Life

Lady Xu was from Fuchun County, Wu Commandery, around present day Fuyang, Zhejiang. She was the daughter of Xu Kun (徐琨), a cousin of Sun Quan through his father Sun Jian's sister, who was killed in action fighting against Huang Zu. Lady Xu was initially married to Lu Shang (陸尚), also of Fuchun County. When Lu Shang died around 200, Lady Xu was taken in by Sun Quan as a concubine, on which occasion he told his first wife Lady Xie to lower herself in status to accommodate Lady Xu's arrival; Lady Xie refused and fell into disfavour, dying at a relatively early age. As part of her duties as concubine, Lady Xu was assigned as adoptive mother to Sun Deng, Quan's son by a mother of lowly status, who would later acknowledge her as his mother. When Sun Quan later relocated in 212, he abandoned Lady Xu in Wu, irritated on account of her jealous nature.

In 229, when Sun Quan declared himself emperor of Eastern Wu, his advisors pushed for Lady Xu to be declared his official empress, being the respectable adopted mother of Sun Deng, Sun Quan's heir apparent since he was created King of Wu in 221. however, Quan refused, favouring Lady Bu instead, who was treated unofficially as empress and later posthumously titled as such. Lady Xu herself died of illness sometime after.

Family and relatives

Lady Xu's grandfather Xu Zhen (徐真) was a close acquaintance of Sun Jian, who gave Zhen his younger sister in marriage, leading to the birth of Xu Kun, Lady Xu's father. Xu Kun in his youth served in provincial and commandery offices, though left his post to follow Sun Jian in battle as his Lieutenant General. He continued to serve Sun Ce during this time in battle against Fan Neng (樊能) and Yu Mi (于糜) at Hengjiang (橫江) and against Zhang Ying (張英) at Danglikou (當利口) in 195. Kun's mother was accompanying the army at the time, and her suggestion to Kun to build rafts to cross the riverine territory before Zhang Ying's navies could amass was approved by Sun Ce. With Ying destroyed, he also aided Sun Ce in defeating Ze Rong and Liu Yao, and Sun Ce memorialised to have him made Administrator of Danyang Commandery (丹楊郡).

In 197, Xu Kun was dispatched to displace Yuan Yin, who had been declared Administrator of Danyang by his cousin Yuan Shu, but before long Sun Ce recalled him to Wu and restored Wu Jing as Grand Administrator of Danyang; the Jiangbiaozhuan (江表傳 Biographies from Across the River) claims that he did so for fear of Xu Kun's influence and troops, as well as in favour of Wu Jing's charisma and trust from his previous term in Danyang. Sun Ce instead appointed Xu Kun as General of the Household Who Supervises the Army. He later assisted in defeating Li Shu (李術) at Lujiang in 200, for which he was created Marquis of Guangde (廣德侯) and appointed General Who Pacifies Barbarians (平虜將軍). He was later struck by an arrow and killed around 203, roughly the time of the Battle of Xiakou, during the campaign against Huang Zu.

Lady Xu's elder brother Xu Jiao (徐矯) inherited his father's marquisate, and campaigned against the Black Mountain Shanyue, for which he was made lieutenant general. Xu Jiao died childless before his sister. Their younger brother Xu Zuo (徐祚) inherited the title, and for his martial merits he was appointed as Supervisor of Wuhu (蕪湖督) and General Who Pacifies Wei (平魏將軍).

生平

父徐琨為當地豪族，孫堅的外甥，孫權的表兄。後跟隨孫堅征戰並因功拜偏將軍。

徐氏曾嫁給同郡陸氏家族的陸尚為妻，後陸尚先逝。建安五年（200年）以後，孫權為討虜將軍駐屯在吳郡（郡治今江蘇省蘇州市）。期間，孫權令元配謝夫人讓出正室的位置，迎娶徐氏為妻，並由她養育庶生的長子孫登。建安十六年（211年），孫權移居秣陵（今江蘇省南京市）後，將徐夫人廢黜並遣返回吳郡。過了十餘年後，孫權封王稱帝，立孫登為太子。大臣們請求立孫登養母徐夫人為后，但孫權希望立自己寵愛的步夫人，為此，過了十餘年也沒能決定后位的歸屬。後來，徐夫人因病去世。

人物

性格

• 徐夫人生性好妒，並因此被孫權所疏離。

逸聞

• 徐夫人的祖母是孫權的姑姑，因而徐夫人是丈夫孫權的姑孫。

• 太子孫登對徐夫人非常孝順，把徐夫人當生母一樣看待。當時步夫人與徐夫人都有賜送他衣服。孫登對步夫人送來的衣服，只是恭敬的收下，對徐夫人送來的衣服，就一定會沐浴後穿在身上。孫登被封為太子時，也向孫權提出立徐夫人為后。

• 自徐夫人被遣返回吳郡後，孫權有四十年未再立正室或皇后，直到去世前的一年（251年），才立潘淑為皇后。

子女

• 養子

　• 孫登，字子高，孫權長子，曾被立為太子，三十三歲時逝世。

親族

• 祖父母

　• 徐真，徐琨之父。

　• 孫氏，徐琨之母，孫堅之妹。

• 父

　• 徐琨，吳郡豪族，曾追隨孫堅、孫策征戰，孫權時官至平虜將軍，封廣德侯。

• 兄弟

　• 徐矯，徐琨之子，夫人兄，討平山越，官至偏將軍，襲父爵封廣德侯。

　• 徐祚，徐琨之子，夫人弟，官至蕪湖督、平魏將軍，襲兄爵封廣德侯。

注釋