Wei Yuanzhong
In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup, and Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were killed. Emperor Zhongzong was restored to the throne, and he immediately recalled Wei Yuanzhong and made him the minister of military supplies (衛尉卿, "Weiwei Qing") and chancellor with the "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi" () designation. He was soon made the minister of defense (兵部尚書, "Bingbu Shangshu") with the greater chancellor "de facto" designation of "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin" (). Later in the year, he was made "Shizong" (), the head of the examination bureau (門下省, "Menxia Sheng") and a post considered one for a chancellor, and then "Zhongshu Ling" (), the head of the legislative bureau (now again named "Zhongshu Sheng") and also a post considered one for a chancellor. There was much expectation by the people that he would help reform government, but it was said that after he became chancellor again, he did not have any particularly good suggestions for Emperor Zhongzong but was instead only going with the flow in the political arena, and the people were disappointed, those in hopes that he would serve as a counterbalance to Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi, who had become powerful as a trusted advisor for Emperor Zhongzong and the lover of his powerful wife Empress Wei. Late in 705, when Wu Zetian died, Wu Sansi altered her will to include the grant of 100 households to serve as Wei Yuanzhong's fief—to which Wei was seen thankfully grieving, leading people to comment that he could no longer serve as a counterbalance to Wu Sansi. During the mourning period that Emperor Zhongzong observed for Wu Zetian, he had Wei Yuanzhong serve as regent for three days, and also created Wei the Duke of Qi.