Her future husband Liu Zhiyuan was then a soldier in the army of Jin, which had its capital at Taiyuan, and one night, when he was out letting his horses graze, he intruded into her house, seized her, and made her his wife.
[4] Liu was able to unite the people rising against Liao rule under his authority, and his Later Han state was able to take over central China, with Kaifeng serving as its capital.
Per Liu Zhiyuan's directions, the authority over the imperial government largely rested in the hands of several generals and officials — Su Fengji, Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and Guo Wei.
Another chancellor, Li Tao, submitted a petition to Liu Chengyou, arguing that Yang and Guo, who was also serving as Yang's deputy, should be relieved of their positions and made military governors of key circuits, while the chief of staff positions should be entrusted to Su Fengji and Su Yugui.
[6] With Wang Jingchong soon rising in rebellion at Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) in alliance with Li Shouzhen the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and Zhao Siwan (趙思綰), an officer who then controlled Yongxing Circuit (永興, headquartered in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi), Guo was sent against Li Shouzhen.
With the three rebels defeated, it was said that Liu Chengyou became arrogant and frivolous, spending much time with his favorite attendants Hou Kuangzan (後匡贊) and Guo Yunming (郭允明).
At that time, Liu Chengyou's favorite attendants were trying to assert authority, and Empress Dowager Li's relatives were also trying to be involved in government, but Yang curbed these attempts.
Liu Chengyou thus plotted with Li Ye, Nie Wenjin (聶文進), Hou, and Guo Yunming, to kill Yang, Shi, and Wang.
Liu Chengyou further sent out orders to have Guo Wei, who was then serving as the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei), Guo's army monitor Wang Jun, and Shi's favored imperial guard general Wang Yin (王殷), then stationed at Chan Prefecture (澶州, in modern Puyang, Henan), killed.
Empress Dowager Li tried to dissuade Liu Chengyou from going himself, instead hoping that some form of rapprochement could still be reached with Guo, but he did not listen to her.
Liu Chengyou was essentially left alone with his close attendants, and in the subsequent confusion, he was killed by soldiers.
[2] Guo Wei and his soldiers effectively controlled the capital, but for some time, there was still an appearance that normal governance could be returning.
Guo led the officials in paying homage to Empress Dowager Li and formally requested her to name a new emperor.
As he approached the capital, he submitted a note to Empress Dowager Li, promising to continue to serve her as if she were his mother.