Yu Daolian was a daughter of Yu Bing, one of the co-prime ministers during the reigns of Emperor Cheng and Emperor Kang—both Bing's nephews and sons of his younger sister Empress Yu Wenjun, making Daolian an aunt to her husband, who was Empress Yu Wenjun's grandson.
She was already Emperor Fei's wife when he was Prince of Donghai during the reign of his cousin Emperor Mu, and she then carried the title of Princess Consort of Donghai.
After her husband became emperor in 365 after his brother's death, he created her empress on 13 August.
[5] Emperor Fei was deposed by the powerful general Huan Wen in 371.
After he died in November 386, she was disinterred and reburied with her husband at his place of exile, Wu (吳縣, in modern Suzhou, Jiangsu).