1
○皇帝憲惠莊太子捴惠文太子範惠宣太子業隋王隆悌
○ Emperor Xian; Crown Prince Hui Zhuang Cui; Crown Prince Hui Wen Fan; Crown Prince Hui Xuan Ye; Prince Sui Long Ti
2
睿宗六子：昭成順聖皇后竇氏生玄宗，肅明順聖皇后劉氏生讓皇帝，宮人柳氏生惠莊太子，崔孺人生惠文太子，王德妃生惠宣太子，後宮生隋王隆悌。
Ruizong had six sons. Empress Dou of Zhaocheng Shunsheng gave birth to Xuanzong; Empress Liu of Suming Shunsheng gave birth to the Emperor Who Yielded; the palace woman Lady Liu gave birth to Crown Prince Hui Zhuang; Lady Cui the Ru gave birth to Crown Prince Hui Wen; Consort De Wang gave birth to Crown Prince Hui Xuan; and a woman of the rear palace gave birth to Prince Sui Long Ti.
3
讓皇帝憲，本名成器，睿宗長子也。 初封永平郡王。 文明元年，立為皇太子，時年六歲。 及睿宗降為皇嗣，則天冊授成器為皇孫，與諸弟同日出閣，開府置官屬。 長壽二年，改封壽春郡王，仍卻入閣。 長安中，累轉左贊善大夫。 加銀青光祿大夫。 中宗即位，改封蔡王，遷宗正員外卿，加賜實封四百戶，通舊為七百戶。 成器固辭不敢當大國，依舊為壽春郡王。
The Emperor Who Yielded, Xian—originally named Chengqi—was Ruizong's eldest son. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Yongping Commandery. In the first year of Wenming he was made crown prince, at the age of six. When Ruizong was demoted to heir apparent, Empress Wu formally invested Chengqi as imperial grandson. He and his younger brothers left the inner palace on the same day, each established a princely household, and appointed a staff of officials. In the second year of Changshou his title was changed to Prince of Shouchun Commandery, and he again withdrew into the inner palace. During the Chang'an period he rose through several appointments to Left Assistant to the Heir Apparent. He was further granted the rank of Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When Zhongzong came to the throne, Chengqi was re-enfeoffed as Prince of Cai, appointed Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court, and granted an additional four hundred tax households, for a total of seven hundred. Chengqi firmly declined, unwilling to accept so large a fief, and remained Prince of Shouchun Commandery as before.
4
唐隆元年，進封宋王。 其月，睿宗踐祚，拜左衛大將軍。 時將建儲貳，以成器嫡長，而玄宗有討平韋氏之功，意久不定。 成器辭曰：「儲副者，天下之公器，時平則先嫡長，國難則歸有功。 若失其宜，海內失望，非社稷之福。 臣今敢以死請。」 累日涕泣固讓，言甚切至。 時諸王、公卿亦言楚王有社稷大功，合居儲位。 睿宗嘉成器之意，乃許之。 玄宗又以成器嫡長，再抗表固讓，睿宗不許。 乃下制曰：「左衛大將軍、宋王成器，朕之元子，當踐副君。 以隆基有社稷大功，人神僉屬，由是朕前懇讓，言在必行。 天下至公，誠不可奪。 爰符立季之典，庶協從人之願。 成器可雍州牧、揚州大都督、太子太師，別加實封二千戶。 賜物五千段、細馬二十匹、奴婢十房、甲第一區、良田三十頃。」 其年十一月拜尚書左僕射，尋遷司徒，其太師、都督並如故。 明年，表讓司徒，拜太子賓客，兼揚州大都督如故。
In the first year of Tanglong he was promoted to Prince of Song. That same month, when Ruizong took the throne, he was appointed General of the Left Guard. The court was about to choose an heir. Chengqi was the eldest son of the primary wife, but Xuanzong had the merit of putting down the Wei faction, and for a long time no decision could be made. Chengqi declined, saying, "The heir apparent is the common trust of the realm. In peaceful times precedence goes to the eldest son of the primary wife; in national crisis it should go to the one with merit. If the wrong choice is made, the empire will be disappointed, and that can only harm the state. I now dare to plead with my life." For days he wept and steadfastly refused, speaking with utmost earnestness. At the time the princes and chief ministers also argued that the Prince of Chu had rendered great service to the state and ought to hold the position of heir. Ruizong admired Chengqi's intent and agreed. Because Chengqi was the eldest son of the primary wife, Xuanzong again submitted a memorial firmly yielding the succession, but Ruizong would not allow it. An edict was then issued, saying, "General of the Left Guard, Prince of Song Chengqi—my eldest son—should have taken the place of deputy ruler. Because Longji had rendered great service to the state and both men and spirits approved, I therefore yielded before him with earnest intent, and my words must be carried out. The supreme fairness of the realm truly cannot be overturned. This accords with the precedent of elevating the younger son and satisfies the people's wish. Chengqi is appointed Governor of Yong Prefecture, Grand Commander of Yang Prefecture, and Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, with an additional enfeoffment of two thousand households. He is granted five thousand bolts of goods, twenty fine horses, ten households of servants, one complete set of armor, and thirty qing of good farmland." In the eleventh month of that year he was appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and soon afterward Minister of Education, while retaining his posts as Grand Preceptor and Grand Commander. The following year he submitted a memorial declining the post of Minister of Education and was appointed Guest of the Heir Apparent, still concurrently serving as Grand Commander of Yang Prefecture.
