When the baby's illness grew worse, the empress noticed "token paper money" beside the child and suspected Consort Liu of using witchcraft against her.

The adoptive mother of Meng, accused of having used magic to make the emperor fall in love with the empress, was also executed.

The only member of the Song dynasty left in the capital of Kaifeng was empress dowager Meng, which gave her great status.

[17] Emperor Gaozong established the Southern Song dynasty, and, in gratitude for her act, treated her with great honors and gave her the title Empress Dowager Longyou.

[18] In 1129, the commander Miao Fu and vice commander Liu Cheng-yen seized control of the capital of Linan, forced Emperor Gaozong to abdicate in favor of his three-year-old son, Zhang, and placed Empress Dowager Meng as regent during his minority.

In late 1129, Emperor Gaozong evacuated Linan and sent empress dowager Meng with an Imperial guard to Chiang-hsi, aware that she symbolized dynastic legitimacy and must not be captured by the Jurchen.

[22] Equally aware of this, the Jurchen pursued her and almost succeeded in capturing her, but she was able to return to Linan when it was secured and given a grand welcome.

The Emperor treated her with the same honors entitled to his mother for the rest of her life, and also gave her relatives official positions.