The clouds and mists have dispersed, and everyone knows that I love you.

"If not, then every day from now on, you must learn to strictly abide by your duties and strictly follow the teachings between master and disciple, and never overstep your bounds. Do you remember how you answered me then?"

Upon hearing this, Fei Zeyi nodded heavily and answered fluently.

"Zeyi remembers. Zeyi replied like this: Shi Rong's beauty is beyond my reach, even if I give my all and devote everything I have in my life. Therefore, in front of her, I am willing to put aside my love for her and accompany her for the rest of my life as master and disciple. That is enough."

He's smart!

Huo Jiuzhou glanced at him unhappily. Every time he saw Fei Zeyi, he would get furious when he remembered the ignorant look on his face when he said he wanted to take Shi Rong away.

Feng Qingning was very satisfied with his answer without hesitation, and patted his shoulder with satisfaction.

"So, Zeyi, once a teacher, always a father. Since you personally acknowledged Rong'er as your master, you should understand one thing. Whenever someone is hostile to her, even if you can't sacrifice yourself to save them, don't be the culprit who pushes her into a trap."

Fei Zeyi understood what Feng Qingning meant. She meant that no matter whether he wanted to break off the engagement with the Huo family or marry the bride together, he should not have acted impulsively after the meeting, which would have sown the seeds of the humiliation and punishment she had suffered before.

Thinking of this, Fei Zeyi bowed deeply to Feng Qingning in front of him again.

"The mistress is teaching me the lesson, and Zeyi knows his mistake."

Feng Qingning nodded and reached out to help him.

"I'm glad you understand. Go back first. I'll find a suitable opportunity later to offer your master a cup of tea."

Seeing the other person stand up from the ground and wink at him and Shi Rong, Fei Zeyi understood and nodded.

"Ze Yi understands."

After he left, Feng Qingning continued.

"Strictly speaking, you won the bet five years ago, Ying'er, because you were promised to marry into the Huo family as a concubine without revealing your identity. However, when Mr. Huo privately mentioned it to you, you didn't agree and gave the opportunity to Mingxing in accordance with the situation."

Shi Rong, who had been silent the entire time, only raised her lowered head at this moment to meet Feng Qingning's eyes that were looking towards her.

She raised her arms and crossed them in front of her chest. This was in accordance with the ancient etiquette of the Ying family and was the proper manner for younger generations to respond to their elders.

"Grandmother, I believe that five years ago, it was my insistence on escaping the Ying family's control that caused Mingxing, Xiazhi, and Xinyue to suffer together under your coercive orders, staying by my side in the name of protecting my personal safety."

"It was my granddaughter who made them unable to return home, fearing that their identities would be exposed. Therefore, as long as my granddaughter can make the decision for them, I will do my best to protect them."

"Just like when I first decided to have them go through multiple rounds of screening and interviews to allow them to continue living in North City, and then enter the Huo Group and take up their respective roles. Since they are all members of the Ying family, Mingxing can also achieve the effect of a marriage between the Ying and Huo families by marrying into the second branch of the Huo family."

After listening to this, Feng Qingning raised her eyelids. She knew that this little girl always had her own ideas.

Besides, is that what she meant?

"Suffering?"

Feng Qingning just smiled.

"It's because you sent the three of them to the Huo Group under the guise of assisting President Huo that they were able to live their ideal lives. When have you ever seen them suffer because of you? Which of them isn't living a better life than you?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingxing and the other two lowered their heads in guilt, feeling as guilty as children who had done something wrong.

Shi Rong smiled bitterly, her bright little face full of helplessness.

"Grandmother, you're going to argue with them about such a small matter? Just because they've been my subordinates since childhood, shouldn't they be allowed to have a better life when I'm having a hard time? After all, they're all from the three most prestigious clans in East City, daughters of aristocratic families, right? What's your logic? Why are you so overbearing?"

Tsk!

Feng Qingning was speechless after hearing what she said. She simply glared at him and waved her hands repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, I can't argue with you."

Taking a deep breath, Feng Qingning got to the point.

"No matter what, you won the bet we made five years ago, from the moment Mr. Huo personally came forward and asked you to marry into the Huo family's main house. Even though you are reluctant now, you finally did it as promised before I came here to pick you up at the agreed time."

After a pause, Feng Qingning continued.

"Since you won, then let's follow our original agreement. From today on, the Ying family will be fully under your management. From now on, all matters concerning marriage within the Ying family will be decided by you. Whether it's a marriage or not, or who the other party is, I will not interfere too much and will not interfere in your decisions, including your own predestined marriage."

"Also, provided you can take care of the Ying family's daily affairs and ensure the stability and prosperity of the family business, the rest of your free time will be yours to arrange."

"Think about these past five years. You've suffered a lot, but in the end, you finally got the freedom you wanted most. You, a young girl just starting out, have defeated me, an old woman with a lot of experience."

Feng Qingning raised her right hand, and a well-dressed, elegant middle-aged female subordinate came forward and handed her a gorgeous sealed box made of black iron with both hands. It was about the size of two palms and was painted with exquisite dragon patterns.

She is the current manager of the Ying family’s old house and Feng Qingning’s confidant, Nan Yuan.

Feng Qingning solemnly took the iron box with one hand, and turned the code of the star compass on the box with the other hand, turned it to the corresponding correct position, opened it, and handed it to Shi Rong.

Inside lies a seal with a delicate and lifelike carving of the Yinglong dragon head.

"This is the seal that belongs exclusively to the head of the Ying family. With it, you can do whatever you want in the Ying family. Today, using the Huo family's feng shui treasure land, I will officially hand it over to you for safekeeping. Guard your power and protect the hard work of generations of the Ying family. Don't let your late grandfather down."

"All his efforts, all his thoughts, all his hopes in this life are on you."

Shi Rong was delighted, but he also knelt down seriously, took the heavy black iron compass box with both hands, held it steadily in his hands, and knocked his forehead to the ground.

"Thank you for your teachings, Grandma."

Upon seeing this, Shen Mingxing and the others hurriedly adjusted their postures, and even their parents behind them straightened their bodies, knelt on the ground, and spoke in unison.

"Congratulations, young master!"

Shi Rong looked back and leaned forward to return the greeting.

"Everyone, please stand up."

The rest of the people present, including Huo Yan in the main seat and Huo Jiuzhou in the deputy seat, also nodded in greeting in the direction of Shi Rongren, their voices in unison.

"Congratulations to the Young Master of the Ying Family!"

Shi Rong bowed and returned the greeting as usual.

"Thank you very much."

……