Chapter 126 Theft

Two rows of young palace maids and eunuchs stood respectfully with their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound, waiting for Jiang Huan to make her choice.

Standing to the side, Granny Deng spoke in a calm and measured voice, explaining the key points of the palace rules, the duties of each person, and the taboos of serving the master. She also introduced the origins of these palace maids and eunuchs to Jiang Huan.

Her explanation was clear and logical, insightful yet easy to understand, and both authoritative and insightful. Even Jiang Huan, a "latecomer" to palace life, listened attentively and benefited greatly.

So there are so many tricks to managing palace servants. This Granny Deng is indeed as good as her reputation; every word she says hits the nail on the head.

Yeah, learn from her, and then let's see who dares to bully her... oh no, let's see who dares to run wild in Weiyang Palace.

With Deng Mama's guidance, Jiang Huan felt more confident.

Her selection criteria were simple: clear eyes, quick hands and feet, and a pleasing appearance.

Soon, she selected several palace maids who looked honest and dutiful, and two eunuchs who looked clever but whose eyes were not unfocused.

"These will do," Jiang Huan said, gesturing for Granny Deng to write down the names.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Granny Deng agreed, her gaze sweeping over the people Jiang Huan had chosen, and she nodded almost imperceptibly.

The Empress's judgment in choosing a man for the first time was quite good.

Jiang Huan gave the newly selected people a few simple instructions, which were nothing more than to do their jobs conscientiously and follow the rules. Then she had someone take them to familiarize themselves with the environment and assign them tasks.

She stayed in the palace for a while, but felt a bit stuffy, so she asked Xiao Zhao to push her to the small garden near Weiyang Palace to get some fresh air. Granny Deng naturally followed along.

Just as we rounded a rockery, a dispute broke out at the bend in the flower path ahead.

"I didn't, I really didn't steal it." A woman's voice rang out, trembling with tears, filled with grievance.

"You didn't steal it? Then how did my hairpin end up under your pillow? Caught red-handed, and you still dare to deny it!" Another shrill female voice pressed aggressively.

"I really don't know how it got there, I swear, Sister Yu, you have to believe me..."

"Pah! Who's your sister? You sly thing, I'll teach you a lesson today."

Then came the sounds of pushing and shoving, and suppressed sobbing.

Xiao Zhao immediately tensed up and stood protectively in front of Jiang Huan: "Your Majesty, it looks like something's ahead..."

Jiang Huan frowned slightly and gestured for Xiao Zhao to push her over to take a look.

Two palace maids were seen struggling together. One of them was slightly taller and had a mean look in her eyes, while the other looked younger and was crying with tears streaming down her face.

There were two other women dressed as palace maids standing nearby, seemingly watching the spectacle, or perhaps helping the woman called Sister Yu.

The crying palace maid was pushed and stumbled, falling not far from Jiang Huan's wheelchair.

She raised her face and saw Jiang Huan's gorgeous clothes. It was as if she had seen a savior. She immediately knelt down and crawled a few steps, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, save me! I'm innocent! I really didn't steal Sister Yu's hairpin! Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"

She cried so earnestly, her shoulders heaving, looking incredibly pitiful.

The palace maid called Sister Yu and the two beside her also hurriedly knelt down, their faces filled with panic.

"This servant greets Your Highness. I have disturbed Your Highness. This servant deserves to die."

Such scenes were not uncommon in the imperial harem.

Should one soften and step forward to stop them, or wisely choose to avoid the situation and take a detour? Or perhaps...?

Granny Deng remained silent, but her gaze fell on Jiang Huan's face with scrutiny.

"What's going on?" Jiang Huan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an inherent authority.

Sister Yu spoke up quickly, her tone indignant: "Your Majesty, I lost my silver hairpin, a keepsake left to me by my mother. It was found under this lowly servant's pillow. Caught red-handed, she still dares to deny it."

The young palace maid cried even harder, shaking her head desperately: "No, Your Highness, this morning when I got up to make the bed, I didn't see any hairpin at all. Someone must have framed me. Please, Your Highness, do justice for me!"

She cried her heart out; her helpless and pitiful appearance would evoke pity in anyone who saw her.

Xiao Zhao's face already showed a look of pity: "Your Majesty, she's crying so hard, it doesn't seem like she's faking it..."

Doesn't it look like it?

Jiang Huan narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze lingering on the little palace maid's face for a moment.

Yes, the tears were real, the fear was real, but the resentment and panic in her eyes were also quite real.

In her past life, she watched those scabs at her workstation every day, tearing each other apart, each stabbing the other in the back.

The moment the leader arrived, she burst into tears, claiming she was the greatest wronged woman in the world, a victim of a terrible injustice.

I've long since developed a keen eye for detail, okay?

The person in front of me has such shifty eyes; he's clearly guilty.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Huan leaned close to Xiao Zhao's ear and whispered, "Go and fetch some paint water."

Although Xiao Zhao didn't know what Jiang Huan wanted to do, she quickly ran back into the palace and soon brought back a bowl of light blue water.

"Since I'm passing by today, I'll just lend a hand."

Jiang Huan took the bowl, cleared her throat, and said in a pretentious tone, "This bowl of water is no ordinary thing. Anyone who has touched a silver hairpin will have their hands change color after touching this water."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone, "If anyone has something to hide, it's not too late to confess now."

The palace maid named Sister Yu looked shocked: "Your Majesty, is there really such magical water in this world?"

Granny Deng frowned slightly, but quickly understood Jiang Huan's intention.

"I'm ignorant and ignorant. If Her Majesty says so, then it is so. You lot, why don't you hurry up and do it?"

Jiang Huan mentally gave Deng Mama a thumbs up.

As expected of a seasoned veteran, their teamwork was flawless.

Xiao Zhao also realized what was happening and immediately chimed in, "That's right, how could Her Majesty's method be fake? You guys hurry up!"

The three innocent palace maids looked at each other, somewhat uneasy, but still obediently put their fingers into the bowl.

Sure enough, their fingers changed color slightly after being dipped in the paint.

When it was the young palace maid's turn, she cried even harder, reaching out her hand with trembling hands.

Jiang Huan squinted, carefully observing her movements.

The little palace maid lightly touched the edge of the bowl with her finger, seemingly getting it wet, but in reality, her fingertip didn't even get wet.

Jiang Huan was secretly pleased. Good grief, trying to play this trick on her?

She feigned surprise and exclaimed, "That's strange! All their hands have changed color, but yours is the only one that hasn't changed!"

Upon hearing this, the young palace maid immediately said, "Your Highness, doesn't this prove that I didn't touch the silver hairpin? Can you clear my name?"

Jiang Huan shook her head and looked at her with a smile.

"This is just a bowl of ordinary water mixed with dye. It has no magical use at all. The fact that your fingers aren't stained only proves that you're guilty."

As she spoke, she put her hand in, and when she took it out, it was stained with color.

The young palace maid immediately realized she had fallen into a trap, and her face turned deathly pale.

When she realized she had been exposed, she finally couldn't hold back anymore, and her face was covered in snot and tears.

"Your Majesty, please spare me! I was just momentarily bewitched and that's why I committed this wrongdoing!"