During Emperor Xuanzong's Reign
In 712, Emperor Ruizong passed the throne to Li Longji, who took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. Sometime after, Zhong Shaojing was recalled to again serve as minister of census, and later the head of the crown prince's household (太子詹事, Taizi Zhanshi). (As there was no crown prince at that time, the title was entirely honorary.) However, the chancellor Yao Chong disliked Zhong, and he accused Zhong and Liu Youqiu of complaining that they were not given important positions despite their contributions. Despite their denials, they were still demoted -- in Zhong's case, to be the prefect of Guo Prefecture (果州, roughly modern Nanchong, Sichuan). At a later point, he was further accused of offenses and demoted to be the sheriff of Huai'en County (懷恩, in modern Zhangzhou, Fujian), and his titles were stripped. He subsequently served as the secretary general of Wen Prefecture (溫州, roughly modern Wenzhou, Zhejiang).
In 727, Zhong visited the capital Chang'an, and had the opportunity to meet Emperor Xuanzong. He wept and stated:
Does Your Imperial Majesty not remember what had happened in the past? Why do you abandon me to the wilderness, forever away from the palace? Further, those who had accomplishments at the time are now all deceased except this old subject of yours. Do you not have kindness for me?Emperor Xuanzong was saddened, and immediately made Zhong Yinqing Guanglu Daifu and Taizi You Yude (太子右諭德), a member of the staff of the crown prince Li Hong. Some time thereafter, he was made Taizi Shao Zhanshi (太子少詹事), the deputy head of the crown prince's household. He died in his 80s while still serving in that position, although the year is not known.
It was said that Zhong, in addition to being a famed calligrapher, also favored collecting calligraphy. Among his collections were several hundred works of Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, and Chu Suiliang. Three of his sons, Zhong Jiabi (鍾嘉璧), Zhong Jia'e (鍾嘉諤), and Zhong Jiawei (鍾嘉偉) served as officials.
Read more about this topic: Zhong Shaojing
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