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25%高宗子高宗八子:後宮劉生忠,鄭生孝,楊生上金,蕭淑妃生素節,武后生弘、賢、中宗皇帝、睿宗皇帝。 燕王燕王忠,字正本。 帝始為太子而忠生,宴宮中,俄而太宗臨幸,詔宮臣曰:「朕始有孫,欲共為樂。」 酒酣,帝起舞,以屬群臣,在位皆舞,賚賜有差。 貞觀二十年,始王陳。 永徽初,拜雍州牧。 王皇后無子,後舅柳奭說後,以忠母微,立之必親己,後然之,請於帝; 又奭與褚遂良、韓瑗、長孫無忌、於誌寧等繼請,遂立為皇太子。 後廢,武后子弘甫三歲,許敬宗希後旨,建言:「國有正嫡,太子宜同漢劉強故事。」 帝召見敬宗曰:「立嫡若何?」 對曰:「正本則萬事治,太子,國本也。 且東宮所出微,今知有正嫡,不自安; 竊位而不自安,非社稷計。」 帝曰:「忠固自讓。」 敬宗曰:「能為太伯,不亦善乎?」 於是降封梁王、梁州都督,賜甲第,實封戶二千,物二萬段。 俄徙房州刺史。 忠寢懼不聊生,至衣婦人衣,備刺客。 數有妖夢,嘗自占。 事露,廢為庶人,囚黔州承乾故宅。 麟德初,宦者王伏勝得罪於武后,敬宗乃誣忠及上官儀與伏勝謀反,賜死,年二十二。 無子。 明年,太子弘表請收葬,許之。 神龍初,追封,又贈太尉、揚州大都督。 原王原悼王孝,永徽元年,始王許,與杞、雍二王同封。 早薨。 神龍初,追封及謚。 澤王澤王上金,始王杞。 永徽三年,遙領益州大都督。 歷鄜、壽二州刺史。 武后疾其母,故有司誣奏,削封邑,徙置澧州。 久之,後陽若可喜者,表杞王上金、鄱陽王素節聽朝集,義陽、宣城二公主各增夫秩。 由是上金為沔州刺史,素節岳州刺史,然卒不朝。 高宗崩,詔上金、素節、二公主赴哀。 文明元年,徙王畢,又徙王澤。 歷五州刺史。 載初中,武承嗣諷周興誣上金、素節謀反,召系御史獄。 上金聞素節已被殺,即雉經,七子並流死顯州。 神龍初,追還官爵,以子義珣嗣王。 義珣始被謫,匿身為傭保,而嗣許王瓘〗利其爵邑,告義珣假冒,復流嶺外。 開元初,以素節子璆為後,而玉真公主表義珣實上金子,乃奪璆爵,復使義珣嗣王,拜率更令。 薨,子潓嗣。 許王許王素節,始王雍,授雍州牧。 方羈丱,即誦書日千言。 師事徐齊聃,淬勉自強,帝愛之。 轉岐州刺史,更王郇。 母被譖死,出素節為申州刺史。 乾封初,詔素節病無入朝。 而實不病,乃著《忠孝論》自明。 倉曹參軍張柬之以聞,欲帝省其誣,武后滋不悅,坐受賕降王鄱陽,削封戶什七,徙置袁州,錮終身。 儀鳳三年,為岳州刺史,更王葛,又徙王,歷三州刺史。 與上金同追逮赴都,道聞遭喪哭者,謂左右曰:「病死何可得,而須哭哉?」 至龍門驛被縊,年四十三,葬以庶人禮。 子瑛等九人並誅,惟琳、瓘、璆、欽古尚幼,長囚雷州。 中宗復位,追故封,又贈開府儀同三司、許州刺史,陪葬乾陵。 詔瓘嗣王,實封戶四百。 開元初,封琳為嗣越王,璆嗣澤王。 琳至右監門衛將軍,子隨封夔國公。 瓘為衛尉卿,以抑上金子不得封,貶鄂州別駕。 因詔外繼嗣王者皆歸宗,乃以嗣江王祎為信安王,嗣蜀王[礻俞]為廣漢王,嗣密王徹為濮陽王,嗣曹王臻為濟國公,嗣趙王琚為中山王,武陽王繼宗為澧國公。 瓘累遷太子詹事。 薨,贈蜀郡大都督。 二子解、需皆幼,以璆子益嗣。 天寶十四載,解始襲封王。
Emperor Gaozong had eight sons: Lady Liu of the inner palace gave birth to Zhong; Lady Zheng to Xiao; Lady Yang to Shangjin; Consort Xiao Shufei to Sujie; and Empress Wu to Hong, Xian, Emperor Zhongzong, and Emperor Ruizong. The Prince of Yan, Zhong, bore the style name Zhengben. While the Emperor was still crown prince, Zhong was born. A feast was held in the palace, and soon Taizong paid a visit. He told the palace officials, "I now have a grandson and wish to share the joy with you all." When the wine had gone deep, the Emperor danced and passed the cup to his ministers; everyone present danced, and gifts were bestowed in varying measure. In the twentieth year of the Zhenguan era, he was first enfeoffed as Prince of Chen. At the start of the Yonghui era, he was appointed Governor of Yong Prefecture. Empress Wang had no son. The Empress's uncle Liu Shi urged her that because Zhong's mother was of humble birth, making him heir would surely bind him to her; the Empress agreed and petitioned the Emperor; Liu Shi, together with Chu Suiliang, Han Gui, Zhangsun Wuji, Yu Zhining, and others in succession pressed the case, and Zhong was thereupon established as crown prince. After Wang was deposed, Empress Wu's son Hong was only three. Xu Jingzong, eager to please the Empress, urged that "the state has a legitimate eldest son; the crown prince ought to follow the Han precedent of Liu Qiang." The Emperor summoned Xu Jingzong and asked, "What of establishing the legitimate heir?" He replied, "When the root is correct, all affairs are well governed; the crown prince is the root of the state. Moreover, the heir in the Eastern Palace is of low birth; once he knows a legitimate eldest son exists, he cannot rest easy; Holding a position he cannot keep in peace—this is no plan for the altars of state." The Emperor said, "Zhong has indeed offered to step aside of his own accord." Xu Jingzong said, "To be able to play Taibo—is that not also a fine thing?" Thereupon Zhong was demoted and enfeoffed as Prince of Liang and Military Commissioner of Liang Prefecture, granted a fine mansion, a fief of two thousand households, and twenty thousand bolts of goods. Shortly afterward he was transferred to Governor of Fang Prefecture. Zhong lived in dread and could scarcely endure; he even wore women's clothing and kept assassins at hand. He had demonic dreams again and again and once performed divination for himself. When the affair came to light, he was deposed to commoner status and imprisoned in Chengqian's former residence at Qian Prefecture. At the start of the Linde era, the eunuch Wang Fusheng offended Empress Wu. Xu Jingzong then falsely charged Zhong and Shangguan Yi with Fusheng of plotting rebellion; Zhong was ordered to die, aged twenty-two. He left no sons. The following year Crown Prince Hong memorialized requesting that he be buried; permission was granted. At the start of the Shenlong era he received posthumous enfeoffment, and was also granted the posthumous titles Grand Preceptor and Grand Military Commissioner of Yang Prefecture. Prince of Yuan, the posthumous Prince Xiaowang Xiao: in the first year of Yonghui he was first enfeoffed as Prince of Xu, together with the Princes of Qi and Yong. He died young. At the start of Shenlong he received posthumous enfeoffment and a posthumous title. Prince of Ze Shangjin was first enfeoffed as Prince of Qi. In the third year of Yonghui he held the distant appointment as Grand Military Commissioner of Yi Prefecture. He served in succession as Governor of Fu and Shou prefectures. Empress Wu hated his mother; the authorities therefore falsely memorialized against him, reduced his fief, and transferred him to Li Prefecture. After a long interval the Empress feigned pleasure and memorialized that Prince of Qi Shangjin and Prince of Poyang Sujie might attend court assemblies, and that the Princesses of Yiyang and Xuancheng should each have their husbands' ranks raised. Thereupon Shangjin became Governor of Mian Prefecture and Sujie Governor of Yue Prefecture, yet in the end they never came to court. When Gaozong died, an edict summoned Shangjin, Sujie, and the two princesses to come mourn. In the first year of Wenming he was transferred to Prince of Bi, then again to Prince of Ze. He served as governor of five prefectures. In the early Zaichu era Wu Chengsi prompted Zhou Xing to falsely charge Shangjin and Sujie with rebellion; they were summoned and held in the censor's prison. When Shangjin heard that Sujie had already been killed, he at once hanged himself; his seven sons were all exiled and died at Xian Prefecture. At the start of Shenlong his offices and titles were posthumously restored, and his son Yixun succeeded to the princedom. Yixun, at first exiled, hid himself working as a hired laborer; the successor Prince of Xu Guan coveted his title and fief and reported Yixun as an impostor, and he was again exiled beyond the ranges. At the start of Kaiyuan, Sujie's son Qiu was made heir; but Princess Yuzhen memorialized that Yixun was truly Shangjin's son; Qiu's title was then stripped and Yixun was again made to succeed, appointed Director of the Court of the Crown Prince's Sons. When he died, his son Juan succeeded. Prince of Xu Sujie was first enfeoffed as Prince of Yong and appointed Governor of Yong Prefecture. While still in swaddling clothes he could recite a thousand characters of text per day. He studied under Xu Qiluan, tempering himself with strenuous effort; the Emperor cherished him. He was transferred to Governor of Qi Prefecture and re-enfeoffed as Prince of Xun. When his mother was slandered to her death, Sujie was sent out as Governor of Shen Prefecture. At the start of Qianfeng an edict declared that Sujie was ill and need not enter court. But in fact he was not ill; he thereupon composed the Treatise on Loyalty and Filial Piety to clear himself. Army Aide Zhang Jianzhi reported it, hoping the Emperor would see through the false charge; Empress Wu was all the more displeased; he was demoted for accepting bribes to Prince of Poyang, his fief was cut by seven-tenths, he was transferred to Yuan Prefecture, and confined for life. In the third year of Yifeng he was Governor of Yue Prefecture, re-enfeoffed as Prince of Ge, again transferred in princedom, and served as governor of three prefectures. Together with Shangjin he was summoned and escorted toward the capital; on the road he heard mourners wailing and said to his attendants, "Death by illness—who could hope for that? Yet must one weep?" At Longmen Post he was strangled, aged forty-three; he was buried with commoner's rites. His sons Ying and eight others were all executed; only Lin, Guan, Qiu, and Qingu were still young and were long imprisoned at Lei Prefecture. When Zhongzong was restored, former titles were posthumously restored, and he was also granted the posthumous office of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Same Ceremony as the Three Dukes and Governor of Xu Prefecture, buried with honor at Qianling. An edict had Guan succeed to the princedom with a fief of four hundred households. At the start of Kaiyuan, Lin was enfeoffed as successor Prince of Yue and Qiu as successor Prince of Ze. Lin rose to Right General of the Right Majestic Gate Guard; his son Sui was enfeoffed Duke of Kui. Guan was Minister of the Court for the Imperial Clan but, because he had blocked Shangjin's son from receiving enfeoffment, was demoted Vice Prefect of E Prefecture. Thereupon an edict declared that all who had succeeded to princedom from outside the direct line should return to their clans; successor Prince of Jiang Yi was made Prince of Xin'an, successor Prince of Shu Yu Prince of Guanghan, successor Prince of Mi Che Prince of Puyang, successor Prince of Cao Zhen Duke of Ji, successor Prince of Zhao Ju Prince of Zhongshan, and Prince of Wuyang Jizong Duke of Li. Guan was repeatedly promoted to Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. When he died, he was posthumously made Grand Military Commissioner of Shu Commandery. His two sons Jie and Xu were both young; Qiu's son Yi was made to succeed. In the fourteenth year of Tianbao, Jie first inherited the princedom.
