You can't eat money

Once upon a time there was a wealthy empire situated on a great open river, all along the river where traders ports bringing all the treasures of the world.
Most of the people who lived in the empire had an abundance of wealth.
One day an old rich lady looked out towards the sea and pondered upon the richness of the treasures out there.
She called on her work force and commanded the manager to go out and find her the worlds greatest treasure.
"But what shall I bring to you my lady" he replied

She looked at him and told him of all her gold and diamonds of which she had already aquired and remarked that she is still not satisfied and that it is his job to go find the one thing that she needs to be happy.

So off he set sail across the oceans of the world and to all the different lands the great world has to offer.
Till at last he came to a trading port with all the greatest food supplies of the world, he thought to himself, ahhh this must be the greatest treasure for without food, there can be no life.
So he loaded up his ship and returned to the rich lady and showed her his cargo.
Immediatly she looked at the raw food and began to rage at the seaman.
This is not the greatest treasure, this is food for peasents. She ordered him to throw it all back to the sea. This saddened him because he knew many people could benefit from this food. but he was a good employee so he followed orders.
He cursed the old lady as he did it and told her that one day she too will need this food.
She laughed and said very unlikely for I have all the riches of the world. At that she took off her gold ring and threw it into the sea and as she did, spoke the words.
"The day I see this ring again will be the day your words come true"

Many years went by and the empire grew and grew and riches grew and grew.

One day whilst her cook was cutting up some fish to serve for his lady, he happened to come across the gold ring. He served it to the lady and showed her the ring.
Many moons past and with the change of seasons came drought and pestillance, till at last the great empire grew hungry and all the riches it had aquired meant nothing.