After his father's sudden death, Huizong assumed the throne at the young age of six.
His mother, Empress Dowager Liang (Chinese: 梁太后, Tangut: 𗃛𘞽𘓺𗨺𘜹), became the regent for the rest of Huizong's reign.
In 1076, Huizong turned sixteen, and was supposed to assume direct control of the throne but was stopped by the enormous influence of the Dowager.
The two sparred over the cultural policy of the empire: the Emperor Huizong supported sinicization, while the Empress Dowager Liang supported Tangutization (ironic, considering Huizong was of paternal Tangut heritage, and Liang was of ethnic Han heritage).
The Song Dynasty then invaded the Western Xia on the premise of freeing Huizong, but the invasion was repelled.