Half the Gift

Tenali Rama wished to become a courtier, so he set out to meet the emperor. However, when he reached the palace, the royal guards refused to admit him. Tenali explained that he had come a long way to meet the benevolent emperor. 

Suddenly, the guards' eyes gleamed with greed. "So you have come from afar? Then surely the emperor will give you a gift. We will let you in on the condition that you give us half of what he gives you."

Tenali agreed. He then went inside and bowed to the emperor, who asked him what he desired. Tenali requested fifty lashes.

The emperor was taken aback. "What a strange request! Why do you desire this?"

Tenali recounted his encounter with the guards. The emperor was furious. He ordered that the guards be brought in and lashed fifty times. 

Won over by Tenali's ingenuity, the emperor appointed him a minister.