In the past the explanation was always that he had married Zhang Youyi under his parents 'orders only later to find his one true soulmate. But recently uncovered historical materials shed new light on the matter.
過去的解釋都說是因為娶張幼儀是「父母之命、非意願所選」，徐是為了在茫茫人海中找尋性靈之交，但是近年出版的資料卻也有另一種看法。