Gao Yan's own personal plans was initially just to kill He Shikai, but his associates then pressured him to mobilize his personal troops (which he had because he was the commander of the capital defense forces) to take further actions against Lady Lu and Mu. When Gao Wei sent the imperial guards against Gao Wei, the imperial guards collapsed when their commander, Liu Taozhi (劉桃枝), saw Gao Yan and prostrated himself. Meanwhile, Gao Yan's cousins Gao Xiaoheng (高孝珩) the Prince of Guangning and Gao Yanzong the Prince of Ande also arrived and urged him to take further action to enter the palace to kill Lady Lu and Mu, but he hesitated. Both Gao Wei and Gao Yan then tried to summon the renowned general Hulü Guang—who, despite his approval of Gao Yan's action in killing He Shikai, was loyal to Gao Wei. Hulü, after meeting with the emperor, then approached Gao Yan's army and ordered them disbanded, and they collapsed. Hulü took hold of Gao Yan and escorted him into the palace. At Hulü's urging, Gao Wei spared Gao Yan, but executed his associates.