She was merely one of thousands waiting for the emperor to select after a mindless glance. She was asked to stay, at age 17.

She was then one of hundreds waiting for the emperor to favor or forget. She was favored and gave birth to the emperor’s only surviving son, at age 21.

She was one of two widows to be empowered with royal seals. With all odds against her, she fought hard and turned the chops into symbols of real power, at age 27.

She outlived both emperors behind whom she ruled for 48 years. The last imperial dynasty reached its end three years after she died, at age 73.