Consort Ning

Consort Ning was a member of the Han Chinese Bordered Yellow Banner Wu clan. It was said that the Wu clan descended from the Ming dynasty. Her personal name was Lingyuan (令媛).[1] The family came from Shanxi.

• Father: Wu Zhuguo (武柱国), served as magistrate of Taizhou (Chinese: 泰州知州; pinyin: Tàizhōu zhīzhōu).[2]

• Elder brother: Wu Qixin (武启欣)[3]

In 1733, Lady Wu entered the Forbidden City after the Elegant Women selection, and was given the title of "Concubine Ning" (宁嫔; "ning" meaning "calm", "tranquil"). The selection was set in the third lunar month, unlike in previous years, when it was set in twelfth lunar month. In 1734, she was supposed to be promoted to Consort Ning (宁妃).[4] Lady Wu died before the promotion ceremony and was given a funeral befitting a consort. Her funeral ceremony was similar to the funeral of the Kangxi Emperor's Consort Liang.[5] After her death, her eldest brother, Wu Qixin, was relocated to the capital,[6] and was permitted to preserve Consort Ning's belongings, including two satin bed covers with spring flowers ornament, one pillow and three satin sheets.[7]

Consort Ning's coffin was interred in the Tai Mausoleum in the Western Qing tombs.