Yan Ming was a concubine of Liu Yi (劉翼), the Marquess of Liwu.
After Marquess Yi died, her son Zhi, as the oldest son of the marquess, inherited the title.
After the young Emperor Zhi was poisoned by the powerful official Liang Ji in July 146, the 13-year-old Marquess Zhi, because he was betrothed to Liang Ji's younger sister Liang Nüying, was selected by Liang to inherit the throne.
After he became emperor, he initially only honored his mother with the title of an imperial consort (after posthumously honoring his father as an emperor).
After the regent Empress Dowager Liang (Liang Ji's other sister) died in April 150, Emperor Huan honored Consort Yan with an empress title, effectively making her the empress dowager.