A Throne Relinquished Too Soon

In the first year of the Taiqi era (712 CE), Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty made a surprising decision: he abdicated in favor of his son, Crown Prince Li Longji (later Emperor Xuanzong). His reign had lasted a mere two years. At the time, this move was seen as an attempt to quell factional strife within the court. Yet, as history would prove, relinquishing power often does little to calm the ambitions of those who crave it.

Ruizong, a mild-mannered ruler who idealized Daoist principles of non-interference, might have served as a stabilizing symbolic figure had he remained emperor. Instead, his abdication set the stage for an explosive confrontation between two formidable factions: the Crown Prince’s supporters and the powerful clique surrounding Princess Taiping, Ruizong’s sister and a political force in her own right.

The Contenders: Li Longji vs. Princess Taiping

The power dynamics at court were lopsided. Li Longji’s faction consisted largely of junior officials and young military officers who had aided in the coup against Empress Wei in 710. Though they had been promoted after Wei’s downfall, they remained a minority among the Tang elite.

Princess Taiping, by contrast, was a seasoned political operator. Having served as her mother, Empress Wu Zetian’s, trusted confidante, she commanded an extensive network of allies. Five of the seven chief ministers were her loyalists. Key military leaders, including Left Yulin Generals Chang Yuankai and Li Ci, as well as Left Jinwu General Li Qin, were firmly in her camp.

When Li Longji ascended the throne, Princess Taiping’s faction saw an existential threat. Their solidarity hardened. Meanwhile, Ruizong, now retired as Taishang Huang (Retired Emperor), retained significant influence—approving high-ranking appointments and capital punishments every five days. This left Xuanzong with limited authority, effectively making him an emperor in name only.

The Shadow War: Poison, Plots, and Power Plays

Princess Taiping, ever the strategist, sought to tighten her grip. She pressured Ruizong to install her allies in key positions, aiming to isolate and eventually depose Xuanzong. Her advisors, including the scheming monk Huifan, proposed drastic measures.

“Removing an emperor is far harder than removing a crown prince,” remarked Chang Yuankai, implying military action. But Huifan had another idea: assassination. He recruited a palace maid, Lady Yuan, to poison Xuanzong. The plan was cunning—since medicinal tonics were not subject to the same pre-consumption testing as food, they presented an opportunity.

Yet the plot unraveled thanks to one man: Gao Lishi, Xuanzong’s devoted eunuch. A shrewd and loyal servant, Gao tested the emperor’s medicine on hunting dogs—an unorthodox but effective precaution. When the dogs died, he exposed the conspiracy, tracking Lady Yuan to uncover the full extent of Taiping’s network.

The Final Confrontation

By 713, tensions reached a breaking point. Unaware their plot had been discovered, Princess Taiping’s faction prepared for open rebellion. Left Yulin troops, led by Chang Yuankai and Li Ci, were to storm the Wude Hall while court insiders like Dou Huai’en and Xiao Zhizhong provided support.

But Xuanzong’s faction was ready. Under Gao Lishi’s coordination, generals like Wang Maozhong and Guo Yuanzhen mobilized loyal troops. When Taiping’s forces moved, they were ambushed at Qianhua Gate. Chang and Li were executed on the spot; other conspirators, including Dou Huai’en (who hanged himself), met swift justice.

Ruizong, witnessing the bloodshed from the Chengtian Gate Tower, could only watch in dismay. His hopes of protecting his sister crumbled. On July 4, he formally ceded all authority to Xuanzong, retreating to the Baifu Palace in despair.

Princess Taiping fled to a mountain temple but surrendered days later. Officially, she was ordered to commit suicide—though rumors persisted that Ruizong had begged for her life, resulting in lifelong house arrest instead. Whatever the truth, her death marked the end of an era dominated by powerful Tang women.

Legacy: The Rise of the Kaiyuan Golden Age

With Taiping gone, Xuanzong consolidated power, ushering in the Kaiyuan era (713–741)—a zenith of Tang prosperity. His reign, initially overshadowed by factional strife, became synonymous with cultural flourishing and administrative brilliance.

Yet the events of 712–713 reveal a darker truth: even the most calculated political maneuvers could not prevent the violent resolution of imperial rivalries. Ruizong’s abdication, intended as a peacemaking gesture, instead ignited a firestorm. And in the shadows, figures like Gao Lishi proved that loyalty—and cunning—could reshape dynasties.

The struggle between Li Longji and Princess Taiping was more than a family feud; it was a battle for the soul of the Tang. Its outcome determined whether the empire would continue its matriarchal legacy or embrace a new, centralized vision—one that would define China’s most celebrated dynasty.