After abdicating and becoming the Retired Empreor, Heizei returned to his birthplace, Heijo-kyo, and when his health recovered slightly, he returned to ruling and started to use the rights of an emperor on his own accord.
退位して太上天皇となった平城は、生まれ故郷である平城京に移り住み、体調がやや回復すると再度政務に意欲を示し、独自に天皇としての権限を行使しはじめた。