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璆,初封嗣澤王,降為郢國公,宮宗正、光祿卿,進封褒信王。 初,張九齡撰《龍池頌》,刊石興慶宮,宗子以為不稱盛德,更命璆為頌,建花萼樓北。 天寶初,復拜宗正卿。 性友弟聰敏,宗子有一善,無不薦延,故宗室在省闥者多璆所啟。 薨,贈江陵郡大都督。 三子:謙為郢國公、梓州刺史,巽汝南郡公。 欽古封巳國公,子賁嗣。 孝敬皇帝孝敬皇帝弘,永徽六年始王代,與潞王同封。 顯慶元年,立為皇太子。 受《春秋左氏》於率更令郭瑜,至楚世子商臣弒其君,喟而廢卷曰:「聖人垂訓,何書此邪?」 瑜曰:「孔子作《春秋》,善惡必書,褒善以勸,貶惡以誡,故商臣之罪雖千載猶不得滅。」 弘曰:「然所不忍聞,願讀它書。」 瑜拜曰:「裏名勝母,曾子不入。 殿下睿孝天資,黜凶悖之跡,不存視聽。 臣聞安上治民,莫善於禮,故孔子稱『不學禮,無以立』。 請改受《禮》。」 太子曰:「善。」 四年,加元服。 又命賓客許敬宗、右庶子許圉師、中書侍郎上官儀、中舍人楊思儉即文思殿摘采古今文章,號《瑤山玉彩》,凡五百篇。 書奏,帝賜物三萬段,余臣賜有差。 又詔五日一赴光順門決事。 總章元年,釋采國學,請贈顏回為太子少師,曾參太子少保,制可。 會有司以征遼士亡命及亡命不即首者,身殊死,家屬沒官。 弘諫以為「士遇病不及期,或被略若溺、壓死,而軍法不因戰亡,則同隊悉坐,法家曰亡命,而家屬與真亡者同沒。 《傳》曰:『與殺不辜,寧失不經。』 臣請條別其科,無使淪胥」。 詔可。 帝幸東都,詔監國。 時關中饑,弘視廡下兵食有榆皮、蓬實者,悄然命家令寺給米。 義陽、宣城二公主以母故幽掖廷,四十不嫁,弘聞眙惻,建請下降。 武后怒,即以當上衛士配之,由是失愛。 又請以同州沙苑分假貧民。 會納妃裴,而有司奏贄用白雁,適苑中獲之,帝喜曰:「漢獲硃雁,為樂府歌。 今得白雁為婚贄,婚乃人倫首,我則無慚。」 禮畢,曲赦岐州。 帝嘗語侍臣:「弘仁孝,賓禮大臣,未嘗有過。」 而後將騁誌,弘奏請數怫旨。 上元二年,從幸合璧宮,遇耽薨,年二十四,天下莫不痛之。 詔曰:「太子嬰沈瘵,朕須其痊復,將遜於位。 弘性仁厚,既承命,因感結,疾日以加。 宜申往命,謚為孝敬皇帝。」 葬緱氏,墓號恭陵,制度盡用天子禮,百官從權制三十六日釋服。 帝自制《睿德紀》,刻石陵側。 營陵費巨億,人厭苦之,投石傷所部官司,至相率亡去。 妃薨,謚哀皇后。 無子。 永昌初,以楚王隆基嗣。 中宗立,詔以主祔太廟,號義宗。 開元中,有司奏:「孝敬皇帝宜建廟東都,以謚名廟。」 詔可。 於是罷義宗號。 妃即裴居道女,有婦德,而居道以妃故拜內史納言,歷太子少保、翼國公,為酷吏所陷,下獄死。 章懷太子章懷太子賢字明允。 容止端重,少為帝愛。 甫數歲,讀書一覽輒不忘,至《論語》「賢賢易色」,一再誦之。 帝問故,對曰:「性實愛此。」 帝語李世勣,稱其夙敏。 始王潞,歷幽州都督、雍州牧。 徙王沛,累進揚州大都督、右衛大將軍。 更名德。 徙王雍,仍領雍州牧、涼州大都督,實封千戶。 上元年,復名賢。 是時,皇太子薨,其六月,立賢為皇太子。 俄詔監國,賢於處決尤明審,朝廷稱焉,帝手敕褒賜。 賢又招集諸儒:左庶子張大安、洗馬劉訥言、洛州司戶參軍格希玄、學士許叔牙成玄一史藏諸周寶寧等,共註范曄《後漢書》。 書奏,帝優賜段物數萬。 時正諫大夫明崇儼以左道為武后所信,崇儼言英王類太宗,而相王貴,賢聞,惡之。 宮人或傳賢乃後姊韓國夫人所生,賢益疑,而後撰《少陽政範》、《孝子傳》賜賢,數以書讓勒,愈不安。 調露中,天子在東都,崇儼為盜所殺,後疑出賢謀,遣人發太子陰事,詔薛元超、裴炎、高智周雜治之,獲甲數百首於東宮。 帝素愛賢,薄其罪,後曰:「賢懷逆,大義滅親,不可赦。」 乃廢為庶人,焚甲天津橋,貶大安普州刺史,流訥言於振州,坐徙者十餘人。 開耀元年,徙賢巴州。 武后得政,詔左金吾將軍丘神勣檢衛賢第,迫令自殺,年三十四。 後舉哀顯福門,貶神勣疊州刺史,追復舊王。 神龍初,贈司徒,遣使迎喪,陪葬乾陵。 睿宗立,追贈皇太子及謚。 三子:光順、守禮、守義。 光順為樂安王,徙義豐,被誅。 守義為犍為王,徙封桂陽,薨。 先天中,追封光順莒王,守義畢王。
Qiu was at first enfeoffed successor Prince of Ze, reduced to Duke of Ying, served as Director of the Imperial Clan and Minister of Splendid Affairs, and advanced to Prince of Baoxin. At first Zhang Jiuling composed the Ode to the Dragon Pool, carved in stone at Xingqing Palace; the imperial clansmen thought it ill matched the sovereign's virtue, and Qiu was ordered to compose a new ode, erected north of the Hua'e Tower. At the start of Tianbao he was again appointed Director of the Imperial Clan. By nature friendly, brotherly, and clever, whenever a clansman had any merit he never failed to recommend and advance him; therefore many of the imperial clan serving within the inner offices were men Qiu had brought forward. When he died, he was posthumously made Grand Military Commissioner of Jiangling Commandery. Three sons: Qian was Duke of Ying and Governor of Zi Prefecture; Xun Duke of Runan. Qingu was enfeoffed Duke of Si; his son Ben succeeded. The Filial and Respectful Emperor Hong: in the sixth year of Yonghui he was first enfeoffed as Prince of Dai, together with the Prince of Lu. In the first year of Xianqing he was established as crown prince. He studied the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn under Director Guo Yu; when he came to the Chu heir Shangchen murdering his lord, he sighed and cast the scroll aside, saying, "The sage left instruction—why does this book record such a thing?" Yu said, "Confucius composed the Spring and Autumn; good and evil must be written; praising the good to encourage and condemning the evil to warn—therefore Shangchen's crime, though a thousand years pass, still cannot be wiped away." Hong said, "Yet what I cannot bear to hear—I wish to read another book." Yu bowed and said, "A lane named Shengmu—Zengzi would not enter it. Your Highness is by nature wise and filial; banish the traces of fierce perversity and do not keep them in sight or hearing. I have heard that to settle the superiors and govern the people, nothing is better than ritual; therefore Confucius said, "Without learning ritual, one cannot stand." Please change to studying the Rites instead." The crown prince said, "Good." In the fourth year he received the capping ceremony. He was also ordered that his tutors Xu Jingzong, Right Vice President of the Heir Apparent Xu Yuanshi, Vice Minister of the Secretariat Shangguan Yi, and Attendant Gentleman Yang Sijian should at the Hall of Literary Thought gather and select articles ancient and modern, titled Jade Splendor of Mount Yao, five hundred pieces in all. When the book was presented, the Emperor bestowed thirty thousand bolts of goods; the remaining ministers received graded gifts. He was also ordered to attend the Guangshun Gate every five days to decide affairs. In the first year of Zongzhang he performed the capping rite at the Imperial Academy and requested posthumous titles for Yan Hui as Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and Zeng Shen as Junior Protector of the Heir Apparent; the decree approved. It happened that the authorities, regarding soldiers who had fled from the Liaodong campaign and deserters who did not promptly surrender, imposed death by dismemberment and confiscation of families into government service. Hong remonstrated that "when soldiers fell ill and could not reach the deadline, or were seized as in drowning or crushing, yet military law did not treat battle deaths, the whole squad was punished; the legalists called it desertion, yet families were confiscated like true deserters. The Classic says, "Better to lose the inconstant than to kill the innocent. Your servant requests separate statutes for each case, lest all be dragged down together." The edict approved. When the Emperor visited the eastern capital, an edict appointed Hong to oversee the state. At the time Guanzhong suffered famine; Hong saw soldiers under the granary eating elm bark and fleabane seeds and quietly ordered the Director of the Palace Domestic Service to supply rice. The Princesses of Yiyang and Xuancheng, because of their mother, were confined in the Rear Palace; at forty they were still unmarried; Hong heard and was deeply moved, and memorialized requesting they be given in marriage. Empress Wu was angry and immediately matched them to palace guards on duty; thereby he lost favor. He also requested that the Shayan pasture of Tong Prefecture be divided and lent to the poor. When he was taking a consort, Pei, the authorities memorialized that the betrothal gift should use a white goose; it happened that one was obtained in the park; the Emperor rejoiced and said, "Han obtained a vermilion goose and made a Music Bureau song. Now obtaining a white goose as a marriage gift—marriage is the head of human relations; I have no cause for shame." When the rites were complete, a partial amnesty was granted for Qi Prefecture. The Emperor once told his attendants, "Hong is benevolent and filial, treats great ministers with guest ritual, and has never had a fault." Yet afterward, when Empress Wu was about to pursue her ambitions, Hong's memorials and petitions repeatedly ran counter to her wishes. In the second year of Shangyuan, while accompanying the Emperor to Hebi Palace, he fell ill and died, aged twenty-four; the whole realm mourned him. An edict declared, "The crown prince has been gravely ill since infancy; I need him to recover and intend to yield the throne to him. Hong was by nature benevolent and generous; having received the command, he was deeply moved, and his illness grew worse day by day. The former command should be proclaimed; he was given the posthumous title Filial and Respectful Emperor." He was buried at Gongshi; the tomb was named Gong Mausoleum; the regulations wholly followed the rites of a Son of Heaven; officials followed the provisional rule of laying aside mourning after thirty-six days. The Emperor himself composed the Record of Sagely Virtue and had it carved in stone beside the mausoleum. Building the mausoleum cost hundreds of millions; the people were worn down and distressed; they hurled stones and injured the officials in charge, until they fled in bands. When the consort died, she was given the posthumous title Empress Ai. He left no sons. At the beginning of the Yongchang era, Prince of Chu Longji was made his successor. When Emperor Zhongzong took the throne, an edict enshrined Hong in the ancestral temple under the title Yizong. During the Kaiyuan era, the relevant offices memorialized: "The Filial and Respectful Emperor should have a temple built in the Eastern Capital, with the temple named after his posthumous title." The edict approved the proposal. Thereupon the title Yizong was abolished. The consort was Pei Judao's daughter, renowned for wifely virtue; because of her, Judao was appointed Inner Palace Grand Counselor, later served as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent and Duke of Yi, but was framed by cruel officials, thrown into prison, and died there. Crown Prince Zhanghuai — Prince Xian, whose style name was Mingyun. Dignified and grave in bearing and deportment, he was beloved by the Emperor from childhood. While still only a few years old, he could read a text once and never forget it; when he came to the Analects passage on valuing virtue over beauty, he recited it over and over. The Emperor asked why; he replied, "It is my nature to love this passage." The Emperor told Li Shiji and praised the boy's precocious intelligence. