Yuan made him the governor of Yixing Commandery (義興, roughly modern Wuxi, Jiangsu).
After the general Xiao Daocheng assassinated Emperor Houfei in 477, and effectively took over the government, Wang was recalled to the capital in 478.
Even though Emperor Gao made Chu Yuan prime minister, Wang appeared to have more actual power.
In 479, Emperor Gao wanted to institute a universal identification card program in Jiankang to keep social order, but Wang persuaded him of its impracticality.
Emperor Wu continued to entrust Wang with great responsibilities within his administration, particularly after Chu died later in 482.