"Xiao Chenzi, why are you back so late?"
As soon as Chu Chen returned, Princess Xinyue intercepted him.
"Your Highness, something happened on the road that delayed me, but I discovered two interesting people."
Chu Chen helplessly recounted what had happened on his way back.
A moment later, Princess Xinyue patted Chu Chen's shoulder with a look of surprise and said with a smile, "I didn't expect Xiao Chenzi to have such discerning eyes."
"Then, will there be any inconspicuous, undiscovered talents in this Princess's Qingming Palace?"
"Xiao Chenzi, why don't this Princess summon the people, and you can help me take a look?"
"Your servant obeys."
Chu Chen nodded in reply, as he also wanted to see the quality of the eunuchs and palace maids in Qingming Palace.
Princess Xinyue ordered her attending maids to summon all the eunuchs and palace maids in Qingming Palace.
At the entrance of the main hall, looking at the servants standing in two groups, Princess Xinyue said with a smile, "Xiao Chenzi, you must look carefully."
"Yes."
The summoned eunuchs and palace maids were all uneasy, not knowing why their capricious princess had summoned them, but they assumed it wouldn't be anything good.
"Line up in rows of ten, stand properly."
Seeing the servants standing in a disorganized crowd, Chu Chen frowned and shouted with his internal energy.
The eunuchs and palace maids were startled and quickly stood in the required formation.
They were all too aware of the status of this Eunuch Chu in Qingming Palace.
Using his identification skill and the talent of discerning people with his keen eyes, Chu Chen walked past them.
Over a hundred eunuchs and palace maids nervously underwent Chu Chen's inspection.
He had expected that among so many people, there would be some good talents, but Chu Chen found he had overthought it.
The best talent among them was only of blue grade, and there were only three such individuals, none of whom were useful.
Chu Chen sighed and returned to Princess Xinyue's side, explaining the situation.
Princess Xinyue was not disappointed. Instead, she said with a grin, "Xiao Chenzi, don't be discouraged. This Princess knows a little about the abilities of the people in Qingming Palace, so how could there be any talents here?"
"Then why did Your Highness still ask me to check?"
Chu Chen was a bit puzzled.
"Hehe, of course, it was just a casual thing to do."
Princess Xinyue smiled mysteriously, "Just you wait, this Princess is about to do something big."
Do something big? It would be good if you didn't cause a major incident, Chu Chen thought to himself.
"I summoned you all here for no other reason than to ask a question."
Princess Xinyue stepped forward and said with a smile.
"May I ask Your Highness, what is the question?"
Eunuch Ma, the actual manager of Qingming Palace, asked cautiously.
Princess Xinyue took out a palm-sized wooden object from her sleeve and beckoned a maid to place it in her hand.
Then, pointing at the object, she smiled and said, "Mother sent someone to bring this wood carving to this Princess, it's this thing."
"What do you think this wood carving depicts?"
The eunuchs and palace maids craned their necks, trying to get a closer look.
Princess Xinyue waved her hand, signaling the maid to step down, and personally showed it to them.
A moment later, Princess Xinyue repeated the question.
"Replying to Your Highness, this servant thinks it's a horse."
"Your Highness, this humble servant believes it's a donkey."
"Your Highness, this lowly one also thinks it's a horse."
The eunuchs and palace maids spoke one after another.
Princess Xinyue frowned and said, "It seems you all think it's a horse or a donkey. Those who think it's a horse, stand on the left, and those who think it's a donkey, stand on the right."
The eunuchs and palace maids exchanged glances and did as they were told.
Chu Chen, standing by, looked at Princess Xinyue with surprise.
"Holy crap, this scene looks familiar. Is this Princess Xinyue trying to point to a deer and call it a horse? Where did she learn this?"
No, there's no Qin Shi Huang in this world, so there's no idiom of "pointing to a deer and calling it a horse." She has nowhere to learn it from.
Is she trying to test the loyalty and character of these people?
After everyone lined up with horses on the left and donkeys on the right, Princess Xinyue giggled and said, "It seems you all think it's a horse or a donkey. You're right, but you're also wrong."
Right and wrong?
The eunuchs and palace maids were all stunned. Chu Chen stood silently by Princess Xinyue's side, watching her performance.
"Although this thing looks like a horse and also like a donkey, the maid who delivered it also said that Mother sent this Princess a wooden horse carving."
"But this Princess thinks it's not a horse, but a deer."
"What do you all think it is now?"
"..."
This is going to be the death of me.
The eunuchs and palace maids below wailed in their hearts.
The disputes between the Princess and the Emperor, even if they were ordinary matters, were not something they were qualified to comment on.
A wrong answer could offend one party, and both parties could arbitrarily execute them.
"So, this time, you must look carefully before answering."
"Also, this time, those who think it's a horse can step forward three steps, and those who think it's a deer should remain in place."
Princess Xinyue said with a smile.
Her cute and sweet smile, at this moment, seemed like a terrifying demon to the eunuchs and palace maids, filling them with dread.
As their lives were at stake, the eunuchs and palace maids repeatedly asked the maids to hold the wood carving for them to examine carefully.
Several groups of people surrounded it and looked at it again and again, but no matter how they looked, they felt it was a horse, not a deer.
Moreover, this item was sent by the Empress to Princess Xinyue, so the eunuchs and palace maids had some idea of what was going on.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Princess Xinyue stood up from her chair and clapped her hands, "Time is almost up. Now, answer this Princess with your actions whether this wood carving is a horse or a deer."
The eunuchs and palace maids exchanged glances. Most of them silently remained in place, lowering their heads and not daring to look at Princess Xinyue.
Only about twenty people gritted their teeth and, under the gaze of others who thought they were fools, stepped forward a few steps, separating themselves from the main group.
After waiting for a moment and seeing no reaction, Princess Xinyue burst into laughter and said, "Mother sent this Princess such an exquisitely carved wood carving, how could anyone not be able to distinguish it? This is clearly a horse!"
As soon as she said this, the twenty-odd people who had stepped forward turned pale, their foreheads sweating from fear.
Those below who thought it was a horse and had not moved felt fortunate and looked at those who had stepped out with schadenfreude.
They thought these people would be tormented by the Princess and have terrible luck.
Unexpectedly, the Princess waved her hand and said, "Alright, all of you who think it's a horse can get out of here and report to the Imperial Household Department again. Those who think it's a deer should stay."
"???"
The eunuchs and palace maids were stunned. Those who thought it was a horse thought they had misheard, while those who thought it was a deer were overjoyed and wept with happiness.
"Do I need to say it again? All of you who think the wood carving is a horse, get out of Qingming Palace! Those who don't even listen to this Princess's words, why should they stay?"
Princess Xinyue reprimanded impatiently.