In the gardens of the emperor of China lived a nightingale whose song was more beautiful than the palace itself and was storied all over the world.

The artificial bird sang the emperor to sleep each night until its cogs wore down.

Five years later the emperor fell ill, and one night Death sat on his chest showing him the deeds of his past.

The emperor wished for the artificial nightingale to sing away the unpleasant memories, but it was silent.

The nightingale declined to become a guest in the palace again, but offered to come when he would and sing about all that he had seen in the kingdom, if the emperor agreed to keep this a secret between them.