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Lu and later served as Protector-General of Youzhou and Governor of Yongzhou. He was transferred to Prince of Pei and eventually promoted to Grand Protector-General of Yangzhou and General-in-Chief of the Right Guard. His name was changed to De. He was transferred to Prince of Yong while retaining the posts of Governor of Yongzhou and Grand Protector-General of Liangzhou, with an actual fief of one thousand households. In the first year of Shangyuan, his name was restored to Xian. At this time the crown prince died; in the sixth month Xian was installed as crown prince. Soon he was ordered to oversee state affairs; in adjudicating cases Xian was especially clear and thorough, winning praise at court, and the Emperor personally wrote an edict commending and rewarding him. Xian also gathered a circle of scholars — Left Guardian Zhang Da'an, Groom Liu Neyan, Luozhou Revenue Clerk Ge Xixuan, and Academicians Xu Shuya, Cheng Xuanyi, Shi Cangzhu, and Zhou Baoning — to annotate Fan Ye's Book of Later Han together. When the annotated work was submitted, the Emperor generously bestowed tens of thousands of bolts of goods. At the time Remonstrating Grandee Ming Chongyan, who practiced heterodox arts, enjoyed Empress Wu's trust; when Chongyan said the Prince of Ying resembled Emperor Taizong while the Prince of Xiang was the more exalted, Xian heard of it and took offense. Palace women also circulated the rumor that Xian was born to the Empress's elder sister, the Lady of Han; Xian grew more suspicious still, and when the Empress composed the Shaoyang Political Canon and Biographies of Filial Sons and bestowed them on him, repeatedly admonishing him in writing, he grew ever more uneasy. During the Diaolu era, while the Son of Heaven was in the Eastern Capital, Chongyan was killed by bandits; the Empress suspected Xian's involvement and sent men to expose the crown prince's secret affairs, ordering Xue Yuanchao, Pei Yan, and Gao Zhizhou to investigate jointly; several hundred sets of armor were found in the Eastern Palace. The Emperor had always loved Xian and wished to lighten his guilt, but the Empress said, "Xian harbors treason; where great righteousness is at stake, even kin must be destroyed — he cannot be pardoned." He was then deposed to commoner status; the armor was burned at Tianjin Bridge; Da'an was demoted to Prefect of Puzhou, Neyan was exiled to Zhenzhou, and more than ten others were implicated and banished. In the first year of Kaiyao, Xian was transferred to Bazhou. After Empress Wu seized power, she ordered Left Jinwu General Qiu Shenji to guard Xian's residence and forced him to commit suicide; he was thirty-four. Later she held mourning rites at Xianfu Gate, demoted Shenji to Prefect of Diezhou, and posthumously restored Xian's original princely rank. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, he was posthumously made Grand Preceptor; envoys were sent to retrieve his remains, and he was buried alongside Emperor Gaozong at Qian Mausoleum. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Xian was posthumously elevated to crown prince and given a posthumous title. He had three sons: Guangshun, Shouli, and Shouyi. Guangshun was Prince of Le'an, transferred to Yifeng, and was executed. Shouyi was Prince of Qianwei, later transferred and enfeoffed as Prince of Guiyang, and died. During the Xiantian era, Guangshun was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Ju and Shouyi as Prince of Bi.
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守禮嗣王,始名光仁,授太子洗馬。 武后革命,畏疾宗室,而守禮以父得罪,與睿宗諸子閉處宮中十餘年。 睿宗封相王,許出外邸,於是守禮等始居外,改司議郎。 中宗即位,復故封,拜光祿卿,實封戶五百。 唐隆元年,進封邠王。 睿宗立,兼檢校左金吾衛大將軍,出為幽州刺史,遙兼單于大都護,遷司空。 開元初,累為州刺史。 時寧、申、岐、薛王同為刺史,皆擇僚首持綱紀。 守禮惟弋獵酣樂,不領事,故源乾曜、袁嘉祚、潘好禮皆為邠府長史、州佐,督檢之。 後還諸王京師,守禮以外支為王,不甚才而多寵嬖,子六十餘人,無可稱者。 常負息錢數百萬。 或勸少治居產,守禮曰:「豈天子兄無葬者邪?」 諸王每白上以為歡。 岐王嘗奏守禮知雨,暘帝問故,答曰:「臣無它,當天後時,太子被罪,臣幽宮中,歲被敕杖凡四三,累創痕膚,前雨則沈懣,霽則佳,以此知之。」 因泣下,帝為惻然。 薨,年七十,贈太尉。 子承宏、承寧、承寀可記者。 承宏,爵廣武王,坐交非其人,貶房州別駕,還為宗正卿。 廣德元年,吐蕃入京師,天子如陜,虜宰相馬重英立承宏為帝,以翰林學士於可封、霍瑰為宰相。 賊退,詔放承宏於華州,死。 承寧封嗣邠王。 承寀,煌王,拜宗正卿,與仆固懷恩使回紇和親,即納其女為妃,封毘伽公主。 薨,贈司空。 唐制:嗣郡王加四品階,親王子服緋。 開元中,張九齡奏:「寧、薛及邠王三子為王者賜紫,餘皆服緋,官不越六局郎,王府掾屬仍員外置。」 後從帝至蜀者皆服紫。 中宗子中宗四子:韋庶人生重潤,後宮生重福、重俊、殤帝。 懿德太子懿德太子重潤,本名重照,避武后諱改焉。 帝為皇太子時,生東宮,高宗喜甚,乳月滿,為大赦天下,改元永淳。 是歲,立為皇太孫,開府置官屬。 帝問吏部侍郎裴敬彜、郎中王方慶,對曰:「禮有嫡子,無嫡孫。 漢、魏太子在,子但封王。 晉立湣懷子為皇太孫,齊立文惠子為皇太孫,皆居東宮。 今有太子,又立太孫,於古無有。」 帝曰:「自我作古若何?」 對曰:「禮,君子抱孫不抱子,孫可以為王父屍者,昭穆同也。 陛下肇建皇孫,本支千億之慶。」 帝悅,詔議官屬。 敬彜等奏置師、傅、友、文學、祭酒、左右長史、東西曹掾、主簿、管記、司錄、六曹等官,加王府一級,然卒不補。 將封嵩山,召太子赴東都,以太孫留守京師。 中宗失位,太孫府廢,貶庶人,別囚之。 帝復位,封邵王。 大足中,張易之兄弟得幸武后,或譖重潤與其女弟永泰郡主及主婿竊議,後怒,杖殺之,年十九。 重潤秀容儀,以孝愛稱,誅不緣罪,人皆流涕。 神龍初,追贈皇太子及謚,陪葬乾陵,號墓為陵,贈主為公主。 譙王譙王重福,高宗時王唐昌郡,徙封平恩。 長安末乃進王。 神龍初,韋庶人譖與張易之兄弟陷重潤,貶濮州員外刺史,徙合、均二州,不領事。 景龍三年,中宗親郊,赦天下,十惡者咸宥,流人得還。 重福不得歸,自陳「蒼生皆自新,而一子擯棄,皇天平分,固若此乎!」 不報。 韋后得政,詔左屯衛大將軍趙承恩、薛思簡以兵護守。 睿宗立,徙集州,未行,洛陽男子張靈均說重福曰:「大王居嫡長,當為天子。 相王雖平大難,安可越居大位? 昔漢誅諸呂,乃東迎代王。 今百官士庶皆願王來。 王若陰幸東都,殺留守,擁兵西據陜,徇河南、河北,天下可圖也。」 重福又遣靈均與其黨鄭愔計,愔亦密招重福為天子,豫尊睿宗為皇季叔,重茂皇太弟,制稱中元克復元年,愔自署左丞相,知內外文武事,以靈均為右丞相、天柱大將軍,知出征事,其餘以次除署。 重福自均州與靈均乘驛趨東都,舍駙馬裴巽家。 洛陽令候巽,重福驚,遽出,欲劫左右屯營兵,至天津橋,願從者數百人。 侍御史李邕遇之,先馳至右屯營,呼曰:「譙王得罪先帝,擅入都為亂。 公等勉立功取富貴。」 稍稍閉皇城諸門以拒。 重福徇右營不能動,趨左掖門,已闔,怒,縱火燒之。 左營兵寢逼,眾遂潰,重福走山谷。 明日,留守裴談總兵大索,投漕渠死,年三十一,礫其屍。 帝詔以三品禮葬。 節湣太子節湣太子重俊,聖曆三年王義興,神龍初,王衛,拜洛州牧,實封千戶。 俄領揚州大都督。 明年為皇太子,與太后喪,殺冊禮,詔在籓食封,歲納東宮。 給事中盧粲上言:「太子與列國同入封,不可為法。」 詔罷之。 重俊性明果,然少法度。 既楊璬、武崇訓為賓客,二人馮貴寵,無學術,惟狗馬蹴踘相戲昵。 左庶子姚珽數上疏諍導,右庶子平貞慎又獻《孝經議》、《養德》等傳,太子納而不克用。 武三思挾韋后勢,將圖逆,內忌太子,而崇訓又三思子,尚安樂公主,常教主辱重俊,以非韋出,詈為奴,數請廢,自為皇太女。 三年七月,重俊恚忿,遂率李多祚洎左羽林將軍李思沖、李承況、獨孤祎之、沙咤忠義,矯發左羽林及千騎兵殺三思、崇訓並其黨十餘人,使左金吾大將軍成王千里守宮城,自率兵趨肅章門,斬關入,索韋后、安樂公主、昭容上官所在。 後挾帝升玄武門,宰相楊再思、蘇瑰、李嶠及宗楚客、紀處訥統兵二千餘人守太極殿,帝召右羽林將軍劉仁景等率留軍飛騎百人拒之,多祚兵不得進。 帝據檻語千騎曰:「爾乃我爪牙,何忽為亂? 能斬賊者有賞。」 於是士倒戈斬多祚,余黨潰。 重俊亡入終南山,欲奔突厥,楚客遣果毅趙思慎追之,重俊憩於野,為左右所殺。 詔殊首朝堂,獻太廟,並以告三思、崇訓柩。 睿宗立,加贈謚,陪葬定陵。
Shouli succeeded to the princely line; originally named Guangren, he was appointed Groom to the Crown Prince. When Empress Wu changed the dynasty, she feared and distrusted the imperial clan; because his father had been disgraced, Shouli was confined within the palace together with Ruizong's sons for more than ten years. When Ruizong was enfeoffed as Prince of Xiang and permitted an outer residence, Shouli and the others were at last allowed to live outside the palace and were appointed Directors of Court Discussion. When Emperor Zhongzong took the throne, Shouli's former enfeoffment was restored; he was appointed Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with an actual fief of five hundred households. In the first year of Tanglong, he was promoted to Prince of Bin. