ɪnˈɪʃəli, ðə ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp bᵻtwˌiːn hˌɪm ænd ˈɛmpɹɛs dˈaʊɪdʒɚ wˈæŋɡ ɐpˈɪɹd kˈɔːɹdʒəl, ænd ɪn fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, wˌɛn ˈɛmpɚɹɚ hˈuːfeɪz ˈʌŋkəl lˈɪuː zˈɪjuːfən tʃˈaɪniːzlˌɛɾɚ tʃˈaɪniːzlˌɛɾɚ tʃˈaɪniːzlˌɛɾɚ ðə pɹˈɪns ʌv ɡɪjˈɑːŋ ɹᵻbˈɛld ænd ɐpˈɪɹd təbi ɔnðə vˈɜːdʒ ʌv vˈɪktɚɹi, ˈɛmpɹɛs dˈaʊɪdʒɚ wˈæŋɡ hˈɛld ˈɛmpɚɹɚ hˈuːfeɪ ænd wˈɛpt.
Initially, the relationship between him and Empress Dowager Wang appeared cordial, and in 474, when Emperor Houfei's uncle Liu Xiufan (劉休範) the Prince of Guiyang rebelled and appeared to be on the verge of victory, Empress Dowager Wang held Emperor Houfei and wept.