Qin Shuying coldly raised her voice: “If anyone is unconvinced, come measure for yourself. You two, come first.”

Seeing Qin Shuying pointing at them, Granny Peng and Qiao’er were already dissatisfied. When they saw that Liang Yunshan didn’t object, they stood up, moved to the table, and began measuring with their own hands.

After a short while, Granny Peng and Qiao’er looked at each other, clearly very surprised.

Qin Shuying reminded them: “Tell everyone your measurement results!”

Granny Peng and Qiao’er exchanged glances, then told Liang Yunshan: “M-Master, they are indeed the same length and the same size. What… what is going on?”

Seeing that both Granny Peng and Qiao’er confirmed they were the same length and size, the others stopped discussing and became more curious instead.

Liang Yunshan was also very curious and looked toward Liang Zhen: “Zhen’er, what exactly is going on?”

Liang Zhen smiled slightly: “The truth is, they were always the same length and the same size. The reason you thought one was long and one short, one large and one small, was all due to illusion. Many things are not as you see them. What you see and think is one long and one short, but in reality they don’t differ by a fraction. What you see is one large and one small, but actually they’re identical in size. What you see is her, but it may not actually be her. Therefore, don’t easily trust your own eyes, and don’t easily make judgments.”

Liang Yunshan’s expression changed as he looked at that face so similar to Zhao Wanniang’s, his expression showing slight tremor.

Luo Meixiang finally came to her senses—Liang Zhen’s mystical performance was all to lead up to those final two sentences.

Liang Qiong said: “Elder Sister, I understand your meaning now. You’re saying that what Granny Peng and Qiao’er saw wasn’t the truth at all. Is that right?”

Liang Zhen glanced at her lightly and nodded.

Granny Peng and Qiao’er, who had been very agitated before, also fell into contemplation, as if thinking over Liang Zhen’s words.

Liang Qiong sneered: “I thought Elder Sister was so capable, but after all this talk, you’re just trying to fool us. Even if the drawings you just made were the same length and size, even if we saw wrong, so what? What does that have to do with Zao’er’s death?”

Liang Zhen didn’t answer her words but looked at Liang Yunshan and asked: “Father, what do you think of my words?”

Liang Yunshan met Liang Zhen’s calm expression, his face changing slightly. He looked at Granny Peng and Qiao’er, who were waiting for his response, and said: “Zhen’er speaks very reasonably. Granny Peng, think carefully—was it really Lu Ye and the other two at that time?”

A confused expression appeared on Granny Peng’s face, and Qiao’er also began to doubt what she had seen at the time.

Just now, it was clearly obvious that the two lines were one long and one short, and the two red solid circles were one large and one small, but after they measured with their own hands, they turned out to be the same length and the same size.

Could it be that what they saw wasn’t real?

Could it be that they had seen wrong?

Liang Qiong said dissatisfiedly: “Father, they clearly saw it was Lu Ye and the other two at the time. They already explained it very clearly.”

Liang Yunshan remained silent. Seeing that Liang Yunshan was greatly moved, Luo Meixiang hurriedly said: “Qiong’er, don’t be anxious. Your father can cleverly identify spies at the border—how could he be fooled by such petty tricks? Just trust your father—he will definitely get to the bottom of this.”

Reminded by Luo Meixiang’s words, Liang Yunshan had to admit that Liang Zhen’s move was quite impressive. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Granny Peng and Qiao’er, who had been adamant before, immediately became unsteady.

However, Liang Zhen hadn’t used any trickery. He now understood that these two lines were indeed the same length, and the two red solid circles were also the same size. The reason people misjudged was that she had exploited people’s visual illusions and their tendency to trust their senses too readily.

Liang Zhen spoke again: “Father, it would be very simple to investigate this matter clearly.”

Seeing Liang Zhen speak again, Liang Yunshan felt somewhat expectant: “Tell me, Zhen’er.”

Liang Zhen nodded: “Madam, please gather all the people who were on duty today at the gates from Songtao Residence to the second gate and main gate, checking passes and changing tokens, and have them bring their time logs. Everyone must come—not one can be missing.”

Liang Yunshan immediately said to Luo Meixiang: “Listen to Zhen’er and call everyone here.”

Luo Meixiang felt furious inside but didn’t dare disobey, quickly arranging for people to be summoned.

Liang Zhen remained calm and composed with elegant bearing. Luo Meixiang watched with flames of anger shooting from her head. This wasn’t even the worst part—Liang Yunshan actually listened obediently to everything Liang Zhen said, hurrying to do whatever she requested. This made Luo Meixiang even more furious, her chest aching with anger.

Liang Qiong was so angry she nearly shed tears. The moment Liang Zhen spoke, Father forgot all about her—how outrageous!

Soon, all the required people arrived, bringing various logbooks with them.

Liang Zhen had someone bring the logbooks over. After flipping through them, she said: “Father, according to the records in these logbooks, we can trace a clear timeline. At 8:10, Lu Ye and the other two left Songtao Residence. At 8:20, they exited the main gate.”

At this time in the Great Zhou, there was already a timekeeping instrument from overseas called a clock, but such things were extremely rare—ordinary households couldn’t afford them.

However, what kind of household was the Pingxi Earl’s mansion? Naturally they could afford it. The steward’s office also had such devices, clearly recording who went out when and for what purpose.

These clocks calculated time using seconds, minutes, and hours, which corresponded to the ke and hours that the Great Zhou had long used. However, most households couldn’t afford such clocks, so this system of seconds, minutes, and hours hadn’t spread widely—it was only occasionally mentioned in a few noble families.

The obvious advantage of such clocks was that they calculated time with particular precision, accurate to the briefest moment—much more refined than “one incense stick” or “one cup of tea.”

With Liang Zhen’s explanation, everyone understood clearly—Lu Ye and the other two had taken ten minutes, or one-third of a quarter-hour, to travel from Songtao Residence to the earl’s mansion’s main gate.

“During this time, they also had to change tokens at the second gate, which would delay them one minute. In just ten short minutes, how could Lu Ye and the other two have drowned Zao’er and still reached the main gate? Father, I need to use Mingcha and these two again.”

Liang Zhen pointed to the two maids who had helped Mingcha measure the paintings earlier.

Liang Yunshan also heard the inconsistency in this and nodded: “Mingcha, and you two, step forward and follow the young miss’s instructions.”

Mingcha and the two maids stepped forward. Liang Zhen assigned tasks to the three: “Mingcha, you go from Songtao Residence to the main gate at normal walking pace, pretending to throw her into the water at Half Moon Bay along the way. And you, monitor the entire route and record the time.”

Mingcha looked toward Liang Yunshan, who tilted his head: “Listen to the young miss!”

The other two maids and Mingcha didn’t dare say more and immediately went to carry out the task.

Everyone present knew that Liang Zhen was demonstrating Lu Ye and the other two’s movements to find flaws in the timeline.