After Emperor Houfei ascended the throne, the government was technically in the hands of two high level officials whom Emperor Ming had entrusted Emperor Houfei to, Chu Yuan and Yuan Can. However, the close associates of Emperor Ming, led by Ruan Dianfu () and Wang Daolong (), continued to be powerful behind the scenes and influential, and Chu and Yuan were unable to curb their powers. Chu and Yuan soon added Emperor Houfei's distant relative Liu Bing to their own rank to be involved in important decisions. In 473, Yuan's mother died, and he left the government to observe the three-year mourning period.