Family background

Empress Xiaodexian's personal name was not recorded in history. Her family originally belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner.

• Father: Futai (富泰), served as a fourth rank literary official (少卿) in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and held the title of a duke (公)
  • Paternal grandfather: Qichang (祺昌)
  • Paternal grandmother: Lady Nara
• Mother: Lady Aisin Gioro
  • Maternal grandfather: Ulgungga (烏爾恭阿; 1778–1846), held the title Prince Zheng of the First Rank from 1794–1846, Jirgalang's great great great great grandson
  • Maternal uncle: Duanhua (1807–1861), held the title Prince Zheng of the First Rank from 1846–1861, the maternal grandfather of Empress Xiaozheyi (1854–1875)
• One sister
• One younger brother

Daoguang era

The future Empress Xiaodexian was born on the first day of the third lunar month in the 11th year of the reign of the Daoguang Emperor, which translates to 12 April 1831 in the Gregorian calendar.

In 1847, Lady Sakda married Yizhu, the fourth son of the Daoguang Emperor, and became Yizhu's primary consort. She died in January 1850.

Xianfeng era

About a month after her death, the Daoguang Emperor died and was succeeded by Yizhu, who became the Xianfeng Emperor. As the Xianfeng Emperor's primary consort, Lady Sakda was posthumously honoured as Empress, and was interred in the Ding Mausoleum of the Eastern Qing tombs.