Consort Guo

Concubine Guo, born in the early 1390s and died in 1425, was a woman of the Ming imperial family. Her father, Guo Ming, was a collateral son of Guo Ying, a founding meritorious minister of the Ming Dynasty. Her mother, Xu, was the daughter of Xu Cheng. She had brothers Guo Cong and Guo Xuan, as well as a younger sister. Guo Guifei entered the palace at an early age and became a concubine of Ming Renzong Zhu Gaochi. Letters from her are included in the collection "Yuqing Xun Yi Ji," suggesting she entered the palace around the fifth or sixth year of the Yongle reign (1407–1408). She bore three sons for Ren Zong: Zhu Zhanyan (born 1417), Zhu Zhanji (born 1411), and Zhu Zankai (born 1409).

In the 22nd year of Yongle (1424), her husband Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne, and she was granted the title of Guifei (Imperial Concubine). The following month, her family was rewarded—her father Guo Ming was posthumously awarded the noble title of Marquis of Wuding, and her brother Guo Xuan was also made Marquis of Wuding. The Guo family’s noble rank was higher than that of the Empress Zhang family. In the first year of Hongxi (1425), Emperor Ren Zong died, and Guo Guifei was buried with him. She was posthumously awarded the epithet "Gong Su" (Respectful and Solemn). Historical records do not clearly explain the reason for her being buried with the emperor; there are various speculations and controversies surrounding it.