Empress Cixiaoxian

Consort Cixi, whose family name was Jiang and originated from Daxing (today's Daxing District, Beijing), her birth and death dates are unknown, but she died on December 23, 1538. Her father served as the Commander of the Central Armored Cavalry, and she was posthumously honored as the Lord of Yutian Jiang Qi. She had brothers named Jiang Bin and Jiang Neng.

She was the biological mother of Ming Emperor Zhengde Zhu Huoqun, and initially held the title of Princess Xingxian. In the fifth year of Hongzhi (1492), she was granted the title of Princess Xing. In the thirteenth year of Hongzhi (1500), her eldest son died prematurely; the following year, she gave birth to a daughter. In 1507, she bore her legitimate second son Zhu Huoqun, and also had a daughter, Princess Yongchun. In the fourteenth year of Zhengde (1519), Princess Xingxian Zhu Youtan passed away, and her son Zhu Huoqun became the heir apparent.

In 1521, Ming Emperor Wuzong died. Due to the lack of a surviving son and brothers, the court elected Zhu Huoqun to succeed the throne, who became Emperor Jiajing. Three days after his accession, an envoy was dispatched to bring her mother, Lady Jiang, to the capital, and she was recorded in history as “Empress Dowager Xingxian.” In her later years, her honorific titles changed multiple times, including "Empress Dowager Xingguo," "Empress Mother of the Sacred and Patriotic Order," "Ciren Empress Dowager," and "Kangjing Zhen Shou Imperial Mother." After her death, she was buried in Xianling, with the posthumous title: “Cixiao Zhen Shun Ren Jing Cheng Yi An Tian Dan Sheng Xian Emperor Consort.”

Her son Zhu Huoqun (Emperor Jiajing) and daughter Princess Yongchun and Princess Changning were her children. The mother of Princess Yongfu has not been specifically identified.