He was considered an able emperor who made several reforms beneficial to the Jin dynasty, such as the removal of corrupt officials and the introduction of more lenient tax laws.
His mother was Emperor Xuanzong's concubine, Lady Wang (王氏), who was posthumously honored as "Empress Minghui" (明惠皇后).
During his reign, Emperor Aizong tried to revive the Jin dynasty, which was on the verge of collapse due to his predecessors' policies.
He ended the wars against the Southern Song dynasty, canceled the Treaty of Shaoxing, free of obligation, reconciled with the Jin dynasty's former ally Western Xia, instituted internal reforms in his administration, eliminated corrupt and incompetent officials, and promoted military generals who resisted the Mongol invasion and recovered lost territories from the Mongols.
However, the Mongol Empire had become a formidable power by then, and in 1227, it completely conquered Western Xia and concentrated its attacks on the Jin dynasty.
[citation needed] Towards the end of 1232, Emperor Aizong fled Bianjing with an escort paid generously by the empress dowager.
[citation needed] On 9 February 1234, the allied forces of the Mongols and Southern Song dynasty besieged Caizhou and conquered the city.
Wanyan Chenglin refused to accept, but the emperor insisted and said, "I am fat and unable to ride on horseback into battle.
The Song imperial court eventually heeded Hong Zikui's suggestion and buried Emperor Aizong.