Empress Chen (Longqing)
Empress Xiao'an, of the Chen clan, was a Chinese empress consort of the Ming dynasty. She was the second wife of the Longqing Emperor.
In 1558, following the death of his first wife Lady Li, Zhu Zaiji, Prince of Yu, married Lady Chen. Upon his ascension to the throne as the Longqing Emperor in 1567, he appointed her as his empress. After only two years, however, she fell out of favor with the Emperor and was moved to a separate palace in 1569. She became ill and was not properly cared for. The Emperor told opposing officials that she did not understand his family affairs and that she had no son and was in poor health. Another alleged reason for her removal was her criticism of the Emperor's preoccupation with women and music.
The Emperor's son from another wife, the heir to the throne and future Wanli Emperor, however, treated the Empress well and visited her regularly. After his ascension to the throne, he granted her the title of empress dowager and always treated her with respect as his father's principal wife.
Titles
The titles of Empress Chen:- During the reign of the Jiajing Emperor :
- *Lady Chen
- *Princess Consort of Yu
- During the reign of the Longqing Emperor :
- *Empress
- During the reign of the Wanli Emperor :
- *Empress Dowager Rensheng
- *Empress Dowager Rensheng Zhenyi
- *Empress Dowager Rensheng Zhenyi Kangjing
- *''Empress Xiao'an Zhenyi Gongchun Wenhui Zuotian Hongsheng''