Beauty and the Bodyguard Chapter 11497 - 11495: The Battle of the Three Kingdoms!
Generally speaking, a family's status is directly proportional to how strictly they guard their bloodline inheritance.
This is especially true for the Seven Great Imperial Princes. Within such lineages, the mere distinction between Di and Shu—legitimate and concubine-born—is frequently a catalyst for violent conflict. It was unheard of for an unrelated outsider to be considered, making the behavior of this Han Imperial Residence ancestor quite bizarre.
Han Niansan spoke with a casual air, “Traditions are merely human inventions. Just because such a thing hasn't happened before doesn't mean it can't happen now. If I decide to establish a new precedent today, who is to stop me? You are a youth; surely your mind isn't more stagnant than that of an old man like me?”
On the surface, his logic seemed strangely sound.
Lin Yi found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
...
The surrounding crowd was equally dumbfounded.
Wei Baizhan and his companions shifted their gazes toward Lin Yi.
Though the old man hadn't made a move, his sheer aura revealed a formidable depth of power. In a one-on-one fight, none of them likely stood a chance against him.
However, the situation would shift if they launched a coordinated assault, particularly if Lin Yi joined the fray personally.
Yet, Han Niansan’s sudden proposal had thrown everyone into a state of indecision. They were no longer certain if hostilities were necessary.
While Lin Yi remained silent, Han Jiechen finally reached his breaking point.
The ancestor of the Han King’s mansion had manifested at last, but instead of supporting his own kin, he was offering the throne to Lin Yi, a complete outsider. What kind of logic was this?
Could this possibly be a fraudulent ancestor?
Suspicion began to fester in Han Jiechen’s mind, and he started eyeing Han Niansan with growing hostility.
Nevertheless, they were standing in the ancestral hall of the Han Imperial Residence, and the man’s features were an exact replica of the twenty-third generation ancestor.
Despite his doubts, Han Jiechen lacked the courage to openly revolt.
More importantly, he lacked the confidence to back up such a challenge.
If his suspicions were correct and Lin Yi had hired this old man to deceive them, exposing the ruse might lead to his immediate execution. In that scenario, death was the only thing waiting for him.
“Great Ancestor, surely a matter of this magnitude requires the presence of the other ancestors if we are to overturn tradition?” Han Jiechen inquired with extreme caution. “If you make this choice in isolation, what happens if the others object later? Wouldn't all this effort be for nothing?”
“Hmph!” Han Niansan let out a cold snort and pointed a finger directly at Han Jiechen’s face. “I already called you incompetent!”
“You clearly doubt my identity, yet you lack the spine to say it to my face. You are so cowardly that it's pathetic. If you aren't ashamed of yourself, I certainly am ashamed for you!”
“Furthermore, if you truly wish to test me, use your wits and do it properly. Don’t resort to such transparent, low-level tactics!”
“You lack talent in both literature and martial arts. You are nothing but f*cking trash!”
Han Jiechen stood there, completely stunned.
The rest of the Han Residence members bowed their heads, not daring to whisper a single word.
Harsh as the words were, they privately concurred with the ancestor’s scathing assessment of Han Jiechen.
Compared to the other seven Imperial Residences, the King Han lineage had produced very few luminaries in recent generations. Merely following established rules was considered a success. This stagnation was a primary reason for the Han Imperial Residence’s persistent weakness.
Even among the mediocre Kings of Han who preceded him, Han Jiechen was arguably the weakest in both capability and character.
To put it bluntly, he lacked the presence of a true sovereign and was unworthy of the title of King Han.
If the Han Imperial Residence remained under his control, its ruin was inevitable. It might even collapse or be wiped out entirely in the near future.
This very incident was proof. Had the ancestor not appeared, Lin Yi’s wrath would have already turned the Han mansion into a footnote in history.
Han Niansan turned back to Lin Yi. “You aren't exactly a straightforward fellow. Becoming the King of Han is a stroke of incredible luck, a literal gift from the heavens. It isn't a curse, so why act so hesitant?”
Han Jiechen watched Lin Yi with bated breath, terrified that the offer would be accepted.
If Lin Yi said yes, Han Jiechen would truly be backed into a corner with no escape.
To his relief, Lin Yi remained unmoved.
“To begin with, I don't believe in free gifts falling from the sky. I'm concerned that eating something I haven't earned will only result in a stomach ache.”
“Secondly, while the rank of King Han is indeed prestigious, I simply have no interest in it.”
It was Han Niansan’s turn to be taken aback. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What do you mean by that? You’re acting quite arrogant, looking down on the position of King Han, aren't you?”
Under normal circumstances, dangling the title of King Han would cause anyone to lose their composure out of greed.
Was there truly someone capable of turning down such a massive temptation?
“I genuinely don't desire it,” Lin Yi replied with honest conviction.
“...”
The members of the Han Residence were speechless.
They had been agonizing over how to handle the situation if Lin Yi actually usurped the throne.
Some shared Han Jiechen’s theory that this was all an elaborate ruse orchestrated by Lin Yi.
But now, those fears seemed unfounded.
If this were Lin Yi’s master plan, he would have seized the opportunity immediately rather than putting on a show of refusal.
After all, with the twenty-third generation ancestor appearing to back him and his own overwhelming strength, his claim would have been indisputable. There would be no need for theatrics.
“F*ck, you certainly have a unique personality.”
Han Niansan rolled his eyes. “How about this? You don’t have to be my descendant. You can just take the title of King Han. What do you say to that?”
The confusion in the room deepened.
Han Jiechen felt like he was losing his mind.
Was the position of King Han cursed? Why was the ancestor so desperate to give it away to an outsider like Lin Yi?
He was convinced now—this had to be a fake ancestor!
Lin Yi looked at the old man with a searching expression.
As the twenty-third generation ancestor, it would be logical for the man to protect Han Jiechen’s interests, regardless of the latter's flaws. That would be expected behavior.
But this persistent effort to force the Kingship onto Lin Yi suggested a hidden agenda. What was he really after?
“Senior, have you perceived something?” Lin Yi asked, his eyes narrowing.
In Lin Yi’s experience, the future was impossible to predict with absolute certainty. The higher the level of Cultivation, the more chaotic the butterfly effect became. Even the most sophisticated methods could only calculate probabilities; they were essentially educated guesses.
Even if a destiny seemed fixed, it could shift at any moment.
However, it was a different matter entirely if one used divine tools to calculate fortune.
Han Niansan’s expression flickered slightly.
In recent years, the fortune of the Han Imperial Residence had plummeted so drastically that it had become difficult for the ancestors to even project their blessings into the mortal realm.
According to their divinations, the Han lineage was destined to end with Han Jiechen.
Simply put, if the current path continued, Han Jiechen would be the one to oversee the destruction of the Han Residence.
This outcome seemed almost inevitable. No matter what interventions they attempted, they could only delay the end or cause minor deviations. Changing the ultimate fate of the house appeared impossible.