Everyone stood frozen when Brienne of Tarth blocked their way.
Sansa Stark was so anxious she was almost in tears.
Her family had just been pardoned, so why were they being targeted again?
"Your Majesty?"
Her eyes constantly darted towards Viserys Targaryen, hoping he would intervene.
However, Viserys Targaryen remained seated motionless on the iron throne.
Facing Viserys Targaryen's silence, all the nobles present seemed to receive a message and fell silent.
"Impudent! His Majesty has already pardoned House Stark!"
Ser Rodrik Cassel roared in fury.
As one of House Stark's bannermen, he also drew his longsword and confronted Brienne of Tarth, a Kingsguard.
"Stop!"
Lady Catelyn's heart was in her throat, and she quickly ordered her men to halt.
Brienne of Tarth was Viserys Targaryen's Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Provoking her was no different from declaring war on Viserys Targaryen!
"Your Majesty, my brother is innocent!"
Robb Stark, as the eldest brother, immediately stepped forward and declared loudly, "And that longsword, 'Ice,' His Majesty should return it!"
At these words, all the nobles present widened their eyes, dumbfounded.
What a simple-minded, foolish Northerner.
After rebelling and losing, it was already good enough to be alive; he actually wanted to bargain with the victor!
Were these Northern barbarians' brains filled with dung?
"Shut your mouth!"
Lady Catelyn was overcome with anger, and a resounding slap landed on her eldest son's face: "Is His Majesty's decision something you can question? Apologize to His Majesty at once!"
Facing his mother's stern rebuke, Robb Stark's face flushed with shame, but he stubbornly stood his ground.
Looking at these unyielding first men of the North, Viserys Targaryen frowned in displeasure.
Compared to other regions in the Seven Kingdoms, the North was not only vast and sparsely populated, but its people were also notoriously exclusive.
They worshipped the Old Gods and revered weirwood trees, a Stark contrast to the andals who followed the Faith of the Seven.
Since ancient times, apart from House Stark, almost no one had been able to manage the North properly!
But today, the tables had turned!
The Targaryen Family had hatched dragons and restored absolute control over the Seven Kingdoms.
Moreover, could the unruly nature of the Northern people truly not be changed?
Not necessarily!
In the original story, under the threat of the 'Flaying Laws' of the Dreadfort, didn't the people of the North still obediently pledge allegiance and pay tribute?
"Ice is a Targaryen Family war trophy!"
Facing the naive Robb Stark's question, Viserys Targaryen coldly drew his longsword and plunged it directly beneath the iron throne.
"Clang!"
The sharp blade exuded a hint of chill, making Robb Stark's neck retract sharply in fear.
However, thinking of his brother, Bran Stark, he still mustered the courage to speak again: "My brother Brandon did not commit any wrong, he should not be punished!"
"Indeed," Ser Rodrik Cassel also nodded in agreement, "Even if His Majesty wants a hostage, he should keep the eldest son, Robb!"
"Hostage?"
Viserys Targaryen almost laughed aloud.
What were House Stark to think they were worthy of the Targaryen Family keeping a hostage?
Viserys Targaryen was only concerned that Brynden Rivers, the Three-Eyed Raven, who was also a Targaryen Family bastard, might cause trouble!
Bran Stark, also a warg, was a key target for Viserys Targaryen's surveillance.
"Bran Stark is also a Targaryen Family war trophy!"
Facing Sansa Stark's plea, Viserys Targaryen still refused mercilessly.
What justice and fairness? They were merely tools under supreme power!
As for this loyal and brave Northern knight who drew his sword for his lord, Viserys Targaryen would naturally grant his wish.
Before long, the old knight paid the price for his rash actions.
Like Ned Stark, he was completely stripped of his title and lands.
"Next one," Viserys Targaryen announced.
Soon after, a young man walked up to the great hall; it was Edmure Tully, the heir to the Riverlands.
"Your Majesty, my father is gravely ill and unable to come in person to atone, so I, as acting Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, pay my respects to you."
Edmure Tully bowed slightly, respectfully greeting Viserys Targaryen.
As the only rebel lord confined to his bed, the animosity between the Riverlands nobility and the Targaryen Family was arguably the lowest, second only to House Tyrell of The Reach.
As expected, the final judgment was that House Tully was stripped of the title of Lord Paramount of the Riverlands by Viserys Targaryen, downgraded from a duke to a marquis, and had a large piece of fertile land taken away.
Next came House Tyrell, House Hightower, House Redwyne, House Tarly, and others from The Reach!
Undoubtedly, corresponding punishments were meted out based on their degree of assistance to the usurper.
In a short while, many positions of real power across the Seven Kingdoms became vacant, the most appealing of which were: Warden of the North, Warden of the Riverlands, and Warden of the Vale.
Each of these vacant positions was enough to drive Viserys Targaryen's subordinate nobles into a frenzy.
"Long live His Majesty!"
Countless nobles shouted excitedly.
Compared to those nobles who supported the defeated usurper, more nobles were eyeing the vacant territories in Viserys Targaryen's hands.
After the judgment, Westeros was about to embark on a feast to divide the spoils of victory.
However, in the most inconspicuous corner at the foot of the judgment seat, a small man with golden hair and different colored eyes was meticulously analyzing all the information before him.
Clearly, through these results, Tyrion Snow had already gained a thorough understanding of Viserys Targaryen's character.
"Lord Varys, I truly have to thank you this time!"
Tyrion Snow didn't know how to thank him enough.
Everyone said that Varys, the Spider, was a treacherous and cunning demon.
The once powerful House Lannister was now universally reviled, yet Varys was still willing to extend a helping hand to Cersei Lannister and her son.
"It's nothing, we are all for the innocent people of King's Landing!"
Varys put his hands in his pockets, closed his eyes, and sighed.
Although Viserys Targaryen appeared wise and mighty now, with his power at its zenith, Varys's underlying worries had never disappeared.
Look at The Mad King Aerys Targaryen; didn't he also seem wise and mighty at the beginning of his reign, employing capable ministers and generals like Tywin Lannister?
But what good did that do?
Before long, he became the nightmare of all nobles and commoners throughout Westeros!
And Viserys Targaryen's power was even greater than Aerys's!
"What if he goes mad?"
At this thought, Varys couldn't help but tremble all over.
"May the Seven save us!"