《隋书·列传·卷四十》
十七岁时，何妥因灵巧机敏侍奉湘东王萧绎。后来，湘东王知道他聪敏，又召为诵书，侍奉于左右。
十七，以技巧事湘东王，后知其聪明，召为诵书左右。
At age 17, He Tuo joined the staff of Qi King Xiao Yi as a minor official. Later, Xiao discovered his intelligence and had him serve as a poet and advisor by his side.