The Peach Blossoms White by the Village Edge

Chapter 114: The Truth

The thoughts that arose among the crowd upon hearing the doorman's words were: Is the truth about Yue Jizhu's severed finger really that it was crushed by a beam while trying to save an embroidery painting, necessitating the amputation to save her life? Is that not the whole truth? Is there another truth?

Qu Qingjiang, after a moment of distraction, instructed the doorman, "Let her in!"

The Yue family waited in anticipation.

Soon, the doorman brought in a woman in her twenties, dressed simply. The Yue family members widened their eyes in surprise, and Yue Yan Fang even frowned, "What are you doing here?"

Qu Qingjiang turned her gaze from the woman to her uncle, "Uncle, do you know her?"

Yue Yan Fang hesitated for a moment before replying, "She is a former disciple of your Aunt Ji's, but she was expelled from the sect years ago. She suddenly appeared today, claiming to know the truth about Aunt Ji's severed finger..."

At this point, Yue Yan Fang seemed to have guessed what the woman was going to say. His eyes sharpened, realizing that, although he was Qu Qingjiang's uncle, it was inappropriate for him to question the woman directly. Otherwise, he would have already acted on his suspicions.

Qu Qingjiang, not rushing to question the woman about the truth, asked instead, "What is your name?"

"I am Liao Min."

Qu Qingjiang then asked Yue Yan Fang, "Why was she expelled from the sect?"

Yue Yan Fang said, "It is said that she was quite rebellious, defied her master's orders, was difficult to manage, and was eager for quick success. She even tried to pass off stolen techniques as her own to gain entry into the Embroidery Institute. Second Aunt was very disappointed in her and expelled her from the sect. She didn't achieve her goal of joining the institute and caused a stir everywhere, but no one paid her any attention, so she disappeared."

It was unexpected that someone who had disappeared for years would suddenly appear at the Qu residence.

Hearing this, Liao Min said emotionally, "Yue Yao Fang is lying. The techniques of 'needle set', 'rolling needle', and 'cutting needle' were clearly developed by me. I was thrilled to share each new technique with her, but she scolded me, saying they were too rudimentary. She belittled these techniques, claiming they were worthless and instructed me not to explore such dubious methods, but to focus on perfecting my own skills.

"I believed her and devoted myself to embroidery, but during this time, she modified these techniques, gave them names, and claimed them as her own. By the time I learned of this, the entire Bianjing knew that these techniques were attributed to her!

"I tried to explain everywhere, but no one believed me. They thought I was just a young girl who had studied embroidery for a few years, incapable of developing such techniques! I confronted her, but she expelled me from the sect for defying her and falsely accusing her of wrongdoing.

"Bearing the stigma of being expelled from the sect, no embroidery workshop would hire me. Moreover, she continued to fabricate stories and slander me, making it impossible for me to stay in Bianjing, so I had to leave."

Qu Qingjiang, after listening, observed the reactions of the Yue family members. They seemed unsurprised, though clearly disapproving, as they furrowed their brows, indicating that they were aware of this matter and inclined to believe Yue Yao Fang.

Indeed, compared to an obscure embroiderer, people were more likely to believe Yue Yao Fang. Her "Royal Embroidery Family" background was her endorsement and added credibility.