Pei Du
By 818, Xiao's friend Huangfu Bo, due to his ability to garner revenues for Emperor Xianzong, was greatly favored by Emperor Xianzong and was made a chancellor. Huangfu recommended Linghu Chu to be chancellor as well, and both Huangfu and Linghu thereafter often recommended Xiao. As a result, Xiao was favored by Emperor Xianzong as well, and received a number of honorific titles. He was also made the deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, "Yushi Zhongcheng"). It was deputy chief imperial censor that in 818, he submitted an indictment against the eunuch Yang Chaowen (楊朝汶), who had arrested over 1,000 people for allegedly owing money to the palace. As a result of the indictment that Xiao submitted, which the chancellors Pei Du and Cui Qun also supported, Emperor Xianzong ordered Yang to commit suicide.