Princess Huaiqing

Princess Huaiqing (5 February 1368 – 15 July 1425), personal name Zhu Funing, was a member of the Ming dynasty imperial family. She was the sixth daughter of the Hongwu Emperor and Noble Consort Chengmu. Her full younger sister was Princess Lin'an.

In 1382, Zhu Funing was granted the title Princess Huaiqing. That same year, she married Wang Ning. The marriage resulted in the birth of two sons, Wang Zhenliang and Wang Zhenqing. In 1424, she was promoted to the title of Grand Princess Imperial Huaiqing.

On 11 September 1382, Princess Huaiqing married Wang Ning. Following their marriage, Wang Ning was promoted to the position of Commissioner of the Rear Military Commission. In 1398, after the death of the Hongwu Emperor, his grandson Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne as the Jianwen Emperor. The Jianwen Emperor implemented policies aimed at reducing the power of imperial princes, which led to conflict with his uncle Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan and Princess Huaiqing's elder brother. In August 1399, Zhu Di launched a rebellion against the Jianwen Emperor.

During the subsequent civil war, Wang Ning was accused of betraying court secrets to Zhu Di, which resulted in the confiscation of Princess Huaiqing’s household property and Wang Ning’s imprisonment by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In June 1402, Zhu Di seized control of Nanjing, and the Jianwen Emperor disappeared under unclear circumstances. The following month, Zhu Di became the Yongle Emperor. The Yongle Emperor issued a proclamation affirming that Wang Ning had been "filial to Taizu [Hongwu], loyal to the state, upright and unyielding, yet falsely incriminated." Wang Ning was ennobled as Marquis of Yongchun (永春侯). Nonetheless, he was later implicated in another case and imprisoned again; he received an imperial pardon but died shortly after his release.

Princess Huaiqing was elevated to Grand Princess Imperial Huaiqing in November 1424. She passed away on 15 July 1425. Her tomb was discovered in September 2017 in Jiangning District, Nanjing. It was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection site in September 2023.

Wang Ning and Princess Huaiqing had at least two sons: Wang Zhenliang and Wang Zhenqing. Wang Zhenqing was recognized as one of the Ten Talents of the Jingtai era. According to the “Epitaph of Grand Princess Imperial Huaiqing,” the couple had three sons: Wang Zhenliang, Wang Zhenji, and Wang Zhenqing.