In traditional histories, she was regarded as a hoarder of wealth who, during her husband's reign, became extremely powerful, with her own orders carrying the same weight as his own.
Her father, whose name is lost to history, was described to be a capable physician who had a yellow beard, and who referred to himself as Hermit Liu (劉山人).
[1] (As the records of Li Keyong's campaigns only indicated one instance in which he personally raided Wei Prefecture—in 897—it would appear that that was the likely time when Lady Liu was taken, which would make her born in 892 or 893.
However, Lady Liu had been falsely claiming a much more honored heritage in her struggle for favor against the other consorts, and was angry and ashamed that her father's appearance exposed her account as deceitful.
Believing that if he failed, Later Tang would fall entirely, he sent Lady Liu and Li Jiji back to Xingtang, telling them, "Whether this endeavor is successful or not depends on this one gamble.
By 924, however, Guo, himself facing false accusations from Emperor Zhuangzong's favored eunuchs and performers, decided that an alliance with Lady Liu would allow him to be continued to be trusted by the emperor, and so submitted a petition with other officials recommending Lady Liu as empress.
She also honored the wealthy general Zhang Quanyi as her father, and was able to coax him into giving many material gifts to her.
[7] In 925, the Later Tang territory was suffering another serious famine, such that even the family members of Emperor Zhuangzong's elite Yinqiang (銀槍) guard troops were starving to death.
He further killed Guo's political allies Zhu Youqian and his own brother Li Cun'ai (李存乂) the Prince of Mu.
The soldiers at Xingtang shortly after mutinied under the leadership of the officer Huangfu Hui (皇甫暉), and the mutineers became increasing in strength and numbers such that despite an attack by the major general Li Shaorong, the defenses held.
Emperor Zhuangzong was wounded in battle, but it was said that Empress Liu refused to go see him to attend to him, but instead was gathering treasures, preparing to flee.
[9] Empress Liu and her brother-in-law (Emperor Zhuangzong's younger brother) Li Cunwo (李存渥) gathered up the treasures and fled north, heading for the old capital Taiyuan, apparently believing that they could find refuge there and wait for Li Jiji's return from the Shu lands.
Shortly after, though, after Li Siyuan entered Luoyang and claimed the title of regent, he sent emissaries to Taiyuan and ordered that she be killed.