Biography
Imperial Noble Consort Huixian was of Han Chinese origin and her family name was Gao (高). Her personal name is unknown. In 1735 her family was promoted from a Han Chinese banner to the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Eight Banners, and in 1818 their family name "Gao" was changed to the Manchu clan name "Gaogiya" (高佳).
Lady Gao's father Gao Bin (高斌; 1693-1755), son of Gao Yanzhong (高衍中), was initially a booi aha (包衣; house servant) of a Manchu family. He later took up official posts and served as a River Transport Supervisor (河道總督) and daxueshi (大學士). Lady Gao's had a younger brother called Gao Heng (高恒). She became a concubine of the fourth prince Hongli during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor.
In 1735 the Yongzheng Emperor died and was succeeded by Hongli, who became known as the Qianlong Emperor. Around that time Gao Bin wrote a memorial to the Yongzheng Emperor, thanking him for a bunch of lychees, but it was too late as the emperor had already died when the memorial reached the palace, so the Qianlong Emperor replied in place of his father:
"My father recognised your talent and promoted you to a high position. You should do your utmost to repay his grace. Even though your daughter is waiting on me, you should not be harbouring any ill intentions. This will not be tolerated by national law. If you serve the nation well with sincerity and integrity, I will not refrain from giving rewards to avoid being criticised for showing favouritism."
The Qianlong Emperor granted Lady Gao the title of Noble Consort (贵妃). As Lady Gao was the only woman in the imperial harem holding the rank of Noble Consort at that time, she did not have any other name to distinguish her from the other consorts.
In 1745 Lady Gao became critically ill and the Qianlong Emperor elevate her to the status of an Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃). However Lady Gao was unable to attend the promotion ceremony as she died two days after the emperor's decision was announced. She was granted the posthumous title of "Imperial Noble Consort Huixian". In 1752 she was interred in the Yuling Mausoleum in the Eastern Qing Tombs.
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