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Shouli concurrently served as Acting General-in-Chief of the Left Jinwu Guard, was sent out as Prefect of Youzhou while remotely serving as Grand Protector-General of the Chanyu Court, and was later transferred to Minister of Works. At the beginning of the Kaiyuan era, he served successively as several prefects. At the time the Princes of Ning, Shen, Qi, and Xue all served as prefects, and each chose outstanding subordinates to uphold local administration. Shouli cared only for hunting and feasting and did not attend to affairs, so Yuan Qianyao, Yuan Jiazuo, and Pan Haoli all served as chief secretaries of the Bin prefecture and prefectural aides to supervise him. Later, when the princes returned to the capital, Shouli — a prince of the collateral line and not particularly talented — kept many favored concubines and had more than sixty sons, none of whom distinguished themselves. He was constantly in debt for several million in interest-bearing loans. When someone urged him to manage his household property, Shouli said, "Could the Emperor's elder brother really lack someone to bury him?" The princes often reported this to the Emperor, who found it amusing. The Prince of Qi once reported that Shouli could predict rain; during a drought the Emperor asked why, and Shouli replied, "I have no special art — when Empress Wu was in power, the crown prince was condemned and I was confined in the palace, beaten on imperial order three or four times a year until my skin was covered with scars; before rain I feel depressed, and when the sky clears I feel well — that is how I know." He wept as he spoke, and the Emperor was deeply moved. He died at seventy and was posthumously made Grand Commandant. Among his sons, Chenghong, Chengning, and Chengcai are worth noting. Chenghong was enfeoffed as Prince of Guangwu; for associating with unsuitable men he was demoted to Vice-Prefect of Fangzhou, but later returned to serve as Director of the Imperial Clan. In the first year of Guangde, when the Tibetans entered the capital and the Son of Heaven fled to Shan, the captive minister Ma Chongying installed Chenghong as emperor and appointed Academicians-in-Attendance Yu Kefeng and Huo Gui as chancellors. When the rebels withdrew, an edict released Chenghong at Huazhou, where he died. Chengning was enfeoffed as heir Prince of Bin. Chengcai, Prince of Huang, was appointed Director of the Imperial Clan; he accompanied Pugu Huai'en on a marriage alliance mission to the Uyghurs, took their khan's daughter as his consort, and she was enfeoffed as Princess Pijia. When he died, he was posthumously made Minister of Works. Under Tang custom, heirs of commandery princes received a four-rank promotion, while sons of imperial princes wore scarlet robes. During the Kaiyuan era, Zhang Jiuling memorialized: "The Princes of Ning and Xue and the three sons of the Prince of Bin who held princely titles were granted purple robes; the rest wore scarlet; their offices did not exceed Sixth Bureau Director, and princely household staff were still appointed as supernumeraries." Later, all who followed the Emperor to Shu wore purple. Sons of Zhongzong — Emperor Zhongzong had four sons: Consort Wei bore Chongrun; ladies of the inner palace bore Chongfu, Chongjun, and the Short-lived Emperor. Crown Prince Yide — Prince Chongrun, originally named Chongzhao, changed his name to avoid Empress Wu's taboo. While still crown prince, Zhongzong's son was born in the Eastern Palace; Emperor Gaozong was overjoyed, and when the nursing month was complete he granted a great amnesty and changed the era name to Yongchun. That year he was installed as imperial grand heir, with an office opened and staff appointed. The Emperor asked Vice Minister of Personnel Pei Jingyi and Director Wang Fangqing, who replied, "In ritual law there is a designated son but no designated grandson. In Han and Wei times, when the crown prince was alive, the son was only enfeoffed as a prince. Jin installed Minhuai's son as imperial grand heir, and Qi installed Wenhui's son as imperial grand heir; both resided in the Eastern Palace. To have a crown prince and also install an imperial grand heir has no precedent in antiquity." The Emperor said, "What if I establish the precedent myself?" They replied, "In ritual, a gentleman carries his grandson in his arms rather than his son; a grandson who may represent his deceased grandfather shares the same lineage alignment. Your Majesty's establishment of an imperial grand heir brings the blessing of a thousandfold increase to the root branch of the dynasty." The Emperor was pleased and ordered deliberation on the staff appointments. Jingyi and others memorialized to establish the offices of Tutor, Mentor, Companion, Academician, Chancellor, Left and Right Chief Secretaries, East and West Bureau Clerks, Recorder, Archive Keeper, Registrar, and the Six Bureaus — one rank above a normal princely establishment — yet in the end none of the posts were filled. When the court was about to perform the fengshan rite at Mount Song, the crown prince was summoned to the Eastern Capital while the imperial grand heir was left to guard the capital. When Zhongzong lost the throne, the grand heir's office was abolished; Chongrun was demoted to commoner status and imprisoned separately. When the Emperor regained the throne, Chongrun was enfeoffed as Prince of Shao. During the Dazu era, the Zhang Yizhi brothers gained Empress Wu's favor; someone slandered Chongrun, the Princess of Yongtai, and the princess's husband for having spoken privately about the Empress; enraged, she had Chongrun beaten to death; he was nineteen. Chongrun was handsome in bearing and famed for filial devotion; he was killed without cause, and all who heard wept. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, he was posthumously elevated to crown prince and given a posthumous title, buried alongside Emperor Gaozong at Qian Mausoleum with his tomb styled a mausoleum; the Princess of Yongtai was posthumously granted full princess rank. Prince of Qiao — Prince Chongfu was under Gaozong enfeoffed as Prince of Tangchang Commandery and later transferred to Prince of Ping'en. At the end of the Chang'an era he was promoted to full princely rank. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, Consort Wei slandered that he and the Zhang Yizhi brothers had framed Chongrun; he was demoted to Acting Prefect of Puzhou, then transferred to He and Jun prefectures without actually governing. In the third year of Jinglong, Emperor Zhongzong personally performed the suburban sacrifice, amnestied the realm, pardoned even those guilty of the ten abominations, and allowed exiles to return. Chongfu was not permitted to return and pleaded, "All the people are granted renewal, yet one son alone is cast aside — is this truly Heaven's justice?" He received no reply. When Empress Wei seized power, she ordered Left Tunwei General Zhao Chengen and Xue Sijian to guard him under armed escort. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Chongfu was transferred to Jizhou; before he could depart, a Luoyang man named Zhang Lingjun persuaded him, "Your Highness, as the eldest legitimate son, ought to be Son of Heaven. Though the Prince of Xiang quelled a great crisis, how can he leap over you to take the throne? In Han times, after the Lü clan was destroyed, the court went east to welcome the Prince of Dai. Now officials and commoners alike wish for Your Highness to come. If you slip away to the Eastern Capital in secret, kill the regent there, gather troops and seize Shaan from the west, then sweep through Henan and Hebei, the realm can be yours. Chongfu also sent Lingjun to confer with his ally Zheng Yin, who likewise secretly recruited Chongfu as emperor. They planned to honor Ruizong as Imperial Younger Uncle and Chongmao as Imperial Younger Brother, with the reign title Zhongyuan Kefu, Year One. Yin would appoint himself Left Chancellor, overseeing all civil and military affairs; Lingjun would be Right Chancellor and Grand General of the Heavenly Pillar, overseeing campaigns; the rest would receive appointments in turn. Chongfu left Junzhou and rode post horses with Lingjun to rush to Luoyang, staying at the home of Palace Attendant Pei Xun. The magistrate of Luoyang was staking out Pei Xun's house. Alarmed, Chongfu fled at once, intending to seize the Left and Right Garrison troops. At Tianjin Bridge, only a few hundred men were willing to follow him. Censor Li Yong met him on the way, galloped ahead to the Right Garrison camp, and cried out, "The Prince of Qiao offended the late emperor and has entered the capital without permission to raise rebellion. Gentlemen, do your utmost to win merit and gain wealth and rank. One by one the gates of the Imperial City were shut to keep him out. Chongfu tried to rally the Right Camp but could not move them. He rushed to the Left Flanking Gate, but it was already closed. Enraged, he set it ablaze. Soldiers from the Left Camp closed in, and his followers scattered. Chongfu fled into the hills. The next day Regent Pei Tan mobilized troops for a