《北史·列传·卷三十五》
原来，宣武帝委任群臣，不亲自过问朝政；又笃信佛法；尚书令高肇身为外戚，恃宠专权，独揽朝政；咸阳王元禧等人互有矛盾。
初，帝委任群下，不甚亲览，好桑门之法。尚书令高肇以外戚权宠，专决朝事。
Originally, Emperor Xuanwu entrusted government affairs to his subjects, and would not personally attend to state affairs himself; he also devoutly believed in Buddhism; Minister of State Affairs Gao Zhao was a relative of the emperor, and taking advantage of imperial favor, he dominated the central government; and there were contradictions among King Yuanxi of Xianyang and others.