Empress Dowager Xiaoding

She was the daughter of the pauper Li Wei (d. 1584). She became a servant girl at the Imperial Palace of the Longqing Emperor, where she was eventually promoted to concubine. In 1563, she gave birth to a son, who was declared Hereditary Prince of Yu first, then Crown Prince after Longqing's succession to the throne. Because of her success, her father was ennobled. Her social career was not unusual during the Ming dynasty, were several empresses, consorts and concubines came from a poor background and made a similar career. She herself was described as humble and submissive, acting in accordance with the female ideal of her time.

In 1572, her son succeeded to the throne at the age of nine. She was given the title of Empress Dowager and, in accordance with tradition, named regent during the minority of her son. She did not play any part in state affairs, which was entirely in the hands of Zhang Juzheng. Her son's de facto rule did not begin until after the death of Zhang Juzheng in 1582.[1] From 1572 until 1578, she lived, on the request of officials, in the palace of the emperor rather than the empress dowager palace, to supervise his life and daily habits.[1] She was strict with him and punished him if he, for example, refused to study.

When her son was deliberating whether to appoint his eldest son as heir apparent, because his mother, Consort Gong was originally a palace woman, she pointed out to him that he too was the son of a palace maid, and the appointment when through.[1]

• Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang

• Hsieh Bao Hua: Concubinage and Servitude in Late Imperial China