Li Shouli

Lĭ Shǒulĭ (672–741) (simplified Chinese: 李守礼; traditional Chinese: 李守禮) was the second son of Li Xián who also known as Crown Prince Zhanghuai of Tang. Born Li Guangren (李光仁) during the Chuigong era of his youngest uncle Emperor Ruizong of Tang's reign when his grandmother Wu Zetian held the real power, he was renamed Shouli and given the post Crown Prince Xima (Taizi Xima 太子洗马).

Li Shouli's father, Li Xián, as the heir presumptive to his father Emperor Gaozong of Tang, was once created Crown Prince but failed in a power struggle with his ambitious mother Wu Zetian. He was deposed and exiled then later forced to commit suicide in 684. Li Shouli's two brothers Guangshun (李光顺) and Shouyi (李守义) both died afterwards as well. Shouli's only sister Lady Changxin (长信郡主) disappeared into history. From childhood, Li Shouli was put under house arrest with sons of Ruizong. It was not until Ruizong was recreated Prince of Xiang that Shouli and his cousins were allowed to live outside the palaces.

According to Western succession law, Shouli should have been the heir presumptive of Wu Zetian. But in the history of ancient China, heir presumptive did not mean heir to the throne. Shouli was the son of a deposed crown prince while his two younger uncles Xiǎn (note different tone from that of Shouli's father Xián) and Dan (i.e. Emperor Ruizong), both sons of Wu Zetian, were still alive. Xiǎn, who had briefly reigned as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang in 684 before deposed by Wu Zetian, would become her successor and start his second reign, while Shouli was effectively barred from the succession.

When Emperor Zhongzong of Tang succeeded the throne for the second time, Shouli was created Prince of Yong and appointed Guangluqing. In 707, one of Shouli's daughters was created Princess of Jincheng and engaged to Kridê Zukzän the Lord of Tibet. They would marry in 710, in the same year that Ruizong would also start his second reign. According to the Will of Zhongzong, Ruizong created Li Shouli Prince of Bin and appointed him governor of Youzhou or Sikong (司空) and so on. Unlike his cousin brothers, Shouli loved hunting, having parties, travelling and watching dancings. Sometime after 721, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (son of late Ruizong) recalled Shouli to the capital Chang'an .

...
Wikipedia