Wang was born in Beijing to Wang Wei of Yuyao, Zhejiang. In the first month of 1577, Empress Dowager Rensheng and Empress Dowager Xiaoding held a selection event to choose an empress for the Wanli Emperor. The 12-year old Wang Xijie entered the selection process and was successfully chosen to be the empress. In the first month of 1578, she was formally married to the Wanli Emperor at the age of 13. The grand secretaryZhang Juzheng wrote to both empress dowagers, arguing that Wang Xijie and the Wanli Emperor were too young. Initially, Wang's father was made a member of the Jinyiwei with authority over 1,000 households as a result of his daughter's success. In 1579, the Wanli Emperor also conferred the rank of Count of Yongnian on him. Since the time of the Jiajing Emperor, inheritance of a feudal title by lineal descendants was not permitted. To show favour to Wang Xijie, her brother Wang Dong was granted the countship on their father's death. When Wang Dong died, his mother Lady Zhao begged the emperor to extend the countship to Wang Dong's children, which was promptly done. Only the family of Empress Dowager Xiaoding had previously received similar honours.
Imperial Life
The History of Mingrecords that the empress was extremely solemn and her filial piety made her a favourite of her mother-in-law Empress Dowager Xiaoding. During the period when the succession was undecided, the emperor's eldest son by Lady Gong was attacked at his palace in the east of the imperial city. Empress Xiaoduanxian organised for more guards and protections to be installed at his residence. The historian Ray Huang comments: Empress Xiaoduanxian had one daughter in 1582 named Zhu Xuanying, formally titled the Princess Rongchang, who married a military commander named Yang Chunyuan.
Tomb
The empress was buried at Dingling, where her husband was later interred. During the excavation of Dingling in 1956, many treasures from Empress Xiaoduanxian's burial were unearthed. These included her phoenix crown, which the empress would have worn when visiting and making sacrifices in the ancestral temple. The crown features three phoenixes, six dragons, and weighs 2.96 kg. It now forms part of the collections of the National Museum of China.
