Born Li Guangren (李光仁), during the Chuigong era of his youngest uncle Emperor Ruizong of Tang's reign when his grandmother Wu Zetian held the real power, he was renamed Shouli and given the post Crown Prince Xima (Taizi Xima 太子洗马).
[2] According to Confucian succession law, Shouli should have been the heir apparent of Wu Zetian; but as son of a deposed crown prince, he was effectively barred from the succession while his two younger uncles of Shouli, Xiǎn (note different tone from that of Shouli's father Xián) and Dan (i.e. Emperor Ruizong), both younger sons of Wu Zetian, were still alive, and Xiǎn, who had briefly reigned as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang in 684 before being deposed by Wu Zetian, would become her successor and start his second reign.
When Emperor Zhongzong of Tang succeeded the throne for the second time in 705, Shouli was created Prince of Yong, a title formerly held by Li Xián, and appointed as Guangluqing.
According to the Will of Zhongzong, Ruizong created Li Shouli Prince of Bin and successively appointed him as governor of Youzhou, titular Chanyu Daduhu, Sikong (司空) and so on.
[3] Unlike his cousin brothers, Shouli loved hunting, having parties, travelling and watching dancings, and did not participate in governance.
He himself was always extravagant and would deny beneficial advice by relying on his special position as the eldest living cousin brother of Xuanzong.
He had been always beaten while under house arrest and as a result a thick scar had formed on his back which would become heavy or light as the weather turned rainy or sunny.