Princess Yongchun

Princess Yongchun, born in 1510 and died on April 14, 1540, was a princess of the Ming Dynasty. She was the biological younger sister of Emperor Shizong and the daughter of Emperor Ruzong. According to the "Wanli Wild Harvest" and the "Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong," she is recorded as the daughter of Emperor Ruzong, but the "History of Ming" incorrectly states her as the daughter of Emperor Xiaozong. In the third month of the sixth year of Jiajing (1527), Princess Yongchun was initiated for marriage selection. Emperor Shizong entrusted the Ministry of Rites to choose a spouse; initially, Chen Zhao was selected as the military marshal of the imperial harem, but due to family issues, this was reconsidered. Later, official Yu Defu raised objections, believing Chen Zhao's family matters were inappropriate, and Li Zhe proposed arresting Yu Defu. The two sides argued fiercely. Ultimately, Emperor Shizong decided to select anew, choosing Xie Zhao as the military marshal of the imperial harem, and in August of the sixth year of Jiajing (September 23, 1527), she married Princess Yongchun. The princess reigned for thirty years; she died in the dingchou day of the third month of the nineteenth year of Jiajing (March 1540), at the age of thirty. Emperor Shizong held her funeral, granted her funeral rites as before, and provided 23,190 taels of silver as funeral expenses.