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A few days later, Winterfell received a message from the Wall, and Robb did not delay and immediately sent a message to Ned Stark in King's Landing.

Just as the North was stirring with news of the White Walkers, Littlefinger was getting impatient in King's Landing.

Ned is firmly entrenched in the Red Keep's Tower of the Kings, rarely leaving unless there's an urgent or major event. Baelish can't even make a fuss about it. For some unknown reason, there's been frequent personnel movement throughout the North, but no information can be found about it.

This left Littlefinger, who was used to controlling everything, somewhat at a loss as to how to continue to sabotage Ned and let Ned and the Lannister family continue their struggle.

However, Queen Cersei was not so calm. She had received news that Ned Stark knew about Robert's bastard son and had obtained the genealogy and history book of the major noble families of the Seven Kingdoms. However, Ned Stark had not yet made any further moves, which was what made Cersei uneasy.

She went to talk to Robert at length about Daenerys Targaryen, who married Khal Drogo across the sea, the Lannisters who wanted to rule the world, the bond that held their marriage together, and Robert's beloved Lyanna Stark. Finally, Cersei asked:

Did you ever love me? Even for a fleeting moment...?

Robert, his eyes red, pursed his lips and stared at Cersei, saying...

"No!"

This "No" solidified Cersei's resolve to send Robert to the Seven before Ned could discover any further information.

Back at her quarters, Cersei's eyes gleamed with malice as she plotted how to get rid of Robert. Suddenly, she remembered Lancel, who served Robert, and a brilliant idea came to her.

Cersei pulled a maid by the door and whispered:

"Go and find Lancel!"

Turning back to her room, Cersei looked at the drinks on the table with a determined gaze and a smile on her lips.

Cersei seduced Lancel to drug Robert's drink. She had initially planned to give him some strong liquor, but since Robert returned from the North, his tolerance for alcohol had increased due to drinking too much black tequila, and ordinary spirits no longer made him intoxicated. Therefore, she had to use drugs to accomplish her plan.

Queen Cersei, her face flushed after rewarding her cousin, watched Lancel hastily leave, pulling up his trousers and clutching the medicinal wine. A sinister smile crept across her lips, a far cry from the image of someone who had just been plowed by a young bull.

 …

Ned returned to the Tower of the Hand, looking exhausted. At the King's Council meeting, a group of men were discussing how to get rid of a teenage girl. Ned was a little uncomfortable with this kind of intrigue. Thinking about the White Walkers in the North, Ned wished he could go back to the North right now. However, seeing his good brother King Robert's predicament in King's Landing, where he was outnumbered and outmatched, Ned couldn't bear to just leave.

Without Catelyn kidnapping Tyrion, and Littlefinger being unable to lure Ned to his brothel to see Robert's second newborn bastard son, there would have been no Jaime Lannister killing Ned's guards. Ned's leg was also uninjured, so now that he was fully fit and had the healing potion, Ned had no fear of anything happening to his entourage. While thinking about how to help Robert out of his predicament, Ned suddenly heard Renly's shouts!

“Ned! Robert…we were hunting, a wild boar…we couldn’t stop him!”

Covered in blood, Lan Li turned and ran before he could finish speaking. Ned squeezed the healing potion in his pocket, thinking, "Brother Bai Ze was right after all!" He quickly followed after him.

Robert, who was lying in bed injured, was talking to his "son" Joffrey by the hand. When Ned came in, he asked Joffrey to leave the room.

"My bad, I drank too much and failed to hit the target on the first shot!" Robert said breathlessly to Ned.

Ned pulled back the blanket covering Robert and saw a huge, gruesome wound on Robert's right abdomen. The wound was mangled and bleeding profusely.

"The stench! The stench of death! I can smell it! Ha...haha...ha..."

Robert looked at Ned and continued, "It didn't fare any better. I chopped its head off with one sword, and they all saw it! I want a grand funeral feast, and it will be the main course!"

Queen Cersei stepped forward to say something, but Robert shouted, "Get out! I need to speak with Ned alone. Get out! All of you!!"

"You damn fool!"

Ned cursed at Robert, and before Robert could speak, Ned waved him off and asked:

Who can you completely trust outside?

Robert, though puzzled, replied to Ned, "Ser Barristan!" Ned rose and called Barristan in from outside. Looking at Robert and Barristan, Ned said, "What happens next is something only we can know. Robert, you may need to 'die once.' Ser Barristan, are you still loyal to House Baratheon?"

Although Barristan didn't know what Ned was up to, he sensed that what was about to happen might be related to King Robert's life or death.

“I am a vassal of King Robert Baratheon, a Kingsguard sworn to protect the King forever, I am Barristan Selmy the Fearless!”

