Kneel before me.

He wore a dazzling crimson brocade robe; such a gaudy color somehow only enhanced his sinister charm.

His silver hair, as white as snow, fluttered gently in the breeze.

His features were exquisitely carved as if by a master craftsman—his handsome face breathtakingly beautiful.

His ink-black eyes were as deep and mysterious as the Milky Way, sparkling with an enigmatic light.

His thin lips pressed lightly, captivating souls at a glance.

His face alone was so stunning it seemed otherworldly, a celestial prodigy.

Only upon seeing him did one realize that the phrase “overturning all beings” could indeed describe a man.

He was Rong Yu, heir to the loyal and honorable Marquis of Dazhao, the region’s foremost noble.

“The elder matriarch of the Lin family pays respects to the young master,” the old lady said with a bow.

Rong Yu’s voice was cool and clear. “No need for formalities, elder matriarch.”

“Grandmother, we should quickly have the ladies present their embroidery works. Both the young master and Third Young Master Li are eager to see the original Lanting Xu,” Lin Ruijie urged.

The guests took their seats, and the elder matriarch smiled warmly. “Then let us proceed in order of seniority. Liu’er, you first.”

Lin Qingliu smiled gently and retrieved an embroidery piece from the basket held by a maid. Two maids quickly unfurled it.

It was a vibrant scene of blooming flowers, alive with the spirit of spring—each blossom competing in beauty, so lifelike it seemed to breathe.

“This piece by Qingliu is called ‘Spring of Hundred Flowers,’” she said softly, her gaze flickering toward the young master opposite.

But Rong Yu stood like a block of ice, not glancing once at the assembled women.

He had only been dragged here by Li Moqian to see the Lanting Xu; appreciating embroidery was Li’s promise and had nothing to do with him.

“Truly deserving of its name, ‘Spring of Hundred Flowers.’ This small embroidery depicts a hundred different flowers, each distinctive. What’s more remarkable is that Miss Lin’s work already shows traces of micro-embroidery—a rare skill. No wonder she is the most beautiful lady in Xinzhou; such skill is unmatched in the entire city,” Li Moqian sighed in admiration. He was no flatterer; Lin Qingliu truly stood above all.

Receiving such praise from the eldest son of the Li family, Lin Qingliu blushed and bowed. “Thank you, Young Master Li.”

The elder matriarch was pleased as well. Across all of Xinzhou, who could rival her granddaughter’s talent?

“Xu’er, how about you?” The elder’s mood brightened.

Lin Qingxu modestly replied, “Xu’er’s embroidery cannot compare to my eldest sister’s. I have stitched a piece of the Lanting Xu. Grandmother knows my needlework skills are far inferior to my sister’s, but I am proficient in calligraphy, so I took a clever approach.”

A maid then unveiled Lin Qingxu’s work. Compared to Qingliu’s, it was larger, each character the same size as the original Lanting Xu script.

At the sight of the embroidered Lanting Xu, Li Moqian’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. After careful appraisal, he said, “This young lady’s calligraphy must be well-founded; otherwise, it would be impossible to replicate so closely. Though it has form without spirit, it is still quite good. Very good indeed.”

“Thank you for your appraisal, Young Master Li. Your calligraphy is unrivaled throughout the realm. If you could offer me some guidance, Xu’er would be deeply grateful,” Lin Qingxu bowed with a gentle smile, her eyes subtly glancing at Lin Qingliu with a hint of pride.

The elder matriarch happily introduced, “Young Master Li, this is our second Miss Lin, Lin Qingxu. She has long admired your calligraphy.”

Li Moqian merely smiled, refined and courteous.

Lin Qingsheng glared at Lin Qingxu with envy. Her own embroidery paled in comparison, and she had even hired someone else to stitch for her. Yet she dared not let it be too perfect, fearing Lin Qingxu would seize any chance to strike her down.

