In 28 January 1534, nine days after the deposition of Empress Zhang, Fang was nevertheless chosen by the emperor to succeed as empress consort of the imperial court. She was forced to make the decision because she sided with him during his dispute with his officials over the rituals honoring the imperial ancestors.[2]
Empress Fang was described as the favorite spouse of the emperor, and saved the emperor's life during the Renyin palace rebellion. Emperor Jiajing, who was described as strict and liable to violent outbursts, was known for his cruelty toward his female staff and palace women, reportedly having had 200 women of the palace staff beaten to death during his reign.[3] In October 1542, sixteen palace maids formed a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor; not for political reasons, but as retaliation for his abuse.[4] One night when the emperor was in bed with his favorite concubine, Consort Duan, the sixteen maids attacked him in his bed and tried to strangle him.[5] They stuffed his mouth, jabbed at his penis, tied a silk cord around his neck and pulled until he lost consciousness.[6] At this moment, however, one of them, Zhang Jinlian (張金蓮), lost her nerve and left to alert the empress. Empress Fang rushed in, untied the knot and saved the emperor's life.[7]
The emperor could not speak after the attack and was in a state of shock. Therefore, the empress acted on his behalf and had all the sixteen conspirators executed, as well as Consort Duan.[8] When the emperor recovered, he could not believe that Duan had been involved as Duan had been his favorite. Although he was grateful to her for saving his life, and granted her official honors for this, he blamed her for Duan's death, and their personal relationship was permanently damaged. Fang was said to have become depressed as a result.[9]
Empress Fang died in a fire in 1547. When a eunuch asked the emperor if the trapped empress should be saved, the emperor refused to answer, and she therefore burned to death.[10] He did nevertheless grant her all honors after her death.