Fang Tian had not yet seen the artwork presented by Quan Jiu, but the confidence on her face was evident. She might not compare to the Pavilion Master of Yun Lan Pavilion, but this vase in front of her, she was absolutely capable of crushing it with ease.
However, considering her own discord with the Embroidery Bureau, she added, "I am from the Embroidery Bureau. If I only invite people from the Embroidery Bureau, you might later say it's unfair to you. Besides the Embroidery Bureau, why not invite some other experts? After all, I am someone who dislikes taking advantage."
Jiang Guixiu couldn't help but retort, "If you don't have the ability yourself, you make excuses. Even if people from the Embroidery Bureau come, I still trust my own judgment."
Fang Tian still smiled, "Madam Jiang, design and embroidery are outside your expertise; you simply don't understand. Do you know how many stitches and techniques are used in my design? You certainly wouldn't be able to comprehend it if I told you. I'm doing this for your own good. After all, there are so many noble ladies and celebrities here. To show off in front of experts, wouldn't that be embarrassing for you?"
"You..." Jiang Guixiu was so angry she almost cursed out loud, but the words reached her lips, and considering her image, she swallowed them back forcefully.
She snorted coldly, "At least the audience's eyes are discerning."
This statement was true.
Li Wei and Weng Yin in the audience, and even Yun Shu, having seen the large screen, were perfectly aware of the performance of the two people on stage.
Although the three were not standing together, their expressions were strikingly similar, all with stern, dark faces staring at Fang Tian.
Yun Shu cursed "useless," while Li Wei and Weng Yin exchanged glances and chose to retreat quietly.
Meanwhile, Hua Qing backstage had just finished her call with Bai Jing.
She walked onto the stage, "I have already spoken with Master Bai Jing, the head of the Embroidery Bureau. She has invited three independent embroidery masters to provide commentary."
Then she looked at Fang Tian and sneered, "Master Miao Lan, a Heavenly Grandmaster, Master Guo Pin, a King Grandmaster, and Master Lu Yuan. These three masters should be sufficient to comment on your design, shouldn't they?"
These three masters were all the most renowned embroidery masters of the present time, highly respected and with consummate embroidery skills. The audience immediately became restless.
"There's an embroidery exhibition this year, and these three masters all have booths. I was planning to go see the exhibition after watching the Yun Lan Pavilion show. Now I'm about to see them in person."
"I'm about to suffocate. I want a photo with the masters."
The audience buzzed with discussion. On stage, Fang Tian sneered at Quan Jiu, "These three are all masters. You've probably never heard of them."
Quan Jiu paid no attention, instead seriously examining her own design.
Fang Tian cursed "putting on airs" under her breath and stopped looking, instead admiring her own work.
...
The three senior embroidery masters arrived quickly. Perhaps they heard about the competition, or perhaps they had a childlike heart in their old age. In any case, they happily walked into the venue and, before anyone could react, energetically climbed onto the T-stage.
Old Madam Miao was the first to exclaim joyfully, "Oh, this is a competition across generations! Not bad, not bad. It's good for young people to have spirit."
Old Master Guo looked at Quan Jiu with some surprise, "This little girl..." His gaze fell on Quan Jiu's hands, and he gave a thumbs-up, praising, "You must have started practicing from a young age. You have quite a few calluses on your hands."
Fang Tian's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked at Quan Jiu's hands, indeed seeing a prominent callus on the knuckle of her middle finger.
However, on second thought, it must have been from writing at school. How could it be from embroidery? She said, "My right hand also has calluses from writing."
Old Master Guo chuckled and glanced sideways at Fang Tian, his tone openly mocking:
"If I'm not mistaken, you are the second disciple of Senior Master Zhen. Back then, you stole your master's design to participate in a competition, almost making your master so angry he died. In the end, he had to expel you from the sect to vent his anger. After so many years, why are you back to your old tricks?"
The audience immediately erupted in an uproar.
"So she's a repeat offender! I knew Yun Lan Pavilion wouldn't plagiarize. Fang Tian Embroidery House is nothing."
"She was actually expelled from the sect. No wonder the Embroidery Bureau doesn't recognize her."
Fang Tian's face turned ashen white as she listened to the accusations from the audience. Back then, apart from that old woman and Bai Jing, no one else knew. How did this old man know?
Old Master Guo seemed to sense her confusion and said with disdain, "If you do nothing wrong, you won't be afraid of ghosts knocking at your door. Although your master, out of consideration for the master-disciple relationship, did not expose you publicly, it so happened that one of the judges for that competition was me. It was also fortunate that I had seen Senior Master Zhen's design beforehand. Otherwise, how do you think you were discovered?"
Fang Tian's eyes widened abruptly, and she instinctively retorted angrily, "It was you."
Old Master Guo stroked his white beard, "You and Bai Jing were both brought up by Senior Master Zhen, but your nature is too wicked. You can only learn the superficial. You won't be able to make it in this circle."
"Oh, Old Guo, don't just dwell on those old accounts. Come quickly and look at this girl's embroidery. This is truly interesting," urged Old Madam Lu.
Old Master Guo quickly walked over, took a closer look, and gasped, "This stitchwork..."
"Isn't it? This stitchwork is so familiar," Old Madam Lu said, squinting. "The connection and transition of the needle movement, the short, dense, and changing Yun Guang stitch, it's practically that senior's signature skill."
The three senior masters turned their gaze uniformly to Quan Jiu.
Old Madam Miao slowly asked, "Girl, who is your master?"
Quan Jiu nodded slightly and bowed, "I learned painting and embroidery from my grandmother since childhood."
"Then what is your grandmother's name?" Old Madam Lu quickly asked.
"My grandmother was just an ordinary farmer's wife. Her surname was Wang, and her given name was Ping," Quan Jiu replied honestly.
The expressions of the three senior masters paused for a moment. Then, as if understanding something, they smiled and didn't ask further, continuing to look at the embroidery on the silk.
Old Madam Miao praised, "The brushstrokes are cold and elegant yet not withered. The shades of light and dark, the interplay of light and shadow, are exquisitely rendered. It appears grand and ethereal from afar, and refined and comfortable up close. What a beautiful ink wash embroidery, truly refreshing."
Old Master Guo also nodded incessantly, "The younger generation is formidable. As expected of... In time, this might become another Heavenly Master-level embroidery master."
Old Madam Lu was not to be outdone, "The most crucial thing is this state of mind – tranquil and peaceful, not arrogant or impatient, steady but not rigid. It's incredibly valuable. It's hard for someone with such a disposition not to achieve great things."
The three spoke one after another, wishing they could say all the good words they could think of.
Fang Tian was unconvinced and stepped forward to retort, "Seniors, you cannot let past misunderstandings affect your current judgment. I have been learning and establishing my own studio for over twenty years. Am I still not as good as this... young person? Please don't speak falsehoods with your eyes open."
Old Master Guo was so angered he laughed, "Come, come, take a look. Bring your inferior work here for comparison. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I fear that after comparing, you won't even dare to pick up a needle for the rest of your life."
Fang Tian, both annoyed and resentful, picked up her embroidery and walked towards Quan Jiu. But before she could get close, her steps halted.
Before her eyes, on a lake covered in vast white mist, floated a solitary boat. Rendered in only black, white, and gray, it vividly depicted the undulating changes of the surrounding mountains. In that instant, she felt as if she had fallen into a quiet and elegant ink wash painting.