In 131, Emperor Shun wanted to create an empress, and not wanting to play favourites, he considered drawing lots before the gods to determine who should be the empress. After his officials discouraged him from this action, he finally selected one of his consorts, Liang Na, as the one he considered most virtuous and most rational. He created her empress in 132. She was 16 and he was 19. Her father Liang Shang () became an honoured official and was gradually promoted to increasingly important posts.