景儉 Jǐngjiǎn

Jingjian was styled Kuanzhong. He passed the presented scholar examination. He had a strong memory and wide learning, and was good at discussing the successes and failures of antiquity and the broad strategies of kings and hegemons. He thought highly of himself and would bow to no one among the officials. Wang Shuwen and others praised him in turn, comparing him to Guan Zhong and Zhuge Liang. When Shuwen fell, Jingjian escaped being implicated because he was in mourning for his mother. When Wei Xiaqing was in charge of the Eastern Capital, he summoned Jingjian to his staff. When Dou Qun was Vice Censor-in-chief, he brought him in as Investigating Censor; when Qun was demoted, Jingjian too was made Revenue Aide of Jiangling. He rose by stages to Prefect of Zhong Prefecture. At the end of the Yuanhe era he came to court but was not employed, and was again made Prefect of Li Prefecture. He had long been friends with Yuan Zhen and Li Shen. The two were then in the Hanlin Academy, and they spoke of his talent. When he took his leave at the Yanying Hall, Jingjian complained that he had been held down and kept at a distance; Muzong took pity on him and issued a further edict making him Vice Director of the Bureau of Granaries, and did not send him away. A month later he was appointed Grand Master of Remonstrance. He was arrogant and boastful by nature, gave free rein to his temper when drunk, and his words gave offence to the chief ministers. Xiao Fu and Duan Wenchang complained to the emperor, and he was demoted to Prefect of Jian Prefecture. When Zhen won the ruler's confidence he helped him, and so Jingjian came back as Grand Master of Remonstrance. He gathered with Feng Su, Yang Sifu, Wen Zao, Li Zhao and others at the house of the historiographer Dugu Lang. Jingjian got drunk, went to the Secretariat and abused the chief ministers Wang Bo, Cui Zhi and Du Yuanying; only when the clerks had soothed him with humble words and profuse apologies did he leave. For this he was demoted to Prefect of Zhangzhou, and Su and the others were all sent away. Before he reached Zhang, Zhen became a chief minister and changed his post to Prefect of Chuzhou. Critics said that Jingjian had insulted the chief ministers, and that to move him before he had even reached his place of demotion was wrong. Zhen took fright and changed him to Vice Director of the Palace Workshops, and recalled Su and the others. Jingjian, sunk in obscurity and hardship and unable to fulfil his ambitions, died. Yet he made light of wealth and was steadfast in righteousness, and after his death the scholars mourned him with regret. Edit

Hui, Crown Prince Huizhuang, was originally named Chengyi. When he was born, Empress Wu, because his mother was of low birth, did not want to count him among the sons. She showed him to the Buddhist monk Wanhui, and Wanhui said, to deceive her, "This is the tree spirit of the Western Land; he will be good for his brothers." The empress was pleased and raised him. In the third year of Chuigong he was first made Prince of Heng, enfeoffed at the same time as the Princes of Wei and Zhao. Soon he was changed to Prince of Hengyang. When Ruizong took the throne he was promoted to Prince of Shen, enfeoffed at the same time as the Princes of Qi and Xue. He rose by stages to General-in-chief of the Right Guard and of the Imperial Insignia Guard, and his actual fief reached a thousand households. He was promoted to Grand Minister of Education, concurrently Grand Area Commander-in-chief of Yi Prefecture, and four times served as a prefect. In the eighth year of Kaiyuan his prefectships were ended and he was again Grand Minister of Education. When he died, a patent posthumously made him Crown Prince and gave him a posthumous name, and he was buried in attendance at the Qiao Mausoleum. Hui was broad-minded by nature and dignified in manner and appearance. He had no heir, and by edict Xun, a son of Emperor Rang, was made his heir as Prince of Huaining, later moved to Tong'an, and died. In the Tianbao era Shu, another son of Emperor Rang, was again made his heir. Edit