Li Yong

Li Yong (李永) (died November 6, 838), formally Crown Prince Zhuangke (莊恪太子), was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was the oldest son of Emperor Wenzong. Background It is not known when Li Yong was born. His mother was Emperor Wenzong's concubine Consort Wang, who eventually came to carry the title of Defei (德妃), the third highest rank for imperial consort. In summer 830, Emperor Wenzong created Li Yong the Prince of Lu. Initially, the official He Yuanliang (和元亮) served as Li Yong's teacher, but as He was a career soldier, when Emperor Wenzong met He to discuss the prince's education in 832, He was unable to respond well. Thereafter, Emperor Wenzong conferenced with the chancellors and told them, "The Prince of Lu is teachable. You should find talented scholars to serve on his staff, and not people like He Yuanliang." Thereafter, the deputy minister of census Yu Jingxiu (庾敬休) was made Li Yong's teacher; the minister of worship Zheng Su (鄭肅) was made his secretary general; and the supervisorial official Li Jianfang (李踐方) was made his military advisor. All three were allowed to keep their regular posts as well. As crown prince Later in 832, Li Yong was created crown prince. (It was said that Emperor Wenzong waited this long to create Li Yong crown prince because he had initially to create Li Pu the Prince of Jin, the oldest son of his brother and predecessor Emperor Jingzong crown prince, but was greatly saddened when Li Pu died in 828, and therefore delayed creating a crown prince.) Meanwhile, as of 837, the imperial attendant Wei Wen (韋溫) was also serving as Li Yong's tutor. It was said that, however, when Wei was set to tutor him in the morning, it would often been the case that he would not get to see Li Yong until the sun was high in the sky. Wei advised him: