The Wei River is very great in size. A wealthy man from Zheng drowned in it, and someone retrieved his body. The wealthy man’s family sought to buy it, but the one who found the body was asking a great deal of money. The family reported this to Deng Xi, who said, “Do not worry about it. He certainly can sell it to no one else.” The man who found the corpse was anxious about this and reported to Deng Xi, who told him, “Do not worry about it. They certainly will be unable to buy the corpse from someone else.”
The situation of persons who vilify loyal officials resembles this case. Loyal officials are vilified if they fail to win the people, and they are vilified if they win the people. Is it not grievous that rulers lack proper standards and thus have no way of realizing this?

According to the conflict of interest rule, a lawyer cannot advise or represent two parties with opposing interests. However, this is not the issue here.
Deng Xi is counsel for both parties and gives them the same advice, which could benefit both. He misled neither of them.
Unfortunately, the advice does not amount to much. It could lead to an indefinite deadlock.

It can be seen as a kind of joke.