Chapter 85: Rebel Empress.
Han Lingshi looked at the faces of her elders and sighed. She said, "What do you want from me?"
What else could she say in this set up where her own family was treating her as a criminal and interrogating her? Only her grandmother had an expression of calm and bliss. However, as a Patriarchal family the opinion of men was held in a higher value.
Her father said, "You never told us about dating anyone. Now we suddenly find that you even agreed to marry this guy, it is a bit too hard for us. I hope you understand."
Han Lingshi gazed at her father and said, "Still playing by the book of diplomacy? Am I your daughter or a client? You want to know why I never tell you guys what I do? Look at how you are treating me."
The middle-aged man did not loss his cool. Han Lingshi's mother, Lady Yue glared at her daughter and asked, "Is this how you talk to your father?"
Han Lingshi retorted back, "Then look at how your husband talks to your daughter."
Her voice was calm but her gaze was getting colder. Han Lingxue shivered while she stood at the side. She could tell that Han Lingshi was not going to take the diplomatic shit of these people. Old Master Han could not stand it any longer, and yelled, "Are you rebelling against your elders?"
Han Lingshi turned her gaze to look at the old man and asked, "Are you an Emperor? Am I your subject?"
Old Master Han tapped his cane on the ground forcefully and asked, "You are the child of this family and you have to answer to the elders."
Han Lingshi raised her brow, place right leg over her left knee and both her palms rested on her belly as she leaned back into the couch and said, "If you say that, then I am rebelling. Old Master Han, I want to know what you can do about that?"
Old Master Han did not expect Han Lingshi to be so rampant. His face turned red, and Han Lingshi's father said, "Lingshi, do you know that according to family rules, I can disown you for disrespecting my father?"
His voice was calm but his eyes were cold. Han Lingshi's mother, and grandmother were shocked when they heard this, they wanted to say something when Han Lingshi chuckled. It was as if a windchime disturbed by the wind.
The girl said, "If you disown me, I will resign from the position of the CEO of the Empress International effective immediately, and within six months the vultures of the jade capital will eat up the company, raw. So, please go ahead and do what you want to. However, if you want answers? Talk to me like a family and not some criminal investigator. Understood?"
The two men were shocked, they did not understand why Han Lingshi was so averse to them today. Old Master Han said, "I understand, it must be that kid who is teaching you to talk like that, right? That low life..."
Han Lingshi snapped, "Old Master Han! You better be careful with your words. If you dare to call my husband a low life then what about your second son? What level of life is he? He cheated on his wife, abused her, abused his own daughter. Then he even set a death contract on my head.
What did you say when I told you that he is trying to kill me? Tell me.."
The people did not expect something like this, Old Madam Han asked with eyes wide open, "Lingling, what did you say? Ming set a contract on you?"
She was in utter disbelief, despite knowing that her second son was a waste, she could not believe that he planned to kill his own niece. Han Lingshi was their own blood. She looked at her husband who was fuming with rage.
First Master Han asked, "You are calling him 'Husband', have you given up all your shame?"
Han Lingshi smiled brilliantly and replied, "Now that you mention it, I should tell you something."
Her words made her grandmother and Han Lingxue open their eyes wide. The old lady wanted to say something to stop Han Lingshi but the young lady said, "It just so happens that I had my marriage registered with Hao Ren a few days ago. The proposal was only because he wanted to give me a proper wedding."
Boom!
The Empress herself had rebelled and she did not give the eunuchs a chance to protest. Her mother stood up in shock and Han Lingshi said, "Well, Grandpa Yue agrees with it and he likes Hao Ren. So you can relax mom. Shenlong acknowledges his strength so that is okay too. He can cook heavenly food.
If you all are thinking that he is a small time entrepreneur, then you should check his net valuation and that will make you understand how strong is he."
Then she stood up and picked up her bag before she said, "Old Master Han, First Master Han, I will tell you this for one last time. I am not your slave. If you tried to control me too much, I will make sure that you both learn your lesson. I respect you but that would not stop me from making you respect me too."
Old Man Hao rebuked with a sneer, "So, would you do the same thing to us as that you have done to your second uncle? Is this a threat?"
Han Lingshi looked at the old man and shook her head before she said, "I did not lift even a finger to deal with Han Ming. Han Yuntian attacked Hao Ren, and incurred his rage. That's why Ren destroyed his business, and then him. The reason he left Han Ming alive was because he did not wish to give our family something to grieve about."
Old Master Hao roared, "Then what about Han Yuntian! Was his death not something that we all grieved for?"
Han Lingshi chuckled and said, "Old Master, you should not consider your emotional responses to be that of the family. None of us grieved for a criminals death. None of us accepted him as a Han. You did, so you grieved. If you wish to resolve it so much, then you should have nurtured him well."
That said, she slung her bag on her shoulder and left the living room. She did not care about anything. Her grandmother took on Old Master Han about the death contract, while Han Lingxue and her mother retired to their room.
Han Lingshi's parents also retired to their own room to discuss the issue. They wanted to talk, but with Old Madam tearing apart the old man, it was not an easy task. Old Master Han was an old player too.
...
Han Lingshi sat in her car, taking deep breaths. Just now she appeared to be violent and cold, but the truth was that she had never spoken out before her family. This time she almost waged a war on them. She herself was the most shocked person after what happened. All her life she had put up a cold facade when she did not want to show that things are effecting her.
Today, she planned the same thing, however, as soon as her grandfather insulted Hao Ren, she could not control the rage in her belly and spewed flames upon the two men. After a few minutes, when she calmed down, her phone rang. She saw that the caller was Hao Ren, and she accepted the call.
The other person quickly asked, "Are you okay?"
Han Lingshi was surprised when he said, "You were gone since the morning, and I wasn't able to get a hold of you. I could not help but call Xuexue and asked her about you. She said that it was a big fight and that you are hurt. I am heading to Han Family mansion, you wait there, okay?"
Han Lingshi was touched, because she could detect sincere care and concern in her voice, but then she said, "No, Ren, you wait for me at the house, I am just in my car and will be leaving here. Okay?"
Hao Ren grumbled, he did not say anything and Han Lingshi said, "I will tell you everything that happened here."
Hao Ren sighed and replied, "Fine, I understand, but please drive safe."
Han Lingshi replied with a yes and disconnected the call. She did not care about her family, if they wanted her to give up her love and happiness for their petty gains then she would teach them a good lesson.
She started her car and left the mansion. It was time for her family to think what they wanted to do. If they did not accept Hao Ren, then Han Lingshi would leave the Han Family to never return. She was the Empress, she could create her own kingdom if she had to for the one she loved.
Thinking about this, Han Lingshi smiled and drove to the city market.
...
Hao Ren knew that it was a weekend, but after dropping his parents at home, he dashed to meet up with Han Lingshi, however, just after he finished calling her, another issue came up for him to attend. He was frustrated by the timing of it all and yelled, "Fuck!"