During Emperor Zhongzong's Second Reign
In 709, during the reign of Wu Zetian's son Emperor Zhongzong, Zhao Yanzhao was promoted to be Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. He was also made an imperial scholar at the Xiuwen Pavilion (修文館).
In 710, Emperor Zhongzong was set to marry Princess Jincheng, the daughter of his cousin Li Shouli the Prince of Yong, to Tufan's king Me Agtsom. He initially ordered the chancellor Ji Chuna to escort Princess Jincheng to Tufan, but after Ji declined, ordered Zhao to do so. Zhao did not want to go -- believing that if he left the capital Chang'an, the favors that Emperor Zhongzong had shown him might wane in his absence. At the suggestion of Zhao Lüwen (趙履溫), he asked Emperor Zhongzong's powerful daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle to speak on his behalf, and Emperor Zhongzong sent the general Yang Ju (楊矩) instead.
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