The Xianfeng Emperor had eighteen imperial consorts, including three empresses, two imperial noble consorts, two noble consorts, four consorts, four concubines and three first class attendants.
All consorts were palace maids known as Four Spring Ladies. The name of the clique was derived from their personal names and a poem line "When four springs follow upwards the wind, the copper fish swims in the water every five nights".
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The consorts were promoted together within one year. The highest title they held during the Xianfeng era was noble lady.
First Class Attendant Chun (çÂÂ常å¨ æÂÂè°Âæ°Â; 1835âÂÂ1859), of the Ming'an clan, didn't have her name recorded in history.
First Class Attendant Chun was born in 1835, which translates to 15th year of the Daoguang era. Her family background is not mentioned.
Lady Ming'an entered the palace at the same time as most of the Xianfeng Emperor's consorts, including Empress Dowager Cixi, Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing, Noble Consort Mei and Noble Consort Wan. She was granted a title of Noble Lady Chun (æ¥贵人; meaning "spring") upon the entry in 1852. In 1853, she was demoted to First Class Attendant Chun (æ¥常å¨). In 1855, the Head of Palace Administration Zhang Xin proclaimed an edict demoting her further to Second Class Attendant without the right to a honorific name. As a substitution for the honorific name, the two characters of her clan name were used. At that time, she had one personal maid and her allowance was 50 taels. In 1856, Lady Ming'an was restored as First Class Attendant Chun (çÂÂ常å¨). She died in 1859 and was interred in the Ding Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs in 1865.
First Class Attendant Xin (é«常å¨ æ´佳æ°Â; d. 27 May 1859), of the Daigiya clan, was a member of Sinjeku caste of the Plain White Banner.
Father: Jilu (Ã¥ÂÂç¦Â), served as a slave of Plain White Banner (æ«ç²人)
Two brothers
Lady Daigiya entered the palace in 1852 and was bestowed a title of First Class Attendant Xin (é«常å¨). As the first to enter the palace, Lady Daigiya was made an informal leader of first class attendants.
On 25 June 1857, her personal maid, Daniu, was expelled from palace because of leg ailment. However, it was suspected that the actual reason behind Daniu's removal from service differed from the declared recuperation.
Lady Daigiya died on 27 May 1859 and her coffin was interred in Ding Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs.
First Class Attendant Ping (ç¶常å¨ ä¼Âå°Âæ ¹è§Âç½Âæ°Â; d. 1856) of the Irgen-Gioro cla, didn't have her name recorded in history.
Lady Irgen-Gioro entered the palace in 1852 and was given the title "Noble Lady Ying" (è±貴人). In March 1852, Noble Lady Ying received one black lacquered copper clock. In October 1852, Lady Irgen-Gioro was promoted to Concubine Ying (èÂ񆪦). In October 1853, she was demoted to Noble Lady Yi (ä¼Â貴人) to fulfill the limit of six concubines. On 11 January 1855ï¼Âduring the burial of Concubine Yun all imperial consorts stayed in Tiancun Village. Noble Lady Yi, who arrived from Ji'an Studio, departed for the Forbidden City earlier than other consorts. In March 1855, she was demoted to First Class Attendant Yi because of her behavior during the funeral. In January 1857, Lady Irgen-Gioro was demoted to Second Class Attendant. Second Attendant Yi fell ill in May 1856 and was suddenly restored as First Class Attendant Ping (ç¶常å¨; "ping" meaning a kind of fine jade). First Class Attendant Ping died on 15 August 1856 and was buried in Xihua Garden in Tiancun on 27 August 1856. Her coffin was interred in the Ding Mausoleum in 1864.