Once there was an Emperor who thought he was so brave and powerful. He surrounded his palace with soldiers so that the people would be scared. They would obey his command. He was never gentle and always rough in speaking and in his actions. He thought they made him look tougher. “A tough emperor is good for the kingdom!’ he keeps saying to himself. “I do not have time to listen and answer questions!” he said. “I know what is good for the Kingdom. We need a kingdom of obedient followers.”
But the Emperor was good to his friends and supporters. He appointed them to high positions in the Palace. He was particularly kind to the Generals in his army. He felt very happy and secure in their presence. He gave them gifts and high salaries. One of the servants in the Palace quietly said that the Emperor thinks all problems in the kingdom can be solved by being warlike. Sadly, the Emperor heard about the servant. He was furious and had him arrested. He was put in jail and punished.
The Emperor was also rough on old people. He thought that they were useless and unproductive. He declared an edict that they should stay at home. He also ordered women to stay at home to do household chores. “Unlike men, women are weak!” the Emperor declared.
One day, the Emperor thought that he would test the loyalty of his followers. “A follower of mine should believe in what I say. He should see what I see. He should not oppose whatever I say. Otherwise, he is no friend of mine!” he exclaimed.
He called all his followers to a meeting. He announced his plan to build a new garden. It would be bigger and more beautiful than the old one. But it can only be seen by those who are wise, brave and capable like him. Those who will not be able to see the garden are unworthy and should be driven away.
So every day, the Emperor went to the land beside the Palace and acted as if he were planting. He moved as if he were watering the plants and pulling out the weeds. He clapped and showed delight in seeing his imaginary plants grow.
His followers who were gathered around the garden watched him. They tried very hard to see the plants in the garden. But they could not see any flowers and any trees. They began to be afraid and asked questions to themselves. “Why can’t I see anything?” But they remembered what the Emperor said. “Only the wise, the brave and the capable can see the garden!” They knew they could not see anything. But they were afraid to say it loud. They did not want anybody to think that they were unfit for their office. Worse, they also did not want to admit to themselves that they are unworthy. So, they pretended to see the garden and admire it.
“What do you think of the flowers?” the Emperor asked the Hospital Minister.
“I have not seen flowers that are more beautiful than those!” he answered. The Minister bowed his head and pretended to smell the flowers. “They are very fragrant, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor was pleased with him. He has one loyal follower. He decided that the Minister should keep his post.
He then turned to his Truth Minister and asked him about the trees. “Can you see how thick the trees are with fruits?”
The Truth Minister looked and looked. But he could not see anything. In his mind he was sad because it meant that he was unfit for his office. But he thought that he would not admit it to anyone. So he started to say how bountiful and luscious the fruits were although he could not see them.
The Emperor was pleased. He has another loyal follower. So he asked all his officials to follow him and go around the garden. “Be careful of the holes in the garden!” he pretended to jump to avoid falling into a ditch. Was he pleased to see all his followers jumping to avoid the imaginary ditch!
“Look at the colorful butterflies and listen to the birds sing!” he suggested to the other Ministers. They looked again and again, but could see no birds and butterflies. But if they said that they could not see anything, they would be declared unsuitable to be in the Palace. So, they put their hands over their eyes and pretended to see the birds and the butterfly. The Minister of Money exclaimed “How lovely are their colors. How sweet are the birds’ songs.” Everybody followed him and pretended to follow the butterflies.
And so the Emperor and his minions danced and pranced around the imaginary garden which nobody could see but them. Until, one child exclaimed, “But I cannot see any garden!”
“A child does not know how to tell a lie. I cannot see a garden too!” the father of the child said. Those around him nodded and whispered to one another, “There is no garden, indeed!”
The Emperor heard them but paid no attention. What is important is that he was able to prove how loyal his Ministers and followers were.
It was a sad day for the Kingdom.
But for the Emperor, it was a happy day.