Shen Zhuyu is the daughter of the county magistrate of Nan County in Chu. She insisted on marrying Huang Shi, a poor scholar, despite her parents objections. Her parents feared Huang Shi was not a good person due to his shifty appearance, but she was won over by his talent and poetic abilities. After Huang Shi passed the imperial examination and became a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, she moved to the Capital City with him. Life in the capital was difficult with high living costs and financial strain. Despite her hardships, she was initially happy with her marriage. However, her husband grew to resent her and became interested in the Minister of Rites granddaughter. Heartbroken and desperate, Shen Zhuyu jumped into the Little South River during the Lantern Festival. She was rescued by Liu Qi and taken to Chunfeng Building for questioning.
