Zhao Yuanyan was also known for his filial piety as he would personally serve his mother, Consort Wang, every day when she became sick.

When his young nephew Emperor Renzong succeeded the throne, Empress Liu acted as the real regent.

In order to avoid conflicts with the empress dowager, Zhao Yuanyan stayed at home, feigning lunacy.

When he became gravely ill, the emperor offered 5000 taels of silver but he refused, saying: "How can a man on death bed burden the country?"

After his death, Emperor Renzong conducted memorials for him three times and distributed his writings and poems to different officials.