Normally, when reading stories about emperors and kings of the past, everyone knows that they lived a luxurious life without doing anything. They didn’t have to lift a finger for anything. Perhaps, living in an environment with hundreds or even thousands of servants and servants made the life of an emperor truly extravagant. Moreover, anyone who made the emperor serve would feel guilty. However, there was one Empress who received all that grace.
That Empress was Phan Ngoc Nhi.
The Emperor did unbelievable things for her. That Empress was Phan Ngoc Nhi.
From a talented singer to Empress
Phan Ngoc Nhi, originally known as Du Ni Tu, was born into a poor family with a father working as a small trader. Her mother was the wet nurse of Tieu Bao Quyen, the 6th Emperor of Nam Te. Phan Ngoc Nhi was born with extraordinary beauty. She not only had fair skin, bright eyes, and clean teeth, but her smile also enchanted everyone.
Her father loved and spoiled her like a precious gem. However, her mother saw her as a valuable “resource” that could help her family change their lives.
Due to difficult circumstances, Phan Ngoc Nhi became a court singer in the imperial capital from a young age. Later on, she managed to enter the palace and appeared in major festivals and events. Perhaps, the hardships of life and exposure to different types of people, along with the harsh living environment, shaped Du Ni Tu into a beautiful woman who knew how to charm men.
When she was 14 years old, Tieu Bao Quyen ascended to the throne at the age of 16. During this time, her mother constantly praised her beauty, flawlessness, elegance, and grace in front of the Emperor. These words made Tieu Bao Quyen infatuated, and he ordered Du Ni Tu to be brought into the palace to meet him.
As soon as he saw the beauty, the emperor was captivated. This girl with fair skin and a captivating smile made “a hundred flowers bloom.” Immediately, the Emperor bestowed upon her the title of Empress, a leap to the clouds. However, that was not the only weapon Du Ni Tu possessed.
As soon as he saw her jade-like bare feet, the Emperor was overwhelmed with desire. Historical records state that this girl came from a lowly background but had feet that even noble ladies envied. Her feet were petite and boneless, as if they had no metatarsal bones. In those times, the smaller a woman’s feet were, the more beautiful they were considered.
Empress Phan Ngoc Nhi fully met those standards. The young Emperor was infatuated with her delicate feet. From the day they became Empress and Emperor, the Emperor’s favorite pastime was to kiss and caress her small and beautiful feet. Historical records state that whenever he looked at the Empress’s feet, Tieu Bao Quyen couldn’t hide his fascinated expression.
Every time he kissed and caressed her feet, Phan Ngoc Nhi blushed and burst into laughter. Tieu Bao Quyen was even more infatuated with her reaction, thinking of it as a special gift.
The aftermath for a dynasty
The Emperor’s excessive favoritism towards himself made Phan Ngoc Nhi become arrogant. She had just entered the palace but didn’t show any respect to the Empress – the head of the harem.
The more infatuated the Emperor was with the Empress, the more he thought of ways to please her, especially by highlighting her feet. He had the Ngoc Tho palace, with walls inlaid with gold, a floor made of white gems, and inlaid pink gems forming lotus flowers on the white gem floor, built for her. The Empress walked on that gem floor every day.
The Emperor was fascinated by watching her bare feet and exclaimed, “Each step turns into pink lotus flowers.” Whatever the Empress wanted, the Emperor found a way to fulfill it. Remembering her past life, the Emperor had a market built in the palace where the palace ladies pretended to be commoners selling goods.
He also allowed the Empress to act as a judge in disputes at the market, while he only served as an attendant and helped her. In front of the Empress, the Emperor became a humble servant. He didn’t hesitate to bow or stoop to “adjust her silk dress and fix her purse.”
Even tasks like giving her a massage or carrying her food were done without complaint. The Emperor was so infatuated with the Empress that he neglected state affairs. The more he indulged her, the more benefits the Empress gained for herself and her family.
Tieu Bao Quyen only worried about pleasing the Empress and didn’t care about the people or the country. On the Phan family’s side, thanks to the benefits gained from their daughter, they also used their full strength to exploit and cause chaos in the capital city. However, they were not afraid of punishment because the Emperor was willing to grant any request from his beloved wife.
The Emperor lived his life as a servant of the Empress, disregarding any laborious tasks. He only indulged in pleasure to win the heart of the beauty. Naturally, this made the people resentful. Their lamentations echoed everywhere.
The Emperor ignored it all. The result was a rebellion. Tieu Dian emerged as the leader, attacked the capital, and killed Tieu Bao Quyen. Nam Te perished in such a way.
At that time, Tieu Dian ascended the throne. Although he was infatuated with Phan Ngoc Nhi’s beauty, he considered the greater good and didn’t take her as his wife. Instead, he married her off to a deserving general.
Upon hearing that decision, Phan Quy Phi objected, claiming that as the wife of the Emperor, she should not become the wife of someone inferior. However, her objection did not change anything. The wedding took place. On their wedding night, Phan Ngoc Nhi hung herself.
