Imperial Noble Consort Heyu

Imperial Noble Consort Heyu (Chinese: 和裕皇貴妃; pinyin: Héyù Huángguìfēi) was born on 9 January 1761 and died on 27 April 1834. She was of Han Chinese ethnicity, belonging to the Bordered White Banner Liu clan, which was later Manchurised to Liugiya (刘佳).

Family Background:

Her personal name has not been recorded in historical sources. Her father was Mingfu (明福), who served as baitangga.

Marriage and Early Life:

Lady Liuia was born on the 21st day of the 12th lunar month of the 26th year of the Qianlong era, corresponding to 9 January 1761 in the Gregorian calendar. In 1776, she married Yongyan, the fifteenth son of the Qianlong Emperor, becoming his mistress (known as gege).

Children:

On 4 February 1779, she gave birth to Yongyan's first son, Prince Mu of the Second Rank (穆郡王), who died prematurely in 1780. She also bore a daughter, Princess Zhuangjing of the Second Rank (庄敬和硕公主), on 30 January 1782.

Titles and Court Ranks:

During the Qianlong era:

- From 1776, her title was Mistress (格格; gege).

- Following her husband's accession as Jiaqing Emperor, she was granted the title Consort Xian (咸妃), meaning "truthful consort."

- On 24 December 1801, her daughter married Mongolian prince Sodnamdorji of the Khorchin Borjigit clan.

- In January 1808, she was elevated to Noble Consort Xian (諴贵妃).

During the Daoguang era:

- After the Daoguang Emperor’s enthronement in 1820, she was promoted to Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xianxi (諴禧皇貴太妃), meaning "truthful and happy."

- In 1834, she was posthumously titled Imperial Noble Consort Heyu (和裕皇貴妃), meaning "harmonious and prosperous."

Residence:

Her residence in the Forbidden City was the Palace of Earthly Honour.

Death and Burial:

She died on 27 April 1834 at age 73. Her son Sengge Rinchen (僧格林沁), son of Princess Zhuangjing, was ordered to wear mourning garments for her funeral. In 1835, she was interred at the Chang Mausoleum in the Western Qing Tombs.

Issue:

As mistress of Yongyan, she had:

- Prince Mu of the Second Rank (穆郡王), born 4 February 1780, died 10 June 1780.

- Princess Zhuangjing of the Second Rank (莊敬和碩公主), born 30 January 1782, died 4 April 1811; married Sodnamdorji of the Khorchin Borjigit clan in December 1801.

In popular culture:

She was portrayed by Yoyo Chen in the 2018 television series "Succession War."

See Also:

- Ranks of imperial consorts in China during the Qing dynasty.

- Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty.