The future Empress Xiaogongren was born on the 19th day of the third lunar month in the 17th year of the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor, which translates to 28 April 1660 in the Gregorian calendar.

In February or March 1673, Lady Uya entered the Forbidden City and became a lady-in-waiting of the Kangxi Emperor.

On 5 March 1680, she gave birth to the emperor's sixth son, Yinzuo, who would die prematurely on 15 June 1685.

As the mother of the reigning emperor, Consort De was honoured as "Empress Dowager Renshou".

Some sources claimed that she wished to commit suicide to join her husband but her son refused to let her do so.