In 1900, when the forces of the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor fled from Beijing and left Lady Hešeri and other consorts behind. As Imperial Noble Consort Dunyi Rongqing, the most senior among the Tongzhi Emperor's surviving consorts, was in poor health, Lady Hešeri covered her duties for her and took charge of the imperial palace in the Guangxu Emperor's absence.