Lin Qingsheng’s hibiscus embroidery had naturally become a mere backdrop, but she was inwardly pleased—for next was Lin Yuejiao’s turn.

“Next,” the elder matriarch said with little enthusiasm, pointing to Lin Yuejiao.

Lin Yuejiao bowed and presented her embroidery. Two maids unfurled a vivid summer lotus pond scene.

The embroidery was lifelike and delicate, originally of high quality, but Li Moqian frowned and said, “Turn it over.”

The maids obeyed, revealing the reverse side—an identical summer lotus scene.

“Double-sided embroidery?” Li Moqian’s tone held surprise. “Isn’t this a secret technique exclusive to palace royal embroiderers? How does someone from the Lin family know it?”

The elder matriarch was shocked.

“Master Li, Yuejiao’s mother was trained by a palace embroiderer, and I learned from my mother,” Lin Yuejiao responded calmly yet firmly.

Li Moqian nodded. “I see. I never expected the Lin family to produce such talent. Elder matriarch, you truly have done an excellent job educating them.”

“Young Master Li flatters me,” the elder matriarch said with a hint of resentment, but her face wore a proud smile—she would not lose face before Li Moqian.

Lin Qingliu and Lin Qingxu also stared in disbelief at the double-sided summer lotus embroidery. They knew Lin Yuejiao couldn’t have stitched it herself; it must have been her mother’s work. As they schemed to expose her, Lin Qingsheng indignantly declared, “Grandmother! Lin Yuejiao cheated! She can’t do double-sided embroidery—it was her mother who made it.”

The elder matriarch’s face stiffened. She had not wished to reveal the truth in front of guests, but now exposed, she could only vent her anger on Lin Yuejiao.

“Lin Yuejiao, you dare to cheat? What happened to the virtues of propriety, honesty, and trust the Lin family taught you?” the elder matriarch thundered.

Lin Yuejiao looked like a startled rabbit. “Grandmother, Yuejiao did not cheat. This is truly my work...”

“Lin Yuejiao, how dare you deny it! We grew up together, and I know your embroidery skills well! Everyone knows your mother’s needlework is exceptional, but yours pales in comparison to my sister’s. And now you present this double-sided embroidery?” Lin Qingsheng sneered. “If it’s not your mother’s doing, then how? You think grandmother won’t ask the embroiderer who taught us? They will tell you cannot do this.”

Lin Qingsheng was furious.

Lin Yuejiao’s heart turned cold, but her face grew even more aggrieved. “Sister Sheng, I embroidered it myself. You never watched me stitch, so how can you say it isn’t mine? Do you have any proof?”

In their previous lives, they all played the role of the sweet and pitiful, assuming Lin Yuejiao couldn’t be cunning.

“What proof do you need? The fact you can’t do double-sided embroidery is proof enough,” Lin Qingsheng said fiercely.

Lin Qingliu casually remarked, “Yuejiao is only fifteen. Even the best palace embroiderers cannot master double-sided embroidery at such a young age. Could it be our Lin family has produced a prodigy surpassing the palace?”

“Elder sister Liu is right. Yuejiao, if you lacked skill and stitched poorly, grandmother would not be angry. But cheating is another matter. Don’t pretend it’s to please grandmother; she will only be more upset to see it,” Lin Qingxu added a cutting remark.

Lin Qingsheng’s confidence surged. “Hear that? You claim to be better than palace embroiderers? Fifteen and already mastering double-sided embroidery, yet you refuse to admit it. You’re a cheater.”

“Lin Yuejiao, kneel now!” the elder matriarch’s fury exploded. She slammed the tea table, her face dark as thunder.

With a heavy thud, Lin Yuejiao knelt, her delicate face full of stubbornness, tears welling in her eyes. “Grandmother, I only wanted to embroider something beautiful to please you. I would never ask my mother to help me cheat. Besides, my mother is a cultured and upright woman who has always taught me honesty and integrity. This embroidery was stitched by me personally—I swear on our Lin ancestors’ ancestral tablets.”