5
時太平公主陰有異圖，姚元之、宋璟等請出成器及申王成義為刺史，以絕謀者之心。 由是成器以司徒兼蒲州刺史。 玄宗嘗制一大被長枕，將與成器等共申友悌之好，睿宗知而大悅，累加賞嘆。
At that time Princess Taiping secretly harbored other designs. Yao Yuanzhi, Song Jing, and others asked that Chengqi and Prince of Shen Cheng Yi be sent out as prefects to discourage would-be conspirators. Chengqi therefore served as Minister of Education while also holding the post of Prefect of Pu. Xuanzong once had a large quilt and long pillow made, intending to share them with Chengqi and the others as a token of brotherly affection. When Ruizong learned of this he was greatly pleased and repeatedly praised the gesture.
6
先天元年八月，進封司空。 及玄宗討平蕭至忠、岑羲等，成器又進位太尉，依舊兼揚州大都督，加實封一千戶。 月余，加授開府儀同三司，其太尉、揚州大都督並停。 開元初，歷岐州刺史，開府如故。 四年，避昭成皇后尊號，改名憲，封為寧王，實封累至五千五百戶。 又歷澤、、涇等州刺史。
In the eighth month of the first year of Xiantian he was promoted to Minister of Works. When Xuanzong put down Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi, and their faction, Chengqi was further promoted to Grand Minister, still concurrently Grand Commander of Yang Prefecture, with an additional enfeoffment of one thousand households. After little more than a month he was additionally granted the status of Grand Master with the same honors as the Three Excellencies and an opened residence; his posts as Grand Minister and Grand Commander of Yang Prefecture were both suspended. At the beginning of Kaiyuan he served in turn as Prefect of Qi, while retaining his opened residence as before. In the fourth year, to avoid the honorific title of Empress Zhaocheng, he changed his name to Xian, was enfeoffed as Prince of Ning, and his enfeoffment eventually reached five thousand five hundred households. He also served in turn as prefect of Ze and other prefectures including Jing.
7
初，玄宗兄弟聖歷初出閤，列第於東都積善坊，五人分院同居，號「五王宅」。 大足元年，從幸西京，賜宅於興慶坊，亦號「五王宅」。 及先天之後，興慶是龍潛舊邸，因以為宮。 憲於勝業東南角賜宅，申王捴、岐王範於安興坊東南賜宅，薛王業於勝業西北角賜宅，邸第相望，環於宮側。 玄宗於興慶宮西南置樓，西面題曰花萼相輝之樓，南面題曰勤政務本之樓。 玄宗時登樓，聞諸王音樂之聲，鹹召登樓同榻宴謔，或便幸其第，賜金分帛，厚其歡賞。 諸王每日於側門朝見，歸宅之後，即奏樂。 縱飲，擊球鬥雞，或近郊從禽，或別墅追賞，不絕於歲月矣。 遊踐之所，中使相望，以為天子友悌，近古無比，故人無間然。
At first, when Xuanzong and his brothers left the inner palace at the beginning of Shenglì, they were given residences in Jishan Ward of the Eastern Capital. The five brothers divided courtyard residences yet lived together, and the place was called the "Five Princes' Residence." In the first year of Dazu, when they accompanied the emperor to the Western Capital, they were granted residences in Xingqing Ward, which was also called the "Five Princes' Residence." After the Xiantian era, Xingqing was the former residence where the emperor had lived before ascending the throne, and it was therefore converted into a palace. Xian was granted a residence at the southeast corner of Shengye; Prince of Shen Cui and Prince of Qi Fan at the southeast of Anxing Ward; and Prince of Xue Ye at the northwest corner of Shengye. Their mansions faced one another and ringed the palace. Xuanzong built towers at the southwest corner of Xingqing Palace. On the west face he inscribed "Tower of Blossoming Calyx Mutual Splendor," and on the south face "Tower of Diligent Governance and Rooting in Fundamentals." When Xuanzong went up the tower and heard music from the princes' houses, he would summon them to join him on the same couch for feasting and banter, or visit their residences directly, bestowing gold and distributing silk to deepen their pleasure. Each day the princes attended audience at the side gate, and after returning home they immediately had music performed. They drank freely, played cuju and cockfighting, hunted in the nearby suburbs, or sought diversion at country villas—month after month without interruption. Wherever they went, palace envoys could be seen in succession. People believed the emperor's brotherly affection had no parallel in recent antiquity, and so no one came between them.
8
玄宗既篤於昆季，雖有讒言交構其間，而友愛如初。 憲尤恭謹畏慎，未曾幹議時政及與人交結，玄宗尤加信重之。 嘗與憲及岐王範等書曰：「昔魏文帝詩云：『西山一何高，高處殊無極。 上有兩仙童，不飲亦不食。 賜我一丸藥，光耀有五色。 服藥四五日，身輕生羽翼。』 朕每思服藥而求羽翼，何如骨肉兄弟天生之羽翼乎！ 陳思有超代之才，堪佐經綸之務，絕其朝謁，卒令憂死。 魏祚未終，遭司馬宣王之奪，豈神丸之效也！ 虞舜至聖，拾象傲之愆以親九族，九族既睦，平章百姓，此為帝王之軌則，於今數千歲，天下歸善焉。 朕未嘗不廢寢忘食欽嘆者也，頃因余暇，妙選仙經，得此神方，古老雲『服之必驗』。 今分此藥，願與兄弟等同保長齡，永無限極。」
Although slanderers tried to drive wedges between them, Xuanzong remained deeply devoted to his brothers and their affection stayed as it had been at first. Xian was especially reverent and cautious. He never meddled in affairs of state or formed political associations, and Xuanzong placed exceptional trust in him. He once wrote to Xian, Prince of Qi Fan, and the others, saying, "Long ago Emperor Wen of Wei wrote in verse: 'How high the Western Mountain is—at its summit there is no end.' Upon it are two immortal boys who neither drink nor eat. They give me one pill of medicine, radiant with five colors. After taking the medicine for four or five days, the body grows light and wings are born. Whenever I think of taking medicine to grow wings, how can that compare with the wings brothers are born with! Prince Si of Chen had talent surpassing his age and was fit to assist in governing the realm, yet his audiences were cut off and in the end he died of grief. The Wei dynasty had not yet ended when it was seized by Sima the Lord of Xuan—was that the effect of a divine pill! Shun of Yu was supremely sage: he overlooked Xiang's fault of arrogance to treat the nine clans with kinship; once the nine clans were harmonious, he brought order to the people. This is the path of emperors and kings, and for thousands of years the realm has looked to it as the standard of goodness. I have never ceased to sigh over this with such reverence that I forget sleep and food. Recently, in my spare time, I carefully selected passages from immortal scriptures and obtained this divine formula; the ancients said, 'If taken, it is sure to be verified.' Now I divide this medicine, wishing to share it with my brothers so that together we may preserve long life without end."
