Xiao Zhizhong - During Emperor Ruizong's Second Reign

During Emperor Ruizong's Second Reign

Several days later, Li Dan took the throne himself (as Emperor Ruizong), and Emperor Shang was deposed and again took the title of Prince of Wen. Almost immediately, Xiao Zhizhong was recalled to again serve as Zhongshu Ling, but later in the year was again demoted to be a prefectural prefect, this time to Jin Prefecture (晉州, roughly modern Linfen, Shanxi). He was said to be an effective governor while serving there. It was said that when am emissary sent by the Eastern Tujue khan Ashina Mochuo went through Jin Prefecture while on the way to Chang'an and saw Xiao, he was surprised by Xiao's appearance and stated to another person, "He should be serving the Son of Heaven. Why is he here at a prefecture?" While at Jin Prefecture, Xiao sent messages to Princess Taiping—who by now was in a rivalry with Li Longji, whom Emperor Ruizong created crown prince—offering to join her faction, and Princess Taiping also believed that, because one of Xiao's sons died in the coup, he might be resentful and she might be able to use that to her advantage. In 712, at her recommendation, Xiao was recalled to serve as the minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu). It was said that his brother-in-law Jiang Qinxu (蔣欽緒) warned him that siding with Princess Taiping was dangerous, but he paid no heed to Jiang's warnings. On another occasion, when he came out of Princess Taiping's mansion, he happened to encounter Song Jing, who was at one point a censor serving under him, and Song semi-joked, "This is not what we expect of you, Professor Xiao." (Song referred to him as professor as he, as Song's supervisor, would have been one to instruct Song on proper procedures.) Xiao responded in the manner one would toward a student, "You, Mr. Song, speak capably." However, he did not take Song's warning either.