Li Bian
By 943, it was said that Chen was in alliance with Song Qiqiu and Feng Yanji, exerting influence over Li Bian's oldest son and presumed heir Li Jing the Prince of Qi and finding ways to expel people who were not cooperating with them. Both Chang and Xiao Yan () submitted petitions to Li Bian accusing Chen of abuse of power, and it was said that while Li Bian understood some of the accusations to be true, he did not get a chance to act on them, before he fell deathly ill from poisoning due to pills given him by alchemists. (It was said that because of these pills, his temperament had grown violent the few months before his death, such that even close associates were being punished. Chen, seeing this, claimed to be ill himself and was not in Li Bian's presence during that period.) Li Bian designated Li Jing as his heir, and then died. Li Jing succeeded him as emperor. (Upon Li Bian's death, Chen immediately "recovered" and returned to duty, causing Xiao to submit a petition to Li Jing calling for his punishment. Li Jing declined.)