Imperial Concubine Zhen

Consort Chang, Heshere clan, Manchu Banner Blue, born into the Manchu Erben Cui clan. She was born on the 15th day of the 11th lunar month in the 13th year of Jiaqing (October 29, 1808) at the hour of Si (9-11 a.m.). Her mother was the Ergen Giachuo clan; her father was Ronghai, who held official posts up to Canton as an Ancha and Buzheng Magistrate. Ronghai's previous wife was Hong Jilat; Consort Chang’s mother was Ronghai’s second wife. Her eldest sister was married to Nianzhang A, a Manchu member of the Blue Banner; her second sister was married to Linxiang, a Mongol General and Minister of the Imperial Household Department; her brothers included Rushan, Longshan, and Dushan.

Life and Titles:

- Selected as a Zhen Gui Ren (Precious Lady) during the Eighth Banner election, she entered the Forbidden City on the second day of the eleventh lunar month of the same year.

- On the 9th day of the ninth lunar month, in the 4th year of Daoguang (August 15, 1824), the cabinet reported her elevation; an imperial edict declared her promoted to Zhen Pin (Precious Consort). On April 13 of the 5th year (1825), she was officially enshrined as Zhen Pin in Yanshili Palace; on August 8, her promotion was further elevated to Zhen Fei (First Consort). On July 8 of the 6th year (1826), she traveled to Yuanmingyuan; on November 22, a superintendent issued a decree downgrading her to Zhen Pin, ranking immediately after Jing Pin (Pure Consort).

- On June 9 of the 9th year (1829), under imperial orders, Zhen Fei was downgraded to Chang Gui Ren (Senior Noble Lady), with her daily diet and attendants managed as for noble ladies.

- On February 7 of the 21st year (1841), she was given the title Chang Gui Ren under the Cenggan Palace, and as she was ill, she left the palace. On February 11 of the 23rd year (1843), she held that title again in Yanxi Palace, leaving the palace due to illness. On February 27 of the 27th year (1851), she was again at Xianfu Palace, leaving due to illness.

- In the first month of the 30th year (1850), Emperor Xianfeng elevated her to the position of Consort, honoring her as the Emperor’s first Empress Consort in the previous dynasty, and she was 43 years old at that time.

Death and Burial:

- On March 15 of the first year of Xianfeng (1851), her formal honoring ceremony was conducted.

- On August 23 of the 10th year of Xianfeng (1850), Consort Chang died in Qichun Garden startled by the Anglo-French allied forces entering Yuanmingyuan, at age 53. Her body was solemnly embalmed and placed in a coffin on September 23 of the same year during the hour of Chou.

- On September 23, her remains were temporarily laid to rest at Tian Cun Funeral Hall’s western area.

- On March 2 of the 11th year of Xianfeng (1851), her gilded coffin was decorated in the eastern pavilion of Mu East Tomb. Later that same year, Emperor Tongzhi posthumously promoted her to Emperor Ancestor Chang Fei; in the second year of Tongzhi (1853), on September 2, she was buried in Mu East Tomb using a central stone coffin.

Posthumous Honors and Reverence:

- On March 2 of the 11th year of Tongzhi (1864), her gilded coffin in Mu East Tomb was completed with lacquered decoration in the eastern pavilion. In October of that year, Emperor Tongzhi posthumously promoted her to Emperor Ancestor Chang Fei. On September 2 of the second year of Tongzhi (1863), she was formally buried in Mu East Tomb, using the central stone coffin again.

Family Details:

- Father: Ronghai, served as Canton Ancha and Buzheng Magistrate; mother was Hong Jilat (Ronghai's legitimate wife). Her biological mother was Ergen Giachuo clan (Ronghai’s second wife).

- Her elder sister married Nianzhang A, an official of the Manchu Banner.

- Her second sister married Linxiang, a Mongol general and Interior Minister.

- Her brothers included:

- Rushan, who became a jinshi (Presented Scholar) in the 18th year of Daoguang (1838), served as an Ancha Magistrate of Sichuan.

- Dushan, a jinshi in the 14th year of Daoguang (1834), served as a Minister of Justice, Governor of Xiangyang, and Inspector of Hubei, posthumously awarded the title of Loyal and Just.

- Longshan's daughter married Yulü, a Manchu of the Plain White Banner, and was a governor of Zhili.

Note: All information above is based on relevant Qing dynasty official documents and genealogies, organized chronologically into a concise life and family lineage overview for reference.