Noble Consort Zheng

Noble Consort Zheng (1565–1630) was a consort of the Wanli Emperor during the Ming dynasty. She was born in Daxing District of southern Beijing in 1565. In 1581, she was selected for the emperor's harem following the imperial court's selection process.

Shortly after her admission to the harem, Zheng was elevated to the status of Imperial Concubine with the honorific title Shu (淑). Her father was appointed to the Jinyiwei, an imperial military force, with jurisdiction over 1,000 households. In 1582, she was promoted to the rank of Virtuous Consort (德妃), and her father received a command position.

In January 1584, the Wanli Emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to confer the rank of Noble Consort upon Zheng in celebration of the birth of Princess Yunhe. The emperor also provided 100,000 silver taels to his seneschal to organize festivities. Zheng gave birth to her second son in 1585; the child was named Zhu Changxun but died shortly after birth and was posthumously titled Prince Ai of Bin. In early 1586, she gave birth to another son, Zhu Changxun.

Her one-year-old daughter, Zhu Xuanyao, died in 1589; she was posthumously given the title Princess Lingqiu. Zheng died in 1630 and was entombed within the Ming Tombs at Yinquan Mountain, specifically in the area designated for imperial consorts.

A significant event during her tenure involved a succession dispute. In 1586, Zheng was pregnant, and the emperor decreed her should be made Imperial Noble Consort. Advisers argued that this elevation was inappropriate because it would place her above Consort Gong, who had given birth to the emperor's eldest son. The officials also suggested that such elevation might be a prelude to the emperor declaring her son, Zhu Changxun, as heir apparent, bypassing the eldest son. Despite this, the emperor refused to heed their advice.

Over the next decade, officials tried to persuade the emperor to abandon the idea of non-traditional primogeniture, which caused discontent within the court and the broader society. In 1601, the emperor officially declared his eldest son as heir apparent and bestowed upon Zhu Changxun the title Prince of Fu (福). However, Zhu was not removed from court until 1614, when his household was relocated to Luoyang. The emperor also delayed his burial arrangements, notably refusing to accord proper funeral rites to Crown Princess Guo, until Zhu's departure from the palace in 1615. Zhu Changxun was later killed by Li Zicheng in 1641.

Throughout her life, Zheng held various titles, including Imperial Concubine Shu (from 1582), Consort De (from 1583), Noble Consort Zheng (from 1584), and later Imperial Noble Consort Gongke Ruirong Hejing during the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, and Grand Empress Dowager Xiaoning Wenmu Zhuanghui Ciyi Xiantian Yusheng during the Hongguang Emperor's rule.

Her issue with the emperor included Princess Yunhe (1584–1590), Zhu Changxu, Prince Ai of Bin (born 1585), Zhu Changxun, Prince Zhong of Fu (1586–1641), Princess Lingqiu (1588–1589), and Princess Shouning (1592–1634).