is this any different from public regicide? It is truly too stupid."

Cersei's emerald eyes were filled with disdain.

"Didn't you keep reminding me that Robert, Jon Arryn, and Eddard would strip my son Joffrey of his inheritance as soon as they reached Harrenhal? You wanted me to stop them from going to Harrenhal."

Tyrion explained patiently, "I wanted you to stop them from going to Harrenhal. Robert owed the Lannisters so much money, yet he became increasingly difficult to control; the Lannisters had no choice but to kill Robert. But was a cup of poisoned wine so difficult? You had to use your hulking pet to strangle Robert. Poisoned wine can be seen as a natural death; anyone with a brain can see someone who has been strangled."

Cersei said triumphantly, "Robert's body, that big fool, is in my hands; I can say whatever I want. I will announce to the world that it was Eddard who killed Robert. Eddard's stupid daughter Sansa is in my hands; if Eddard dares to deny it, I will chop off one of Sansa's fingers and send it to Eddard."

At this moment, screams and groans came from outside the Throne Room, and The Hound Sandor walked in, supporting Joffrey.

Joffrey's scalp was peeled back like pudding, dripping with blood, and even his skull was exposed. The joy Cersei felt from just sitting on the Iron Throne vanished without a trace; the triumphant smile on her face disappeared, replaced by fear and suspicion.

Cersei scrambled off the Iron Throne, and in her flustered state, her finger was cut by a sharp edge, but she ignored it and came before Joffrey.

"What is going on? Who hurt my Joffrey? Oh! Joffrey, your scalp."

The Hound Sandor said, "Joffrey was in his room, beating Sansa. I tried to stop Joffrey, but he ordered me out. I hadn't been outside the door for long when I suddenly heard the sound of a window shattering. When I went in, I saw Eddard riding a giant eagle, and Joffrey was already injured, torn open by the giant eagle's claws. Eddard has already rescued Sansa."

Seeing Joffrey injured, Tyrion was very happy; after all, this tall and handsome nephew became more perverted as he grew up. A few years ago, he had dared to mock Tyrion for marrying the prostitute Tysha, for which Tyrion had slapped this arrogant nephew several times, after which Joffrey had gone crying to his mother Cersei to complain.

Tyrion was happy to see Joffrey injured, but in this situation, laughing out loud would be too inappropriate. Tyrion said solemnly, "The child's scalp has been torn off; it's too terrible."

Cersei's emerald eyes flashed with anger, "The Hound, no wonder The Mountain often calls you a waste. You are Joffrey's guard; what are you good for? You couldn't even protect Joffrey and let Eddard easily rescue Sansa."

The Hound's eyes flashed with anger; Tyrion even thought he was going to bite Cersei. The Hound had always hated The Mountain, and Cersei using The Mountain to mock The Hound was a mistake.

Tyrion hurriedly smoothed things over, "This is not The Hound's fault; dogs don't have wings. The Hound, you should go find Grand Maester Pycelle immediately and have him treat Joffrey."

The Hound looked at Tyrion with contempt, "Hmph! I already sent Tyrek Lannister and Lancel Lannister to find him. They said Grand Maester Pycelle is currently attending to Lord Jon Arryn."

Cersei said angrily, "Why is that old fool Pycelle wasting time on Jon Arryn? Didn't I give the order? Capture Jon Arryn and throw him into the Black Cells immediately."

The Hound said gruffly, "The Black Cells can be saved for someone else; Jon Arryn is already dead. Ser Hugh said Jon Arryn was thrown out of a window by a soldier in a red cloak and lion helm. A maid said that when Lord Jon Arryn was resisting arrest, he jumped out of the window himself; he fell onto the spikes in the dry moat and is dead for sure."

Great! Another blood debt in Eddard's eyes, Tyrion felt depressed. Actually, Jon Arryn was already over eighty years old; even if they didn't kill him, he wouldn't have lived for many more years. This kind of blood debt was truly not worth it.

Cersei used her bleeding hand to gently cover Joffrey's scalp, suppressing her rage, "Since the noble Jon Arryn is already dead, there is no need for Pycelle to waste any more time; just leave it to the Silent Sisters. Bring Grand Maester Pycelle here, and bring Maester Franklyn as well. Tell them that if they delay Prince Joffrey's treatment, their heads will be mounted on the city walls by tomorrow."

The Hound left in a fit of rage.

Joffrey's face was as pale as a corpse; excessive blood loss had left him weak, and Joffrey began to tremble.

"Mother! That giant eagle almost killed me, my scalp hurts so much."

Cersei kissed Joffrey, "Do not worry, you will recover. Your head of golden hair is destined to wear a crown. Your father has passed away, and the crown is yours."

