It was said that when Emperor Xuanwu first assumed imperial powers — which probably referred to his relieving his uncle Yuan Xie of authorities in 501 — Yu Lie believed that the emperor lacked sufficient consorts, and so persuaded Emperor Xuanwu's attendants to praise her beauty and virtues.
Emperor Xuanwu took her as an imperial consort with the rank of guiren.
[3] Emperor Xuanwu greatly favored her and on 5 October 501[4] created her empress.
When Empress Yu suddenly died in 507, it was believed that Consort Gao poisoned her, but historians concede that there is no conclusive evidence.
When her son Yuan Chang died the following year (508), it was also alleged that Gao Zhao had him poisoned.