Royal Consort Yeong-Bi of the Dongju Choi clan
Royal Consort Yeong of the Dongju Choi clan (영비 최씨) was a consort of the 32nd king of Goryeo, King U. Biography. Born the daughter of the famed general Choi Young and his concubine Lady Eun, Royal Consort Yeong entered the harem of King U in 1388 at the same time as consorts Jeong and Seon. She was established in a mansion named Yeonghye (), and, of all the consorts, ranked second only to Royal Consort Geun. The additional staff required for the three new consorts represented a substantial burden on palace  resources, however, and King U increased the tribute to be paid in grain for the year to meet the palace's needs. In the midst of planning for the assault on Liaodong in Ming territory, King U left the palace with Royal Consort Yeong and her father to go hunting in Seohae-do (). A few months later, Royal Consort Yeong accompanied the king to visit Pubyok Pavilion, where he tried to kill a coachman, first with a bow and arrow and then by fighting him. Her father reproached the king, saying that the man would inevitably die due to the  gods' will, but the king killed the man anyway. Deposal of U of Goryeo. In June 1388, the general Yi Seonggye launched a coup against King U. He defeated Choi Young's forces at Palgakjeon (), where the king was hiding with Royal Consort Yeong. The soldiers surrounded the building, and Choi Young went out to them after the king had held his hand and wept. The soldiers then demanded that Royal Consort Yeong be sent out, but the king refused, saying that he would also have to go out if she went. As a result, several generals instructed their forces  to withdraw and guard the palaces instead. The king was persuaded to exit and go to Ganghwa Island, leaving Royal Consort Yeong with Princess Myeongsun. King U's young son by Royal Consort Geun was then placed on the throne. Exile. Aside from Royal Consort Geun, all of King U's consorts were expelled from the palace, after which Royal Consort Yeong joined the king in exile. When he was killed in 1389, she reportedly cried, 'everything I have suffered was caused by my father.' She refused to eat for 10 days and cried night and day, sleeping only when  hugging the dead king's body. On receiving a grain of rice, she would pound it into a fine powder as a sacrifice for the dead, and all who saw her pitied her.