when the princess awoke in the morning and heard all that had befallen , and how the black knight had come to the cottage while she was asleep , and had received his mantle , and had promised to marry the washerwoman 's daughter that very day , her heart was like to break . for now she felt that she never would have the chance of speaking to him and telling him who she really was . and in her sore distress she suddenly remembered the beautiful fruit which she had received on her journey seven long years before , and which she had carried with her ever since . " surely i will never be in a sorer strait than i am now , " she said to herself ; and she drew out the apple and broke it . and , lo and behold ! it was filled with the most beautiful precious stones that she had ever seen ; and at the sight of them a plan came suddenly into her head . she took the precious stones out of the apple , and , putting them into a corner of her kerchief , carried them to the washerwoman . " see , " said she , " i am richer than mayhap thou thoughtest i was . and if thou wilt , all these riches may be thine . " " and how could that come about ? " asked the old woman eagerly , for she had never seen so many precious stones in her life before , and she had a great desire to become the possessor of them . " only put off thy daughter 's wedding for one day , " replied the princess . " and let me watch beside the black knight as he sleeps this night , for i have long had a great desire to see him . " to her astonishment the washerwoman agreed to this request ; for the wily old woman was very anxious to get the jewels , which would make her rich for life , and it did not seem to her that there was any harm in the princess 's request ; for she had made up her mind that she would give the black knight a sleeping - draught , which would effectually prevent him as much as speaking to this strange maiden . 
the youngest princess needed to bribe her .
why did the youngest princess offer the precious stones to the washerwoman ?
why did the youngest princess offer the precious stones to the washerwoman ?