The tragic love story of the Nguyen Dynasty Princess, who was infatuated with a Zen master and died in pain.

No less than any anecdote in Chinese history, in Vietnamese history there is a bitter love story that few people mention. She was the pearl in the hand of King Gia Long, but fell in love with a Zen master and ended her life in suffering.

In the secret history of the Nguyen Dynasty, besides the stories of royalty and conflicts, there are still hidden love tragedies that move people's hearts. One of them is the tragic and tragic fate of Princess Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh - a royal daughter who chose to sacrifice her life to protect her "unimaginable" love with a Zen master. Her story is not only a testament to the cruel fate of women in the royal court, but also a tragic love song about a love that goes beyond all limits, leading to a haunting ending.

From a young age, Princess Ngoc Anh showed a special inclination towards Buddhism. In the midst of the splendid palace, where power struggles and fame reigned, she found peace in the chants and sounds of wooden fish. The princess not only maintained a vegetarian diet, but also diligently went to the pagoda, chanted Buddhist sutras and recited Buddha's name, demonstrating a rare purity and kindness of soul for a princess.

During the years of war and chaos, when the dynasty faced danger, Princess Ngoc Anh and her father took refuge at Dai Giac Pagoda. It was here that her connection with Buddhism became even deeper. Later, when the war situation temporarily calmed down, Princess Ngoc Anh made a surprising and bold decision: she asked Nguyen Anh (later King Gia Long) to allow her to become a nun, vowing to hide at Dai Giac Pagoda, abandoning all worldly glory and wealth.

When the Tay Son dynasty lost the war, Nguyen Anh ascended the throne, and the world situation was decided. As usual, King Gia Long immediately summoned Princess Ngoc Anh back to the capital city of Hue. Although she still missed her life in the Buddhist temple, and could not disobey the king's orders, she had to return to the capital. Although she possessed a beauty that could topple a kingdom and captivate any man, Princess Ngoc Anh still kept a solemn oath: she would not marry, but sincerely recite Buddha's name in her private palace, trying to regain the peace she had lost.

However, fate has decided that whether hiding in a Buddhist temple or a private palace, Princess Ngoc Anh still cannot escape the word "love" - a fateful, cruel word of love.

At that time, the Southern land was famous for a learned and virtuous Zen master named Lieu Dat Thiet Thanh. Although history books did not record his year of birth, his erudition, virtue and temperament made the people of the area extremely respectful and worshipful. According to records, he had a kind and handsome face, a tall figure, and exuded majesty and dignity, making anyone who looked at him feel solemnity and respect.

It is unclear what fate brought them together, but between the "lovesick" princess and the "virtuous" Zen master, an unnameable bond arose. When he learned of the princess's "worldly" feelings, Zen master Lieu Dat Thiet Thanh was extremely distressed. He tried his best to explain the principles, hoping that the princess would soon awaken and not fall into an unjust and adverse love affair. However, the princess's love was deeply ingrained in her heart and could not be resolved.

To avoid entanglement, Zen master Lieu Dat Thiet Thanh left, causing Princess Ngoc Anh to miss him day and night. She went to Tu An pagoda hoping to see him again. However, the Zen master insisted on entering a two-year retreat at Dai Giac pagoda. Princess Ngoc Anh knelt for many days asking to see him, but in the end she only asked to see his hand. Touched, the Zen master agreed, and the princess took his hand, kissing it and crying. That night, the Zen master's retreat caught fire, burning his body. Three days later, unable to bear the pain, Princess Ngoc Anh drank poison, ending her life and her tragic love.

It can be seen that not all women in the past, especially the princesses who were born and raised in the royal palace, had a perfect and happy love. The story of the tragic fate of Princess Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh is such proof.

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