Empress Xiao Shu Rui was born in 1747, during the twenty-fifth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, into the Manchu Hitara clan. She was the daughter of Hitara He'erjing'e, Duke En of Cheng. In 1774, Lady Hitara married the Qianlong Emperor's son Yongyan, Prince Jia, as his primary wife and consort. Yongyan and Lady Hitara had three children including Minning or Mianning (16 September 1782 - 25 February 1850), later the Daoguang Emperor. On 9 February 1796, the Qianlong Emperor abdicated the throne in favor of his son Yongyan, who became the Jiaqing Emperor. Lady Hitara was created Empress. However, she died of illness after being Empress Consort for only one year. After her death, she was given the title of Empress Xiao Shu. Then, in 1820, the title of Empress Xiao Shu Rui after the death of the Jiaqing Emperor. Later, Hitara was interred in the Changling Mausoleum.