Liu Shi

Liu Shi (柳奭) (died 25 July – 22 August 659), courtesy name Zishao (子邵), was a chancellor of the Chinese Tang dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His niece was Emperor Gaozong's first wife Empress Wang; as Emperor Gaozong's favors for her waned, Liu found himself in a precarious position. In 654, he resigned his chancellor post, but was not able to escape being exiled in 655 when Empress Wang was deposed and killed, in favor of Empress Wu. In 659, as part of a campaign of Empress Wu's attempt to take vengeance on anyone who opposed her ascension, Emperor Gaozong issued an edict to have Liu executed. Background It is not known when Liu Shi was born. His family was from Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). His father Liu Ze (柳則) had served as an imperial guard commander during the Sui dynasty and died while serving as an emissary to Goguryeo. It was said that Liu Shi went to Goguryeo to retrieve his father's body, and his mournfulness impressed the people of Goguryeo. His uncle Liu Heng (柳亨) served as an official under the Tang dynasty's first three emperors, Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Gaozong. Not much, however, was recorded about Liu Shi's career prior to 651. During Emperor Gaozong's reign In 651, Emperor Gaozong, whose wife Empress Wang was a niece of Liu Shi's, gave Liu Shi, who was then serving as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎) – the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) – the additional designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. In 652, Emperor Gaozong further promoted him to the post of Zhongshu Ling (中書令) – the head of the legislative bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. Empress Wang was sonless, and Liu suggested to her that she should request that Emperor Gaozong's oldest son, Li Zhong, whose mother Consort Liu was of low birth, be created crown prince, so that Li Zhong would be grateful to her. Empress Wang did so, and Emperor Gaozong agreed, after Liu Shi lobbied his fellow chancellors, including Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle Zhangsun Wuji. Later in 652, Emperor Gaozong created Li Zhong crown prince.