9
憲，開元九年兼太常卿。 十四年，停太常卿，依舊為開府儀同三司。 二十一年，復拜太尉。 二十八年冬，憲寢疾，上令中使送醫藥及珍膳，相望於路，僧崇一療憲稍瘳，上大悅，特賜緋袍魚袋，以賞異崇一。 時申王等皆先薨，唯憲獨在，上尤加恩貸。 每年至憲生日，必幸其宅，移時宴樂。 居常無日不賜酒酪及異饌等，尚食總監及四方有所進獻，食之稍甘，即皆分以賜之。 憲嘗奏請年終錄付史館每年至數百紙。
In the ninth year of Kaiyuan, Xian additionally served as Minister of Rites. In the fourteenth year he relinquished the post of Minister of Rites and retained his status as Grand Master with the same honors as the Three Excellencies and an opened residence. In the twenty-first year he was again appointed Grand Minister. In the winter of the twenty-eighth year Xian took to his bed. The emperor sent palace envoys with medicines and fine foods in an unbroken stream along the road. The monk Chongyi treated Xian and he recovered somewhat; the emperor was greatly pleased and specially granted Chongyi a crimson robe and fish tally in reward for his exceptional service. By then Prince of Shen and the others had all died; Xian alone remained, and the emperor showed him especial favor. Every year on Xian's birthday the emperor was sure to visit his residence and feast with him for a long while. On ordinary days he was never without gifts of wine, curds, and special delicacies. Whatever the Director-General of Imperial Catering or the four quarters submitted that tasted especially fine was at once divided and sent to him. Xian once memorialized asking that year-end records be copied and sent to the Historiography Office—each year amounting to several hundred sheets.
10
二十九年冬，京城寒甚，凝霜封樹，時學者以為《春秋》「雨木冰」即此是，亦名樹介，言其象介胄也。 憲見而嘆曰：「此俗謂樹稼者也。 諺曰：『樹稼，達官怕。』 必有大臣當之，吾其死矣。」 十一月薨，時年六十三。 上聞之，號叫失聲，左右皆掩涕。 翌日，下制曰：
In the winter of the twenty-ninth year the capital was bitterly cold; frost congealed and encased the trees. Scholars of the time thought this was the "rain freezing on trees" recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals. It was also called tree armor, because it resembled armor and helmets. When Xian saw it he sighed and said, "This is what common people call tree crop. A proverb says, 'Tree crop—high officials fear it.' A great minister must be destined for it—I am the one who will die." In the eleventh month he died, at the age of sixty-three. When the emperor heard the news he cried out until his voice failed; those at his side all wept with covered faces. The next day an edict was issued:
11
憲長子汝陽郡王璡又上表懇辭，盛陳先意，謙退不敢當帝號，手制不許。 及冊斂之日，內出禦衣一副，仍令右監門大將軍高力士賫手書置於靈座之前，其書曰：
Xian's eldest son, Prince of Ruyang Jun, again submitted a memorial earnestly declining, fully stating his father's intent and humbly refusing to accept the imperial title; an edict in the emperor's own hand would not allow it. On the day of the enshrinement rites, a set of imperial robes was brought out from within, and the Right General of the Right Gate Guard Gao Lishi was ordered to carry a letter in the emperor's own hand and place it before the spirit seat. The letter said:
12
又制追贈憲妃元氏為恭皇后，祔葬於橋陵之側。 及將葬，上遣中使敕璡等務令儉約，送終之物，皆令眾見。 所司請依諸陵舊例，壙內置千味食。 監獲使、左僕射裴耀卿奏曰：「尚食所料水陸等味一千余種，每色瓶盛，安於藏內，皆是非時瓜果及馬牛驢犢麞鹿等肉，並諸藥酒三十余色。 儀註禮料，皆無所憑。 臣據禮司所料，奠祭相次，事無不備，典制分明。 天恩每申讓帝之誌，務令儉約，禮外加數，竊恐不安。 又非時之物，馬犢驢等並野味魚雁鵝鷗之屬，所用銖兩，動皆宰殺，盛夏胎養，聖情所禁。 又須造作什物，動逾千計，求征市井，實謂煩勞。 千味不供，禮無所闕。 伏望依禮減省，以取折衷。」 制從之。 及發引，時屬大雨，上令慶王澤已下泥中步送十數里，制號其墓為惠陵。
An edict was also issued posthumously ennobling Xian's consort, Lady Yuan, as Empress Gong, with joint burial beside Qiao Mausoleum. When the burial was about to take place, the emperor sent a palace envoy instructing Jun and the others to keep the rites frugal; all objects for the funeral were to be displayed for all to see. The responsible offices requested that, according to the old examples of the imperial tombs, a thousand kinds of food be placed within the burial chamber. Supervisor Pei Yaoqing, Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Commissioner for Oversight, memorialized: "Imperial Catering has prepared more than a thousand kinds of land and water delicacies. Each kind is bottled and placed in the vault—all out-of-season fruits and melons, flesh of horses, cattle, donkeys, calves, deer, and the like, together with more than thirty kinds of medicinal wines. The ritual manuals and ceremonial provisions offer no basis for this. Relying on what the Ritual Office has prepared, I find the offerings for sacrifice arranged in proper sequence; nothing is lacking, and the canonical regulations are clear. Heaven's grace repeatedly expresses the intent of the Emperor Who Yielded to keep matters frugal; additions beyond the rites, I