Zhu Jianshen is the eldest son of Zhu Qizhen, Ming Yingzong. Born in 1447, born to Zhou Guifei. According to the tradition of establishing the national treasury, the position of the prince should be inherited by the eldest son. However, as the wife of Ming Yingzong, Qian, the queen of Xiao Zhuang Rui, was never pregnant, while Zhu Jianshen, the eldest son of an ordinary family, became a prince. Zhu Jianshen was first made a prince in 1449, when Zhu Jianshen was only three years old. What prompted Ming Yingzong to make Zhu Jianshen Prince early was his decision to personally lead the fight against Vara.

During Ming Yingzong's reign, Wala, who split from the Northern Yuan Dynasty, was driven by Ming Taizu to live in Mobei, growing stronger and stronger. Not only did they often send troops to invade the border people of the Ming Dynasty, but they also often defrauded the property of the Ming Dynasty in the name of tribute. At that time, eunuch Wang Zhen, who was favored by the British Sect, cut their reward without authorization because he didn't like the practice of Vala, so the angry Vala sent troops to the Ming Dynasty. This time, Valla's invasion was menacing, and the situation in Mingdu Beijing became increasingly tense. In this case, at the suggestion of Wang Zhen, Ming Yingzong decided to personally lead the army to drive Valla out of the Ming Dynasty.

Before leaving, Ming Yingzong ordered his younger brother Zhu Qiyu to supervise the country, because the personal expedition was related to the overall development of the Ming Dynasty, and it was bound to be difficult to manage North Korean affairs after the personal expedition. At the same time, Zhu Jianshen, the eldest son, was named Chu Jun. After arranging these things, Ming Yingzong officially set out. A few months later, he and a group of Ming troops were besieged by the Walla army in Tumbao, and finally defeated by the Walla army because the water source was cut off.

This time, the defeat completely changed the weather of the Ming Dynasty. In order to stabilize the situation, the ministers of the DPRK directly established Zhu Qiyu as the new emperor, while Yingzong, who was arrested by Vala, was passively promoted to be the emperor's father. At this point, Zhu Jianshen still retains the status of Chu army. A year later, Yingzong was put back by Walla and then placed under house arrest by Zhu Qiyu. Zhu Qiyu naturally did this in order to keep his throne. In order to further safeguard his throne, he later abolished Zhu Jianshen in 1452.

However, five years later, the Crown Prince of Zhu Jianshen was restored by the successful restoration of Yingzong. While restoring his status as a prince, Yingzong changed his name to Zhu.