THE CASE:
The Emperor’s jade cricket box had been stolen from the imperial bedchamber. The chief of guards had narrowed the suspects down to two palace servants. Because neither would confess, the Emperor had decided to execute them both.
Then the court magician intervened. Through his magic arts, he would identify the true thief so that the innocent man could live. The emperor consented to this plan, and gathered both suspects into his courtyard.
The magician asked each servant to cut a stalk of bamboo. He then shoved the two bamboo stalks into the ground, exposing only the upper foot of each stalk. He then said, “Each bamboo now holds the spirit of the man who cut it. At dawn, when we return to this spot, we will know which man stole the box.” He then explained how his magic would work.
THE MYSTERY:
What was the magician’s explanation of his magic plan? And how did he identify the guilty servant at dawn?
The Emperor’s jade cricket box had been stolen from the imperial bedchamber. The chief of guards had narrowed the suspects down to two palace servants. Because neither would confess, the Emperor had decided to execute them both.
Then the court magician intervened. Through his magic arts, he would identify the true thief so that the innocent man could live. The emperor consented to this plan, and gathered both suspects into his courtyard.
The magician asked each servant to cut a stalk of bamboo. He then shoved the two bamboo stalks into the ground, exposing only the upper foot of each stalk. He then said, “Each bamboo now holds the spirit of the man who cut it. At dawn, when we return to this spot, we will know which man stole the box.” He then explained how his magic would work.
THE MYSTERY:
What was the magician’s explanation of his magic plan? And how did he identify the guilty servant at dawn?
THE CLUES:
1. This might have been the original Pinocchio story.
2. The courtyard was left unguarded that night.
THE ANSWER:
2. The courtyard was left unguarded that night.
THE ANSWER:
Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!
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2 comments:
The magician stated that the bamboo touched by the innocent man would grow more quickly than that planted by the guilty man.
That night he advised the emperor to make it appear as if the courtyard were unguarded, but when the thief entered to plant a new longer piece of bamboo they had him in a nice neat trap.
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