Hongxi Emperor
Empress Hu was born in 1400 in Jining in present day Shandong Province. Her given name was Hu Shanxiang. She came from Jining in Shandong. Her father, Hu Rong, was a company commander ("baihu"). In 1417, she became the primary consort of Zhu Zhanji, the grandson-heir. Three years later in 1420, they had a daughter, the Princess Shunde. When Zhu Zhanji's father, Hongxi Emperor ascended the throne in 1424, she was appointed consort of the heir apparent ().