Consort Xiang

Consort Xiang was born in the Manchu Niohuru clan. Her personal name is unknown. She was a descendant of Yirteng (伊爾登; died 1663), the tenth son of Eidu, a top general who served under the Qing dynasty's founder Nurhaci. Her father, Jiufu (久福), served as a langzhong (郎中; a type of official post) under the Qing government.

Lady Niohuru entered the Forbidden City during the early reign of the Daoguang Emperor and was granted the rank of Noble Lady under the title "Noble Lady Xiang" (祥貴人). In 1823, she was promoted to "Imperial Concubine Xiang" (祥嬪). Two years later, she gave birth to the Daoguang Emperor's second daughter and was promoted to "Consort Xiang" (祥妃) three months later. In 1829, Lady Niohuru gave birth to the Daoguang Emperor's fifth daughter, Heshuo Princess Shouzang (壽臧和碩公主). Two years later, she gave birth to the Daoguang Emperor's fifth son, Yicong.

Even though Lady Niohuru bore the Daoguang Emperor three children, the emperor did not seem to favour her. Later, he demoted her to the rank of Noble Lady for reasons unknown. Lady Niohuru's father, Jiufu, was found guilty of corruption just before her demotion, but official records did not seem to point out any connection between her father's indictment and her demotion.

In 1850, the Daoguang Emperor died and was succeeded by his fourth son Yizhu, who was enthroned as the Xianfeng Emperor. The Xianfeng Emperor honoured Lady Niohuru with the title "Dowager Consort Xiang" (皇考祥妃). She died in 1861 in a mountain resort in Chengde, Hebei, and was interred in the Muling Mausoleum in the Western Qing tombs. The Tongzhi Emperor later posthumously honoured Lady Niohuru with the title "Grand Dowager Consort Xiang" (皇祖祥妃).

Lady Niohuru bore the Daoguang Emperor three children:

• Unnamed daughter (born and died in 1825), the Daoguang Emperor's second daughter.
• Heshuo Princess Shouzang (壽臧和碩公主; 1829-1856), the Daoguang Emperor's fifth daughter.
• Yicong (奕誴; 1831-1889), the Daoguang Emperor's fifth son.