Consort Shu, Of The Yehe Nala Clan

Consort Shu (7 July 1728 – 4 July 1777) was a consort of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She was a member of the Manchu Yehe Nara clan, which was part of the Plain Yellow Banner. Her personal name has not been recorded in historical sources.

Family Background:

Her father was Yongshou (1702–1731), who served as the Right Vice Minister of War from 1727 to 1729. Her paternal grandfather was Kuifang (1679–1707), titled prince consort (額駙), and was the third son of Mingju. Her paternal grandmother was Aisin-Gioro Shushen (1681–1706), who held the title of third rank princess (郡主) and was the eighth daughter of Giyesu. Her mother was Guan Sibai; her maternal grandfather was Hantai. Consort Shu had one brother and three elder sisters. Among her elder sisters, one was the wife of Fuheng of the Fuca clan, and another was Primary Consort Li of the First Rank, wife of Yongkui of the Aisin-Gioro clan.

Life during the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras:

Consort Shu was born on the first day of the sixth lunar month in the sixth year of Yongzheng's reign, corresponding to 7 July 1728 in the Gregorian calendar.

In the Qianlong era:

On 23 March 1741, Lady Yehe Nara entered the Forbidden City and was granted the title "Noble Lady" (貴人), which was the sixth rank among imperial consorts. In December 1741 or January 1742, she was promoted to "Concubine Shu" (舒嬪), the fifth rank. On 20 May 1749, she attained the rank of "Consort Shu" (舒妃), the fourth rank. She bore the emperor's tenth son, Yongyue, on 12 June 1751; the child died prematurely on her twenty-fifth birthday, 7 July 1753. Consort Shu died on 4 July 1777 and was buried in the Yu Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs.

Titles:

- During Yongzheng's reign: Lady Yehe Nara (from 1728)

- During Qianlong's reign:

- Noble Lady (from 23 March 1741)

- Concubine Shu (from December 1741 or January 1742)

- Consort Shu (from 20 May 1749)

Issue:

Consort Shu's known issue was Yongyue (12 June 1751 – 7 July 1753), the tenth son of the Qianlong Emperor.

In fiction and popular culture:

Consort Shu has been portrayed by various actresses, including Akina Hong in the 1999 television series "Happy Ever After," Li Chun'ai in 2018's "Story of Yanxi Palace," and Chen Haoyu in "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" (2018).

See also:

- Ranks of imperial consorts in China during the Qing Dynasty

- Royal and noble ranks of the Qing dynasty

- Yehe Nara clan

References:

Zhao, Erxun (1928). "Draft History of Qing" (Qing Shi Gao), Vol. 214.