Lady Zhu was the daughter of Zhu Ju and Sun Luyu (孫魯育), a daughter of Wu"s founding emperor Sun Quan. In 250, she lost her father, as Zhu Ju, after unsuccessfully trying to persuade Sun Quan not to depose the crown prince Sun He, was exiled to Xindu (新都. In present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang) and was executed on the way there.
Her husband was Sun Xiu (Emperor Jing), the third emperor of Wu. Even though this made her Sun Xiu"s niece, Sun Quan married her to Sun Xiu around 250. After Sun Xiu was created the "Prince of Langye" in 252, she became his princess consort.
She accompanied him, as his princedom was initially established at Hulin (虎林, in modern Chizhou, Anhui) but subsequently moved twice to Danyang (丹陽.
In present-day Xuancheng, Anhui) then finally to Kuaiji (會稽. In present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang).
In 255, Lady Zhu would lose her mother as well. Sun Xiu became fearful, and sent Lady Zhu back to the capital Jianye (建業.
Present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), effectively offering to divorce her, but Sun June declined by sending Lady Zhu back to Sun Xiu.
In 258, the emperor Sun Liang (Sun Xiu"s younger half-brother), after a failed attempt to remove Sun June"s cousin and successor Sun Chen, was himself removed from the throne by Sun Chen. Sun Chen installed Sun Xiu on the throne. However, Sun Xiu, despite urging from officials, did not immediately instate Lady Zhu as the empress.
Rather, he waited until 262 to do southern
(Indeed, it is not clear whether she bore any of Sun Xiu"s four sons)
In 264, Sun Xiu died after entrusting Sun Wan to the chancellor Puyang Xing (濮陽興). Empress Zhu became the empress dowager.
(lieutenant is not known how old Sun Wan was at this point, but Sun Xiu himself died at age 29, so it was unlikely that Sun Wan was even a teenager) At the recommendation of the general Wan Yu, who was friendly with Sun Hao (son of the former crown prince Sun He), Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu wanted declare Sun Hao emperor instead. When they reported this to Empress Dowager Zhu, she said: "I am just a widow.
What do I know about the important affairs of state? As long as the empire is not harmed, and the emperors continue to be properly worshipped, I am satisfied."
Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu then installed Sun Hao on the throne.
However, it soon became clear that Sun Hao was the wrong choice, as he quickly demonstrated his cruel and superstitious tendencies. Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu would indeed become his first victims, as their regret in selecting Sun Hao was quickly reported to him, who had them arrested and executed. In 265, Sun Hao forced Empress Dowager Zhu to commit suicide and killed Sun Xiu"s two eldest sons — the former crown prince Sun Wan and Sun Gong (the Prince of Runan).
Empress Dowager Zhu was given a substandard funeral (for an empress), although she was buried with an empress" honour with Sun Xiu.
