Empress Xiaoshengxian

Empress Xiaoshengxian (12 January 1692 – 2 March 1777) was a member of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Niohuru clan. She was born in Beijing to the upper-class Niohuru clan. Her father was Lingzhu (1664–1754), who served as a fourth-rank military official and held the title of a first-class duke. Her paternal grandfather was Wulu, a cousin of Eidu, and her paternal grandmother was Lady Qiao. Her mother was Lady Peng, and her maternal grandfather was Peng Wugong. She had four brothers.

Her personal name has not been recorded in historical texts. She was born during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, specifically on the 25th day of the 11th lunar month of the Kangxi era, corresponding to 12 January 1692 in the Gregorian calendar.

At the age of thirteen, in 1705, she traveled to the capital, where she was present during the selection process for the imperial harem. She entered the palace grounds by mistake, when she was mistaken for a candidate, and was subsequently included in the selection process upon the request of Yinzhen, the fourth son of the Kangxi Emperor, who later became the Yongzheng Emperor. She was then designated as "Gege" and assigned to reside in the prince’s residence, although she was not favored by Yinzhen at that time.

In 1710, Yinzhen developed an illness that caused concern among his attendants. She cared for him during his illness, and he recovered after two months. In recognition of her loyalty, on 25 September 1711, she gave birth to his fourth son, Hongli, who later became the Qianlong Emperor. Following this, her favor with Yinzhen diminished temporarily.

In 1722, Yinzhen was made Prince Yong. Later that year, the Kangxi Emperor died, and Yinzhen ascended the throne as the Yongzheng Emperor. On 28 March 1723, Lady Niohuru received the title "Consort Xi." She was promoted in 1730 to "Noble Consort Xi." When the Yongzheng Emperor's primary consort, Empress Xiaojingxian, died in 1731, she was entrusted with managing the imperial harem due to her high rank at that time.

Following the Yongzheng Emperor’s death in 1735, her son Hongli ascended the throne as the Qianlong Emperor. As his birth mother, she was honored with the posthumous title Empress Dowager Chongqing. The Qianlong Emperor esteemed her greatly and frequently consulted her for advice. She was also involved in political affairs and was believed to have influenced certain imperial decisions.

Her 60th birthday was celebrated with grand ceremonies, including decorations along the roads from Beijing to the Summer Palace, recitations of Chinese poetry in her honor, and sacrifices made by the imperial court. The Qianlong Emperor ordered the construction of Kunming Lake at the Garden of Clear Ripples and renovated buildings on its shores to commemorate her.

Empress Dowager Chongqing passed away on 2 March 1777 and was interred in a separate tomb within the Tai Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs.

Throughout her life, she received various titles:

- During the Kangxi era: Lady Niohuru (from 12 January 1692), Mistress (Gege; from 1705)

- During Yongzheng era: Consort Xi (from 28 March 1723), Noble Consort Xi (from 1730 to 1734)

- During Qianlong era: Empress Dowager Chongqing (from 1735), Empress Xiaoshengxian (posthumously from 1777)

She was the mother of Hongli (later the Qianlong Emperor), born 25 September 1711, who reigned from 1735 until 1799.