Seeing the resolute expression on Ser Barristan's face, Ned nodded, took out the ordinary life potion that Bai Ze had given him from his pocket, and looked at Robert, saying:

"You know the amazing Bai Ze in Winterfell. He gives away more weapons comparable to Valyrian steel swords than there are currently any on the continent of Westroth. This is the surprise he gave me. Drink this and you'll understand!" He said, handing the potion to Robert.

Robert looked at the red potion in his hand. He trusted that Ned, his brother who had gone through thick and thin with him, would not lie to him. He opened the potion and drank it down in one gulp.

By the Seven Gods! A miracle occurred before their eyes. Robert's abdominal wound began to heal, and his bloodless face slowly regained its color.

Barristan stared wide-eyed at the miracle before him, his hands clenching tightly. Ned watched Robert's wounds slowly disappear, a barely suppressed smile spreading across his lips.

Robert touched his fat belly, feeling somewhat incredulous. He glanced up at Ned, then touched his belly again in disbelief, and finally said...

"You heartless bastard!"

Ned chuckled and said, "Now, let's find a way to get you out of here. We'll find a scapegoat to take your place in that damned grave, or we'll set a fire so they'll think you're already roasted!"

Robert wasn't angry at Ned's teasing, but he wondered why Ned had hidden his recovery. He thought of his queen, Cersei, and agreed to Ned's idea.

Robert turned to Ser Barristan and said, “Now find someone about my size, dead or alive, blacken his hair, and get him to lie here. You will guard me tonight, and I will issue the King’s decree that you burn ‘me’ tomorrow. Let’s play this part with Ned and see who wants me dead!”

Ned then told Robert and Ser Barristan about the secret passage in the basement of the Tower of the Hand, instructing Robert to find a way to get there that night. Ned would arrange for someone to take him out of King's Landing through the secret passage, where a fleet from White Harbor in the North would be waiting at Blackwater Bay outside the city.

After saying that, Robert and Ned discussed making a fake will to give to the Council of Kings to shut up the Lannisters or anyone else, and then see who wanted to cause trouble.

A moment later, Ned emerged from the room with the "will" and addressed the crowd at the door: "The King commands! Ser Barristan will guard me until dawn. Tomorrow, I will use fire to return me to the embrace of the Seven. Hand of the King Ned Stark will convene the Royal Council to read my will!"

The Grand Maester and Cersei, who wanted to enter the room, were stopped at the door by Ned's words. The group looked at each other, then at Ser Barristan standing at the door, and then left.

That night in the basement of the Tower of the Head, Jori and his men guarded the entrance. Robert, now in a double, arrived with Ser Barristan. Ned thought for a moment and decided to tell him the truth about Cersei's infidelity and the death of Irene.

Ned waved for the others to leave first, then said to Ser Barristan, "Sir, I have something to say to Robert alone. Please stand guard at the door for now." Ser Barristan glanced at Robert, who nodded. Barristan then left the basement and joined Jori and the others in guarding the entrance.

Ned started by recounting Arlene's dying words, "Cast is strong," and then went on to talk about the genealogy and history of the major noble families of the Seven Kingdoms. He also told Robert about his bastard children and finally shared his suspicions about Cersei and Joffrey's children with Robert. Surprisingly, Robert did not fly into a rage after listening, perhaps because his experience of dying once had changed him.

"Although I had my doubts before, she is my queen, alas..."

Robert sat somewhat forlornly on the first stone step. Sometimes the truth is more hurtful. Ned also sat down next to his good brother, feeling a little sad.

"Now, your safety is more important. Genos Slytherin and most of the Kingsguard are Lannister henchmen, and we have far too few men in King's Landing."

What we need to do now is get out of this terrible place first, and then we'll gather the army that is still loyal to Baratheon and to settle accounts with the Lannisters!

Moreover, even greater difficulties await us beyond the Wall; we'll discuss the details after we leave King's Landing.

Robert knew that acting impulsively now was not a good thing. There were too few forces in the city loyal to them, and the only option for now was to leave first and then discuss the consequences.

The next morning, Ser Barristan and Ned, following orders, conducted the cremation ceremony for King Robert. Cersei, who had been unable to contain herself any longer, watched her husband being burned and then hurriedly left the ceremony with Joffrey.

She needed to seize the initiative; regardless of the king's will, she had to put Joffrey on the throne. Only then could her plan succeed.

Seeing Queen Cersei hurrying away, Ned turned to Jori and said:

“Go back and pack what you can, find Sansa and Arya, and lead them out of King’s Landing through the basement passage. They’ll wait for us on the ship.” Jori nodded and turned to leave the funeral ceremony.

