 The death of Taizong set up a second succession crisis , again instigated by Empress Dowager Yingtian and fueled by the conflict between Chinese primogeniture and Khitan succession customs . Yelü Ruan , oldest son of Prince Bei and nephew of Emperor Taizong , proclaimed himself Emperor while still in Hebei . Emperor Taizong raised Yelü Ruan , following Yelü Bei 's departure for the Later Tang , and the relationship between uncle and nephew was close . Yelü Ruan accompanied the emperor during his invasion of the Later Jin , and he earned the reputation as a capable warrior and commander , and as one of courteous and noble @-@ minded disposition . Empress Dowager Yingtian supported Emperor Taizong 's younger brother , Yelü Lihu , for the throne instead . The Empress Dowager sent two successive armies to face Yelü Ruan , who defeated them both . Ultimately Lihu , who the Khitan nobility viewed as cruel and spoiled , was unable to gain enough support to further challenge Yelü Ruan , and after a peace was brokered by a cousin of the Yelü clan , Yelü Ruan formally assumed the role of emperor and the title of Emperor Shizong of Liao . Emperor Shizong promptly exiled both Empress Dowager Yingtian and Yelü Lihu from the capital , ending their political ambitions . Emperor Shizong 's rule would be characterized by a series of rebellions from within his extended family . Although he would rule for only four years before being killed in 951 in a rebellion led by one of his nephews , Emperor Shizong oversaw a refinement of his grandfather 's dual system of government , which brought the structure of the Southern Administration closer to the model used by the Tang dynasty . Emperor Shizong would be succeeded by Emperor Taizong 's son Yelü Jing , also known as Emperor <unk> of Liao . Emperor <unk> , who died in 969 , would be the second and the last of the emperors to succeed Abaoji who was not a direct descendant of Yelü Bei . 
