Emperor Xuanwu dies suddenly in spring 515, and Yuan Xu succeeds him (as Emperor Xiaoming).

Yuan Cheng, Xuanwu's brother Yuan Yong the Prince of Gaoyang, and Yu Lie's son Yu Zhong seize power and, after recalling Gao, put him to death.

Xiaoming's mother Hu becomes empress dowager and regent.

Empress Dowager Hu is considered intelligent, capable of understanding many things quickly, but she is also overly lenient and tolerant of corruption.

For example, in winter 515, the corrupt governor of Qi Province (roughly modern Baoji, Shaanxi), Yuan Mi the Prince of Zhao, provokes a popular uprising when he kills several people without reason, and while he is relieved from his post, as soon as he returns to the capital, Luoyang, Empress Dowager Hu makes him a minister because his wife is her niece.