| Empress Xiaoherui | |
| Empress Dowager Gongci | |
| Succession: | Empress consort of the Qing dynasty |
| Reign: | 27 May 1801 – 2 September 1820 |
| Reign-Type: | Tenure |
| Predecessor: | Empress Xiaoshurui |
| Successor: | Empress Xiaoshencheng |
| Succession1: | Empress dowager of the Qing dynasty |
| Reign1: | 2 September 1820 – 23 January 1850 |
| Reign-Type1: | Tenure |
| Predecessor1: | Empress Dowager Chongqing |
| Successor1: | Empress Dowager Kangci |
| Birth Date: | 20 November 1776 (乾隆四十一年 十月 十日) |
| Death Date: | (道光二十九年 十二月 十一日) |
| Death Place: | Shoukang Palace, Forbidden City |
| Burial Place: | Chang Mausoleum, Western Qing tombs |
| Issue: | Seventh daughter Miankai, Prince Dunke of the First Rank Mianxin, Prince Ruihuai of the First Rank |
| Posthumous Name: | Empress Xiaohe Gongci Kangyu Ancheng Qinshun Renzheng Yingtian Xisheng Rui (孝和恭慈康豫安成欽順仁正應天熙聖睿皇后) |
| House: | Niohuru (鈕祜祿) |
| Father: | Gūnggala (恭阿拉) |
| Mother: | Lady Yehe Nara |
Empress Xiaoherui (20 November 1776 – 23 January 1850), of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Niohuru clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and second empress consort of Yongyan, the Jiaqing Emperor. She was empress consort of Qing from 1801 until her husband's death in 1820, after which she was honoured as Empress Dowager Gongci during the reign of her step-son, Mianning, the Daoguang Emperor. She was the longest-serving empress consort in Qing history.
Empress Xiaoherui's personal name was not recorded in history.
The future Empress Xiaoherui was born on the tenth day of the tenth lunar month in the 41st year of the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, which translates to 20 November 1776 in the Gregorian calendar.
In 1790, Lady Niohuru became a secondary consort of Yongyan, the 15th son of the Qianlong Emperor. She gave birth on 2 August 1793 to his seventh daughter, who would die prematurely in July or August 1795, and on 6 August 1795 to his third son, Miankai.
On 9 February 1796, the Qianlong Emperor abdicated in favour of Yongyan and became a Retired Emperor, while Yongyan was enthroned as the Jiaqing Emperor. On 12 February 1796, Lady Niohuru was granted the title "Noble Consort".
When the Jiaqing Emperor's primary consort, Empress Xiaoshurui, died of illness on 5 March 1797, the Noble Consort was placed in charge of the imperial harem as the highest rank concubine in that time, and was elevated to "Imperial Noble Consort". The Jiaqing Emperor wanted to make the Imperial Noble Consort his new empress consort but had to wait until the mourning period for Empress Xiaoshurui was over. The Qianlong Emperor died on 7 February 1799 so the Imperial Noble Consort's promotion to empress was delayed until 27 May 1801.
The Empress was put in charge of the upbringing of Minning, the Jiaqing Emperor's second son who was born to Empress Xiaoshurui. She took care of Minning and treated him well, and they shared a close and harmonious relationship.[2]
On 9 March 1805, The Empress gave birth to the emperor's fourth son, Mianxin.
When the Jiaqing Emperor died on 2 September 1820 before designating one of his sons as Crown Prince, the decision on the succession was left to Lady Niohuru, who became Empress dowager. The Empress dowager proclaimed Minning the new emperor before an imperial edict was officially issued. She ordered her servants to deliver the message to Minning, who was away in Chengde at the time. Minning rushed back to the Forbidden City and was enthroned as the Daoguang Emperor.
The Daoguang Emperor was extremely pleased with the Empress dowager's decision to make him emperor, claiming that she was broad-minded because she did not misuse her power to name either of her two sons as the new emperor. The Daoguang Emperor also granted her the title "Empress Dowager Gongci". She moved to the Forbidden City's Palace of Longevity and Health, which was traditionally a residence of the emperor's mother.
In 1836, Empress Dowager Gongci celebrated her 60th birthday. The Daoguang Emperor donned his formal court regalia for the occasion. He first went to the Hall of Central Harmony, where he read a memorial for the Empress dowager to wish her well. He then mounted a cart and rode through the right Wing Gate to the left Gate of Eternal Health, where he disembarked. Carrying the memorial in his hands, the Emperor was accompanied by an entourage of nobles and high-ranking officials. After the Emperor delivered his message and birthday gifts, the retinue jointly presented Empress Dowager Gongci with a court scepter.[3]
On 10 April 1838, Empress Dowager Gongci and the Daoguang Emperor visited the Western Qing tombs for 13 days.[4]
Empress Dowager Gongci died on 23 January 1850. She was posthumously granted the title "Empress Xiaoherui", and was interred in a separate tomb near the Chang Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs.