The White Snake

Once upon a time, in a distant kingdom, there lived a wise and powerful king. This king was admired for his wisdom, but what the people didn’t know was that the source of his knowledge came from a mysterious secret: every day, a special dish was prepared for him, one that no one else was allowed to see or touch. This dish contained a white snake, and by eating a piece of it each day, the king was able to understand the language of animals.

One day, a young servant who worked in the royal household was overcome by curiosity. Wondering what made the dish so special, he secretly lifted the cover of the plate when the king was not looking and took a small piece of the white snake to taste. As soon as he did, he found that he could suddenly understand the speech of animals around him. Birds, insects, and even the smallest creatures spoke in voices only he could hear.

Soon after, the queen lost her most valuable ring, and suspicion fell on the young servant. The king, knowing the young man had no wealth, thought he might have stolen it, so he summoned him.

King (sternly): "If you do not return the ring by tomorrow, you will be punished!"

The servant, terrified, knew he was innocent but had no idea where the ring could be. That evening, as he sat in despair, he heard the soft chatter of sparrows outside the palace window. One sparrow spoke of something shiny it had seen in the courtyard.

Sparrow (chattering): "In the pond by the palace, a duck swallowed something shiny this morning."

Realizing the sparrow spoke of the missing ring, the servant hurried to the pond. He called for a duck to be caught, and when it was, the ring was indeed found inside its belly. The servant returned the ring to the king and was spared from punishment. Grateful for the young man's honesty, the king rewarded him with gold and allowed him to leave the royal service to seek his fortune.

With his new wealth, the young servant set off on a journey through the kingdom. Along the way, he used his newfound ability to understand animals to help those in need. One day, he heard three fishes trapped on the shore, gasping for water.

Fish (gasping): "Help us, and we will remember your kindness."

The servant quickly threw the fish back into the water, saving their lives. As they swam away, they promised to help him if he ever needed it.

A little further on, he came across an ant hill that some travelers had trampled. The servant stopped to help the tiny ants rebuild their home.

Ants (gratefully): "You have saved our home, and we will repay your kindness one day."

The servant smiled and continued on his way. Later, he encountered three ravens whose nest had been destroyed. The young man gathered the broken twigs and carefully rebuilt the nest, ensuring the birds had a safe place to rest.

Ravens (cawing): "You have saved our family. We will not forget."

After many adventures, the servant arrived at a grand city where the king's daughter, a beautiful princess, lived. The princess had set a challenge for all her suitors: whoever could complete three impossible tasks would win her hand in marriage. Many noblemen had tried and failed, but the servant, confident in the help of his animal friends, decided to try his luck.

The first task was to retrieve a golden ring from the bottom of the sea. The servant stood at the shore, unsure of how to proceed, when suddenly, the three fish he had saved appeared.

Fish (bubbling from the water): "We will help you, friend."

They dove deep into the sea and quickly brought back the golden ring, completing the first task.

The second task was to gather ten sacks of the smallest seeds scattered across a vast field. It seemed impossible, but just as the servant was about to give up, the ants he had helped came marching toward him.

Ants (in unison): "We owe you a debt. We will collect the seeds for you."

In no time, the ants had gathered all the seeds, and the second task was completed.

For the third and final task, the princess demanded that the servant bring her the most beautiful apple from the Tree of Life, which grew in a faraway land. This was the hardest task yet, but the servant was determined to succeed. As he stood wondering where to find the tree, the ravens he had saved flew down from the sky.

Ravens (cawing): "We know where the Tree of Life grows. We will fetch the apple for you."

The ravens soared over mountains and valleys, returning with the apple in their beaks. The servant presented it to the princess, completing the final task.

The princess, amazed that the humble servant had accomplished the impossible, saw his kindness and determination. She fell in love with him and agreed to marry him. The king, impressed by the young man's success, welcomed him into the royal family.

Thanks to his kindness to animals and his ability to understand their language, the servant became a beloved prince, and he and the princess lived happily ever after.