Emperor Ai of Tang
Li Zuo was born in 892, at the main palace at the Tang imperial capital Chang'an. His father Emperor Zhaozong was already emperor at that point, and he was Emperor Zhaozong's ninth son. His mother was Consort He, who had previously given birth to an older brother of his, Li Yu, Prince of De, who was Emperor Zhaozong's oldest son.
Empress Dowager Cao (Li Cunxu's mother)
In 908, by which time Tang's last emperor [[Emperor Ai of Tang|Emperor Ai]] had been forced to yield the throne to Li Keyong's archrival [[Zhu Wen|Zhu Quanzhong]], who established a new [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] as its Emperor Taizu but whose legitimacy Li Keyong refused to recognize, Li Keyong died. Li Cunxu succeeded him as the Prince of Jin. Under Li Keyong's will, Li Keyong's brother [[Li Kening]], the [[eunuch (court official)|eunuch]] monitor [[Zhang Chengye]], Li Keyong's adoptive son [[Li Cunzhang]], the officer Wu Gong (吳珙), and the secretary general Lu Zhi (盧質) were to assist Li Cunxu in his rule. Li Cunxu initially offered the Prince of Jin position to Li Kening instead, but Li Kening pointed out that it was Li Keyong's will that he inherit the title, so Li Cunxu accepted it. Lady Cao thereafter was known as the Lady Dowager of Jin.