Empress Xiaoquancheng

Empress Xiaoquancheng (24 March 1808 – 13 February 1840) was a consort of the Daoguang Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She belonged to the Manchu Niohuru clan, which was part of the Bordered Yellow Banner. Her personal name has not been recorded in historical texts. Her family originally belonged to the Plain Red Banner.

Her father was Yiling, who served as a first rank military official (駐防將軍) in Suzhou and held the title of a third class duke (三等公). Her paternal grandfather was Mukedengbu, who died in 1803. Her mother was Lady Uya, and she had at least one sibling, a brother named Enxu.

Empress Xiaoquancheng was born during the Jiaqing Emperor’s reign, specifically on the 28th day of the second lunar month in 1808, corresponding to 24 March in the Gregorian calendar. She spent her early years in Suzhou.

In 1821, she participated in the Elegant Ladies’ Selections, a court event. The Daoguang Emperor saw her at this event and became enamored, leading to her entering the Forbidden City. She was initially granted the title "Noble Lady Quan". She rose through the ranks over the next few years: on 28 December 1822, she was promoted to "Concubine Quan"; on 26 December 1823, to "Consort Quan"; on 30 May 1825, to "Noble Consort Quan".

During her time as consort, she gave birth to several of the Emperor’s children. On 8 April 1825, she bore the third daughter, Princess Duanshun of the First Rank, who died prematurely on 27 December 1835. She also gave birth to the fourth daughter, Princess Shou'an of the First Rank, on 12 May 1826, and her fourth son, Yizhu, on 17 July 1831. Reports from 1831 indicate that her pregnancy received significant medical attention, especially in the last five weeks before labor.

Following the death of the first empress consort, Empress Xiaoshencheng, on 16 June 1833, Noble Consort Quan was entrusted with overseeing the imperial harem, and on 28 September 1833, she was elevated to "Imperial Noble Consort."

On 18 November 1834, she was officially instated as the empress consort of the Daoguang Emperor. As empress, she was favored by the Emperor but maintained a strict demeanor towards the other women in the palace, often punishing palace women and disfavoring those who posed a threat, such as Empress Xiaojingcheng.

Her death occurred on 13 February 1840. The cause of her death was not documented, but some speculate that she may have been murdered by Empress Dowager Xiaoherui due to personal conflicts and her contentious relationship with other court figures. After her death, she was posthumously granted the title "Empress Xiaoquan" on 2 May 1840. She was interred in the Mu Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs on 20 November 1840.

Following the death of the Daoguang Emperor on 26 February 1850, her son Yizhu ascended the throne as the Xianfeng Emperor. On 26 October 1850, he posthumously honored her with the title "Empress Xiaoquancheng."

Her titles during her lifetime included:

- Lady Niohuru (from her birth in 1808)

- Noble Lady Quan (from 1821)

- Imperial Concubine Quan (from 1822)

- Consort Quan (from 1823)

- Noble Consort Quan (from 1825)

- Imperial Noble Consort (from 1833)

- Empress (from 1834)

- Empress Xiaoquan (posthumously, from 1840)

Her issue included three children:

- Princess Duanshun (died in 1835)

- Princess Shou'an (1826–1860)

- Yizhu, who became the Xianfeng Emperor (1831–1861)

She has been depicted in various Chinese television series, including "The Rise and Fall of Qing Dynasty" (1988), "Sigh of His Highness" (2006), and "Curse of the Royal Harem" (2011).