fear, would be unsettling. Moreover, out-of-season items—donkeys, calves, and the like, as well as game such as fish, wild geese, and gulls—require ounces and taels in their use, and at every turn involve slaughter. In midsummer, when breeding is forbidden, this is what the sage heart prohibits. Moreover, various objects must be manufactured, often exceeding a thousand items; procuring them from the marketplace would truly mean trouble and labor. If a thousand kinds are not supplied, the rites suffer no lack. I humbly hope to reduce according to the rites and take the balanced mean." An edict approved the request. When the procession set out, heavy rain was falling; the emperor ordered Prince of Qing Ze and those below to walk through the mud and escort the bier for more than ten li. An edict named the tomb Hui Mausoleum.
13
憲凡十子：璡、嗣莊、琳、璹、珣、瑀、玢、珽、琯、璀等十人，歷官封襲。 璡，封汝陽郡王，歷太仆卿，與賀知章、褚庭誨為詩酒之交。 天寶初，終父喪，加特進。 九載卒，贈太子太師。 嗣莊，封濟陰郡王，早卒。 琳，封嗣寧王，歷秘書員外監。 從玄宗幸蜀郡，至德二載卒。
Xian had ten sons in all: Jun, Sizhuang, Lin, Shu, Xun, Yu, Bin, Ting, Guan, and Cui—ten men in all, who held successive offices and inherited enfeoffments. Jun was enfeoffed as Prince of Ruyang Commandery, served as Minister of the Imperial Stud, and with He Zhizhang and Chu Tinghui formed a circle of poetry and wine. At the beginning of Tianbao he completed mourning for his father and was additionally granted Special Advancement. In the ninth year he died and was posthumously granted Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Sizhuang was enfeoffed as Prince of Jiyin Commandery and died young. Lin was enfeoffed as Heir Prince of Ning and served as Vice Director of the Secretariat. He followed Xuanzong to Shu and died in the second year of Zhide.
14
璹，封嗣申王。 珣，封同安郡王。 珣修身淳謹，不自矜貴，閨門之內，常默如也。 開元二十五年薨，玄宗甚悼之，輟朝三日。 制曰：「猶子之恩，特深於情禮； 睦親之義，必備於哀榮。 同安郡王珣，稟氣淳和，執心忠順，邦國垣翰，宗枝羽儀。 磐石疏封，將期永固； 逝川不舍，俄嘆促齡。 悼往之懷，因心所切，宜增寵命，用飾幽泉。 可贈太子少保。 葬事官給，陪葬橋陵。」 瑀，封漢中王，歷都水使者、恆王府司馬、衛尉員外卿。 瑀早有才望，偉儀表。 初為隴西郡公。 天寶十五載，從玄宗幸蜀，至漢中，因封漢中王，仍加銀青光祿大夫、漢中郡太守。 乾元二年，以特進試太常卿，送寧國公主至回紇，充冊立使。 玢，蒼梧郡開國公，歷銀青光祿大夫、秘書監員外置同正員。 卒，贈江陵大都督。 珽，封晉昌郡開國公。 琯，魏郡開國公。 璀，文安郡開國公。 天寶十一載，珽、琯、璀並食邑三千戶。
Shu was enfeoffed as Heir Prince of Shen. Xun was enfeoffed as Prince of Tong'an Commandery. Xun cultivated himself in purity and caution and was not self-important about his rank; within his household he was always quiet and restrained. In the twenty-fifth year of Kaiyuan he died. Xuanzong mourned him deeply and suspended court for three days. An edict said, "Affection for a nephew runs especially deep in feeling and ritual; the meaning of harmonious kinship must be fully expressed in mourning and honor. Prince of Tong'an Commandery Xun was endowed with a pure and harmonious nature and held a loyal and obedient heart; he was a bulwark of the state and an ornament of the imperial line. Like bedrock granted a distant fief, he was expected to endure forever; yet the river of time does not stay, and suddenly one laments a life cut short. Grief for what is past, urgent from the heart, calls for increased favor and appointment to adorn the hidden spring. He is posthumously granted Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Funeral expenses are supplied by the state, with joint burial at Qiao Mausoleum." Yu was enfeoffed as Prince of Hanzhong and successively served as Commissioner of Waterways, Prefect of the Prince of Heng's Household, and Vice Director of the Guard. Yu early showed talent and promise, with a grand bearing. At first he was Duke of Longxi Commandery. In the fifteenth year of Tianbao he followed Xuanzong to Shu; upon reaching Hanzhong he was enfeoffed Prince of Hanzhong and additionally granted Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Prefect of Hanzhong Commandery. In the second year of Qianyuan, as Special Advancement he was appointed Acting Minister of Rites and, escorting Princess Ningguo to the Uyghurs, served as Commissioner for Enthronement. Bin was founding Duke of Cangwu Commandery and successively served as Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Acting Vice Director of the Secretariat with the same honors as a regular appointee. When he died he was posthumously granted Grand Commander of Jiangling. Ting was enfeoffed as founding Duke of Jinchang Commandery. Guan was founding Duke of Wei Commandery. Cui was founding Duke of Wen'an Commandery. In the eleventh year of Tianbao, Ting, Guan, and Cui each held an enfeoffment of three thousand households.
