In the far east emperor was aging, he knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided to do something different.
He called young people one day and said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you." Everybody was shocked, but he continued, "I am going to give everyone a seed, a special one. I want you to plant it, water it and come back after a year with the outcome. I will judge the plant and the one I choose will be the next emperor."
One boy, named Ling, was there that day and he, like everyone, received a seed. He went home and told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and the process. Every day, he would water it and watch to see it grow. Three weeks later, other youth began to talk about their seeds and its progress. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew, even after months.
He didn't say anything to his friends and waited for it to grow. A year passed by and everyone brought their plants for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot, but his mother advised him to be honest.
Ling felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the others. He displaced empty pot on the floor and others laughed at him, where few felt sorry for him.
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room. Ling just tried to hide. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the emperor.
Suddenly, he spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot and ordered his guards to bring him at front. Ling was terrified. The Emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied. He looked at Ling, and announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!"
Then the emperor explained, "one year ago, I gave everyone a seed, but I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow. Expect Ling, Everyone brought trees, plants and flowers. You found that the seed would not grow; you substituted another seed for it. Ling was the only one with courage and honesty."
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