During the Jin Dynasty, the great general Du Yu was also a renowned scholar, and his son Du Xi gained fame at a young age for his vast knowledge, eventually being invited by the Prince of Changsha to serve as a literary advisor. After several promotions, Du Xi became the crown prince's attendant, handling affairs for Crown Prince Min Huai, drafting imperial edicts, and directly participating in top-secret work.
During the Western Jin Dynasty, Crown Prince Minhuai, son of Emperor Hui, was a dim-witted and reckless young man who often acted unreasonably. The loyal and outspoken official Du Xi, concerned for the dynasty's future, repeatedly admonished the prince. One day, Du Xi earnestly advised, "Your Highness, you must study diligently and govern wisely, for the sake of the realm." Annoyed by the constant lectures, the prince decided to teach Du Xi a lesson. He secretly placed large needles in the cushion of Du Xi's seat. When Du Xi sat down, the needles pierced him painfully, but he endured the discomfort without complaint. Later, when Emperor Hui asked Du Xi why he seemed uneasy, Du Xi replied, "Your Majesty, I have no words to describe my discomfort." The emperor, unaware of the prank, simply laughed it off. This story illustrates how a foolish prince, instead of heeding wise counsel, resorted to petty tricks to silence his advisor. Today, the idiom "needles in the seat" is used to describe a hidden danger or an uncomfortable situation.
Crown Prince Minhuai was unmoved by Du Xi's earnest advice and instead harbored resentment, secretly plotting to humiliate Du Xi.
One day, Crown Prince Minhuai secretly ordered his attendants to stick numerous needles into the felt mat where his advisor Du Xi regularly sat.
Sure enough, Du Xi, unsuspecting, sat down as usual to attend to official business; instantly, sharp needles pierced his buttocks, drawing blood and causing excruciating pain.
The next day, Crown Prince Minhuai deliberately asked Du Xi, "Did something happen to you yesterday?"
Du Xi understood that the needle in the blanket was placed there by the crown prince as a prank, because the prince resented his blunt advice. But Du Xi, not wanting to expose the prince, pretended to be oblivious and replied, "I was drunk yesterday and can't recall what happened."
Du Xi had no choice but to swallow his anger and let the matter drop.
Based on this story, later generations used the idiom "like sitting on a bed of nails" to describe being restless and uneasy due to hidden troubles, or to depict being in a difficult and anxious situation.
Source: *Book of Jin*, "Biography of Du Xi"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "如坐针毡" came to describe how being restless and uneasy due to hidden troubles, or to depict being in a difficult and anxious situation.