In the royal hall, Joffrey had already taken his seat on the Iron Throne, with Cersei sitting beside him. The Hound stood fully armed beside Joffrey, and Jaime Lannister, also fully armed, stood guard in front of Cersei, holding the greatsword I had given him.

A group of well-equipped men in golden robes, led by Commander Genos Slint, entered the royal hall and lined up on both sides of the hall. Joffrey looked at the fully armed men in golden robes and felt a little nervous, so he involuntarily moved his buttocks back a little.

“Don’t be nervous, they are all the king’s loyal guards,” Cersei said, patting Joffrey on the shoulder. Upon hearing Cersei’s words, Joffrey sat up straight, head held high, just like a dog being praised.

Ned led his guards toward the royal hall, with Baelish following behind, trying to persuade him to acknowledge Joffrey's throne. Ned looked at Baelish and said, "I think you know about Queen Cersei's scandalous affair with Jaime Lannister."

“I thought you hadn’t gotten to the final step yet,” Baelish said, slightly surprised.

“I will not let Joffrey sit in that chair. That chair belongs only to the Baratheon bloodline,” Ned Stark said firmly.

Ned didn't listen to Baelish any longer and strode towards the royal hall. He knew that if he couldn't get past the royal hall today, he wouldn't be able to leave King's Landing.

Ned entered the royal hall and, seeing the golden robes, red robes, hounds, Jaime Lannisters, and a large entourage, said nothing more. He produced the king's "will" and handed it to Ser Barristan, saying:

"Sir Barristan, I believe no one questions your authority. Please help announce Robert's will!"

Although both were acting, the performance was incomplete; without all the actors present, the play lost its meaning. Barristan read the will, and before Cersei or Joffrey could say anything, Ned said:

"This place is yours now. I must go and guard the northern border for my king!"

After speaking, he turned to leave the royal hall, but Cersei quickly said, "Lord Ned Stark, your king is sitting here now. Aren't you going to pay your respects?"

"That is your king, not mine!"

Ned was determined to leave, and the Lannister red-robed men were already preparing to draw their swords and surround Ned and his group. At this moment, Jaime Lannister spoke:

"Let him go! He is no longer the Hand of the King. The new Hand of the King will be decided by King Joffrey I of House Baratheon and House Lannister!"

After hearing Jaime's words, the red-robed men slowly sheathed their swords and retreated. Joffrey, sitting on the Iron Throne, was as happy as if he had eaten honey, and looked down at the crowd with his head held high.

After listening to Jaime's words, Ned smiled at him and led his men away from the royal hall. He did not expose Joffrey's true parentage in person, because Ned knew that doing so would only put him in danger. Leaving King's Landing was the wise choice.

Ned led his men away from King's Landing, but Ser Barristan followed with several loyal guards, apparently intending to leave together. They traveled to Blackwater Bay, where the fleet at White Harbor was already waiting. Thus, King Robert was switched at birth by Ned, and Ned successfully left King's Landing with his two daughters.

 …

On the ship bound for the North, Arya excitedly told her swordsmanship teacher, Syrio, about the formidable owner of the swordsman's tavern, the White Ze, and his prized swords. Syrio listened with rapt attention, never expecting that Lord Ned Stark's invitation to teach his daughter would lead to such a wonderful encounter—a highly skilled opponent and a rare weapon comparable to a Valyrian steel sword! This journey to the North was sure to be exciting.

Inside the cabin, our King Robert sat dejectedly on a small stool, sullenly drinking. Because he couldn't give himself away, he hadn't left his room since boarding the ship, and this made the usually active and playful King Robert feel extremely uncomfortable.

Ned entered Robert's room and sat down next to him, saying, "Where are you planning to go? To Stannis on Dragon Island, or just north with me?" Robert asked, "You mentioned earlier that there was trouble beyond the Wall. What's making you so eager to get back?"

“I have received news from the Wall in the North that the White Walkers have indeed appeared. Some of the wildlings outside the Wall have already been killed by the White Walkers and turned into wights. The Wall has obtained wight samples. When I get back, I will deal with this matter and make sure the North is prepared. We cannot allow any White Walkers or wights to cross the Wall!”

"Is this true? By the Seven Gods! The White Walkers have been gone for over a thousand years, how could they have reappeared? Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Robert asked in shock.

"Then I will convene a meeting of kings and subjects in the North, summoning all nations still loyal to Baratheon to come north and declare the Lannisters disloyal. I will uproot the Lannisters and make these disgusting bastards disappear from my sight forever!" Robert said fiercely, finally able to vent his emotions.

“Then we’ll head north together and see what these White Walkers that you’ve been worrying about are all about, and then send them back to hibernation!” Robert said, extending his hand and clasping it tightly, just as they had when they were young and fighting against the Targaryens together!