The quarrel came from the east side yard.
There seemed to be a heavy object in the room, which suddenly fell to the ground with a shocking crash.
Shi Qi happened to push the door open at this moment. What came into view was a four-panel landscape screen that had been pushed to the ground. The four sides of the screen were embroidered with scenes of spring, summer, autumn and winter respectively.
On the first spring scene, flowers and birds are vivid, fragrant jade is outlined with gold, and silk threads are dancing on the satin. The whole picture seems to be alive.
Look at the second embroidery of a summer lotus pond. The fluffy needlework blends embroidery with calligraphy and painting. The stitches of varying lengths intertwine to form ripples on the water, which is magnificent.
Even a layman like Shi Qi could tell at a glance that the embroiderer's craftsmanship was superb and exquisite. He couldn't help but want to see how beautiful the third autumn scene and the fourth winter snow were.
There was an autumn scene embroidered with a rising sun, but it had a huge tear in the middle. The last piece, a winter scene with snow, had no holes in it, but it had many scratches of varying lengths.
The surface of the scratch was very smooth, without any burrs, and it was obviously made with a knife.
Shi Qi's gaze swept across the room, finally locking onto a man wearing a rain-stained blue shirt. For no other reason than this man was the only one in the room holding a sharp dagger. He was none other than Xiwu, the one who had been cursing the loudest.
Xie Changfeng knelt before the fallen screen, his fingers trembling as he stroked the damaged part of the screen. He raised his head and glared at Xiwu, cursing, "I've been embroidering this landscape screen for almost four months, and it's due the day after tomorrow at the latest.
Now you've destroyed it, you've destroyed all the hard work I put in these four months.
Not only am I not getting the compensation I deserve, but I also have to pay the embroidery shop double the amount of silver.
That's a full eight hundred taels of silver, Xiwu, what hatred do we have against each other? Why are you trying to force me to death like this?"
Xiwu looked down at Xie Changfeng from above, and said with disdain, "There's really no deep blood feud between you and me, but I simply can't stand you, is that okay? Second Young Master Xie of the Judicial and Censorate's family. Your mother is a fourth-rank official in the local government, such a noble status. Living in the same courtyard with a few of us young men who were originally palace servants, you must be really wronged, right?"
Xie Changfeng's eyes were red. He suddenly grabbed Xiwu's shoulders, pushed her to the ground, and punched her on the bridge of her nose. "You bitch, you are not worthy of mentioning my mother. You have made it impossible for me to exchange my embroidery for silver to pay for my mother's medical expenses. If my mother can't survive this serious illness, I will die with you."
As Xie Changfeng spoke, he had already snatched the dagger from Xiwu's hand. He aimed the sharp tip of the knife at Xiwu's heart and was about to stab her. At the critical moment, Shi Qi kicked Xie Changfeng's wrist. Xie Changfeng's hand lost its strength, and the dagger fell to the ground with a slight thud.
Shi Qi angrily said, "You are simply rebelling. This is the Chengguang Pavilion of the Eastern Palace, not a place where you can act wild and crazy as you please. Where is the attendant in charge here? Where did he die?"
Not long after Shi Qi finished speaking, a middle-aged man with a wrinkled face came trotting in. He was the manager of Chengguang Pavilion - Shi Shiguan.
Shi Shiguan smiled broadly, "What wind blew you here, Master Shiqi, in the middle of the night? I was not able to greet you at the gate early this morning. It's really my fault."
As Shi Shiguan spoke, he surveyed the interior of the room. He immediately noticed the shattered landscape screen. "Oh, how could such a precious and beautiful screen be broken? This is truly a waste of a precious thing."
Xie Changfeng's knees softened, and he knelt at Shi Shiguan's feet, tears streaming down his face. "Sir Shiguan, please help me. I spent four months painstakingly embroidering this folding screen, and Xiwu just broke it. He must compensate me for my losses, otherwise this matter will never be resolved."
Shi Shiguan was startled by Xie Changfeng's sudden kneeling. He first hurriedly avoided the direction where Xie Changfeng was kneeling, then immediately bent down and pulled Xie Changfeng up. "No, no, Master Xie is the master, how can you kneel before a servant like me?"
Having said that, there was not much panic on Shi Shiguan's face.
Although those living in the east wing courtyard are young men who are prepared to serve Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, they are just prepared and have never officially served. He is the manager of Chengguang Pavilion, and these unfavored young men have to make a living under his nose every day.
If it wasn't in front of Shi Qi today, he wouldn't be able to show off. He wouldn't even squat down to help Xie Changfeng.
Everyone here knew that Xie Changfeng's mother, Xie Yunlan, had fallen ill a few months ago and was no longer qualified for her previous position as a fourth-rank judicial inspector. She had been transferred to a more sinecure position. She was now seriously ill and might die at any moment. By then, Xie Changfeng would no longer be the son of an official family, but a commoner.
The Xie family's wealth was all used to pay for Xie Yunlan's medical treatment, which not only made it impossible to support Xie Changfeng, but also required Xie Changfeng to work day and night on embroidery to support the family. Xie Changfeng's status in Chengguang Pavilion plummeted. Xiwu, who had always disliked Xie Changfeng, naturally took this opportunity to step on him.
As for why Xiwu disliked Xie Changfeng, the reason was simple. Back when Pei Jiusheng was still the Princess Royal, she had once wanted to promote Xie Changfeng to serve Her Highness. Xiwu had been jealous then, and now that she had finally found the opportunity to humiliate Xie Changfeng, she naturally refused to let it go.
Her Highness the Crown Princess was still waiting in Guangming Palace for her to select someone. Shi Qi had no interest in settling the case here. She said to Shi Shiguan, "You can handle the affairs of Chengguang Pavilion yourselves when we get back. I came here today to select a young man with a clear and melodious voice for Her Highness the Crown Princess to serve in Guangming Palace. Shi Shiguan knows the young men of Chengguang Pavilion best, so please recommend a suitable candidate to me."
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