15
惠莊太子捴，睿宗第二子也。 本名成義。 母柳氏，掖庭宮人。
Crown Prince Hui Zhuang Cui was Ruizong's second son. His original name was Cheng Yi. His mother was Lady Liu, a palace woman of the Palace Women's Quarters.
16
捴之初生，則天嘗以示僧萬回。 萬回曰：「此兒是西域大樹之精，養之宜兄弟。」 則天甚悅，始令列於兄弟之次。 垂拱三年，封恆王。 尋卻入閤，改封衡陽郡王，累授尚衣奉禦。 神龍元年，加賜實封二百戶，通前五百戶，遷司農少卿，加銀青光祿大夫。 睿宗踐祚，進封申王，遷右衛大將軍。 景雲元年七月，遷殿中監，兼檢校右衛大將軍。 二年，轉光祿卿、右金吾衛大將軍。 先天元年七月，加實封一千戶。 八月，行司徒，兼益州大都督。 開元二年，帶司徒兼幽州刺史。 俄避昭成太后之稱，改名捴。 歷鄧、虢、絳三州刺史。 八年，因入朝，停刺史，依舊為司徒。 性弘裕，儀形環偉，善於飲啖。 十二年，病薨，冊贈惠莊太子，陪葬橋陵。 無子。 初養讓帝子珣，封同安郡王，先卒。 天寶三載，又以讓帝子璹為嗣申王，授鴻臚員外卿。
When Cui was first born, Empress Wu once showed him to the monk Wan Hui. Wan Hui said, "This child is the spirit of a great tree of the Western Regions; raising him will be good for brotherhood." Empress Wu was greatly pleased and thereupon ordered him placed in the order among the brothers. In the third year of Chuigong he was enfeoffed Prince of Heng. Soon he again withdrew into the inner palace, was re-enfeoffed as Prince of Hengyang Commandery, and was repeatedly appointed Attendant of Imperial Vestments. In the first year of Shenlong an additional enfeoffment of two hundred households was granted, for a total of five hundred; he was appointed Vice Minister of the Imperial Granary and granted Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When Ruizong ascended the throne he was promoted to Prince of Shen and appointed General of the Right Guard. In the seventh month of the first year of Jingyun he was appointed Director of the Palace Administration and concurrently Acting General of the Right Guard. In the second year he was transferred to Minister of the Imperial Household and General of the Right Golden Guard. In the seventh month of the first year of Xiantian an additional enfeoffment of one thousand households was granted. In the eighth month he served as Acting Minister of Education and concurrently Grand Commander of Yi Prefecture. In the second year of Kaiyuan he held the post of Minister of Education while concurrently serving as Prefect of You. Soon, to avoid the title of Empress Dowager Zhaocheng, he changed his name to Cui. He successively served as Prefect of Deng, Guo, and Jiang. In the eighth year, because he came to court, his prefectural post was suspended and he remained Minister of Education as before. By nature he was broad and generous; his bearing was imposing, and he was fond of eating and drinking. In the twelfth year he died of illness and was posthumously ennobled Crown Prince Hui Zhuang, with joint burial at Qiao Mausoleum. He had no sons. At first he adopted the Emperor Who Yielded's son Xun, enfeoffed as Prince of Tong'an Commandery, who died first. In the third year of Tianbao the Emperor Who Yielded's son Shu was again made Heir Prince of Shen and appointed Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments.
