An Aesop: Sometimes, the truth is more interesting than hearing an embellished story.
No Ending: Both in Sagwa's story and more-or-less the episode end on this note. Sagwa doesn't end her first story on the principle that it's all one big lie that's garnering more trouble than it should. And in the episode, we don't get to see how Sagwa tells the rest of the true story to her friends and family.
Magistrate Loses his Post
Foreshadowing: The Messenger's clumsiness and second-guessing if he has the right message for the Magistrate tells the audience that whatever message he gave, it's not the right one.
Heroic BSoD: The Magistrate and Tai-Tai are pretty devastated to hear they won't be the rulers of their little kingdom anymore.
Pet the Dog: Played with. In this case, it's "Pet the Cat". The Sleeve Dogs may have nasty attitudes towards the Miao Siblings, but at hearing the Cook needs fish to prepare the Magistrate's last meal, they set aside their differences to help catch that fish.
Status Quo Is God: As it turns out, the Magistrate is not going to be relieved of his duty. The real message was that he's doing a good job.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Remember that wrong message that said the Foolish Magistrate would no longer be ruler of his kingdom? What of the magistrate who will receive that message? Whoever he is, it paints a picture that for all the Foolish Magistrate's incompetence, there's a magistrate significantly worse than he is.
