Zhu Changhao

Prince Rui Zhu Changhao (1590–1644), illegitimate son of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty, his mother was Consort Zhou. In 1601, the 29th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, Zhu Changhao was bestowed the title Prince of Rui. Throughout his life, he was a devout Buddhist, interacted minimally with women, and had a preference for wealth. Due to the lack of special imperial favor in marriage matters, many court officials repeatedly petitioned for him to marry, but no resolution was reached. Zhu Changhao often requested marriage expenses from the Ministry of Revenue, accumulating up to 180,000 taels of silver, stored in his residence, claiming it was insufficient to buy ceremonial robes and attire.

In 1614, at the age of 25, Zhu Changhao was stationed in the Hanzhong Prefecture as the prince of Fu. His fiefdom and taxes caused burdens on the local populace. In 1627, he was stationed in Hanzhong Prefecture, where besides imperial taxes, salt taxes and other levies were imposed, increasing the hardships on the people. In 1637, a peasant uprising occurred in Hanzhong. Zhu Changhao fled south to Chongqing Prefecture in Sichuan to avoid capture by Li Zicheng’s army, protected by Chen Xie, an official of Shaanxi. In the 17th year of Emperor Chongzhen's reign (1644), during Zhang Xianzhong's conquest of Chongqing, Zhu Changhao was captured.

Zhang Xianzhong executed Zhu Changhao amidst a celestial event with thunder and lightning appearing three times, using this as a backdrop. He beheaded Zhu Changhao, his family members, members of the Prince Rui’s residence, and local officials. Afterwards, he ordered the severing of the arms of over thirty thousand captured Ming soldiers and civilians. When Zhu Changhao was executed, no blood was seen; he ascended into the sky, appearing as if seated in the heavens, flying straight into the clouds. This event was regarded by onlookers as a supernatural phenomenon. In that same year, in December, Zhu Youjuan, the third legitimate son of Zhu Changhao, succeeded the title of Prince of Rui.