Later that year, there was an incident in which Emperor Wuzong, believing that Yang Sifu and Li Jue, whom he had stripped of chancellor posts and sent out of Chang'an because he believed that they did not support him as Emperor, became further incensed by the powerful eunuch Qiu Shiliang against Yang and Li Jue, as well as two eunuchs trusted by Emperor Wenzong — Liu Hongyi (劉弘逸) and Xue Jileng (薛季稜) — that he ordered Liu and Xue to commit suicide, and further sent eunuchs with orders to force Yang and Li Jue to commit suicide as well. After Du Cong pointed out to Li Deyu that it was unwise to let Emperor Wuzong to be accustomed to kill officials, Li Deyu, Chen, and fellow chancellors Cui Gong and Cui Dan interceded. As a result, Yang and Li Jue were spared of their lives, but further demoted.
