元慶 Yuánqìng

Prince Xiao of Dao

Yuanqing, Prince Xiao of Dao, was first made Prince of Han, later moved to Prince of Chen, and went out as Prefect of Zhaozhou. In the tenth year of Zhenguan, his princedom was moved and he was appointed Prefect of Yuzhou, his real fief rising by stages to a thousand households. At that time the allowances of the princes were smaller than those of the emperor's sons, so that they were often poor and in want, but none of the great ministers dared to say so. In the eighteenth year, Chu Suiliang, Vice Director of the Chancellery, raised the matter with Taizong at leisure, but nothing could be done. Under Gaozong he served as Prefect of Hua Prefecture, became known for his good government, and was several times praised and rewarded. He was moved to be Prefect of the three prefectures of Xu, Qin and Wei. He served his mother with care, and when she died he asked to build her tomb with his own hands, but an edict refused. When he died he was posthumously made Grand Minister of Education and Area Commander-in-chief of Yi Prefecture, and was buried in attendance at the Xian Mausoleum. Edit

He had nine sons. You was his heir and was made Prince of Linhuai; as Prefect of Li Prefecture he was convicted of taking bribes and stripped of his rank. The succession then went to Wei, the son of his second son Xun; Wei ended his career as Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan. Wei's son Lian succeeded him, and in the Guangde period he too rose to Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan. Edit