"Manager Liu, please give us your opinion on this matter."
The maids beside the pure maid surrounded Manager Liu and asked him to judge the case.
"That's right, Manager Liu, you are the most fair person in the mansion. Please come and give us justice."
The maids beside the charming maid also surrounded Manager Liu, chattering and asking him to do justice.
Chirp
Manager Liu felt like he had fallen into a duck nest. His ears were surrounded by quacking sounds from 360 degrees. His head was about to burst. He couldn't help but shout at the two maids, "Alright, be quiet. How can I judge and administer justice if you keep making so much noise? Speak only when I let you speak."
After Manager Liu spoke, the maids from both sides finally quieted down.
After calming down, Manager Liu looked at the innocent maid, and then at the charming maid. Both maids looked like victims, one with red eyes and stubborn tears in the corners of her eyes; the other with puffy cheeks and big tears falling down... ...
In this era, solving cases requires the "five listenings": listening to words, listening to appearance, listening to breath, listening to ears, and listening to eyes.
Although Manager Liu had never eaten pork, he had seen pigs run, so he followed the same idea used by ancient officials in solving cases.
However, observing the complexion, aura, eyes, etc. of the pure maid and the charming maid, they both looked like angry victims, and it was impossible to judge.
As for the character of the two people, Manager Liu is not sure yet.
Because the innocent maids, charming maids, and the maids around here were all recruited into the palace at the beginning of the month. At the beginning of the month, after His Royal Highness Prince Yu got back his annual gift, the palace suddenly became much more spacious, so His Royal Highness asked for a group of maids to fill the backyard. They had only been in the palace for a few days, and Manager Liu had no idea of their character, so he couldn't judge who was a thief and who was lying based on their character.
It is impossible to judge without listening, and it is also impossible to judge the character of the person. Both of them have witnesses, which puts us in a dilemma.
After getting into trouble, Manager Liu shifted his attention to the physical evidence, a piece of pink silk cloth with peach blossom pattern.
Huh
Isn't this the silk cloth that the mansion gave as a reward to the new maid the day before yesterday
Manager Liu's eyes lit up. He remembered that this silk cloth was the one that was awarded to the newly-arrived maids the day before yesterday. Although the silk cloths were all pink, there were more than ten patterns for the maids to choose from, including peach blossom, plum blossom, and crabapple. After each maid selected the silk cloth, she was registered.
Then bring over the list of rewards given out at that time and see which of the two received the pink silk cloth with peach blossom pattern.
Isn't this case settled? !
After thinking about this, Manager Liu finally smiled and said to his attendant Futian, "Futian, go to the accounting office and get the list of rewards from the day before yesterday, and see which of them received the silk cloth with peach blossom pattern."
"Manager Liu..." Upon hearing this, the maids from both sides looked up at Manager Liu, seeming to want to say something but stopping themselves.
"What's wrong?" Manager Liu raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Sister Mo'er and Sister Feng'er both like peach blossoms, so the silk cloths they received all have peach blossom patterns. We went together to get them, so we won't make a mistake." The maids from both sides replied in unison.
What
The patterns they received were all peach blossom patterns?!
Manager Liu was stunned. Since the silk cloth they received had the same pattern, there was no point in checking the reward list.
So, I was in trouble again.
When Manager Liu was in trouble, Zhu Ping'an and Gao Gong happened to pass by them.
"Master Gao, Master Xiao Zhu."
When Manager Liu saw Gao Gong and Zhu Ping'an, he quickly turned around and saluted them.
"Long live Lord Gao, long live Lord Zhu."
Seeing how respectful Manager Liu was, the maids present also bowed and saluted to Gao Gong and Zhu Ping'an one after another after hearing Manager Liu address them as "Master Gao" and "Master Zhu".
Gao Gong had always been arrogant. Even his colleagues in Prince Yu's mansion were not in his eyes, let alone the steward and the maid. As for such trivial matters as the maid's dispute over silk cloth, he was even more disdainful and walked straight past without even nodding.
"Hello, Manager Liu."
Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly, bowed to Manager Liu, and nodded to the maid present.
In the crowd, the innocent maid bowed and saluted without looking away.
"This honest-looking little adult is so kind. Although he is not handsome, he is very sunny. Unlike the tall adult in front, he is too arrogant and didn't even look at us, as if we were garbage on the roadside..."
When the charming maid heard Zhu Ping'an greeting them, she bravely looked up at Zhu Ping'an and thought so in her heart.
The other maids' feelings towards Zhu Ping'an and Gao Gong were similar to those of the charming maids.
On the way they had just walked, Zhu Ping'an had heard about the dispute between the innocent maid and the charming maid over the silk cloth.
Zhu Ping'an was well aware of Manager Liu's predicament and knew it was not difficult to solve. He wanted to give Manager Liu some advice, but Gao Gong had already walked ahead at this time. Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to smile at Manager Liu and took two steps forward to catch up with Gao Gong.
"Su Qing, Lord Zhu."
Just as Zhu Ping'an took a step forward, a magnetic and charming call came from behind him.
As soon as he heard the voice, Zhu Ping'an knew who it was.
Zhang Juzheng.
Sure enough, Zhu Ping'an turned his head and saw Zhang Juzheng walking towards him quickly. As usual, Zhang Juzheng's official uniform was clean and tidy without a single wrinkle, as if it was a newly made official uniform. Before he even walked in, a fragrant breeze blew towards him.
"A gentleman with a graceful demeanor, elegant and graceful..."
When the maids present saw Zhang Juzheng, a series of idioms emerged in their minds.
"What a handsome man..."
The maids were at the age of love, and when they saw Zhang Juzheng, they couldn't help but chatter in low voices.
The innocent maid still bowed and saluted without looking away.
The charming maid looked up at Zhang Juzheng and her eyes widened. He was indeed a very handsome man, much more handsome than the kind and sunny little man just now. He seemed like he had walked out of a painting.
"Haha, uncle, what wind brought you here?"
After hearing Zhang Juzheng's voice, Gao Gong turned around with a smile, walked over to Zhu Ping'an, and took two steps forward to meet him.
"Master Zhang."
Zhu Ping'an smiled and bowed to Zhang Juzheng.
"Meet Master Zhang."
Manager Liu bowed and greeted Zhang Juzheng.
Zhang Juzheng smiled and nodded to Manager Liu, then bowed to Gao Gong and Zhu Ping'an in return. He took out a yellowed book from his sleeve and shook it at Gao Gong, smiling and saying, "Last time, Your Highness asked me to proofread the ancient book. Today, I have finally fulfilled your trust. I have finished proofreading it and am here to report to Your Highness."