 Empress Zhou is described as "stern and prudent"; never forgetting of her poor origin, she maintained a frugal policy in palace affairs, and was admired and praised for this.The Chongzhen Emperor reportedly had a good relationship to her and divided his affections and attention equally between empress Zhou and his favorite concubine, Honored Consort Tian (d. 1642), who was the mother of his 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th sons.Zhou was allegedly not jealous of Tian, but she did disapprove of her haughty behavior.