Princess Le An

Princess Le'an (1611–1643), named Zhu Huizhu, also known as Zhu Huiti, was the daughter of Ming Guangzong, being his eighth daughter. At her birth, her father was still the crown prince, and her mother was Li Xuan Shi, commonly known as Xi Li. In 1620, Ming Guangzong ascended the throne, but he died less than a month later. Princess Le'an was then moved along with her mother to a separate palace, where they depended on each other. In the fourth year of the Tianqi era (1624), she was bestowed the title Princess Le'an, granted before marriage. She later married Gong Yonggu, with whom she had three sons and two daughters. Gong Yonggu was from Wanping County, Shuntian Prefecture, and was talented. In the sixteenth year of Chongzhen (1643), Emperor Chongzhen summoned the vassals and mentioned military affairs at the Imperial Academy. Gong Yonggu requested to learn and sent a memorial to seek aid, and also requested the restoration of the Jianwen Emperor's temple. During the Jia Shen Incident (1644), when Beijing fell, Princess Le'an had already passed away and was not buried; her children were tied with yellow cords beside her casket. Gong Yonggu then burned his family and committed suicide by sword. The eldest daughter escaped to Nanjing.