My name is Zhao Yian, the daughter of Song Renzong Zhao Zhen. I heard from the palace people who took care of me that before I was born, there was a severe drought for three years and the people were in dire straits. The year I was born, it rained several times, which solved the drought. On the day I was born, auspiciousness fell from the sky. So my father gave me the name Yi'an, who was sent by God to protect the stability of the country. Such a name and such high expectations have destined me to shoulder responsibilities since I was born, and also destined that my love will not be decided by myself.
According to historical records, all three sons of Song Renzong Zhao Zhen died young, so in the second year of Jingyou (1035), he sent Zhao Zongshi (later renamed Zhao Shu, Song Yingzong), the 13th son of King Pu Zhao Yun, to the palace and gave him to Queen Cao to raise. But after the birth of King Yu Zhao Xin in the second year of Baoyuan (1039), Zhao Zhen sent Zhao Zongshi out of the palace again. Zhao Xin died young in the third year of Qingli (1043), and Zhao Zhen had no children in his later years, so he finally had to make Zhao Zongshi the prince in August of the seventh year of Jiayou (1062).
Because he had no children, Song Renzong favored Princess Yi'an and allowed her to participate in state affairs. He even hoped that her children would inherit the throne in the future, but in the end Princess Yi'an lost her freedom.