17
惠文太子範，睿宗第四子也。 本名隆範，後避玄宗連名，改單稱範。 初封鄭王，尋改封衛王。 長壽二年，隨例卻入閤，徙封巴陵郡王，累授尚食奉禦。 神龍元年，遷太府員外少卿，加賜實封二百戶，通前五百戶。 景龍年，兼隴州別駕，加銀青光祿大夫。 睿宗踐祚，進封岐王，又加實封五百戶，拜太常卿，兼左羽林大將軍。 先天二年，從上討竇懷貞、蕭至忠等，以功加賜實封滿五千戶，下制褒美。 開元初，拜太子少師，帶本官，歷絳、鄭、岐三州刺史。 八年，遷太子太傅。
Crown Prince Hui Wen Fan was Ruizong's fourth son. His original name was Long Fan; later, to avoid sharing a linked name with Xuanzong, he took the single name Fan. At first he was enfeoffed Prince of Zheng; soon he was re-enfeoffed Prince of Wei. In the second year of Changshou, following the usual rule he again withdrew into the inner palace, was re-enfeoffed as Prince of Baling Commandery, and was repeatedly appointed Attendant of Imperial Food. In the first year of Shenlong he was appointed Vice Director of the Imperial Treasury and granted an additional enfeoffment of two hundred households, for a total of five hundred. During the Jinglong years he concurrently served as Vice Prefect of Long and was granted Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When Ruizong ascended the throne he was promoted to Prince of Qi, granted an additional five hundred households, appointed Minister of Rites, and concurrently General of the Left Feathered Forest Guard. In the second year of Xiantian he followed the emperor in suppressing Dou Huaizhen, Xiao Zhizhong, and others. For his merit an additional enfeoffment was granted until it reached five thousand households, and an edict praised him. At the beginning of Kaiyuan he was appointed Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent while retaining his original posts, and successively served as Prefect of Jiang, Zheng, and Qi. In the eighth year he was appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
18
範好學工書，雅愛文章之士，士無貴賤，皆盡禮接待。 與閻朝隱、劉庭琦、張諤、鄭繇篇題唱和，又多聚書畫古跡，為時所稱。 時上禁約王公，不令與外人交結。 駙馬都尉裴虛己坐與範遊宴，兼私挾讖緯之書，配徙嶺外。 萬年尉劉庭琦、太祝張諤皆坐與範飲酒賦詩，黜庭琦為雅州司戶，諤為山茌丞。 然上未嘗間範，恩情如初，謂左右曰：「我兄弟友愛天至，必無異意，只是趨競之輩，強相托附耳。 我終不以纖芥之故責及兄弟也。」 時王毛仲等本起微賤，皆崇貴傾於朝廷，諸王每相見，假立引待，獨範見之色莊。 十四年，病薨。 上哭之甚慟，輟朝三日，為之追福，手寫《老子經》，徹膳累旬，百僚上表勸喻，然後復常。 開元十四年，命工部尚書、攝太尉盧從願冊贈王為惠文太子，陪葬橋陵。
Fan loved learning and was skilled at calligraphy. He held men of letters in high esteem and received all of them, whether high or low, with full courtesy. With Yan Chaoyin, Liu Tingqi, Zhang Yue, and Zheng Yao he exchanged titles and verses in mutual composition. He also gathered many books, paintings, and antiquities, and was praised by his contemporaries. At the time the emperor restricted the imperial princes and forbade them to associate with outsiders. Princess's Consort Commandant Pei Xuji was punished for feasting and roaming with Fan and privately carrying books of prognostication and weft texts; he was banished beyond the mountains. Wannian Assistant Liu Tingqi and Grand Invocator Zhang Yue were both punished for drinking and composing poetry with Fan. Tingqi was demoted to Registrar of Yazhou, and Yue to Assistant Magistrate of Shanci. Yet the emperor never distanced himself from Fan; their affection remained as before. He said to those at his side, "My brothers' affection is heaven's utmost; there can be no divergent intent—it is only those who scramble for favor who forcibly attach themselves. I will never, for the slightest cause, blame my brothers." At the time Wang Maozhong and others had risen from humble origins and wielded great power at court. Whenever the princes met one another they would stand and wait in feigned deference—only Fan remained stern in countenance. In the fourteenth year he died of illness. The emperor wept for him with extreme grief, suspended court for three days, performed merit-transference rites for him, copied the Laozi in his own hand, and abstained from meals for many ten-day periods. The hundred officials submitted memorials urging him, and only then did he return to normal. In the fourteenth year of Kaiyuan he ordered Minister of Works and Acting Grand Minister Lu Congyan to posthumously ennoble the prince as Crown Prince Hui Wen, with joint burial at Qiao Mausoleum.
19
一子瑾，封河東郡王，官至太仆卿。 冒於酒色，竟暴卒，贈太子少師。
He had one son, Jin, enfeoffed as Prince of Hedong Commandery, who rose to the post of Minister of the Imperial Stud. Reckless in wine and women, he died suddenly and was posthumously granted Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
20
天寶三載，又以惠宣太子男略陽公珍為嗣岐王、銀青光祿大夫、宗正員外卿。 上元二年，珍與硃融善。 珍儀表偉如，頗類玄宗，融乃誘崔昌、趙非熊等並中官六軍人同謀逆。 融謂金吾將軍邢濟曰：「今城中草草，關外近寇憑淩，若何？」 濟曰：「我金吾，天子押衙，死生隨之，安能自脫？」 融曰：「有一人，足下見之自當知，縱不出城亦無慮。」 乃引以見珍。 濟奏之，乃令御史中丞敬羽訊之。 珍賜死。 其同謀右武衛將軍竇如玢、試都水使者崔昌、右羽林軍大將軍劉從諫、蔚州長鎮將硃融、右衛將軍胡冽、直司天臺通玄院高抱素、右司禦率府率魏兆、內侍省內謁者監王道成等九人，特宜斬決。 試太子洗馬兼知司天臺冬官正事趙非熊、陳王府長史陳閎、楚州司馬張昂、右武衛兵曹焦自榮、前鳳翔府郿縣主簿李屺、國子監廣文進士張奐等六人，特宜決殺。 駙馬都尉薛履謙預逆謀，宜賜自盡。 乃以濟兼桂州都督、侍御史，充桂管防禦都使。 左散騎常侍張鎬坐與交通，貶辰州司戶。 鄭繇者，鄭州滎陽人，北齊吏部尚書述五代孫也。 工五言詩。 開元初，範為岐州刺史，繇為長史，範失白鷹，繇為《失白鷹詩》，當時以為絕唱。 後為湖州刺史。 子審亦善詩詠，乾元中任袁州刺史。
