Wei De Fei

Gongzhuang Duanhui Fei, also known as Wei Fei, was born in 1426 in Pizhou, Huai'an Prefecture, Jiangsu Province. Her father was Wei Zhong, a deputy director-general of the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard). Her mother was from the Zhang family. In the seventh year of the Zhengtong era (1442), she was selected into the imperial court. Some scholars believe she may have been one of the candidates considered when Emperor Yingzong of Ming established his consort, or she may have been a member of the Eastern or Western Palace during the construction of the Third Imperial Palace. In the first year of the Tianshun era (1457), she was officially titled De Fei (Virtuous Consort) by Emperor Yingzong. According to the Ming Shilu (Veritable Records of Ming), she was gentle in temperament and respected by the ladies in the Six Palaces. Around 1454, during the fifth year of the Jingtai era, she gave birth to Princess Yixing. In 1462, the sixth year of Tianshun, she gave birth to Prince Hui Zhuang, Zhu Jianpei. After Emperor Yingzong's death in 1464, she did not accompany him in his funeral procession and remained widowed. She died on March 11, 1469, at the age of 44, and was posthumously given the name Gongzhuang Duan Hui.