The Emperor declared that all unmarried males in China were eligible. The first contestant to complete the three tasks--named by the Emperor--to the Emperor's satisfaction would earn the Princess' hand in marriage. The winner also would become the new emperor. There was just one draw back. Bamboo straws, each containing descriptions of different punishments, would be drawn to determine the fate of those who failed the tests.

Soon after the announcement was made, thousands of potential suitors came from all directions to try their luck. As they were making their way to the palace, a young farmer named Lon Fu was busy going about his daily chores. Lon Fu chose to ignore the contest because he was content with his simple, peaceful life. Lon Fu's friends, Da Roo and Sou Chiu, on the other hand, each had a strong desire to marry the Princess. They headed for the palace, leaving Lon Fu behind.

Three months later a nervous messenger arrived with news of Da Roo and Sou Chiu. Both young men had failed. Their fate for failing was not fortunate. Their executions were scheduled to take place in one month. "I must go to them immediately." Lon Fu packed the three pieces of gold that he had saved and headed for the palace.

Lon Fu's journey was uneventful until the twenty-third day when he reached the village near the palace. There he met an old lady who was about to kill a little meadowlark. Lon Fu offered one of the gold pieces to the old lady, bargaining for the meadowlark's life. The old lady grabbed the gold piece and dashed off cheerfully.

"If ever you are in trouble, whistle for me . . . three times," the meadowlark said gratefully, then she flew off.

Lon Fu went on with his journey. Shortly after, he came upon a hunter. The hunter had a bow and an arrow in his hands, and he was aiming at something inside a big hole in the ground. The hunter warned: "Stay back! It is a strange, ugly, and monstrous beast. It has just seen the end of its days!"

"What a big, brown, fluffy fellow," Lon Fu exclaimed, upon seeing the animal. Then he took out his second piece of gold to trade for the animal's life. The hunter snatched the gold piece and hurried off happily.

"It was a good thing that you happened by. I will not forget you," said the animal, before it raced off..

Lon Fu, then, went to the prison where he, Da Roo, and Sou Chiu had an emotional reunion. Afterwards, Lon Fu rushed to offer the last piece of gold he had to the Emperor's most trusted High Priest. He asked the High Priest to carry a message to the Emperor for him.

"Bring him to me immediately!" the Emperor demanded, after receiving the High Priest. "What is your name? Have I heard correctly? Am I to understand that you have come to offer your own life for your friends'?" the Emperor asked.

"Yes, my most honorable Emperor. Your humble servant, Lon Fu, has come to do just that."

"Your friends knew the risks involved when they came here. I will agree to no such trade--one life for two? Now, make me a better offer."

"My dear Emperor, would a man who succeeds in completing your three tasks be worthy of these two men's lives?"

"If such a man existed, he would be worth a million times more," said the Emperor.

"Then I shall enter the contest. If I should succeed, I shall not have the Emperor's fairest daughter. I shall not have the emperor's throne. I ask only that the lives of two men--Da Roo and Sou Chiu--be spared."

"This I will agree to. But, if you should fail, you will be subjected to possible punishment as well. You must be tired from the long journey. Go and rest! Let the contest begin this afternoon."

Lon Fu had not intended to enter the contest when he first came to the palace. Now faced with it, he was lost. He whistled for the meadowlark.

"Yes, my kind one," the meadowlark sang as she came to answer Lon Fu's call. "Beware of cushions filled with leaves of the poisonous plants from the Emperor's secret garden. They are sure to make any man sick," the meadowlark warned. Lon Fu thanked the meadowlark before he was led away to see the Emperor.

Standing by his throne, the Emperor received Lon Fu. The Emperor instructed: "Legend has it that ONLY the chosen one may sit upon the throne. Illness will fall on those for whom the throne was not meant to be, as thousands of men have discovered. Come, Lon Fu, come and sit on the emperor's throne . . . for five minutes. If after doing so, you do not become sick, then you will be said to have our God's blessing--you may be his chosen one."

Lon Fu bowed. "My most honorable Emperor. Your humble servant is but a poor farmer. One who does not deserve such soft, comfortable cushions to sit on. Might I ask that they be removed so that I may remind myself of the suffering my friends are having to endure?"

"Well spoken--remove the cushions!" the Emperor ordered.

Lon Fu was escorted back to his resting quarters when his five-minutes on the throne was up. He was then subjected to a three-day physical examination. To everyone's surprise, Lon Fu stayed as healthy as could be.

"Hear my second requirement," said the Emperor. "I have a powerful and mighty beast--a gift from the King of France. It is said that the mere presence of a GREAT ONE makes such a beast shiver. I wish to have the beast confirm your worth. If he does so, so would I. Bring in the lion and let him JUDGE this man."

Everyone trembled as the guards, with whips and swords, lined up to protect the crowds when the lion was brought to the Emperor. The lion roared ferociously at everyone. However, the instant the lion saw Lon Fu, he promptly kneeled and bowed. "My great one, how may I serve you?"

Everyone, including the Emperor, was surprised at how easily Lon Fu had tamed the beast. No one, of course, knew that the Emperor's lion was the very same beast whose life Lon Fu had saved.

"Here is my last request. You must present me with a WORTHY gift. One that I do not already have but desire with all my heart. You have three days to accomplish this," the Emperor told Lon Fu.

As soon as they heard, the rich and powerful merchants came to offer their valuable possessions to Lon Fu. There were dazzling clocks made of gold and emeralds; dancing dolls dressed in the finest silk and the most exquisite diamonds and pearls; mechanical singing birds decorated with the most beautiful bird feathers and costly stones; and countless other expensive and rare gifts.

Still, the lion and the meadowlark, who knew what the Emperor did not already have in his treasury, shook their heads. Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, Lon Fu came upon the gift that he HOPED would satisfy the Emperor's specifications. Back to the palace . . . and to the Emperor, he went. Spectators surrounded and filled the inside of the palace. They came to wish Lon Fu well.

"Have you brought me a precious gift? One that I do not already have and one I desire with all my heart?" asked the Emperor.

"My most honorable Emperor, I have," replied Lon Fu.

"You have? Such a gift? Where is it? What is it?"

"Only my dear Emperor can be the judge of its worth."

"Show it to me, quickly! I will judge its worth."

"My dear Emperor, I have brought you a son-in-law. You are looking at him."

A minute had not passed before the Emperor burst into laughter. "Go, release Da Roo and Sou Chiu from the prison! And, bring me the Princess!" ordered the Emperor. Then he signaled for Lon Fu to approach him. "I . . . WILL ACCEPT YOUR GIFT. You shall be my SON-IN-LAW, for I have none and I DESIRE one WHOLE-HEARTILY! The new emperor, you also shall be."

The crowd cheered in excitement, joy, and relief. There was, of course, a big wedding and celebration.

(THE END)

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last updated: 5.18.96