In the third year of Tianbao Crown Prince Hui Xuan's son, Duke of Lueyang Zhen, was again made Heir Prince of Qi, Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court. In the second year of Shangyuan, Zhen was on friendly terms with Zhu Rong. Zhen's bearing was grand and resembled Xuanzong's. Rong thereupon incited Cui Chang, Zhao Feixiong, and others, together with eunuchs and men of the Six Armies, to join in plotting rebellion. Rong said to General of the Golden Guard Xing Ji, "Now the capital is in turmoil, and bandits near the passes press upon us—what is to be done?" Ji said, "I am of the Golden Guard—the emperor's escort guard; life and death follow him. How could I save myself?" Rong said, "There is one man—you will know when you see him; even if you do not leave the city there is no worry." Thereupon he led him to see Zhen. Ji reported it, and the emperor ordered Vice Censor-in-Chief Jing Yu to investigate. Zhen was granted death. His co-conspirators—General of the Right Martial Guard Dou Ruyu, Acting Commissioner of Waterways Cui Chang, Great General of the Right Feathered Forest Guard Liu Congjian, Chief Garrison Commander of Weizhou Zhu Rong, General of the Right Guard Hu Lie, Director of the Bureau of Astronomy Tongxuan Court Gao Baosu, Commandant of the Right Office of Imperial Carriages Wei Zhao, and Inner Attendant Director of the Inner Service Wang Daocheng, nine men in all—were specially ordered executed by decapitation. Acting Palace Groom and concurrently in charge of the Bureau of Astronomy's Winter Office affairs Zhao Feixiong; Chief Administrator of the Prince of Chen's Household Chen Hong; Assistant Magistrate of Chu Zhang Ang; Military Staff Officer of the Right Martial Guard Jiao Zirong; former Principal Secretary of Meixian in Fengxiang Prefecture Li Qi; and Broad Learning Graduate of the Directorate of Education Zhang Huan, six men in all—were specially ordered executed. Chief Commandant of Horse Xue Lüqian participated in the plot and was ordered to take his own life. Ji was additionally made Grand Commander of Gui and Palace Censor, serving as Defense Commissioner of Gui Circuit. Left Regular Attendant Zhang Hao was punished for communicating with them and was demoted to Registrar of Chen. Zheng Yao was a man of Xingyang in Zheng Prefecture, a fifth-generation descendant of Shu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials of Northern Qi. He was skilled at five-character poetry. At the beginning of Kaiyuan, when Fan was Prefect of Qi, Yao was Chief Administrator. Fan lost a white hawk, and Yao wrote "Poem on the Lost White Hawk," which at the time was considered a supreme composition. Later he served as Prefect of Hu. His son Shen was also skilled at composing poetry; during the Qianyuan era he served as Prefect of Yuan.
21
惠宣太子業，睿宗第五子也。 本名隆業，後單名業。 垂拱三年，封趙王，開府置官屬。 長壽二年，隨例卻入閤，改封中山郡王，累授都水使者，尋又改封彭城郡王。 神龍元年，加賜實封二百戶，通前五百戶。 景龍二年，兼陳州別駕。 銀青光祿大夫、太仆少卿，別駕如故。 睿宗即位，進封薛王，加封滿一千戶，拜秘書監，兼右羽林大將軍。 俄轉宗正卿。 睿宗以業好學而授秘書監。 及玄宗誅蕭至忠、岑羲等，業以翊從之功，加實封通舊為五千戶。 開元初，歷太子少保、同涇豳衛虢等州刺史。 八年，遷太子太保。
Crown Prince Hui Xuan Ye was Ruizong's fifth son. His original name was Long Ye; later he took the single name Ye. In the third year of Chuigong he was enfeoffed Prince of Zhao, opened a princely residence, and appointed officials. In the second year of Changshou, following the usual rule he again withdrew into the inner palace, was re-enfeoffed as Prince of Zhongshan Commandery, and was repeatedly appointed Commissioner of Waterways; soon he was again re-enfeoffed as Prince of Pengcheng Commandery. In the first year of Shenlong an additional enfeoffment of two hundred households was granted, for a total of five hundred. In the second year of Jinglong he concurrently served as Vice Prefect of Chen. He was granted Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and appointed Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud, while retaining his vice prefecture as before. When Ruizong acceded he was promoted to Prince of Xue, with enfeoffment increased to one thousand households, appointed Director of the Secretariat, and concurrently General of the Right Feathered Forest Guard. Soon he was transferred to Director of the Imperial Clan Court. Because Ye loved learning, Ruizong appointed him Director of the Secretariat. When Xuanzong executed Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi, and others, Ye for his merit in assisting and following had his enfeoffment increased until, together with his previous total, it reached five thousand households. At the beginning of Kaiyuan he successively served as Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Prefect of Tong, Jing, Bin, Wei, and Guo. In the eighth year he was appointed Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent.
22
初，業母早終，從母賢妃親鞠養之。 至是，迎賢妃出就外宅，事之甚謹。 業同母妹淮陽、涼國二公主亦早卒，業撫愛其子，逾於己子。 上以業孝友，特加親愛。 業嘗疾病，上親為祈禱，及愈，車駕幸其第，置酒宴樂，更為初生之歡。 玄宗賦詩曰：「昔見漳濱臥，言將人事違。 今逢誕慶日，猶謂學仙歸。 棠棣花重滿，鸰原鳥再飛。」 其恩意如此。
At first Ye's mother died early; his maternal aunt Consort Xian personally nursed and raised him. At this time he brought Consort Xian out to an outer residence and served her with great reverence. Ye's younger sisters by the same mother, the Princesses of Huaiyang and Liang, also died early; Ye cherished their sons even more than his own. Because Ye was filial and fraternal, the emperor showed him especial affection. When Ye once fell ill the emperor personally prayed for him. When he recovered the imperial carriage visited his residence, set out wine, feasted, and made music, renewing the joy of his birth. Xuanzong composed a poem: "Long ago I saw him lying ill by the Zhang River and thought human affairs would part us. Today I meet the day of his birthday and still feel as if he has returned from learning immortality. The blossoms of the flowering pear fill again; the birds of the wagtail plain fly again." His gracious intent was like this.