Only then did Joffrey see the corpse of Robert Baratheon lying on the ground, and a flash of sadness crossed his eyes, "Father is dead, am I the King now?"

Cersei nodded, "You are the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, your father's pride and Heir."

Joffrey's face regained its color from sheer ecstasy. For a moment, Tyrion even thought Joffrey was going to jump up. He said excitedly, "I will be a better King than my father, as brave and skilled in battle as he was, and I won't go looking for whores."

Kid, who are you saying that for? Tyrion said gloomily, "Joffrey, now that you are King, what do you want to do most?"

Joffrey's eyes were filled with coldness and resentment, "I want to kill every wolf and eagle in this world!"

At this moment, Eddard's giant eagle had already flown out of the rain of arrows above the Red Keep, wasting some time dodging arrows in the air. Eddard sat on the back of the giant eagle, looking down at the streets below Aegon's High Hill.

The sky was dark, and darkness was Eddard's friend, because darkness would obstruct the enemy's vision. As a Warg, Eddard could freely switch between the eyes of various animals such as direwolves, owls, eagles, bears, and falcons. Eddard's eyes had powerful night vision; riding on the back of the giant eagle and looking down at King's Landing below was exactly the same as in the daytime.

Eddard saw the Kingslayer Jaime in gilded Plate Armor riding a bay horse, followed by thousands of cavalry in red cloaks and lion-crested helmets, charging down Aegon's High Hill. Damn it! How many soldiers did the Lannister hide in the Red Keep?

In a courtyard below Aegon's High Hill, The Mountain Gregor Clegane rode on a tall horse, issuing orders to soldiers like "Sweet-mouth" Lothar, Dunsen, Polliver, and Old Chiswyck. The Mountain's cavalry and infantry filled an entire block.

On Flour Street, the mercenary Bronn, tough as bone and wearing simple leather armor, led hundreds of mercenaries on horseback to charge toward the Dragonpit, but was blocked by the flow of people in Flea Bottom.

Eddard had spent these days in King's Landing, and the canteen meals in Flea Bottom were not given away for nothing. The Wolf King and the Red Priest were very popular in Flea Bottom. Eddard had long ago arranged for the Lord Beric, the Red Priest, to notify the people of Flea Bottom to take to the streets to collect Copper Coins. Beside the locals of Flea Bottom hired by the Red Priest was an oxcart of Copper Coins, piled as high as a small mountain.

Flea Bottom was blocked by the foul-smelling poor, who were waiting to collect the Wolf King's Copper Coins, clogging the road. The mercenary Bronn cursed loudly, but was completely unable to clear the road.

The falcon flew to Visenya's Hill, and Eddard gained vision there. Hundreds of mercenaries were rushing toward the abandoned hall of the Alchemists' Guild. From here, one could take the underground passage beneath the Street of Sisters directly to the depths of the Dragonpit.

In the underground passage, it was damp and sticky. These mercenaries didn't notice at all that the wet green substance under their feet was Wildfire. They charged toward the Dragonpit.

Eddard and the Prince of Giant Eagles Michu rode the giant eagle to the sky above Rhaenys Hill, where three hundred Winter Wolves disguised as Gold Cloaks were already waiting in full battle array.

Catelyn and Arya were both thrilled to see Sansa return safely. The two hugged Sansa, and Sansa wept with joy. The direwolf Lady licked Sansa's wounds.

"The Gold Cloaks can set out to capture the Old Gate!" Eddard ordered.

The three hundred Winter Wolves disguised as Gold Cloaks immediately mounted their horses. Leading them were Baron Swann, Jory Cassel, Sir Tallad, Dermot of the Rainwood, and others.

The three hundred "Gold Cloak" cavalry charged down Rhaenys Hill from the north slope.

The Eagle King McCain had been controlling an owl, observing the movements of the enemies around King's Landing.

"Father of Life, my owl in the Crownlands north of King's Landing has observed that mercenaries and Lannister personal guards in red cloaks and lion helmets have appeared in Harrenhal, Rosby, and Stokeworth. There are four teams in total, each with at least five hundred men, intercepting on multiple roads outside the city."

Is this the Crownlands or Lion Camel Ridge? Eddard couldn't help but sigh at the power of Lannister gold; money is omnipotent. The army outside King's Landing was undoubtedly arranged by Tywin himself, but Eddard did not believe Tywin wanted to commit regicide. The only thing Tywin might be worried about was the Winter Wolves returning to Harrenhal; Tywin understood that Harrenhal would be the key to the war.

Eddard said, "McCain, notify the commanders of the Winter Wolves that we may encounter enemies outside the city. I am going to deal with the enemies in the underground passage."

Eddard held a torch and arrived at the entrance to the Dragonpit basement. He saw mercenaries in the distance, densely packed, rushing over in the dark in a chaotic formation.

