The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

He had been searching for that embroidery technique for so many years, and he could tell at a glance whether it was the one he was looking for. But what did he just see?

It was clearly just an ordinary piece of embroidery; the embroiderers at Liu's Embroidery Shop could easily produce a large number of them.

Madam Liu was slightly taken aback. She hurriedly unfolded the brocade in her bosom, intending to take a closer look. However, when she saw the embroidery inside, she frowned. She looked at her husband's angry face, then at An Xinhe, and tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Master, Xinhe must be joking. Xinhe, I asked you to embroider the work you made at the embroidery appreciation event. What have you embroidered?"

Liu Zhan also saw the contents of the brocade. On that day, very few people saw the embroidery, including Liu Zhan and his wife. How could he not know that the embroidery in his mother's hands was not the top piece from that day?

"Mother, Xinhe embroidered it according to what you said, based on the works from the Embroidery Appreciation Gathering." An Xinhe had no idea what was going on, or why their expressions had changed.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xuan's displeasure intensified. Madam Liu subtly glared at An Xinhe, secretly blaming this clueless girl. However, in front of so many people, she couldn't be too harsh. With her gaze slightly lowered, Madam Liu left her seat and walked to An Xinhe's side. "Xinhe, use your best embroidery technique to embroider another piece. You must take it seriously."

Her best embroidery technique? She had just embroidered it using her best technique, but... An Xinhe looked at the people whose expressions had changed and knew that something must have gone wrong. Not only that, but she also felt a strong sense of unease.

At this moment, what ideas did she have? She could only follow Madam Liu's instructions and walk back to the shelf. Under Madam Liu's guidance, the maid had already placed a piece of white brocade back on.

This time, the atmosphere was completely different from the lively one before. No one said a word, and the way everyone looked at An Xinhe changed.

"Ah..." Overwhelmed with anxiety, An Xinhe pricked her finger, and blood gushed from the tip. An Xinhe cried out in surprise, and her first reaction was to look at Liu Xuan, Madam Liu, and Liu Zhan. Seeing their furrowed brows, especially the disgust in Liu Zhan's eyes, An Xinhe panicked even more.

Compared to their earlier smugness, Madam Liu and Liu Zhan now had solemn expressions. An Xinhe's actions finally made them realize that something was wrong.

"She's just an arrogant young lady; how could she possibly embroider something that satisfies you all like this? There must be something fishy going on..."

These words echoed in Madam Liu's ears, making her increasingly uneasy. Something fishy...something fishy...could it be that the woman's words had come true? But...but that day, the embroidery she saw with her own eyes clearly bore the name An Xinhe!

Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere was unusually eerie. An Xinhe seemed to be under immense pressure, her fingers pricking themselves several times. Each soft cry of pain made Liu Zhan and the others' expressions even more unpleasant.

But Anmi, who was watching the show, was quite pleased with herself. From the moment she devised the plan to switch An Xinhe's embroidery and mislead Madam Liu and her son Liu Zhan, she had been waiting for this moment to arrive. And they did not disappoint her. Have they finally realized their unease?

Hmph, uneasy? Merely uneasy? That's too lenient!

A sharp glint secretly gathered in her eyes. Just then, a middle-aged man rushed in from outside the banquet hall. An Mi recognized him as the manager of Liu's Embroidery Shop. He looked hurried, as if something major had happened.

Is it something important? Anmi seemed to think of something, and the curve of her lips under her veil widened slightly.

As soon as the innkeeper entered the banquet hall, he felt the oppressive atmosphere. He paused for a moment, then scanned the entire hall with his eyes. He quickly spotted Master Liu and the others. Thinking of what had just happened and the young master's instructions from some time ago, he dared not delay. He secretly walked to Liu Zhan's side and whispered, "Young master, this servant has something to report."

Just as Liu Zhan was feeling annoyed, he said impatiently, "Don't you have eyes? What kind of occasion is this? Is this the time to report something?"

"But...but..." The shopkeeper hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. After thinking for a moment, he finally decided to speak. "Young master, this matter is really urgent. You once instructed me that if the person who put the embroidered handkerchief on consignment at our Liu's Embroidery Shop comes back to collect the money, you must report to the young master immediately."

Liu Zhan, who was already filled with impatience, was startled by these words. Realizing something, he suddenly turned around, grabbed the shopkeeper by the collar, and shouted, "What did you say?"

At this moment, Liu Zhan was eager to confirm what he had just heard, completely unaware that his actions had already attracted everyone's attention.

The shopkeeper trembled, swallowed subconsciously, took a deep breath, and hurriedly repeated, "Young master, the person who consigned the embroidery to our Liu's Embroidery Shop has appeared. Just now, she came to collect the money."

Liu Zhan was startled. Some things kept swirling in his mind, gradually becoming clearer, but upon further thought, they became a jumbled mess again.

The owner of those dozen or so embroidered handkerchiefs...the champion of the embroidery appreciation gathering...the lost embroidery technique that the Liu family has been searching for...

Liu Zhan closed his eyes, trying to sort out the relationships involved. Everyone was watching Liu Zhan's reaction. What was this about consigning embroidery? What was this about withdrawing money? How could it make this young master of the Liu family lose his composure like this?

Bai Yi and Qing Lan chuckled softly in unison, still looking on with anticipation for a good show.

"Zhan'er, what's going on?" Madam Liu, having already realized something, asked.

Liu Zhan did not answer, ignored everyone, and rushed out of the banquet hall like the wind, causing everyone in the banquet hall to whisper among themselves.

What happened in the end?

An Xinhe, who was originally embroidering, was now biting her lip anxiously. The needle and thread in her hands seemed to be out of her control. Every time she pierced the embroidery, it would add a flaw to the original work.

At this moment, Liu Xuan sat in his seat without saying a word, but his gloomy face already revealed his mood.

Before long, Liu Zhan returned. Compared to when he left the banquet hall, he now held an embroidered handkerchief tightly in his hand. Everyone looked at Liu Zhan, wondering what he was going to do.

But as soon as he entered the banquet hall, he strode directly toward An Xinhe.

An Xinhe stood up tremblingly as Liu Zhan approached, his sharp features formidable. She tried her best to force a smile, "Husband, you..."

"Tell me, did you embroider this?" Before An Xinhe could finish speaking, Liu Zhan asked bluntly, throwing the embroidered handkerchief in his hand at An Xinhe.