English Original
King Ling of Chu was particularly fond of officials with slender waists.
To curry favor with the king, all the court officials strived to limit their food intake. Some even reduced themselves to just one meal a day.
Before fastening their belts, they would take a deep breath and tighten them as much as possible. As a result, they often had to lean against a wall for support just to stand up.
A year later, all the officials looked wan, sallow, and utterly wretched.
中文翻译
楚国的国君灵王非常喜欢腰身纤细的朝臣。
为了讨好楚王，满朝文武都竭力控制饮食。有些人甚至每天只吃一顿饭。
他们在束紧腰带前，会先深吸一口气，把腰带勒到最紧。结果，他们常常需要扶着墙壁才能站起来。
一年之后，所有官员都变得面色枯黄、憔悴不堪。