Noble Consort Yuan

Consort Yuan, whose year of birth is unknown, died in 1654. Her courtesy name is unknown. She was from Wànpíng and was a noble consort of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty. Her father was Yuan You. There are few records of her life, mainly scattered in historical texts such as the "Draft History of Qing," "Chronicles of the Chongzhen Court and Officials," "Qianyan," "Legacy of the Burning Palace," and "Poetry of the Qichen Palace." It is said that Consort Yuan was favored by Empress Dowager Zhou; both of them did not wear foot binding or apply makeup. She was, at that time, a concubine of Crown Prince Chongzhen, along with Tian Shi. In the first year of Chongzhen (1628), Tian Shi was promoted to Consort De, while Yuan Shi was titled Virtuous Concubine. Due to her humility and politeness, she maintained a harmonious relationship with Consort Tian. On New Year's Day in the twelfth year (1639), Consort Yuan was able to enter the palace first to pay homage to the Empress Dowager, indicating a good relationship. In the thirteenth year of Chongzhen (1640), Yuan Shufei resided in Yikun Palace, one of the Western Six Palaces. In the fourteenth year of Chongzhen (1641), Consort Tian was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, and Yuan Shufei was also promoted to Consort, but her favor was far less than that of Consort Tian. Her father, Yuan You, was also less prestigious than Tian Shi's father, Tian Hongyu. On March 18, 1644, when Li Zicheng's forces captured Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen ordered Empress Dowager Zhou and Consort Yuan to commit suicide. Empress Dowager Zhou hanged herself; Consort Yuan attempted to do the same but slipped because she was slightly overweight and fainted. The Emperor Chongzhen then wounded her shoulder with a sword, and ultimately, Consort Yuan died. In the first year of the Shunzhi reign (1644), she was spared in the Qing Dynasty and was granted a residence to live in for life. According to the "Draft History of Qing," Consort Yuan died in the first year of Shunzhi and was buried in May of that year, though the exact location of her burial is unknown. She bore one daughter, whose title is not recorded; among the six daughters of Emperor Chongzhen, besides Princess Cunyi and Princess Changping—who were daughters of Empress Dowager Zhou—there may have been other princesses associated with Consort Yuan, but their identities are unclear.