Emperor Dezong died in 805 and was succeeded by his son
Emperor Shunzong. Emperor Shunzong immediately issued an edict several important officials that Emperor Dezong had exiled—Zheng Yuqing,
Lu Zhi, Han Gao (), and Yang Cheng () (although Lu and Yang died before the edict could reach them). Zheng was made
Shangshu Zuo Cheng (), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau (尚書省,
Shangshu Sheng). However, when Hua was found to be corrupt later that year and executed, Emperor Dezong, finding out that Zheng had rebuked Hua previously, was pleased with Zheng and made him
Guozi Jijiu (), the principal of the imperial university, and soon made him the mayor of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the eastern capital
Luoyang). In 808, Zheng was made the defender of Luoyang. Emperor Xianzong put Zheng in charge of drafting a mourning text for Li Ning, and it was said that Zheng wrote appropriately. Around that time, a
physician named Cui Huan () was given a promotion from being a low-level military officer to be the military advisor to a prefect. Zheng vehemently opposed, believing that it was too great of a promotion for someone who did not have great contributions. His words were so stern that they offended the officials in power at the time, and he was made an advisor to the new crown prince
Li Heng, also acting at the minister of worship (太常卿,
Taichang Qing). While serving there, he restored the use of drums in the palace music. (The use of drums had been discontinued since the rebellions of
Zhu Ci and
Li Huaiguang during Emperor Dezong's reign, to avoid alarming the people of Chang'an.) In 814, Zheng was made the military governor of Shannan West Circuit as well as the mayor of its capital Xingyuan Municipality (). In 817, he was recalled to Chang'an to again serve as Li Heng's advisor, and soon he requested to retire; Emperor Xianzong declined. Around that time, because Emperor Xianzong had issued multiple mass promotions of officials, it was said that high ranks were becoming overly granted. Emperor Xianzong had Zheng draft regulations that would reduce the excessive promotions. In 818, Zheng was made
Zuo Pushe (), one of the heads of the executive bureau. It was said that for a long time, there had not been appropriate officials serving as the heads of the executive bureau, and that after Zheng was named to that post, the people were impressed. As Zheng was familiar with old regulations, Emperor Xianzong also put him in charge of revising the regulations on the rites. Later, Zheng was made the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern
Baoji,
Shaanxi) as well as the mayor of its capital, Fengxiang Municipality. In 819, Zheng was again made an advisor to Li Heng, as well as acting
Sikong (司空, one of the
Three Excellencies). He was also created the Duke of Yingyang and made acting principal of the imperial university. At that time, the facilities of the imperial university had long been in disrepair, and at Zheng's request, its facilities at Chang'an and Luoyang were repaired. In 820, Emperor Xianzong died, and Li Heng succeeded him (as Emperor Muzong). Emperor Muzong, as Zheng had long served him, particularly honored him. Zheng died around the new year 821 and was given posthumous honors. It was said that Zheng was frugal and honest throughout his official career, and that at the time of death, he lacked savings. Emperor Muzong thus gave a special stipend to his family members to honor Zheng. Zheng's grandson
Zheng Congdang later served as a chancellor during the reign of
Emperor Xizong. == Notes and references ==