Imperial Noble Consort Shushen

Life

Imperial Noble Consort Shushen was born in the Manchu Fuca clan (富察氏), which was under the Bordered Yellow Banner. Her personal name was not recorded in history. Her father, Fengxiu (鳳秀), served as a yuanwailang (員外郎; a type of official position). She was a descendant of Misihan (米思翰; 1633–1675), who served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue during the Kangxi Emperor's reign, through Misihan's eldest son, Maqi (馬齊; 1652–1739).

In 1872, when auditions for the Tongzhi Emperor's consorts were held, a 13-year-old Lady Fuca made the cut and entered the Forbidden City. Lady Fuca and Lady Alute were both shortlisted as candidates to be Empress. Empress Dowager Cixi favoured Lady Fuca while Empress Dowager Ci'an preferred Lady Alute. The Tongzhi Emperor eventually chose Lady Alute to be his empress consort. Lady Fuca was given the rank of Consort under the title "Consort Hui" (慧妃). However, by Empress Dowager Cixi's order, she received preferential treatment as a Noble Consort.

In 1874, Lady Fuca was promoted by two ranks to Imperial Noble Consort. Less than a month after the Tongzhi Emperor's death, Empress Dowager Cixi granted Lady Fuca the title "Imperial Noble Consort Dunyi" (敦宜皇貴妃). In 1894, just before Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th birthday celebrations, Lady Fuca was honoured with the title "Imperial Noble Consort Dunyi Rongqing" (敦宜榮慶皇貴妃). She was the only Imperial Noble Consort in the Qing dynasty to receive a title containing four characters ("Dunyi Rongqing"); Imperial Noble Consorts normally had only two characters in their title.

Lady Fuca died in 1904 and was granted the posthumous title "Imperial Noble Consort Shushen" (淑慎皇貴妃). In the following year, she was interred in the Huiling Mausoleum at the Eastern Qing tombs. On 29 March 1928, her tomb was desecrated by grave robbers.