Meanwhile, by 838, Li Yong's mother Consort Wang had died—and while the exact manner of death was not clarified in historical accounts, it was said that she was not favored by Emperor Wenzong and that Emperor Wenzong's favorite,
Consort Yang, made false accusations against her, leading to her death. Despite this, Li Yong continued to spend his time on feasts and games and was close to scoundrels. Consort Yang therefore had ample opportunities to make accusations against him. Emperor Wenzong suddenly had Li Yong arrested and convened a gathering with imperial officials, listing Li Yong's faults and intending to depose him, stating, "How can this kind of person be the
Son of Heaven?" The officials largely argued that Li Yong was still young and capable of changing his ways, and that changing the crown prince position was an act that could throw the empire into disarray. Di Jianmo (狄兼謨) and Wei Wen were particularly fervent in speaking against such a change. The day after the meeting, six imperial scholars and 16
eunuch commanders of the imperial guards further submitted arguments against deposing Li Yong, causing Emperor Wenzong to change his mind. That night, Emperor Wenzong released Li Yong and allowed him to return to Shangyang Pavilion (上陽院), where the Crown Prince resided. However, tens of his attendants and eunuchs were executed or exiled.—a death that many historians, including the modern historian
Bo Yang, believed, based on subsequent events, to have been an assassination by his attendants, at the implicit approval of Emperor Wenzong. He was buried with honors due a crown prince and given the posthumous name of
Zhuangke (meaning "unsuccessful and respectful"). In 839, after Emperor Wenzong, who was then ill, had created Li Yong's cousin
Li Chengmei (Li Pu's younger brother) crown prince, there was an occasion when Emperor Wenzong happened to see an acrobatic demonstration by a boy—and that the boy's father was worried that the boy would fall. Emperor Wenzong became touched and saddened, stating, "I am the Son of Heaven, but I could not even protect my own son!" He summoned 14 palace servants and rebuked them: Emperor Wenzong had them arrested and executed. But it was said that he was further saddened by this and became even more seriously ill. He died the following spring. == Notes and references ==