 Chu Lingqu came from an aristocratic family, as the daughter of the official Chu Cheng (褚澄), a younger brother of Chu Yuan, who served as a high-level official during late Liu Song and later served as prime minister for Southern Qi's founding emperor, Emperor Gao.Xiao Baojuan's father Emperor Ming took Chu Lingqu to be the wife of Xiao Baojuan, who was then crown prince, in 495, and she thereafter carried the title of Crown Princess.She was not favored by Xiao Baojuan, who was, according to the "History of Southern Dynasties", carrying on an incestuous affair with his sister the Princess Shanyin.