The Seed

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy Emperor that was growing old. He knew it was time to choose an heir, so he ordered his guards to fetch every young child in the kingdom.

When they were all gathered in front of him, he stepped down and said, “It has come to my attention that I am not as young as I once was. For this reason, I will be choosing a new Emperor to take my place.”

He motioned to the guards, which then gave each child a seed.

“I will be giving you each a seed. You will care for it, water it, then bring it back one year from now. I will then judge what you bring, and choose your new Emperor!”

Jin was given a seed just like all the other children. He went home and told his family about what the Emperor had said.

“I will surely grow the largest plant,” he announced.

You see, Jin was used to getting everything he wanted. He was the son of a wealthy family, and he never once had to do a chore.

He took the seed to his room, which was decorated with precious metals, and placed it on a table.

He then watered it everyday, but after about four weeks, nothing had grown!

Some of the other children were talking about their plants at school, and Jin felt very embarrassed.

“Today I will buy the biggest plant I can find at the Market,” he thought to himself.

After class, he ran to the Market and bought a plump green Evergreen shrub. He placed it in the nicest pot he could find, and carried it back home.

After waiting what felt like forever, it was time to show the Emperor his plant.

When he got to the courtyard, everyone had different plants and bushes and flowers.

Jin felt proud of his decision to cheat after seeing a small boy without any plant at all.

He chuckled at him, then turned his direction to the Emperor.

“Today I will judge what you have brought,” said the Emperor.

He looked at all the different plants the children had brought, but his eyes stopped at someone behind him.

He smiled, then said “Come on up here boy.”

The same boy who came without a plant walked up to the Emperor.

“What's your name?” asked the Emperor.

“Ling,” replied the boy, whose hands were shaking.

The Emperor smiled again, “Behold your new Emperor!”

Jin couldn't believe it. Why did he, who did not grow a plant at all, get to be the new Emperor?

“An year ago,” shouted the Emperor, “I gave you each a boiled seed. They could not grow, and Ling was the only one who came back with it. He is the most honest, therefore he is the new Emperor!”

After that day, Jin never told a lie.

The End