Once upon a time, there was an emperor who ruled over a large plateau. The plateau was surrounded by beautiful wetlands, home to many different ethnic groups. The emperor was very proud of his land and the rich history it held. One day, while exploring the wetlands, the emperor came across an interesting artifact. It was a small box made of silk and had intricate calligraphy on it.

The emperor was curious and opened the box to find a scroll inside. The scroll was written in a language that the emperor could not understand, but he knew it was special. He asked the scholars in his kingdom to decipher the scroll, but they all refused, claiming that it was forbidden knowledge.

The emperor was determined to uncover the secrets of the scroll, so he traveled to different parts of the plateau to meet with different ethnic groups and learn about their culture and traditions. After much searching, he finally found a wise old man who could read the scroll.

The old man told the emperor that the scroll held the secrets of how to make the finest silk in all the land. The emperor was thrilled and immediately ordered the creation of a silk factory to begin producing the finest silk. The silk was so beautiful and soft that it quickly became the most sought after material in all the land. The emperor made sure to export the silk to all the neighboring kingdoms, spreading his wealth and fame far and wide.

And so, the emperor became known as the ruler of the land of the finest silk, all thanks to the knowledge he discovered in the forbidden scroll.

Reflections

1. Why was the scroll forbidden?
2. How did the emperor find the old man who could read the scroll?
3. Why did the other scholars refuse to decipher the scroll?
4. Why did the emperor become famous?
5. How did the ethnic groups on the plateau contribute to the story?