It was estimated that by now, the entire underground passage beneath the Street of Sisters was already crowded with mercenaries. The Lannister attempted to use sewer rats to occupy the Wolf's Den. Eddard threw the torch toward the thick green Wildfire in the distance.

"Mercy!"

The Wildfire exploded instantly, and the entire underground passage turned emerald green. Everywhere there were screams, flesh melting, and heat waves sweeping through. The fire followed the underground passage, burning from Rhaenys Hill toward Visenya's Hill.

The Winter Wolves poured five jars of Wildfire into the underground passage, spreading from the depths of the Dragonpit on Rhaenys Hill to the depths of Visenya's Hill. The dosage of this Wildfire was enough to burn the mercenaries underground, but not enough to blow up the underground passage; otherwise, the residents of the Street of Sisters above ground would suffer a disaster.

When Eddard returned to the top of Rhaenys Hill and boarded the giant eagle, he saw the alchemists at the foot of Visenya's Hill in the southwest being swallowed by emerald flames. Many mercenaries, covered in fire, rushed onto the streets screaming, and the fire began to spread to nearby blocks.

The abandoned guild of the alchemists had long been empty, because the alchemists had all been sent to Winterfell by Eddard. It is estimated that the alchemists did not expect that their ancient guild hall would eventually be destroyed by the Wildfire they were so proud of!

Would the fire spread to Baelor's Sept on the hill? Damn it! Anyway, the Seven never cared about the lives of the common people, so let it burn if it wants to!

The neighborhood near the Old Gate was a traditional wealthy area of King's Landing. The Lannister had once sent mercenaries here, but they were met with protests from many wealthy merchants, nobles, and Church personnel in this area, and the mercenaries had to withdraw from the vicinity of the Old Gate.

The Winter Wolves "Gold Cloaks" rode from the Dragonpit to the Old Gate without obstruction.

The squad leader responsible for guarding the Old Gate was Aral, a lackey of the Commander of the City Watch Janos Slynt. He often frequented brothels without paying and had beaten several civilians to death in Flea Bottom, not even sparing infants.

The three hundred "Gold Cloak" cavalry arrived at the Old Gate, each rider's face hidden behind a helmet visor. Aral looked at the troop suspiciously, "Who are you?"

Jory Cassel said, "By order of King Robert, we are here to relieve the guard at the Old Gate, and you are to be transferred to the Red Keep."

Aral laughed, "Fine! Let me see the official document!"

"Look at your mother's official document!" Sir Tallad pierced Aral through with a spear. The dozens of Gold Cloaks by the gate hadn't even reacted before they were cut down by the Winter Wolves disguised as Gold Cloaks. The Winter Wolves easily occupied the Old Gate.

Under the governance of the Commander of the City Watch Janos Slynt, the City Watch was undisciplined and poorly trained. The Gold Cloaks on the city walls fled instantly, and some patrolling Gold Cloaks attempted to retake the gate, but were repelled by the Red Priest, Domeric, and Lareza leading the Winter Wolves.

The subsequent Winter Wolves cavalry from the North protected Catelyn, Sansa, and Arya, and began to file out of the Old Gate.

The two thousand mercenaries stationed by the Lannister in the blocks near the Dragon Gate, led by the three Osmund Kettleblack brothers from The Vale, rushed over in the dark as soon as they heard that something had happened at the Old Gate.

A torrent of steel flooded the Old Gate. The Red Priest, Dermot of the Rainwood, and the Red Priest Thoros of Myr fought hard. Domeric, Anguy, and Lareza nocked arrows in the rear, shooting and killing dozens of mercenaries in succession.

The mercenaries fought desperately. At this moment, the direwolves Nymeria and Lady killed their way out of the darkness, tearing open the throats of several mercenaries. The Bear King Byars rode a brown bear, and Eddard used telepathy to control the black and white bears to attack. Only then did the mercenaries lose their courage and begin to rout.

To prevent the enemy from pursuing, Eddard burned the Old Gate with fire.

A team of Lannister cavalry in red cloaks and lion helmets arrived from the direction of Stokeworth, led by the Lannister Captain Trig, blocking the way on the Kingsroad. Sir Baron Swann took the lead, holding a mace in one hand and a Longsword in the other, charging into the enemy formation like a whirlwind. The following Red Priest and Thoros charged with flaming swords, and the Winter Wolves fought hard, scattering the enemy.

In the Throne Room, the Kingsguard Captain Barristan looked in horror at the corpse of King Robert lying on the floor of the Throne Room.

"Queen, who killed King Robert?"

Cersei's eyes were teary, "It was Eddard. Robert was drinking and eating fine food in the hall, and Eddard urged Robert to go north to the Isle of Faces. Robert wanted to go hunting and didn't want to go to the Isle of Faces. Who would have thought that this Eddard, acting like a madman, would snap the strings of the lute he brought and strangle King Robert to death."