thorough search. Chongfu drowned himself in the canal. He was thirty-one. His body was pelted with stones. The emperor ordered that he be buried with third-rank honors. The Respectful and Lamented Crown Prince Chongjun was enfeoffed as Prince of Yixing in the third year of Shengli. At the start of the Shenlong era he was made Prince of Wei and appointed Governor of Luozhou, with an actual fief of one thousand households. Shortly afterward he was also made Grand Commander of Yangzhou. The following year he was made crown prince. When the empress dowager died, the enthronement ceremony was scaled back. An edict allowed him to draw income from his fief while at his princely estate and to pay an annual tribute to the Eastern Palace. Supervising Secretary Lu Can submitted a memorial: "For the crown prince to draw fief income like the feudal princes cannot be made precedent. An edict put an end to the practice. Chongjun was bright and resolute by nature, but he had little sense of propriety. Once Yang Rui and Wu Chongxun became his companions, the two men traded on their lofty connections. They had no learning and spent their days with dogs, horses, and cuju, amusing themselves together. Left Junior Mentor Yao Ting repeatedly submitted memorials to admonish and guide him. Right Junior Mentor Ping Zhenshen also presented treatises such as Discourse on the Classic of Filial Piety and Nourishing Virtue. The crown prince accepted them but could not bring himself to follow them. Wu Sansi, leaning on Empress Wei's power, was plotting rebellion and inwardly resented the crown prince. Chongxun was Sansi's son and husband to Princess Anle. She often urged her husband to humiliate Chongjun, calling him a bastard of non-Wei birth and reviling him as a slave. She repeatedly petitioned to have him deposed so that she herself might become crown princess. In the seventh month of the third year, burning with rage, Chongjun led Li Duozuo and the Left Yulin generals Li Sichong, Li Chengkuang, Dugu Yizhi, and Shazha Zhongyi. Under false orders they mobilized the Left Yulin Guard and the thousand-rider corps, killed Sansi, Chongxun, and more than ten of their followers, and sent Left Jinwu Grand General Prince Cheng Wang Qianli to hold the palace city. Chongjun himself led troops to Su Zhang Gate, broke through the gate, and searched for Empress Wei, Princess Anle, and Brilliant Attendant Lady Shangguan. He then forced the emperor up to the Xuanwu Gate. Chancellors Yang Zaisi, Su Gui, and Li Qiao, together with Zong Chuke and Ji Chuna, mustered more than two thousand men to guard the Hall of Supreme Ultimate. The emperor summoned Right Yulin General Liu Renjing and others to lead a hundred flying cavalry from the palace guard against them, and Duozuo's troops could not advance. Leaning on the railing, the emperor addressed the thousand-riders: "You are my own claws and teeth — why have you suddenly turned to rebellion? Whoever cuts down the rebels will be rewarded. At that the troops turned on Duozuo and killed him; the rest of the rebels broke and fled. Chongjun fled into the Zhongnan Mountains, intending to escape to the Turks. Chuke sent Colonel Zhao Shenshen in pursuit. Resting in the wilderness, Chongjun was killed by his own followers. An edict ordered his head cut off and displayed at court, offered at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and reported to the coffins of Sansi and Chongxun. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, posthumous honors were added and Chongjun was buried beside Ding Mausoleum.
4
初,重俊被害,官屬莫敢視,惟永和丞寧嘉勖號哭,解衣裹其首,時人義之; 楚客怒,收付獄,貶平興丞,卒。 至是,亦贈永和令。
When Chongjun was killed, none of his staff dared even to look at his body. Only Yonghe Assistant Magistrate Ning Jiaxu wailed aloud, stripped off his own garment, and wrapped the prince's head. People of the time honored him for it. Chuke was enraged, had him arrested and thrown into prison, and demoted him to assistant magistrate of Pingxing, where he died. At that time Ning was also posthumously granted the title of magistrate of Yonghe.
5
重俊子宗暉,景雲三年封湖陽郡王,天寶中,至太常員外卿,薨。 睿宗子睿宗六子:肅明皇后生憲,宮人柳生捴,昭成皇后生玄宗皇帝,崔孺人生範,王德妃生業,後宮生隆悌。
Chongjun's son Zonghui was enfeoffed as Prince of Huyang Commandery in the third year of Jingyun. During the Tianbao era he rose to supernumerary director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and then died. Emperor Ruizong had six sons: Empress Suming bore Xian; the palace woman Liu bore Cui; Empress Zhaocheng bore Emperor Xuanzong; Lady Cui the Commoner bore Fan; Consort Wang De bore Ye; and a woman of the inner palace bore Longti.
6
讓皇帝憲,始王永平。 文明元年,武后以睿宗為皇帝,故憲立為皇太子; 睿宗降為皇嗣,更冊為皇孫,與諸王皆出閤,開府置官屬。 長壽二年,降王壽春,與衡陽、巴陵、彭城三王同封,復詔入閤。 中宗立,改王蔡,固辭不敢當。 唐隆元年,進封宋。
The Yielding Emperor Xian was at first Prince of Yongping. In the first year of Wenming, when Empress Wu made Ruizong emperor, Xian was installed as crown prince. When Ruizong was reduced to imperial heir and then re-enfeoffed as imperial grandson, Xian and the other princes all left the inner quarters, opened princely offices, and appointed staffs. In the second year of Changshou he was reduced to Prince of Shouchun and enfeoffed at the same time as the princes of Hengyang, Baling, and Pengcheng; he was again ordered into the inner apartments. When Emperor Zhongzong took the throne, Xian was made Prince of Cai, but he firmly declined and refused to accept. In the first year of Tanglong he was advanced to Prince of Song.
7
睿宗將建東宮,以憲嫡長,又嘗為太子,而楚王有大功,故久不定。 憲辭曰:「儲副,天下公器,時平則先嫡,國難則先功,重社稷也。 使付授非宜,海內失望,臣以死請。」 因涕泣固讓。 時大臣亦言楚王有定社稷功,且聖庶抗嫡,不宜更議。 帝嘉憲讓,遂許之,立楚王為皇太子,以憲為雍州牧、揚州大都督、太子太師,實封至二千戶,賜甲第,物段五千,良馬二十,奴婢十房,上田三十頃。 進尚書左僕射,又兼司徒。 讓司徒,更為太子賓客。
When Ruizong was about to establish the Eastern Palace, the choice remained unsettled for a long time: Xian was the eldest legitimate son and had once been crown prince, but the Prince of Chu had rendered great service. Xian declined, saying, "The heir apparent is the common trust of the realm. In peaceful times precedence goes to the eldest legitimate son; in times of crisis precedence goes to merit — because the altars of state come first. If the succession is wrongly assigned, the empire will lose heart. I beg this at the cost of my life. He wept as he pressed his refusal. The leading ministers also argued that the Prince of Chu had saved the dynasty, and that a sage emperor's favored younger son should not be set aside for the eldest legitimate heir; further debate was out of place. The emperor praised Xian's selflessness and agreed. The Prince of Chu was made crown prince. Xian was appointed Governor of Yongzhou, Grand Commander of Yangzhou, and Grand Mentor of the Crown Prince, with an actual fief of two thousand households. He was also granted a fine mansion, five thousand bolts of goods, twenty fine horses, ten households of slaves, and thirty qing of superior farmland. He was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and also made Minister over the Masses. He declined the post of Minister over the Masses and was instead made a client of the crown prince.
8
時太平公主有醜圖,姚元崇、宋璟白帝,請出憲及申王成義為刺史,以銷釋陰計,乃以司徒兼蒲州刺史,進司空。 玄宗既討定蕭、岑之難,進憲位太尉,贈千戶,固辭,更授開府儀同三司,解太尉、揚州大都督。 徙王寧,又兼太常卿。 開元十四年,表解卿。 久之,復為太尉。 歷澤、岐、涇三州刺史,累封至五千五百戶。 二十九年薨。
At that time Princess Taiping was plotting treacherously. Yao Chongyuan and Song Jing reported this to the emperor and asked that Xian and Prince Shen Wang Chengyi be sent out as regional governors to break up her secret designs. Xian was then made Minister over the Masses and concurrently Governor of Puzhou, and promoted to Grand Minister of Works. After Xuanzong had put down the crisis involving Xiao and Cen, Xian was promoted to Grand General and granted an additional thousand households, but he firmly declined. He was instead given the honor of Grand Precedence Equal to the Three Excellencies and relieved of the posts of Grand General and Grand Commander of Yangzhou. He was transferred to Prince of Ning and also made Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the fourteenth year of Kaiyuan he submitted a memorial asking to resign the directorship. After some time he was again made Grand General. He served in turn as governor of Ze, Qi, and Jing prefectures, and his cumulative fief rose to five thousand five hundred households. He died in the twenty-ninth year of Kaiyuan.
