Zhu Youlang, Prince of Gui

Campaigns in southern China Zhu Youlang became "Caretaker of the State" on 20 November 1646, following the death of the Longwu emperor. When Longwu's brother then declared himself emperor with the reign-title Shaowu, Youlang himself ascended the throne (24 December 1646) as Yongli emperor. A brief civil war between the two emperors ended a month later when the Qing captured and executed Shaowu.

Zhu Youlang succeeded to the throne with approval by his fathers widow and principal wife Empress Dowager Wang, who was his own adoptive mother, and during his first five years of reign, she acted as his adviser, and it was said that she was "...versed in letters, aware of current events, analytical about tasks and clear in her reasoning. After the Emperor assumed the throne there was nothing in which he did not follow her wishes."

The continuing military pressure of the Qing forced Youlang to withdraw further into the south and west, first to Guilin in Guangxi, then to Jiangxi and Hunan, then south again to Nanning in Guangxi. He had a number of experienced and devoted followers, but became increasingly reliant on the military support of local warlords and bandit chieftains. The best and most effective of these was Li Dingguo, who for five years was highly successful in enlarging Southern Ming territories in the southwest. Accordingly, on 22 January 1662, the last monarch of the Southern Ming, together with his sons and grandsons, were put on boats and forwarded to Wu Sangui's camp near Ava. Thinking that he was being taken to his longtime military protector Li Dingguo, the forlorn emperor only realized his real destination when he arrived at Wu's camp.

Death Zhu Youlang, Prince of Gui and last serious claimant to the Ming throne, was delivered into the custody of Wu Sangui, a Chinese general who had once served the Ming, and Manchu prince, general, and high minister of state, Aixinga. He was transported to Yunnanfu, the capital of Yunnan, where in June he was personally strangled by Wu Sangui. Wu had played a major role in the overthrow of the dynasty, having opened the gates in the Great Wall to the Qing and later leading the Qing campaign against the Southern Ming. It is said that Youlang scorned Wu in his last moments, saying that he betrayed his people and country, and urged Wu to kill him faster because he was disgusted to see "a traitor's face."

The last Ming dynasty princes who held out against the Qing after Zhu Youlang were Zhu Shugui, Prince of Ningjing and Zhu Hónghuán, Prince of Lu who accompanied Koxinga to Taiwan. Zhu Shugui acted as his representative in the Kingdom of Tungning and performed rites in his name until 1683.

Consort and issue Empress Xiaogangkuang, of the Wang clan (; d. 1662) Zhu Cixuan, Crown Prince Aimin (; 23 April 1648 – 1 June 1662), third son Zhu Ci?, Prince Ai of Yuan (; b. 1650), fourth son Zhu Ciyi, Prince Shang of Mian (; 1654–1655), sixth son Consort, of the Dou clan Consort, of the Mou clan Noble Lady, of the Dai clan Zhu Ciwei, Prince Dao of Fu (; 1654–1655, fifth son Concubine, of the Mou clan Noble Lady, of the Yang clan (; d. 1661) Zhu Cizhuo, Prince Chong of Li (; 1654–1656), seventh son Noble Lady, of the Liu clan Noble Lady, of the Yang clan First-Class Female Attendant, of the Guo clan , personal name Liangpu Unknown Zhu Cijue, Crown Prince Huaimin (; b. 1645), first son Zhu Ci?, Crown Prince Daomin (; b. 1646), second son