Yu Zhining - During Emperor Gaozong's Reign

During Emperor Gaozong's Reign

In 649, Emperor Taizong died while at the summer palace Cuiwei Palace (翠微宮), after entrusting Li Zhi to Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang. Under Zhangsun's suggestion, Emperor Taizong's death was kept secret, as Li Zhi escorted Emperor Taizong's casket back to Chang'an. Once that happened, three key members of Li Zhi's staff -- Yu Zhining, Zhang Xingcheng, and Gao Jifu -- were promoted to chancellor posts, before Emperor Taizong's death was announced. Li Zhi took the throne as Emperor Gaozong. (In Yu's case, he was promoted to be Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau of government, a post considered one for a chancellor.)

In 650, Emperor Gaozong bestowed the honorific title of Guanglu Daifu (光祿大夫) on Yu, and also created him the greater title of Duke of Yan -- a title that his great-grandfather Yu Jin once held.

In 651, Yu was made in charge of editing imperial historical records. He was also made Pushe (僕射), the head of the executive bureau, and continued to serve as chancellor. In 652, when Emperor Gaozong created his oldest son Li Zhong crown prince, Yu was made titularly an advisor of the young crown prince as well. There was an occasion when Emperor Gaozong awarded estates to him, Zhang, and Gao. Yu declined, pointing out that neither Zhang nor Gao was from the region near the capital and therefore needed estates, but he himself was from the capital region and therefore already had property in the region, offering to have his share be given to Zhang and Gao instead. Emperor Taizong was impressed and accepted his suggestion.

In 655, when Emperor Gaozong, whose favors for his wife Empress Wang had waned, believed in the accusations of his favorite concubine Consort Wu (later known as Wu Zetian) that Empress Wang and her mother Lady Liu had used witchcraft and that Empress Wang had killed Consort Wu's daughter, wanted to depose Empress Wang and replace her with Consort Wu. The chancellors Chu, Han Yuan, and Lai Ji all strenuously objected. Zhangsun also showed disapproval by his silent refusal to endorse the acts. Yu was described to be neutral on the matter, while Li Ji stated that it was Emperor Gaozong's own household business. Emperor Gaozong thus became resolved, and he deposed Empress Wang and replaced her with Consort Wu. (Empress Wang was subsequently killed on the new Empress Wu's orders.) In 659, Yu requested to retire from his post, and he was made a senior advisor to the new crown prince -- Empress Wu's oldest son Li Hong, but continued to carry the designation of a chancellor de facto.

By then, however, Empress Wu's grip on power was firm, and she was taking vengeance on people she believed opposed her ascension, having her ally Xu Jingzong accuse them of having plotted treason. Zhangsun was exiled and then forced to commit suicide. Empress Wang's uncle Liu Shi was executed. Their households, as well as that of Han Yuan (who would have suffered execution as well but for the fact that he had already died by the time that executioners arrived at his place of exile), were confiscated to become servants. Empress Wu was not satisfied, and she had Xu accuse Yu of having been part of Zhangsun's faction. Yu was thus removed from his post and demoted to be the prefect of Rong Prefecture (榮州, roughly modern Zigong, Sichuan), and eight other members of his were demoted as well.

In 664, Yu was made the prefect of Hua Prefecture (華州, roughly modern Weinan, Shaanxi), close to the capital, a sign that he had regained some imperial favor, and later that year, he requested retirement, which was granted. In 665, he died at his mansion. In 676, his prior honors were all posthumously restored.

It was said that Yu liked welcoming guests, and many young officials gathered around him. However, he was criticized for not being able to find the most capable among them and recommend them.