23
十三年，上嘗不豫，業妃弟內直郎韋賓與殿中監皇甫恂私議休咎。 事發，玄宗令杖殺韋賓，左遷皇甫恂為錦州刺史。 妃惶懼，降服待罪，業亦不敢入謁。 上遽令召之，業至階下，逡巡請罪。 上降階就執其手曰：「吾若有心猜阻兄弟者，天地神明，所共咎罪。」 乃歡宴久之。 仍慰諭妃，令復其位。 二十一年，業進拜司徒。 二十二年正月，薨，冊贈惠宣太子，陪葬橋陵。 有子十一人。
In the thirteenth year the emperor was once unwell. Ye's consort's younger brother, Inner Attendant Wei Bin, and Director of the Palace Administration Huangfu Xun privately discussed omens of good and ill fortune. When the matter came to light, Xuanzong ordered Wei Bin beaten to death and Huangfu Xun demoted to Prefect of Jin. The consort was fearful and, wearing mourning garments, awaited punishment; Ye also did not dare enter audience. The emperor promptly ordered him summoned. When Ye reached the foot of the steps he hesitated and asked forgiveness. The emperor descended the steps, took his hand, and said, "If I had in my heart suspicion and obstruction toward my brothers, may Heaven and Earth and the bright spirits jointly blame and punish me." Thereupon they feasted together in joy for a long while. He also comforted the consort and ordered her position restored. In the twenty-first year Ye was promoted to Minister of Education. In the first month of the twenty-second year he died and was posthumously ennobled Crown Prince Hui Xuan, with joint burial at Qiao Mausoleum. He had eleven sons.
24
瑗樂安郡王，易宗正卿、滎陽郡王，琄封嗣薛王，珍嗣岐王。 琄為金紫光祿大夫、鴻臚卿同正員。 天寶五載，坐舅刑部尚書韋堅為右相李林甫所構，貶夷陵郡別駕長任。 母隨琄，竟以憂死。 七載，琄於夜郎安置，後移南浦郡。 十四載，安祿山反，赴於西京。
Yuan was Prince of Le'an Commandery; Yi was Director of the Imperial Clan Court and Prince of Xingyang Commandery; Juan was enfeoffed Heir Prince of Xue; Zhen was Heir Prince of Qi. Juan was Grand Master of Golden-Gleaming Splendid Happiness and Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments with the same honors as a regular appointee. In the fifth year of Tianbao he was punished because his maternal uncle, Minister of Justice Wei Jian, was framed by Chief Minister Li Linfu and demoted to Vice Prefect of Yiling Commandery for permanent appointment. His mother followed Juan and in the end died of grief. In the seventh year Juan was settled at Yelang and later moved to Nanpu Commandery. In the fourteenth year, when An Lushan rebelled, Juan went to the Western Capital.
25
隋王隆悌，睿宗第六子也。 初封汝南郡王。 長安初，拜尚乘直長。 早薨。 睿宗踐極，追封隋王，贈荊州大都督。 無子。
Prince Sui Long Ti was Ruizong's sixth son. At first he was enfeoffed Prince of Runan Commandery. At the beginning of the Chang'an era he was appointed Chief of the Imperial Mounts Direct Office. He died young. When Ruizong ascended the throne he was posthumously enfeoffed Prince Sui and granted Grand Commander of Jing. He had no sons.
26
史臣曰：夫得天下而治者，其道舒而有變； 讓天下而退者，其道卷而常存。 何者？ 飛龍在天，舒也； 亢龍有悔，變也。 讓皇帝守無咎於或躍，利終吉於勞謙，其用有光，其聞莫朽。 惠莊、惠文、惠宣、隋王等，或守常而獲免，終保皇枝； 或過望而包羞，竟塵青史。 略陽公信魁偉之狀，起圖謀之心，福善禍淫，宜哉不令。
The historiographer says: One who obtains the realm and governs it—his Way expands and admits change; one who yields the realm and withdraws—his Way rolls up yet constantly endures. Why is this so? The flying dragon in heaven—that is expansion; the proud dragon has regret—that is change. The Emperor Who Yielded kept himself without blame at "perhaps leaping," and gained ultimate good fortune in "laborious modesty"; his conduct shone, and his fame will not decay. Crown Prince Hui Zhuang, Crown Prince Hui Wen, Crown Prince Hui Xuan, Prince Sui, and the like—some, by keeping to the constant, obtained exemption and in the end preserved the imperial branch; some, by overreaching, brought shame upon themselves and in the end stained the historical record. Duke of Lueyang Zhen trusted his grand and imposing appearance and raised a heart of plotting; fortune favors the good and calamity follows the evil—fitting indeed that he did not end well.
27
贊曰：謙而受益，讓以成賢。 唐屬之美，憲得其先。 長不居震，剛不乘乾。 讓之大者，胡可比焉。 捴、範已降，同氣連枝。 性習何遠，非革即睽。 有善有惡，禍福不欺。
In praise it is said: Through modesty one benefits; through yielding one becomes worthy. Among the beauties of the Tang house, Xian obtained the first place. The eldest does not occupy the thunder trigram; the firm does not ride the qian trigram. In yielding at its greatest—how can any other be compared? From Cui and Fan downward, they shared one breath and linked branches. How far apart are nature and habit—if not reformed, then estranged. There is good and there is evil; fortune and calamity do not deceive.