Empress Kezhen Renshou

Honorable Empress Dowager Kaozhen Renshou, Lady Zou (1584–1644), native of Shuntian during the Ming Dynasty, was the consort of Prince Fu Zhong, Zhu Changxun. On January 13, 1604 (the 13th day of the 12th month, the 31st year of the Wanli reign), she was bestowed the title of Empress. After Li Zicheng’s forces captured Luoyang on March 1, 1641 (the 14th year of the Chongzhen reign), she fled to Mengjin, Mengxian, and Huaizhou. After the fall of Huaizhou, she hid in the home of Huang Kui at Shutanggong. Following Emperor Hongguang’s accession, she was honored as Empress Dowager Kaozhen Renshou. On September 13, 1644, Kang Yongning and Zhang Chengfu escorted her to Nanjing. As Qing troops approached, Ma Shiying led 400 Qian soldiers to escort her to Hangzhou and summoned Prince Lü Zhu Changling, appointing him regent, but he refused. Subsequently, she headed north to Huai, attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the river but failed, and subsequently sought refuge with Huang Diaoding. After her death, she was buried alongside Zhu Changxun at Xiling.