業 Yè

Ye, Crown Prince Huixuan, was first made Prince of Zhao, then reduced to Prince of Zhongshan and appointed Commissioner of Waterways. He was moved to Prince of Gucheng, concurrently Administrative Aide of Chen Prefecture, and advanced to Prince of Xue, serving as General-in-Chief of the Palace Army and Grand Area Commander-in-chief of Jing Prefecture. Because he loved learning, he was appointed Director of the Palace Library. Early in the Kaiyuan period, he was advanced to Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and soon appointed Grand Guardian, and served as prefect of several prefectures. Edit

His mother had died early, and he was brought up by his maternal aunt, the Worthy Consort. In the eighth year, he brought the Worthy Consort to live in his own residence outside the palace and served her with great care. His younger sisters, the Princesses of Huaiyang and Liangguo, also died young, and he cared for their children as his own; the emperor loved him all the more. Once when he was ill, the emperor himself prayed and performed rites to drive off the sickness for him. When he recovered, the emperor visited his residence, laid on wine and composed poems to celebrate his new life. Once when the emperor was unwell, Wei Bin, a Gentleman of the Palace Attendance Office and the younger brother of Ye's consort, and Huangfu Xun, Director of the Palace Administration, spoke recklessly about omens of good and ill fortune; Wei Bin was put to death for it, and Huangfu Xun was demoted to Prefect of Jin Prefecture. Ye's consort, in fear, put on plain clothes and awaited punishment, and Ye too dared not go to court. When the emperor heard of it, he summoned him at once. Ye prostrated himself below the hall and asked to be punished, but the emperor hurried down, took his hand and said, "If I harbour any suspicion of my brothers, may Heaven and Earth together punish me!" So they feasted and made merry again as before, and he told the consort to resume her place. Soon Ye was advanced to Grand Minister of Education. In the twenty-second year, Ye fell ill, and the emperor was so anxious about him that in a single night his face and hair were changed. Then, dozing, he dreamt that he found a remedy, and when he woke Ye was a little better; Shouli, Prince of Bin, and others asked that the event be handed to the historians. When Ye died, the emperor was too grieved to eat; a patent of investiture conferred further posthumous honours and a posthumous name, and he was buried in attendance at the Qiao Mausoleum. Edit

He had eleven sons, of whom Yuan, Chang and Xuan are known. Later the emperor, remembering Ye, received Yuan and the others and was saddened, and issued an edict granting them together a real fief of a thousand households. Yuan became Prince of Le'an. Chang became Prince of Xingyang and Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan. Xuan became Prince of Xue by Succession and served as Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. In the Tianbao period, Xuan's maternal uncle Wei Jian was framed by Li Linfu, and Xuan, implicated, was demoted to Administrative Aide of Yiling and moved to be held at Yelang and Nanpu. When An Lushan rebelled, he returned to the capital. Edit