Yo! Tyrion loved Cersei's acting more and more. At this moment, she was simply the saddest widow in the world.

Sir Barristan picked up the lute and the bloody strings nearby. He stroked the Winter Rose engraved in Sapphire on the lute.

A look of doubt flashed in Sir Barristan's eyes.

"Queen, King Robert was a very strong man. It would take great strength to strangle King Robert with such strings. Could Eddard have done it?"

Cersei said solemnly, "Sir Barristan, don't forget, Eddard is a Warg. His strength is beyond doubt; otherwise, he wouldn't have won the championship at the Tourney."

Barristan scanned the Kingsguard nearby, "I remember that at the time, Meryn Trant and Boros Blount were responsible for protecting King Robert in the hall. What were they doing then?"

"Our loyal and brave Kingsguard Sir Boros Blount was responsible for protecting me at the time. Sir Meryn Trant rushed up, but was knocked down by a giant eagle. After Eddard strangled Robert, he jumped onto the giant eagle and flew away. Eddard also wanted to kill Joffrey, and Joffrey's scalp was torn off by Eddard's giant eagle."

Ser Barristan said: "Queen, are you certain this is the harp Eddard brought?"

Cersei said: "Yes, or perhaps, did Robert take it out himself? At the time, it was very chaotic, I cannot remember clearly."

Ser Barristan said sternly: "Queen, you are lying. This harp belongs to Prince Rhaegar. I protected Prince Rhaegar for many years, so of course I recognize this harp. Prince Rhaegar's harp originally bore the three-headed dragon emblem, but after he met Lady Lyanna, he used sapphires to engrave the winter rose emblem; the winter rose is Lyanna's mark."

"King Robert also recognized this harp. After he saw it in the storehouse, he was very angry, calling this harp a relic of the dragon. He ordered this harp to be discarded in a dark corner, just like the dragon bones. How could Lord Eddard possibly use Prince Rhaegar's harp to strangle Robert? Furthermore, when Eddard left the Red Keep, I witnessed it with my own eyes; he simply did not have the time to commit assassination."

Cersei's nostrils flared: "Ser Barristan, mind your words. I only accepted your questioning out of respect for your status as Kingsguard Captain; do not push your luck. If you do not believe it, you may ask others. Ser Boros, Ser Meryn, the strongmen Tabit and Rustu can all testify."

Ser Barristan said: "I have worked with Ser Meryn and Ser Boros for many years; I know clearly that they are Lannister's men. As for these two strongmen, they are simply the Queen's pets. You want me to believe the testimony of such people? I suspect the murderers are the two strongmen; I noticed that the strongmen's hands were bruised from strangling."

Cersei said angrily: "I see you are mad enough to want to die. Kingsguard, seize Barristan and throw him into the Black Cells!"

With Jaime leading troops outside, Meryn Trant with his rusty beard, Boros Blount with his potbelly, Mandon Moore with his dead-fish eyes, and the short-statured Ser Preston Greenfield, the four Kingsguard surrounded Ser Barristan. Arys Oakheart, who had a stronger sense of honor, remained motionless, appearing hesitant.

Ser Barristan drew his sword.

This is a fine mess; the old King has passed away, the Prince has not yet ascended the throne, and the Kingsguard has already split. If they truly fought, how many would be a match for Barristan? Granted, Barristan is old, but the Kingsguard is mostly filled with trash.

Tyrion hurriedly intervened: "Cersei, Ser Barristan is merely fulfilling his duty; why must you be in such a rush to throw him into the Black Cells? Let Ser Barristan go to the Sept to pray for a while, and he will naturally realize his mistake."

Under the persuasion of Ser Arys and Tyrion, Ser Barristan left the Throne Room and disappeared into the dark night.

Cersei complained: "Tyrion, you actually let Barristan go. Do you intend to let him run around spouting nonsense?"

Tyrion said: "If the King is dead and the Lannisters throw the renowned Ser Barristan Selmy into the Black Cells, what will the common people think? In the Seven Kingdoms, 'the Bold' Barristan is a one-of-a-kind Knight. If Joffrey wants to succeed to the throne smoothly, he must win over such people."

Grand Maester Pycelle with his snow-white beard and the young Maester Franklyn returned to the Throne Room. Cersei hurriedly asked: "How is Joffrey?"

Maester Franklyn served Lord Gyles Rosby. Because Lord Gyles Rosby stayed in Robert's court year-round and suffered from a chronic cough, Franklyn had been living in the Red Keep with his master and sometimes served members of the royal family.

