A Qing Dynasty Consort's Quest for a Long Life

Lin Yanyan, a twenty-first-century nurse obsessed with Qing court dramas, transmigrates to the Yongzheng era during a night shift. She becomes Fucha Qingyan, a low-ranking concubine in the residence of Fourth Prince Hongli. Although she shares a surname with the legal wife, Fucha Qingyan comes from a bondservant family and is only a concubine in the prince's household. She has given birth to the eldest prince, Yonghuang, but both she and her son die in their twenties. She doesn't even get the chance to take part in the harem power struggles. Watching the characters from the TV dramas appear before her one by one, Lin Yanyan realizes that she has unfortunately transmigrated into the body of an obscure historical figure who died young. Her top priority is figuring out how to extend both her own life and her son's. She also wants to live long enough to solve the mysteries of history. Was Empress Fucha really the emperor's cherished ideal? Was Noble Consort Gao truly favored? Why did the Second Empress cut her hair? Was Consort Ling really poisoned to death? Thinking about all this thrills Lin Yanyan. She is determined to live a long life in place of Consort Zhe. Initial goal: Hold out until Hongli ascends the throne Intermediate goal: Hold out until the Second Empress cuts her hair Ultimate goal: Outlive Qianlong and live to a hundred This is alternate history. Readers who demand historical accuracy should steer clear. The characters' fates differ from history, and there are absurd and illogical elements, so please be kind in the comments. My new novel, "A Qing Dynasty Story: Consort Ling Wants to Live to Become Empress Dowager," is now available for pre-save. Please add it to your favorites. Empress Xiaoyi Chun, of the Wei family, was made Noble Lady Wei in the tenth year of Qianlong's reign, and promoted to Consort Ling later that same year. In the thirteenth year of Qianlong's reign, she was promoted to Consort Ling; in the twenty-fourth year, to Noble Consort Ling. In the twenty-fifth year, she gave birth to the fifteenth prince, Yongyan, the future Jiaqing Emperor. In the thirtieth year, she was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. In the winter of the thirty-eighth year, her son, the fifteenth prince Yongyan, was secretly named heir to the throne by Emperor Qianlong. On the twenty-ninth day of the first month of the fortieth year, the Imperial Noble Consort died of illness at the age of forty-nine. On the eleventh day of the second month, she was posthumously given the title Imperial Noble Consort Lingyi. On the twenty-sixth day of the tenth month of the fortieth year, she was buried at the Yuling Mausoleum. On the third day of the ninth month of the sixtieth year of Qianlong's reign, Emperor Qianlong announced that the fifteenth prince, Prince Jia Yongyan, would be crown prince. He also posthumously named the crown prince's birth mother, Imperial Noble Consort Lingyi, Empress Xiaoyi. This was the life of Empress Xiaoyi Chun in history. Wei Mingxin, an avid fan of Qing court dramas, accidentally transmigrated to the Qianlong era while visiting the underground palace at Yuling. She became Wei Mingxin, daughter of Wei Qingtai, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, who shared her name. She never expected that she would turn out to be the famous Consort Ling, who rose from palace maid to empress. Transmigrating into the body of the historically blessed Consort Ling, Wei Mingxin doesn't need to do a thing. She can just lie back and win. With the protection of Empress Xiaoxian, the emperor's affection, and sons and daughters of her own, she has everything. But Consort Ling's one regret in history was that she died too young and never got to enjoy a single day as empress or empress dowager. Wei Mingxin refuses to accept that. What's so great about being an imperial noble consort? Being alive to become empress and empress dowager is what would truly be wonderful! With that goal in mind, Wei Mingxin sets out to work hard. Initial goal: Live past forty-nine Intermediate goal: Become empress while still alive Ultimate goal: Outlive Qianlong and live to become empress dowager! Theme: Self-reliance and self-improvement