9
初,帝五子列第東都積善坊,號「五王子宅」。 及賜第上都隆慶坊,亦號「五王宅」。 玄宗為太子,嘗制大衾長枕,將與諸王共之。 睿宗知,喜甚。 及先天後,盡以隆慶舊邸為興慶宮,而賜憲及薛王第於勝業坊,申、岐二王居安興坊,環列宮側。 天子於宮西、南置樓,其西署曰「花萼相輝之樓」,南曰「勤政務本之樓」,帝時時登之,聞諸王作樂,必亟召升樓,與同榻坐,或就幸第,賦詩燕嬉,賜金帛侑歡。 諸王日朝側門,既歸,即具樂縱飲,擊球、鬥雞、馳鷹犬為樂,如是歲月不絕,所至輒中使勞賜相踵,世謂天子友悌,古無有者。 帝於敦睦蓋天性然,雖讒邪亂其間,而卒無以搖。 時有鶺鴒千數集麟德殿廷樹,翔棲浹日。 左清道率府長史魏光乘作頌,以為天子友悌之祥。 帝喜,亦為作頌。
At first the emperor's five sons had their mansions lined up in Jishan Ward of Luoyang, called the Five Princes' Residence. When mansions were granted in Longqing Ward of the capital, they were likewise called the Five Princes' Mansion. When Xuanzong was crown prince, he once had a large quilt and long pillow made, intending to share them with his brothers. Ruizong heard of this and was deeply pleased. After the Xiantian era the old Longqing residences were all converted into Xingqing Palace. Mansions in Shengye Ward were granted to Xian and the Prince of Xue, while the princes of Shen and Qi lived in Anxing Ward, encircling the palace. The emperor built towers west and south of the palace: the western tower was named the Tower of Flowers and Calyxes Shining Upon Each Other, and the southern the Tower of Diligent Governance and Foundational Duty. He often climbed them. Whenever he heard his brothers making music, he would summon them at once to join him on the tower and sit with them on the same couch, or visit their mansions himself to compose poetry, feast, and give them gold and silk to share in their pleasure. The princes attended court daily at the side gate. After returning home they would at once set out music and drink freely, playing ball games, cockfighting, and hunting with hawks and hounds. Month after month this never stopped, and wherever they went palace envoys bearing imperial gifts followed one after another. People of the age said the emperor's brotherly affection was unmatched even in antiquity. The emperor's brotherly warmth was truly in his nature; though slander and malice stirred between them, in the end nothing could shake it. At the time several thousand wagtails gathered in the court trees of Linde Hall, flying and roosting there for a whole day. Wei Guangsheng, chief clerk of the Left Qingdao Commandant's office, composed an encomium, taking it as an omen of the emperor's brotherly harmony. The emperor was delighted and composed an encomium of his own.
10
憲尤謹畏,未嘗幹政而與人交,帝益信重,嘗以書賜憲等曰:「魏文帝詩:『西山一何高,高高殊無極。 上有兩仟童,不飲亦不食。 賜我一丸藥,光耀有五色。 服之四五日,身體生羽翼。』 朕每言服藥而求羽翼,寧如兄弟天生之羽翼乎? 陳思王之才,足以經國,絕其朝謁,卒使憂死,魏祚未終,司馬氏奪之,豈神丸效耶? 虞舜至聖,舍象傲以親九族,九族既睦,平章百姓。 今數千載,天下歸善焉,此朕廢寢忘食所慕嘆也。 頃因余暇,選仟錄得神方,雲餌之必壽。 今持此藥,願與兄弟共之,偕至長齡,永永無極也。」 後申王等相繼薨,唯憲在,帝親待愈益厚。 每生日必幸其第為壽,往往留宿; 居常無日不賜遺,尚食總監及四方所獻酒酪異饌; 皆分餉之。 憲嘗請歲盡錄賜目付史官,必數百紙。 後有疾,護醫將膳,騎相望也。 僧崇一者療之,少損,帝喜甚,賜緋袍、銀魚。 已而疾寢劇,薨,年六十三。 帝失聲號慟,左右皆泣下。
Xian was especially cautious and restrained. He never meddled in affairs of state, yet he kept close ties with others, and the emperor trusted and valued him all the more. Once he sent a letter to Xian and the others, saying, "In Emperor Wen of Wei's poem: 'How high the western mountains — so high there is no end. On them live two thousand youths who neither drink nor eat. They gave me one pill of medicine, shining with five colors. After taking it for four or five days, the body grows wings. I often say: to take medicine in search of wings — how can that compare with the wings brothers are born with? Prince Si of Chen had talent enough to govern the state, yet Cao Pi cut off his access to court and in the end worried him to death. Wei's mandate had not yet run its course when the Sima clan seized power — was that the work of a divine pill? Yu Shun, the most sage of men, set aside his arrogant brother Xiang to draw the nine clans close. Once the nine clans were at peace, he brought harmony to the common people. Even after thousands of years, the world still honors his goodness — this is what I admire so deeply that I forget sleep and food. Recently, in a moment of leisure, I copied out a thousand prescriptions and came upon a divine formula said to grant long life if taken. Now that I hold this medicine, I wish to share it with my brothers so that we may all live long together, forever without end. Later the Prince of Shen and the others died one after another, and only Xian remained. The emperor treated him with ever greater personal affection. On every birthday the emperor visited his mansion to celebrate with him, and often stayed the night. On ordinary days there was scarcely a day without gifts — delicacies from the Director-General of the Imperial Kitchen and rare foods sent from all quarters. All of these were divided and sent to him. Xian once asked that at year's end the record of gifts be copied out for the historiographers — invariably several hundred pages long. When he later fell ill, physicians and food-bearers sent from court followed one another on horseback along the road. The monk Chongyi treated him, and his illness eased somewhat. The emperor was overjoyed and granted Chongyi a crimson robe and silver fish badge. Before long the illness worsened, and he died at the age of sixty-three. The emperor broke into loud mourning, and those around him all wept.
11
帝以憲實推天下,有高世之行,非大號不稱,乃追謚讓皇帝,遣尚書左丞相裴耀卿、太常卿韋縚持節奉冊。 其子璡表陳憲宿素退讓,不敢當大號。 制不許。 及斂,出天子服一稱,詔右監門大將軍高力士以手書寘靈坐,贈妃元為恭皇后,葬橋陵旁。 及葬,敕中使諭璡等,送終之具,使眾見之,示以儉薄。 所司請如諸陵,設千味食內壙中,監護使耀卿建言:「尚食料水陸千餘種及馬、牛、驢、犢、麞、鹿、鵝、鴨、魚、雁體節之味,並藥酒三十名,盛夏胎養,不可多殺,考求禮據,無所憑依。 陛下每申讓帝之志,務存約素,請蠲省折衷。」 詔可。 既發引,大雨,有詔慶王潭等涉塗泥,步送十里,號其墓曰惠陵。
Because Xian had truly yielded the throne and lived on a level above his age, the emperor felt that no lesser title would suffice. He posthumously honored him as the Yielding Emperor and sent Left Director Pei Yaoqing and Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Wei Tao with credentials to present the encomium. His son Jin submitted a memorial saying that Xian had always been plain and self-effacing and would not have dared accept so great a title. An edict refused the request. At the encoffining a set of imperial robes was brought out. An edict ordered Right Palace Gate Grand General Gao Lishi to place a letter written in the emperor's own hand at the spirit seat. Consort Fei Yuan was posthumously made Empress Gong, and Xian was buried beside Qiao Mausoleum. At the burial, palace envoys were sent to tell Jin and the others what was being provided for the funeral, showing the items publicly to demonstrate its simplicity. The responsible office asked, as at other imperial tombs, to place a thousand-flavor offering inside the burial chamber. Overseer Yaoqing submitted a memorial: "The Imperial Kitchen lists more than a thousand land and water dishes — horse, ox, donkey, calf, roe deer, deer, goose, duck, fish, and wild goose in cuts — along with thirty kinds of medicinal wine. In midsummer, when animals are nursing their young, one should not slaughter so many. I have searched the ritual precedents and found no basis for this. Your Majesty has repeatedly affirmed the Yielding Emperor's wish to keep things plain and simple. I ask that the offerings be cut back to a balanced minimum. An edict approved the proposal. When the funeral procession set out, heavy rain fell. An edict ordered Prince Qing Wang Tan and the others to wade through the mud and escort the coffin on foot for ten li. The tomb was named Huiling, the Benevolent Mausoleum.
12
憲嘗從帝按舞萬歲樓,帝從復道上見衛士已食,棄其餘竇中。 帝怒,詔高力士杖殺之,憲從容曰:「從復道上窺人之私,恐士不自安,且失大體,豈以性命輕於余饗乎?」 帝遽止,謂力士曰:「王於我,可謂有急難也。 不然,且誤殺士。」 又涼州獻新曲,帝御便坐,召諸王觀之。 憲曰:「曲雖佳,然宮離而不屬,商亂而暴,君卑逼下,臣僭犯上。 發於忽微,形於音聲,播之詠歌,見於人事,臣恐一日有播遷之禍。」 帝默然。 及安、史亂,世乃思憲審音云。
Xian once accompanied the emperor to watch dancers at Wansui Tower. From the elevated passage the emperor saw guards who had already eaten throwing the leftovers into a ditch. The emperor was angry and ordered Gao Lishi to beat them to death. Xian said calmly, "To spy on men's private affairs from the elevated passage will make the guards uneasy and, more importantly, violates proper dignity. Can a man's life weigh less than leftover food? The emperor stopped him at once and said to Lishi, "The prince has just saved me in a moment of crisis. Otherwise I would nearly have killed these men by mistake. On another occasion Liangzhou presented a new tune. The emperor took an informal seat and summoned the princes to listen. Xian said, "The tune is fine, but the gong mode is disconnected and unresolved, and the shang mode is chaotic and harsh — as if the ruler were abasing himself and pressing down on his subjects while ministers presumptuously violated their superiors. What begins in something slight takes shape in sound, spreads through song, and appears in human affairs. I fear that one day this will bring the calamity of exile and upheaval. The emperor fell silent. When the An-Shi rebellion broke out, people at last recalled what Xian had said about reading music—and how right he had been.
13
憲本名成器,避昭成太后謚,與申王成義俱改今名。 憲子十九人,其聞者璡、嗣莊、琳、瑀。
Xian had originally been named Chengqi. To avoid the posthumous name of Empress Zhaocheng, he and Prince Shen Cheng Yi both took their present names. Xian had nineteen sons; the best known were Jin, Sizhuang, Lin, and Yu.
14
璡、嗣莊、琳、瑀。
Jin, Sizhuang, Lin, and Yu.
15
璡眉宇秀整,性謹絜,善射,帝愛之。 封汝陽王,歷太僕卿。 與賀知章、褚庭誨、梁涉等善。 薨,贈太子太師。
Jin had handsome, well-set features, a careful and upright nature, and skill at archery. The emperor loved him. He was made Prince of Ruyang and served as Grand Master of the Imperial Stud. He was close to He Zhizhang, Chu Tinghui, Liang She, and others. When he died, he was posthumously made Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince.