Grand Maester Pycelle said tremblingly: "We had to shave Prince Joffrey's hair, but fortunately, the skull injury is not serious. We gave Prince Joffrey milk of the poppy, and we have already sutured the wound."

Cersei said excitedly: "Will it affect Joffrey wearing the crown?"

Maester Franklyn looked troubled: "In another month, Prince Joffrey's wound will heal, but unfortunately, it will leave a very obvious scar in the future. From the perspective of healing, it is certainly not suitable to wear a hat, and even less suitable to wear a crown."

Cersei said gloomily: "A King must bear the weight of the crown."

Bald Joffrey, scarred Joffrey; it is estimated that this brat will become even more gloomy and insane in the future. Tyrion was deeply depressed. He even suspected that Eddard had intentionally spared Joffrey's life, because once Joffrey died, Tommen would succeed to the throne. Tommen was much younger and more docile, and Lannister rule would be more stable.

Could it be that Eddard personally created a Lannister version of the "Mad King"?

Cersei shed crystal-clear tears; this time it was a genuine display of emotion. She said viciously: "If Eddard and his daughter are captured, I will personally wield the blade and scalp them. How is the battle situation outside the Red Keep? Did they finally take Rhaenys Hill?"

After a while, Lancel ran in hurriedly.

"Queen, a riot broke out in Flea Bottom because someone was handing out copper coins, blocking the road. At first, the Mercenary Captain Bronn tried to disperse the crowd but failed. After the Mountain arrived in Flea Bottom, he and his personal guards stabbed several people blocking the way to death. The masses began to fight back fiercely, Flea Bottom caught fire, over a dozen of the Mountain and Bronn's men died, and hundreds of rioters died."

"Ser Jaime stopped the atrocities and drove the people of Flea Bottom back to their respective homes. Subsequently, Ser Jaime led troops to occupy Rhaenys Hill, but Rhaenys Hill was already empty. Eddard's Winter Wolves had already occupied the Old Gate and killed their way out from the Old Gate."

Cersei said angrily: "A bunch of trash! The Winter Wolves only have one thousand men. Our numbers, just the mercenaries alone, are seven times that of the enemy, not to mention the City Watch and the Lannister guards. And yet, you let Eddard run away."

Tyrion said gloomily: "Sister, it was you who persuaded King Robert to have Eddard go to the Dragonpit to hatch dragons. I warned you long ago that Rhaenys Hill is adjacent to the Old Gate, the Dragon Gate, and the Iron Gate, especially the Old Gate. Since most of the wealthy people in King's Landing gather near the Old Gate, the Lannister mercenaries cannot hide there."

"The Winter Wolves fought their way out to attack the Old Gate; this is the inevitable result. You expect the Gold Cloaks to stop the likes of Thoros of Myr, the Lightning Lord, and Baron Swann?"

Lancel said: "The Alchemists' Guild was swallowed by wildfire, and the fire spread to the Street of Sisters, even spreading toward the Baelor's Sept on Visenya's Hill. The Septas and monks are struggling to put out the fire."

Tyrion said in shock: "I clearly dispatched nine hundred mercenaries to use the underground tunnels of the Alchemists' Guild to launch a surprise attack on the Dragonpit."

Lancel said contemptuously: "These brainless mercenaries mostly died underground. I heard from the mercenaries who escaped that there was alchemist excrement underground. Clearly, Eddard had laid out wildfire in advance."

Thinking that his scheme had actually been seen through by that goddamn Eddard, Tyrion was deeply depressed.

After Lancel left, Cersei said: "Father has hidden quite a few troops in the Crownlands north of King's Landing. Stokeworth, Harrenhal, Sow's Horn, and Rosby all have our men. Do you think the army outside the city has the ability to crush the Winter Wolves and capture Eddard and his wife and daughter?"

Tyrion shook his head: "It is already late at night. Whether it is mercenaries or soldiers, what can they do when they encounter the giant eagles, bears, and direwolves in the Winter Wolves?"

Cersei narrowed her eyes: "Tyrion, on the first day Eddard came to King's Landing, I planned to poison those direwolves, bears, and giant eagles, but you stopped me!"

Tyrion said: "But you still sent assassins later. I remember the assassin you found in Flea Bottom went to Rhaenys Hill with poisoned meat and never returned."

Cersei gave a cold hum: "Even if Eddard escaped to Harrenhal with those beasts, I am not worried. Just as well, we can pin the crime of murdering Robert on Eddard."

Tyrion stared with his one green and one black eye: "Just like how Eddard killed Jon Arryn?"

Cersei said: "Jon Arryn falling to his death on the spikes of the moat was not my fault. I originally intended to throw this old bastard into the Black Cells; he was a hostage with great utility. Who knows which hot-headed soldier killed Jon Arryn."

