Fat pig!"
Cersei Lannister made no secret of her contempt for Robert Baratheon.
Compared to the Baratheon Dynasty in the original work, which was already stable, the newly established dynasty at this time was fraught with hidden dangers.
The four great houses of Fish, Wolf, Stag, and Falcon had only barely managed to control the situation in Westeros, and it was only with the addition of Casterly Rock that a relatively advantageous balance of power was formed.
And she was the only daughter of the Duke of Casterly Rock; what kind of man was not worthy of her?
Even Rhaegar Targaryen back then did not catch Cersei Lannister's eye.
"After you ascend the iron throne, don't you dare disgrace my surname!"
Cersei Lannister glanced at her brother Jaime, then whispered disdainfully into Robert Baratheon's ear.
Compared to the handsome Jaime Lannister, this red-faced, thick-necked, middle-aged obese man was already showing some of the decline of an elderly man.
"You..."
Robert Baratheon's eyes were bloodshot, and he stamped his feet in anger.
If it weren't for his foster father Jon Arryn and his father-in-law Tywin Lannister being present, Robert would probably have slapped her already!
"The alliance of Fish, Wolf, Stag, and Falcon is not enough to stabilize the situation; we need the gold of House Lannister to fill the coffers of the iron throne!"
Jon Arryn's words of advice still echoed in his ears.
With a formidable enemy at hand, Robert could only swallow his anger forcefully.
He was a man who could bend and adapt, and he would never stubbornly cling to his principles like Stannis Baratheon, that stubborn stone in a latrine.
But Robert probably never dreamed that he, a man of nine feet, couldn't even control his own marriage!
He picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and drained it in one gulp.
Seeing Robert Baratheon's discomfiture, Cersei Lannister was full of triumph.
A king, and he still effortlessly knelt at her feet?
"Even my brother is more of a man than you; at least he doesn't fight in a woman's skirt!"
Seeing that Robert didn't respond, Cersei Lannister added again.
At this moment, she was like a defeated rooster, eager to regain her lost dignity.
After all, this marriage was forced upon her by Tywin Lannister.
Both Robert and Cersei were very unhappy with this marriage!
However, they had underestimated the immense impact that the hatching of the Hatchling Dragon had brought to Westeros.
The horrors of Harrenhal, even after centuries, were still vivid and unforgettable!
At this time, outside King's Landing,
The remaining nobles of the Crownlands were still causing trouble in the surrounding mountains and forests, occasionally ambushing food and supplies being transported to King's Landing.
And after Mace Tyrell, the 'Puff Fish,' was defeated and surrendered, these surrendered nobles, upon hearing the news of the Targaryen Family's Hatchling Dragon hatching, began to stir up trouble again!
Even many nobles from the Stormlands were secretly contacting the Targaryen royalty, attempting to ease the conflict.
Some even refused to put on a show of civility, complaining that Robert Baratheon was leading everyone down a dead end.
Seeing that Cersei Lannister still couldn't see the situation clearly, oblivious to the danger, prattling on about Robert's shortcomings, even Ned Stark on the side was about to lose his patience.
He knew Robert's explosive temper well.
Ned Stark feared that Robert might suddenly erupt and, just as he had killed Rhaegar Targaryen, smash the complaining woman before him to pieces.
Perhaps Viserys Targaryen across the Narrow Sea was Robert's greatest hidden danger, but wasn't the lioness before him also a great trial in Robert's life?
"Enough,"
The Old Lion Tywin Lannister finally couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted his daughter Cersei's complaints: "It's not that the Fish, Wolf, Stag, and Falcon need gold, but that House Lannister needs allies!"
At these words, all the nobles present showed rare expressions of surprise.
Tywin Lannister, this former Hand who served in the old dynasty, the founder of 'The Rains of Castamere,' when had he ever shown weakness in front of others?
It seemed the news of the dragon eggs hatching had completely made this steady former Hand show a rare fear!
Once the new dynasty was defeated, compared to Robert Baratheon's rightful revenge for his father and brother, House Lannister's betrayal of the king had completely offended the Targaryen Family, leaving no room for reconciliation!
