[1] During her son Shenzong's reign, she opposed the reform policy of Wang Anshi and supported Sima Guang.

[1] As Regent, Gao appointed conservatives such as Sima Guang as chancellor, who discontinued the New Policies initiated by Wang Anshi.

[1][3] She has been traditionally recommended for her intelligence and good judgement in choosing officials, and her refusal to admit any influence to her relatives.

[1][3] Her government has been praised for restoring stability and keeping peace to the realm, but also criticized for being a period of reactionary passivity.

Her grandson the emperor favored the reformists of his father and resented both the conservatism and domineering ways of his grandmother.