Cui Xuanwei
As of 704, Fang Rong was serving as the secretary general of Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo, Henan), when he was promoted to be "Zhengjian Daifu" (正諫大夫), a senior advisor at the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, "Luantai") and given the designation of "Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi" (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), making him a chancellor "de facto". In spring 705, when a coup led by Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanwei, Jing Hui, Huan Yanfan, and Yuan Shuji overthrew Wu Zetian and restored her son Li Xian the Crown Prince, a former emperor, to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong), her lovers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were killed. On the same day, Fang, along with fellow chancellor Wei Chengqing and the minister Cui Shenqing (崔神慶), were accused of being associates of Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong and arrested. Half a month later, Fang was reduced to commoner rank and exiled to Gao Prefecture (高州, roughly modern Maoming, Guangdong), and he died there. HIs son Fang Guan later served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong.