The concubine who was the 'criminal minister's younger sister' was favored by Ung Chinh and chosen to be buried together?

According to historical records, when he knew he would not survive, Emperor Yongzheng chose two people to be buried together, including Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu. This story has raised many questions, because Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu was the younger sister of a criminal before she died.

Among the mysteries of the Qing Dynasty’s royal court, the fact that Emperor Yongzheng chose Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu as the second woman, besides the Empress herself, to be buried with him after his deat.h has always been a great puzzle to posterity. This is even more difficult to understand when Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu was the biological sister of Nian Gengyao – a criminal whom Yongzheng himself had personally executed.

Nian Gengyao, an outstanding loyal minister from the Kangxi period, devoted himself to assisting Yongzheng right after the new emperor ascended the throne. Their relationship was not limited to that of a monarch and subject, but also deeper in the family aspect: Nian Gengyao was the emperor's brother-in-law, while his sister - Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu - was extremely favored by Yongzheng, giving birth to three princes and one princess.

In the royal court, Nien Canh Nghieu was a high-ranking official who held military power and had the privilege of participating in court affairs, discussing national affairs with the king. However, that power and respect gradually made this meritorious official become arrogan.t, looking down on everyone, and even doing things that went beyond his status behind Ung Chinh's back.

During the time her brother was rampaging and committing those "terrible" acts, Imperial Noble Consort Dun Tuc knew everything. Being in the harem, she always lived in fear and inner turmoil. Whether she accuse.d or not of Nien Canh Nghieu's crimes, she would be the one at fault. On one side was her real brother, on the other side was her husband - the emperor she loved and respected the most. Any decision meant pushing one of her two loved ones into misery.

Finally, after a long period of mental struggle, Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu made a tragic choice: to sacrifice herself for the greater good. She bravely reported all the things her brother had done to Yongzheng. From a trusted loyal minister, Nian Gengyao was quickly stripped of all military power by Yongzheng and was eventually sentenced to deat.h. After being found guilty, Nian Gengyao died in prison.

It seemed that after her brother's incident, Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu would not be implicated. However, Ung Chinh's attitude towards her changed dramatically. From being extremely favored, making the entire harem jealous, Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu now only received coldness and indifference from her husband. Everything was in complete contrast to her glorious past.

Because of this, Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu gradually became sad, depressed, and mentally exhausted. Not long after, she fell seriously ill. What was more heartbreaking was that even when her condition worsened, Yongzheng did not visit her even once. Being seriously ill and heartbroken by the coldness of her lover, finally, on December 27, 1725, Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu passed away alone.

It was obvious that the Empress was buried with the Emperor, following the royal protocol. But with Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu, Yongzheng's decision left many Qing Dynasty historians puzzled. According to their analysis, the underlying reason why Yongzheng chose to bury her with him may have stemmed from deep guilt.

That remorse came from a sense of guilt when his coldness and distance were one of the main causes, pushing the Imperial Noble Consort from heartache to exhaustion, illness and finally deat.h. Perhaps, the joint burial with her was Yongzheng's way of making up for the pai.n she had suffered, a belated act of atonement for the woman who sacrificed her family for a greater cause, and then endured loneliness until the end of her life. This decision not only showed a part of Yongzheng's complex personality but also reminded him of the silent tragedies in the royal court, where love, power and fate were cruelly intertwined.

The white shirt is fully armed to compete for the favor of the concubines in the harem. Dan Ny22:17:40 14/06/2025In palace dramas, many people wonder about the white scarves on the concubines' dresses. Many people still think that this is just an accessory to increase their formality, but few people know that behind it lies a deep mystery.