Empress Fu was apparently never happy about Cao's domination of the political scene.

When Emperor Xian's concubine Consort Dong, whose father Dong Cheng had been killed in a failed conspiracy against Cao, was forcibly executed by Cao in 200 against Emperor Xian's wishes, Empress Fu had become angry and fearful, and had written her father Fu Wan a letter accusing Cao of cruelty and implicitly asking him to start a new conspiracy.

Fu Wan was fearful and did not act on the letter, but Empress Fu's letter is discovered in 214.

Cao is extremely angry and forces Emperor Xian to have Empress Fu deposed.

Emperor Xian is hesitant, and Cao sends his forces into the palace to force the issue.

Empress Fu hides inside the walls, but is finally discovered and dragged out.

As she is led away, she cries out to Emperor Xian for him to save her life, but his only response is that he cannot even know what will happen to him.

She is killed, along with her two sons and family.

Emperor Xian is not, but his status as a puppet is by now fully exposed.

Cao claims Empress Fu had died suddenly and buries her with the ceremony of an empress.