16
嗣莊幼有令名,為太子諭德,封濟陰王。 薨,贈幽州大都督。
Sizhuang had a fine name from childhood. He served as Mentor to the Crown Prince and was enfeoffed as Prince of Jiyin. When he died, he was posthumously made Grand Protector of Youzhou.
17
琳以秘書監為嗣寧王,從天子幸蜀,薨。
Lin, while serving as Director of the Secretariat, was made Heir Prince of Suining. He followed the emperor into exile in Shu and died there.
18
瑀早有材望,偉儀觀。 始封隴西郡公。 從帝幸蜀,至河池,封漢中王,山南西道防禦使。 乾元初,寧國公主降回紇,詔瑀以特進、太常卿持節冊拜回紇為威遠可汗。 瑀亦知音,嘗早朝過永興裏,聞笛音,顧左右曰:「是太常工乎?」 曰:「然。」 它日識之,曰:「何故臥吹?」 笛工驚謝。 又聞康昆侖奏琵琶,曰:「琵聲多,琶聲少,是未可彈五十四絲大弦也。」 樂家以自下逆鼓曰琵,自上順鼓曰琶云。 肅宗詔收群臣馬助戰,瑀與魏少遊等持不可。 帝怒,貶蓬州長史。 薨,贈太子太師,謚曰宣。 孫景儉。
Yu showed early promise and a commanding presence. He was first enfeoffed as Duke of Longxi Commandery. On the flight to Shu, he was enfeoffed at Hechi as Prince of Hanzhong and appointed Military Commissioner of the Western Circuit of Shannan. At the start of the Qianyuan era, when Princess Ningguo was sent to marry the Uyghurs, Yu was ordered, as Special Promotion Grand Master and Minister of Rites, to carry the imperial seal and invest the Uyghur khan as Khan Weiyuan. Yu also had an ear for music. Once, on his way to early court through Yongxing Lane, he heard a flute and turned to his attendants. "Is that a musician from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices? They said yes. Another day he recognized the man and asked, "Why are you playing lying down?" The flutist, startled, apologized. Hearing Kang Kunlun play the pipa, he said, "There is more pi-sound than pa-sound. That will not do for the heavy strings of a fifty-four-string instrument. Musicians explain that striking upward from below is called pi, and striking downward from above is called pa. When Emperor Suzong ordered the seizure of officials' horses for the war effort, Yu and Wei Shaoyou and others argued against it. The emperor was angry and demoted him to chief administrator of Peng Prefecture. When he died, he was posthumously made Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince and given the posthumous title Xuan, "Illustrious." His grandson was Jing Jian.
19
景儉字寬中。 及進士第。 強記多聞,善言古成敗王霸大略,高自負,於士大夫無所屈。 王叔文等更譽之,以為管仲、諸葛亮比。 叔文敗,景儉以母喪得不坐。 韋夏卿守東都,辟幕府。 竇群任中丞,引為監察御史,群貶,景儉亦為江陵戶曹參軍。 累擢忠州刺史。 元和末,入朝,不見用,復為澧州刺史。 素與元稹、李紳善。 二人方在翰林,言其才。 及延英奉辭,景儉自陳見抑遠,穆宗憐之,追詔為倉部員外郎,不遣。 閱月,拜諫議大夫。 性矜誕,使酒縱氣,語侵宰相,蕭俯、段文昌訴於帝,貶建州刺史。 稹得君,為之助,故還為諫議大夫。 與馮宿、楊嗣復、溫造、李肇等集史官獨孤朗所,景儉醉,至中書,慢罵宰相王播、崔植、杜元穎,吏為遜言厚謝,乃去,坐貶漳州刺史,宿等皆逐矣。 未及漳,稹輔政,改楚州刺史,議者謂景儉辱丞相,貶未至即遷,非是。 稹懼,改少府少監,悉還宿等。 景儉既湮厄不得志,卒。 然其為人輕財,篤於義,既沒,士悵悼之。
Jing Jian, courtesy name Kuanzhong. He passed the jinshi examination. He had a prodigious memory and wide learning, and loved to expound the grand patterns of ancient rise and fall, of kingship and hegemony. He thought highly of himself and deferred to no scholar-official. Wang Shuwen and his circle praised him still more, comparing him to Guan Zhong and Zhuge Liang. When Shuwen fell, Jing Jian escaped punishment because he was in mourning for his mother. When Wei Xiaqing governed the Eastern Capital, he brought Jing Jian onto his staff. When Dou Qun became Censor-in-Chief, he made Jing Jian an investigating censor. After Qun was demoted, Jing Jian became a clerk in the household section at Jiangling. He rose in succession to governor of Zhong Prefecture. Near the end of the Yuanhe era he came to court but found no favor, and was sent out again as governor of Li Prefecture. He had long been close to Yuan Zhen and Li Shen. The two were then in the Hanlin Academy and spoke up for his talent. When he took leave at Yanying Hall, Jing Jian complained that he had been kept down and sent far away. Emperor Muzong took pity on him and issued a recall appointing him vice director in the Revenue Bureau—but never sent the order. A month later he was appointed remonstrance and review grand master. He was proud and unrestrained by nature, and when drunk would speak with open contempt of the chief ministers. Xiao Fu and Duan Wenchang complained to the emperor, and he was demoted to governor of Jian Prefecture. When Yuan Zhen won the emperor's favor, he intervened on Jing Jian's behalf, and Jing Jian was restored as remonstrance and review grand master. He joined Feng Su, Yang Sifu, Wen Zao, Li Zhao, and others at the house of the historian Dugu Lang. Drunk, Jing Jian went to the Secretariat and reviled the chief ministers Wang Bo, Cui Zhi, and Du Yuanying. Only after the clerks spoke humbly and apologized at length did he leave. He was demoted to governor of Zhang Prefecture, and Feng Su and the others were driven out as well. Before he reached Zhang Prefecture, Yuan Zhen came to power and changed the appointment to governor of Chu Prefecture. Critics said that since Jing Jian had insulted a chief minister, it was wrong to move him again before the demotion had even taken effect. Fearing the outcry, Yuan Zhen changed the appointment to vice director of the Palace Manufactories and fully restored Feng Su and the others. Jing Jian, submerged in misfortune and never able to fulfill his ambitions, died. Yet he was generous with money and steadfast in friendship. When he died, men of learning mourned him.
20
惠莊太子捴,本名成義。 初生,武后以母賤,欲不齒,以示浮屠萬回,回詭曰:「此西土樹神,宜兄弟。」 後喜,乃畜之。 垂拱三年,始王恒,與衛、趙二王同封。 俄改王衡陽。 睿宗立,進王申,與岐、薛二王同封。 累遷右衛、金吾二大將軍,實封至千戶。 進司徒,兼益州大都督,四為州刺史。 開元八年,停刺史,復為司徒。 薨,冊書贈太子及謚,陪葬橋陵。 捴性寬裕,儀貌環重。 無嗣,詔以讓帝子珣嗣,為懷寧王,徙封同安。 薨。 天寶中,復以讓帝子璹嗣。
Crown Prince Huizhuang Cou had originally been named Chengyi. At his birth Empress Wu, deeming his mother too low in rank to count among her children, meant to disown him and showed him to the monk Wan Hui. Wan Hui said craftily, "This child is a tree deity of the Western Land—he is fit to be your brother. The empress was pleased and kept him. In the third year of Chuigong he was first enfeoffed as Prince of Heng, together with the princes of Wei and Zhao. Soon afterward he was made Prince of Hengyang. When Ruizong took the throne, Cou was advanced to Prince of Shen, enfeoffed together with the princes of Qi and Xue. He rose in succession to general-in-chief of the Right Guard and of the Imperial Insignia Guard, with an actual fief of a thousand households. He was advanced to minister of education and concurrently made grand protector of Yizhou, and served four times as a prefectural governor. In the eighth year of Kaiyuan, when princes were no longer sent out as prefects, he again became minister of education. When he died, an edict conferred on him posthumous rank and title as crown prince, and he was buried beside Qiaoling. Cou was magnanimous by nature, with a dignified and imposing bearing. He left no heirs. An edict made the Yielding Emperor's son Xun his successor as Prince of Huaining, later transferred to Prince of Tong'an. He died. In the Tianbao era the Yielding Emperor's son Shu succeeded in his turn.
21
惠文太子範,始名隆範。 玄宗立,與薛王隆業避帝諱去二名。 初王鄭,改封衛。 俄降封巴陵,進王岐,為太常卿、并州大都督、左羽林大將軍。 從玄宗誅太平公主,以功賜封,與薛王業並滿五千戶。 歷為州刺史,遷太子太傅。 開元十四年薨,冊書贈太子及謚,陪葬橋陵。 帝哭之慟,徹常膳至累旬,群臣勉請乃復。
Crown Prince Huiwen Fan had originally been named Long Fan. When Xuanzong took the throne, he and Prince Xue Long Ye dropped the second character of their names to avoid the imperial taboo. He was first Prince of Zheng, then made Prince of Wei. Soon he was reduced to Prince of Baling, then advanced to Prince of Qi. He served as minister of rites, grand protector of Bingzhou, and general-in-chief of the Left Forest Guard. For following Xuanzong in the execution of Princess Taiping he was rewarded with increased fief; he and Prince Xue Ye each reached five thousand households. He served in succession as a prefectural governor and was then made grand mentor of the crown prince. He died in the fourteenth year of Kaiyuan. An edict conferred on him posthumous rank and title as crown prince, and he was buried beside Qiaoling. The emperor wept bitterly and refused his regular meals for more than ten days before the ministers pressed him to eat again.
