Following the fall of Nanjing and the Jianwen Emperor's disappearance, Zhu Di sentenced Tie Xuan to death by having his limbs torn off and fried in oil.

In the Southern Ming period, he was honored with the title of Grand Protector (太保) and given the posthumous name Zhongxiang (忠襄), meaning loyal assistant.

Later, he was granted the post of judge (duan shi) where he presided over judicial cases and resolved them quickly.

[3] In the early years of Jianwen's reign, he was appointed to a high administrative position in Shandong province.

When Li Jinglong and his army were sent north to fight against Zhu Di, Tie Xuan gave them military rations and supplies.

He went from Linyi straight to Jinan with Sheng Yong and Song Can's army to fight to the death in defense.

[4] The Prince of Yan's army went charging to Dezhou, and Li Jinglong ran to Tie Xuan.

[5] On the 15th day of the 5th month, Zhu Di's army attacked Jinan, and Tie Xuan and Sheng Yong defended the city.

[6] On the 17th day of the 5th month, Zhu Di's Yan army diverted a river by digging into its embankment and released water into the city.

Tie Xuan ordered the rest of his warriors to lie on top of the city walls and wait for Zhu Di to enter.

[12] The Jianwen Emperor replaced Sheng Yong with Li Jinglong as General of Yan, and he assigned Tie Xuan to participate in military affairs.

[13][14] That winter, Sheng Yong defeated Zhu Di at Dongchang and beheaded his general, Zhang Yu.

The Yan troops crossed the river, and attacked Tie Xuan's soldiers stationed at Huaishang.

Zhu Di ordered him to turn around, but Tie Xuan refused to listen, even after his ears and nose were cut off.

Tie Xuan replied sternly, "The flesh of a faithful official and filial son, why would it not be sweet?"

During the course of events, he wished to face north to worship, but the heat caused oil to unexpectedly splash and drop.

[17] Tie Xuan's wife, Mrs. Yang, and their two daughters were put into the Royal Academy (China), and forced to become prostitutes.

Tie Xuan was decorated as the seventh ranking loyal official to Jianwen in his temple.