The future Empress Dowager Xia was from Kuaiji Commandery on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay. Sometime between 520 and 527, she became a concubine of Xiao Yi the Prince of Xiangdong, a son of Liang's founder Emperor Wu. In 544, Empress Dowager Xia and Xiao Yi had a son, Xiao Fangzhi.
The future Empress Dowager Xia came from Kuaiji Commandery on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay. Between 520 and 527, she became a concubine to Xiao Yi, the Prince of Xiangdong, who was Emperor Wu's son. In 544, Empress Dowager Xia and Xiao Yi had a son named Xiao Fangzhi.