In 709, during the reign of Wu Zetian's son Emperor Zhongzong, Zhao Yanzhao was promoted to be Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto [REF].
In 710, Emperor Zhongzong was set to marry Princess Jincheng, the daughter of his nephew Li Shouli the Prince of Yong, to Tufan's king Me Agtsom.