【Source】Lu Guimeng (Tang Dynasty), "Song of the Wanderer on Rivers and Lakes" (Jianghu Sanren Ge).
【Meaning】Nú: slave; Yán: face; Bì: maidservant; Xī: knees, implying kneeling. Literally, it describes a face as servile and flattering as a slave's, and knees that kneel as obsequiously as a maidservant's. It is used to depict someone who behaves like a complete lackey, shamelessly flattering and fawning upon others.
【Historical Anecdote】
In the second year of Jingkang, during the reign of Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty (1127 AD), the Jurchen (Jin) army marched southward, sweeping through undefended territories and swiftly capturing Bianliang (present-day Kaifeng, Henan), taking Emperors Huizong and Qinzong captive. This event is historically known as the "Humiliation of Jingkang." Following this catastrophe, Zhao Gou, younger brother of Emperor Qinzong (Zhao Huan), ascended the throne in Ying天府 (present-day Shangqiu, Henan) with the help of his ministers, establishing the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, the capital was moved to Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). The regime merely clung to survival, accepting all unreasonable demands from the Jurchen without resistance. By the time of Emperor Lizong, the appointment of the treacherous minister Jia Sidao as chancellor further plunged the court into chaos.
Jia Sidao, styled Shixian, gained entry into officialdom through the "skirt connections" of his sister, who had been selected as a Noble Consort in the imperial harem. Extremely adept at flattery and sycophancy, Jia quickly rose to become a high-ranking regional official. He later advanced to the positions of Cenzhizhengshi (Vice Chancellor) and Zhishumi Yuan Shi (Chief Military Commissioner), gradually seizing control of state power. In the first year of Kaiqing under Emperor Lizong (1259 AD), Ezhou came under siege by the Mongols. Jia Sidao led reinforcements, but even before battle commenced, he secretly offered tribute and submitted to the Mongols as a vassal. The Mongols, having gained tangible benefits, promptly withdrew their forces. Jia, however, falsely reported the event as a "great victory." Unaware of the truth, Emperor Lizong promoted him to the position of Right Chancellor. Subsequently, Jia Sidao schemed to eliminate political rivals, consolidating all court authority in his own hands.
After Emperor Lizong’s death, Emperor Duzong ascended the throne. Jia Sidao was further enfeoffed as Grand Tutor (Taishi), and all state affairs were discussed in his private residence. When Xiangyang was besieged by the Mongols for four years, Jia Sidao did nothing but beg for mercy. Most officials in the court were his cronies, except for one man, Chen Zhongwei, who dared to expose his crimes. Chen Zhongwei, styled Zhiguang, had previously been dismissed from office for offending Jia Sidao. After his reinstatement, he continued to submit memorials criticizing current policies, declaring: "The conduct of the sovereign and the performance of the chancellor are both gravely deficient!" He condemned both the emperor and chancellor for their incompetence, noting that during the reigns of Emperors Huizong and Gaozong, the situation was similar: emperors were incompetent, chancellors were treacherous, and the corrupt officials first fawned upon the emperor to enjoy luxury and glory, only to later surrender to the enemy and submit as vassals. Chen urged Emperor Duzong and Jia Sidao to take the historical mistakes of the Huizong and Gaozong eras as warnings and not to continue neglecting the vital affairs of the state. In his memorial to Emperor Duzong, Chen Zhongwei used the phrase "bending the head and baring the heart, crawling and kowtowing" (fǔ shǒu tǔ xīn, nú yán bì xī) to describe these treacherous and sycophantic officials.