During Emperor Shang's Reign and Emperor Ruizong's Second Reign
In 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly -- a death that traditional historians believed to be a poisoning carried out by his wife Empress Wei and Li Guo'er, so that Empress Wei could become "emperor" like Wu Zetian, and Li Guo'er could become crown princess. Meanwhile, Emperor Zhongzong's son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen was named emperor (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei retained power as empress dowager and regent. Less than a month later, Emperor Zhongzong's sister Princess Taiping and Li Dan's son Li Longji the Prince of Linzi rose in rebellion and killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. Li Dan became regent, and he gave Li Rizhi the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Several days later, Li Dan, who was formerly emperor, took the throne again himself (as Emperor Ruizong), displacing Emperor Shang.
In spring 711, after fellow chancellors Yao Yuanzhi and Song Jing were removed form office, Li Rizhi and Wei Anshi became the lead chancellors, and it was said that the reforms that Yao and Song tried to carry out after Emperor Zhongzong's reign were reversed, and that the government was disorganized. Later that year, Li Rizhi was made acting Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. In winter 711, as a part of a major governmental reorganization, Li Rizhi and fellow chancellors Wei, Guo Yuanzhen, Dou Huaizhen, and Zhang Shuo were removed from their chancellor posts, and Li became the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu).
Read more about this topic: Li Rizhi
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