In history, Empress Cao of the Northern Song Dynasty was a relatively wise person, she endured humiliation and burden during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, never cared about fame and fortune, and experienced two emperors after her husband's death and never interfered in the affairs of the dynasty.
Emperor Renzong of Song reigned for a long time, and there were many harem concubines, but the princes all died early and have been childless ever since. Under the pressure of courtiers, Emperor Renzong of Song adopted Zhao Zongshi, the son of his cousin Zhao Yunrang the Prince of Pu'an, into the palace, and later changed his name to Zhao, and later Song Renzong fell ill and died, and Empress Cao issued a will and ordered Zhao Shu to inherit the throne, that is, Song Yingzong.
Although Empress Cao was not directly related to Emperor Yingzong of Song, she was still a titular mother and son after all, and Emperor Yingzong inherited the throne as the heir of Emperor Renzong. In addition, the two have a special layer of kinship. Emperor Renzong of Song and Empress Cao brokered a match between Empress Cao and married Empress Cao's sister's daughter Gao to Emperor Yingzong of Song, who was then the emperor's adopted son.
During the reign of Emperor Yingzong of Song, once, Emperor Yingzong fell ill and asked the empress dowager to deal with major military affairs, so Empress Cao listened to the government at the Small Hall of the East Gate. When the ministers did not carry out the execution every day, Empress Cao said: You should discuss it again. Never said what I said. Empress Cao did not indulge foreign relatives in interfering in the dictatorship of the government, inspected and stopped the erroneous behavior of Cao's family and the ministers and servants on the left and right, and did not tolerate anything, and the province in the palace was solemn.
The following summer, when Emperor Yingzong's illness was almost over, Empress Cao ordered the curtain to be withdrawn and returned to the government, and Emperor Yingzong also took the edict for a long time and did not begin to implement it until the autumn. However, Emperor Yingzong died of illness after four years of reign, and Emperor Shenzong took the throne, and Empress Dowager Cao was made empress dowager.
Emperor Shenzong was very filial to Empress Cao and always did things to make his grandmother happy. Go out on a mountaineering trip, always walking in front, holding your grandmother. Empress Cao was also very kind to Shenzong, and sometimes when Shenzong retreated a little late, she would definitely personally go to Pingmu to wait for a visit, and sometimes she personally took food and drinks to feed Shenzong to eat.
Empress Cao suffered from water disease in her later years, and the tai doctor could not cure it. Later, his illness worsened, and Shen Zong visited his grandmother at the door of the dormitory. But after ten days, Empress Cao, who was in her sixties, died.