Sun was the favoured advisor to the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, who guided and supported him with advice in their rise to power.
Sun helped Lun assume the throne in February 301, but a coalition against him led by Sima Jiong was formed shortly later.
[6] Some time after Sima Lun became the Prince of Langya in February 266, Sun Xiu managed to win his trust through flattery and became an official under him.
Both Lun and Sun Xiu placed the blame on the Inspector of Yongzhou, Xie Xi (解系),[8] and the two sides sent petitions to the court accusing one another.
However, an acquaintance of Sun Xiu, Xin Ran managed to convince Sima Rong not to carry out Zhang's orders.
Lun was even confident enough to demand both Zhang Hua and Pei Wei's positions, but the two of them strongly refused to give their offices.
[10] In early 300, a group of officials was angered by the Empress Jia's decision to remove the Crown Prince Sima Yu in February.
Lun and Sun then told Jia Mi that Sima Yu had to be killed in order to prevent his restoration.
The Empress agreed with the idea, and Sima Yu was forced to commit suicide in April; when he refused to do so, he was killed.
[13] After the removal of Empress Jia, Sima Lun began making plans with Sun Xiu to take the throne.
As Sima Lun had very little interest in running the court, he passed over his responsibilities to Sun Xiu by making him Prefect of the Palace Secretariat.
Yun arrested Liu Ji and rebelled, but Sima Lun managed to quell his revolt and kill him.
[16] After Sima Yun's death, Sun Xiu had more of his political enemies executed, using the failed coup as a pretext.
Ouyang Jian supported Xie Xi in removing Lun from military command in Qinzhou and Yongzhou in 296.
After preparations were made for his day of ascension, Sima Lun entered the Western Palace on an imperial carriage and assumed the throne on 3 February.
Meanwhile, Zhang Lin was not happy with what little he received after Lun's ascension, along with the fact that Sun had complete control over the court.
In response, the two forged a petition purportedly from Jiong, claiming he was struggling against bandit attacks and was weak and incompetent.
They also had their men travel to Mount Song in feathered clothing along with forging and publishing a letter that they claim was from the sage, Wang Qiao (王乔), which said that Lun was destined for a long reign.
"[26] Emperor Hui was restored, and despite the last statement of his edict, Sima Lun was forced to commit suicide in the same manner as Empress Jia.