Tyrion gave a cold hum: "We had better hope that cow Lysa Arryn thinks the same. She has already returned to the Eyrie with her seizure-prone brat. Once Jon Arryn is dead, sweet Robin will be the Lord of the Eyrie and the Vale. With one wave of that brat's arm, tens of thousands of Canyon Knights will be willing to fight for Jon Arryn."

"And Eddard; Eddard will undoubtedly count Jon Arryn's death against us. Eddard served as a squire in the Eyrie when he was young; you had better remember that."

Cersei became a bit anxious: "This debt should not be counted against the Lannisters!"

Tyrion said: "Actually, I know who the murderer of Jon Arryn is. I can guess; it is Littlefinger. I heard that Ser Hugh lost his armor and warhorse at the Tourney and was in debt for over a dozen Gold Dragons. He has been very close to Littlefinger recently. From beginning to end, it was Littlefinger stirring up all of this in King's Landing; he thinks we cannot touch him."

Cersei said: "You are merely guessing wildly; you have no evidence. I loathe Littlefinger very much; I have had enough of that smug, narrow-minded smile. However, Littlefinger is useful; we need him to count copper coins. Littlefinger has the ability to conjure Gold Dragons out of thin air."

"Besides, these are extraordinary times. My son Joffrey will ascend the throne tomorrow, sit on the Iron Throne, and wear the crown. We need Littlefinger's help."

Tyrion revealed a sweet smile: "Ascending the throne tomorrow? Are you not afraid that the pressure of the crown will cause Joffrey's wound to become infected? Grand Maester Pycelle and Maester Franklyn both said that Joffrey's head needs to heal."

Cersei said: "I have already asked Joffrey; he craves the crown because once he wears it, he can take revenge."

In the pitch-black night, Tyrion stood alone on the battlements of the Red Keep, gazing at King's Landing under the night sky.

Flea Bottom was burning, the Street of Sisters was burning, the Old Gate was burning, and even the Mud Gate had fires.

Flames, flames everywhere; this is the prelude to the fires of war.

Eddard escaping to Harrenhal presented Tyrion with a huge dilemma, because Tyrion had originally hoped that Eddard would attempt to seize the Red Keep. In this city, the Starks would undoubtedly be defeated.

If the Starks attacked the Red Keep, they would certainly dispatch skinchangers. Tyrion had carefully inquired; when Eddard was campaigning beyond the Wall, he used a type of wildfire weapon to deal with skinchangers. Now that these skinchangers were working for Eddard, Tyrion also intended to use fire to deal with the skinchangers' beasts; animals are all afraid of fire.

Boiling tar and fire arrows would leave the Starks' beasts helpless during the siege. The nearly ten thousand mercenaries and Lannister personal guards ambushed in King's Landing could easily handle the Winter Wolves, who numbered only one thousand.

Once the Winter Wolves were crushed at the Red Keep and Eddard was captured, Eddard would be thrown into prison as a traitor. In this way, with the Lannisters holding Eddard Stark, the little wolf pup Robb in the North would not dare to act rashly.

Without a strong leader in the North, the Riverlands and the Vale would remain obedient, and the Lannisters could then free up their hands to deal with Stannis and Renly Baratheon. Both of these men had legitimate claims to the succession and held strong armies, and their territories were adjacent to King's Landing.

Tyrion could not help but admire Tywin's ruthlessness. Back then, when he learned that the North was constantly building Wolf Castles, constructing ships, and recruiting troops, Tywin became vigilant about the rise of the North. He believed that the strength of the direwolves would upset the balance of the domestic situation.

When Robert invited Eddard south, Lord Tywin concluded that Eddard had ambitions in the south, and that Robert likely wanted to use Eddard to break free from his reliance on the Lannisters.

From the moment Robert invited Eddard south, the Lannisters began to lay out their plans in this city of five hundred thousand people, hiding mercenaries and Lannister personal guards in every neighborhood, church, slum, warehouse, and dock.

Failing to trap Eddard and letting him occupy a mighty fortress like Harrenhal would be a huge disaster. Fortunately, Lord Tywin had arranged for "the Stout Pig" Ser Lyle Crakehall to be at Sow's Horn with six hundred elite troops. That place was very close to Harrenhal and could seize Harrenhal at the first opportunity.

"The Fat Pig" is considered one of the strongest knights in the Westerlands. He is brave and skilled in battle, and the elite soldiers under his command are all veterans who participated in the suppression of King Balon's rebellion and even the era of Robert Baratheon's rebellion; they are highly experienced.

According to intelligence brought by Varys, Eddard left hundreds of Winter soldiers at Harrenhal to assist Lady Whent in defending the castle. The commander of the Winter soldiers is a Wildling named Morna White Mask.

