Yuan Shu was Yuan Shao's younger brother and, due to his lineage, served as a deputy commander in the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition army. In the chaos following the defeat of Dong Zhuo, he acquired the Jade Seal and, captivated by its power, falsely declared himself emperor. He invited Lu Bu as a guest general and launched attacks on Jiangdong and Xuzhou, and also secretly plotted with Zhang Lian to assassinate Cao Cao, launching haphazard attacks on surrounding states. As a result, his stronghold in Shouchun was besieged and destroyed by the armies of Sun Ce, Liu Bei, and Cao Cao. He escaped the city after losing the Jade Sage, but was abandoned by his brother Yuan Shao, and ultimately died alone, seeking his favorite honey.

While those unworthy of possessing the Jade Seal lose their mental balance, Yuan Shu had contained its influence by enshrining the Imperial Seal within the Ten Extremes Cursed Armor.