Empress Zhou is described as "stern and prudent"; never forgetting of her poor origin, she maintained a frugal policy in palace affairs, and was admired and praised for this.
[1] The Chongzhen Emperor reportedly had a good relationship to her and divided his affections and attention equally between empress Zhou and his favorite concubine, Consort Tian (d. 1642), who was the mother of his 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th sons.
On this occasion, Empress Zhou intervened with the emperor and asked him to end the exile of Consort Tian, which he did, after three months.
The Chongzhen Emperor ordered the crown prince and his two brothers to hide in the home of relatives, and summoned the rest of his family.
[2] Empress Zhou herself was ordered by the emperor to commit suicide, which she performed by hanging in Kunning Gong (Palace of Earthly Tranquility), Forbidden City.