No matter how sturdy Harrenhal is, a Wildling woman cannot hold it. Tyrion believes that by the time Eddard arrives at Harrenhal with the Winter soldiers, "The Fat Pig" should have already captured the castle. Facing the number one castle in Westeros, now flying the Roaring Lion Flag of Lannister, Eddard will likely be left in tears!

Even if "The Fat Pig" cannot take the castle, the mercenary companies from across the Narrow Sea—Vargo Hoat's Mummers and Greenbeard's Brave Companions—will arrive in the Riverlands soon. Once these mercenaries arrive, Harrenhal and the surrounding river crossings will surely fall. It will be difficult for Eddard to break through the encirclement, and the Lion of Lannister will still be able to complete the hunt for the Direwolf.

Tyrion is standing in the crenellations of the city wall, his mind full of plans and hunting. Jaime arrives behind Tyrion. "Little brother, you are here alone in the middle of the night looking at the scenery; aren't you afraid of falling?"

Tyrion says, "You're back? It seems you didn't capture Eddard, Catelyn, and their daughter."

Jaime says, "I took the cavalry and chased for a distance along the Kingsroad outside King's Landing. The ambush force Lannister placed on the Kingsroad was routed by the Winter soldiers. Many soldiers were bitten to death by Direwolves and bears. Chasing wild beasts at night is too dangerous, so I had to return."

Tyrion says, "Speaking of wild beasts, Joffrey Baratheon had his scalp torn open by a giant eagle."

Jaime says, "I heard."

Tyrion smirks, "Brother Jaime, we all know Joffrey Baratheon is your son. Why have you never cared about him?"

Jaime's expression is somewhat disdainful. "You think I don't want to? When Joffrey Baratheon was very small, I wanted to hold him, but wasn't I chased away by Cersei every time? Cersei said that Joffrey Baratheon and I look too much alike and I shouldn't hold him. If Robert Baratheon discovered it, Joffrey Baratheon would lose his right to inherit the Iron Throne."

"Frankly, who the hell cares about that hideous iron chair? I once slaughtered a king right in front of the Iron Throne. Cersei never let me touch my children, just because I would hinder the children's inheritance."

Tyrion says, "Your son will be king tomorrow."

Jaime says, "A king invites attack. Just think about what happened to Aerys and Robert Baratheon."

The next day, the Red Keep began to ring its bells, and the seven great bells of Baelor's Sept joined in, proclaiming the passing of King Robert Baratheon and the coronation of the new king, Joffrey Baratheon.

The City Watch cleared the corpses from Flea Bottom and the Old Gate. Large numbers of rioters were hanged from the city walls or thrown into dungeons, and the city returned to normal overnight.

The new king is to be crowned, and the first piece of bad luck arrives: Kingsguard Captain Barristan Selmy leaves without saying goodbye. He went north from the Old Gate, seemingly to chase after Eddard.

Cersei complains, "Sir Barristan is convinced that Robert Baratheon was murdered by the Lannisters, and he has defected to the Starks. Tyrion, it's all because of you idiot; you were the one who made me let him go. When he drew his sword back then, he should have been executed!"

Tyrion says, "The Kingsguard is a lifetime appointment. How could I have anticipated that Barristan would voluntarily abandon his Kingsguard position? Complaining to me is useless now; hurry up and select a new Kingsguard."

Originally, Joffrey Baratheon preferred The Hound, but because Eddard's giant eagle scratched Joffrey Baratheon's scalp, Cersei has been resentful of The Hound's dereliction of duty. Moreover, The Hound himself is not a knight, so the white cloak of the Kingsguard was given to Rustu the Flame.

This Rustu the Flame is also not a knight. Jaime personally knighted him, and thus a slave became a member of the Kingsguard.

The nobles whisper to each other; they do not understand what merits this Rustu, with tattoos on his neck and thick, long hair and beard, has to suddenly transform into a member of the Kingsguard.

Rustu's greatest merit is that, along with another strongman, Tabit, he strangled King Robert Baratheon. Relying on regicide to win the position of protecting the new king—Cersei, you really are something.

The seven Archbishops of the Church, along with seventy-seven Septas and Septons, are all present. The High Septon is a pretentious, obese man; he speaks incessantly, declaring that the gods have let King Robert Baratheon rest in peace and will bestow blessings upon Joffrey Baratheon.

However, when Joffrey Baratheon appears before the crowd, everyone gasps.

Joffrey Baratheon is wearing a brocade robe of crimson and gold. On the left, a Roaring Lion of House Lannister is engraved in gold; on the right, a Crown of the Stag of House Baratheon is engraved in freshwater pearls. He wears a magnificent crystal cloak on his shoulders, fastened with a brooch of a red agate lion and a sapphire stag. The clothing is incomparably gorgeous.