"The new couple's ceremony is complete!"
Seizing the moment before Robert Baratheon could erupt, Grand Maester Pycelle hastily simplified the elaborate wedding rituals.
He feared Robert would unleash his anger on him.
His old bones couldn't withstand a punch from the enraged stag before him!
Fortunately, no one cared about the simplicity of the wedding; even Ned Stark, who always valued honor and etiquette, said no more.
Everyone felt sympathy for the poor new king!
He had just lost his beloved, and now he was forced to marry this harsh and ungrateful woman.
"The new king's coronation ceremony begins!"
Grand Maester Pycelle proclaimed loudly, his head held high.
Immediately after, lights illuminated the Great Sept of Baelor, a ceremony only performed for a king's ascension.
Rows of clerics, dressed in robes and holding holy relics, began the coronation and anointing of Robert Baratheon!
Just as Robert Baratheon, fuming, left Cersei Lannister to walk towards the throne, Tywin Lannister stood beside him and whispered, "The gold and craftsmen from Casterly Rock have arrived in King's Landing. In just half a year, King's Landing will have a naval fleet no weaker than Dragonstone's!"
Robert frowned and turned his head.
At this moment, the proudest lion and the unyielding stag in Westeros exchanged a rare glance.
In an instant, the entire Great Sept seemed to smell of gunpowder!
These two strong men, unwilling to be subservient, engaged in a rare confrontation across the distance!
Robert Baratheon saw a chilling, bone-piercing ambition in the Old Lion's eyes, like thorns in his back.
And Tywin Lannister was equally shocked.
In Robert Baratheon's eyes, he saw not only hatred for his family and kingdom but also a passionate will to fight!
This was a tenacious will that could only be forged through the crucible of iron and blood.
As soon as he thought of the formidable strength of the Fish, Wolf, Stag, and Falcon alliance, Tywin Lannister's ambition to lay claim to the iron throne instantly subsided.
"King's Landing is no place to stay for long!"
Tywin Lannister paused, lost in thought: "Robert Baratheon is a man as strong as myself, not like Aerys the Mad King. As the saying goes, one mountain cannot hold two tigers. As long as Robert lives, the Baratheon Dynasty will certainly not be mine to manipulate."
With this thought, Duke Tywin lowered his head and hastily turned to leave before the coronation ceremony ended.
Watching the Old Lion depart, Robert Baratheon finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared to Cersei Lannister's unreasonable antics, the Old Lion Tywin was the undisputed strongman of Casterly Rock.
Even the young and vigorous Jaime Lannister, compared to the cunning Tywin, lacked significantly in deterrent power!
"Bang!"
The doors of the Sept were kicked open, followed by a blood-soaked soldier stumbling in.
"This is bad! The navy stationed at the Five Fingers of the Vale has been ambushed by the Iron Fleet!"
"What?"
Robert Baratheon's eyes widened in disbelief.
His feet slipped, and he fell directly to the ground in full view of everyone, even his crown of the Seven Kingdoms clattering to the floor with a crisp metallic sound.
"Don't panic, we still have the navy of Lannisport!"
Robert Baratheon's face was ashen, and he muttered to himself, trying to rally his spirits, as he watched Tywin's retreating back.
"Lannisport has been burned to ruins, and the vast amount of gold dragons stored there has been stolen!"
Duke Tywin, who had just stepped out, turned back with a dark expression.
This sleeping dragon of the Targaryen Family had truly taught them a harsh lesson.
"What?"
Seeing Cersei Lannister on the side, heartlessly gloating, Robert Baratheon's vision went black, and he nearly fainted.
Had this humiliating marriage been for nothing?
"Your Majesty, a minor setback should not deter a brave warrior!"
Tywin Lannister warned sternly, like a patriarch.
As Robert was still stunned, the false crown of the Seven Kingdoms had already been picked up by Tywin and firmly placed on Robert Baratheon's head.
"Promise me, do not lose until you have killed all the descendants of the wicked dragon!"