May-Ling Shen was born to the Shen family, since she was of small stature and delicate features, they had her instructed in the ways of the concubines. They planned to sell her when she was of age. In 810, May-Ling arrived in the Forbidden City, having been purchased by a petty official at the Emperor Xianzong of Tang's court as his newest concubine. Yat Yang Ku became inordinately fond of his newest and youngest concubine. A few months after the new concubine's arrival, Yat's senior wife became jealous and poisoned May-Ling to dispose of her.