Princess Hexiao's Mansion (Heshen's Residence)
From the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (1780) to the 4th year of the Jiaqing reign (1799)
Emperor Qianlong had 10 daughters, of whom Princess Hexiao was the youngest. She was also known as the Tenth Princess.
On the 20th day of the fifth lunar month of the 45th year of Qianlong's reign (1780) when the Tenth Princess was 6 years old, the emperor named Fengshen Yinde, the son of Heshen, a high-ranking official and also renowned scholar at Emperor Qianlong's court, as his prospective son-in-law.
One month later, Qianlong issued an order that a mansion was rewarded to Heshen as the residence of the young couple.
According to the floor bricks made in the 49th year of the Qianlong reign (1784) unearthed from Prince Kung's Palace, it took Heshen at least four years to build this mansion which was extreme luxurious and had some construction details not allowed to be used by common people.
For example, the Nanmu Hall, situated in the west road of the mansion, was built in the style of the Palace of Peace and Longevity in the Forbidden City. It was not allowed to be used by courtiers.
In the 11th lunar month of the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (January 1790), the 15-year-old Princess Hexiao married Fengshen Yinde and moved to this mansion. On the sixth day after the wedding, which was the fourth day of the 12th lunar month of the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (January 18, 1790), Emperor Qianlong came to the princess' residence to visit his newly married daughter.
However, in the first lunar month of the fourth year of the Jiaqing reign (1799), Heshen was convicted and sentenced to death. His mansion was searched and the property was confiscated. The mansion was given to Yonglin, Prince Qing. According to the archives of the Internal Affairs Office of the Qing Court, Princess Hexiao was ordered to move out.