“Lin Yuejiao, still denying! Swearing means nothing. If you have the skill, prove it by stitching one now!” Qian Yaoxian said coldly.

Lin Yuejiao’s face fell, hesitant. “This...”

“What ‘this’? If you stitch one here and now, no one can deny it. You said Sister Sheng never saw you stitch, so now you have to do it in front of everyone as proof,” Qian Yaoxian sneered.

Lin Yuejiao had been waiting for this challenge, but her expression was as if asked to face a mountain of fire and ice. She tried to evade, “Auntie, this isn’t appropriate. The sisters have only brought their works, not displayed skills live. This would make me stand out too much—improper, improper.”

“Yuejiao, there’s nothing improper about this,” Qian Yaoxian recalled the two guests across the room and quickly softened her fierce expression, smiling kindly at Lin Yuejiao. “Sister Sheng’s words alone cannot prove the embroidery isn’t yours. Now you have a chance to prove yourself. Begin stitching! Someone, prepare needle and thread for Fourth Miss.”

A flicker of panic crossed Lin Yuejiao’s eyes as she glanced at the elder matriarch. “Grandmother, Auntie, there are still guests present...”

The elder matriarch snorted coldly, refusing to engage further. She felt the Lin family’s reputation was on the brink of ruin and harbored a trace of resentment toward Qian Yaoxian.

“Now, let us all enjoy Fourth Miss Lin’s double-sided embroidery,” Qian Yaoxian said with a venomous gleam, speaking loudly on purpose.

“Hurry up, Lin Yuejiao! Aren’t you skilled in needlework? Start stitching!” Lin Qingsheng thrust a needle threaded with silk into Lin Yuejiao’s hand, her eyes full of mockery.

Lin Yuejiao calculated her moment carefully. Having laid the groundwork, the grievance vanished from her face. She stood straight before the embroidery screen, holding two silver needles threaded with silk in each hand, moving them like fluttering butterflies with dazzling skill across the fabric.

In that instant, Lin Yuejiao seemed transformed, radiating a unique aura that stunned all present.

In her previous life, after Jing Mingge’s death, Lin Yuejiao had painstakingly mastered double-sided embroidery.

After a short while, she stopped. The lady stood alone, resplendent.

Li Moqian’s eyes brightened as he opened his folded fan. “Truly a delightful embroidery skill. To master double-sided embroidery at fifteen with such proficiency—your Lin family is indeed full of talent. May I ask which young lady this is?”

Rong Yu’s gaze lingered momentarily on Lin Yuejiao before shifting away. He had long sensed something amiss with this young woman.

Others might not see it, but he felt the storm hidden beneath her seemingly calm expression.

He watched her performance with leisure, unexpectedly witnessing such a breathtaking spectacle.

Only then did the elder matriarch snap back to reality at Li Moqian’s inquiry, her face both surprised and delighted. “Young Master Li, this is our Fourth Miss Lin, Lin Yuejiao. Yuejiao, you truly have given grandmother a surprise today.”

“Yuejiao is unworthy. I know grandmother cares most about our studies and skills, so I wanted to embroider better, hoping to please her,” Lin Yuejiao bowed deeply.

Though Li Moqian asked her name, she did not answer but waited for her grandmother, embodying the modesty and decorum expected of a lady, a stark contrast to the eager and forward Lin Qingxu—a world apart.

“Well done, very well done. Such a good child, so filial. Grandmother is very pleased, very pleased indeed,” the elder matriarch said, her gaze toward Lin Yuejiao now filled with warmth and pride.

Lin Qingliu’s eyes darkened, but she suddenly smiled sweetly. “Yuejiao has truly given us all a surprise. But if you can do double-sided embroidery, why hide it? You wouldn’t have caused such misunderstanding among us.”

Realizing the situation was beyond their control, she quickly tried to force Yuejiao to make excuses. Truly, Lin Qingliu was not one to be underestimated.