It so happened that for several days in a row the king ate food without any joy or pleasure. And what kind of dishes were there at the royal table! But the sovereign only sighed. He touches the dishes lightly and quickly goes to his chambers.
“Tell me,” the king turned to the cunning Sieng Mieng, “can you help my trouble?” Previously, it happened that I ate food with joy and pleasure. And now...” The king waved his hand in despair. - Heal me, find a miracle cure.
- A miracle cure for you, Your Majesty? - asked Sieng Mieng.
“Yes, for me,” the sovereign said pleadingly.
- I have a miracle cure. Allow me to immediately go after him, tomorrow I will deliver you this healing potion,” the rogue bowed. “But, Your Majesty, there is only one condition.” I beg you not to eat any food until I return.
And Xieng Mieng left the royal palace.
The entire next day the sovereign did not touch food; from early morning until late evening he walked through the halls of the palace and kept looking out for Sieng Mieng to see if he was bringing a miracle cure. I waited and waited - all in vain. The king began to feel a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach from hunger. He ordered dinner to be served and ate with pleasure. As soon as he washed his fingers after dinner, Sieng Mieng appeared in the palace.
“I’ve been fasting since the morning, I didn’t eat anything in anticipation of your miraculous potion,” the king said reproachfully, “but now everything has gone to waste: I had dinner without waiting for it.”
- May I ask, Your Majesty, did you enjoy your dinner? — asked Xieng Mieng.
- ABOUT! I ate so well! Perhaps I have never dined with such pleasure in my life!
“In that case, Your Majesty, I have healed you,” said Sieng Mieng modestly.
“How is this?” the king was amazed.
- Yes. It’s not for nothing that they say: “If you’re full, abstain from eating; if you’re hungry, every dish will seem tasty.”
Sieng Mieng bowed and left the palace. The king realized that the rogue had cleverly tricked him, and he blushed with anger to the very tips of his ears.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru