Life

Family background

Consort Lu came from a powerful Manchu Yehe Nara clan belonging to Plain White Banner. Her personal name was Mudanchun (牡丹春, literally: Spring Peony).

Father: Quanwen (全文), served as sixth rank literary official (主事).

Daoguang era

Consort Lu was born on 2 March 1841.

Xianfeng era

Lady Yehe Nara entered Forbidden City in 1855, and was given the title of "Noble Lady Lu" (璷贵人; "lu" meaning "exquisite"). Noble Lady Lu remained childless during Xianfeng era. She lived in Chuxiu palace together with Empress Dowager Cixi. She was a member of a clique called "Four Spring Ladies" (四春娘娘) together with Noble Lady Xi, Noble Lady Ji, and Noble Lady Qing.

Tongzhi era

In 1861, Noble Lady Lu was promoted to "Concubine Lu" (璷嫔) according to the imperial tradition. In 1874, she was elevated to "Consort Lu" (璷妃).

Guangxu era

On 2 March 1891, Lady Yehe Nara celebrated her 50th birthday (千秋; one thousand autumns). Consort Lu received 5 rolls of lotus root xiaojuan silk thread, 5 rolls of white moon xiaojuan silk thread, 5 rolls of grey xiaojuan silk and satin, 5 rolls of golden yellow xiaojuan silk and satin, 5 rolls of blue crepe and jiang soy sauce (brown) gauze. She was supposed to be promoted to Noble Consort, but died from illness on 15 May 1895.

Titles

• During the reign of the Daoguang Emperor (r. 1820–1850):

　• Lady Yehe Nara (from 2 March 1841)

• During the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor (r. 1850–1861):

　• Noble Lady Lu (璷贵人; from 1855), sixth rank consort

• During the reign of the Tongzhi Emperor (r. 1861–1875):

　• Concubine Lu (璷嫔; from 1861) fifth rank consort

　• Consort Lu" (璷妃; from 1874), fourth rank consort

生平

道光二十一年（1841年）二月十日出生。

咸豐初年，通過內務府選秀成為宮女，與禧妃、慶妃、吉妃被俗稱為四春娘娘。咸豐五年二月初十日，封為瓊貴人，次序在禧貴人之前，二月二十四日，璷貴人如嬪位的內庭宮各退，次序在玫貴人之次。

咸豐六年，葉赫那拉氏之封號由「瓊」字改為為「璷」字，《宮中雜件》等清宮檔案應曾對此進行更改，將「瓊」字改為「璷」字。

咸豐帝逝世後，四春娘娘于同日被同治帝進為嬪，璷貴人晉為璷嬪。

同治十三年十一月，四人又再被剛登極的光緒帝一起晉為妃。璷嬪晉為璷妃，所享的宮分同貴妃例。內廷緞庫檔案《二等各色小卷紬緞紗等項實存》有記光緒十五年二月十一日，璷妃千秋照貴妃例用藕合小卷線紬五件、月白小卷線紬五件、灰色小卷五絲緞五件、金黃小卷五絲緞五件、藍縐紬五件及醬色紡絲五件。

光緒二十一年四月二十一日，曾被宮廷尊稱為璷貴妃的璷妃去世，享年五十五歲，奉上諭「所有應行事宜著照貴妃例敬謹預備」，葬於定陵妃園寢。慶妃的喪葬禮儀按嬪例辦理，而璷妃那拉氏的喪葬禮儀則按貴妃例辦理。這兩位在咸豐年間都曾隨慈禧太后居住在儲秀宮內，因與慈禧太后的關係，以及她們自身的素質而導致了喪儀規格的巨大差別。

注釋