Once upon a time, there was a scribe (the secretary of the past) known for his flattery towards officials. Whenever he spotted something slightly unusual, he would seize the opportunity to comment on it. One day, while an official was seated in court, the scribe stood beside him and noticed a duck sleeping in the yard, balancing on one leg. The scribe decided to make a comment:
– Your Excellency, the duck…
To his surprise, the duck woke up and lowered its leg. The official turned to him and asked:
– What about the duck, scribe?
Caught off guard and unsure of what to say, the scribe blurted out:
– Your Excellency, the duck has two legs!
Hearing the scribe’s nonsensical remark, the official responded:
– If a duck doesn’t have two legs, then how many legs does it have, scribe!