Despite such bright and beautiful clothing, Joffrey Baratheon looks terrifying. His golden hair is gone; in order to clean the wounds on his scalp, the Maester shaved off his signature Lannister golden hair. His head is covered in dense stitches, and his face is pale and lifeless, as if wrapped in a shroud; he looks extremely ghastly.

Almost every noble looks at Joffrey Baratheon with astonishment—it is the look one gives a monster. Tyrion is all too familiar with this kind of gaze. He feels genuine pity for Joffrey Baratheon; just as he is about to become king, he has become a monster in everyone's eyes.

The High Septon places the crown on Joffrey Baratheon's head—a crown made of pure gold, with lions and stags leaping upon it. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Joffrey Baratheon walks toward the Iron Throne.

As soon as he sits down, blood begins to seep from the scalp on his forehead. The blood flows down his cheeks, and the nobles let out a gasp of shock.

The Iron Throne has rejected Joffrey Baratheon, Tyrion thinks gloomily.

At Harrenhal, Morna White Mask and Wyllis Wode stand in the murder holes within the city wall, directing crossbowmen to aim at the enemies below.

The walls of Harrenhal are as high as cliffs. Dozens of meters below, there are layers of small rooms for archers to aim and shoot. The room where Sir Wyllis Wode and Morna White Mask are located is on the third floor of the wall.

The Westerlands commander outside the city is none other than "The Fat Pig" Lyle Crakehall. On his silver-gray plate armor and shield is the wild boar crest of House Crakehall.

Lyle Crakehall shouts toward the castle, "Listen, you people inside the walls! King Robert Baratheon is dead, and the new king, Joffrey Baratheon, has ascended the throne. In the name of the king, I order you to open the gates."

Sir Wyllis Wode says, "In King's Landing, it is rumored that Joffrey Baratheon is a bastard. We do not obey the orders of a bastard king. We serve Lady Whent and the Wolf King Eddard."

Lyle Crakehall points his finger, "Eddard is a traitor; it was he who murdered King Robert Baratheon. More armies are gathering. Duke Tywin's tens of thousands of troops are marching toward Harrenhal. What you see is only an advance guard."

Morna White Mask roars, "You actually dare to slander the Father of Life! Hypocritical knight, take your advance guard and get lost!"

An arrow hits "The Fat Pig's" shield and bounces off. "The Fat Pig" is furious, "Attack the castle!"

The Lannister soldiers' catapults begin to move forward slowly, and the soldiers load large boulders.

Morna is somewhat worried, "With stones this big, won't they smash through the wall?"

Sir Wyllis Wode says, "Relax. Aside from Dragonfire, Harrenhal has never feared any siege engine. The stones thrown by catapults aren't even worth a scratch."

Sure enough, the stones hit the wall and bounce off harmlessly.

The catapults fire for an entire afternoon with no effect.

By nightfall, "The Fat Pig" orders the soldiers to start collecting firewood, preparing to set fire to the castle. Suddenly, the sound of wolf howls comes from behind. A troop of cavalry attacks from the north, and the Westerlands Army falls into chaos.

A Direwolf tears off a cavalryman's arm in one bite, and Randolph the Black Bear smashes a crossbowman's head with one swipe, beginning to lick the brains and blood.

"The Fat Pig" commands the Westerlands soldiers to resist the northern cavalry with all their might. More cavalry appears in the south. Seeing that reinforcements have arrived, the defenders of Harrenhal sally out from the side gate. Soon, the Westerlands Army is completely routed. "The Fat Pig" tries to break out with his personal guards, but is shot through a gap in his plate armor by an arrow from Lareza of Dorne, falling from his horse with a scream.

The Wolf King Eddard looms over "The Fat Pig," "Sir Lyle Crakehall, you performed poorly at the Tourney, and here, you performed even worse. Not a single scout in the north?"

"The Fat Pig" grunts, "The Imp warned me that you might appear in the south."

The Wolf King Eddard laughs, "That is why I sent light cavalry to circle behind you. Harrenhal is mine. The power of the Old Gods in this place is strong; the Lannisters will never be able to take it."

"The Fat Pig" says indignantly, "Don't get cocky, Wolf King. Vargo Hoat's and Greenbeard's mercenary companies will be here soon. You have too few men; Harrenhal will belong to the Lannisters sooner or later."

Thanks to Heavenly River Dragon First Young Master, 140317224414067, Afeng Wo Jiushi, 20221204002731333, Huntun Dage, Lin'an Farmer, Net Literature Purification Master Pure-hearted Young Man Tang Shao, Dote MR Little Rocket Forever Happy, zhuhuabjss, Simarllion, 20230326192322036, qwelsadmo, and Yueye Ting Chuixue for the monthly tickets. Thank you for your support!

(End of chapter)