Emperor Renzong originally intended to appoint Chen, the daughter of a merchant as empress, but this proposal faced opposition from state officials and ministers.

She was known for her virtuous and gentle character, but perhaps due to her less attractive appearance or other reasons, she did not win the emperor's favor and remained somewhat distant from him.

Nonetheless, she was wise and tolerant, showing no jealousy towards the emperor's favored concubines, such as Zhang Guifei, Miao Zhaorong, and Yu Jieyu.

She was well-versed in the classics and history, skilled in the semi-cursive script (a style of calligraphy), and personally led the palace women in planting grains and raising silkworms in the garden.

Cao became the foster mother of the Crown Prince, and she also selected her niece, the future Empress Gao (Song dynasty), to become her daughter-in-law.

She was cautioned with the bad example of Empress Liu, who was said to have favored her relatives in politics and usurped Imperial rituals for herself, and Cao was careful not to do this during her regency.

Opponent prime minister Han Qi then removed the screen from the audience hall while the court was in session, which made it impossible for her to attend and forced her to retire as regent.

Overjoyed, Zhang prepared for the outing, but Renzong, realizing the impropriety, sternly reminded her: "Ceremonial rules exist for a reason, and violating rank will invite court criticism."

[4] During Emperor Shenzong's reign, distinguished poet Su Shi was once arrested and imprisoned by the censorate amid the Crow Terrace Poetry Trial.

Empress Dowager Cao passed away shortly, and only a month later, Emperor Shenzong demoted Su Shi to Huangzhou as his penalty, instead of a more severe one.