A Lesson in Uprightness

Based upon a Chinese folk tale.

Long ago, there was an Emperor of China who was good and wise, but had no heirs to inherit the throne and his great fortune. One day, he had a proclamation made that all of the male children of the empire would gather at the palace and be given a test, and that the young man who should pass this test would then be adopted by the Emperor and become the Crown Prince.

The day arrived, and the streets were thick with travelers as families made their way to the square before the Emperor’s great palace. Ling, a young boy who lived with his widowed mother in poverty, also attended, but without any hope of success.

“Mother,” said Ling, “why would the Emperor choose me? I have no wealth, no wisdom nor any education.” Ling’s mother smiled at him. ‘Ling, you are a good boy. You are kind and hard-working. You give of yourself to others. There are more valuable things than money, education and status. Perhaps the Emperor is looking for someone different than you expect.”

Ling trudged to the palace with his mother and listened carefully as the Emperor emerged from his palace with great applause. He spoke.

“Greetings, citizens!” he began. “Now for the test of who shall be our heir. I have a basket with one-thousand seeds here. We shall give one seed to every child to plant and tend - they shall water this seed every day! One year from today, we shall all gather together in this place and we shall see which child is most fit to rule in our stead!” The crowd cheered as the Emperor himself greeted every child who came, handing them a single seed inside a rice paper packet. Ling, too, got his packet and blushed when the Emperor handed him his packet and smiled at him.

When Ling and his mother got home, they ran to find an empty pot in which to plant the single seed. Dreaming of the possibilities, they carefully filled the pot and made a hole in the soil, gently poked the seed in the hole and watered it. Ling would walk down the long, winding path from the village to the river every day to fetch water for his seed. Every day he watered it - and waited.

One week passed - but nothing sprouted. Determined to succeed, Ling watered his plant every day for a month, but no green shoot ever issued. All around him, he could see his friend’s plants in the city begin to shoot and leaf and bloom, and week after week, Ling’s pot remained empty. Two months went by, then three. Ling’s pot remained empty, but his friend’s plants bloomed into the most interesting flowers and fruits. Nonetheless, Ling watered his empty pot, day after day.

Months flew by, then seasons, with Ling unrelenting in his discipline of watering his empty pot every day. His friends would show their plants off proudly, and mock Ling behind his back. Soon, the anniversary day would arrive.

“Mother,” said Ling. “Clearly my effort was a failure. Must we go to the castle today?”

“Why, Ling,” said the mother. “We should go, as the Emperor did ask us to return and show the products of our labors.” Grudgingly, Ling went and lifted the heavy, empty pot, and began a slow, sullen walk to the palace. On the way, Ling saw his friends with magnificent plants, and he thought the situation was hopeless. Nevertheless, he trudged along with his Mother and arrived at the palace.

When the Emperor walked among the beautiful plants that had been brought, he smiled broadly and made many congratulations, but said no other word. He passed by Ling’s lifeless pot and smiled again, but again, said nothing. Ling felt his face get warm and he wanted to leave, but his mother insisted he stay. The Emperor spoke. 

“This has been a most magnificent day!” said the Emperor. “I have seen the fruits of much labor, and many beautiful plants. But - there is one gardener I would especially like to meet. You!” he said as he pointed at Ling. “You, young man. Come here and bring your pot.”

Ling’s shame was unbearable as he dragged the empty vessel to the Emperor. He laid the pot at his feet. “Your Majesty,” Ling said “I have failed you.”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “Now, what is your name young man?”

“My name is Ling”.

“Did you water this seed every day?” The Emperor asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ling replied.

“Well, now as Emperor I will now change your name. From henceforth you will be known as Crown Prince Ling!!”

The crowd gasped in astonishment. Why would the Emperor choose this poor child who could not even grow a plant from a seed?

“Your Majesty,” Ling gasped. “Why me?”

The Emperor explained. “Crown Prince Ling, we did not tell you and the other children this secret. Before we gave you those seeds, we had our servants boil them so they would not sprout when they were planted! You were the only child that did truly honest labor and did not cheat. Of all the children in the District, you were the only one who was disciplined and upright. You shall be our heir.”