Very little is known about the future Consort Dowager Zhao's background. It is known that she was considered very beautiful and was favored by Liu Yan.Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms (十國春秋), vol. 61. In 920, she gave birth to his third son Liu HongduNew History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 65.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 283. — who would effectively become his oldest son since Liu Hongdu's older brothers Liu Yaoshu (劉耀樞) and Liu Guitu (劉龜圖) would both die early. During Liu Yan's Dayou era (928-942), she would receive the imperial consort title Zhaoyi (昭儀).
