《新唐书·列传·卷三十八》
凤阁侍郎任知古、冬官尚书裴行本等七人遭受诬陷判处死刑，则天皇后对宰相们说： 古人用死刑来制止罪犯杀人，我现在要用恩德制止罪犯杀人，同意您诸位替任知古等人请求免去死刑，给他们第二次生命，行吗？ 
凤阁侍郎任知古、冬官尚书裴行本等七人被诬当死，后谓宰相曰： 古人以杀止杀，我今以恩止杀，就群公丐知古等，赐以再生，可乎？ 
Ren Zhigu, the Zhilang of Fengge Pavilion, Pei Xingben, the Shangshu of the Winter Office and seven others were falsely accused and sentenced to death; Empress Zetian said to the Chancellors: In the past, people used the death penalty to stop criminals from murder; I will now use kindness to stop criminals from murder. Would you all agree to ask for the death penalty to be lifted for Ren Zhigu and the others, and give them a second chance at life?