22
範好學,工書,愛儒士,無貴賤為盡禮。 與閻朝隱、劉廷琦、張諤、鄭繇等善,常飲酒賦詩相娛樂。 又聚書畫,皆世所珍者。 初,隋亡,禁內圖書湮放,唐興募訪,稍稍復出,藏秘府。 長安初,張易之奏天下善工潢治,乃密使摹肖,殆不可辨,竊其真藏於家。 既誅,悉為薛稷取去,稷又敗,範得之,後卒為火所焚。 駙馬都尉裴虛己善讖緯,坐私與範遊,徙嶺南,廷琦貶雅州司戶,諤為山茌丞,然帝於範無少間也,謂左右曰:「兄弟情天至,於我豈有異哉! 趨競者強相附,我終不以為纖介。」 時王毛仲等起賤微,暴貴,諸王見必加禮,獨範接之自如。 子瑾嗣。
Fan loved learning, wrote well, and cherished scholars. He showed full courtesy to men of every rank. He was close to Yan Chaoyin, Liu Tingqi, Zhang E, Zheng Yao, and others, and they often drank and wrote poetry together for pleasure. He also collected books and paintings, all treasures of the age. When the Sui fell, the palace library had been scattered and lost. After the Tang rose, the court sent out agents to seek the books, and little by little they reappeared and were stored in the secret archive. Early in the Chang'an era Zhang Yizhi petitioned to summon skilled craftsmen from across the realm to mount and repair paintings. Secretly he had copies made nearly indistinguishable from the originals and stole the true works for his own house. After the Zhang brothers were executed, Xue Ji took them all. When Ji fell in his turn, Fan acquired the collection—but in the end it was destroyed by fire. The empress's son-in-law Pei Xuji was versed in prophecy and apocrypha. For privately associating with Fan he was exiled to Lingnan; Liu Tingqi was demoted to registrar of Ya Prefecture and Zhang E to magistrate of Shanzhi. Yet the emperor's affection for Fan did not waver in the least. He told those around him, "Brotherly feeling is heaven's own gift—how could mine be any different? Those who scramble for favor thrust themselves upon me, but I will never hold the least grudge against him for it. At the time Wang Maozhong and others had risen from humble origins to sudden wealth. The other princes always added ceremony when receiving them; Fan alone treated them as he always had. His son Jin succeeded him.
23
瑾落魄不飭名檢,沈酒色,歷太僕卿,封河東王,暴薨,贈太子少師。 天寶中,復以薛王子略陽公珍為嗣岐王。
Jin was unrestrained and careless of reputation, sunk in wine and women. He served as grand master of the imperial stud and was enfeoffed as Prince of Hedong. He died suddenly and was posthumously made junior preceptor of the crown prince. In the Tianbao era Prince Xue's son Zhen, Duke of Lueyang, again succeeded as Prince of Qi.
24
珍儀觀豐偉,為宗正員外卿,與蔚州鎮將硃融善。 融嘗言珍似上皇,因有陰謀,往語金吾將軍邢濟曰:「關外寇近,京師草草,奈何?」 濟曰:「我金吾,天子押衙,以死生從,安自脫?」 融曰:「見嗣岐王無慮矣。」 濟以聞,肅宗詔廢珍為庶人,賜死,融黨皆誅,擢濟為桂管防禦使。
Zhen was handsome and imposing. He served as vice director in the Court of the Imperial Clan and was close to Zhu Rong, garrison commander of Wei Prefecture. Rong once said that Zhen resembled the Retired Emperor, and on that basis formed a secret plot. He went to the imperial insignia general Xing Ji and said, "The enemy beyond the passes is near and the capital is in turmoil. What is to be done? Ji said, "I serve in the Imperial Insignia Guard, the emperor's personal escort. I follow him in life and death. How could I save myself?" Rong said, "If you see the Heir Prince of Qi, you need not worry." Ji reported the matter. Emperor Suzong stripped Zhen of rank, made him a commoner, and ordered him to die. Rong's faction were all executed, and Ji was promoted to military commissioner of Guiguan.
25
惠宣太子業,始王趙,降封中山,授都水使者。 徙鼓城,兼陳州別駕,進王薛,為羽林大將軍、荊州大都督。 以好學授秘書監。 開元初,進太子少保,即拜太保,累歷州刺史。
Crown Prince Huixuan Ye was first Prince of Zhao, then reduced to Prince of Zhongshan and appointed commissioner of waterways. He was transferred to Gucheng and made concurrently vice prefect of Chen Prefecture, then advanced to Prince of Xue and appointed general-in-chief of the Feathered Forest Guard and grand protector of Jingzhou. Because he loved learning, he was appointed director of the Secretariat. At the start of the Kaiyuan era he was made junior mentor of the crown prince and then at once grand mentor, and served in succession as a prefectural governor.
26
初,母早終,從母賢妃鞠之。 八年,迎賢妃外邸,事之甚謹。 其女弟淮陽、涼國二公主亦早卒,撫甥與己子均,帝益愛之。 嘗被疾,帝自祝禬。 既愈,幸其第,置酒賦詩為初生歡。 帝嘗不豫,業妃弟內直郎韋賓與殿中監皇甫恂妄言休咎事,賓坐死,恂貶錦州刺史。 妃恐,降服待罪,業亦不敢入謁,帝聞,遽召之,業伏殿下請罪,帝趨就執其手曰:「吾所猜於兄弟者,天地共咎之!」 遂復燕歡,仍諭妃復位。 俄進司徒。 二十二年,業有疾,帝憂之,一昔容發為變,因假寢,夢獲方,寤而業少閑,邠王守禮等請以事付史官。 及薨,帝悲不能食,冊書加贈及謚,陪葬橋陵。
His mother had died early, and his stepmother Consort Xian raised him. In the eighth year he brought Consort Xian to an outer residence and served her with the utmost reverence. His younger sisters, the Princesses of Huaiyang and Liang, had also died early. He raised their sons exactly as he did his own, and the emperor loved him all the more. Once when he fell ill, the emperor himself prayed for his recovery. When he recovered, the emperor visited his residence, set out wine, and composed poetry to celebrate his return to health. Once when the emperor was unwell, Ye's wife's younger brother, inner attendant Wei Bin, and the palace director Huangfu Xun spoke recklessly of fortune and misfortune. Bin was executed, and Xun was demoted to governor of Jin Prefecture. The princess, afraid, wore mourning garb and awaited punishment; Ye too dared not come to court. When the emperor heard of it he summoned them at once. Ye prostrated himself below the hall steps to beg forgiveness. The emperor hurried down and took his hand. "Any suspicion I harbor against my brothers," he said, "let heaven and earth together condemn! They resumed their feast, and the emperor also ordered the princess to resume her rank. Soon afterward he was advanced to minister of education. In the twenty-second year Ye fell ill. The emperor worried so deeply that in a single night his face and hair seemed to age. He napped and dreamed of obtaining a prescription; when he awoke Ye had slightly improved. Prince of Bin Shouli and others asked that the affair be recorded by the historians. When Ye died, the emperor grieved until he could not eat. An edict added posthumous honors and title, and Ye was buried beside Qiaoling.
27
十一子,其聞者瑗、瑒、琄。 帝後追思業,引見瑗等,傷之,乃下詔共賜實封千戶。 瑗為樂安王。 瑒滎陽王、宗正卿。 琄為嗣薛王,歷鴻臚卿。 天寶中,琄舅韋堅為李林甫所構,坐貶夷陵別駕,徙置夜郎、南浦。 及安祿山亂,乃還京師。
He had eleven sons; those worth recording were Yuan, Yang, and Xuan. Later the Emperor, remembering Ye with longing, summoned Yuan and the others, was deeply moved, and issued an edict jointly granting them a fief of one thousand households. Yuan was made Prince of Le'an. Yang was Prince of Xingyang and Director of the Imperial Clan. Xuan was successor Prince of Xue and served as Minister of the Court for Dependencies. During the Tianbao era, Xuan's uncle Wei Jian was framed by Li Linfu, demoted to Vice Prefect of Yiling, and transferred to Yelang and Nanpu. When the An Lushan rebellion broke out, he returned to the capital.
28
曾孫知柔,嗣王,再為宗正卿。 久之,擢京兆尹。 始,鄭、白渠梗壅,民不得歲。 知柔調三輔,治復舊道,灌浸如約,遂無旱虞,民詣闕請立石紀功,知柔固讓得止。 加累檢校司徒、同中書門下平章事。 又詔營緝太廟,判度支,充諸道鹽鐵轉運使。 昭宗出莎城,獨知柔從,乘輿器用庖頓皆主之,大細畢給。 性儉約,雖位通顯,無居第。 未幾,出拜清海軍節度使,在鎮廉潔,貢獻時入,進檢校太傅,兼侍中。 仕凡四紀,常為宗室冠。 卒於鎮。
His great-grandson Zhirou succeeded to the princedom and twice served as Director of the Imperial Clan. After a long interval he was promoted to Governor of the Capital District. At first the Zheng and Bai canals were blocked and silted, and the people could not bring in their harvests. Zhirou regulated the three metropolitan districts, restored the old channels, and irrigation met its quotas; thereafter drought ceased to be a threat. The people petitioned at court for a stone monument to record his achievement, but Zhirou firmly declined and the plan was dropped. He was cumulatively appointed Acting Grand Preceptor and Associate Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery. He was also ordered to repair the Grand Ancestral Temple, to oversee the Department of Revenue, and to serve as Commissioner for Salt and Iron Transport in all circuits. When Emperor Zhaozong fled Shacheng, only Zhirou accompanied him; he oversaw the imperial carriage, utensils, and provisions, and everything great and small was supplied. By nature frugal and abstemious, though his rank was eminent, he owned no house of his own. Before long he was posted as Military Commissioner of the Qinghai Army; in his command he was honest and incorrupt, tribute arrived on schedule, and he was advanced to Acting Grand Tutor and concurrently Palace Attendant. He served through four reign-periods in all and was constantly foremost among the imperial clan. He died in his command.
29
隋王隆悌,始封汝南王。 早薨,睿宗追王,贈荊州大都督,爵不傳。 【贊】贊曰:中宗失道,身為母所廢,妻所弒,而四子皆不得其死,嗣亦不傳,殆天穢其德而絕之,何耶? 彼固自絕於天云爾。 睿宗有聖子,一受命,一追帝,三贈太子,天與之報,福流無窮,盛歟!
Prince Sui Longti was first enfeoffed as Prince of Runan. He died young; Ruizong posthumously enfeoffed him as prince and granted the posthumous title Grand Military Commissioner of Jing Prefecture; the title was not transmitted. [Eulogy] The eulogy says: Zhongzong lost the Way; he was deposed by his mother and murdered by his wife; all four of his sons met unnatural deaths, and the succession too was cut off—perhaps Heaven reviled his virtue and ended his line. Why else? They had cut themselves off from Heaven—that is all. Ruizong had sage sons: one received the Mandate, one was posthumously made emperor, three were posthumously made crown princes—Heaven's reward to him; blessings flowed without end—how splendid!