Emperor Gong along with Grand Dowager Xie surrendered to the Yuan dynasty in 1276 after the fall of the Southern Song capital, Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou).

On June 14, 1276, Zhao Shi was enthroned as the new Emperor Duanzong who ruled under the era name "Jingyan" (景炎; literally: "bright flame").

[1] Accompanied by loyal ministers such as Lu Xiufu and Zhang Shijie, Zhao Shi boarded a ship and fled further south to Guangdong Province.

In March 1278, while fleeing from Yuan forces led by Liu Shen, in a hurricane, Zhao Shi fell from a boat and almost drowned.

He died a few months later in Gangzhou (碙州; present-day Jiangmen)[1] due to illness.