After saying this, the man at the front immediately kowtowed heavily to Song Yaoyao, and those behind him followed suit.
Song Yaoyao looked at both sides. The man on one side was clearly dressed as a steward, while the people on the other side wore clothes covered in patches. They were plainly a group of impoverished commoners.
Song Yaoyao immediately said:
"Get up first. Whatever the matter is, get up and tell us!
We'll judge by who is in the right. We won't favor either side."
"Really?"
"Really. All of you, get up first."
"Yes."
The man dressed as a steward immediately approached, bowed to Song Yaoyao and the others, and said:
"My lord, hurry and arrest these troublemakers! They went into the residence to steal, and we caught them red-handed."
"That's not true, my lord! Don't listen to Steward Hu. We didn't!"
"You clearly did! What did I say that wasn't true?"
"We didn't!"
The two groups argued fiercely, neither giving an inch. Song Qinghui stepped forward and barked:
"All of you, shut up!"
Only then did the argument stop.
Song Yaoyao glanced at the steward and asked:
"What's your name?"
"This humble servant is Hu Qi, the steward of the Hu Residence behind us.
My lord, you must arrest these troublemakers..."
"Shut up. I only asked you for your name. Who told you to say anything else?"
Seeing Song Yaoyao's attitude, the steward dared not say another word.
Song Yaoyao then looked at the leader of the impoverished commoners and asked:
"What's your name?"
"Zhang Fangtian. Fang as in 'set your mind at ease,' and tian as in 'sky.'
The people behind me are villagers from my village."
Song Yaoyao nodded and said:
"Which of you wants to speak first?"
Hu Qi immediately stepped forward and said: