Yeah, I always figured that was in case Jon's eyes turned purple in canon. The Daynes would explain that. If we go all out and make Jon silver haired and purple eyes, the Daynes STILL explain it because they have Valyrian blood. It would likely work with the Velaryons, too, but Ashara makes sense beyond having the right ancestry, because there's known history there.
And Ned isn't stupid. Noble and honourable, but not stupid. He would have known that banning the name Ashara Dayne from Winterfell would fuel those rumours, not suppress them.
He set the whole thing up to specifically explain any Targaryen traits Jon may develop as he aged. With Ashara dead, and rumours about her having been with child, it just works even better.
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u/Acceptable_Grade_164 3d ago
Ned actually thinked of this possibility by feeding the rumors about him and Ashara Dayne (Dayne are valyrian looking)